Running Away

A/N: To Ami – Thanks for reviewing and I'm glad you are enjoying the story. Thanks also for the advice. I'll try to incorporate it into the next chapter or two. And I'm very sorry, but I don't give out my email to people I don't know because I just don't. It's not safe. Nothing against you, but for all I now you could be a creepy 40-year-old man who wants to rape me. Anyways, sorry, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Previously:

Later on I was in my room studying when the phone rang. I ran out to answer it but my mom had already got it. I heard her say hello, and then the person on the other end of the line said something. All the color drained out of her face and she looked like she was about to faint.

I ran to my mom's side, so I could catch her if she did faint. Fortunately, she didn't. After another minute or so, she hung up the phone looking very shaken.

"What is it, Mom?" I begged, dying to know what was going on.

She sighed.

"Why don't we go sit down?"

I followed her towards the couch. I was almost shaking. I felt apprehensive and excited and nervous and terrified all at once.

"Gabi, my company is transferring me to Minneapolis. I have to move next week," she admitted, remorsefully.

I burst into tears and ran to my room quickly. I could hear her trying to say more, but I didn't want to hear another word. My life was ruined! All my friends would be ripped away from me. And Troy. My Troy. Sure, we could write, but long-distance relationships rarely work out.

I locked my door, and then I lay down on my bed and pounded my mattress with my fists. I cried and cried and cried until I couldn't cry any longer. I felt so emotionally drained. But I had to get away.

I quickly grabbed a backpack and put a couple of t-shirts, a pair of jeans, an umbrella, a hoodie and some other assorted items in it. Then I put on my rain jacket and went out onto my balcony.

I climbed down the trellis and crept to the street. The weather matched my mood. It was chilly and grey. The sky was spitting down on me, seemingly trying to wash my sorrow away, but I still felt it. I just had to make one decision. Where to go?

I though for a minute, then all of a sudden an idea hit me. I walked quickly, hoping that my mom wouldn't notice I was gone for a little while still. I needed a head start.

My walking soon broke into a light jog. I hurried down the road, heading for my goal.

Before I knew it I was sprinting. I was concentrating so hard that I didn't notice a figure on the sidewalk in front of me. That is, until I slammed into them.

I fell to the ground, my body sprawling everywhere. The wind was knocked out of me for a second, but after making sure I wasn't injured, I looked up to see who I had collided with.

He looked up at the same time I did.

"Troy?" I whispered, softly.

"Gabriella?" He responded.

"What-" he started.

"How-" I interrupted.

We looked into each others eyes, then seemingly in unison we leaned together and started kissing, right there on the sidewalk, in the rain. His strong hands caressed my back and I ran my fingers through his hair. The kiss was sweet yet passionate. I poured all the emotions I'd been feeling in the past couple of days into that kiss. When we finally pulled apart, I felt dazed.

"Wow," I whispered.

"I know," said Troy. "Gabs, what are you doing out in this kind of weather? Why were you running? Why do you have your backpack?"

I started sobbing. I cried so hard I couldn't speak. Troy stood up, picked my up, then he started carrying me towards his house. I wrapped my arms behind his neck and buried my heads in his chest, getting my tears all over his blue t-shirt.

Once we arrived at his house, he brought me up to his room and sat me on his bed. He sat down beside me, and cupped my face with his hands, tilting my head up to face him.

"Gabi, what's going on?"

By then I was calm enough to explain what was going on. I told him everything, occasionally sniffing a little. By the time I was done, he looked almost as sad as I felt.

"Gabi, it sucks that you have to move. But we can email each other and talk on the phone and write. We can visit each other too. We can make it work. But right now you really need to go home. Or at least call your mom. If its ok with her, you can sleep in our guest room tonight. I just really want you to call her. She must be worried sick about you!"

I sighed. I didn't want to have anything to do with my mom right then. But I knew he was right, so I picked up the phone and began to dial.

Thanks for reading, all! Sorry I took so long to update, but things have been crazy. Please review! They make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! 

freakymathgirl