Coming Home

Who Knew Nikes Could Mean So Much

I banished all thoughts of returning to my old habits. That, of course, was a horrid idea. I racked my mind of alternatives. I decided to go for a run. I threw on some gray sweats, a purple tank, and hurriedly twisted my hair up into a messy bun. I had to get out of the house and fast. Every where I looked I remembered something that Deyovn and I had done together. I searched the living room for my running shoes when I spied a pair of Dev's old Nikes. I picked them up and stared at them for a moment.

**Flashback**

"Josie?! Why are shoes so freaking stupid?! Why can't people just go around barefoot all the time?!", Deyvon cried.

I laughed softly, "What happened?". Deyvon always hated shoe shopping, but it seems like something extra irritating had happened today. When Dev walked through the kitchen door, I realized what had happened. Dangling from his arm by their bright whit laces was a pair of small black and blue Nikes. I threw a hand over my mouth to stop the soon to come giggles. "I think those shoes are a little...small.", I said smiling.

Deyvon growled playfully and wrapped me in his arms. I sighed happily and laid my head on his chest. "Teaches me to buy shoes without trying them on...or looking in the box!", he laughed and planted a kiss on my cheek.

"Aww, poor Devy!", I exclaimed jokingly. He smiled and gestured for me to take a seat. I obliged and sat, watching him kneel on one knee. He slipped one shoe on my foot, with a perfect fit and stood up with a dazzling smile on his face.

He leaned down, his lips gently brushing mine as he spoke, "Looks like I'm your Prince Charming, Cinderella.." And with that, he kissed me. It was a simple, sweet kiss. The one every girl wishes for every day of her life. I dreamed about it for many nights to come. Kisses between Deyvon and I were rare, since we never much of each other, but it just made them that much more of a delicacy.

**End Flashback**

Sighing softly, I slipped the shoes on and took off on my run. As I passed the vintage medicine shop where Deyvon and I used to buy our sodas, I felt a little 'pang' in my heart. I shook it off and kept running. Faster and faster, I watched the scenery become one giant blur as I worked my body to it's limits. My thoughts of Deyvon and I began to join the scenery, bluring and whipping through my mind so quickly I couldn't pin down which was which. The swirling colors of old, forgotten memories fogged my mind as I began to get dizzy. I started slowing my run into a fast jog. When I realized where I was, I stopped completely. I had unknowingly run to Deyvon's neighborhood.

I made my way to his home and stopped for only a split second before rasing my hand to press the door bell. "Tinkle-ling-ling.", went the soft, sweet melody of the door bell. The door opened and Deyvon's mum, Kiana, smiled. She was a very motherly person. She had a somewhat smaller figure even after having three kids. She had that natural 'just been pinched' look to her cheeks, paired with that all-knowing mom smile. She looked almost like a tiny, perfect, porcelain doll. I gave her a gently hug as I entered the house.

"Oh, Josie! It's such a surprise to see you here! I figured you and Deyvon would still be out on ya'lls lil' date.", she said with a wink. I laughed softly. I had always adored the way Kiana spoke, she had that country 'twang' and used the words 'aint' and 'yall' constantly.

I bit my lower lip, "That's what I came to talk to you about, Kiana. Deyvon wasn't out on a date with me. He was out on a date with an old high school friend of his. Kiana... Deyvon told me he felt that we didn't need to be together when he went off to basic. I want to respect his decision." I searched her eyes for some kind of conformation that what I said was true. She placed a hand over her heart and sunk down into the living room's Lazy Boy. The look on her face was something I will never forget. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her gently. "I promise I will be here tomorrow for Dev's send off party and I will always be around for you. I'm just a phone call away. If you need me to babysit Jason and Ally, I'll be here."