She couldn't stand it. Flair's newest message to the school lay open on her computer Mary Anne held in her lap. She felt the tears forming already. One comment in and they spilled over. Wiping them away with the back of her hand, she quickly typed out her feelings, hit send, and closed her laptop. She had to get out of there. She had to get out of her house. She had to get fresh air. So even though her father and Sharon didn't exactly like Mary Anne being out of the house without a friend at this time of night, she knew she had to do it.
Mary Anne didn't have time to change or grab a coat, or anything. The world felt as though it was collapsing around her all over again and all she wanted was to be outside. And so she ran. She was glad her father and Sharon were out to dinner and that her sister was preoccupied, so she didn't have to hear anyone shout after her. She wouldn't have stopped.
The crisp night air hit her. It was so cold her teeth started chattering. But she couldn't turn around. She knew she couldn't go back into the warmth of her home - to the computer. So she kept going. Until she reached the entrance to Miller's Park, Slowing down, she looked up at the sign above it, when she heard footsteps behind her. She drew her breath in, suddenly quite afraid. Mary Anne closed her eyes.