Run Away Child

New apartment?

Everyone started cheering. 

“Wait seriously?”

“Yep. We are seeing the apartment that we want tomorrow and if we like it, it’s ours.”

“So you are just going to leave me like that?”

“Hey at least you wouldn’t have to worry about walking in on us again.”

“Jordan! Shut up!”

The boys started laughing.

“Have fun. She’s bossy.”

“You think I don’t know that?”

“So I'm bossy now?”

“And apparently a fast runner. She got away from Kyle and me.”

“She did. I was an i***t and didn’t turn the child lock on so she got out and ran.”

“Yep, sounds like that crazy one.”

“I am right here.”

“I know.”

Alright so yall can go home now. Good night everyone. See you at school.”

Everyone left other than Brandon and Jordan. 

“I don’t know about Brandon but I'm spending the night. I have clothes in the car.”

“How are you always prepared?”

“Not always. I learned the hard way to always be prepared.”

“Well I'm going to take a shower and no you are not joining again.”

“Again?”

“We aren’t talking about this.”

“Yes we are.”

“Okay then we can talk about what happened when Brandon was here.”

Her eyes went wide.

“Okay. We aren’t talking about this.”

“That’s what I thought.”

I walked away and went to the bathroom. I started the shower and stared at myself in the mirror. 

What is so special about me that is causing all of these people to care? They shouldn’t be doing so much for me. 

I got in the shower and let the hot water hit my skin. I let it run over my body for a little bit. I washed away the pain and the sadness. I got out and wrapped myself in a towel. Everyone was in the kitchen so I walked straight into the room and got dressed. I walked to the kitchen and there was food.

“Food!”

“Yep.”

I sat down and started eating. Everyone was happy and smiling. We were almost done when we heard a car door outside.

“What time is your mom supposed to be home?”

“Not for a few more hours.”

“Sophia, closet. Now.”

“No. if it’s my mom I'm facing her alone. If she touches me call the cops.”

“She shouldn’t even be here!”

“It is what it is.”

Mirza and I walked over and looked out the window. It wasn’t my mom. It was Jordan’s mom.

“Oh hello Rosa.”

“Hey Sophia. Is Jordan here?”

“Yep. I’ll go get him.”

“Oh no need. I was just dropping off his bag for school and a few other essentials. Good night!”

“Good night!”

I grabbed the bag and brought it to the kitchen.

“Package from Rosa to Jordan.”

“Thank you.”

“Your welcome.”

We finished dinner and made a plate for Nila. We put it in the microwave and put a note on the fridge telling her. We then went to bed then went to sleep. Jordan and I lied down and he wrapped his arms around me. I felt safe. I felt like I was loved by these people unlike what I felt in my own home. I couldn’t wait till we checked out that apartment. Jordan started playing with my hair and rubbed my head. 

After a few hours he got up and tried not to wake me up but I'm a light sleeper. He left and came back. He lied on top of me and I rubbed his head and shoulders until he fell back asleep. I soon drifted back asleep and it was peaceful. We woke up to the sound of all of our alarms going off. 

“Jordan, time to start getting up.”

“But I don’t want to.”

“No kisses today then.”

“Fine.”

Mirza and Brandon started laughing.

“He has to be bribed to get up?”

“Yep, not a morning person.”

“Well that was really cute.”

“It’s annoying sometimes.”

They started laughing. We all got dressed and ready for school. Jordan picked me up and carried me outside. Brandon and Mirza laughed at us the whole time. We got to school and the day seemed to fly by really fast. Seventh hour came by fast and we were sitting there talking all hour as normal.

“Are you excited to check out this apartment?”

“Absolutely! I am so excited.”

“Me too. I'm glad you saw it.”

“Wait, what?”

“What?”

“Yall moving in together?”

“Yep.”

“Well that’s exciting.”

“It really is. And it’s scary.”

“Right. But we are going to have a place to ourselves and it’s going to be amazing.”

“Exactly.”

There were a few minutes left of class so I packed up and left. Jordan ran up behind me and picked me up. I saw his boys laughing and recording us. 

“Jordan put me down!”

“No!”

“Do it or else.”

“Or else what?”

“You want me to embarrass you in front of your boys?”

“Don’t.”

“Put me down.”

He reluctantly put me down and we walked to the car. We put our bags in the car and drove over to the apartment building. I texted the lady that was supposed to show us the apartment saying that we were there and she said that she was going to be there in a few minutes. We sat there for a little bit waiting for her. Then she said that she was there. We got out of the car and walked over to her.

“Hello.”

“Hello.”

“You must be Sophia and Jordan?”

