Skriveni (Part Two)

Chapter Nineteen

Sweat pours down my face and every time I wipe it away, more rolls down. I huff and kick my legs harder, running faster. The wind slaps my face, but it’s hot and sticky and makes everything worse. My lungs are heaving but there’s no stopping now. I put my last bit of energy into it and kick harder, finally reaching my house. I collapse onto the ground and stare at the sky, breathing heavily.

The sweat is beginning to dry on my skin, making me feel stickier than I already was. I huff and sit up, pulling my knees up to rest my arms on them. I stare at the horizon, thinking back to when Jack was talking about how the sky meets the trees or the sea. He’s right though; it just changes abruptly. There’s no fading or warning. It’s odd. There’s a never warning when things end.

“What are you doing, man?”

I look over as Rye closes the door on his car and walks towards me. Why does he never call? Why does he always just show up? And why does he even want to be around me all the time? I’m annoying and I know it.

“I went for a run,” I reply.

He plops down beside me. “You haven’t been running in months.”

“I know, but I needed it today.”

“Any plans after while?”

“I’m taking Jupiter on a date.”

“Really? Where too?”

I play with a blade of grass nervously. “Just to eat and stuff.”

He grins. “Well, when is that? Because I need your assistance.”

“With what?” I eye him suspiciously but he just keeps grinning. “I’m not fighting anyone.”

“I didn’t ask you too.”

“Then, what is that face for?”

“Come on. No fights will break out. A few guys invited us to hangout down at the Bowl. You don’t have to go, but I think you should do something other than your girlfriend.”

I slug him in the arm. “If I go and they piss me off, I’m leaving, all right? But I have to be home by six because I’m picking her up at seven.”

“We have plenty of time. Come on; we haven’t hung out in forever.”

I groan. “Fine.” I walk towards my house and he follows, all excited like a little kid. I quickly change out of my running clothes and throw on a pair of skinny jeans and a white t-shirt. I slip into my black Converse and walk back out. He’s urging me to come on, but I don’t know why he’s in such a hurry. It’s not like it’s going to be enjoyable being down there. I’m only going because I feel bad for brushing him off since I met Jupiter.

The Bowl is down at the skate park, but there’s a section that they practically take over and it’s beside a bowl ramp. Basically, a bunch of guys go there to hang out because they have nothing better to do with their time, than sit at a skate park without skateboards.

I walk with Rye towards the crowd of teenage boys standing around or sitting on the concrete wall. They all greet Rye with fist bumps or side hugs, but I just stand out of the way. A man walks over to us and grins, pulling me in for a side hug and then Rye. His name is Calum. He’s twenty two but he still hangs out with seventeen and eighteen year olds. I’m pretty sure he has friends of his own, but his little brother hangs out here and he watches out for him.

“Skriveni, Rye; good to see you guys again,” he says. His dark hair has a blonde streak in it, resembling a skunk, but looks good on him. He has this thing where he always wears black skinny jeans and a black t-shirt. His brown eyes are glowing with excitement as he talks to Rye.