Just Another Happy Ending

Chapter 3: A Broken Home

It's very lonely on the track. There's nothing but the wind swaying the trees and the sounds of our feet on the pavement. He keeps me company as he bumps into me playfully from time to time and the little questions that he presents me with as we make lap after lap.

"So something tells me you get lost in your thoughts a lot." I continue to walk and watch as one by one the leaves fall from the trees around us. "I do but something tells me you don't really care to know what I think about." He bumps into me again and he smiles just watching my face as if somehow he could see my thoughts. "That's not anywhere close to being true." I smile watching the ground hoping he won't notice the huge smile on my face. I mean could you blame me? Someone actually cared about me. Well that didn't have to at least.

"Why do you care?" He rubs the back of his head looking down. "I can't just care about what my friend thinks." I sigh watching as a leaf falls in my path and I step around it thinking of how sad it's life must already be, as I gaze up from the old oak tree it came from. It's a long way from home and a really long way from his family. "I guess so." He shifts his attention to me. Though, I'm already convinced I had it all before. I know he can tell my attitude has shifted.

"What's wrong, Ri?" I don't look up at him and even the nickname at the moment can't make me smile. My thoughts have taken me over and now the darkness is set in stone. I take off running hoping somehow it will clear the memories of happiness with my family. The moments of laughter and fun that I can't get back. Not even me and my sister are the same anymore. I lost the bond that can break someone into a million pieces.

I sob softly starting to stop and I feel his hands on my shoulder before I hear his heartbeat as he pulls me into a hug. I hadn't noticed that he had been running after me. "Hey..." I pull away from him. "I'm fine, Evan." He just smiles at me wiping a tear off my face.

I fel the warmth radiating from him. Not just because it was cold but I knew that he was welcoming me. As if to somehow tell me that it would be okay and if all else falls, he's here. "Don't push me away, Ri." I smile softly at him even though it's fake. I watch his face and he seems to be buying it.

"I'm here." He say softly before hugging me again. This time I let the warmth from him seep into me. I just wish somehow I could form the words to tell him everything. I wanted to trust him but I didn't know him. The bell breaks me from my thoughts.

"Why don't you let me take you to lunch?" I look up at him funny trying to realize if he's offering to be pushy or to be kind because I'm upset. "As a friend, of course." I nod not understanding his reasons but finding that he's slowly making the smile on my face real.

He pulls away from the hug. "Come on then. What do you want?" I sigh tapping my chin as we head back into the gymnasium. "You pick. Something cheap I hope." He laughs some and I can't help but smile for some reason. "Don't worry about that, I'm buying." I huff glaring at him and he bumps into me some as we make our way across the gymnasium floor to the exit.

"Don't be like that. Most friends jump at the opportunity to get free lunch." I bump into him this time and we just watch each other. The gym is empty except for us and it's quiet. "Well not me. I'm weird, I guess." He just smiles and we finish our walk to his car in silence.

Hey I hope this chapter was a little better than the last. Just check my facebook for a new link every two days because that's how often I post. Or you can check back here every two days. Thanks. ❤