Perserverance (Discontinued)

Crash and burn

She ran down the hall faster than she ever knew she could. She ran and ran, but she wasn't entirely sure what she was running from. Was it Tyler? Didn't she want it to happen? Why was she stopping it? Maybe it wasn't tyler, but her fear commiting herself again. Both of her boyfriends have already died. What was wrong with her? She kept running, her eyes were clamped shut and tears were rolling down her puffy cheeks. She found herself suddenly smacking into something. She fell to the ground, and openend her eyes slowly. Infront of her was a familiar face, but one she hadn't spoken to since kindergarten.

"Alice," he said with a slight southern accent.

"Cory, it's been a while." Then she assesed the situation. "I'm so sorry!" She added quickly. She stood up and held out her hand. He took it, and assuring her it was fine, he noticed the mascara streaked down her pale face.

"Whats wrong?"

"Nothing, why?" she said, laughing fakely.

"So thats the new style?" She peered over his shoulder, and  the wall of mirror just within the girls bathroom told her what had become of her makeup.

"Oh, no...I just," she was prepared to spill it all, but something peculiar bubbled wirhin her...she didn't want Cory to know what happened with Tyler. "I don't know." She muttered. He didn't ask any more questions. He said nothing more, but wrapped her in his Steelers-hoodie-covered arms. She smiled. She really did need a hug. Her stress melted away. He stepped back.

"Are you okay?"

She sniffled, "I'm fantastic."

He knew she wasn't but he played along, "That's great." The air was awkward. "What were you running from?" He asked.

"Facing the consequences of my actions." She whispered. He figured it had to be related to why she was crying, so he didn't press the issue. "Why haven't we talked in so long?" She asked, wiping the black residue from her cheeks.

"I don't know, first grade really tore us apart."

"Yeah...Remember when I lectured you on coloring."

"You mean when I colored my acorn black and you screamed at me that it's unrealistic and that I should grow up and color my acorn brown like you?"

"Something like that..." she blushed.

"I also remember rejecting you twice..." he laughed.

"Yeah, sorry about that...I do remember. I had this thing for you and secretly thought your acorn was really cool.."

"Well, you know what they say."

"What's that?"

His electric blue eyes glittered as he said, "third time's the charm." And with that, he turned and took off down the hall.

Alice stood in awe, counting his footsteps  as he disappeared around the corner.