Read Running From Him :: Chapter 14: I Seriously Think You Got it Backwards

🏃Clark's POV🏃

I sat up groggily in my bed, my eyes feeling a little bit swollen. I have never fully understood why it happened in the morning but I had gotten used to the feeling over the years.

I slowly pulled myself out of my bed and dragged my feet until I made it to the bathroom. I did my whole morning routine but as I was brushing my teeth, my mind wandered to my future.

It had been over a week since Jasmine had given me her advice, I still hadn't called up Meaghan for the simple reason that I still didn't know what I wanted.

Was working for Meaghan going to be a good idea in the long run? I still didn't know. The whole situation was showing me that I was far more indecisive than I had thought and relied much more on people than I would have liked.

So to be more self-reliant I decided that I would successfully do as Jasmine said and figure out my passion.

I was working again today, so as I was stacking books and watching the customers, I thought of things that I enjoyed doing, or just generally enjoyed.

I looked around the bookstore, humming under my breath. The first things I noticed were the bookshelves. They were large, sturdy, they were made of a beautiful deep, dark brown wood. It looked amazing next to the gentle soft beige and yellow colours found all over the store.

That didn't really help figure out anything new about me so I moved on.

I looked around the store again. My eyes landed on a woman who was very well-dressed. Her outfit consisted of a no-sleeve, top with a gold metallic design on the front; a pair of loose, light-washed jeans, tied up with a brown belt that had a golden buckle, a soft, brown cardigan; and a pair of off-white Jordans with gold accents.

The entire outfit was so satisfying to look at that even if it didn't help at all, I did not mind wasting the effort.

"Ah, Clark. Have you finished putting the books away yet?" I heard my coworker, Gabe, ask me. I looked down at the tray where the books were held until they were put back on the shelf and realized that while I was thinking, I left the last two books of the cart.

"Uh, I'm finishing up right now actually." I rushed out, grabbing the books in a hurry, checking their spines to make sure I did not make a terrible mistake, and then placing them on the shelf.

I took the cart and rolled it all the way into the back room for the carts, leaving it there and coming out to find Gabe waiting for me.

"Oh, good. You're done," Gabe smiled pleasantly once I walked out of the room. "Jane wants you behind the counter. Probably because the customers love you."

I rolled my eyes at Gabe's joke, ignoring him as he wiggled his eyebrows around like crazy.

"Okay, thanks for telling me," I told Gabe. I walked around him to head to the counter and found a customer waiting already. I rolled up my sleeves and slapped on a smile.

"Hi, how can I help you?"

—————

I left out a deep, tired sigh as I walked through the front door. I slipped off my shoes and placed them in the closet with as little energy as I could and walked over to the living room.

When I got to the living room, Ethan was sitting on the couch with his laptop on his lap. I guessed that he was probably getting some work done and just silently went to sit down next to him.

Ethan looked up at me and his eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"Oh, welcome back Clark." He smiled, scooting over to make even more space for me on the couch. "Sorry that I didn't say it right when you got back, I was a little bit focused on my work and did not notice you."

I nodded, purely to show him that I was listening, and waved off his apology.

"I don't mind," I told him honestly. "Just keep making money for me, 'kay?"

Ethan laughed and I just grinned cheekily.

"Yeah, sure."

After that little conversation, Ethan remembered to tell me that there were Spaghetti and marinara sauce on the stove, ready to be eaten. With that information, I grabbed a bowl and headed into my room for some much-needed privacy.

Forty minutes later, I had finished all of my food and was reading a new story. It was called The Epic Gayme and was written by admissable.

The story so far was a lot more Teen Fiction than I usually went for. I had an unhealthy obsession for the hot, heavy, or just extremely romantic. But, from just the first Chapter alone it already seemed amazing.

I had been cursing out Adam's friend Benjamin under my breath when I suddenly got a text message.

I slide my thumb down from the top of the screen without paying much attention to what I was doing. I assumed that the text would have been from Mason, Jasmine, Mark, or Daniel. They usually texted me about plans for the group or just complete randomness so I braced myself for the weird when I tapped on the message.

I was in for a surprise though because I soon found out that the message was from Santiago.

The two of us had texted each other before, to exchange addresses for things or to give details after we had already called each other and confirmed that we would hang out somewhere. But, I had never gotten a casual text from him, as oddly as it seems, but I was not upset with the message in the least.

Santiago

Hey, Clark! How are you doing?

I looked at the message and snickered.

How are you doing?!

You're so formal!

There has to have been a better way for you to have started the conversation lol!

I was giggling under my breath the moment I finished sending the message and waited for him to respond. The three dots floated in and out of the screen a couple of times before he finally finished typing.

Santiago

Wow, Clark. You are so ungrateful.

I was just trying to be nice and courteous but you can't even be grateful for that.

I should just stop texting you. You don't deserve it.

I stared at the message for a while and tried to figure out if Santiago was being serious. Sure he is possibly just being sarcastic but there is no clear indicator with the texts and Santiago probably didn't realize that he had to make it clear if the way he texted was any indicator.

Are you serious right now?

Santiago

Of course not!

Gosh, did it sound like I was serious?

Damn my texting skills.

This is why I stuck to just calling you.

I couldn't believe how funny that came out, especially when I could actually envision Santiago saying those exact words.

I dropped my phone for a moment and just laughed at the entire paragraph. My phone continued to ping with incoming texts and I just kept on laughing. Santiago was probably apologizing to me in his calm yet really awkward way and I wanted him to keep squirming for a while.

I finally gathered some composure and sympathy and checked the messages.

Santiago

I seriously didn't mean it.

Clark

Clark, come on

Do you want me to beg or something?

This is really mean of you.

I was kidding that last time.

Okay, I'll beg.

I'm sorry, I'll stop trying to be sarcastic.

I'm terrible at it in real life anyway so I'm not surprised that I suck texting it too.

I'm not mad

I was never upset actually

I just laughed too much after your first one and wanted to find more of you apologizing all cute and ish.

You should panic more often.

Santiago

I should delete all of those messages.

No, don't!

Santiago

What's in it for me?

The love of your bestest friend in the whole wide world?

I layed there on my bed, waiting with bated breath.

Santiago

Yeah, I think I'm going to reject that offer.

And you say that you aren't good at sarcasm

Santiago

I wasn't being sarcastic.

😶

Santiago

I'm kidding!

Funny right?

Maybe I should take care of the jokes and you should just stick to being cute

Santiago

I seriously think that you have it reversed

Santiago

Yes

Santiago

Yes

Okay, this is annoying. How was school?

Santiago

How was school???!!!

Why so formal???!!!!!!!!!!!!

There HAS to have been a MUCH BETTER WAY for you to have dropped that subject change. *snaps*

Gosh, you're petty

Santiago

You forgot the R

And school was really great, today my teacher . . .

So from then on the two of us just texted each other about our days and continued to tease and joke around. Santiago was getting the hang of texting and I was happy to help.

Plus he was really funny and I wasn't joking about his words being adorable so, I was immensely enjoying myself.