Three- Runaway

School went by quickly till it was time to present my project with Elijah and of course the project was in medical class. He didn't even look at me that morning, but I don't care anymore. We presented the presentation without a hitch and ended up getting a chance to present our project to the school board.

Elijah will have to do it alone, I never wanted to be a doctor like my dad anyways. I loved art but my dad would just tear up anything I make anyways. He thinks art is for nobody's, but I guess that's what I am in the end. a nobody. As soon as the bell rings I get up to leave and see Elijah bolt towards the door.

Pathetic… I'm not apologizing and I'm not even going to explain what happened. I get my things and prepare to leave class. I start walking in the opposite direction from home and call my job explaining that I was quitting and I'm sorry for the short notice. I take off my mask to breathe fresh air but quickly put it back on to make sure no one sees my face.

As it gets dark, I feel the pressure of someone watching me. I start walking towards Alexander and Elijah's house… the Edison's House... it's the closest home I know in the area.

I feel a cold blade press my neck from behind.

"Shhhh." I feel a strong hand pull me into the bushes behind a building and I feel myself shaking.

Was I going to die either way? …

I felt tears fall out my face and the unknown person pushes me to the ground. Their face is covered by a mask and their eyes look infuriated at me. I feel the blade inching closer against my neck leaving a small drip blood leave my neck.

I'm scared.

I feel my body frozen in fear.

Who was even killing me? I can't even tell.

Then a loud CRACK. A shadow moves so fast and kicks the person off me into the building. I see their head smack against the brick wall.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"

It's Elijah. His face, it's a face I've never seen before. Anger.

I was never happier to see him in my life. I pull out my pepper spray and spray them in the face before they have time to pull out their knife.

"LET'S GO!" Elijah grabs my hand, and we take off down the street until we get to his house.

"Wait no I don't want to disturb your family."

I don't want them to see me like this.

"There not home, and Alex is at work still," he unlocks the door and welcomes me inside "let me call your dad to pick you up."

"NO!" I shout and he looks at me startled.

"I can't… please don't call."

"Look just call your dad and have him take care of you; you should be with family at a time like this... take a shower here I'll give you some of my clothes."

"Elijah … I can't go home." I look at him before tears start falling out again on their own. All the emotions catch up with me and I start sobbing on the floor of his house unable to stop. I feel two warm arms wrap around me and he just lets me cry into his chest until I fall asleep cradled in his arms.

The next morning, I wake up to clean sheets and an unfamiliar wall. I jump up realizing it's not my room.

Oh right… I ran away and I'm at Elijah's house right now. I look to see Elijah sleeping on the floor. He gave his bed up to me. I blush a little at the thought and realize I wasn't wearing my mask.

"Crap," I say accidentally out loud, and I hear Elijah wake up.

"Morning princess."

My face gets flustered "don't call me that." I look away in embarrassment then look back at him.

"You didn't call my dad, did you?"

"No." he says and pats my head softly.

"Let's eat breakfast and then we can talk about the important stuff.". He gives me a smile that I never saw before. It actually looks kinda cute.

NO

NO NOT CUTE! He's Godzilla remember?

Brain stop it.

He pulls out some of his clothes from the drawers and hands them to me "for you."

"I already got clothes though," I tell him and point at my bag.

"To bad," he smirks and looks at me. God he's irritating. He points me in the direction of the shower, and I wash off the filth from last night. I see my hands trembling from the night before. I knock on the door and peek my eye out to see him running towards the door to my aid. "Yes princess?"

"Can you grab my makeup bag from my room?" I ask.

"Sure." he answers, and I see him rush to the room and back caring my bag.

"Thanks."

"At your service my lady." I close the door in his face for the lame joke and cover up the bruises on my neck. I left my cheek out because I don't think it matters anymore. He already saw it. I put on a big shirt and short pants and tighten up the strings, so it'd fit me. I walk out towards the kitchen and look around. I see Elijah cooking bacon, eggs, and pancakes for us.

"No one's home still? I didn't know losers could cook." I ask.

"Hey! My brother had to get to class, and I guess your skipping today with your face like that. Did he slap you?"

"Yes! Yes, he did!" I shout overcompensating.

Elijah looks at me weirdly and finishes breakfast.

"Bon Appetite." he says and makes the first home cooked breakfast I've had in years.

Even though so much stuff happened yesterday… here I am eating an actual meal with him and enjoying it. I finish a little bit of the food; I can't eat too much with my stomach hurting.

