Fallout (Crank 3)

NOW I SWEAR

I didn’t have running in mind

as I slipped outside, sprinted

along the sidewalk to where

Kyle had parked. It still was

not my goal when I jerked open

the pickup door, bounded

into Kyle’s arms. Hadn’t even

considered the idea when I buried

my face into his chest, inhaled

his well-loved scent, turned up

my eyes, begging him to kiss me.

But when our lips met, starved,

something stirred. And when

his skin flowed like a warm tide

over my own, whatever had stirred

whipped up, crazy. And when

our bodies linked, woven in

heated rise and fall, every tatter

of loneliness dissipated into

the ether of memory. And then

he said, Oh my God, I love you

so much. I can’t be without you

ever again. Come with me,

Summer. Let’s get out of here.

NOT MUCH TIME

To think it over. Still,

my first reaction was, “I can’t.”

Yes, you can, he said. I need

you. Don’t you understand?