The Time Giver

July 2nd: Confiding

 A bolt of lightning pierced the darkness around him as Zach ran along the road. It wasn't even five seconds before the thunder followed, roaring around him like the laughter of the devil. He was soaked from the downpour, and had forgotten in his haste to grab his rain slicker that he and Kelly had bought.

Kelly. Zach scowled in the darkness as he wiped more water from his bangs and eyes. He would rather be soaked to the bone than take her help now, in any form. It was her fault, everything was her fault. If it wasn't for her, he would be back at the center now, sharing a hot meal with his friends. Now, they had probably all forgotten about him, and were laughing about some new sap that had been brought in.

He paused in his running. If they would've forgotten about him, then were they really friends?

Another crack of lightning lit up the world around him like a lightbulb that had just blown, the crash of thunder pounding his ears. He jumped, picking back up his steady jog as the wind whipped in multiple directions at once. He didn't mind being drenched, but the wind sent a chill down his spine. He had been running for a half hour, now, and he was feeling the cold begin to set in.

Slowly, his vision was being illuminated from behind, and he darted into the woods. Three times, now, he'd avoided being seen by a car. The first time, he'd slipped and fallen, almost eating dirt as he tumbled into the trees. Now, he was more careful, choosing his path carefully as he tore into the thick undergrowth.

The car slowed. "Shoot," he growled. But he hadn't been spotted; a raccoon that he'd scared with his flight darted through the headlights, and the car accelerated away.

With a sigh, he stopped to sit down for a moment, breaking all rules he'd heard before to take momentary shelter under the tree. A tremor rippled throughout his entire body, and it wouldn't be long before he started shivering in earnest. He looked back toward the road. "It shouldn't be much longer before I reach town," he muttered. A streak of lightning made him flinch, then he squinted through the rain as the thunder rolled around him. "So why don't I see any lights?"

Slowly, he pulled himself up. No sense in wasting time, or catching pneumonia. He looked both ways on the road, then took off in a sprint to warm his body back up.

He was so busy watching his feet that he didn't realize the lights were behind him before it was too late. Zach cursed himself, but easily slowed into a jog to throw these people off. Maybe they'd believe him if he said he was camping, and would take him to town.

The car slowed as it approached him, then sped around him before coming to a dead stop. He looked up to see the familiar driver side door bursting open, and Kelly leaping out. "Zach!"

He stopped dead against his own will. Kelly slowed as well, until they both were standing still, a few feet separating them. A thousand emotions ran through his mind as he stared at her calm face. He was angry about being told he was wrong; he was furious about being wrong. He was confused about how he had come to trust her so easily. But more than all the other feelings, he felt pain. Pain at being betrayed by Turner. Pain at having reverted back to his old ways. Pain at hurting Kelly.

But she wasn't angry. The tail lights illuminated her frame as she slowly raised her arms in invitation.

The same strange feeling from the night before consumed him, and he bolted toward her, tears pouring down his face as he crashed into her. She folded her arms around him, rubbing his soaked back as he sobbed into her shoulder. "I'm sorry," he blubbered over and over. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Kelly, I'm so sorry."

Kelly pulled away to look into his eyes, her face expressionless. "How about we get in the car and out of the rain, okay?" She gave a small little smile as she brushed his damp bangs out of his face. Zach nodded, and followed her to the car, headed for the passenger door.