Runaways (Orphans 5)

"Thank you," Crystal said. "Go, go, go," she muttered behind my ear.

I put the car in gear and pulled away, again a little too fast. Everyone held her breath. Crystal looked back.

"It's all right. He's not chasing us."

"You did great, Crystal," I said. "Fast thinking." Were we all just naturally good liars? I wondered. Had our lives made us

that way?

"Just stay` alert. Turn here," she commanded. "We're looking for the Lincoln Tunnel." She glanced down at her map. "Make a left ahead and keep going."

Despite the hour and our fatigue now, it was impossible not to be wide awake. I followed Crystal's directions precisely. When we entered the tunnel, Butterfly was afraid we would never get out. It did seem to go on forever, but suddenly we burst out and then carefully, now with all eyes on the signs and directions, found our way to the route west.

I gazed at the clock again. In a few hours, Gordon Tooey would wake, get dressed, have his coffee, complain about something, step out of the Lakewood House and see his car was missing.

And then, it would begin.

We drove into the dawn, seeing and feeling the sun come up. When it became very bright, we saw a clear, blue sky ahead with just a puff of a cloud here and there against the horizon.

"Why don't we stop for some coffee?" Raven said. "I need some caffeine, and I need to use the bathroom."

"Me too," Butterfly chimed in. I was glad they asked. I hadn't wanted to be the first to say it, but I was getting to feel like a balloon filling with water. I saw a sign advertising a rest stop in ten miles.

"We'll stop there," I said nodding. Just a little more than ten minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot and stepped out of the car, all of us stretching. Probably from the tension, my lower back ached and my legs felt as if I had been squeezed into Gordon and Louise's famous pickle barrel.

"It feels great to move around," Raven said. "If you're complaining already, can you imagine what you'll be like by the time we reach the

Midwest," I said. I had to keep them all strong and determined, which meant I had to be even stronger. "Who's complaining? Was I complaining, Crystal?"

"Let's not argue about it out here," she said.

"Come on." She took Butterfly's hand and the two of

them started for the restaurant.

There were three motorcycles parked in front of

the restaurant, and through the window I could see

three young men in leather jackets gaping at us.

Actually, they were all staring at Raven.

"Uh oh. Here we go again." I warned. "What?" Raven had been fiddling with her

purse and hadn't noticed the motorcyclists.

"Brooke's just pointing out that you seem to

have a fan club inside," Crystal said in her matter- offact way.

"Ugh. They look like the guys my mother used

to date. Trouble. With a capital T." Raven shuddered a

little as she wrapped her arms around herself. "Don't worry, Raven, we won't let them bother

you." Butterfly was always eager to protect Raven.