Page 136 of Run Away Home: Tempered

“Run. Run away,” I whisper. “Go!”

He backs up from me slowly, then faster, until he bangs into the sliding glass door. He turns around and opens it, sprinting down the balcony stairs. I shouldn’t be smiling, but I still am.

Hayley

IWAKE UP IN A WHITEroom to the sound of beeping machines. I know where I am. Fuck. I close my eyes again.

“Hayley?”

I look to my right, and see Peter sitting in a chair across from my bed. He’s dressed nicely but looks...messy. That’s unusual. What happened?

“Yeah,” I respond quietly.

“You scared the shit out of me.”

“What did I do? Where’s Tristian?”

“He ran off when I called the police.”

“You called the police?” I open my eyes wider.

“I had to. You were on the floor. I didn’t know what you’d taken. This is no good, Hayley.”

Oh yeah. Now I remember.

“I don’t want to be lectured right now.” I try to turn over, but the wire in my arm gets caught on the bed rail. “Crap.” I try to unhook it.

“I’m not lecturing you.” He stands and untangles the wire from the railing.

“Good because you were out with Kara all night again.”

“What does that have to do with this?”

What does he mean? That has everything to do with this! If he were home, Tristian wouldn’t have come over. If Tristian wouldn’t have come over, I wouldn’t have taken any pills.

“You left me home all alone.”

“To be an adult and make your own choices? Should I babysit you now?”

“You knew this was going to happen eventually!”

“Sure, blame me for it. Wouldn’t be the first time I get blamed for something totally fucked up.”

I manage to turn around and face the opposite direction. I can’t listen to him. Like he’s so perfect? Classic Virgo behavior.

“Now they’re going to keep me here for God knows how long—and probably in the psych ward, too!”

“Can you be quiet? I’m trying to sleep!” someone calls from the curtain past Peter.

“Great, I have a roommate?” I ask.

“Yep. Why would you get a private room?” Peter asks.

“Just leave me alone, Peter. I can’t deal with you right now. My head hurts too much. You’re really fucking pissing me off.”

“Same,” he says.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I shout, still looking away from him.

---