Breakaway

Alexis stood at her locker and watched as Laura walked towards the stairs. Mere seconds seemed like hours. Then she heard Laura's scream. Alexis watched as everyone ran past her and to the stairwell.

As soon as everybody was crowded around the stairs Alexis took off in the opposite direction. She ran down the other staircase and out the side door. She stopped in the parking lot and looking around. She panicked. But then the car slammed on the brakes beside her.

"Almost late," Alexis said as she climbed in.

"Almost doesn't count," AJ said flooring the gas.

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Laura timidly walked into her father's office.

"What is it?" Jerry snapped.

"Umm…Lance Hoyt wants to quit," Laura said unevenly.

"Great, that's just what I need," Jerry said snatching the paper from Laura's hand, signing it and dating it.

"Thank you," Laura said taking the piece of paper back and walking out of the room.

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"So you got Jerry to sign it?" Alexis asked through the door.

"Yeah," Laura said. "And AJ happily signed it too."

Alexis smiled and hugged herself.

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"What was the hold up?" Alexis asked.

"Well there were two," AJ said swerving in and out of traffic. "The first one was first thing in the morning. I went to put the car into drive but it refused to turn. So I popped the hood and took a look. Your nice cousin cut my brakes. So I had to go and get that fixed quickly and then after that I went to get you something."

"I get something?" Alexis asked excitedly.

AJ pointed to the back of the car. Alexis turned around.

"Yes! I got McDonalds!" Alexis screamed.

"Hold the screaming please," AJ said.

"Sorry," Alexis said calming herself. "Thanks."

"No problem," AJ said finding a way out of the city. "So how long until your eighteenth?"

"Exactly two weeks," Alexis said happily.

"Tell me more about this whole freezer incident."

"Well…"

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"You can't tell me what to do!" Alexis screamed.

"Oh really?" Jerry asked. "Why not?

"Because in two months, when I turn eighteen, I'm outta here and AJ's gonna be right there beside me," Alexis said.

Jerry laughed. "Get up to your room right now."

Alexis glared at Jerry but knew that it was in her best interest that she should listen. So she stomped the entire way upstairs and the slammed the bedroom door.

She sat in her room for close to a half an hour before Jerry entered her room.

"Get up!" He yelled.

Alexis got up. Jerry walked behind her and followed her down the stairs and into the basement.

"What are we doing in here?" Alexis asked.

Then Jerry opened the lid of the freezer. Alexis' eyes went as wide as they could.

"Get in."

At first Alexis struggled but then Jeff came downstairs and helped Jerry. He picked Alexis up and dropped her roughly into the empty freezer. Alexis held her hip as pains surged through it. Then everything went back black. That wasn't the worst part. The worst part was the freezing temperature. Alexis felt around. The space wasn't that big and she began to get claustrophobic. She let out high pitched screams even though she knew that no one would hear. Then, after what seemed to be hours, the lid opened and Jeff picked her up. He took her upstairs, dropped her onto the bed and left her alone.

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Instead of replying to the story AJ just took Alexis' hand in his. He gave it a gentle squeeze. He unlaced his fingers from hers when he had to make a sharp turn.

"So this is how it went," AJ said to her. "Laura brought most of your stuff over this morning and I packed whatever I could. Whatever I couldn't pack is at Petey's."

"Sounds good to me," Alexis said.

"And whenever we get to where we're going Petey'll bring it down."

Alexis nodded.

"Question," Alexis said looking at AJ. "How long are you going to continue driving like a mad man?"

"Until I'm sure that they can't possibly catch up," AJ replied. "Now my turn. Did you put the letters on the dresser?"

"Indubitably my dear Watson," Alexis said. "Umm…why aren't we on the freeway?"

"Because I don't feel like getting pulled over for speeding," AJ said.

"How are ya feeling?" Alexis asked.

AJ didn't reply.

"AJ?"

"You really don't wanna know what's running through my mind," AJ said slowly slowing down.

"Scared?"

"Doesn't even begin to explain it," AJ said looking at her. "I just quit my job, kidnapped my underage girlfriend, now I'm speeding down a dirt road and I just realized that I don't know where it goes."

