Happy Endings

35. walks

"You can't change what is written so when fate cries, you listen."

☼

Scott St. Park's tall front gates still looked the same, not that the place would change much in seven months, but Kellin Quinn still wondered why the gates looked the same while so many aspects of his life had changed since the first time he stood there. It felt a bit unfair. He never wanted anything to change so drastically. He felt so ridiculous just for thinking that in the first place.

He supposed his thoughts were all over the place because he felt ridiculous. Standing there at the park's gates on a Monday evening, wearing gym shorts and a random t-shirt that was a size too big for him, his barely-used running shoes, and a bandana to get his freshly-cut bangs out of his face while he did the most excruciating activity of all: jogging.

He wasn't exactly a fan of this situation.

In all honesty, he shouldn't even be there at all. This wasn't his idea, then again it hadn't taken much to convince him. He was only supposed to keep Tay company while she rediscovered the wonders of physical exercise—as she had put it for no reason. And since Kellin was still trying to pretend to be getting better mentally around her, he accepted the invitation.

A walk in the park wouldn't hurt much. Even when that park was the reason he ruined his own life once again, but whatever. That was all done already. He could feel himself getting back to his normal self more and more each day, he was doing better, he was better. It was all good. He was fine. Except for the fact he unexpectedly felt all that "progress" melt away the second he stood at that entrance.

Suddenly, he traveled through time back to those long-gone days, when they used to hang out here for his work project. Suddenly, he was waiting for a certain brunette to show up and greet him with a bright smile and some joke about the weather. Suddenly, he wished he could rewind all those months, to the second he saw him, and tell himself to stop it while he could.

But could that have changed anything? Probably not. Kellin shook his head. None of it made sense. No use thinking about that now either way.

He should just go home... He already knew Tay wasn't going to show up, got her text five minutes ago saying her new boyfriend got off work earlier so they were hanging out instead. He chuckled bitterly again just thinking about it, but he couldn't blame her. His sister seemed happy and that should be enough. He only found it a bit ironic.

Kellin sighed before he could keep thinking nonsense, and willed his feet to move. He probably looked so dumb just standing there wondering if he should go in or leave. But he was already there, and a part of him believed it could be good for him to exercise. He lost count already of the last time he did. He supposed he could try this once. If he hated it—which he would—he'd never come back again and that would be it.

Sounded like a good plan.

So Kellin focused on that, headed straight for the running tracks not paying attention to anything, took out his phone, and put on his headphones once he reached the start of the path. He noticed people around him jogging and walking too, but he didn't care much for them. And after stretching and settling on some heavy rock playlist the music app suggested, he started his workout.

Kellin was glad to find out the loud songs on the playlist were a big enough distraction for his brain. He didn't think of anything for two songs, getting lost in the sounds and focusing on his steady steps. He tried to start slowly and pick up the pace eventually since the park was so big. Though he might've gotten a bit too carried away without noticing.

His pace turned faster with each song that played and Kellin didn't even notice when his feet started running at a fast pace. It was odd. But it felt freeing at the same time. He didn't dislike running all that much, it felt nice for the most part, and he couldn't believe that for an entire total of two more songs he ran without a problem in sight or a thought in mind.