Run (4 page)

I covered my mouth, fighting to hold the laughter in as Mason put on a crazy pair of sunglasses. We were in the middle of the department store trying to fit in, acting like normal customers while Wanda and Payton did their ”thing.”

Mason grabbed another pair off the rack and tossed them at me.

“Put them on. I want to see you in them.” He moved to the next rack. I sighed, giving in. I looked in the mirror. The glasses totally hid my face.

“Nah, I don’t like them. I can’t see your eyes.” He took them off me and returned them to the rack. I gave him a fake pout and he poked me in the side and steered me further down the aisle.

“Can I help you with anything?” someone asked. I immediately started to panic.

Mason took the glasses off as he looked the man over.

“No, sir, I believe we’re shopping just like everyone else in here.” He took my hand as we walked past him. Mason squeezed my hand letting me know we were okay. I was close to throwing up all over the shiny floors. I hated being in public because I knew what we’ve done. And it was just a matter of time before the rest of the world knew as well.

“Go get them. I’ll be outside trying to lose the undercover security,” he said, flashing me a look of annoyance. I nodded and hurried past the racks of clothing, trying to act as casual as my nerves would allow.

I headed for the dressing room.

“Aunt Wanda,” I called out. I crossed my arms, pacing the floor, cautiously watching every person that passed. It was pathetic how I was overcome with fear in an instant.

There was never a time I didn’t panic when somebody even glanced in my direction.

Aunt Wanda came out of the dressing room. She was wearing a new outfit. She avoided my stare and eyed herself in the mirror, turning around and back and forth, tilting her head from the left and then to the right as she studied her new look.

“Mason thinks we should get going,” I said.

She turned around, her hands on her hips. “When
I’m
ready to go, we’ll go.” She shifted her glare behind me. I turned around and saw the same man who’d bothered Mason and me.

Aunt Wanda walked right up to him and sized him up.

“How are you doing?” she asked, standing a little too close for comfort. He was around her age, somewhat balding and looked weak enough to crack under pressure. He was still a man doing his job and he could be our downfall.

Mason came up behind him, acting like he was looking at clothes. He occasionally lifted his head, listening in on the conversation.

“I’m doing fine, Ma’am. Just making sure there’s nothing I can help you with,” he said, growing rigid as Wanda stalked him like a lion.

“I see,” she said. “Did you lose your name tag?” She ran a hand through her hair, waiting patiently for an answer. He appeared nervous, evidenced by the sweat rolling down his forehead. I’d recognize Aunt Wanda’s subtle advances anywhere--she was like a wild animal ready to attack.

“I-I- I’m with loss prevention,” he stammered. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a badge.

“I would hate to think you’re calling us shoplifters. I would
love
to think you’re over here because you like what you see,” she said.

I was becoming more uncomfortable by the second. I cleared my throat, hoping she’d tell me to go away. The man looked at me, debating what he should do. Not too many people knew what to do when it came to Aunt Wanda.

“Isn’t she beautiful? Do you like them younger? “she asked, pointing in my direction. My mouth went dry. There was no way she was going to put this on me.

“Let’s go,” Mason interrupted. He yanked me by the arm past Aunt Wanda, nearly plowing her down as we made our way out of the store.

“How often does that happen? And don’t lie to me, Kendall.” We sat down on a bench in the middle of the mall.

“Not often.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Calm down, it’s not a big deal,” I said, trying to convince him I’d told him the truth. “She has no right to try and turn you into what she is.”

I was sure there was going to be some kind of confrontation when Aunt Wanda got out of there. Even Payton would probably yell at Mason for trying to interfere with Aunt Wanda’s plans.

“Just stop it. The more you rile her up, the quicker I won’t be around anymore,” I reminded him. It made me sad to think I would have to say goodbye to him. I never knew when I’d see him again.

Mason took my hand and held it to his chest. He stared at me, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. “I’ve known you a long time, and I know when you’re unhappy. What do you want? Just say the word and I’ll try to make it better for you.”

“You can’t make this better, Mason…you
know
that!” I shook my head, not wanting to cling to false hope and fantasies.

“You say that every time,” he said. I said it every time because it was the truth.

