Chapter 4: Should I Hide?

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I sit at a table at a starbucks, drinking Frappuccino. I get some stares from people walking pass, probably wondering why I'm not in school. I look at my phone and see fifty miss calls from my dad. The latest one was only twenty minutes ago when I was walking here. I need to try and avoid everyone as much as I can.

I play games on my phone, one of the best; flappy bird. Yeah, I probably seem like an idiot playing it but, I'm so addicted to it. My highest score is one hundred and sixty. I hear someone clear their throat, making me die once again on number one hundred and fifty-nine.

"Aren't you supposed to be in school?" A familiar voice asked me. I look up and my mouth drops open. It was the girl I met earlier today. "Are you going to just stare at me like that for the rest of the day?" She asked, her Irish accent making me snap back into reality.
"S-sorry..." I mumbled and closed my mouth. "Take a seat." I gestured to her and she pulls it out and sits down. I felt an awkward silence coming along until, "My names Memphis." She introduced herself to me.

"A beautiful name for a beautiful girl." I muttered, hoping she didn't hear me. I could see that she rolled her eyes at me and scoffed. "Please," Memphis smiled. Her smiled made me smile slightly now. What is she doing here anyways? "If I was beautiful, I would have had to eating my face by now." She laughed. I chuckled nervously and take a mouth full of my Frappuccino.

I put my cup down and see that Memphis still had her blonde fair-hair with the different shades of blue swirling around. Today she was wearing a grey singlet and black shorts, with dark blue converse shoes. "So, are you one of those bad boys who wags school?" Memphis asked. I almost spray Memphis with my Frappuccino in my mouth. She thought I was a bad boy? I shook my head. I can't tell her I wagged school because of bullies, or could I?

I shrugged. "I'm not a 'bad boy'." I told her after I swallowed my drink. "Then what are you?" She asked. That, I didn't want to answer. She frowns and leans over to touch my eye. "What happened?" She asked in a soft voice. I got bashed by an over-weight kid with his friends laughing the crap out of themselves. I wanted to tell her that but, I would sound so pathetic and weak. "I umm..." I looked away from her and sighed. Should I tell her? Why am I questioning myself for? That's right, I don't know her. But, I don't want to sound like a complete jerk.

"Hello? Earth to boy I don't know the name of yet." Memphis waved a hand in front of my eyes and I blinked several times. "Sorry." I blurted out and stood up. "You wanna come to the park with me?" I asked. Why did I ask that? Stupid Tommie...Of course she'd say bloody no.
"Sure." Memphis smiled and stood up. She didn't say no? That's something new I don't see every day. I nodded and we both started walking down the street. I throw my cup in the bin once I was finished with my drink.

"What is your name?" Memphis asked again. I sighed as we neared the park. It was around lunch time by the time we got there. "My names..." I paused. I heard Memphis groan as I see my dad in his car. I start to panic. "This way." I hurried Memphis to the playground. "Why are we-" She was cut off by the loud honky sound of my dad's car. Oh shit...

"Run as fast as you can okay?" I told her and she nodded. We both started running as I heard my dad lividly yell out for me to get back. His feet, stomping like a few elephant herds now as he neared Memphis and I.

"KEEP RUNNING!" I shouted to Memphis , who now was climbing a fence into a stranger's back yard. I mimic her as I climb beside her. "TOMMIE!" My dad screamed. I feel my heart drop as I feel him yank on my foot, my chin contacting the fence. "Here! Grab my hand!" Memphis holds her hand out from the other side of the fence and I try and grab it, the pain from the chin bearable.
"You aren't escaping this time!" My dad said liked a hungry predator, hunting down its prey. I grasp for Memphis's hand and hold tightly as she hauled me over the fence, my dad's grip on my foot loosened as he yelled in frustration. I fall on the ground with a grunt and hear my dad punching the fence. "We need to keep moving." Memphis helped me up, picking my bag up too. "O-okay.." I breathlessly said. We start to run out of the backyard before the owner of the house would notice. We jump fence after fence to get away from my dad as fast as possible.