"Seriously?" Alexis asked.

"Oh yeah," AJ replied. "I'm good and lost."

"There's a positive to that though."

"This I've gotta hear," AJ said looking around.

"Well if we don't know where we are, chances are that they also don't know where we are," Alexis replied.

AJ glanced at her.

"What?" Alexis said laughing.

AJ laughed and shook his head.

"I think that there's some logic to my thinking," Alexis said.

"I'm sure there is," AJ said. "On some unknown planet somewhere."

"Shut up," Alexis said.

"Yes!" AJ said happily. "I found the freeway."

"Good job," Alexis said laughing. "And it's even the right one."

"I still don't know where we're going," AJ said to her.

"Just go straight and follow the highway," Alexis said.

"Fine by me," AJ replied. "So how long do you figure this is going to take?"

Alexis thought for a few seconds and did a couple calculations.

"Promise not to get mad?" Alexis asked.

"I won't get mad," AJ answered.

"About a week and a half," Alexis said.

"Whatever you say," AJ said shrugging. "As long as you have the cash."

"Cash I have," Alexis said.

She pulled the card out of her bra and handed it to AJ.

"I shall treasure this forever."

"You'd better," Alexis said laughing.

When AJ got the speed back under control he laced his fingers through hers and held her hand on his lap.

"Aww…" Alexis said and kissed his cheek. "You do love me."

"Yep," AJ said kissing her hand.

"You're just a cutie," Alexis laughed.

"I know," AJ said smiling. "But I'm also quite sexy."

"Definitely," Alexis said stroking his neck.

Alexis and AJ continued to joke around for a few minutes until she saw him glance in his side mirror. She looked at the clock and then at him.

"Think they know yet?" Alexis asked.

AJ looked at the clock and then at her.

"Yeah, they know," he said passing a car.

Alexis looked at the floor.

"Should we have done this?" Alexis asked concerned.

"Yes," AJ said picking up the speed again.

"I don't think we should've done this," Alexis said beginning to lose control of herself.

AJ slammed on the brakes and quickly pulled the car onto the side of the road.

"What?" He asked.

"I don't know AJ," Alexis said.

"So now you're having second thoughts?" He asked almost laughing.

"I don't know!" Alexis yelled as tears began to form in her eyes.

AJ looked out the window, calmly put the car back into drive and pulled back onto the road.

"We're fine," he said rubbing her leg. "We're fine."

Alexis was still extremely nervous and started to show it. Her breathing became more shallow, she started rubbing her hands together and she kept looking out of the side mirror.

"It's alright," AJ said calming himself down first. "I won't leave you. Nothing bad is going to happen."

"What if something does happen?"

Instead of answering AJ leaned over and opened the glove compartment.

"Holy shit," Alexis said as the tears escaped her eyes as she saw the gun. "AJ…"

"Shh…" AJ said to her and slammed the compartment shut. "Don't worry about it."

"AJ…" Alexis said as she tried to calm herself down. "What the hell is that for?"

"Personal protection," AJ answered. "C'mon Lexi, it's alright."

"No, no, it's really not alright now," Alexis said staring at the closed glove compartment.

"First, you really have to calm down. Second, it's not loaded, never has been," AJ said to her.

"Never has been?" Alexis asked confused.

"That gun has always been in there," AJ said to her.

"So you could have shot me the first time that we went out?" Alexis asked him.

"Could've but didn't," AJ answered. "Seriously girl, how can you honestly sit there and tell me that you don't trust me?"

"It's not about trusting you AJ," Alexis said to him. "It's about it being here."

"You know what, I'll put your mind at ease," AJ said to her. "Never in my entire life have I shot a person or animal with that gun or any gun."

Alexis looked around the car.

"Are we good now?" AJ asked her.

"Yeah," Alexis said controlling her breathing and fanning herself. "I'm sorry I'm just really emotional."

"Don't apologize," AJ said turning onto another dirt road. "You have no reason to."

"I just went flippy on you," Alexis said. "I think I should apologize."

"It's my fault," AJ said. "I should've told you it was there before."

"Screw that," Alexis said. "We're not fighting over who's to blame."