“Just be happy in the moment, remember?” This was what we told each other over the years, every time we’d meet up again.

“I want a lot of moments--not just short ones. Don’t you want that, too?” he asked. “We’re wasting our lives for two women going nowhere, Kendall.”

I nodded, keeping my mouth shut as Aunt Wanda approached. Her eyes were glued to me as she stomped toward us. I could tell right away she was pissed. Her purse bounced with every step she took in our direction.

Mason threw his arm around my shoulder.

“Get your sorry arm off of her. You are lucky I don’t lay you out right here in front of God and everyone,” she hissed, her fingernail close to poking him in the eye. Mason didn’t flinch.

“I’m not afraid of you and Kendall is not some whore to hand off to men,” he said.

“And Kendall is not your girlfriend. I know you like to pretend that she is whenever you see her. Get over it, Mason, because you will never have someone like her,” she said.

Mason laughed it off. He squeezed my shoulder.

“I know because she’s too good for me. She’s too good for any of this.” He stood up and went to help Payton carry her bags.

Wanda grabbed my arm, pushing me to start moving. Her unhappiness was written all over her face.

Storms washed everything away, sweeping the dirt and debris off the surface.

I sat on the curb outside the motel room, enjoying the water rushing past my feet, a sort of makeshift river.  The tapping sound the rain made on the pavement was perfect.

I dipped my fingers in the puddles, leaned my head back, letting the rain soak my skin, my hair flattened under the pressure of its rhythmic beating.

It was dark. All that existed was me and the crashing of the storm overhead, as the cars raced silently off in the distance.

Everyone was asleep. I wasn’t, because I couldn’t get rid of the feeling of doom I felt that something bad was about to happen, which was kind of ironic, because bad was always happening.

Sometimes I wondered why it even got to me. I wondered how many girls my age were in my same shoes. Because if I knew even one, maybe I could move past how dirty I felt on the inside.

As the lightning crashed, it lit up everything. A stray cat bolted like a thief in the night. It was perfect for the moment.

Mason came outside, letting out a noisy moan of displeasure.

“You and rain, I knew it the moment the lighting woke me up,” he said, hugging himself as the rain pelted him. He was barefoot and his t-shirt was already clinging to his skin.

He took a seat next to me, leaning into me for warmth. It was summer, but the rain was dragging the cold air in with it.

“What do you think about tomorrow?” he asked all of a sudden. Tomorrow was the day we went out for money. Wanda and Payton had it all figured out. They’d sunk their claws into a local jewelry store owner. He had the most beautiful things on display in his windows, and they knew a fortune when they saw one. 

He’d been at the wrong place at the wrong time the day they found him. Wanda used what looks she had left to tease the man into inviting her to his store. Of course a guy like himself wanted to impress a woman with fine jewelry. I hoped he’d still be living when all was said and done.

“I’m worried,” I said with a sigh.

Mason didn’t say anything. There wasn’t much you could say when bad things were always happening.

I was soaked and went inside. I wasn’t enjoying the rain anymore.

He made sure the door was locked, his hand grazing the curtain. He hopped in bed turning away from me.

I studied his body as he lay on his side. He didn’t want to talk. He was just as nervous about tomorrow as I was. In the moment he would be smooth and stealthy, but it bothered him, too. I could feel it.

I pulled my clothes off, running a hand down my arm, the water dripping on the floor.

“You’re soaking wet, Mason. You’re getting the bed wet,” I said, toweling my body off. I looked through my bag, pulling out a pair of underwear.

“Who cares, we’ll be gone tomorrow,” he said.

I crawled into bed, forcing him on his back. He stared at my naked body, then pulled me to his chest. He wrapped his arms around me, running his hands up and down my back.

“I’ve got a bad feeling. I want you to promise me something,” he said.

“Stop it, because you’re freaking me out.”

“Promise me if things go wrong we think about ourselves and get out of here. And I mean it, Kendall. We worry about ourselves and we leave,” he said.

I slid off him. I covered my chest with my hands. I didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

Mason rolled over. He took hold of my face. “I’m not kidding. I don’t care anymore. I don’t give a damn, Kendall.” He stared me down.

“What could we possibly do? It’s not that simple.” I tried to turn away.

