iv. Just Temporary
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I had a history of running away; always running away when things got difficult for me. The truth is that Mark was not the only family I had, we ran away from our parents, the moment Mark was able to save enough, he took me with him. But then when Mark passed away, I ran away from his funeral and now I ran away from Luke too. People would call me a coward, a runaway, but I had nowhere to go; and if I ever had another option of doing it differently, I would still choose to run away. Not because running away was easy, but because it was self-preservation.

Looking out of the window, I saw the world pass by. The journey was fun, it was peaceful and it was refreshing. The train had huge windows too, and I concluded that I liked trains.

After our little moment on the platform, we realised that our train was not going to leave anytime soon, in fact we had almost 6 hours until we could board the train. So, I did the only sane thing I could have done at that time, I took my bag and slept like a homeless person on the bench. Jared didn't wake me until we had to board the train and we spent most of our time in silence until Jared thought it was a brilliant idea to irritate me.

I turned to look at Jared, who was sitting right beside me. Just when I thought that he could be a civil person, he showed me just the type of breed he was-prick.

"What? I thought you didn't want to talk to me." Jared spoke, keeping his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep. So, the theory was true, if you stared long enough, the person could feel it.

"I'm not talking. I was just looking."

"Aren't you talking now?" He opened his eyes and stared at me that all knowing smirk plastered on his face. I rolled my eyes and looked back out of the window. "Hey, stranger."

"I told you to stop calling me that!" I grumbled, getting comfortable in my seat and closing my eyes. I heard some shuffling beside me.

"How did you get that bruise?" he asked, completely ignoring my retort.

"Fell on the graveyard steps and hurt my knee. I thought I already told you that." I recited what I had practiced in my mind.

I was expecting a response, but he remained silent. I knew Jared was no fool, his silence clearly taunting me, calling me a liar. His silence was more irritating than if he would have outright called me out on my lie.

It was my turn to feel his stare, the hair on my neck standing up. I turned around and was surprised to see Jared so close to me. Our faces were just inches apart. He was staring with that intense look in his eyes. But instead of jerking my head back, I stared back challengingly, "You think I'm lying?"

"Why? Are you feeling guilty?" He shot back.

"Why? You care? I thought you were too much of a dimwit for that. And before you say anything more, listen - this is the farthest we go. Once the train stops, I'm off." I didn't want to explain anything to him, especially since he always acted mightier than me.

Jared was a little taken aback with my outburst. But he gained his calm within seconds. He got up, pulled out the suitcase from beneath his seat and started walking off. Without a word. Just like that...

I was flabbergasted. What in hell?

But before I could yell after him, I noticed that the train was almost empty and the remaining passengers were getting off as well. I looked out of the window and saw that we were, in fact, at our destination. I quickly pulled out my bag from above and ran to get off too.

It was early morning now; I checked my phone for the time and saw it was 5:05 AM. I scanned the platform and saw that Jared was nowhere to be seen.

So, he did leave me, huh.

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever." And tugged my backpack higher on my shoulder as I walked.

I could do mighty fine without him.

***

Okay, so I was wrong and I didn't have enough money to walk into a hotel or a lodging home, and plus it was too risky to sleep on the park bench in the city. I had loitered around the station for the past two hours. Maybe I should have planned this out a little bit, instead of impulsively running. I should have also hanged on to Jared a little longer, just until I could change out of these clothes.

Maybe if I was good to him, he would have let me stay with him too, just until I got enough money to pay him back. But I wasn't sure where he was staying. I didn't even know what he was doing here. So, he wasn't the best option I had, but he was still an option I had, which ultimately my big mouth and stubborn self, had ruined.

I sighed and sat on the park bench trying to find the right person I could fool, so that they would lend me some cash. Was I a city thug now?

I was trying too hard to make up a story in my head. It wasn't easy to portray emotions that would gain me pity or sympathy, since I hated it so much. But desperate times, did call for desperate measures.

I found an old couple sitting on the opposite end of the park, feeding pigeons. I was about to walk up to them and try to put on a homeless victim act, when I spotted a group of biker lads bullying a frail looking boy.

Okay, so I didn't know if they were bullying him, but the boy did look scared while talking to them. I wanted to ignore the scene so bad and I would have, had it not been Mark's words playing over and over in my head like a damn flute. You see, my brother was a martyr and he would always tell me, "Ignorance is the cause to greater evil. If you can stop it, do not ignore it." The only problem was that I didn't know if I could stop it or not. Was this within my capacity? I mean, if a young boy was involved, how bad of a situation could it be?

