Run Away Child

Rock and Metal

“Alright. To the courthouse.”

“Yep.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, why isn’t Jordan taking you?”

“I don’t want him to worry and he will make a big deal out of it. So I decided that it will be easier if you took me.”

“True. Okay so are we going straight there or stopping somewhere first?”

“Straight there.”

“Okay.”

We walked to his car and got in. He pulled off and started driving to the courthouse. 

“Why are you getting the restraining order?”

“She showed up to Mirza’s house last night. I spent the night at Jordan’s. I'm scared she will hurt them looking for me so it’s best that we do it now. Plus she went to the school today looking for me.”

“Wow. Your mom sounds like a piece of work.”

“She really is. But let’s change the topic.”

“Okay. Life or death situation. Jordan or Mirza?”

“That’s not fair.”

“Well?”

“Jordan. He would know what to do in those situations. He’s more helpful. She’s really girly and doesn’t want to get her hands dirty.”

“Okay.”

“Umm, Zombie Apocalypse. Top three people you want with you?”

“You, Jordan, and my friend Oliver.”

“Why us three?”

“You know how to make things and you are super creative. Jordan knows how to shoot and is very handy since he is a football player. And Oliver is a hunter and is really smart. And I am also creative plus I can handle a gun.”

“I can handle a gun.”

“More reasons to pick you.”

I laughed at his failed attempt at a joke.

“And she still knows how to laugh.”

“Ehh, I'm still a little upset.”

“I figured. But we are a block away from the courthouse so it’ll be all okay soon.”

“Thank you for this. You didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to. I would rather help you out then to see you upset. You have no idea how fast you lighten up a room when you are happy.”

“Kyle, you are so sweet.”

“It’s weird though. You glow when you are around the people that you love. At the party last night you glow brighter than the lights. You were with me, Jordan, and Mirza.”

I looked at him and smiled. I never realized how truly sweet he was. Or is he flirting?

“We are here.”

We got out of his car and practically sprinted to the front doors. He opened the door for me and we walked to the front desk.

“Hello, do you have an appointment?”

“No I do not but it is an emergency.”

“What kind of emergency?”

“I need a restraining order.”

“Okay I need you to sign these papers and I will see who is available.”

“Thank you so much.”

“No problem, miss.”

She handed me the papers and a pen. We sat down and I started working on it. Once I finished the papers I walked back over to her.

“So someone just canceled so there is an opening at 10:00 in the morning today. Would you like that?”

“Absolutely. That’s in an hour.”

“Alright I will put you in.”

“Thank you.”

She smiled at me and I walked back to Kyle.

“What did she say?”

“There is an opening at 10:00. I took it so I’ll be here for a while.”

“Not just you, we are going to be here for a while. I'm not leaving.”

“But-”

“Nope. I have made up my mind and I told my parents so when the teacher marks me absent they know why.”

“You don’t have too.”

“I want too.”

“Why?”

“Because you are one of my best friends and I want to make sure you are okay. Plus Jordan would kill me if something bad happened to you while under my watch.”

“True.”

I couldn’t help but to laugh. For the rest of the hour we watched YouTube on his phone waiting for me to get called.

“Sophia Jones?”

“Yes?”

“They are waiting for you in room 42. Would you like for me to escort you there?”

“Yes please.”

Kyle and I stood up and she walked us to the courtroom.

“Here you are. Good luck.”

“Thank you.”

Kyle opened the door for me and we walked in.

“Sophia Jones?”

“Yes sir.”

“Why are you requesting a restraining order?”

“For the past two or three years my mother and I have been fighting. And sometimes it would get physical. The most recent time we got into a fight she again threatened to kick me out. I told her to tell me to leave and she did. So I left. For the past few days she has been trying to find me but she hasn’t had any luck. Yesterday she showed up to my best friend's house, where I was staying, looking for me and threatened her mother. I'm scared for them and for myself. And today she showed up to my school trying to pull me out for the day so she can drag me home but I didn’t leave with her. I left to come here with my best friend Kyle. So I need a restraining order so she can’t come near me or do anything to harm my friends.”

“How old are you?”

“I'm turning seventeen in a week and a half.”

“Miss. Jones, I will sign off for the restraining order if you can prove of physical abuse.”

“I have photos of bruises on my arms and legs from different times she and I have fought. And my neighbors can vouch and say that they have seen her literally throwing me on the front yard, punching me.”

“Can I see those photos?”

I walked over to him and opened my phone. I clicked on the different pictures of the scarring and the bruises all over my body. His face said it all.