Mason held on tight, his fingers clamping down. “If we make it through this, then we have time to plan. I want to take you away from this. I don’t know all the details yet, but I can make you happy. I know we can be happy together.” He released his grip.

“You don’t know that. And what do you mean happy together?” I asked confused. He’d never mentioned things like this to me before. We’d never talked about the future.

“Kendall, shut your mouth. You know I care about you. I think about you when you’re not here. And when you’re with me I never want you to go away.” He kissed my hand, smiling at me. His eyes revealed the adoration he spoke of.

I knew Mason had a competitive drive. I knew he wanted what he wanted. And he could make anything possible. I just wasn’t sure if I had the same sense of urgency or the will to break away.

He dropped my hand, pushing me down on the bed. A soft trail of kisses headed to my navel. I ran my hands through his hair, trailing my fingers down his shoulders, his hands came back up and cupped my breast. Goosebumps erupted on my skin as he glided back up my body. This time I pushed him down and got on top. I pressed my hands into his chest, staring at him.

“Okay. I promise if anything bad happens we will only think about us,” I said, moving closer. I kissed his neck, his hands trailed down my backside.

“God damnit you’re beautiful,” he whispered, teasing me. I laughed at his childishness, kissing his lips.

“You wouldn’t lie to me would you, Mason Vaughn?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at him. He touched my hair, shaking his head.

“Never been more truthful than right now. Looking at you fixes everything.”

This was a moment I’d never seen coming. I tried to contain myself…I was enchanted.

The day had already started out on the wrong foot. After all the rain that fell the night before, it felt like we were in the middle of a swamp. The air was so humid I could barely breathe. I was completely miserable. My clothes clung to my skin. I felt like I was suffocating.

Aunt Wanda came from the bathroom, trying to pull herself together. The humidity wasn’t doing her any favors either--her hair looked like a poodle was sitting on top of her head. I crossed my arms and sat down on the bed. Mason was off with Payton doing whatever it was she had yelled at him about before he stalked off. We were about to crack under the pressure—each of us in our own way.

Even Aunt Wanda was nervous…I could tell just by looking at her.

She stared at herself in the mirror.

“I just don’t know what to do with this hair,” she muttered to herself. She let out a long sigh as she shoved a bobby pin in her mouth.

I came up behind her, taking the sides of her hair in my hands and quickly braided her hair down her back. She didn’t react one way or the other as if I weren’t there.

“There, looks a lot better,” I said, dropping the bobby pins on the dresser.

“Now I want you to pull it together today,” she said, looking herself over one more time. “This will get us pretty far. And I don’t want anything messing it up.”

“How long do you think Payton will hang around?” I asked, holding my breath, hoping she wouldn’t bite my head off for asking.

Aunt Wanda sat down on the bed, putting on a pair of shiny red pumps. She dropped her foot down and rolled her eyes at me.

“Kendall, what did I tell you about guys? Mason is just another one of them. Don’t think for a second he isn’t treating other girls the same way he treats you. He’s a born con artist, he will always be one. And you’re the simple fix for his needs when he’s here--nothing more. Now, let’s go,” she said, heading for the door. I glared at the back of her head, my fist clenched.

I was ready to scream as we climbed into the old truck. The truck we had because she’d blown off Jon’s head. I wondered if he was rotting away in his home or if they’d been discovered by now. I wished they had so I had a reason to revel in Aunt Wanda’s demise. She deserved it more than anyone. She was the vilest woman I’d ever laid eyes on.

“Get over it,” she said, looking at me.

“Is it so hard to believe Mason isn’t like you guys?” I asked. “It’s almost like you don’t want anything good for anyone but yourself.”

Aunt Wanda backed the truck up, glaring at me at this point.

“That’s right, Kendall. I don’t give a shit about you or anybody else. The only thing I worry about is me. You should consider yourself lucky I give you advice on anything,” she said, shaking her head at me.

“It’s not advice, it’s bullshit. For some reason because you’re so screwed up you want the same for me. All because Joy-Ann was better then you.” I muttered the last part.

She backhanded me and nearly knocked my head off my shoulders. I grabbed my cheek, tears welling up in my eyes, not because I was crying but because it stung. I was ready to claw her eyes out, so I looked out the window instead.