“Yep. So is this the apartment?”

“Yes ma’am. We go up these stairs.”

We followed her up to the apartment.

“So how long have you two been together?”

“Almost two months now but we have had a thing for each other for a little while longer than that.”

“Awe. highschool sweethearts?”

“Still in highschool actually.”

“Wow you are young. Why are you getting an apartment?”

“Well to sum up a long story, my mother and I aren’t exactly the best of friends so I left and have been staying at my best friend's house. Then he said ‘wanna buy an apartment together?’ and here we are.”

“That sounds like me and my current husband. Same exact situation but opposite parent and opposite person.”

“Wow.”

“Well here is the apartment. Do you want to open it?”

“Yes please.”

Jordan took the key from her and opened the door. We walked inside and it was amazing. It was exactly what we wanted.

“You can paint the walls if you want as well. There is enough space to even start a family but you are too young for that.”

“True.”

“What do you think Sophia?”

“I love it. It is exactly what we wanted.”

“I agree.”

“So I'm taking that as a yes?”

“Yes. We will take it!”

“I have the paperwork in my car and we can go to the bank.”

“Thank you so much!”

She smiled at us and I looked over at Jordan. I walked over and wrapped him in a hug. He picked me up and spun me around in a circle and put me down. The three of us left and went to the back. Thank God Jordan and I have the same bank. He put half of the money on it and I put the other half of it. We signed the paperwork and they said that we could move in that week. I was so excited.

“We have an apartment baby!”

I jumped into his arms and we were so happy.

“Let’s go pack.”

We left there and went to Jordan’s house. We walked inside and they saw the excitement in our faces.

“Let me guess, the apartment?”

“Yep. we got it! We get to move in on Wednesday!”

“That’s tomorrow!”

“I know.”

“Well let’s get you two all packed up!”

Jordan and I grabbed a few boxes and started packing his things. Rosa called for me.

“Sophia can you come help me with something real quick?”

“Yep.”

I walked downstairs and saw her with her computer on the couch.

“I want your help picking out furniture for your apartment.”

“What?”

“I wanted to buy you guys a few things as new homeowners.”

“Rosa, you don’t have to. We really do have it covered. I have a couple thousand dollars in my account and so does Jordan. We have it covered. You truly don’t have to.”

“I want to. My mother and father did not help me do anything and I don’t want to be like that. I am here for the two of you. I want to do this. So let me buy you guys a few things and I won't push anymore. I promise.”

“Fine. But nothing expensive.”

“Fine.”

We sat there for a little while looking at different couches and TVs and other house items. Jordan came walking downstairs confused.

“What in the world are the two of you doing?”

“Sophia is helping me pick out what I am going to buy for you two for housewarming gifts.”

“Mom you don’t have too.”

“I know but I want to and neither one of you are going to stop me.”

“Fine. Just nothing girly.”

“Everytime I point at something girly she says no so Sophia is on board with that.”

“Well can you two do this later? I need some help getting stuff out.”

“I’ll be up there in a second. Get some water.”

“Alright.”

I got up from the floor and went upstairs and started packing up more of his clothes. I went to his closet and finished that off. I went to his dresser and finished putting his clothes in boxes. He finished the bathroom already and we just needed to break down the furniture. 

He came back into the room and saw that there were several boxes sitting in the middle of the floor filled and taped. He started carrying them downstairs and brought them to his car. He came upstairs and saw me messing around. He laughed at me.

“What? I can't be weird?”

“No I love it.”

He walked over to me and threw me on the bed and pinned me down. He started tickling me and I couldn’t stop laughing. We heard a car pull and then heard a few more. It was Mirza and everyone. We walked outside and greeted them.

“What are you guys doing here?”

“Helping move. Figured that you would need some help.”

“We do. Thank you.”

Jordan assigned everyone to something and we all got to work. We continued working. I was loading a box to Jordan's car when I saw Nick standing by the trees.

“Why are you just standing there?”

“What is going on?”

“Jordan and I are moving in together.”

“What?”

“We bought an apartment today and we move in tomorrow.”

“Why?”

“Well we wanted a place to us. So we did and it’s great.”

“Congrats.”

“Thanks.”

We stood there for a moment trying to figure out what to say next. I just had to ask him.

“Is it true that you lost your scholarship because of me?”

“How could you ask me that?”

“Because Coach Scott said that it was my fault.”

“Sophia, it was not your fault. That was all on me. Coach Scott is wrong. You were the best thing that has ever happened to me. And now you are Jordan’s.”

“Nick, don’t lie to me.”

“I'm not. I don’t lie to you.”

