*~Running Away~*

Todd was sitting in his lonely cell upon his cot, staring down at the floor and feeling horrible. The cot was as lumpy as hell. All he had been served to eat for the past two days was lukewarm milk and cold bologna sandwiches. He missed having something hot to eat, and he missed Marty. He really missed Marty. He missed her with an incredible fierce ache. She was all he could think about. He couldn't wait to hold her again ... but would he ever?

Full of longing and feeling completely sorry for himself, he jumped up off the cot when a strange noise captured his attention. Someone was breaking through the wooden slats which made up the floor of his cell. Someone was breaking him OUT!

"What the hell?" Todd gasped. He then caught sight of long blond hair and a ponytail. It was Jason! His friend was helping him escape!

"Jason?! What are you doing?" Todd asked as Jason squeezed his skinny body through the opening he had created in the broken slats.

"I'm busting you out of here," Jason stated.

"How?" Todd questioned. "What do you have in mind?"

Jason held up a shiny set of keys and tossed them to Todd. "I got you a car ... and a few supplies."

"What?" Todd said in surprise. "How'd you manage that?"

"Don't ask. Just take the car and get the hell out of here."

"Well, I guess I have no other choice. If I stay here, I'll get locked up in Statesville with an extended sentence."

"Exactly. You gotta go."

"What about you?" Todd asked. "Are you going with me?"

"No. You know it's not me you want to take with you. There's only enough supplies for two... and you can't leave without Marty."

"I love her," Todd admitted.

"Then go and get her." Jason replied. "When I'm 18, I am getting out of this place... then I'll be free to be with Megan."

"Thank you, Jason. I'll never forget how you helped me," Todd said as he gave his friend a hug.

~*~o~*~

Marty was locked in her room at the convent as she waited for her Aunt Kiki to come and get her. She had been expelled from the school due to her brazen behavior. She hadn't even been allowed to talk to Megan. She had been in completeseclusion since the police officer had brought her back to the convent.

Tears rushed down her cheeks because she was missing Todd. She wouldn't even be allowed the chance to tell him goodbye. They had only had one night together and now it was all gone. She loved him and it just wasn't fair!

She stared out the window, waiting for her aunt's arrival. Her bags were packed and situated at the end of the bed. It was almost time to go.

If only she had just one more chance to talk to Todd. She'd tell him that she loved him and how much she'd miss him when her aunt took her away to Europe. With sorrowed tears streaming from her eyes, Marty drug her gaze away from the window. Someone was turning a key in the lock!

The door opened and there stood Todd. "Come on, baby," he said. "I'm busting you out of this place."

She stared at him in shock. Was he real?! Had he really come to break her out of the convent?

"Todd?" she said in disbelief.

He pulled her to him and gave her a steamy kiss. "We gotta hurry before anyone sees us," he insisted. "Let's get the hell out of here."

A smile slowly formed on Marty's face when she heard his words. "It's true! I don't have to go to Europe with Aunt Kiki. I'm running away with you," she said happily.

"It's true, babe," Todd answered. "Let's go."