“Don’t you ever mention that whore again. She is dead to you. And you’re lucky I didn’t kill her when I had the chance,” she said, her finger in my face.

“I wouldn’t have cared if you did. If only you had the balls you’re always talking about,” I said back.

She went for my throat. I dodged her, grabbing the door handle and fell into the parking lot.

“I told you not to mess this up for me,” she said, slamming the truck into park. I turned away not caring what happened anymore.

“Kendall, get in the god damn truck!”

It wasn’t often I defied her.

Payton and Mason pulled up, stopping behind the truck. Mason’s expression matched mine when he realized what was happening.

But Payton wouldn’t let him get out of the car.

“Get in the truck!” Wanda screamed. I looked at Mason, nodding to let him know I was okay.

I got in the truck and we headed to the jewelry store.

I chewed my nails, not willing to look at her. I wasn’t sure how much more I could take.

When we pulled into the parking lot across the street from the jewelry store, Payton and Wanda got out and headed across the street.

Mason jumped into the truck as soon as Payton and Wanda were gone. He took a look at the red welt on my cheek.

“Joy-Ann?” he asked, sympathetically.

“Yep, her one trigger.” I watched the cars racing past us, wishing one would take Aunt Wanda out as she jogged across traffic in her high heels. Wishing with everything I had in me that her heel would snap and she would break her ankle--anything to cause her pain -- let her see how it felt to hurt.

I looked away, pushing my bad thoughts out of my head.

“She said you were like every other guy in the world. That you treat every girl like you treat me,” I said. I held a hand to my throbbing cheek, surprised I had said anything.

Mason sighed and shook his head. “I have no reason to lie to you. She’s a bitter old broad who wants you to be the same way.”

“You’re probably right but, Mason tell me the truth. Are there other girls you treat the same way?”

I couldn’t believe I had enough courage to say anything. I never had to worry about anyone’s feeling because I never had anyone to let in.

I didn’t know the difference between sex and love. I didn’t even know what love felt like to be able to make an assumption.

If a guy wanted to sleep with me, he simply wanted to get off, that’s how I saw it. Mason was a guy and in my head that’s all it meant to him as well.

I never thought Mason cared about me in a serious way. I figured he was just used to me, a friend from way back.

“What do you mean, Kendall? Of course I don’t want to run away with anyone else,” he said.

I stared off, uncertain of what was to happen next.

“Why are you so sure I would lie to you?” he asked. “We’ve been through a lot together. I care about you.”

“But that doesn’t mean you have to be with me. It doesn’t even mean you have to like me,” I said, sure he didn’t know what he wanted.

“No, it doesn’t, you’re right, but I do like you.” He touched my face, pulling me to him. “How do you feel about me?”

My mouth dropped open. The infatuation between us was undeniable. I wanted him to touch me. I wanted him around me. I was happy when I was with him, there was no denying that. I just wasn’t sure what to do with those feelings.

I saw Payton’s signal and I opened my door. Mason climbed out his side meeting up with me on the street.

“Remember what I said,” he said, forgetting I hadn’t answered him.

I nodded, looking back and forth before I crossed the street. I looked back, watching him linger for just a second before he booked it across traffic and ran behind the jewelry store.

I looked over my shoulder one more time before I went inside. The bell chimed as I entered. Aunt Wanda very subtly looked up a large diamond necklace in her clutch.

The man came over to greet me. “How can I help you today?” Aunt Wanda straightened up, waiting for me to say something.

“My grandmother had a beautiful ruby bracelet, and I was hoping you had something like it. Sentimental reasons,” I said. He took my arm and led me to the counter.

He pulled out a tray of bracelets. I held my breath trying to stay calm. The more gracious someone was, the harder it was for me to do what Aunt Wanda wanted.

With a smile on his face, he laid three bracelets on the counter. His smile was the kind that crept into his eyes, revealing a certain level of genuineness.

“Rubies are like a woman’s heart. I think any of these would be beautiful on you,” he said, looking down at the bracelets. I examined each, pretending that I was really debating on buying one.

Aunt Wanda cleared her throat, coming to stand beside me. “The second one is just darling.” She touched my arm, amused by the silly game we were playing.