“Good. cause I don’t lie to you either.”

“Good. Well I guess I'm going to leave you to continue moving.”

“Okay. Bye.”

“Bye.”

He left and I went inside. Rosa called me over and showed me everything. It was perfect. I can't believe that everything was really happening. We finished packing and drove it to the apartment. Jordan handed me the keys and I ran up there and unlocked the doors. Jordan followed behind me shortly after.

“How happy are you?”

“Words cannot express how happy I am.”

I ran over to him and gave him a hug. He set me down and kissed me. Some of the boys walked in and started saying “eww” and “PDA” at us and we thought that it was funny. We got everything inside and we were so tired. 

“I don’t know about yall but I am super tired and hungry. I’ll order pizza and after we eat everyone goes home? Sounds like a plan?”

Everyone agreed and I ordered some pizza. When it arrived everyone ate it up and there wasn’t anything left. I locked the door and we all went home. Jordan, Mirza, and I went to Mirza’s house and went to bed immediately. Jordan fell asleep on me as soon as we lied down.

“Wanna hit this?”

“Sure.”

She handed me the vape and I hit it a few times then handed it back to her. I fell asleep shortly after that and we all woke up to the sound of something crashing in the kitchen. We all got up and walked over to see what it was. Nila looked like she was going to pass out.

“Sorry guys. I thought I saw someone outside.”

“What?”

“In the backyard. But it wasn't a person, it was a garbage bag.”

“Thank God. I didn’t want to have to go out there and kill someone.”

“Well now that you are all awake, time to get ready for school.”

Jordan groaned and walked to the room. We laughed at him and we went to sleep. My alarm went off first so I woke them up.

“Alright sleeping beauty, time to get up.”

“Okay. Only if I get a kiss first.”

I leaned over and gave him a kiss.

“Okay, i’ll get up now.”

“I swear if Brandon acted like that I would kill him.”

“Well I'm moving in with him so I can't kill him yet. I'm going to wait till he makes me some NFL money.”

“That is a good idea.”

“Wait what? You are going to kill me?”

“No, I love you too much.”

“That’s a lie.”

“Sometimes.”

“Exactly.”

“Well if you get ready then you will live to see the day you get drafted.”

His eyes got wide and took off running to the bathroom. Mirza started laughing. I got dressed then made a cup of coffee. I drank it fast then brushed my teeth. I went out to the car and waited for those idiots. Jordan came walking out next and Mirza came last.

“Time for school.”

“So excited.” Mirza said death glaring at me.

Jordan drove us to school and again it went by pretty fast. We left school and went to Mirza’s house and we packed up my things. Mirza cried a little bit but I told her that everything will be okay. We got my few bags and put them in the car. We went to the apartment and brought my things inside. 

We started unpacking when Rosa came by and said that the furniture is outside. We called over all of the boys to help us bring it all inside and they did. We got all of the boxes out of the way and carried the small thing inside first. Once the boys got there they helped Jordan carry the couch and all of the other big things inside. While they worked on that, I worked on setting up our room.

I got the bed frame built plus the mattress on it without breaking anything. I started bringing boxes into the bedroom and started organizing them. I walked out to the living room.

“Jordan, what can I do?”

“Mirza and my mom are in the kitchen setting things up. You can go help them or unpack stuff.”

“Okay.”

I wrapped my arm around him and gave him a kiss. I walked into the kitchen and saw that they had put dishes up, put the pots and pans in the cabinets, and organized everything.

“Oh wow. This looks amazing you guys.”

“Well thank you.”

I walked back into the bedroom and started putting things in the closet. I called for Jordan.

“Jordan! Come here real quick!”

“Be right there!”

He came running and he looked tired.

“Okay two things. One you need to take a break and where do you want the dresser?”

“Put it across from the bed and I'm fine.”

“Babe you look like you are going to pass out. Sit down and I will bring you some water.”

“Fine. Only for five minutes.”

“Thank you.”

I walked away and got him a water. I came back and he was sitting on the bed on his phone. I handed it to him and he drank it. I walked to the living room and had someone help me carry the dresser to the room. We sat it down and I opened the box.

“Want some help building it?”

“I’ve got it. I like building things.”

“I know. Sophia you are the weirdest person I have ever met.”

“What does that mean?”

“You love building things from scratch. If you had it your way you would have built it instead of buying it.”

“True.”

“Exactly. So what is your game plan for decorations?”

“You will find out when I decorate.”

“So I'm going to live here but I am going to be in the dark about what it is going to look like?”

“Yep.”

“You are something else.”

I stood up and pushed him so he was laying down. I got on top of him and pinned his arms down.

