Runaway

Chapter 1

I usually wake up every morning at 5:30. Just enough time to get myself and my thirteen-year-old sister ready while cleaning the house and handling pretty much every parental responsibility imaginable.

Our mother works two jobs, but even when she's home, she's barely there. Most nights she covers her pain with alcohol instead of sleep, so the trailer stays quiet in the mornings. Quiet enough that Jules and I learned years ago how to exist without making noise.

Once I finish getting ready, I head into Jules' room.

Like every morning, she's completely buried under her blankets.

"Jules, get up."

"Five more minutes," she groans, shoving herself deeper into the bed.

Same routine. Every single day.

While she steals her extra sleep, I clean up the trailer the best I can. Which honestly isn't saying much. Old dishes crowd the sink, the floor creaks with every step, and the walls still smell faintly like cigarette smoke no matter how many windows I open.

I start breakfast anyway.

Cinnamon pancakes. Jules' favorite.

A few minutes later, her bedroom door cracks open.

"I smell my favorite," she says, peeking her head out before running straight to hop onto the counter.

That's the fastest way to wake her up.

"What else did you expect?" I laugh quietly. "Keep your voice down, though. We do not need Mom complaining about her sleep schedule again."

We barely talk to our mother anymore unless one of us accidentally becomes too loud.

It wasn't always like this.

Everything changed three years ago when Ivy's mom died.

She and my mother had been best friends since grade school, and after the funeral, it felt like something in my mom broke permanently. Ever since then, she's lived in a constant state of grief, exhaustion, and anger.

After breakfast, Jules and I curl up on the couch and turn on one of our favorite shows while we eat. It's one of the few normal things we still do together.

By the time sunlight starts creeping through the trailer windows, I realize we're late.

"Jules," I say, standing up quickly, "go get dressed. We have to leave."

I pack our lunches, grab my backpack, and make sure Jules has everything she needs before we head out the door.

The morning air is cold as we start walking down the cracked roads toward school.

About halfway there, we spot Ivy and Rae waiting near the corner store.

Ivy's been my best friend for as long as I can remember, and Rae is basically Jules' other half.

Ever since their mother died, they've lived with their grandparents. Ivy takes care of Rae the same way I take care of Jules. I guess growing up too fast makes people understand each other differently.

"Hey, Claire," Ivy says as we catch up with them. "I missed you over the weekend."

"Sorry," I sigh. "Mom got upset Saturday morning because Jules and I woke her up asking if we could get groceries."

Ivy shakes her head slowly. "Damn."

None of us know what else to say after that, so we just keep walking.

When we finally get to school, we head into the cafeteria to wait for first bell.

Rowan and Sage are already sitting at our usual table.