“I will sign here and and you will sign there stating that she cannot go within 100 yards of you, where you live, and where you work. If she comes near you she will be arrested on sight. The third time she is seen around you she will be put in jail.”

I signed the paper and so did he. He handed me the papers and told me where I have to go. I looked at Kyle and smiled.

“Are you two dating?”

“Oh no, he’s my best friend. I have a boyfriend.”

“Why didn’t he come?”

“I didn’t want him to worry about me more than he already has too. Plus he would have made a bigger deal out of this. I told this one to leave but he wouldn’t.”

“Come here.”

I walked closer to him.

He whispered, “He likes you. He hasn’t moved his eyes off of you. And I can see it in his eyes.”

I looked at him shocked.

“My boyfriend is one of his friends. I don’t think so.”

“You never know.”

“Okay. Well I'm going to handle the rest of these papers. Thank you so much.”

“No problem. Be safe.”

“Thank you. You too.”

Kyle and I left and handled the paperwork. We finished and left to go back to school.

“See, what did I tell you. Everything was going to be okay.”

“Thank you for being here. It means a lot.”

“Anytime.”

“Let’s head to school.”

“When we get there it’s going to be lunchtime. Wanna stop somewhere and pick something up to eat?”

“Why not. I'm buying.”

“Nope.”

“Yep. As a thank you. Plus I'm buying Jordan and Mirza lunch.”

He looked at me. “Fine.”

We stopped at a sandwich shop and got each of us a sandwich. We left there and went to school. We walked into the lunchroom and sat down.

“Where did you two go?”

“The courthouse and then a sandwich shop to get all of us lunch.”

“What?”

“We got the restraining order against my mom and got sandwiches.”

“Why didn’t you tell me.”

“I didn’t want to worry you more than you would have been. She showed up to school so I texted Kyle and he took me.”

“But I am your boyfriend.”

“And you think I don’t know that? Babe, all we did was get a restraining order and food for everyone. That’s literally it.”

“It better be. Or else I will kill him.”

“Jordan, I am sitting right here.”

“Okay, I will kill you if this happens again.”

“I can’t be her friend? I can’t help her when she needs someone?”

“That’s my job.”

“Look Jordan, I respect your relationship. And I respect you. I wouldn’t do anything like that.”

“Whatever.”

“Jordan I need to talk to you in the hall.”

“About?”

“Now.”

I got up and went into the hall. He followed me out.

“Yes?”

“Why are you acting like this is a big deal? I needed someone to take me there. I didn’t want you to make a bigger deal out of it in case something bad happened.”

“It’s just that I didn’t know what was going on.”

“I know and I'm sorry. I didn’t want to worry you more than you already were. And the way you are acting right now is not okay. He is one of your friends. And he is one of mine. You do not act like that ever. Do you understand me?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now stop being so jealous. It doesn’t look good on you.”

“I know but you do.”

He wrapped me up in a hug and kissed my forehead. We walked back into the lunchroom and everyone was silent.

“Well?”

“Well what?”

“What happened out there?”

“She told me about myself.”

“That’s normal. She does that to everyone.”

“That’s the truth.”

Everyone started laughing and it lightened the mood. When lunch was over I saw Jordan and Kyle talking. It looked like Jordan was saying he was sorry for that. They started laughing and it looked like everything was going to be okay. Jordan walked with me to our advisory and we stopped to talk to our teacher.

“Hey Mrs. B. How was your weekend?”

“It was pretty good. How was yours Sophia?”

“Same here. I spent most of it with Jordan and Mirza.”

“That sounds like a good weekend.”

“Yep. What are we going to be doing in class today?”

“We are going to be doing some research on different companies that you could work for and which fields.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“I hope it will be.”

“It usually is Mrs. B.”

I smiled at her and took my seat. Jordan and I sat with a few other football players and other popular kids. I'm usually very quiet. I don’t belong to this group so I sit there with Jordan and don’t really talk. Every once in a while I will chime in and talk to them but I'm kind of a loner. Today I sat there doing my homework and Jordan pulled my legs on his lap.

“Why?”

“Why not?”

“You’re weird.”

“You know it.”

“Are you excited to meet my brother today?”

“It’s literally the only thing on my mind. I'm nervous that he might not like me.”

“He will.”

“He is the most important person in your life Sophia. I want him to like me.”

“And he will. He already likes you by the way that I would talk about you.”

He smiled and I continued doing my homework. The bell rang meaning that it was time for our next class. Jordan and I stayed in our seats because our next class was Mrs. B. We pulled out our folders and everyone started filing into the class. Hunter and James sat in front of us.

“Yo what’re you two up to?”

