Page 75 of Run
Double crap!
I fling open the car door, jump out, and sprint toward the narrowing space and duck under it before the garage door finishes closing. So much for having a safety sensor! I stand up straight and turn on my heel—and come face to face with Papa. He’s looking at me, then he looks behind me like he’s processing where I just came from. He’s about ten feet away from me.
Piece of cake!
And I bolt, heading straight for the wheat fields.
“Yeah, you better run, girl!” he yells after me, not even attempting to follow. I can’t keep the smile off my face as I reach my arms out to my sides and feel the comforting whip of the wheat against my skin. It’s a stark difference to the wind on my face as I was riding in Ethan’s car, and yet it’s similar. Turning back, I see Papa heading back to the garage, staggering. He’ll be passed out soon enough and forget he even saw me.
When I glance at Ethan’s house, I see him standing in the window, arms crossed and a grin on his face as he watches me run away. His body shakes with laughter.
Then I see his father standing outside. His arms are also crossed over his chest, but he’s not laughing.
Triple crap.
I’m not sure how long I stay out, butit’s almost dark by the time I venture back. I slowly crack the door open and look inside but don’t see anyone, so I tiptoe in. I make myself a peanut butter sandwich, settle on my bed with a book, and check my phone. Sure enough, there’s a message from Ethan that just came in.
Was that you I saw creeping back across the lawn just now?
I smile and type out a reply:
Yes, stalker
Hey, was just making sure you weren’t eaten by a coyote
Did you get in trouble?
A minute passes before he responds.
Nothing I couldn’t handle
I send him back a sad face, and he replies:
Hey, no frowns
Then I send him an angry face.
Much better
Well, goodnight
Goodnight
The next morning I wake up early and decide to just get up, even though the bus won’t be here for a while. I’m pouring myself a bowl of cereal when I hear Ethan’s garage door open and run to the window and see him opening the passenger side door. He has early practice these days, so his dad drops him off in the morning. I knock on the window to get Ethan’s attention, and he swivels around and gives me a wave and a smile.
My heart sinks when I see he has a fat lip. Seeing my face fall, Ethan digs into his pocket, pulls out his phone and types something in. I run over to my backpack and pull out my phone.
Totally worth it
CHAPTER 26
ETHAN
“Knock, knock,” Lizzie announces, and I turn to see her leaning a shoulder against the door frame at the entrance to of my office.
“You know,” I say without looking away from my computer screen, “you could just knock on the door. You don’t have to say ‘knock, knock.’ It’s a little creepy.”
“I told her the same thing.” Dee comes up behind Lizzie.
