Runaway Friends

Chapter 1: Packing up

I needed to escape. I needed to find a place that wasn't overran. I needed the seaside, and golden sands of long, outstretched beaches- not the city and my university flat's peeling walls. I wanted trees, grass, a small terrace painted nicely by the beach- I wanted to live a different life, where I knew nice people and did nice things. Everyday I saw people come and go outside of my window in the run down, graffiti smothered city. They always seemed like they were on a rota, or a wind up toy that did the same thing every time. I had finished university- the university that I had to pay for. I basically had nothing to do as I was on my gap-year. So I worked for a few months, stocking up on money for my plans for the future. I was ready to finally dare myself and do it. So I did- I ran away.

I snatched up everything In my tiny cardboard-box like room. I shoved everything I had into my large rucksack - which wasn't very hard, as I said- the rucksack was large and my room wasn't.

I slipped my laptop and chargers into the back. I was planning a little pit stop on the way. I leaned forwards and grabbed my comfort sweater. Mum used to wear it when she used to come back for the summer holidays from work. It smelt like her, which make me feel safe and sound. It smelt like her sweet blossom perfume, which, even though It was an empty bottle now, I left on my window sill as an ornament of how much I loved her. Slipping my head and arms through, I carried on packing. My headphones, hand mirror, makeup purse, camera, some photos of my family and friends, and my large wads of cash from my job's earnings saved for the day I was going to move. I then began folding up all my clothes and neatly arranging them into my suitcase into how-much-I-am-going-to-be-using-them order. I zipped it up and rested the suitcase against the foot of my bed.

My camping rucksack certainly did what it said on the packet- it was great at containing all my possessions and was big enough to hold almost two times the size of the things I already packed.

Jingling my coin purse and slipping it into my jean pocket, I assured myself I was ready. Finally, I gently slipped my golden teddy bear necklace around my neck. He was called Paddington- from when I was a baby and Mum took me to The London Underground for the first time. He worked perfectly- and looked just like my teddy I used to cuddle at night. His arms and legs could move around on the necklace, and you could make him look like he was sitting or standing. I moved his limbs into a walking position, as I knew I'd be walking a lot in the next few days.

"One more thing..." I whispered to myself, sitting by my bed and picking up my earphones and my phone, dialing Nora's Number.