A Different Path

Chapter 23 - Finally Escaping Him

Criticism spot! :)

Bit of a shorter chapter. :)

Crutchie's POV

I flinched a little as the bell rang, seeing that I had stayed on Jack's lap throughout the entire night. I took a deep breath in order to calm down a bit, feeling Jack begin to run his fingers through my hair. 

"How're you doing?" Race asked, surprising me a bit as I hadn't noticed he was still there. 

"I dunno," I mumbled, sitting up. "I think I'm doing better," I basically asked, looking at Jack. He smiled, visibly exhausted. "Did you not sleep?" He then shook his head, but kept smiling. "Why?"

"Just couldn't, that's all." He turned his attention to Race, stretching a bit. "You can go to the square, we'll be down there soon." Race nodded and took off, and Jack got up to get ready. "Do you want to stay home?" He asked me, and I shook my head.

"It didn't go well yesterday," I mumbled, my heart then sinking once I realized I hadn't told him about the multiple nightmares I had.

"What happened yesterday?" He started to change while we talked, and I did the same.

"I couldn't stop having nightmares," I grew even quiter, trying not to look at Jack. He had finished getting dressed and came over to me, gently lifting my head to look at him.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I sighed, glancing away from him for a moment.

"I didn't want you to get mad," I found it difficult to hold eye contact with Jack as I spoke, wanting to look to the ground.

"I would never get mad at you." He smiled again, pushing my hair back. "C'mon, lets go." 

We walked in silence, as I was lost in thought and Jack was exhausted. We were nearing the square when Race suddenly turned the corner, running to us and looking panicked. 

"You guys have to go!" He said, making Jack and I stop dead in our tracks.

"What?" Jack asked. I looked at him, dread overcoming me.

"You need to hide!" Race looked over his shoulder briefly, only looking at Jack and not at me.

"Race, calm down for a second. What's going on?" I was starting at Race now, the feeling of dread only getting worse.

"His Dad is here lookin' for you two!" I froze, immediately feeling sick to my stomach. "You've gotta hide!" Jack then turned to look at me, and I just stared back, knowing that I looked terrified. He came closer to me and put his hand on my shoulder, keeping his breathing calm.

"Okay, c'mon, we'll hide right there," he pointed down the nearby alley toward a trashbin, looking back to me. Romeo then showed up, looking just as panicked.

"He's coming, go!" He said, and for a moment I was surprised by him helping us. I then heard the unmistakable footsteps of my Dad, and I looked back to Jack again. He grabbed my arm and we hid behind the trashbin, Jack poking his head out a little so he could watch what was happening.

"It'll be fine, just breathe," he smiled kindly at me, turning his attention back to Race, Romeo, and the sound of my Dad approaching. Before I knew it, I could tell he was standing before the two, but I refused to peek over the trashbin and look. 

"What're you kids up to?" My Dad asked, and I immediately tensed up at the sound of his voice. Jack was watching the three of them closely, not looking at me at all.

"We're headin' to work, sir," Romeo answered, and I couldn't help but wonder if Race could be getting some bad memories flooding into his head while this happened.