The sky was crying in August, a rare occurrence in Texas. The bus station was quiet, but honestly no one used the bus station anymore. My torn backpack was glued to my feet, filled with thrift store finds. My purse was slung over my shoulder, secured to my side. The only contents were a ticket and a wad of cash that would earn me a degree far, far away.
I left it all behind. I didn’t know what lengths those around me would go to keep tabs on me. Somewhere deep down, past the paranoia, I didn’t think anyone cared to find me. My past will be angry, but time heals all wounds. After a while, I will have never existed to them. Just a faint memory of the girl who used to be.
I will always carry them in my scars, the tears I shed behind closed doors; my whole being. But one day, I will be someone else. Today I am Autumn Miller, teenage runaway. In three days, when I climb off my last bus, I will be Autumn Miller, college student and resident of Washington. The girl who left her monsters behind.
Two
“If it isn’t my lucky roommate,” she said. Sarcasm oozed from her voice like the venom of a snake. She was perched, and ready to strike.
Her long blonde hair was parted down the middle. She stood with her arms crossed at her chest, smirking. If I could round up every girl who made my time in high school a living hell and mash them into one, she would be the result. She was the ultimate Regina George.
“Hi,” I said, briefly getting the awkwardness out of the way. I should have paid the extra money to live off campus. At the very least found a bigger dorm room. Unfortunately, I know this money will not last forever. I frowned at my reasoning. I am too young to be this old.
I only had one fear: That I would always be responsible. Somewhere, deep down inside, I wanted to go on a binge, spending my money on stupid items that I would never need, but I raised myself to be smarter than that. I knew from the time I was old enough to piece together coherent thoughts that there would be a time to run. One week ago, I ran like hell.
I walked over to the empty bed on the left side and set my backpack and purse down carefully. It was empty, and that reminded me of everything I needed to buy to survive this place. The wad of cash was burning a hole in my purse, and my conscience.
“Transplant from Texas? What brings you all the way to Seattle?” Blondie asked from behind me. I rolled my eyes, annoyed that I roomed with a talker. I was hoping by some miracle I would end up alone. I always had shit luck.
“The weather,” I said sarcastically. I picked up my purse and slung it over my shoulder. My brow furrowed as I finally processed what she said. Spinning around, I eyed her. “How do you know where I’m from?”
She shrugged while looking at her perfectly manicured fingernails. They were cheap. Not that I’d ever had a manicure, but I could tell she walked into the cheapest shop she could find to make a good first impression. Her face was heart-shaped, bringing focus to her full lips and big doe eyes. She was beautiful, but in a white-trash kind of way. She wasn’t fooling me, but I would play along with whatever version of herself she wanted to be. I sure as hell wanted her to play along with my new version.
“I have contacts all over this campus, Autumn.” She was toying with me, and I hated her for it. I just needed to learn to be better at her game than she was.
Turning my back to her, I walked to the door. “Tell your contacts to stay the hell away from my files.”
Her laughter stopped me dead in my tracks. The familiar, metallic, bell-tone pitch almost drew me in, but I shook my head, knowing I would never hear my mother laugh again. She’s dead, Autumn. They both are.
“I’m Josie, by the way. I think you’ll fit right in,” she said. I didn’t respond. I walked out of the door and into the busy hallway. Thankfully, I missed all the weeping parents. I arrived two days late, and honestly, I couldn’t say that was a bad thing. I’d never been late. I strived for perfection in my old life. I knew if I ever wanted to become anything, I had to work harder than everyone else.
If I remembered correctly, Target was four miles away. I stood at the bus stop, knowing one was due to come any minute. Moving across the country was weird. Doing it with a phone you had limited access to and most of your personal belongings was the topping on the cake. I was at the mercy of the universe, and the universe was a bitch.
The wind slapped into me, and I pulled my long red hair up and out of my face then shoved my sunglasses on. The squeal of the bus could be heard from one street over. Out of habit, I held my purse tight, waiting.
A car whipped around the bus, stopping in front of me. Come on! It was expensive and I immediately hated the driver as he rolled down the window. He was young and I was sure he did nothing to deserve that car.
“Need a ride?” he asked. His voice was the epitome of perfection, and it made me sick. I didn’t look at him closely. I barely saw his silhouette as he leaned across his seat. I turned my head, waiting for the bus to get closer.
“Obviously not,” I said, pointing to the bus stop I was standing next to.
“The bus isn’t any place
