The Exception

Chapter 39: Running My Problems Out

I winced as I tied my last shoelace. It was quarter to six, Monday morning, and I was getting ready for that run with Keith. I slept half of the Sunday, and the other Sunday switched my phone off and avoided Evan. I was angry, and emotional. The events of the entire week came crashing back, and I knew I was in a desperate need for this run. I needed to vent. 

I grabbed my bottle, phone and headphones as there was a knock on the door. I opened it, and  saw Keith in his bright red hoodie, shorts and nikes shoes. I guess nothing has changed on that part.

"Morning, Agnus...you ready?"

"You bet I am," I said before locking the door behind me.

"Say, five miles?" Keith asked and I nodded.

"Sounds good to me, through the park?"

"Yeah," Keith nodded. We started with a mild warm up down the road, but slowly started increasing our pace. 

"How was your weekend?" Keith asked me, and I shook my head.

"I don't want to talk about it..."

 "Woah, easy, tiger...I'm sorry about Saturday...I just didn't realize you were that mad at me..."

"It's not just you," I huffed. "It's Evan, it's Tyler, it's the whole damn situation, and I don't want to talk about it..."

"Hey, hey, what's going on?" Keith asked. As if on cue, pain spiked through my injured wrist again and I winced. I came to a stop, and Keith looked at me in concern. "What's wrong with your wrist?"

"I punched someone, OK?" I said and winced.

"You punched someone?" Keith frowned, and a pang of guilt struck through me, adding to my irrated mood.

"Look, I just want to run ok, so if you want to stand here, and judge me go ahead...I'm not interested in hearing your moral lecture!" I snapped. Keith took a step back, and immediately regret built inside of me like a heavy weight.

"I'm sorry Keith...I didn't mean to sound like..."

"A jerk?" Keith answered. He crossed his arms and raised his brow. "Yeah, I'm sorry, I thought that was your boyfriend's job."

"I'm not normally like this, ok?"

"Yeah, I know...that's what scares me Agnus...you sounded just like Evan right now..."

I took a deep breath as his words hit me hard. "It's been a tough week."

"Yeah, I get it, Agnus, it's been a rough week for me too. I had to stop  woman from bleeding out on the street, fire one of my closest friends, and spend a sucky weekend alone with that guilt eating inside of me...so trust me, I get it," Keith spoke. "But that doesn't turn me into someone I'm not...no, what's happening to you, is you're turning into him."

"I'm not..."

"Really?" Keith shook his head. "Agnus, when I first met you, the maddest you'd get is by threatening to chop someone's head off, and you'd leave it at that. Now all of a sudden, you resort to physical violence...you pushed me...Agnus...you...pushed...me...and then I hear you punched someone else?"

"He was drunk...and insulting Evan and Ellie..."

"Ok, maybe that's understandable, to a point, but was it self-defence? Or could you have walked away?"

I remained quiet, thinking that whole scenario through. I rubbed my hurting wrist. I could probably have gotten out of it, unscathed. I swallowed as bile rose to my throat. Keith took  deep breath. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come off so harsh..."

"No, no you're right," I said, blinking away the tears in my eyes. "You're right about everything..." I took a deep breath before rubbing my face and bending down. "I need to sit down..."

I walked to a tree and sat down, my back against the wall. Keith joined me, sitting quietly and breathing softly. "I'm so sorry Keith, for everything," I glanced at him. He only nodded. 

"Ever since I started dating Evan, actually, before, when he had taken an interest in me," I muttered "I was thrown into such a rollercoaster."

"Sounds like you need to implement some boundaries..." I looked at him as he said that, and he smiled. "If Evan respects you, he'll respect them..."

"Boundaries?"

"Look, you see Evan every day at school, possibly a few evenings a week, and the whole weekends through...you need time away from him..."

"Yeah, that was my job,"  I said. I glanced at Keith, who shook his head.

"I can't be your only escape from Evan...no offence, but candy is not a solution for your problems,"

I laughed. "Hey, ice cream is the top medicine for break ups and relationship problems..."

"Too bad I'm out of stock," Keith grinned, and I smiled back. 

"So, I hope I'm not uninvited to the bowling tomorrow?"

"I'm not sure how you're gonna play with that wrist, but of course you can join. Maybe getting some more friends may not be such a bad idea,"  Keith said. I leaned forward and placed my head on Keith's shoulder.

"So this run turned into  a therapy session..."

"I thought that was what running is," Keith spoke. "You run so hard, your emotions broil out like a steaming pot."

I laughed. "No kidding."

"But seriously, Agnus, if you ever need to talk, don't be afraid to call...I'll always be here for you," Keith said.

"Thank you," I said and smiled. I was truly wondering what the rest of this day held. It involved me in convincing Ellie that Tyler was just using her, avoiding or confronting Evan, and any other rumours that might erupt. Considering the events of last weekends party...I could bet there were quite a few.