"Fine by me," AJ said to her. "Just try to calm down because you're gonna get me wound-up and I don't wanna snap at you."

"Agreed upon," Alexis said.

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That afternoon quickly turned to evening and AJ had only stopped once to fill up the tank.

Once they were back on the road AJ took his cell out and dialed Petey's number. He waited as the phone rang and rang. He shut it off and then looked at Alexis who was rubbing her eyes.

"Go to sleep," he said slouching in the driver's seat.

"No, I'm fine," Alexis said.

AJ shrugged but turned the radio to a country station. Soon Alexis was starting to yawn.

"Sleep…" AJ whispered to her and laughed.

"Don't," Alexis said trying to stay awake.

AJ dug around behind Alexis' seat for a few seconds and then gave her a pillow.

"Get to sleep this instant young lady," AJ said to her.

"But I don't wanna make you stay up alone," Alexis said.

"Don't worry about me," AJ said to her. "I've driven through the night before, I can do it again."

"And you aren't tired?" Alexis asked.

"Nope," AJ replied. "I'm still running off adrenalin."

"Still?" Alexis asked surprised.

"Oh yeah," AJ said. "A lot better than coffee and it even doubles as a pain killer."

Alexis laughed.

"Go to sleep," AJ said and kissed her forehead. "I'll be fine."

"Pull over for a second," Alexis said to him.

AJ shrugged and did as he was told. Once they were on the side of the road Alexis leaned over and kissed him.

"I love you," she said hugging him.

"I love you too," he said hugging her tightly.

Alexis kissed him strongly a few more times before she sat down again.

He watched her for a few seconds and then pulled back onto the road.

"Wanna know something funny?" AJ asked as she was getting comfortable.

"What?" Alexis asked relaxing.

"I've driven this way many times and made better time," AJ said laughing.

Alexis laughed and shook her head.

"You're a strange one," she said and closed her eyes.

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When Alexis awoke she was alone in the car at a gas station. The car was still running and all the doors were locked. She saw AJ a couple seconds later and he used the second set of keys to get back in.

"Hi," Alexis said stretching.

"Hey," he said kissing her. "Why don't you go stretch your legs?"

"Sounds good," Alexis said getting out of the car. "That feels good."

AJ walked around to her and wrapped his arm around her.

"So where are we?" She asked looking around.

"Centralia, Illinois," AJ answered. "A little off course but hey, it was more interesting."

Alexis smiled and kissed his cheek.

"What time is it?" She asked.

"About six in the morning," AJ said.

Alexis moaned.

"Go get yourself something and use the bathroom because I don't plan on stopping for another five hours," AJ said kissing her forehead.

"Okay," she said taking her card from him. "This could take about half an hour."

"Try ten minutes," he said hugging her.

"That'll work too," Alexis said walking into the store.

A few minutes later Alexis came back out and they were off again.

AJ rubbed his eyes. He was getting tired but he didn't want to admit it to himself or Alexis so he continued to drive on as if nothing we wrong.

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Four hours later AJ looked at Alexis who had successfully changed and did her make-up.

"I can't do this any longer," AJ said to her. "You're gonna have to drive."

"I can't," Alexis said to him. "Well it's not that I can't but I don't have my license. I've only actually driven once and that was well over a year ago."

"Well that's great," AJ said sarcastically and rolled his eyes.

Alexis looked at the floor of the car and waited for him to cool down.

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When the two stopped at a gas station an hour later AJ motioned for Alexis to go inside for a while. He still hadn't said a word to her.

Alexis came out of the gas station and found AJ sitting on the hood of the car.

"What?" She asked.

"C'mon," he said sliding off of the hood. He opened the driver's seat door for her and motioned for her to get in. Once she did he looked at her. "Adjust whatever you what. Here's the lights, indicator, windshield wipers, horn, airbag, gear shift, gas, brake, emergency brake, and you pretty much know what all the pretty lights mean."

He shut the door and walked around to the passenger side.

"Seriously?" Alexis asked.

"Yeah," AJ said. "I'll stay awake with you for a while but after that I'll be out for about four hours."

"Alrighty then," Alexis said looking around.

"Calm down," AJ said to her. "It's just a car. Now put it into drive."

