On the Run by M Zeigler (short story to read TXT) 📖

chirps as the guys start to get up, Marcus leaves the tables first to go pay the tab on our food. “Thank you Marcus!” Heather and I chime over to the older gentleman who grumbles a response back, still clearly disgruntled by Barrette refusing to take his word on the album.

Outside the diner I look at the mustang and then look back at Barrette and his family standing behind him. “So.” I say pointedly and suddenly feeling nervous, Barrette sighs just as Louis about to open his mouth. Before any of the three brothers can say a word their mother has a hand over Louis’s mouth and is dragging Leo by the back of his shirt towards the car. Gregory starts to laugh at them but Leo grabs him by the front of the shirt and drags him along. Marcus quickly urges everyone in the band after Jane and her youngest sons; Heather just hangs back in the doorway to the diner waiting to see what happens here and now.

“Bonnie-

“Before you speak, just listen to me.” I say to Barrette interrupting him, I already know what he has to say and if he asks me to stay I will. I will also have won fair and square but I don’t want to, I’ve made my decision already.

“I love you Barrette, you know that I do. But, I can’t stay.” I say to Barrette, plain and simple, of course he’s going to try and argue with me. “Can’t or won’t?” He replies trying to get me to understand some point that isn’t part of this equation.

“Both, if I stay you win, but staying means I have rules, I have people around that will judge every little thing I do. And most important above all of that, I have to learn to discuss things with you, and I’m not ready for that yet.” I explain to Barrette who looks like a child who’s just been told his puppy has died.

“So that’s it then? You’re just going to pretend that all of that didn’t happen, and leave?” Barrette scoffs sounding angry now. “I didn’t say I was going to forget and walk away. You have my phone, call me whenever. And besides, you have Heather, let’s be real here Barrette. I’m not you’re kind of crazy.” I say to him, he nods sadly showing he understands and cannot stop me from leaving. There is nothing more he can say that will make me stay, so he does what any other man could do in a situation like this. He pulls me in for a hug then puts me back at arm’s length. “Promise me you’ll try and stay out of trouble, and you’ll call me once in a while?” He begs of me. “I can’t promise I’ll even try and stay out of trouble, but I will call once in a while and uh…if she gets away again. Call.” I say the last part of that sentence quietly, without another word from anyone I walk over to the parking lot and jump over the door into the driver’s seat of the Mustang.

I look over to the rest of the Green family who is now joined by Barrette’s father whom I met last night. All of them give me a sad smile as I wave to them. “Don’t look so sad! I’ll be back eventually!” I shout back, then, as I’ve done only one time before. I put the car in reverse back out of my spot, drop the car into first, then turn the radio up full blast and hit the gas pedal blowing out of town like I was never even here to begin with.

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Publication Date: 10-16-2015

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