me & tomfoolery

On the Run pt. 3 | Killian Hayes Short Story

4:25 am and the only thing heard in the night were fast paced footsteps. At a steady tempo, Killian jogged along the path back to his father's house. He couldn't sleep and he would usually run when he had a lot on his mind. Some of his problems were too uncomfortable for anyone to relate to. That's why he stayed to himself. At the moment he was thinking of his mother.

How she left him to be raised by his grandmother, how she didn't work things out with his father. He faulted both of them equally, that's one thing he could say. He hadn't seen his mother in three years and his father in two. Like they forgot they had a child off in the world. He resented the both of them.

His steps came to a stop as he landed in back of the Gamble household. That same path he saw Azera a week ago. He could see from the path that a light was on upstairs and felt as if it were her room. He didn't know how many people lived there but for some reason he just knew. Shaking his head, he continued his walk until he got home, leaving his thoughts on the trail.

Azera was up, writing away in her journal about why she felt lonely. Back home she had fell for the wrong boy, again... and in poor judgement, she sent him suggestive photos that eventually made their way around her high school. She felt ashamed. Her parents were upset but tried supporting her as much as they could. Azera was running away from her own problems now that this embarrassment loomed over her. Her summer was supposed to be spent in Spain for a study abroad program. She didn't want to spend the summer with the same people who mocked her.

Later that morning...

"Your grandma still tripping over that?" Rina asked from the gravel. She wasn't allowed on the porch or the steps.

"Yeah, you know she don't fuck with you." Azera giggled as she descended down the grey and white painted entryway. Vivian wasn't wrong about not liking Rina, but her granddaughter didn't fully understand yet. It was one of those things about elders knowing who your real friends are you before you could see it.

Rina Wilson was no good.

Smacking her teeth, Rina opened her bag for another stick of gum. She always chewed two and it annoyed everyone around her.

"We got a lot of shit to get done today."

"Yeah Jakey throwing that party and he not running none of his own errands is crazy."

Jake asked Azera, Rina, Rafié and Savannah for help with hosting his party. He had the big stuff but all the tiny things he needed for them to do. They had a plug at the liquor store who would be getting them some kegs and select bottles for his "sections", that's where Azera and Rina were headed to.

Gamble's Sporting Shoppe had been pretty busy today as parents were preparing for their children's summer leagues, family vacations, and regular play on the island. Rafié, Killian and Mr. Harry were working today and it seemed to be a clear sign of Azera keeping her word. The three of them never worked at the same time but Killian had worked with them both and it wasn't awkward or intense.

"Killian, can you get a woman's basketball from the back. There's no more on the shelves" Mr. Harry asked.

The young man took his efforts to the stock room where Rafié was on his phone having a conversation.

"Are you dumb or hard of hearing? I'm confused. What is it?" He was annoyed but that didn't stop Killian from snickering a bit. He kept on his mission, picking up the ball that was requested and going back to the sales floor. One thing about him, he wasn't there for a social hour or even to make friends, his goal was to lay low and eventually go back home. That's all he wanted to do.

"Y'all want anything for lunch?" Mr. Harry offered. "Definitely a number 3 with everything on it, and some curly fries." Rafié was excited, first smile he cracked all day.