Wondering why

Part 10

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

Ugggh Monday mornings are the worst. I wiggle my toes under the sheet and fiddle around trying to shut up the alarm clock. I shut my eyes and give myself a few more seconds of bliss before climbing out of the warm covers. That is one of life's greatest difficulties- willing yourself to get out of bed, when it's just so warm.

Rubbing my eyes I automatically put on my running gear, without even having to think about it. Once my laces were tied I silently tip toed down the stairs to the door. The house was silent. I pried the door open, it made a small squeak as I pulled the handle down but was otherwise silent.

The cool morning breeze hit me like a slap in the face but this was how I liked it when I run. I plugged in and put it on shuffle. I skipped the first three songs because they were all to slow to run to- another of life's difficulties. Anymore and I'm going to have to make a list.

I ran down the road because I still didn't know the area very well and I hadn't yet sussed out all the best spots. About a kilometer away from the house I left the pavement and went down a public path through some fields. The ground was extremely uneven but it was completely deserted, just the way I like it. I followed a trail for what seemed like forever. The wind was pushing all the baby hairs that weren't long enough to fit into my ponytail back, it was a light wind so not enough to actually make it difficult to run against. Since the sun was rising and summer was well on its way my skin was warmed but the weak sun rays of the morning light. It was all just perfect. It made me believe that it was worth crawling out of my warm sheets this morning. Running was one of my true loves, most people would think I was crazy, but it gives me a chance to just think. I can just be in my personal bubble thinking.

I checked my phone, which was strapped to my arm as I ran, for the time. "Crap!" I mumbled under my breath it was already 7:27 and it would take me at least half an hour to get back if I really pushed it. I raced back and made a record but I still wasn't fast enough. By the time I got back it was 7:51. While I was barging my way into the house, Lucy was barging her way out. She gave me a quick smile as she dashed to her car spilling coffee everywhere, "I've got an early meeting, you will have to make a quick stop at Damien's school and drop him off for me. See you later. Oh and be home for seven tonight Chris is going to be back early and wants to make us all dinner." She waved as her red car reversed off the driveway.

I sprinted up the stair and tried to barge into the bathroom. "Come on Joel I need a shower!" I shouted through the locked door.

Joel popped his head through his room and gave me a glare, "It's not me in there."

"That's a first," I mumbled under my breath.

Joel came up behind me and kicked me lightly in the back of the knee giving me a chicken leg. I turned around and glared at him, "What was that?" he demanded.

I tickled his wrist. It was one of Joel's only weaknesses, he wasn't actually ticklish but he cringed to the point of surrender when someone tickled his wrist. I have never seen it work on anyone else, I even tried it on myself, but so far it just seems to be Joel.

"Hurry up!" I shouted through the door again.

A moment later Damien strutted out hair all combed and smelling fresh, I think he was even wearing cologne. I was in too much of a hurry to question him. I literally had a cold thirty second shower and raced to get dressed.

My hair was a wet mess I pulled back into a messy bun as I grabbed a sweater and ran to the car that all the boys were sat in waiting for me.

The car immediately reversed off the driveway and down the street. Joel was driving and Kyle was riding shotgun while Damien and I were sat in the back. I turned to face Damien and examined him. He had combed his hair, he wouldn't even do that for picture day; he definitely had cologne on, and it wasn't subtle; he had had a shower before school, which I'm pretty sure is unheard of for Damien; and what was on him lips?