𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐀𝐍

𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐓𝐖𝐎

"We're not going far."

"That's what you said yesterday," Katherine raggedly replies. It's mile five of their ten mile run. Why Charlie thought this was a good idea is beyond her, but he's "been training."

Even she didn't go on runs this long. Maybe five miles, tops. 

"And we were half an hour late for dinner," Katherine continues.

Charlie manages a smile. "I promise we'll be in time for the party. We've got plenty of time." He breathes easily through his nose. "How come you're so out of shape?" He taunts. Katherine cuts her eyes at him.

"I'm a time runner," she pants. "Not distance. Ten miles, Charlie? Really?"

"We're almost to the resting spot," he promises. "Five minutes, tops." 

So she pushes on. She's only a little tired, really, but the sun is beating down, even with them running mostly in the shade. 

Besides. If Charlie and his bad knee can take ten miles, she should can it. How often does she get to do stuff like this with him?

They'd be leaving in a few days for God-knows-what-job, God-knows-where.

Can it.

They're on some secluded dirt path by the lake. It's probably private property...more than likely, considering this is the only house they've passed in a quarter of a mile. 

"Would you actually consider this a lake?" Katherine asks, glancing over the hills at the glisatening water. "Or, like, a really big pond?"

Charlie grins, his eyes following hers. "It's definitely a lake."

She squints at him. "Why, though?"

"Because a lake is bigger than an acre."

Katherine frowns at the water, putting her hands on her hips. "Oh."

Charlie laughs a little. "Come on. We're almost there."

"Almost where?" She asks, quickening her pace to a jog. "And how do you know?"

"I just know. You're asking a lot of questions."

"You're being weird."

"I am not!" Charlie cries. 

"I don't even know how you mapped this run out," Katherine pants. "And memorized it."

"I've been doing it every day for a couple months now."

"Oh," she puffs. "You never told me that."

Charlie's brows knit together as he glances at her. "Didn't I?"

She's quiet for another dozen or so yards. That's when a white two-story house with gray accents comes into view. 

"Oh, wow," she pants. "That's a pretty house."

Charlie beams at her. "Think so?" Katherine nods. "Let's go take a look." He sprints up the pale paver driveway. Katherine's brows wrinkle, and she comes to a stop.

"What? Charlie!" She glances on either side of the dirt path. "Charlie, you can't just run up to people's houses!" 

He runs right over the large, square-stoned pathway, tip-toeing like a thrilled toddler, all the way up to the two-paneled wood-and-glass front door. Katherine anxiously adjusts the ballcap on her head and runs after him. 

The grass looks like it was laid down recently. She can still see the lines between the pallets. The grass looks nice, though. Lush and green. A gray bed of rocks, ground-covering flowers and shrubs line the edge of the house. Katherine passes a one-car garage with a wooden door.