The Runaway

1:// Present Day

"Boss burning your tail again?" he asks.

"You have no idea," I say, rolling my eyes, "won't shut up about the lakeside photos he wants. They were due yesterday and I had more important matters to attend." I say, opening the gate and getting out from behind the counter.

"Like what, Red Wilder's dick?" he asks. I laugh.

"Corrrreeect!" I say, pulling out the word. "You know they had a back to school party. It was decent. Not the best, not the worst." I tell him, running a hand through my dark red hair. He laughs.

"Careful with what your doing, Lai. STD's are a thing!" he calls out as I make my way to the door.

"Don't worry, Zac. I'm extra careful." I shout back, laughing as I push my way out, accidentally bumping into someone. I look up to see it's Red. He smiles down before leaning and pressing a smashing kiss to my lips.

"Hey. I was just looking for you." he says, a hand sneaking on my waist. A wobbly smile reaches my expression. "Wanna go to my place?" he asks.

"I can't. I owe my boss some pictures. Maybe when I'm done?" I offer. He smiles and nods before kissing me again. I giggle into the kiss when he tickles my side, my body instinctively moving away. I get on my bike, pulling on my helmet, and winking at him before pulling down the sun blocker, covering my eyes. I start it, and drive down the road, unknowing that the crowd in the store was a search team.

And in that crowd stood Ashton, unable to move, shocked.

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Snap. Snap. Snap. Snap.

It's a sound I'm used to repeating again and again. The soft click of my camera, catching a moment into an image to be kept forever.

When I'm done, I make my way to the parking lot, but stop midway. I look around, my sixth sense telling me something is off. My eyebrows scrunch slightly as I glance around. I shake my head and shrug before making my way to my bike.

"Your just going insane, that's it." I tell myself, sitting on the bike and staring at the sunset. I put my arms up on the handle bars and rest my head on my arms. I shake my head as a tear falls. Every Saturday, I find an alone place, and silently cry to myself. This is as good a place as any other, I suppose.

I hear what sounds like a pat on a shoulder, and whispers behind me. I turn quickly, tears mid-fall down my face, to see three guys looking at me. They all look familiar. I shake my head and start the bike, pulling on my helmet.

I could sure use Red right now.
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I sigh as I lift myself from the bed, slowly getting out so I don't wake him up. I leave a quick note, thanking him, and grab my clothes, pulling them on quickly. I grab his brush and brush out my hair quickly, and move out of his room. I sneak down the halls and out the house quickly. I sprint down the street to where my bike waits. I get on quickly, ignoring the neighbors stares, and speed down the street.

I get to my apartment in record time, shutting it off in the parking area, and making my way through and into my apartment. The door shuts kind of loudly behind me, and I drop my keys in the glass bowl where mine and my roommate's keys now both rest.

"Laila, is that you?" her musical voice resonates shakily from the kitchen. I start pulling off my shoes.

"Uh- yeah. Are you okay?" I ask.

"Um. Yeah." she says, but gives a nervous laugh. I pull off my leather jacket.

"Bullshit." I state. I hear her whisper, and I make my way into the kitchen, just to stumble back quickly. "What the hell is this?" I ask, seeing cops surrounding the kitchen, her in cuffs. Attention completely shifts to me.