Incendiary Hearts

Chapter Six

Okay, so here's the next chapter, a bit on the short side, but the next one will be published in a couple of days! Hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas <3

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On the third time the two young men were going to go for a jog, Kevin came prepared. Michael knocked on the door and Kevin opened it, dressed and ready to impress.

Michael opened his mouth to greet Kevin, but closed it again as his eyes landed on Kevin's feet. His brows furrowed and his mouth turned into a thin line, his expression growing sceptic. "What are those?"

Kevin followed his eyes and looked down at his feet. Or more like his new shoes. Was there something wrong with them? He wiggled his toes. They'd cost a pretty penny and the cute salesman had assured him they were perfect for running. Sure, they were a bit bright. And orange colored. But they looked cool, right? "The salesman said these were the absolute best..."

"Yeah, for a senior maybe," Michael chuckled as he playfully hit the side of Kevin's hip with his leg and then took off running down the stairs.

"Hey!" Kevin hollered and started chasing after him the moment he'd locked the door. "Wait for me!"

Michael eventually did what Kevin asked and stopped by the door to hold it open for Kevin. As soon as they were outside, they started to jog. The conversation exchanged was light and easy. Even a bit humoristic. They talked about their days and funny things that had happened, like the time Michael had to chase after a man running down the street buck naked because the police were already occupied holding down some culprits, or when Kevin had heard someone fart in class while trying to cover it up with a cough.

"How's your new shoes?" Michael asked with a grin when they were halfway through the round.

"Good. Actually, really good."

"They should be. They can't have made them that graceless without there being a purpose."

"Hey!"

Indeed, the conversation ran more easily, and Kevin really enjoyed the jog. Talking certainly kept his mind occupied from the actual jog his body had to endure. However, the best part of it all, he realized as he took a sip of the coffee they bought again after the exercise, was the change Kevin noticed in Michael. It was like he was jogging with a completely different person, compared to the first two times. Okay, not a completely different person. Kevin still unwittingly stood for most of the conversation, but Michael grew more familiar in his behavior. More like he'd once been when they were teenagers, conquering the world one adventure at a time. And it made Kevin absolutely ecstatic when Michael asked if he wanted to do this again.

And when they had done it again, Michael asked if Kevin wanted to do it again.

And then again.

And then again.

A couple of weeks passed, and Kevin became painstakingly aware that the highlight of his weeks were the jogs with Michael. It felt like they were starting afresh. Getting to know these new people that life had shaped them into. And damn it if Kevin didn't like the man Michael had become. Sure, he was on the quieter side, but he was bright, easy on the eyes, brave, and when he actually made a joke, they were always funny. Every so often, Kevin caught glimpses of the young man he'd once known, but he was braver now. Smarter. Funnier. Even better looking.

Yes, Kevin longed for the days he got to go for a jog with Michael, he thought as he stepped out of the shower and studied his reflection in the mirror. He actually looked a little skinnier since he'd started running with Michael. The muscles were still there, but it was like he now had zero percent body-fat, which he had to admit was nice. Though that was obviously not the reason for him to long for those jogs. No, it wasn't. But longed for them, he did. He longed for those days so much so, that once a week no longer felt enough. And after their next jog, he'd built up enough courage to try to do something about it.