Borrowed Time

Chapter Four

Xavier is uncharacteristically quiet throughout dinner and the beginning of the game of scrabble. I spend the evening drifting in and out of my own head, barely even paying attention to the game.

“It's in the dictionary!” Oscar is saying, clearly annoyed by Gandalf's scrutiny over the word “bubblicious.” We're crowded around the kitchen table, which is covered with a patterned, blue table cloth.

“Brand names don't count, Oscar,” Gandalf says, exasperated. While Oscar is certainly the most competitive of all of us, Gandalf is not very yielding when it comes to playing scrabble.

“It's my turn now, git,” Nicole interjects, trying to remove Oscar's tiles from the board. Oscar puts his hand over them protectively.

“Fine, we'll make a deal.” he says, “I'll take my word back, but I don't lose my turn.”

I roll my eyes and am about to saying something when Xavier speaks, very slowly, “That's not how the game is played.”

“But you have no proof bubblicious isn't a word.” Oscar counters.

“It's not—” Gandalf begins tiredly, but Xavier is already standing, looking down at the table, his green eyes dark.

“It's not how the game is played,” he repeats slowly, his voice low and deep.

“I'm going for a walk,” Xavier says, breaking the dead silence and walking swiftly out of the house. We all look at each other for a long moment.

“What's his problem?” Nicole asks. Oscar shrugs and takes his tiles off the board, no questions asked.

“I'm going to go talk to him.” I get up and push my chair in, walking towards the front door.

“Lovers quarrel.” I hear Oscar say as I walk out into the cold. It's easier to pretend I didn't hear.

I don't see Xavier anywhere on the dark street. Maybe I should let him cool off. I glance back at the house, but I don't want to go back right now. I start walking, regretting not putting on a jacket. Before I've even made it past the neighboring house, I'm running. I have never really run for sport but I think now that I understand why it would be appealing; I feel so light and so free. Lights are on all along the suburban streets, and I think of the lives that I'm running past. There is a house that already has its Christmas decorations up, a man walking a dog as big as him, I see a family all watching a movie together, though I don't make out what movie through the glass.

I begin to slow down, thinking that I should probably go back before I get lost, when something catches my eye at the end of the street. It's the dog walker that I had passed streets earlier. He's been following me, he must have. I go frigid and start walking causally onto a side street. I'm about to break into a run when a smooth voice calls out to me in the night.

“Cecilia?” The voice asks, and though I don't immediately connect it to a face, the voice relaxes me. I squint, trying to make out the faceless figure. He begins to jog towards me, the dog following excitedly behind him. “Cecilia?” The voice asks again. “I thought that was you.” As soon as I see his neat, chocolate curls, I know who it is.

“Oh, uh, hey Jaden.” I shuffle my feet a little, rubbing my arms to warm them.

“You ran out on me, today.” Jaden says, but he's smiling kindly.

“I had to meet a friend.” I invent quickly. The dog, which I now see is a giant, graying pit bull, comes up to me and begins licking my bare ankles enthusiastically. I hadn't put anything on over my shorts and tank top when I'd ran out after Xavier, and the dogs warm tongue feels nice against my skin.