you're mine

Chapter 41

Emily's point of view

"Wake up!" I shake Luca, frantically trying to wake him.

He groans as his hands come up to rub his face. Luca's eyes open and land on me.

"What time is it?"

"How am I meant to know." I raise an eyebrow at me in confusion. How was I meant to know? It's not like I have a phone or a watch on me.

"Where is the sun." He groans again, more dramatic this time.

"It risen around.... An hour ago."

Luca sits up, holding himself up with his hands.

"What do you want to do today?" He tucks a loose piece of hair behind my ear and shoulder to see my face better.

"Books." I smile widely.

"Okay." He bobs his head up and down. "Nothing new there."

"Well we could go skating."

"Books it is." He stands up and exits the tent, leaving me watching him like a child in awe

I have really grown to like him, it shocks me every single day how much things have changed. I know that people will judge me for it but I don't really care. I am happy and I think that's more important than the opinions of others. No, I know it's more important.

....

We both walk in sync as we arrive at the book store. Beside it is an ice cream store and on the other side is a smoothie store. All the stores are pretty and match perfectly with each other.

As soon as we step in side, we are hit with the sweet smell of books and a small tinge of coffee.

"Hi there." An old man smiles at us. His hair sticks out from either side of his head and fades as it gets further up, leaving the top of his head completely bald. His nose shines a red colour from his glasses digging into the bridge of it.

"Hey." I smile back.

"Looking for anything in particular?"

I shake my head from side to side. "Nope, just browsing."

Luca stays by my side through the small interaction, his hand resting on the dip where my waist meets my hip.

We both walk over to a large pile of unsteady books. The books have no specific order or organisation to them. Everything is just put together. 

"Pick a random book for me." I smirk at Luca.

He frowns and turns to me. "Aren't you not supposed to judge books by their covers?"

"Yeah but I don't care just do it!"

Lucas eyes dart over different books and his hands pick a few up, placing them back down in a different place.

He reaches for a book named downforce, a clear romance book.

"Here." He hands it to me. "This one and..." his attention goes back to the pile of books where he picks another book named stay here.

"Why these?" I question.

"Well, the first book looks interesting and I know you want a romance and the other one I saw the word ballet and I know you like that so..." he trails off and scratches the back of his head. "Any other books you want?"

"No, these are good." I say.

Luca pays for the books and we walk next door to the ice cream store. There is a massive ice cream figure out side of the store and a white and blue banner above the store. Luca picks a matcha ice cream half vanilla which is surprising considering he is usually more of a chocolate guy. And I pick bubblegum and marshmallow ice cream. 

It surprises me how much people have gone on with their lives, not even recognising us anymore. Our hair dyes are almost completely gone and besides from Luca having tattoos now and me having shorter hair, not much is different in us.

I keep wondering what my parents are doing. How are they reacting to all of this? Are they staying up day and night and arranging search parties for me in different states? Or are they simply getting on with their lives. Have they moved on? I like being with Luca and i don't want to be found but I still wonder what is happening at home. Does everyone else want me found?

Shockingly, the ice cream cost $20. It made me wonder how much money he actually has left. How much money did he have to begin with? I don't bother asking since he doesn't tell me when I do.

"Let me try yours." Luca takes my ice cream from my hand and bites a chunk from the top of it.

"Hey!" I reach out for my ice cream but he moves it from my line of grasp.

"Mine is better." He hands me the ice cream me goes back to enjoying his own. I stare down at the teeth marks in my ice cream and it makes me feel uncomfortable thinking of the coldness on my teeth.

....

Five hours later, we are back on the road. A highway. Luca said that he wants to get off of it as soon as possible because being on back roads makes it easier for us to not be spotted and easier to find somewhere to camp.

I am so invested in the book he picked for me I hardly even hear him singing Loudly. He isn't a bad singer but he isn't a good one.

My index finger gently runs up and down the spine of the book as I hold it. My legs are crossed in front of me on the passenger seat. I wear black leggings and a white sweatshirt I stole from Luca. He says he regrets buying me clothes since I just steal his, but when he sees me wearing something of my own, he takes it back.

Secretly, I think he likes me wearing his clothes. He did admit I looked good in his hoodie once. I can't help it, his clothes are worn and comfortable and have a home scent but mine are new and still in new condition with new material and new scent.

"Shit." Luca mumbles and turns the radio down which makes me look at him in confusion.

"What's wrong?"

He looks over to the wing mirror and sighs, slowing down the car. I look out of the wing mirror to see what he is worrying about and I see a cop car, signaling for us to pull over.