Why Don't We Just Runaway?

Home. A place of solitude, safety, happiness and memories. That's what home should be. That's what the primary definition of home is. But my home wasn't anything like that.
Home for me meant arguments, hatrid, staying awake all night with bloodshot, tearfilled eyes. Home for me also meant that no matter what I did, I could never be better than Kelsey.

I placed my bag down beside the door quietly and took my coat off. It was mid-November and everywhere was starting to get frost-bit and cold.
With a few small steps, I entered the living room. There was the familiar site of an open living-flame gas fire, a beige couch with two matching recliner chairs. A computer desk in the far right corner, filling the alcove, the family TV was placed on an angle so it could be seen from all the seats in the room and last but not least - the fish tank.

My shoes clattered against the wooden flooring while I walked to one of the chairs. It was never good to sneak into this house. There were squeaky floorboards and wooden flooring throughout the entire house. It never worked.


"Hello? Anybody home?" I called out aimlessly, while slowly and carefully sitting down on the chair.
"Hey!" Kelsey answered from upstairs.
"Great, she is home." My thoughts pined.

I had desperately hoped that nobody would be home so that I could pack up my belongings and get out to Erin's before anyone was here.
My phone beeped from the pocket of my jeans and made an echoing sound throughout the lightly decorated room. Lazily, I pulled it out and turned on the screen.

'Erin: So excited for tonight. What are you going to wear? See you soon babes.'

I smirked at the letters that read clearly on my beaten up iPhone 4s.
In honesty, if someone had asked me if I liked All Time Low, I would have said that I couldn't stand them. In truth? I was only seeing them tonight because my best friend wanted me to, and it got out of my dull house and an easy escape out of my dull life.
Sure, I didn't mind the band, and they were okay to listen to but they weren't my ideal band.

I texted Erin back, telling her that I was going to just wear some skinny-jeans and checkered shirt; Explaining that I didn't want to see overly dressy incase I met one of the band and they thought I liked them. Then, after I did that, I went upstairs and began packing some of my favorite items of clothing.



In my huge duffle bag, I crammed in the photograph of my Mom and me from when I was little, hair straighteners, curling irons, my limited amount of make-up, clothes, and my Mom's engagement ring - the only thing I had left that was worth anything to anybody else.
I had been planning to run away from home for months, ever since Erin had asked me to see All Time Low with her.

"What are you doing?" A voice asked from behind me.

I turned around slowly, rage filled and nervous. If she found out that I was packing up my belongings to runaway, she'd tell my Dad and then my stepmom. I would end up in so much trouble.

"I was just packing some clothes." I said calmly. "I'm staying at Erin's tomorrow so..."
Kelsey looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "I can't believe you're actually going to this."
"Why?" I wondered.

Was it so bad that I was going to see a band live just for my best friend?

"They're so not your style. You like thrash metal and don't get me started on the hair." Kelsey laughed.
"I'm only seeing them because Erin asked me to." I retorted.
Kelsey scoffed and turned away. "Your loss." She muttered as she exited my bedroom.


I sighed out of relief and smiled at the photo of my mom and dad on their wedding day. They both seemed so happy.
"They were so young, stupid and in-love." My thoughts raged.

I felt angry about the fact that they divorced when I was 2, but I hadn't known any different. The story of why they divorced was something I was all too familiar with, and I wish that I wasn't.

"Wouldn't it be nice to be that happy, though?" My thoughts asked me.
I nodded and wiped a small tear that was on the edge of my eye.
"I miss you, mom."



I was almost finished packing up when a car horn sounded from outside. The item of clothing I had in my hand dropped to the floor and I raced to the bay window.
"Fuck, fuck, no, shit." I almost burst into tears at the sight of my Dad stood outside talking to Erin.

She was the only person who knew about my troubled home-life and the only one who knew I wasn't planning on returning home tomorrow night.
What if she told him? She didn't want me to leave...
In a rush, I grabbed my duffle bag of clothes and special belongings and raced down the stairs.

"Hey Dad." I said, while still panting for breath.
He nodded and forced a smile.
"Have fun, Darling."
I stood on my tip toes and kissed his cheek, to play my part of the act.
"Bye." I threw my bag into the backseat of the car, before climbing in.
That was the last time I hoped to see my Dad.


*Authors note*
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Notes