~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Halley's PoV
Simon is on the other side of the pool when I step out of the pool house, wiping off my blush to make me look my natural pale. I rub my hand over and over on my forehead, to make it warm. I make my eyes a bit watery, and carry myself so that I look like I'm gonna break at any time. What can I say? If you're gonna fake faint, at least to it good!
"Halley! Are you all right?" he cries, rushing to my side as I grip his arm like there's no tomorrow. He winces, then checks my forehead, murmuring about me having a fever. I make my eyes go out of focus a bit, leaning my head on his shoulder as we walk inside, passing the pool house. I send Aiden a wink.
We enter the ballroom, and he's still trying his best to make sure I don't pass out on the floor. Which, unluckily for him, is still gonna happen. We get about a quarter of the way into the room, and I decide it's my moment to shine. I make my eyes go out of focus, sending Simon a confused, weak look just as I crumple to the ground, letting my body go limp as screams of women and gasps of men are heard.
I hear Maria's voice ordering people to back away from me, and feel Andre's strong arms lifting me. The warmth and smell of over-priced perfume fades as he carries me to my room, Maria following after him. I hear the soft sound of my bedspreads being pulled back, and the warmth and comfort of them being pulled over me. The heavy sound of Andre's boots leaving and the door closing tells me that I'm safe, and I open my eyes to find Maria staring at me.
"So, was I believable?" I ask, and she hits me on the shoulder.
"You scared me to death, little missy." she admonishes, making me feel guilty. But only for a second- it's impossible for Maria to get mad at me, so what do I have to be guilty for?
"Sorry, Maria. But I had to get out of there." I tell her, knowing I can trust her with anything, "I'm leaving tonight. Forever." She gasps, then lets out a giant grin.
"Oh, mamacita! I am so happy for you. Where are you going?" she asks, and I shake my head, knowing that I can't tell her or I'll put her in danger of losing her job.
"I can't say. But I'll call you, and send you letters, and...I'm so excited!" I gush, and she smiles at me, a sort of maternal pride making her glow. After all, I am the daughter she never had- she said that, not me. "But you can't let anyone come in here tonight, ok?" I ask her, and she nods.
"No one. I'll miss you so much, my little girl." she says, and tears start filling her eyes. I nod, pulling her into a hug as my eyes water again. Funny, I thought I'd cried all that I could in the pool house.
"Thank you for everything you've ever done. I love you, Maria. And tell everyone bye for me, okay?" I ask her, somehow choking the words through the tears. She nods, telling me that she loves me, too. Then, she stands up, and with one last wave is gone forever. I stand up, throwing off the covers and climbing out, pulling the slip over my head but getting stuck halfway.
Great, just great. Just my luck that Aiden, hot little soldier boy, is having a laughing fit while watching me try to get my elbow to get unstuck. I finally free myself of it, and change into jeans and a beater, throwing on a zip-up cardigan with pins all over it on for warmth, in case it gets chilly.
I open my door a little, panicking as I see Simon coming down the hall. What the hell is that freak doing here???!!! I hurl myself under the covers, feigning a contented sleep before I realize that my "dress" is lying on the ground. I take off my tank top so it looks like I haven't changed, and pretend to sleep again.
Simon waltzes in, his eyes going wide at the sight of the dress on the ground. I mumble incoherently, tossing all over the bed. He sits down next to me, shaking my blanket-covered shoulder lightly. "Halley. Halley, wake up." he whispers, smiling slightly. Maybe this guy isn't all bad.
"Mmm?" I mumble, rubbing my eyes.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing. After all, we all know how much fake fainting can do to your health." he tells me, brushing a piece of hair out of my eye. "And, I was wondering if you would consider going steady with me, to all the banquets and dances our parents, who obviously smoke crack, like to attend." Well, no argument about the "smoking crack" bit. When did Simon go normal?
"You don't like them, either?" I ask him, and he laughs.
"Are you kidding me? They're for losers who are on the chess club and wear sweaters tied around their necks!" he snorts. Could I have really been this wrong?
"Listen, Simon, I would, really, but I-" I start, but he cuts me off.
"It's ok, really, I just figured that we could be sarcastic together or whatever." he says, frowning a bit.
"No, I really would, it's just that I'm running away tonight." I tell him, and he lights up.
"Oh, where?" he asks, and I shrug, really not wanting to share the destination yet.
"Dunno. But I'm gonna need your help. You have to keep everyone away from my room, ok?" I tell him. Obviously Maria didn't do a good job at that one. Honestly, I mean, I love the woman, but she has the shortest memory span in the history of ever. One time, she bought a bottle of Gingko Biloba, and forgot where she put it!!!
"Sure. Hey, you take care of yourself out there." he tells me, and I kiss him on the cheek, figuring that he deserves it.
"Will do. And you find a way to rebel against those dweebs, ok?" I tell him, and he smirks. Then he leaves, waving me goodbye.
I pull my shirt over my head, really not caring that by now, my hair probably looks like Diana Ross's, and head to the closet. I pull out the top of the closet and pull down a shoebox, then lift up the rug beside my bed, pulling up a floorboard and snag the old hatbox inside. I take a jar from my desk and start emptying all the years and years of allowance stored in the boxes, and put them into the jar. I tuck the jar into my backpack and grabs wads of jeans and tank tops, not even bothering to fold them.
After I finish with all the clothes, I open up the three jewelry boxes on my dresser and empty them into a baggy, being extra careful with the real stuff. I do a quick check, then grab my cell phone and coat and open the French glass doors, not even bothering with a goodbye note as I jump off the balcony and run for the woods, for my one chance to get out of here.
Hello, world, here I come!! Ow! Stupid rabbit hole...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Aiden's PoV
I watch her jump off her balcony, landing with all the precision and grace of a cat. She starts running for me, her legs moving like a tiger's, working effortlessly and with ease...ok, tripping into a rabbit hole kind of ruined the graceful-factor.
She reaches me, practically doing the whole 'teenage girl squeal' thing, she's so excited. "This way." I tell her, and she follows me to my bike, her eyes lighting up when she sees it.
"Ooh, pretty." she fake-swoons, making her voice all pitchy and breathy and batting her eyes. I laugh, knowing now that this is by far the best mission I've ever been on.
"I know, little lady. Would you like a ride with a real man?" I ask, making my voice super-low and gruff as I climb on. She slides in behind me, and you can hear the grin in her voice.
"Sure thing, hot shot." she whispers, and I start the bike. I maneuver us onto the road, where we're once again stopped by cows.
"Goodbye, Wisconsin!" she yells, tipping her head back and smiling. Her black hair swirls around her face, framing her beauty. The wind rushing by her cheeks makes them turn red. You know, she is quite pretty....I'm in deep, aren't I?
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A/N: Hello, my people!!!! how'd ya like it? Sorry about update-lackage...my computer had a virus, and it just got fixed today. Stupid computer.
Molly Jeane :D