“Thanks,” I said, I wanted to spit at her.

“Abel, come tell me more about these rings,” she said. He hurried away, leaving me holding the bracelets. I looked past the counter catching sight of Mason. He jumped back when Abel came back over to me.

I coughed, which was the signal Mason made it inside.

“Anything like your grandmother’s?” he asked.

“Uh…no, I’m sorry, but thanks so much for your time,” I said, shooting Wanda a look. She glared at me.

Abel spun on his heels.

I slapped my hand down on the counter because I knew it was too soon for him to walk away. “No! What are you doing?” The words left my mouth before I knew what I was saying. I was starting to panic.

Aunt Wanda tossed the jewelry down rounding the counter.

“I think I have something in the back that you will like,” he said, leaving before I could argue against it.

It wasn’t long before I heard something crash.

I ran to the back. Mason was struggling to get ahold of the crow bar. He shoved Abel, doing whatever he could to get it out of his hands.

“Get him down!” Aunt Wanda said.

As always, she was willing to take it a step too far.

Abel struggled, breaking loose. He wielded the crow bar like a baton.

Abel swung the crowbar, hitting Mason in the face. I screamed and Payton yanked me away from the door running into the room.

“You want to steal my jewels?” Abel shouted at Mason. Blood crawled down the side of Mason’s face.

I covered my ears, I didn’t want to hear what was coming next. I could still hear them struggling.

The crowbar slid out of the room and Mason came crawling after it.

Payton snagged the crowbar from the ground before Mason could get to it. She swung with all her might, hitting Abel in the head.

Mason grabbed me by the hand and pulled me through the back room. He shoved me out the door and we started running. We ran through the parking lot.

I tried to slow down, I felt like I was about to fall on my face, but Mason wouldn’t let me stop.

“We have to keep going, Kendall!” he shouted. “Come on!”

I jumped, tripping over an old box abandoned in the field near the motel we were staying in. We got to the train tracks, that ran to the overpass, where we were days ago, and finally stopped.

“God, I can’t breathe,” I said, trying to catch my breath.

“If you’re talking you’re breathing,” Mason said.

He was bloody and sweating.

“That bastard got me good. Shit!” He ran a hand down the side of his face.

I nodded, afraid to touch him. I didn’t want to hurt him more than he already was.

“Let’s go back to the motel. We can clean you up there,” I said, still trying to catch my breath.

“Answer the question,” he said, ignoring me.

“What?” I asked, shaking my head.

“How do you feel about me?”

I took a deep breath before letting it back out. He was injured and his shirt was stained with blood, and he chooses now, of all times, to discuss feelings.

“I’m happy when you’re around. I like being with you.” The words hurt to say aloud, because admitting my feelings to the world opened up a world of hurt.

“Okay,” he said taking my hand in his.

We walked back to the motel.

***

I did my best to clean his wounds.

“Back in New Mexico, there was this guy that offered to teach me how to fight. I wonder if I should have taken him up on that offer,” he said, wincing, as I cleaned his face with soap and water.

“I’ve seen you fight. Sometimes those foreigners are really skilled at it.” I bit my lip, blotting his face with the towel, a smirk pulling up the corners of my mouth.

Mason’s eyes grew wide as he caught on to my amusement. “Kendall!”

I turned away, throwing my hand up to stop him from lecturing me. I couldn’t hide my laughter and there was no stopping it. I buried my head in the pillows.

“I’m sorry, Mason. I really don’t think it’s funny,” I said through tears. I closed my eyes afraid to look at him anymore. It was just too much.

“You’re a mean girl, Kendall. I should crack you in the face,” he said, jokingly.

I sat up no longer laughing as I looked around the room. I knew we were going to be leaving. “Do you think she’ll follow us?” My stomach was starting to ache all over again. I didn’t want to say goodbye already.

“I don’t know,” he admitted. I could tell he didn’t want to. “If they do what they usually do then no she won’t follow. She won’t travel with a group. She thinks that’s only asking to get caught.”

“Then we have an answer because Wanda would never let someone live who could send her to jail.” I blinked away the tears and ran for the bathroom and slammed the door.