I wiped my face with the back of my sleeve, successfully snotting all over my favourite too-big Switchfoot hoodie. I sighed and got up from the floor and grabbed the huge green duffel bag from atop my wardrobe and began filling with clothes and crap.
By the time the thing was stuffed full of stuff, I wrestled with it to try and close the zip. Oh my god, you stupid piece of crap! I whisper screamed at it, You d better friggin close, you re destroying my dramatic exit! I continued, attacking it with my fists. Finally it began to obey me and start to zip up. Inch. By. Fucking. Inch.
I gave up halfway and prayed it wouldn t bust open when it came to my exit.
Still praying, this time for another cause, I turned the room inside out to find the sock filled with money I d been saving since I was about 12. I found it under the bed surrounded by dust bunnies and crumbs. Nice!
I didn t bother counting what was in there, I knew there must be around $4000 dollars in there at least. When we were younger, my parents used to put like $10 dollars a week in a little piggy bank for their little Bob. But little did they know that the money they think is still saved up in that little piggy bank for little Bob goes straight to me. No, stealing money from siblings is not a good thing to do. It s friggin awesome! On top of the $3640 of Bob s, I saved my wages from working at Starbucks for like, two, maybe three years. I remembered the emergency credit card my parents had given Bob. No, it was for us to share. Right I snatched it from the wallet Robert kept under his pillow (I know right!) and slipped it into the back pocket of my jeans.
I went back into my room and took a fist full of bills from the sock and stuffed them into another pocket of my jeans then tied the sock back up and stuffed it into the gap in the duffel. I looked around the room for any thing else I d need. My eyes settled on the scruffy notebook I used to scribble song ideas in. I tore a page out and scribbled a note. It wasn t anything special or anything, it just said:
Gone away for a while. Dunno when I ll be back. don t come looking for me.
I didn t bother signing my name at the bottom, they d know it was from me; its not like Bob would run away. II grabbed my guitar in its case, slung it across my back and picked up the bag, keeping the note in my hand.
I crept downstairs and in to the kitchen, dropping the paper in the fruit bowl just for kicks. I looked briefly over the kitchen. Damn, I m gonna miss this place Not! I mentally giggled and cracked open the back door. It opened silently. Thank God my mom s so majorly OCD.
I practically ran out of the neighbourhood, not stopping until I was far enough away from that place I d been told to call home. Except, I d never have a home as long as I was under the rules of Lord and Lady Parker. Home is a place where you feel safe and loved. Where you have a cosy bed to sleep in and y know general homey stuff.
I d been trudging along the dark road for at least a half hour and my shoulder was killing and my shoes were rubbing and my eyes stung from the fine rain that kept finding its way into them no matter how much I squinted.
I didn t know what the hell I m gonna do when it gets too dark. I had no idea where I was. I just kept plodding on along the side of the dark, empty road. There was a street lamp ever few hundred gazillion miles, I tried to get my bearings in the few seconds I was in its light, but it did nothing but infuriate me further.
I know what you re thinking. Doesn t she live in this place? Surely she knows where she is! But the truth is, you re wrong. The only places I really knew my whereabouts in were the mall (because of work), school (obviously), my neighbourhood (Because I stayed there) and finally, the old park. Oh my god, I m a failure as a teenager! What type of dork doesn t know their way around their own town?
I came across a half-empty diner on my travels. I say half-empty , but I really mean the only people in this joint are me, a man and a woman, a trucker, and a waitress that looked older than the actually building . I squelched through the door and slid into a booth in the corner and pulled out my phone. It was almost twenty to ten. My feet were fucking killing me. I fought hard to resist the urge to take off my shoes and plonk my feet on the table and demand a foot rub.
Waddya wuuant? the sweet looking old woman asked. Aren t old white haired waitresses in sixties style diners with New Yorker accents so clich ?
Um, can I have a cup of black coffee and I hesitated for a while looking around for some sort of menu. I sighed, a donut. Well done, Cleo. At the one point in your life when you have felt so hungry you could eat a scabby cat, you chose to order a donut.
I slid down in the chair, resting my wet head on the table. Unhygienic, yes, but at this specific moment, I don t give a crap.
Donat an a cwoffee? The old lady s voice rang shrill through my ears. I groaned internally and sat up and smiled at her.
