Runaway

It never rained. Ever.

Jamie Tucker watched the rain water roll down the windows of the old book shop. She spotted the shoppers ruining for shelter outside, unaccustomed to such wet weather. No one had been in the book shop all day, in fact, she'd barely seen anyone all week. The dusty books lay untouched by anyone but Jamie and perhaps the other staff. She didn't mind the whiteness though, she enjoyed the silence. Jamie revelled in spending long periods of time by herself, left with her thoughts.

Jamie was sorting through self help books when he came in, hair wet from the rain. His clothes were soaking, his shoes squeaking with water, but his smile was as big as it always was. He gave her a slight wave, unsure if she'd spotted him. It had been a long time since they'd last seen each other. Too long, she thought. He looked the same as always, but with slight stubble gracing his chin, undoubtedly from his extended period on the road.

Jamie looked away from him to the book she had in her hands, ready to stack on the shelf How to Commit . Commitment - the very word seemed to form a ball of nausea at the bottom of her stomach. If Jamie were to be "analysed", if they were to look for that one reason, that one pin prick on the time map as to why she feared commitment and trait and love to the extent of loneliness - it would begin and end with her father. Jamie herself, disregarded this theory, determined in thinking that her fathers poor decision could not have sculpted the way she was.

Although, to Jamie, her lack of commitment to anyone wasn't that much of a bad thing. She'd learnt from numerous boys that getting too needy was never what they wanted. It allowed her to be a free spirit, not pinned down by a boyfriend or college or rules.

"Jamie?" He startled her. Jamie shoved the book back on the shelf, rather too harshly, and walked over to him.

"Yeah?" she asked, leaning into the counter in front of her. It was strange, seeing him here, in the little dusty book shop, knowing that last week he'd been in Europe or Australia or somewhere else that Jamie had only imagined of visiting while staring at the map pinned to her bedroom wall.

"I just wanted to see if you'd like to get lunch tomorrow or something. It's been a long time, Tuck." Jamie narrowed her eyes at the last word to leave his mouth. She'd never liked the nickname he'd given her. But after all the years, she'd never been able to shake it off. And now she didn't even bother scolding him when the name left his lips.

"Yeah sure. Usual place?" She knew it would be, they always went there and they always had the same thing. Jamie listed their order in her mind, smiling.

"Sounds good. I'm sure we've got lots to catch up on." He smiled widely at her, and Jamie was glad he was home. There was a safe sort of feeling she got when he was around, like nothing could go wrong. She'd missed him, and she scolded herself for it, but she couldn't help it, she'd missed having someone to talk to who wasn't Dylan. "I'll let you get back to work." He said, as he made his way towards the door, "see you tomorrow then." And he turned away from her, ready to venture out again into the pouring rain.

"Jared!" Jamie called after him, as he was just closing the door. He turned back, peaking his already damp face into the shop. "Don't be late."