“What does that mean?”

“That you are something else. You are goofy and weird. Creative and smart. But somehow an i***t at times.”

“You are the one talking.”

“What does that mean?”

“You are an i***t all the time. You are super weird and goofy. And you have your smart and creative moments.”

He gasped and I started laughing. He leaned up and gave me a kiss. I climbed off of him and started building the dresser. I was almost done when Jordan called for me.

“Sophia! Come here!”

“Coming!”

I got up and ran to the living room. He showed me the progress and it looked really good. The couch was set up and the coffee table. There were even a few plants.

“Well?”

“It looks great! You guys did an amazing job!”

“Well thank you.”

“So what is next?”

“They went to go pick up the rest of the stuff and Mirza and a few of the girls wanted to take you out shopping for more clothes.”

“I don’t need more clothes. I have your closet and mine.”

He started laughing.

“True, very true. But they want to so when you finish with the dresser get dressed and they are taking you out.”

“Fine. But we are ordering Chinese for dinner tonight.”

“Deal.”

I walked away and finished the dresser. I changed into some shorts and a plain black tee shirt. I walked out to the living room and saw Jordan, Kyle, Brandon, Mirza, Katie, and a few other people. Jordan looked at me and smiled.

“There she is. Ready to go?”

“Yep. What are you boys doing?”

“Going to Kyle's house to hang out for a while or going to stay here and hang out.”

“Okay. well you girls ready to go?”

“Yes ma’am.”

I walked over to Jordan and gave him a kiss. I said bye to the boys and we left. Our first stop was the mall because they said that there was a restock of a lot of different clothes. We were walking around and just having fun. We eventually found a*****e that had really cute clothes that aren't expensive. We bought a few different outfits and I decided that I should start getting out of my comfort zone and change up my style a bit because I am a changed woman now.

“I have an idea. Why don’t we change up my style and get my haircut then dyed?”

“What?”

“Since I left my mom and I now have an apartment, why don’t we change it up a bit. Show off some more skin and just get out of my comfort zone.”

“Sophia I have been waiting for this day for years. Let’s get started.”

They started running around the store and each chose some clothes to try on. A lot of them were really cute and showed off more than I liked but it felt good. When I came out all of them took pictures and Mirza sent some to Jordan. All he said was that if I came home looking like that then he wouldn’t be able to control himself.

We all laughed and bought all of them. We went to a few more stores and got a few more outfits. Then we went to a hair salon.

“Hello. What can I do for you?”

“Hi, I would like to get my haircut and dye.”

“Okay sit right here and I’ll get you started.”

“Thank you.”

Mirza and I walked over to the booth and started looking at different hairstyles and colors that I could do. I decided that I was going to get it cut short and blonde streaks. She was cutting it and I decided that the silence was killing the mood.

“So what got you into this business?”

“In high school my best friend and I decided that we were going to start dying our hair and stuff like that and since I loved it so much I decided that I would choose this career path. I also love seeing people essentially getting revenge on an ex and deciding that they were going to have a glow up. I like being a part of that.”

“Wow. I love that.”

“What about you? Why did you decide to change up?”

“Well my mother and I got into another really heated fight so I left. And this is basically revenge on her because she loved my long brown hair. So I'm cutting it and getting blonde in it. My boyfriend has no idea so he is going to be utterly shocked.”

“Well I am glad that you are changing up a bit. It’s always nice to change it up a bit here and there.”

Mirza started laughing.

“I have been telling her that for years now.”

“Well you need to start listening to your friend because she is right. My self confidence shot up super high the first time I got my hair dyed.”

“Well I am super excited.”

“You should be. You are extremely pretty and you would kill being blonde.”

“Well thank you.”

“Oh my Lord. Sophia, what is Jordan going to say?”

“Well if I wear that outfit and with my hair done, he’s not going to be saying much.”

We all started laughing and it was really fun. I found out her name was Liza and I got her number because I liked her a lot. By the time we were done Jordan was texting me asking what we were up to. I lied and said that we were still shopping and that I would be home in thirty minutes.

“And we are done. What do you think?”

I looked at the mirror and I didn’t recognize myself. I looked different but in an amazing way.

“I love it. It looks amazing! Thank you so much!”

“It’s no problem. And if you want there is a bathroom right there where you can change into that outfit.”

Mirza and I looked at each other.

“I’ll go grab it and you pay.”

“Deal but be fast Mirza.”

I walked with Liza and paid. When I was done Mirza was walking in with the bag. I went to the bathroom and changed. When I walked out Liza and Mirza looked at me in amazement.