three am.

thirty five percent.

Did they offer the police a chase on her motorcycle? Did they make a run for it? Did they hide?

No. But yes. And yes.

him: So what-

He panted.

him: exactly--

His head spun.

him: is our plan?

They neared the end of the street and made a sharp turn to the left, the blinking lights still bright behind them.

her: keep running. just keep running. it's good for your heart, you know.

And they did keep running. Though their lungs protested, their hearts nearly busted, and the blue-red lights gradually became a distant glow- they kept on running.

He was badly out of shape, but thank God for his long, skinny legs. He managed to keep up with her small frame, which made her look as if the night's wind carried her forward. In the midst of having a hard time running, he still succeeded in stealing a glance at her.

When she ran, she looked like the adrenaline was full to the brim in her being. Her hair billowed behind her, a blond and brown blur. Stars and lampposts danced in her eyes, but what shone brightest was the fire in her, ignited by the chase.

Suddenly, the blond and brown blur swerved and was absent from his side. She had turned to a dark alley, and he followed suit. They hid behind a rusty green dumpster, and together collapsed on the brick wall. Both clutched a stitch on their side; their shallow breathing was in unison.

him: You think we lost them?

her: Nah, they'll keep looking for us. But if it that's Bill he'd just let it go.

him: Who's Bill?

her: One of the officers whose duty falls at this time of the night.

him: How do you know that?

She didn't answer. She just closed her eyes, and raised her hand to her forehead. Her temple vein was throbbing, and the inside of her eyelids showed all the colors in a swirl. When she opened her eyes, she risked a glance at him to see how he was doing. His breathing was still uneven, and his eyes were closed too. She swore she could see him shaking his head a bit, as if to say "no, that did not just happen".

her: hey, it's okay. We're fine right? They just gave us a mild scare.

him: Oh that was mild? That was, mild?

her: Well yeah they didn't even pursue us, come on.

He shook his head with disbelief, his mouth twisted into a frown that wanted to be a smile. His lungs were burnt out and he couldn't feel his legs, and yet this girl beside him thought of their situation as mild.

him: Well so-rry. I hope this wasn't too boring for you.

She swallowed his sarcasm like a huge pill and gave him an eye roll.

him: I'll just take you home. It's almost five anyway.

her: No thanks. I think I've caused you enough.

him: Yeah you caused me sore legs, a close exploding to heart, and one of the best nights of my life. Now come on.