| Chapter Twenty Two Little Runaways |
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| Wendy tossed and turned all throughout the night. She had taken the pain pill that Patricia had given her, but she couldn�t sleep because she was worried about Ricky. She was angry with her father for punishing her, and she was mad at Mr. Parker for punishing Ricky, when he hadn�t done anything wrong. Wendy was beginning to feel like she didn�t want to be at Barrington Hall anymore. She had never gotten such a harsh punishment, and it had scared her a little. Finally, she crept from her bed, and climbed into the window seat. She took her bed pillow with her to sit on. As she tried to get her mind off of things and think about Christmas, which was just three days away, something outside caught her eye. A wave of fear ran through her. Who could be outside at this time of night? She quickly placed her face and hands against the panes of glass and stared down. The small figure had settled in the corner by the door. Wendy watched as the small dark shadow left the corner, crept along the building, and through the courtyard. Suddenly Wendy realized who it was. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hands "Ricky! You promised!� She watched as Ricky looked all around for signs of movement and then quickly made his way through the courtyard. Wendy quickly glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was way past curfew, and way past anyone being up. Wendy turned and looked at Jessica. She hadn�t moved at all, so Wendy tiptoed as quickly as she could to her closet, grabbed some clothes, and changed. She felt around on the floor for her shoes, and then slipped them under her arm. She slowly opened the door and peeked out. The hall was empty. Wendy quietly closed the door, and headed down the hall. Millions of thoughts ran through her head as to what she should do. Tell Daddy? Tell David and make him go get Ricky? When Wendy entered the main hall, she looked in all directions. She knew she couldn�t tell anyone. She would have to get Ricky, and bring him back herself. Small pebbles in the courtyard poked at Wendy�s tiny feet as she walked through and headed for the trees. When she reached the tree line, she stopped and slipped on her shoes. When she stood up, she looked around. She had no idea which direction Ricky had gone. Wendy slipped through the trees, and onto the road. Not even aware that he was being followed, Ricky continued down the country road toward town. He struggled with his guilt for leaving Wendy behind, but the relief he felt, the further he got from Barrington hall was overwhelming, and once he reached the connecting road, he shouted. "I'm Free." Wendy stopped in her tracks when she heard him shout. A miraculous smile painted itself across her face. She knew that she had gone the right direction. Ricky felt relieved to finally reach town. He knew the hard part would be getting through town without being detected. There were streetlights on the main street, and one cop who patrolled it all throughout the night. Ricky decided that he would be safer to walk through a less lighted area. "I never want to see Barrington Hall again," Ricky muttered into the night air. Wendy continued to follow, and would occasionally hide behind a pole or tree whenever Ricky would turn and look back. Where is he going, Wendy asked herself. She was already getting tired from trying to keep up with him. Wendy followed Ricky into a quiet neighborhood, two blocks from the main street. She followed for several blocks as they continued past houses of many shapes and sizes. Wendy wondered what it would be like to be a child in one of those houses, one with a family that actually loved them. She shook her head to try to get the thoughts from her mind as she tried to convince herself, that for her, it wasn�t meant to be. As she continued to walk, she began to shiver. The cold December night was finally making its way through her warm winter coat. As she looked on ahead, she wondered what Ricky�s intentions were. The noise of semi trucks could be heard from the last block. When Wendy came to the end, she could see a Truck stop, and a small diner along the freeway. She could see Ricky heading toward it. Wendy picked up her pace. She knew that this time, Ricky was really running away. She called to him, but she was so far back that he couldn�t hear her over the roar of the big trucks. She watched as Ricky approached an old beat up pickup truck with high sides. She could see him looking toward the diner; then, he climbed the tail gate of the truck, and disappeared into the back. There were some bales of hay in the back, and to make himself more comfortable, Ricky spread one out. Suddenly he heard something outside of the truck. Fearing that he had been seen, he moved to the far corner of the truck, and hid behind the two remaining bales. Knowing what would happen to him if he were taken back to the school, he placed his head on his knees and prayed. Suddenly, he heard a familiar soft voice. "Ricky?" Ricky lifted his head up and his eyes opened wide. He quickly jumped to his feet. "Ohhhh noooo, Wendy! What are you doing?" he said as he pulled her into the back of the truck. "You promised!" she exclaimed. "Why is it that you are the only one to ever notice me?" he asked in shock. "I came to get you. You said you wouldn't leave me and here you are. I can't let you run away.� Ricky grabbed a hold of Wendy and pushed her back toward the back of the truck. �You have to go back!� �Not without you!� she cried. The cold had chilled Wendy to the bone, and she stood shivering in the back of the stranger�s truck. "Wendy, I�m not going back, but you are. You shouldn�t have followed me. You can't help me and Barrington can't either," Ricky scolded in a sharp voice. �No, I won�t go back without you!� she cried. Ricky looked at her face. He could tell she was serious about not returning without him. He took hold of her arm and led her to the hay. �Sit down!� he ordered. Wendy slumped onto the hay that Ricky had strewn on the truck floor. She pulled her knees to her and wrapped her arms around herself. Ricky settled in beside her. "Are you angry with me?" she asked softly. "Angry? I am furious with you for leaving school, I should spank you," he replied as he looked over at her. Wendy looked down at the floor of the truck and began to cry. Ricky�s heart melted as he wrapped his arms around her. They stayed seated in the back and talked quietly about what to do next. They were definitely going to be in a lot of trouble if they got caught, but Ricky had no intention of going back. Suddenly, they heard the door of the truck open and then shut. The truck started, and before they could think of what to do, they were moving. "Ricky?? What do we do now?" Wendy cried as the truck headed out onto the road. �I wish you hadn�t followed me, Wendy. This complicates everything now.� Wendy rested her head on his shoulder. �I�m sorry, Ricky, but I wanted to be with you.� Ricky snuggled up close to her. �I know, and I will take care of you, I promise.� Wendy closed her eyes, and listened to the humming of the truck. She thought about Jessica, and Alex. She thought of her father, and Patricia. She wondered if they would miss her. She knew she would miss them. She already missed them, but she knew Ricky was right. They had run away, and it was too late to turn back now. Wendy knew that she and Ricky were definitely on their own. Still, she was happy that they were alone, together. |