“Nothing. What about you?”

“Same. Nothing is going on.”

“Facts. Nothing exciting has been going on.”

“Other than those hickies.”

“We aren’t talking about that.”

“Are you embarrassed?’

“No, not even a little bit. I just don’t want to talk about it right now.”

I didn’t really listen to the rest of the conversation. I started thinking heavily on what that Judge said about Kyle. Could he be right? Could Kyle have a crush on me? I started working on my worksheet and Jordan was looking at me.

“Take a picture. It’ll last longer.”

“I'm just wondering what’s on your mind. You are being extra quiet.”

“Just thinking about this worksheet. And my brother.”

“I'm sure he is okay.”

“I know.”

I shot him a quick smile and continued working on my paper. I sat there then I got bored. I pulled my earbuds out of my bag then plugged them into my phone. I played my playlist and finished off my worksheet. Jordan started rubbing my leg so I looked at him. He pointed at my earbuds so I took my legs off of him and leaned over. I handed one to him and we sat there for the rest of the hour listening to music. 

The bell rang so I packed my things and went to my sixth hour class. I didn’t take my earbuds out so I didn’t hear my teacher but it didn’t matter because I knew what we were doing. I pulled my computer and started working. I read the board and it said the same thing. “Good day class! Pull out your computers and work on the assignment that I assigned you. Work on whatever homework you have when you finish! Due tomorrow.”

I ignored everyone and did what I was told. I started working on it and it was pretty easy. I sat there doing my work and listening to music. I pulled my phone out and changed the playlist because I didn’t feel like listening to country music anymore. I started listening to some rock and heavy metal. The kid next to me tapped on my shoulder.

“Sophia.”

“Yes?”

“Who’s your favorite rock or metal artist?”

“Why?”

“Cause I can hear your music and I'm curious.”

“Okay. Probably Marilyn Manson.”

“I like him. I prefer Nirvana.”

“Nirvana is good. I have all of their songs downloaded.”

“Wow. I’ll have to check him out then.”

“I recommend it. He’s really good.”

I turned my music down a little bit and continued on with my day. I finished my work and packed up early. There was over twenty minutes left of class so I asked to go to the library. She told me that I can go so I took my bag with me. I texted some of my friends to meet me in the bathroom and two of them said that they were already there. I got there and they were sitting in the disabled stall so they didn’t get caught. 

“What up trouble.”

“What’s up?”

“Who has stuff?”

“All of us. Do you?”

“Yep.”

I walked over to them and pulled mine out. I hit it and handed it to Katie. She handed me hers and her flavor was Banana. Mine was Watermelon. Mable and Mirza were also there sitting on their bookbags vaping.

“Library excuse?”

“Always. You know the drill.”

I joined them in the stall and started vaping. We all passed them around in a group and kept track of who had whos. We sat there till the bell rang and we all got up and left. Not at the same time or else that would look suspicious. In my seventh hour I sat next to the window at an angel and the teacher didn't look at my group that often because we are usually quiet. But today Jordan and two of his friends are sitting there leaving me my seat that I have sat in every year I have had this teacher. He teaches every grade level so it’s nice. 

“Yall better not be loud.”

“We won't, I promise.”

“You say that everyday and yet you manage to be loud and not get work done.”

“But I do it at home and still manage to have straight A’s.”

“Surprisingly.”

“What does that mean?”

“What do you think it means?”

“I think that you are trying to say that I'm surprisingly smart because I don’t pay attention in class but I still have great grades.”

“That is exactly what I am saying. You are also a bit of a dummy.”

“Am not.”

“Are so.”

“Cant be dumb and be a quarterback at the same time.”

“Yes you can. There are several football quarterbacks in the NFL that are idiots.”

“True. Very true.”

“Exactly. So please get your work done.”

I sat down and started working on the assigned pages. I turned my music back on and ignored everyone again. Jordan pulled my legs on his lap again and started rubbing them. I looked at him trying to figure out why but I figured that it was his way of saying sorry for being a jerk during lunch. Or it was his way of marking me in front of his friends. 

I turned my music up a little bit and he looked at me. I took my earbud out.

“What?”

“Is that Marilyn Manson?”

“Yes?”

“Good choice. He’s great.”

“Killing strangers is my favorite.”

“I really like the dope show.”

“That is a really good one.”

We talked about his songs for a little bit and his friends looked a bit concerned because Marilyn Manson is known for ripping pages out of the Bible and for having Satanic music videos and for his explicit lyrics. Back in the day they would have shows where they debated if Marilyn Manson and Eminem should continue music because of the influence they had with their lyrics and how dark and and expressive they are.

