You boot up your computer after your dad finally drops you off at home. You're very thankful there's only a couple days left. Two more exams, that's all you have. He picked you up during his lunchbreak again, leaving little time for him to actually eat. You still had to dawdle around the school for an hour after your exam. You had a pretty boring time while waiting. You wished your school was filled with the awesome people you met through the internet, not the hipster clones.
You click on the internet browser. It pops up and loads your homepage. You minimize it to open Pesterchum, which you've finally converted to. As soon as you log into it, the chat labelled timaeusTestified begins to blink. You smile slightly and open the chat.
TT: You're finally home.
TT: Didn't your exam end at like 10?
GG: Eleven, actually.
GG: Ten for you.
TT: Whatever. Time zones make everything confusing.
GG: No, you just can't keep up with them.
TT: You making fun of me?
GG: Possibly. :B
TT: You're a huge dork.
GG: You are, too.
TT: Touche.
GG: Ugh, I'm so sick of studying.
GG: Do it for me.
TT: Sorry, I can't really do that unless you want to fail.
TT: It's only two more exams, babe.
GG: You're lucky.
GG: You're finished school already.
GG: I hate you.
TT: Awe, don't say that.
GG: It's true.
TT: No, it's not.
GG: Yes.
TT: No.
GG: Yes.
TT: Okay, fine, you hate me, whatever.
GG: Okay, nevermind, I don't hate you.
TT: That's what I thought.
GG: They're such boring classes.
GG: Why did I even take them?
TT: I have no idea. Why?
GG: Shut it, mister smarty pants.
TT: Oh, Janey's got some sass tonight.
GG: It's noon.
TT: I know that.
TT: Just skip them.
GG: I need to pass them to graduate next year.
TT: Right.
TT: You're pretty smart, right? Skipping shouldn't make your mark go low enough to fail you.
GG: Not taking the chance.
TT: Darn.
TT: I would have gone to DC just to congratulate you on your badassery.
GG: Too bad it's not going to happen.
TT: What if I came anyway?
That question throws you off. You always wondered what it would be like to meet Dirk. He's your best friend and the best one you could ask for. Not to mention the crush you've had on him for a long while, not that the feelings would ever be reciprocated.
TT: Jane?
GG: Sorry, got distracted.
TT: So, what about it?
GG: What about what?
TT: Me coming to see you.
GG: My dad would have a fit if I gave one of my internet buddies my address.
TT: Hm.
TT: What if I met you somewhere, or like halfway?
GG: He'd probably have an even worse fit.
TT: Oh, come on.
TT: There's kids our age becoming parents and shit.
TT: You'd just be going on a measly road trip.
GG: Yes, a road trip is nothing compared to the dangers of becoming a parent.
TT: I'm serious.
GG: I am, too.
TT: But why not?
TT: We've known each other since we were like, what? Eleven?
TT: It's time we met face to face.
GG: So our eyes can meet and a pokemon battle ensues, right?
TT: Stop being so difficult!
TT: You're avoiding this because you know how much you really want to!
GG: I know...
GG: Just … what if something happens?
TT: I'd never let anything hurt you.
GG: I know, but anything can happen...
TT: And anything can happen if you stay at home all summer.
TT: A fire.
TT: Robbery.
TT: A handsome devil in orange kidnapping you from your house.
TT: What.
GG: Funny.
TT: I'm just saying, anything can happen anywhere.
GG: True.
GG: Okay.
TT: Okay?
GG: Yeah, okay. Let's do this, Strider.
TT: Really?
GG: Yeah.
GG: I have a fair bit of money saved up from working at the bakery.
GG: If I keep working there next year, I'll have more than enough for college, anyway.
TT: Sweet.
TT: I've got a pretty big lump of dough from the smuppets.
TT: You checked out the link I sent you, right?
GG: Didn't even touch it.
TT: Didn't think so.
TT: So, where are we going to meet?
GG: Um, just a sec.
You open the web browser again, type out the address for google and click on maps. You scroll around the USA for a place halfway between Houston and Washington.
GG: How about Atlanta, Georgia?
TT: Sounds good.
