Survivor

18 > "Aww babe, why so serious?" ~Damon

"Step and inhale, step and inhale, step and exhale, step and exhale."
She repeated as she focused on her footing.

"You got it." I coached Armella from beside her as we both made use of the track behind the house.

"One more lap and we can wrap it up for today?"

"One more lap it is. Race ya!" I yelled out over my shoulder as I took off in a sprint.

"No fair!" I heard her voice yelling out from behind me and I knew my headstart was the cause of her voice sounding so distant. Theoretically speaking, I left her in my dust.

"Life isn't fair! Suck it up buttercup."

I heard her groan from behind me and I slowed down allowing her to catch up and we both jogged our way at a steady pace towards the line that marked the end of today's session.

"Nice job." I complimented, giving her a nod of approval.

"Thanks." She let out a puff of air as she dropped herself next to me, taking the water bottle from my outstretched hand. "How's school going?"

"Not so bad. Surprised I haven't gotten detention again as yet. I've been running my mouth quite a bit in Mr Henderson's lesson's."

"Don't blame you. I've gotten detention from him before. Dad wasn't too happy about and I quote 'the only child of his that doesn't get into trouble' getting detention. But that man is the devil's spawn." She said making finger quotations when she mentioned what Giovanni had said.

I let out a laugh at her mimicking him before replying.
"Exactly! Glad I'm not the only one who thinks so."

We were enveloped in momentary silence that wasn't suffocating. I leaned back on my forearms and simply enjoyed the feel of the cool breeze on my skin. I sighed softly before deciding I should head in and get started on some homework.

My movements were halted by Armella' voice that cut through the silence. "I just wanted you to know that I broke up with Toby."

"Like you mentioned before, that isn't my business." I told her as I turned around to face her.

"Which I apologize for saying. You were just looking out for me. And I honestly have no idea what the hell I was thinking. No, I wasn't thinking. That's it. It was the stupidest decision I've ever made."

"Why did you do it then?" I asked, not trying to be nosey but rather trying to understand her.

"I- I don't know." She settled on saying. She seemed to be at conflict with herself and I took that as my cue to stop pushing limits.

"I guess we all do stupid things at times." I shrugged as I kicked at the grass, my hands resting in my pockets. "Some stupider than others, so I can't judge." I looked up at her.

"I know I've had my fair share of doing stupid things." I cringed at the thought.

"I regret it." She spoke softly. Her eyebrows were furrowed and she seemed to be far away. "Stupid decisions. Made by someone young, naive and fucking stupid!"

I was shocked by her choice of wording. I have been here less than a month and not once have I heard Armella swear. She didn't seem like the type of person, but then again I didn't know her well enough. But, it is her choice of wording that tells me it's something that troubles her.

"I think we've all made one of those decisions." I sat back down next to her cross legged, my arms resting on my knees and I plucked blades of grass from the ground.

"I know I've made one too many of those." I sucked in a breath of air and grimaced as I thought back about everything I had done. Unfortunately we can't change the past. What's done is done.