Fearless Beings

Chapter 8

Tom's POV
~~~~~~~~~
   Mia is long since gone. I stare at the ceiling, staring at the pattern.

   2.30, my alarm reads. It's still too early for me to wake up and get ready for my first day of collage.

   First day.

   Of collage.

  The thought sends an electrical chill down my spine. I take my phone from my bedside table to kill time since sleep isn't coming any time soon.

  Party at my place. Wednesday.
-Jeremy.

Birthday. My house.
-Martin.

   Useless. Geez, don't these people do anything else a part from partying? Guess not. I toss my phone back on the bedside table. Grumbling, I walk toward my closet, pulling out a pair of sweatpants and sweatshirt, I put them on. Going for a run doesn't sound too bad right now.

   Running is freeing.

   At those minutes -when the air hits your face, when you puff your cheeks out every now and then, when your legs carry you like there is no tomorrow, when heat starts creeping up your neck to your cheeks and then your whole face, when you can hear your blood pumping in your ears- you are freed. You are freed from your daily issues and agony and difficulties.

   Halfway through my run, someone taps my shoulder. I stop and turn around and that's when I see Megan.

   I eye her outfit. Neon shorts. Pink tank top. Nike shoes. Her hair up in a ponytail.

   "Hello, again," she greets, laughing. "I saw you in the ice-cream parlor a couple of days ago."

    "Me as well."

   "Megan, by the way." She sticks her hands out. I take it. Of course she doesn't know that I've eavesdropped on her conversation with Mia.

    "Tom."

   But how did Mia knew that I know her name? I'm getting more question, no answers. I'm just adding to the pile I already have.

  "Nice meeting you, Tom. I believe you've already met my friend Mia?" The way she says it is as if she stating a fact not asking.

   "Indeed."

   "So . . . what did you guys talk about?" She tilts her head slightly, it's almost as if she didn't. Her hair flying from the morning breeze, her smile faint.

   "We just talked," I say, shrugging.

   "I see." She smirks.

   "What?"

   "Nothing." She bites back a smile. Unable to control herself anymore, she starts laughing. "I knew that girl would have some fun since we were on our way here."

   "Your way here?" I question.

   Her laughter stops and she looks away. "Yeah, I mean . . .  uhh . . . we came from somewhere."

   "Somewhere?" Yeah, I've noticed their thick accents, but the girl is acting weirdly. "Are you British?"

  "Yes!" She says, a bit too quickly. She clears her throat. "I mean, yes," she says, quietly this time. "I better get going, see you."