Run

Chapter Twenty-Four

Waiting for the bus drives me insane. Alex insists I make the best of it, write something to my mom, so I do.

Hey mom,
It's me, Jules. I know you're probably worried about me and I promise I'm trying to come home, but until then this is the best I can offer.
I've seen so much while I've been gone though. I can't tell you where I'm going but I can tell you where I've been; I love getting to go to new places, Oklahoma and Missouri are beautiful! In Missouri there's beautiful grass everywhere and Oklahoma has so much to do. Oklahoma also has this awesome little cupcake shop I think you'd love. I'm leaving Texas today, I think you would like it, it's so nice and warm. The sun is constantly shining down on all these fun little antique shops, you and I will have to come back someday.
While in Texas, I felt bad I wasn't able to help out. I've been worried about you getting enough money to pay the bills and get food, so I set up a small art stand here and drew portraits. I'm sending you the money I made from it, all $347! I made that money with just my art and I'm really hoping it's enough to help you get by. I'll send more, I promise and send you more updates. I hope I can call you soon.
I love you mom,
Jules

Alex gave me a stamp and envelope. He told me to put the money in between the letter and postcards so no one can see it through the envelope. While we wait he runs the letter to a nearby post office and mails it out. He tells me it will probably be about a week before she gets it. By then I'll have sent her even more. I wish I could say I'd be home by then, but I can't.

When we finally board the bus Alex makes sure we're one of the first ones on the bus, "Pick a seat, and heads up, we're changing time zones so it'll feel later than it is when we get there."

"Seriously? How big of a time difference?" I shove my backpack under my seat and sit down.

"Only an hour, but it can mess with you big time. I once went on vacation as a kid before my grandparents died, to Hawaii, five hour time difference. It doesn't really sound like much but it screwed me up, I was tired like halfway through the day and up way early. It's hard to enjoy vacation when you're awake before anything is open and you're wanting to sleep when the fun stuff is happening."

"I would kill to see Hawaii, I would bring as many art supplies and just take in the culture. I know you won't tell me where we're going until we get there but how long is this trip?"

"About five hours. I know that sounds like an eternal hell but I know you'll find a way to pass the time," he flashes that charming smirk of his. I hate how weak at the knees it makes me feel.

I pull out my book and iPod, I need to get away from him and just go to my space. In a world where he doesn't exist, I don't have to feel so powerless.

I feel him still staring at me, glancing over I see that same smirk still directed at me.

"That won't work on me," I look back at my book and try to shake him off.

"What won't work on you?" his voice is light and humorous.

"That little smile you do, cocky and confident. I see you use it at school to charm teachers, staff, classmates, half the girls in our class have fallen victim to it."

He scoffs at me, "That's not..." he looks at my unchanged expression and his voice drops, "True... I wasn't, I mean, I wasn't trying to charm you or anything. I was just smiling at you."

I ignore the heat I feel in my ears, I keep telling myself that he's not as charming as he thinks, that he's not worth the trouble. Get in, get out, somehow make it home in one piece, that's the goal here.

He slumps into his seat next to me and starts playing with his shoe laces. I press play on my iPod and hope I can just ignore him for five hours.

He fidgets the whole trip, occasionally glancing back at me. I see him open his mouth to speak, but I desperately don't want to talk so I turn up my volume. I'm running out of stuff to do, I finished the coloring book Alex gave me, I've almost finished my last book, and I don't think my iPod battery will survive the trip.