Leaving Through The Window: Chapter 9-If You Just Lead The Way
Another day goes without any change
The feeling we live with still remains
We're stuck in a hole and we're searching for anything to hold onto
There has to be somewhere that we can be safe from the lives we live each day
There has to be somewhere that we can be far away.....
*****
The night sky swirled into a dark abyss, the only light through the never-ending blackness being the spots of light from the stars that looked like someone poked holes into a black piece of paper and held a light behind it. It was midnight, and that's when Hallie arrived home from the hospital. She had taken a public bus, and walked home from the bus stop a half mile away. Without caring what Maurine was going to say to her, she strolled right through the front door, but was surprised to see her stepmother wasn't even around. 'Ha, she probably gave up on me by now.' she thought dryly.
Hallie had changed into a comfortable pair of sweatpants and one of Logan's t-shirts that remained from the bag of clothes he'd left at her house. She laid down on her bed, lifting the collar of the shirt up over her nose as she breathed in Logan's scent that still lingered there. Feeling comforted as if he was with her, Hallie rolled onto her side and pulled a light blanket over her as she nuzzled her face into a pillow. She was surprised that Maurine hadn't barged in her room, demanding to know where she'd been. Groaning softly with dismissal, she closed her eyes and promptly fell asleep.
*****
Morning in the hospital was quite chaotic, people moved all around, the E.R. especially was full of waiting people; anxious children, old folks, worrying parents, all kinds.
Hallie made her way upstairs in the elevator, then found herself skipping happily to Logan's room. She was excited about getting him back, taking him out of this place where he would be close. He was her boyfriend now, but things hadn't much changed between them she figured, he was always meant to be her soulmate.
*****
Sunlight shone through the opened blinds of the single room, and Logan sat in a wheelchair beside the bed, dressed only in his boxers, heart monitors still sticking to his chest. He was staring almost longingly out the window, when the door opened, causing him to turn around.
Hallie poked her head in, a comical grin on her face, with her tongue out and eyes crossed, causing Logan to chuckle softly. "Heeeeya!"
Grunting softly, Logan placed his hands on the chairs wheels, carefully turning so he didn't pull out the monitoring wires. "Mornin' Hal."
Grinning, Hallie hopped inside the room, a bundle of clothes tucked under her arm. She swung the bundle around, dropping it in Logan's lap. "I brought ya some clothes."
"Thanks. Didn't feel like wanderin' outta here like this." he nodded, gesturing toward his appearance.
Hallie grinned slyly with a smirk. "I for one wouldn't mind." she laughed, later adding, "It'd be a good laugh."
"Ha. Ha." Logan said dryly with a roll of his eyes. He stood carefully, then picked up the portable heart-monitor from the bed, bundling up the wires and taking it, with his clothes, into the room's bathroom to get changed.
With a raised eyebrow, Hallie stared curiously as she watched him take the clunky little machine with him. "What's that for?"
"Hnh?" Logan stopped by the door, glancing back and looking at the machine he held in his other hand. "Oh, portable heart-monitor, the doc says I gotta wear it atleast 'till tomorrow ta make sure there's no trouble with the new meds an' stuff."
"Oh. 'Kay." Hallie nodded, smiling tightly as he smiled at her and shut the door behind him. She remembered when Logan had his heart surgery a few years ago, and had to wear a heart-monitor for a little while. It had scared her, and she was reminded of what had happened to him. Putting the thoughts past her, Hallie leaned up against the wall and waited.
*****
Pushing Logan toward the hospital exit in a wheelchair, Hallie listened with amusement as he mumbled something about being able to walk on his own. "It's hospital policy." she whispered, laughing as she leaned over him, then straightened and stopped at the doors. "Shall I dump you out?" she asked teasingly.
Rolling his eyes and glaring back at the nurse that had been obligated to guide them out, Logan stood a little slowly, feeling awkward with the heart-monitor wires hanging out from under his shirt. The clunky little machine was supposed to attach to the belt of his pants, but he just held it in one hand instead.
Hallie smirked as Logan fumbled with the monitor, then leaned up beside him as they walked.
"So how'd you get here anyways?" he asked gruffly as they continued into the parking lot.
"Oh...I took yer truck." Hallie smirked.
"What? But it wouldn't run." Logan exclaimed with surprise.
"So, I fixed it." she said proudly.
Logan just looked at her skeptically. "C'mon Hallie, seriously."
"I am serious!" she cried, a bit angry that he didn't believe her. "Hey, I've seen you fix that damn thing enough times ta pick up on somethin'. Besides, all it needed was a new battery an' a tire."
"Hmph." Logan shook his head with a lopsided smile as they approached the truck. He instinctively went for the driver's seat, since it was his truck.
"Uh-uh. No way Jose." Hallie scolded with a laugh, waving her finger in Logan's face and pointing toward the passenger side. "You're not supposed ta drive for a little while remember?"
"Rrr.." Logan huffed, rolling his eyes with a heavy sigh as rounded the truck and got in. "With yer drivin' I might as well."
"Hardy-har-har." Hallie replied dryly, starting up the truck. "Seatbelt!" she exclaimed with a comical grin as Logan made a face at her. She waited until he finally strapped up, then pulled out of the parking spot.
*****
Afternoon was rather dull and boring. It was Saturday, and since they didn't have to go to school (which both were incredibly thankful for ), Hallie and Logan were at a loss of what to do. But they'd both rather be bored to death than be in school any day. Logan's father still hadn't shown up, and Maurine was busy with her second job.
