Lunar Distortions

Chapter 2

"So, you're a runner, right?" Roan asked with interest, eyes focused on the road. His fingers drummed against the wheel in a tune that my dad used to do and it unnerved me, "You any good?"

We were driving slowly through a winding road, wedged between dense trees. Despite the heater on full blast but I could still feel the bite of coldness.

"I'm good." I confirmed with a shrug and chewed on my gum to distract myself, "Well, I win. So, I must be good."

"Our local high school has a track team," Landon informed me from where he relaxed in the back seat. I couldn't understand how he wasn't shivering when all he was wearing was a sweater, "The coach already has you on his watchlist. Didn't take long for him to sniff out an actual athlete he could use."

School. Ugh, how could I forget about school? 

Dread pooled in my stomach at the mere thought of having to start yet another one. The first school I would ever go to without my dad to prep me for. I had emotional issues; mainly anger but my dad always knew how to handle my mood swings.

Even though I didn't understand them, he seemed to.

"Don't feel pressured," Roan assured me with a roll of his eyes, deep like my dad and mine were. Must be a genetic thing, "Joshua will harass you. The closest thing to a competitor he's ever got a hold of was that one girl that could throw a ball- until she broke her wrist."

I didn't really care about the coach, or competing. If someone gave me a track to run then I'd care less about the price it came at.

Running was the only way I could let out steam. Well, the only safe way my dad allowed me to do without his supervision but he liked running as much as I did.

Thinking about our morning runs made an old ache form in my chest and I forced myself to think of something else- anything else! "I like competing." I found myself saying with a slight smirk, "I love the looks on the other girl's faces when I scorch their asses."

"Damn, girls got a potty mouth!" Landon barked with laughter, staring at me in interest, "Never would have thought a girl like you'd have a tongue like that!"

I understood why; I didn't look like much of a fighter at all. 

Not with my wide eyes, always making me look like a curious doll. My thick mane of light hair that was twisted into a knot on the back of my neck. Trying to keep the unruly mess tamed was a sport in its own right.

Part of me wondered where the hair came from, with my dad's and now Roan's, both being so dark. I once asked and was promptly told that it was just genetics, some Hales have light hair whilst others are given the lush dark locks that I envied.

Roan looked amused by my enthusiasm and even let out a rumbling sound that kind of resembled a chuckle, "You got fire." He acknowledged with approval, rather than scolding me for my cursing like my dad used to, "Good. Just don't bring me any trouble; I don't need any more teenagers at my door."

"Such affection." Landon winked at me, and kicked the back of the driver's seat lightly, "Believe it, or not, but the man astonishingly does have something close to a heart."

Roan grunted before sliding me a side look, "Your old man and I never stayed in contact over the years. I never even knew he had you." He explained looking uncomfortable as he spoke about it. I could tell that it bothered him, "When he left...town, our connection was severed."

Silence came from the backseat as Landon stared out of the window, uncharacteristically quiet. I felt the need to defend him but I had no idea why my dad left. It was something he never spoke about, and I guess it just never really mattered to me why.