I closed my hands around the straps from my backpack and turned my head over my shoulder to see if anyone was behind. Nobody was. Good.

I stepped onto the bus, paid the fee, and took a seat in the back. I pulled my hood up over my head, put my headphones into my ears, and turned up the volume to drain out any other noise. I was hoping this would feel like a fast trip. I mean, an hour isn’t that long, but I was itching to be as far away from here as I could in the shortest amount of time.

I took the bus to the last stop and got off. Perfect. I was only about a ten minute walk from the train station.

Damn it to hell. The next train to the city wouldn’t be coming for about two and half more hours. Stupid technical difficulties. I needed to get out, and I needed to get out now. One hour away from my house wasn’t enough…

“Yo, blondie!” some kid yelled from his car, “You need a ride?”

“Nope.”

“You sure?”

“Yup, just waiting for a train.”

“Well, if you’re just waiting, do you want to go to a party?”

I bit my lip for minute, thinking about it. If I was going to have to wait another two hours, I may as well do something. “Sure,” I said as I pulled the passenger door open and got into the car. If I was going to get myself into trouble, I probably shouldn’t half-ass it.

“I’m Brandon,” he said as he pulled away from the curb.

“Savannah.”

“So, where are you from?” he asked as he pulled out of the parking lot.

“Not far.”

“Meaning?”

“Well, where are you from?”

“Here,” he laughed.

I smiled, “Okay. Fair enough.”

“Are you going to answer the question?”

“Are you crazy? I don’t just give out my address to people I don’t know.”

“But you get into their cars?”

“And you invite them in?”

“I saw a pretty girl standing at a train station by herself at ten o’clock at night, what was I supposed to do?”

“Umm, I don’t know. Go to the mall, buy a burrito…”

He laughed, “What kind of man would I be then?”

“An average one.”

“Well, my mother raised me better than average.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Why do you sound so surprised?”

“Your mother taught you to address people by ‘Yo, blondie!’?”

He laughed, “Not exactly, but I figured it was a term of endearment.”

It was my turn to laugh then, “Okay. So, where are you taking me?”

“You know, I would tell you, but my mother also told me to not to talk to strangers.”

I rolled my eyes, “Whatever.”

“You know, you’re kind of cool, blondie.”

“You’re not too bad yourself.”

We pulled into a neighborhood where the lawns were all cut to one length and all the hedges were trimmed. In fact, I was pretty sure that if it wasn’t past ten, you would hear the faint sound of children laughing. Here we were: a perfect place with perfect people with their perfect lives. Great.

“Ready?” he asked

“Yeah,” I said as we stepped out of the car.

“Okay, let’s go.”

“So, who’s party is this?”

“Some kid at my school’s.”

“Wow, you really get to know people well, huh? Inviting strangers into your car, barely knowing the kid who throws the parties you go to...”

He shook his head, “I know the kid’s name, but you don’t, so what’s the point of telling you?”

“Good point,” I said as he opened the gate into the backyard.

“Do you want something to drink?” Brandon asked.

“Sure,” I said.

As I watched him walk away, I figured I probably should have went with him. I didn’t know anybody there, so I just kind of stood there with my arms crossed over my chest. It didn’t really matter because he was back in practically two seconds, anyway.

“Here you go,” he said as he handed me a cup filled with beer.

“Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

“Hey, Brandon,” a girl in a crop top said as she put her cup underneath the keg.

“Hey, Anna. This is my friend, Savannah.”

She smiled, “Hey.”

“Hi,” I responded.

“I thought you weren’t going to be able to come,” Brandon continued.

“I wasn’t, but, apparently, I’m pretty persuasive.”

“Your dad folded again?”

She smiled, “He was putty in my hands.”

“Wait,” I interrupted, “Your dad knows you’re here?”

She laughed, “I’m not that good. He thinks I’m at my friend’s house.”

I nodded, “That makes more sense.” It was definitely easier to believe than her parents let her go to a party where they could probably suspect there would be drinking.

“Yeah,” she said as she took a sip of beer.

“Are you guys okay?” Brandon asked, “I just saw Toby, and I-”

“We’re fine,” Anna answered.

“You sure?” he asked me.

“Of course, go.”

“So, what’s up with you?” Anna asked.

“Mmm,” I said as I finished a sip of beer, “I’m getting the hell out.”

“Of what?”

“My life.”

“So... you’re running away?”

“I guess, yeah.”

“Oh.”

“What?” I asked.

“It’s just, well, that’s the coward’s way out.”

“Excuse me?”

“Running away is cowardly,” she said with a simple shrug of the shoulders.

“You don’t know me, you have no idea what I have to run away from.”

“We all have something to run away from.”

“Whatever, it’s not like I actually care what your have to say.”

She smirked, “Then why’d you get so defensive.”

I threw my cup on the ground and walked away.

I found my way back to Brandon and brought him out into the middle of the yard to dance. There’s nothing better than dancing with a cute boy to take your mind off of things. At least that’s what I told myself.

It wasn’t long before Anna came up to us and started to dance, too. I tried to ignore her, I really did.

“Come here,” I said as I pulled out of the crowd of people.

“What?”

“Where do you come across judging me?”

“I wasn’t judging you.”

I rolled my eyes, “Please.”

“Okay. I’ll be honest. Everyone has demons that they need to face. You’ve got yours, I’ve got mine, Brandon’s got Brandon’s. The difference is me and everyone else deal with it.”

“What in the world do you have to run away from?”

“Seriously?”

“Yes! Take one look around you! This is practically a gated community!”

“So? Have you ever thought about what goes on within the gates?”

I bit my lip, I guess I hadn’t, but that didn’t mean it was comparable to what I had been going through. “Do I need to? Would it even matter if your sister overdosed and your parents can’t seem to stop fighting about who’s fault it was for two seconds? Would it even matter if they started to forget they even had another daughter?”

“Would it even matter if your mom left when you were three and your dad’s never home because his work is more important than you are?” I didn’t say anything. “Exactly. We all have problems.”

Neither of us said anything for a while. We just stood there.

I sighed, “I-”

She shook her head, “Don’t. I don’t want you to be sorry for me, or to pity me, or to do anything like that. I just don’t want you to walk around thinking you’re the only with problems… because you’re not.”

I nodded, “You’re right.”

“And, trust me, running away from your problems doesn’t get rid of them.”

“Why should I trust you? I don’t even know you.”

She shrugged, “Okay, don’t. But maybe you should think about it.”

“Okay.” I realized something then. No matter how different our upbringings were, we were both people. We were both just people.

“Now, let’s go have fun,” she said as she nudged my shoulder.

I smiled, “Alright.”

We went back to the middle of the yard and started dancing again. It’s funny. Two minutes before I was about ready to rip her hair out, but, now, I was dancing with her like we’d been best friends for years. Maybe it was because she understood me. Or maybe it was because she wouldn’t take anybody’s crap. I really couldn’t tell you.

We danced for what seemed like ten minutes, but was really about two hours, before Brandon came up to me and told me he needed to get home. After saying goodbye to Anna, I reluctantly followed him to his car. I didn’t want to leave, things were easier here.

But, like Anna said, running away from your problems doesn’t make them disappear.

“So,” Brandon began as we got into the car, “To the train station?”
I smiled, “Actually, no. Could you take me to the bus?”