GG: June 30th?
GG: Two days after my last exam.
TT: It's a date.
You blush profusely at his comment and finally realize how grateful you are for the screen between the two of you. Though, it won't be there for much longer.
You flop onto your bed after finishing your last exam. Which means you'll be leaving tomorrow. Running away. With intentions of returning. Which sounds kind of weird and pointless. You sit up and glance around your room, beginning to make a list of things to bring. You can't bring much, since you'll only be able to handle one bag. You'll probably use your school bag – it's what you're accustomed to.
You dump out it's contents onto the floor and begin to stuff a few necessities into it.
Be Dirk
"So, where are you going?" Dave wonders as you pace around your room, collecting items to pile into your backpack. He's leaning against your doorframe, watching you as you go.
"I'm going to Atlanta to meet Jane."
"John's sis?!" Dave exclaimed, "Can I come?"
"No! John's not going with her, dipshit."
"Right, 'course not. You'll probably want as much alone time with her as you can get." You decide to not reply to his statement, as true as it is, "You're not gonna bang her, she's such a prude."
"She's not a prude! She's just not handing it out to any guy for free."
"But you're not just any guy."
"It's not like she actually has a thing for me. I'm not the kind of guy that can give her the life she wants. She wants to be a baker, to go home to a loving husband, good kids and a steady life. I'm not that kind of guy and I can never be that guy. So, I'm stuck as the best friend."
"Right, okay." Dave straightened up, waltzing down the hall, "See you in a week or whatever."
You zip up the bag, it's a tight fit, but you got everything you need inside. You grab your wallet and are finally walking out of the house to meet the girl of your dreams.
== Be Jane again
You sling the handle of your bag over your head for it to rest on your shoulder. Your father is still at work, but will be home within the hour – you can't afford to waste any time or you'll never get to meet Dirk tomorrow.
You look over the note for your dad one last time, before setting it on your neatly made bed and exiting your room.
You crack the door open an inch. You see the lights on in your brother's room from under the door. You creep into the hall and quietly shut the door behind you.
"Jane!" You hear John yell out. His door slams open, "Dave said you're leaving!" He stops before you, taking in your thick bag and traveling clothes and sneakers. "It's true." He gasps.
"I—I'm going to meet Dirk, okay?" You say, hoping and praying he will understand.
"Can I go?" He asks, "I want to meet Dave."
"I'm not going to their house. And I don't have enough money, John. Or enough time. I have to leave soon. I'm sorry."
"Oh … Okay." John sighs, "Just … Come home soon."
"I will."
"And be careful."
"Don't worry."
"And don't get pregnant."
"John!"
"I don't know what you're gonna do with the guy!"
"Well, it's definitely not gonna be anything like that!"
"Okay, okay, whatever."
You smirk slightly, "Goodbye, John," You pull him into a tight hug, "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you, too." You pull away from him to look him straight in the eyes, "You had no idea I am doing this and if he asks where I am, I said I was going to the library, got it?" He nods, "Good. Okay, bye-bye, kiddo!" You wave as you make your way down the stairs and out the door.
You quickly walk away from your house, towards the bus station you found to take you to Atlanta. It's not long before you've bought your ticket and are waiting in the station for ten o'clock to come around. Hopefully your dad doesn't come to this fine establishment looking for you before that.
You wake up to find yourself still on the bus. A very uncomfortable bus, if you might add. And it's still on the highway. You turn on your phone to see it's a little after eight, and to see your father has been trying to get a hold of you all night. You feel a horrible pain in your stomach, you're probably worrying the man to death. You're going to be the cause of you and John becoming orphans.
No, he'll be fine. And hopefully John doesn't give it away that he knew. You sigh and pull out your mp3 player, indulging yourself in your favourite songs for the last hour of your ride.
You escape at around nine-thirty, you lug your bag off the bus and quickly leave the station – you're supposed to meet Dirk in a half hour. You recall the map you found of the area, you're sure the Starbucks is only a few blocks away. You can make it there for ten if you walk quickly.
Though walking quickly proves to be a bit tough, your bag being extremely heavy, and all, but you try your best.