Project (1D) Family

Chapter 11 - Blood, teeth, fighting, Nutella, makeup and other assorted things.

Chapter 11 – Blood, teeth, running, fighting, Nutella, makeup and other assorted things.

I woke up the next morning stupidly early, before the twins even, and laid in bed thinking about the fight. Today would be awkward – I was hurt, he was likely hurt and we were both tired. That’s what I think the fight was about – absolute exhaustion. We weren’t too angry at each other, and it wasn’t bad between us, although I was annoyed he had given the boys icecream; we were just tired and frustrated. I needed to get out.

So I did; dressing in shorts, a tank top and hoodie, I decided to go for a run. I woke the kids a bit and told them where I was going; Darcy and Niall came with me, and we left a note.

Gone for a run with Darce and Niall

Lil

Locking the door, I stepped into the chilly air, slipped my headphones in and then shoved my hands into the pockets of my hoodie. I smiled at the little ones, who were imitating me, and then nodded to the left. “Let’s go off the grounds,” I decided.

Ten minutes later we were off the school property, and decided to head towards an early complex. An early complex was a shopping centre that was open early; it had a few shops, a café, a restaurant and a park.

“How’s things,” I asked Niall, jogging.

“Good,” he said.

Not much had happened, I guess.

“You?”

“Eh, I’ll be fine,” I said, smiling.

By the time we reached the complex, we were properly running. Well, I was jogging, Niall was half running and Darcy was keeping up.

“Turn,” I called, and we went into the complex. It was filled with mothers and babies, a few other running or cycling people, and some randoms; all basking in the new sunlight, that had just risen.

“Park?” Darcy suggested, dragging her brother over. I grinned and took a picture, then ordered a coffee and two held hot chocolates, medium heat.

“Sure, what names?” the barista asked.

“Darcy, Liam and Lilli,” I replied. “And can I hold one for Harry? To collect later?”

I gave her his coffee order, and she began making them, as I sat down and watched.

Beep beep

I received an email from school, asking for another ‘parenting’ meeting tomorrow, and one from my friend, which I ignored. Not from being mean; just that my coffee was ready. I sipped at it, squinting into the sun as I watched it rise, a magnificent ball of fire and fury, lighting the world. Beautiful.

Snapped out of my reverie by a small scream, I saw Darcy fall from the climbing frame, right in Niall’s arms. Niall then had a faceful of sand, because he had dove from the monkey bars, and he came up bleeding. Shoot. I put my phone down and ran over to him; at some point I realized I still had the coffee, which I dropped immediately.

“Niall!”

He looked up. “What?”

“You’re – you’re bleeding!”

“Yup,” Darcy said.

“Well, uh um,” I said. I was waving my hands around, not really knowing what to do; I decided to get him out of the sand area. “Come over here.” I put my arms around his shoulders and tilted his head back as we walked over to the table. I sat him down and said, “Stay here, don’t move.”