Escaped

Chapter 32

Escaped: Chapter 32

My dad's shopping basket fell to the ground with a clatter.

"Ch-Charlotte?" He whispered.

"I don't- I mean, I'm not...," I stuttered. I was frozen in place, my heart hammering in my chest.

"Ben, have you got the-" My mom rounded the corner. She stopped in her tracks when her eyes landed on me.

Shit! Why did they both have to be here?

Tears welled in my mother's eyes.

I studied her face for a second and noticed the dark shadow under her left eye that she had tried to cover up with concealer.

"Mom, what happened to your eye?" I asked.

She flinched and looked up at my dad.

"The important thing," she breathed, changing the subject, "is that you're here. Where have you been? Are you alright?" She sounded really worried.

I felt guilt twist up in my stomach.

My dad reached a hand out to me.

"Char, what happened?"

I dropped my stuff, turned tail and ran.

-

I had run all the way out of the store and down the road a ways.

I just kept running, hearing the mud squish under my feet.

What were my parents doing out here?

Of all the times and places, we happened to be there at the exact same moment.

I hadn't known what to do. I kind of freaked out and split.

I slowed to a stop and stood there panting for a minute, trying to catch my breath.

I pulled out my Track Phone and dialed Gemma's number.

"Yeah?" She answered.

"Gem? I need you to pick me up," I said.

"What? Where are you?"

"I'm uh," I looked around at my surroundings. I couldn't have gone far because I was still in civilization. "I'm next to 'Cleo's Beauty Supplies.'"

"Geez," she said. "What the hell are you doing out there?"

"I'll explain later. Just please, come get me."

"I'll be there in five."