"Who was that?" Memphis asked as we jumped over a fence that lead to an alley way. I jump and land on my feet. "That was my dad..." I mumbled and looked at her. "Huh." She looked at me. "And your name is-"
"Tommie." I cut her off. Memphis smiled. "A handsome name for a handsome boy." Memphis mocked my voice and winked, walking towards the alley. I was taken aback. Handsome? Were you talking about the sheep off that kiddie show that you forgot the name was Timmy?

I jogged but to walk beside her. "Why is your dad coming after you like you've just...I don't know but, something really bad." Memphis looked at me and then forward as we walked down the alley. Does she really think I've done something bad? "D-do you think I actually did?" I asked her.

Memphis shrugged. "I look at you and see an innocent boy." She said honestly. A cold breeze rushed through the alley way, making a ghostly sound as it passed through my hair like a cold winter's day. I still can't believe Memphis is saying all this stuff about me like; really? Me? Innocent boy?
What she was saying was true. I'm innocent.

"But, I'm just saying that." Memphis talked with her hands. I loved how she did. Her hands going here and there, making hand gestures too. I looked at her hair, bobbing up and down as she walked beside me. "M-Memphis," I said suddenly. Memphis looked at me and nodded. "Yeah?"
The thought of me asking her about herself, felt like I was invading her too quickly. I shook my head and look down at my feet as I walked. Memphis didn't push me to talk. I only heard a slight sigh and then, silence.

I could only hear her breathing; soft and evenly.

We walk down the street to what seemed like we were walking to her house. It was late and I wasn't tired at all.
"Do you have anywhere to stay?" Memphis asked as we turned into the front yard of what I thought was her house. I shrugged. "I guess I'll be sleeping at the devils house once more." I chuckled sarcastically and Memphis just frowned. She didn't suggest me sleeping over and I could understand why. We walk up the footpath with red and blue flowers in the garden. They were stunning the yellowish pink light that was beaming down onto them. The garden looked like it was well cared for. I have a look around to see a black wrangler jeep in the garage. Then I see the house was one of the new ones.

A two story house, the colour of ash dust with a light blue door. I couldn't believe my eyes. "Is this your home?" I asked Memphis as she opened her front door. She chuckled and nodded.
"Yeah...It's my new home." Memphis sighed as a woman's voice called out her name. "Memphis! I need you to clean the kitchen and your room. YOU ARE A PIG!!" Memphis looked at me. I could see she was very embarrassed with me hearing that.

"Looks like I better be heading off then." I attempted a smile but it failed. It looked like one of those cheesy, weird smiles. Memphis nodded and yet sighed. "I guess I'll see you around then." Memphis went into her house, without closing the door. I stood outside, fighting myself if I should stay or, if I should go. I decided to start slowly walking away, not wanting to disturb Memphis. I get to the end of the footpath to exit her place and I turn around for one last glance. It was a beautiful house that made me think Memphis was rich. I sighed sadly and walked away, on my way to the devil himself. There was absolutely nowhere else for me to go.

"Tommie!"

I turn around to see Memphis hurrying towards me with a piece of paper dancing in the wind she was pushing through. I look at her with a slight smile and she takes a deep breath in and holds out the piece of paper in her hand. I examined it as I take it into my own. "T-there's my number and my address and the school I'll be going to on there." She said breathlessly. My eyes widen as I read everything one on it. I couldn't believe she'd give me something like this.

"I need to go now but, you can call or text whenever okay?" Memphis smiled and looked at me happily before running off back to her house. I didn't know what I felt but, it was a feeling I've never felt since fifth grade. Happiness. I watched her run away from me like we have became friends in the matter of time we've been together. Is this another friendship forming? I just felt so happy that it was unexplainable.

I hold the piece of tightly in my hands as I slowly walk back home. Memphis, a girl I only met this morning has maybe now become friends with me. I smiled like an idiot at the thought.
I could now be having a friend. A friend that doesn't judge me by the way I look, the way I walk, talk, anything about me.

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