Run | ✓

1 Day- Monday

I popped a honey-lemon slice into my mouth as I stepped onto the bus.

“Would you like a honey-covered lemon, Danny?” I held out the bag towards the best bus driver in the world, who simply laughed and waved me back to my seat.

“Maybe after everyone else gets off,” Danny said. I swung myself into my seat and moments later JJ dropped himself into the seat, leaning against my shoulder.

“Can I have one?”

JJ made pinching motions towards the bag of lemon slices. I moved them out of his reach and put another into my mouth.

“Can I have one, Kayla?” Lukas asked. He reached a hand over JJ and took a slice from my outstretched hand.

“Why does he get one but not me?” JJ whined.

“Because Lukas isn’t currently leaning against me, despite my many attempts to make you stop,” I said. JJ immediately sat up, ram-rod straight and looked hopefully towards the bag. I sighed and held it out to him. His face brightened as he shoved two into his mouth.

“Thanks Kayla.” Lukas reached over and pulled another slice from the bag, a smile at home on his face.

“How’s Theodora?” JJ asked. Lukas shrugged, his smile shrinking a bit.

“She’s been hugging me randomly and bursting out into laughter and smiles,” Lukas explained. “I don’t know what’s going on.”

“Has your mom said anything? What about your dad?” I questioned. Lukas shook his head.

“I’m the only one that’s-”

“Maybe Theodora isn’t acting different,” JJ suggested, “maybe she’s just being more present?”

“Teddy has depression, JJ,” Lukas said. “She doesn’t do happy- crap!”

Lukas yanked out his phone and opened it up with shaking fingers. He hit a couple buttons, then held his phone up to his ear.

JJ and I sat silent and watched as Lukas’s phone fell from his hand to the floor, cracking the screen.

“She didn’t answer,” Lukas whispered. 

“People don’t always answer their phones, it doesn’t mean anything,” JJ said. Lukas swallowed and shook his head, wiping away the tears pooled in his eyes.

“Why do you run?” I asked. Lukas looked at me and laughed dryly.

“Finally begin connecting the dots?”

I nodded.

“Bear’s suicidal,” Lukas stated bluntly. My eyes widened and my mouth dropped open.

“That’s why you run,” I said.

“To make sure she didn’t kill herself while I’m at school.”

Lukas’s eyes are swimming in tears at this point.

“Sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear.”
Bella tapped my shoulder. I turned around and looked at her. She wasn’t surrounded by any of her friends.

“So?” I questioned. “Are you here to make fun of Theodora?”

“No, I’m not!” Bella was quick to defend herself. “Danny, you can drop Lukas off first. You need to.”

Danny looked at Bella in the mirror and laughed.

“Bella, I’m already dropping him off first.”

Bella nodded and went back to her seat.

“Uh, what?” JJ laughed. I shrugged.

“Doesn’t matter, Lukas needs to check on Theodora,” I said. The bus doors hissed open and Lukas was out of the bus and running down the street at a speed that could rival our school’s 100 meter record.

“I hope she’s okay,” JJ murmured. I nodded, a bad feeling rising in my stomach.