Yes, that s mine, thanks. I mumbled as she set them down on the table and shuffled away. I grimaced at the stale-looking donut and turned my attention to the mug of steaming brown liquid next to it. I grimaced again and gingerly took a sip, choking on it straight away. Ugh. I hate coffee. I dunno why I got it. I guess I was subconsciously craving caffeine.
After 3 more forced glugs of coffee, the bell jingled as someone came through the door. It was a hooded figure. Male. Tall. 6 foot maybe? Quite skinny. I m guessing adolescent.
Yes. Yes. Yes. And yes. My observational skills are to die for. He sat across the room in the booth opposite mine and took down his hood.
Wow. He s rather fetching. Who am I kidding this dude is hot! His hair was dark. His skin was pale. And even from here I could see the piercing ice-blue of his eyes.
He looked up and caught me staring.
Kill. Me. Now.
I quickly averted my eyes and stuffed my mouth with donut, my face lighting up like a beetroot.
I peeked up again through my eyelashes and he was still looking over in my direction. He smiled to himself. It wasn t really a smile it was just a general upturn of the corners of his lips. His beautiful, beautiful lips. Sigh.
Jeez, Cleo, who are you?!
I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again, looking up casually to casually glance across the diner in a casual manner, casually flicking my bangs to the side in one casual movement. Casually.
Did he see me?
In a sexy casual way, I took a sip from my drink, forcing it down my throat, disguising the grimace as a half-sigh of delight and wonderment. Stupid, disgusting coffee.
He saw me then right?
I looked over at his table with the corner of my eye. He was getting up and walking towards the door. Aw, crap. I scared him away. Well, goodbye, beautiful stranger with the emo hair and flawless skin, it was nice looking at you! I sobbed a little in my head. Does anybody want me?!
Oh, wait, wait! He walked past the door and continued until he was standing beside my table. JACKPOT!!
Um, hey. He said in his awesome silky smooth voice.
Hi, I replied looking up at him.
Well to be honest, I was sick of sitting on my own and you were sat on your own, so I thought I d come over and say hi. Aww, gorgeous and considerate! Where have you been all my life?
Awesome, sit down, I smiled. So did he.
I m Luke by the way,
Awesome, I m Cleo,
Awesome, He grinned. I blushed. Awesome is probably the most over-used under-pressure word in my whole dictionary.
So what are you doing out on this fine afternoon? Aww, gorgeous, considerate and funny!
Oh, y know, just taking a stroll. I sighed, picking at the donut before me.
With a suitcase?
No, it s a duffle. I giggled. I do not giggle. Well, its kind of a long stroll.
Well, I m up for a road trip if your feet get tired. Now that s an offer I cant refuse.
Well, where ya headed?
He shrugged his shoulders. Dunno, really, just wherever the road leads, Luke said, propping his chin on his hand on the table, So why are you strolling?
Why are you strolling? I snapped back instantly, I m sorry, I murmured, dropping the smushed donut back on the plate, Touchy subject. So, um, why are you strolling in a car? I smiled, changing the subject.
Well, I just wanna see more than this place, y know? Get out, travel the world, do as much as I can with my life before its too late, cos you only get one shot at life, after that its game over. He confessed, staring blankly out of the streaky window.
Wow, I never really thought about it like that. I said, looking into his eyes. His mouth fell slack a little as he looked back at me. I looked down and closed my eyes.
I m sorry, its just Luke said, I could feel his gaze on my face.
No, it doesn t matter, I m used to it. I said, looking back up at him.
Your eyes ? He trailed off, They re red?
Yup. I m a freak, admit it. I laughed. Well it was more of a forced chuckle if you ask me.
No, they re beautiful and unique, just like you.
Thank you.
Why are they red? he asked, more confident now.
Um, its because there isn t a lot of this stuff called melanin in my eyes. Its really rare for non-albinistic people to have red eyes. There s only like, 20 known cases in the world, so yeah. Beat that! I added on the end with a smile.
Awesome. He winked, I giggled. Ew.