So instead of diving right into the problem, I thought I'd take a different route. I got up and walked up a bit closer, trying to find out what exactly was going on. Yes, I was eavesdropping.

".... take it to him and tell him to meet us at 7 sharp." The tallest of the guys shoved something in the frail boy's hands.

"But he's not here, yet. I went there to meet him." The boy countered.

"So, call him. Jared that bastard."

Okay, so hearing Jared's name made me alert. There could have been millions of Jared in this city, but it was not difficult imagining him associated with this gang.

Another one of them shoved the boy and they all walked off laughing. And then the tallest bloke turned and said, "You know it's important for him to be here by today. You don't want to risk it."

Blackmail. I knew one when I saw it.

I waited till the bulky men were out of sight and then caught up to the boy. He looked like he did not belong with those men, not because they were fitter than him, but because if you looked at him closely, he looked not older than sixteen, maybe younger.

"Hey" I called out to him, making him stop mid step. He looked at me and frowned, obviously trying to guess if he knew me or not. "I'm Jared's friend," so it was a lie, but he didn't need to know that. "And... I was wondering... if I could borrow your phone to call him."

The grass below was looking really interesting. I cleared my throat and stood straight, not wanting to give away anything.

"Who are you? Do I know you?" the boy asked.

"Um... not really, but I heard you talking about Jared with those guys."

"How much did you hear? Were you eavesdropping?" He took a step back a bit alarmed.

I raised my brow, wondering if he was involved in something way more dangerous than I imagined. "Not much...." I drifted wondering if we both were associated with the same Jared. But it was better to try my luck. I didn't know anyone else in the city and I needed someone to help me. Someone that seemed warm, like Jared's hands felt in mine. I quickly shunned that thought.

I tucked my hair behind my ears and continued, "You see, my phone is dead"-it wasn't, I charged it on the train- "and he left his jacket with me, which I'm sure he would want back." Said jacket was tied around my waist. I had borrowed it on the train to keep my legs warm.

The boy arched an eyebrow and scanned the leather jacket around my waist. He hesitated a bit, but then took out his phone from his pocket and tapped away. He then called Jared and waited until someone picked up.

He turned around and started talking on the phone, "Hi mate, good morning." I could hear a muffled 'What do you want,' to which the boy replied, "Good... good..." giving me a look and walking a bit further increasing the distance between us. "I dropped by your apartment earlier, and you weren't there. I have the uh-keys. You will be there this evening, right?"

I couldn't hear Jared's response but I'm guessing it was short, since the boy spoke immediately. "Um... okay. Also, there is this girl with me. She says she has your jacket-" but he stopped mid-way and looked at me with both brows raised. "She's right here with me, at Berkeley square. We're in the gardens-" he pulled the phone away from his ears and rolled his eyes, then looked at me, sighed and passed me the phone.

I swallowed sharply and took the phone. "Hello"

"Why are you with Charlie?" I head a raspy voice that belonged to my Jared. Before I could process what I just thought I heard him question, "Beatrice?"

"Nice to hear your kind pleasantries." I snapped, like the sarcastic bitch I am.

There was some shuffling in the background and a loud thud. And then a quick response, "Thank God it's you. Please listen to me for once and stay where you are. I'll be right there in a minute." And then the line was cut.

I rolled my eyes and sighed returning the phone to Charlie.

"He's on his way."

Charlie took the phone and nodded not saying anything.

***

"Wake up."

"Beatrice, wake up" I felt hands on my cheek, tapping me. I slowly opened my eyes and saw a worried face.

I sat up and rubbed my eyes, still really exhausted.

"Hey can you hear me?" he held my face up, "Beatrice?"

"Yeah" I swatted Jared's hands away and looked around groggily. Still the same park. I had taken a nap on the bench, and since Charlie was around I kind of knew he would wake me up when Jared was here. I was just trying to catch up on as much sleep as I could get.

I looked behind Jared and saw Charlie looking down at me with a frown. His hands were folded and he didn't say anything to me. He was a boy with few words, from what I gathered.

I turned back to Jared and observed that he still had a worried look on his face which was confusing. I barely knew this stranger but he was looking worried. For me?

