Chapter 4 – Running away

Third Person's Point of View:

After Cook had sex with Emma, he felt a sense of relief rushing through his body. He'd thought that Emma still loved him but he was confused, and now – more than ever. Emma made him the happiest he's been in years, and the thought of him breaking her heart and leaving her high and dry was a thought Cook couldn't think of. However, those feelings started to change once Cook found out that he was on the run, too.

Cook's Point of View:

It was late at night, and as usual – I was in my car just roaming around waiting for some fucked up kids to buy shit off of me. Needless to say, I had a great time with Emma but Effy was still lingering in my mind. I couldn't seem to forget about her no matter what. It was like she was this kind of fire entering my life again, a fire that doesn't seem to go out.

"That'll be 150 quid." I said to some 17 year old who was already high on some spliff.

"What? 150 quid for coke? You're kidding right?" He said, looking at me with eyes that almost shot out of his face.

"Look mate, you either take it or fucking leave it. I don't have time for this."

The 17 year old teenager groaned and decided to hand me the money, "Here ya go." The teenager then got out of my car.

"Fucker." I mumbled to myself and drove off.

It was about 2:48 am and I was still roaming around until I stopped at a kiosk to get me some more cigarettes until I noticed something all too weird on the kiosk's display.

My mouth dropped as I read the words "Wanted: This man – Reward: £ 50,000."

As much as I wished it was someone else – it wasn't. The flier had my face on it and I knew exactly what I had to do again – run.

Effy's Point of View:

The next morning, I woke up feeling completely shattered. I guess drinking yourself to death wasn't such a good idea, but I needed to escape from that fucking letter that I got. The minute I woke up, my phone decided to ring as well. "Great." I thought to myself as I looked at the caller ID and it was the fucking office.

"Hello?" I answered weakly, my mouth was very dry.

"Effy? Yeah hi, you better come down to the office in an hour or so, Jake wants to have a word with you." It was Jane – who to my dismay, was one of the most annoying people I've ever had to be encountered with, besides Naomi.

"Yeah, I'm coming." I said and then shut the phone on her face. For all I know, this is going to be a long day.

It was about 4 pm and I made my way to Jake's office where he was already seated and ready to talk.

"Problem?" I asked, knowing exactly there was a problem – regarding the letter I got last night, but I just wanted to see what he had to say.

"I think you know exactly what the problem here is, Effy." He looked at me deadly in the eye. I don't know what he was going to do, but the look on his face just gave it away.

"Yeah, I got the fucking letter. Happy now?"

Jake groaned and looked down, "Look, I didn't ask the fucking FDA to figure this shit out – it's just that, they found out and now you're fired."

I looked at Jake with no emotion, as if I didn't care because frankly – I didn't. I just didn't want to go to jail, I wasn't ready for this. Where was I going to get 25,000 quid in four months anyway? , "I figured that out. But I don't think that concerns you now, does it?"

He sarcastically laughed at me, "I could get fired as well, didn't you think of that?"

"Have you gone mental or what? You asked me to forge those documents for you so we invest more money. Don't blame me, it was your fault too."

"All I'm saying is, you better pay the fine or you could get us both into serious trouble. Think about it." Jake's eyes now had the look of concern in his eyes, unlike before. He was serious about this and so was I – but in different terms.

"I can't generate that kind of money, Jake. " I looked down.

"Well then find a way – I just don't want to lose my job over this. Understood?"

"Mhm." I walked out of his office, not even bothering to excuse myself because I couldn't take this anymore. This was all a bit too much for me and I had to get out of this fucking city.

Cook's Point of View:

After a cold night of sleeping in my car and having about one of the worst nightmares in my life, I decided to go and see Emma and finally seal the deal. I decided if I had to run away again, my best excuse for breaking up with her was not being able to see her again.

"Ems? You in there?" I shouted from outside, I didn't want to go inside the gas station mainly because I felt there were fliers of me in there.

"What do you want, Cook?" Emma came running from one of the aisles.

"I need to speak to ya. Can you come outside?" I asked her as I lit up my cigarette.

"But I've got customers here…"

"It'll just be a minute. Please?" I looked up at in worry, wondering how she's going to take this.

"What is it?" She looked at me concernedly.

"Ugh fuck – listen… I don't think I can see you anymore." I looked to the ground as I took another puff of my cigarette.

She looked at me as if she was going to explode into a ball of emotions, I felt so fucking bad. "What do you mean you can't see me anymore?" She was about to burst into tears but she held it all together.

"I gotta get out of here. The cops are coming onto me." I looked at her in the eyes, hoping she'd understand.

"You fucking cunt. That's not true, is it? Who is she?" A tear was rolling down her cheek.

"Em, there is... nobody. I just gotta get ouf here that's it. I wouldn't lie to ya." I said as I threw my cigarette away. There was no way she could've known about me and Effy, it was quite impossible.

"Don't fucking lie to me, Cook! I've seen you with her. She was in your fucking car while you drove past here. She fucking rested her head on your shoulder. You can't fool me." She was now yelling at me, with tears streaming down her face.

"As much as I wanted to end this on good terms, I'm fucking done. Fine, don't believe me that I have to get out of London, but do yourself a fucking favor and look behind the cashier's counter where the fucking flier is. I'm done." I walked past her and went back into my car, speeding as fast as I could.

As much as I thought I loved Emma, she was kind of a psycho. I mean who even looks into a person's car when they're passing by you and you're in a gas station? I still felt bad about you know, breaking her heart and shit but at least now I can get going. Although, there was still something about London I couldn't leave behind and that was Effy.

Effy's Point of View:

It was the afternoon and when I got back home, I just wanted to crash on my bed and drink myself to sleep again but unfortunately enough for me, I couldn't do that. Naomi and Emily were having another party, which meant that there was no way I could clear my mind.

"Turn this shit off!" I screamed as I got out of my room only to see a bunch of people looking at me at weirdly.

Naomi pulled a face and then made her way to me, "Spliff?"

I gave Naomi a "what in the fuck is wrong with you" face and proceeded to go back to my room.

As I got in my room, the doorbell rung and strangely enough, it was for me.

"Effy! It's for you!" Emily screamed through all of this loud music, but I could still hear her.

I got out of my room once again only to find Cook standing in front of the doorway.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, nonchalantly.

"Can we talk in your room or something? It's too loud in here."

Cook had a worried look on his face, I wondered what was wrong with him.

"So? What's up?" I asked looking at Cook who looked like he was about to burst with stress.

"We have to get out of here, Effy. We can't be in London anymore. It's not safe." Cook looked at me in all seriousness. I couldn't believe I heard him say those words out of his mouth, because I needed to get out of London.

I was very bewildered though, I thought no one was after Cook over here. "Are the cops after you?"

"Yeah, they are." He looked down. "Now, pack your shit – we gotta go."

I groaned, as much as I wanted to run away – why did Cook want me to take me with him? "What do I have to do with this?"

"Everything – I'm Cook and you're Effy. I couldn't bare the thought of leaving you here, without me. "

I looked at him, staring deeply into his eyes. It was just like four years ago – when we ran away from everyone in the group and it was just me and him. I couldn't bare the thought of not seeing him again.

"Okay." I mumbled and packed my stuff together.