Escape

Escape~Ch. 9

RECAP:

         Liam took Gwen’s hand again, and Gwen felt that accusing stare of Jazz on her back. Wincing, she let the guilt overtake her and, sitting sullenly in the leaf bed, fell restlessly asleep before Liam could interrogate her. She needed peace right now.

 Escape: Ch. 9:

Liam rustled through the underbrush, wincing at every snap of a twig, imagining the man's ugly, sadastic face peering at him around every bend.

"C'mon, Jazz, hurry up, we need to get back," muttered Liam. Suddenly, a branch snapped to his right, behind a tree. Liam frowned and stalked forward slowly, poking his face around the tree rapidly.

"Oh my gosh!" Jazz gasped, and Liam let out a relieved chuckle.

"Sorry I had to scare you," he grinned wryly, "I wanted to make sure it was you, making all this noise."

"Well then, you shoulda heard yourself. I thought a pack of elephants had been imported from... where do elephants come from again?"

Liam laughed then sobered. "Come on, we need to get back and stay together. You shouldn't be walking around with your knee, it needs to heal quickly."

"I'm fine, Mom," Jazz joked then frowned as she thought of Mel, her mother. Is she looking for me? She wondered.

Liam noticed her change in mood. "It's okay, they'll find us." He paused, and Jazz saw a strange glint in his bright green eyes as they began to water. Was he... crying? Oh, gosh, she did not know how to deal with sobbing men.

"Oh, it's okay," Jazz whispered, stopping and hugging Liam. He began to shake.

"Sorry, it's just that, I just realized I don't have... anyone to go home to. You all have parents or whatever, no matter how messed up they are, but I don't have anyone to come home to. No one's gonna come to rescue me," he muttered the last part sullenly, and Jazz felt hot tears prickling in her eyes from compassion and sadness for Liam.

"I'm so sorry, Liam. You can come with me until you find somewhere to live, if you want," she murmured, boldly making this suggestion.

Suddenly her face grew hot as she realized they were still wrapped up in each other's arms and staring at each other, only a few inches separating their lips. She swallowed hard and took in all of Liam's face, feeling surprisingly comfortable. Even the dull ache in her knee couldn't distract her.

Liam's dark hair was touseled and messy, falling all over the place and into his piercing green eyes-- which were staring right at her.

Oh. My. Gosh.

Liam stared at Jazz and felt something flutter in his heart. Her purple and black hair was messy, but it still flowed, wavy, over her shoulders and framed her small, heart-shaped face perfectly. Her big green eyes were framed by a thin line of black eyeliner and long lashes. A small sprinle of freckles brushed her nose, which sparkled with piercings. Her lips were bright pink naturally and he felt amazing, with her hands wrapped around his shoulders.

Without thinking, he leaned down and kissed her, slowly and sweetly.

The moment was ruined.

          James grimaced, staring at the computer screen even though his eyes were so dry that he had resorted to not blinking at all.

          Black dots appeared before his vision for the fourth time in a minute, and James growled in frustration, popping another Lifesaver into his mouth. Those things were, well, lifesavers.

          “Got it done yet, James?” Drew’s viciously cold voice boomed from his kitchen.

          “A-almost, sir. I’m viewing the men in the forest now. They’re approaching the sides and closing in the highly congested middle.”