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I've been running my whole life. At the first sign of trouble, I do the only thing I am good at, I run.
I looked at the sign in front of me. Taking in a deep breath, I gripped the handle of my suitcase.
"This is it Tess, your new start."
The bar was scanty. My eyes traveled round trying to locate my sister.
Someone came up from behind me pulling me into a hug, "Tess. You made it."
I turned around, plastering a smile on my face.
"Lily", I breathed out.
She squealed, "I can't believe you actually came. Come Come, I need you to introduce you to everyone."
She led me to her friends. There were three girls seated round the table and two guys.
"Everyone, this is Tessa."
"The product of your father's affair." One of the girl's completed for her.
"Natalie", Lily glared at her. The girl shrugged.
I would give it to Lily, she was really making an effort. I can't possibly imagine what it was like for her. Having to stare at the reason why her parent's marriage was destroyed. Lily introduced me to the other people but I had stopped listening.
I sat down quietly.
I could feel the stares. I have always felt the stares. The illegitimate child of the city's mayor. The unwanted clumsy girl that made a mess of everything. That was why I ran.
I was in a race with myself to escape my past.
The first time a girl accused me of being a family breaker, I ran. When my mother died and I had to move in with the man that had a part in making me, I ran, so many times. When that man told me that I had to go to college with his legitimate daughter, I ran.
But there was only so far I could run and here I was, the center of the stares yet again.
I felt someone's eyes on me. It felt different, more intense.
I looked up and I met his eyes.
He didn't blinked, he didn't move, he just stared at me.
"Tessa, did you hear me?"
I snapped out of it, "Sorry? What?"
The mean girl, Natalie laughed, "Lily, you didn't mention she was dumb too."
"Natalie", the guy with the intense stare called out. He turned his head to look at her, "Stop it."
Silence followed.
"Sooo", the other guy on the table drew out, "Tess, are you excited to start college?"
His eyes widened as he realized that he had said the wrong thing.
The silence said it all. I knew Lily had told them the real reason I had to transfer mid semester in my junior year.
It was just one mistake, I walked into my room and I saw my roommate on the floor. I didn't know what to do, so I did the one thing I was good at, I bolted, away from her.
By the time I got back with help, she was gone. The whispers became unbearable, wherever I turned, there was someone glancing at me.
So I left. No matter how fast I moved, I never found an escape.
This was supposed to be my breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, I think that was washed down the drain immediately I stepped foot into the bar.
I smiled politely at him, "I'm excited to start afresh."
He nodded.
No one said anything after that. I looked at my sister, half sister rather with the side of my eye.
She was sipping her drink quietly. She didn't have to do this. I could never tell if she hated me or not.
Lily has always been a closed book, that was what scared me the most.
I got up, "I'm going to use the restroom."
As I walked away, I heard one of the other girls say, "She is downing our fun night. Couldn't you just have her wait outside the house until you got back?"
Another fun fact, I had to live with Lily and her three friends, two of which already didn't like me.
I did my business, washed my hands and then I went outside.
I opened the door and ran straight into someone.
"I'm sorry", I muttered.
I looked up and the green eyes were staring at me. I cleared my throat.
"Please excuse me."
He tilted his head then he finally spoke, "You need to stop running away."
I-"
He walked away before I completed my sentence.
That night as I got ready for bed, there was a knock on the door. I turned to Lily as she came in.
She stared at me blankly, "I have never faulted you for being born. We are sisters no matter what anyone says, so as my sister, you'll do right by me by staying away from Hunter. Are we clear?"
The tone of her voice stated the threat clearly.
I didn't need her to tell me who Hunter was.
"Yes" I nodded.
The next few months flew by. Time seemed to be moving so fast and I was on the opposite side, moving so slow. Maybe I had been wrong.
"Wrong about what?"
I looked up from my book.
Hunter stared down at me with an unreadable expression on his face.
"What were you wrong about?"
Had I said that out loud?
"Nothing. I have to go."
"Go where?"
"I don't know. Anywhere that is not here."
He clicked his tongue, "Did Lily ask you to stay away from me. Is that why for the past month, you've taken the opposite pathwhen you saw me coming?"
"I don't know what you are talking about and I don't really know you. If you'll just excuse me."
"Fine. You can leave after you've had lunch with me."
"I'm not hungry."
In that exact moment, my tummy rumbled bringing a smile to his face.
It was undeniable, Hunter was beautiful.
He didn't let me say anything else. He took my hand and dragged me to his car.
One lunch turned into two, then three, then it became endless and just like the girls in the stories I've read. I fell in love.
I was smiling, re-reading our texts when Lily burst into my room. "You couldn't do the one thing I asked you to do. Could you?"
"I-"
"Don't you dare. Get your things, you are leaving".
"What?"
"You heard me, that's your talent isn't it? You are in a race to escape your past but you will never outrun it. You will always be the unwanted child that was born and ruined everything. Now get your things and get out of my house."
So I did, packed up my things and left because that was all I knew. I didn't say goodbye.
But for the first time in my life, I didn't want to run.
Four months later
I felt the wind against my cheeks. It was wonderful. I closed my eyes.
"You should leave your hair down more often. You look beautiful."
I turned around with a gasp, "Hunter."
"Tessa."
"You are here."
He took a step closer, "You left without saying goodbye." I looked away.
"How did you find me?"
He sighed, "It wasn't easy looking for someone who didn't want to be found but I knew I couldn't stop trying because I had something really important to tell you."
"What?"
He took another step, wrapping his hands around my waist, "That no matter how fast you run, I always come after you and I will always catch you."
I closed my eyes as a single tear escaped. He wiped it away, "And one more thing, I needed to find you because I never got around telling you that I love you."
I stared at his green eyes, the same ones that had captivated me from the first day. Maybe I couldn't ever win the race to escape my past but then maybe I didn't have to run anymore.
"Tessa?"
"Yes?
"This is the part where you say you love me too."
"Oh sorry. I will tell you if you can catch me."
I pushed him away and bolted. He ran after me and in no time, he caught me.
Just like he did everyday after that and yes, I did tell him I loved him, everyday for the rest of my life.
