Page 8 of Chasing Sarah

“Because I’m running too,” I rasp before clearing my throat.

She doesn’t utter a word as she studies me closely.

“I’m Sarah,” I say gently as I offer her my hand.

She peers down at it then back at me before moving closer and placing her palm in my hand.

“Paige,” she states.

I smile softly as I release her. We stare at each other in a comfortable silence.

Whatever she’s been through is something that I can tell will haunt her for the rest of her life. As I study her, my eyes trace over her delicate features. She’s stunning.

She has olive colored skin, long wavy brown hair, and the lightest green eyes I’ve ever seen. They’re nearly transparent.

When she shifts uncomfortably and glances away from me, I clear my throat again.

“Well, Paige, we’re going to best friends by the end of this trip,” I announce with a firm nod.

Paige needs someone just as much as I do – if not more. And I’m going to be that person for her.

Her brows furrow but the corner of her lip twitches. “Why is that?”

I hike my bag up higher on my shoulder before walking passed her and down the path. I hear the crunch of dirt and gravel as she follows behind.

“Because we’re both lost souls and we need to stick together.” I peer over my shoulder, sending her a wink.

“I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?” she teases.

* * *

After a bus ride to the city, we find our way to the subway station.

“Alright, first things first.” I clap my hands once and face the map of the city on the graffiti-filled wall. “We need to figure out what area we want to live in so we can find some jobs and a place to live.”

When I don’t receive an answer, I spin and am met with Paige’s wide eyes. She stares at me with disbelief painted over her face.

“You didn’t have a plan for where you were going to stay?” she asks, completely flabbergasted.

I shrug. “Nope. I’ve been going through life by the seat of my pants.”

She makes a noise in her throat that is a cross between a whimper and a scoff.

“What?” I ask.

Her brows rise to her hairline, and she shakes her head slowly. “You’ve got a screw loose if you think we’re going to survive out here without jobs or a place to stay.”

I flick my wrist before spinning back to the map. “We’ll find all that and get settled in no time. Just watch.”

“I knew I was going to regret this,” she mutters under her breath.

“Brooklyn!” I shout with excitement. I whirl around and smile widely at Paige who stares blankly at me. “Let’s go to Brooklyn. “

Not giving her a chance to answer, I hook my arm with hers and pull her toward the ticket kiosk.

“As they say in The Hobbit ‘We’re going on an adventure!’”My voice echoes despite the hustle and bustle of the city-goers around us.

“I think you mean,‘I’m going on an adventure’,” Paige groans. I don’t miss the subtle tilt of her lip as she tries to hide her amusement.

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