“We have ten minutes of class everyone.” The teacher announced. 

I pulled my phone out and texted my brother.

“Hey buddy you excited for today?”

“Yep. I can’t wait to meet Jordan.”

“He can’t wait to meet you too. He told me that it is the only thing that he has been thinking about all day.”

“Well I feel the same way. I really want to meet him.”

“Well I hope that you two get along.”

“We probably will. We have two main things in common.”

“Which is?”

“We both play football and we both love you.”

“Awe I love you too buddy.”

“I gotta get back to class but I’ll see you soon.”

“See you soon.”

I started smiling like crazy and Jordan noticed.

“Your brother?”

“Yep.”

I showed him the messages and he couldn’t help but to smile as well. 

“For only being eight he is crazy smart.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well most eight year olds don’t like their siblings and he grew up with a sister like you. So he is super smart because I'm pretty sure you raised him.”

“I did. And you are right. He is really smart.”

He squeezed my leg and I moved them off of his lap and started packing up. Our teacher has this rule that if you got your work done you got to leave a few minutes early. He doesn’t even ask me to show him at this rate because he knows that I do since I have been his student for the past three years.

“See you tomorrow Mr. Bruno.”

“See you tomorrow Sophia.”

Jordan and I walked out and went to his car. We put our bags in the trunk and got in. We started driving to my brother's school and I was pretty nervous. We parked at the school but didn’t know which exit he came out of so I texted him.

“Hey buddy which exit do you come out of?”

“Just go to the front of the school and I’ll meet you there.”

“Okay.”

I told Jordan where to drive and he did. He parked in the teachers parking lot and we walked to the front of the school. He saw that I was nervous so he held my hand. I gave it a squeeze for reassurance. He smiled at me and tried to calm my nerves. We stood at the front doors for a little while before the bell rang dismissing them. A little while longer he came running out with other kids and sprinted to me. I kneeled over so he could give me a hug.

“Sissy!”

“Hey buddy!”

He pulled away and looked at Jordan.

“Are you Jordan?”

“Yep.”

“You are taller than I thought.”

Jordan started laughing.

“I get that a lot. Are you ready to go?”

“Yep!”

He grabbed Jordan’s hand in his left and mine in his right. We walked to Jordan’s car as Andrew asked him a million questions.

“What’s your favorite color?”

“Red.”

“What is your football position?”

“I'm the quarterback.”

“I play defensive line.”

“Your sister told me.”

“I figured. She talks about you all the time.”

“Oh really? What does she say?”

“She talks about how nice you are. And how awesome you are.”

“Well she talks about you all the time too.”

“Really?”

“Yep. She is always bragging about how you are the most important person in her life and how you are the best little brother anyone could ask for.”

I sat there while they talked and it was amazing. I have truly never been happier in my life. We got him in the backseat of his car and all buckled in before we took off. Jordan saw my leg was shaking so he put his hand on it to try and calm me down. It worked for the most part but I was still nervous.

“So how did you meet?”

“We met through my older brother.”

“Oh, well did you like her then.”

He looked at me, “I have liked her from the first time that I met her.”

I blushed and rolled my eyes at him.

“Well I like you.”

“Well thank you. I like you too.”

“Hey sissy.”

“What’s up buddy?”

“Did you leave to go live with Jordan?”

“Yes and no buddy. I left because mom and I were fighting again.”

“Well do you live with him now?”

“Yes and no. I'm there or I'm at my best friend's house.”

“Okay.”

“Why were you wondering?”

“I just wanted to know why you left.”

“If you thought that it was your fault it wasn’t buddy. Not at all.”

“Mom is sad.”

“I know. But she will get over it.”

“Like you did?”

“Just like I did. I got to leave and be happy and still have one perk from coming from that family.”

“Which is?”

“Having you as my little brother.”

He smiled all big and was really happy. We pulled up to the restaurant and walked inside. Andrew looked so excited and so did Jordan. They both had the biggest smiles on their faces and it was that cutest thing I have ever seen. A waitress came over and asked us where we would like to be seated. She brought us to a booth and we sat down. She handed each of us our menus.

“What can I get you guys to drink?”

“I’ll have an unsweetened tea with lemon.”

“I’ll have regular water.”

Andrew looked at me and asked, “Can I have a soda?”

“Of course. What kind do you want?”

“Can I have a Root Beer?”

“Yep. And a Root Beer for the little one.”

The waitress smiled and she wrote it down.

She walked away and got our drinks while we looked for what we wanted. I saw chicken nuggets and chicken tenders on the menu and looked at Jordan.