The Return [5]

(Malory)

As I stroll through the corridor, I notice Adrien jogging in the field. It’s too early to be sweating, I think.

I start jogging until I catch up him.

“Again with the jogging? Do you have a birthday twice a year?” I joke.

He laughs. “Sadly, no. I jog when I need to think, usually.”

“What do you need to think about so seriously this early in the morning? What’s on your mind that you have to literally jog it out?” I ask.

“My dad?” He says, more like a question than a statement.

“Oh? What about him, then?”

“He’s acting up again.”

Adrien stops jogging. In the sunlight his hair looks sort of blonde –though it really doesn’t appear to be anything but light brown on other days. His electric blue armhole shirt is soaking wet with sweat. His hazel eyes squint as he looks in the direction of the sun. He bends over to catch a breath. I catch a glimpse of his abs. I look away and clear my throat lowly. I feel awkward.

“He’s started this old habit of drinking the minute he gets off duty. He either comes home so drunk that he passes out on the front door because he can’t open it with his key, or he doesn’t come home at all.”

“What does your dad even do?” I ask.

“He’s an officer. Works with the Government. Noticed by his own kind but at the same, he’s not noticed at all. Know what I mean?”

“Works with the government? Well, now I see why you end up moving a lot,” I say.

“Yea. So, right now, I’m trying to take care of him while he’s home and dealing with him not being home the other half of the time.”

“I know the feeling,” I mutter. I’d almost forgotten that Adrien doesn’t know the situation with my mom and that my dad is dead. “It must be hard. It gets lonely, doesn’t it?”

“Yea, but what can we do about it, right?”

“You don’t hang out with Olivia and me anymore,” I say, suddenly offended. “What? Did the guys from gym finally take you in as one of their own?”

He laughs. “I’m hanging out with Haden and Ross –and all the other guys that fill into their pack of wolves. They’re alright guys, I guess.”

“Jason, Ben and Pope, too?”

I’ve got blackmail on all of these people...

He nods. “Yea. But I haven’t abandoned you guys. I’ll check up on you sometimes.” He offers me a smile.

I think Olivia would appreciate the check up more than I would.

He stretches and says he should probably finish the lap and head back to the boys’ room before the bell rings.

He continues his jog. I stand, watching him get further and further away before I turn to head back into the building.

His dad is an officer?

How convenient.

When I make it to the locker hallway, Olivia is walking in. She notices me, smiling brightly. She meets me halfway.

“I have news,” she says, her eyes widening with enthusiasm.

“Well this ought to be good,” I say, smirking.

We walk over to her locker. She opens it and begins fixing her books as she explains this whole concept of her parents leaving for South Africa and how she’ll be off of their leash for the two weeks.

How epic this is for her.

Ron walks in and creeps up behind her to startle her, midsentence.

“What sort of sick, twisted plan are you both plotting together here in such whispers?” he asks. “If you’re planning to use the acid from the chemistry lab to burn down the school, count me in. I’m not looking forward to math today.”

“I- I don’t know why I never thought about doing that,” I say, impressed.

As Olivia begins explaining to Ron the joy of already feeling a tinge of freedom, I glance to the entrance to spot a familiar silhouette; black hair, neatly swaying across a familiar face as he bounces on his steps towards the door.

Kyle.

He’s back.

The first thing I notice is the plaster on the right side of his lip.

My heart does a flip.

Did he get into another fight with his uncle?

As he gains on me I notice the rest of his get up; a perfectly-pressed plain white, long-sleeved shirt. Black jeans –no rips on the knees. Clean designer sneakers. He looks… different.

But doesn’t he care about the cut on his lip?

I can see blood leaking through the plaster. I stop breathing.

I forget that Ron and Olivia are speaking beside me as I slow a step forward.

At first, he doesn’t even realise I’m there, but then he looks up.

And that’s when I start running.