The World I Never Stopped Running From

Chapter 2

" What is it? " Betty asked while looking over my shoulder to see the empty tin can and then, almost immediately, hitting her forehead, she said, "Oh wait, I forgot to tell you that Martha told me to tell you that she owes you more coffee, since she used up that last of it last time she was here" Great, so now no morning coffee paired with a growing headache what's next? I sighed and decided at that moment that I would kill Martha next time I saw her. My face must have given my thoughts away because Betty started laughing hysterically. "Sheesh Katy, you really have to work on your poker face. I can read you like an open book. No wonder you always lose on poker night." I ignored her. "I guess I can get my coffee down at the diner..." I grumbled under my breath while glancing over at the clock that hung on my living room wall. It was almost 10, and I still really needed that shower. If I was going to make it on time I needed to hurry.

I burst into a sprint, practically running Betty over to get to the bathroom. After turning the hot water on, I started scrambling about the room to gather all of my daily items, going down a mental list hoping I hadn't forgotten anything important. Betty stood in the doorway of my room watching me run around like a chicken with its head cut off, smiling the entire time, finding amusement in my desperation. "Wow, you really must not have gotten any sleep last night. Usually you're ready by the time I come. This is like a once in a lifetime phenomenon, like a rare comet or something." I could tell she was being sarcastic, so I just flipped her the bird while walking into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me.

I checked the water to make sure that the temperature was okay. Once I adjusted it, I went over to the sink to start brushing my teeth as fast as I could, doing my best not to look into the mirror. After I finished brushing my teeth, I jumped into the shower, sighing when the hot water hit my skin, almost instantly calming the nerves that have been accumulating since I'd opened my eyes. I could stay here forever, and I might have to if Betty hadn't opened the bathroom door and popped her head in. "Hey, just to let you know, you only have like 20 more mins before your late for your shift, just saying." I grunted and popped my head out the curtain

"f**k okay, thank you, I'm almost done. I just have to rinse out the conditioner from my hair, and I'll be right there." Betty gave me a thumbs up before closing the door so that I could finish my shower.

After I was finished, I turned off the water and slid the shower curtain opened. While stepping out of the tub, I reached for my towel to wrap around my body. I then grabbed my blow-dryer and plugged it into the wall. Trying to blow dry my hair as fast as the old thing would allow me to. Once my hair was dry enough, I dried my body off with the towel, hanging it back up once I was done with it. After putting on my old tattered work bra that had seen at least 10, 10-hour shifts, I put some pink granny panties that I found on. They weren't the prettiest looking set of underwear and certainly not the finest I'd ever worn, but they felt comfortable and familiar, which is what I needed right about now.

I opened the door to the bathroom and walked out. Betty was sitting on my bed without a care in the world, playing a noisy game on her phone when she looked up. "Finally, I thought you were going to be in there for... Wait, Katy, come on, we've been over this. You need to go underwear shopping pronto. Honestly, these poor pieces of undergarments need a break look your left bra strapped looks like it is about to snap any moment now!" I laughed a little at that because she was right. I just didn't want to admit it out loud.

"We could go next weekend or something. Maybe Martha isn't doing anything and can tag along ?" I, half heartily, say while reaching for my uniform that was on the bed next to Betty putting it on while she prattled on about next weekend's plans. "Oh yes, that could be so much fun. I'll text her and ask..." She paused for half a second, seizing me up while I donned my uniform on. "You know you should totally get a phone so we can all text. I hope you know that you're missing out on some funny stuff in the group chats!" Betty says while waving her phone at me with an expectant look.

She doesn't know anything, none of them do, and I know she doesn't understand why I can't have a phone. It's not that I don't want one, it's just that I literally can't afford it if I want to stay under the radar. I know that as soon as I get one, that's all they need to track me down. It doesn't even matter if I don't use my real name. It's happened before, and I refuse to bring this quiet small town into the world that I grew up in. This town wouldn't be able to survive it.