A righ dawl fayce, move it or lose it, the grumpy waitress said, totally killing our moment . Thanks. Am shuttin up shawp now beat it! I guess that s our cue to leave, Luke muttered, standing up and taking my hand. *Swoon*
He led me by the hand to a dusty orange and white 1987 Louts 47. Awh! I said, stroking the vehicle. I d always had a soft spot for vintage cars, She s so cute,
Yeah, He laughed, It was my Grandpappy s. I fixed her up for him a few summers ago and when he died, he left her for me, He said with a nostalgic sigh. He took my bags from me and tossed them into the trunk. I opened the passenger door and slid into the car. It smelled like pinewood and dirt after rainfall. It was comforting. The driver s side door slammed shut as Luke got in and started the engine. It purred to life effortlessly.
So, where to? I asked, Luke grinned as he pulled off onto the empty road and drove westward.
Where do you want to go?
I thought a while then laughed to myself. Inside joke, you wouldn t get it. New York.
Okay, New York it is then! He said seriously, turning left again at a stop sign.
Um, really? I asked sceptically.
Yeah really, I looked at him, my face an image of disbelief.
Come on, Luke! You can not be serious! Its New York and we re currently driving through Minneapolis.
Come on, Cleo! He mocked me, What s 1020 miles between friends? You only live once, so why not spend it with other people seeing whats out there? Afterall Every living creature on Earth dies alone. He said.
Grandma Death?! You like Donnie Darko?! He nodded and smiled.
Who doesn t like Donnie Darko? The dude s legend! He laughed.
Oh my god, where have you been all my life?! I laughed, slapping him playfully on the arm.
Same place you have, stuck in a tiny neighbourhood, with parents who think you re gay because you once wore your little sisters jeans and maybe a tiny bit too much eyeliner. It was one time for Christ sake, cant you people leave me alone?! He ranted.
Um Luke? I said, holding my laughter in.
Awh crap! I said that out loud didn t I?! He exclaimed, bursting out laughing. Seriously, where had this guy been all my life?
After we d both calmed down I finally gathered the courage to ask more about his life.
So, are you from around here? Cos I never really see you, because I never go out. I added mentally.
No, I m actually from San Diego. My grandparents moved to Iowa about six years ago and I came with them. He explained whilst driving, I couldn t wait to leave. My parents were never really parents to me, I was always just their little accident . He sighed, When I turned 18, I decided that I wanted to see the rest of the world, so I started my cross-country road trip! He laughed.
One state at a time I laughed too.
So you re from around here then?
Unfortunately. I said, tugging at the stitches on the bottom of my sweater, My parents weren t parents either. I wasn t so much as an accident, just an inconvenience. They did love me, then I grew up. I guess they couldn t handle the fact that I m just not my brother. I confessed, silently hoping that the tears that were threatening to seep from my eyes stayed put. I sniffed automatically, and leant my head on the window, knocking a few thousand droplets of moisture escape from my silly red eyes. Luke said nothing but captured my hand in his. Although I wasn t looking at him fully, I could see the reassuring smile he was giving me, and that alone reminded me of what it felt like to be valued.
I wiped the tears from my face and tried my best to clear up the runaway mascara that tainted my face. I gave up and dropped my hands from my face. They fell in my lap with a thump. Luke looked over and smirked.
Yes? I snapped. I get snappy when I m sad.
You look like a racoon. He stated simply.
Thank you.
A very cute racoon, nonetheless. He added and I blushed.
I sighed -- for the millionth time in the past few hours -- and looked out of the window into the darkness, watching the sequential street lamps blanket the now soaked road with jets of yellow light.
Admittedly, New York did sound like a pretty awesome place to start afresh. It wasn t that far. Only 1020 miles away from home.
Okay. I said, breaking the stillness.
Hmm?
Fine. Sure. Whatever. Yes. If we must. I ranted as Luke got more confused, But do share, dear Jake, how do you propose we get to said destination, New York? Drive those 1020 miles on a half tank of gas?
Oh, New York? Well, dear Cleo, there is in fact this thing we like to call a train. He dragged the word out nice and slow as though I couldn t speak English or something.
Well excuse me! I giggled and Luke joined in.
I didn t realise that Luke s hand was still wrapped warmly around mine, rubbing subconscious circles on the back of my hand. I smiled to myself. I say smiled but I practically beamed and squealed. Luke squeezed my hand, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt wanted.