The two of them were sitting up in Logan's room, a deck of cards laid out on the bed between them as they attempted a game of 'Go Fish', but ended up getting bored with it really fast.
Suddenly Logan took Hallie's hand and made her put down the few cards she was holding. "Hal...what would ya say if I asked you ta runaway with me?"
Eyes lighting up and surprisingly believing what he was saying, Hallie tilted her head to the side and grinned. "I'd say, gimme a minute ta pack some junk an' let's go." she was fully serious in her answer, despite the total randomness of his question.
Looking down for a minute, Logan dropped Hallie's hand and stood, pulling the heart-monitor's wires from his chest and shutting the machine off as he tossed it on the bed. "I'm serious ya know." he said lowly.
Standing up, Hallie nodded. "I know." she started toward the door. "Me too."
"Wait," Logan called her back, causing her to stop a moment. "Listen, my Pop...I know ya said he looked guilty...back at the hospital, but-" he paused, looking to her with slightly angry features as he clenched his fists by his sides. "He'll make me play football again..I know he will. Or somethin' crazy like that anyways. I'm just...I'm sick o' bein' his 'mini-me', an' his punchin' bag. I can't take this anymore." he shook his head.
Hallie rushed back into the room and hugged Logan tightly, resting her head against his chest. She pulled back slowly, looking up into his eyes. "Yeh, well Maurine won't miss me much." looking down a moment she sighed. "She was kickin' me out after graduation anyways...She said I'm eighteen an' I can take care o' myself."
Running a hand through Hallie's hair, Logan leaned down and kissed her softly. "C'mon, we gotta hurry up an' get goin' before Maurine or my Pop come back." he whispered gently, breaking away and grabbing his army pack from the floor, dumping out the school stuff on his bed.
Nodding, Hallie parted slowly and ran for the door. "I'll meet'cha outside by your truck in fifteen!"
We have to escape and I will go anywhere if you just lead the way
Escape to a place where we'll be together, together everyday
We have to escape....
*****
After throwing an armful of clothes and some other necessities in her school backpack and a medium sized duffle bag, Hallie headed outside by Logan's truck. She wasn't at all scared to run away like she thought she would be. It just seemed natural in a way, like a movie even. Taking off with Logan into the sunset.
Smiling at the thought of being together with him forever, Hallie tossed her bags in the back of the truck, looking over at Logan who leaned over the edge of the truck bed staring at her. "Got your pills?"
He nodded pulling two full pill bottles out of his pants pocket and shaking them to confirm his answer, the rest of his stuff already in the truck. Despite his still remaining anger towards his father, Logan had written him a note, explaining why he had to leave. It was the least he could do, giving the man some closure, even though he had lied a bit in the letter, not wanting his father to feel responcible for his sudden departure.
"Good." Hallie nodded, then walked around to where Logan was, standing in front of him and wrapping her arms around his neck. She laughed quietly as he leaned down and kissed her, then smirked mischievously. "You still can't drive."
"Hmph." Logan grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest in mock anger as she pulled away. He then rounded the truck and hopped in the passenger side as Hallie got in and started up the old pick-up. "Hal, ya got no sense o' direction." he muttered, strapping his seatbelt and staring over at her.
She just shrugged, backing up out of the driveway and turning onto the dirt road. "That's why I'm gonna drive, an' you're gonna navigate."
"Ha! The perfect team." Logan chuckled with a grin, snatching his cowboy hat off the truck's dashboard and firmly placing it atop his head, covering up his wild hair.
"Ok navigator, where we goin'." Hallie asked, sneaking a glance at Logan and admiring how he looked in that old cowboy hat.
"Hm.." he put a hand to his stubbly chin, scratching it thoughtfully. "I was thinkin'..." Logan drifted off a moment and smiled lopsidedly, "...somewhere far from Kansas."
Hallie nodded sharply with a short laugh. "Will do!" she exclaimed, speeding off along the road.
Both of the teens knew what they were getting into, although it may seem they were taking off without thinking. They realized they had yet to finish highschool and wouldn't graduate, they realized they were leaving their so-called, families, behind...But they also realized they were with someone they completely trusted and truly cared about, and that was all that mattered. They were fully prepared to leave their old lives behind, to start a new one...a better one.
*****
Hours later, Thomas Howlett sat in his cruddy old favorite chair in the livingroom. He set his beer-bottle aside, and a sad look crossed his normally scowled features, a messily hand-written letter in his hand. A bit of a smile etched it's way onto his face as his aged eyes scanned over the letter...
Hey Pop,
You might've noticed that I'm not around at the moment. I thought I should tell you...I'm not coming back. Me an' Hallie are taking off to live our own lives, together. I just wanted you to know that this isn't anyone's fault, but I'm doing this for love. You should be able to understand that. I remember you telling me how you an' Mom ran away when you guys were 17, so that gives me an' Hallie a year on you two. Maurine was kicking Hallie out after graduation, and I couldn't let her be off on her own all alone like that. I hope you understand Pop, I love her, I really do.
-Logan
P.S. I'll try and write you once in a while. We'll be fine, just don't be mad. Bye Pop.
We could be living how we wanted to
Instead of doing things we're forced to do
With no one to tell us that we should be going through what they went through
There has to be someplace that nobody knows, somewhere we can only go
There has to be someplace that we can be all alone.......
We have to escape.......
*****The End*****
Note: Thank you everyone!! I know I coulda done more, but this is where I envisioned ending the story. Sorry if yer disappointed. x_0;; Please review! *runs off with muse in fear of being pelted by rotten fruit*