Alexis did as she was told.

"Good, now go," AJ instructed.

Alexis pressed on the gas and was startled first of all.

"It's alright," AJ said rubbing her back. "Just stay calm."

Once she got onto the highway AJ just watched her for a while.

"You got it," he said smiling. "Now, you don't have to go fast if you don't want, I could honestly care less. Just try and keep it between fifty and sixty-five."

"Okay," Alexis said.

"Oh, one more thing," AJ said taking one of her hands. "Never listen to driving instructors. One hand on the wheel is so much easier."

Alexis nodded and left only one hand on the wheel.

"If you have any problems wake me up," AJ said to her. "You're good?"

"Yeah," Alexis said nodding.

"Good," he said and fell asleep almost instantly.

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When he woke up he looked at the clock and saw that it was four-thirty. Then he looked at Alexis who had her window cranked open and was singing to Cadillac by Mest.

"Having fun?" AJ asked her.

"Hell yeah," Alexis answered as she tapped the steering wheel to the beat of the music.

"How's she handling?" AJ asked.

"Good, put it's pulling to the left," Alexis said. "And strongly."

"To the left?" AJ asked confused.

"Yeah," Alexis said letting go of the wheel as they went around a turn.

"Interesting," AJ said confused. "Pull over."

So Alexis pulled over and they both got out.

AJ checked the back tire on the left first but nothing was wrong. When he checked the front left he wasn't impressed.

"You got a flat," AJ said and gently kicked the tire.

"What?" Alexis asked kneeling down and looking at the tire.

"Great," AJ said looking down the road. "Seen anything lately?"

Alexis shook her head no. AJ hoisted himself up onto the top of the car and thought. Then he looked at her.

"How the hell did you manage to get a flat on the left?" He asked.

Alexis didn't reply.

"I'm not mad Lexi," AJ said to her laughing. "I'd just really like to know how you got a flat on the left."

"Well I don't know," Alexis said to him. "Would you like to backtrack for a while and see where it happened?"

"No I'm good," AJ said to her.

"Well you're a guy, get your things and fix it," Alexis said to him.

"My things are all in Petey's house!" AJ yelled. "I had to take those things out so that I could fit more stuff into the car."

Alexis rolled her eyes.

"You're a woman," AJ said to her. "Flaunt you stuff for every guy that drives past."

"And you, as my man, are supposed to stop me from doing that," Alexis replied.

As the two continued to squabble they didn't notice the vehicle that pulled up behind them.

"Are you two alright?" The guy asked.

AJ and Alexis didn't hear him.

"Excuse me?" The man said and cleared his throat.

AJ looked up and saw the man. He quickly stepped in front of Alexis.

"Are you two okay?" The man asked again.

"Actually we've got a flat," AJ said to the guy. "Know anyone that could fix it?"

"Well gosh darn, aren't you AJ Styles?" The man asked.

"Yes I am," AJ said.

"Then hell yeah I know someone that can help you," the man said. "I can tow the car into town, give you two a ride and fix you up with something."

"Really?" AJ asked. "That'd be great."

"How far away is town?" Alexis asked the guy.

"About three miles that way," the man said pointing east.

"I could've made it," Alexis said to AJ.

"You would've been driving on my rims," AJ said to her. "That would've ruined them."

Alexis rolled her eyes. She watched as the two men hooked the vehicles to each other and then the man opened the back door of the truck open for her.

"Thanks," Alexis said as she got in.

AJ sat in the front with the other man and they talked the whole way into town. Once they got to the town the man took them to a garage, set them up and then took them out to dinner, his treat. As if all of that wasn't enough the man even insisted that he pay for the tire.

"You do not know how much I appreciate this," AJ said as he shook the man's hand.

"All in a day's work," the man said smiling. "You two take care now."

"We'll do that," AJ said. "It was nice meeting you."

"You too," the man said.

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"Are we good now?" AJ asked Alexis after an hour of silence.

"It wasn't my fault," Alexis said.

"I never said that it was your fault," AJ said to her.

"Whatever, we're good," Alexis said holding her stomach. "That was a good meal."

AJ smiled at her.

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