"You left..." My voice was horse from sleep, "You left without me."

"The fuck I did."

"Yes... yes you did." My eyes were welling up, why?

"I barely took few steps away and you were nowhere to be seen. Couldn't you just wait a bit?"

"Can we just go somewhere else?" I said mildly annoyed at him but still very aware that Charlie was witnessing the whole scene. I closed my eyes trying to control my tears from falling.

When I opened my eyes, Jared nodded and then turned to Charlie. "Give me the keys. I'll be there in the evening" He stood up. That's when I realised, he was crouched in front of me near the bench, while trying to wake me up.

Charlie nodded, threw the keys to Jared, which he swiftly caught and smiled.

"Great, I'll let them know." He was about to walk away when he paused and looked back, "And mate, you owe me."

Jared ruffled Charlie's hair and smirked, "Sure"

"Stop it!" Charlie whined and half sprinted away. "See you later."

As their love story panned out, I picked up my bag that I had used as a makeshift pillow and threw it over my shoulder. I tried the comb my hair with my fingers but it was too tangled. I gave up and dusted my shirt. Yeah, I need a good long shower.

I nonchalantly spoke, "Jared, can I please stay with you?" I tried to look as indifferent, while I asked one of the biggest favours of my life.

"You didn't really come planned, did you?" he smirked and reached out to pat my head. "Come on, you need a shower, stranger."

Back to being strangers I see.

I smiled pensively and nodded. I needed a good shower, fresh clothes and a day's worth of sleep. Staying with Jared was just temporary. That's what I told myself for now.

***

Jared barely spoke to me after our encounter. I returned his leather jacket, which he wore as we walked back. He kept silent as he walked ahead, and kept glancing behind, making sure I followed.

I could see his brows furrowed and his lips were pursed. I knew this look; he was contemplating if I could be trusted. I was thinking the exact same thing, especially after my mind cleared and I remembered the encounter with Charlie and those nasty men. Keep your guard up.

After getting off the underground, we made our way into a smaller street where the lanes became narrower and the people looked creepier. I increased my pace and walked alongside Jared. I didn't want to be falling behind.

He looked down at me and smirked, "Spoiled brat."

I wasn't spoiled, but Mark made money for us both-I was grateful for that- and Luke somehow always had money. He was quite well-off from my perspective. I wasn't very sure how he could afford anything at the house or even pay bills, but we never ran out of things. Since I was in charge of grocery shopping, if anything was needed, I would be the one to re-stock and Luke made sure to keep some cash.

I wondered if Luke had re-stocked his fridge?

As I drifted with my thoughts, I realised we had already reached Jared's apartment. It was on the third floor. I could hear the trains passing by and gathered we were above some tracks.

Once he opened the door I glanced around his tiny studio. The windows were huge, there was a bed stuck to the wall, with his duvet and two pillows. A small table and two chairs sat next to the bed, one of which I guess he was using as his bedside table. There were books piled on top of the chair with a kettle and cup next to the pile. He barely had a small "kitchen" counter at the corner with a sink and stove on top, and a fridge stood next to the counter. I saw a washing machine under the sink.

The paint on the walls were slightly chipping and the furnishing could use an update but otherwise the place looked cozy. I sighed in relief.

Jared walked in and dragged his trolly bag away from the entrance making space for me to enter. So, he had returned here and left me at the platform. Of course he did. I rolled my eyes and walked in.

As he opened the wardrobe, I leaned out the window, which gave a view of the street we had just walked. He tossed me a towel and finally spoke, "There are fresh clothes in here. You can use them if you want." His eyes traced my body and I swallowed my spit nervously. I wasn't in the best of clothes, dirty even, but the way his eyes lingered on me, I felt very aware. He continued talking, not noticing my nerves, "Just don't forget to do the laundry. Also," he paused and looked at me. Maybe he realised I wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying. He ran a hand through his messy hair and finally settled with, "We can talk later."

He took few steps towards the door and then turned back, "I need to... get some things. I'll be back in an hour or so. Do you want me to show you the bathroom taps?" he pointed at the only obvious door.

I shook my head no and smiled, "Go ahead, I'll figure it out."

He nodded in response.

I quickly added, "And Jared," I paused until he looked me in the eye, "thank you." I wanted him to see that I was genuinely grateful.

He smiled too and handed me the apartment keys before he left.

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