"That's it?" He asks.

"Yup! I'll do the dishes since you cooked."

I go to get up and I see Elijah drop his fork and stare at my legs.

"What? You act like you have seen a ghost." His agitation showing completely on his face, and I jump a little. He doesn't say a words as he picks me up princess style and carries me through the house.

"Elijah let go! what are you doing?" I try to push him away, but he doesn't budge and puts me down on his bed pinning my body down.

"W-what are you doing?" I can't help but blush and my heart races which is completely different from the night before. I mean pinning a girl down on a bed, what else could it mean?

He grabs ankle and I feel the pain of the cuts and flinch. "Ow! That hurts!"

"When where you going to tell me about this! … is this what you did in the bathroom that day?" I feel his disappointment in his voice, and I look to the side not daring to make eye contact. I'm scared for a different reason this time. I don't want to disappoint him.

Wait... why would I care what he thinks?

I hear him punch the bed next to my head and look away as if he's mad at himself.

"Why are you mad? It's no big deal it was just…"

"Just what?" He looks at me in my eyes and flips us over and pulls me on top of him.

"This is embarrassing let me off," I try to yank my hands away, but he doesn't let go.

I look at him clearly embarrassed, but he just keeps looking at me. I feel his arms hook around my waist not letting me escape. There is nowhere else to look at besides him. His eyes are a beautiful emerald I never noticed before.

"I just get stressed out, ok? … I'm sorry." I look at his eyes and he lets me free.

I get off him and look away and suddenly I'm very aware of the fact there is only two of us in this house. "I'm just goanna go- "

"Go where? You're not going anywhere, let me treat the cuts."

Instead of arguing I just do what he says. He gets a medical box from the cabinet and puts a white cream on my cuts before wrapping my ankles.

After he's done, I sit up "I have to go…"

"Go where?"

"Elijah honey I'm home!" I hear a shout and the door swing open "oh who's over? I see two plates."

I stare at Elijah "you have a girlfriend?" I stare blankly at him.

"That's my mom! Shush be quiet. Go in the closet!"

I grab my bag and rush into his closet, and I hear him run to the kitchen.

I sit on the ground before I hear his mom come in his room and Elijah following close behind.

"Mom, I said no one is here!"

"Come on I know there's a girl here! You don't have to worry it's ok you can come out. I just want to meet your girlfriend I'm so excited that you finally have someone to bring home"

I open the closet and she wraps herself around me in a tight hug squeezing me and I flinch from the pain in my ribs "oh my gosh I'm so sorry honey! I didn't realize I squeezed you that tight! Oh, are you the daughter of Doctor Maxwell? Oh my gosh I can't believe your here! You are so beautiful! My son is a lucky fella. Come downstairs you love birds! I'll finish the dishes." she came out of Elijah's room in a hurry. She came in and came out as swiftly as a hurricane.

"I'm so sorry." Elijah face is red, and he looks at me.

"It's fine... she's actually very sweet I've never meet someone as nice as her."

"Yeah, right what about your dad." he looks at me teasing.

"Yeah... how could I forget." I smile probably the fakest smile of my life.

A few minutes later we hear a knock at the door. And we both turn around and peek out to see who it is. Elijah's mom opens the door and it's. MY DAD?

"Oh shit." I feel the rush of panic come by and I grab my bag.

"Elijah, I got to go now." I whisper and hear them coming towards Elijah's room.

"Yes, I can't wait to see my daughter, I didn't know she had a boyfriend. I was so excited to get your call to be invited to lunch! Fortunately, I was so close by."

He's mad.

I can't breathe. I feel the pressure of him choking me that night coming back "Elijah help me."

Elijah looks at me in confusion and the door swings open. It's too late.

"Ali!" I see my dad rush towards me and gives me the coldest hug I've probably ever felt.

"I was so worried about you! You didn't tell me where you were going last nigh.t" he smiles and shakes Elijah's moms' hands.

"Thank you so much for finding my daughter. I would love to stay over for lunch but sadly I must take my daughter back home!"

"Please call me Mrs. Edison! And any time just come over." she smiles at me, but I just look away. I can't bear to see her face… My dad grabs my wrist so tightly I could feel my bones bending.

"Bye Eli…" I turn away following my dad towards the door.

"Bye Ali." I could feel his confusion at the situation, but I can't bear to see his face either.