Run

Chapter Twenty-Two

My morning was relatively slow, only one or two people had stopped for a drawing, but I didn't mind. I only charged ten dollars a drawing, if I got six done today that would have paid for the easel and sketch pad, I still wanted to pay Alex back for that but he wouldn't let me.

By noon, more people have started coming down the street to look through the different shops and buy souvenirs and tchotchkes. The more people who come through, the more my art is seen.

One lady in her 30's asked for a portrait, causing people to stop and watch me draw, which in turn showed them how good I was and more people started asking and waiting for a portrait.

Each portrait, depending on what the person wanted, took anywhere from forty-five minutes to over an hour. There was a family of four who wanted a portrait of them in front of one of the stores.

Alex stays with me the whole day, helping me by talking to the customers and making them smile. Some people even left a few dollars extra as tips for us. Alex forced me to take a break around four to eat and rest my hands, but I got back at it as fast as I could and haven't moved at all from my spot.

Now it's after six o'clock and Alex is begging me to call it a day.

"After these two I'll stop," I let my fingers keep going as I work a color portrait of a young woman and her mom in Amarillo t-shirts and cowboy hats.

"Jules it's almost seven, you've done like ten portraits today and you're coming back tomorrow," he groans and puts his hands on my shoulders, "Your hands are going to fall off and your eyes will fall out."

"I can be done in fifteen minutes, ok? Is that alright, I promise these two are my last customers today," I smile at them as warmly as I can. They've already apologized twice for holding us up but I told them to pay no mind to Alex.

He surrenders and leans against a wall to wait for me. I've been standing most of the day and my legs are also begging me to stop. Before I know it, the portrait is done and I'm signing my name in the corner while the mom pulls out her wallet. I give her the drawing and she gives me fifteen dollars.

"Keep the change," she smiles, overjoyed, as her daughter and her look over the portrait, "You do amazing work, truly. My daughter and I now have a beautiful souvenir to help us remember this trip for years to come."

"I'm happy to have done it, and I really hope you enjoy the rest of your trip."

Her daughter carefully places in in between two books they got at a nearby antique store and I look back to see Alex carefully packing the easel.

"Out of curiosity, did you draw that picture of him?" The mother lowers her voice, I know she's referring to the sample drawing I did of Alex, a lot of people have commented on it. I nod to her and smile, "You really captured the emotion in his eyes, there's some intense affection in his gaze. What was he looking at while you drew that?"

"He was with me. He was I guess watching me draw it, I don't really know, he says he thinks it's almost fascinating to watch me draw."

Her smile softens, she gives me a look similar to my mother when she wants to tell me something she thinks wise, "That's more than just fascination dear, I've seen that look before, that's the way my daughter's husband looks at her, and my husband looks at me. He must really care for you."

I chuckle and rub my hands together, "I think you're confused. We're just friends, if that, I'm not really his type. He's very protective of me is all."

She still smiles sweetly at me before turning to leave with her daughter, "Don't sell yourself short, you're an amazing girl with a great gift and I've seen him watching you this whole time, it's more than just protective."

I watch them walk away and admire the drawing again, glancing back I see Alex with the easel bag and my backpack, ready to go and waiting for me.

"I can carry that," I reach out to take something off him when he pulls back.

"No it's ok, you worked hard today, let's just get back to room. Maybe we'll order some pizza and rest for a bit, we can count how much you made and watch a late night movie?"

"Pizza and movie will only happen if you at least let me carry my backpack. I don't want to count the money yet, maybe right before we leave or right before we send it to my mom."

He hesitantly hands over me backpack and guides me back down the road. No words are exchanged leaving me to only think of what that woman had said.

"I've seen him watching you this whole time, it's more than just protective."

I push the thought aside, telling myself that there's no way. I'm nobody, I'm just some girl from school, Alex wouldn't even be talking to me if we weren't on the run, that lady has no idea what she's talking about. Alex barely knows me and probably wouldn't know me at all if it weren't for me being in the school paper that one time. Before that night in the alley way, I was barely a blip on his radar.

After returning to the room, I go grab a fresh pair of pj's while Alex orders a pizza. He still thinks I'm crazy for wanting mushrooms but he lets me be. I step into the shower and wash off all the sweat and the pencil and pen off as well. I feel my hands throb a little under the warmth of the water, washing my hair makes my hands ache even more. My legs are shaking and all I can feel is the need to sit, I don't even wash out the shampoo out of my hair before I sit in the tub. I'm soothed by the consistent, warm pressure of the water and start feeling sluggish. To avoid falling asleep and drowning, I quickly finish cleaning myself and wrap up in my towel. My clothes sit on the counter, for a minute I just stare at them in a daze. The towel feels so soft, so do my feet when I run them together, I really must be tired for everything to feel so soft. My clothes feel like soft marshmallows.

Leaving the bathroom, I find Alex on the bed flipping through the TV channels trying to find a movie. I remember he ordered pizza, but I don't see it. I don't think I can stay awake for very long.

"You alright?" Alex looks me up and down, his eyes pulling away and his entire body getting tense, "You were in there a while, you look like a pink zombie. Pizza should be here soon at least."

"My legs really hurt, I'm so tired," I flop onto the bed and lay down next to him, "I stand all day at work but I've never hurt this much."

"Well you've gotten a break from it, you haven't been to work in over a week. You've been sitting a lot more since we left and then you're up and standing all day out of nowhere."

I watch his hand press buttons on the remote, he won't look at me.

"Are you ok, Alex?" I place my hand on his arm gently.

He instantly shrugs me off, "Yeah, just a little tired, it was hot out today. Do you want to go back tomorrow or rest a little, if you want to just do all your drawing days together we'll probably need to leave not long after."

"I'd rather do it all together so my legs can adjust, but only if that's ok with you. Is that ok with you?"

He nods quickly. No words or even a side glance is exchanged before the pizza arrives, and we eat in silence.

After most of the food is gone, I grab the blankets and crawl under, "I don't care where you sleep tonight. I wouldn't feel right sticking you on the floor but I really want the bed so it's up to you where you go. Goodnight Alex."

I roll onto my side, turning my back to him.

"Goodnight, Jules."

I feel him lay back on the bed and turn off the TV and light. He doesn't get under the blankets or anything, just lays back on the pillows in the dark in silence. Having him in bed with me again is a little uncomfortable but I know I'm too tired for it to really matter at this point.

Closing my eyes I try to ignore the throbbing pain in my legs and hands, as well as the tension spreading between Alex and me.

I wish just once I could understand what's going on in his head in an attempt to avoid these awkward situations. The day I understand Alex Monroe or the day he tries to understand me will probably never come, but I think that really depends how long we're forced together on the road.

I relax into the pillows and drift off to sleep. The last thing I hear is the sounds of Alex's breathing next to me.