In Between the Lines

two

two

get away - the internet

THE HIGH ALTITUDE air came as a challenge, but God did it make him feel better. Each step gave him a high that took the edge off from the pitiful conversation that took place earlier. Maybe he could take up running. It certainly didn't feel the same, but it was just enough to keep him there in the present. Could he live without it? It came in a sharp wave, while running took hours to achieve.

As he debated the question of his addiction, he ran into Edith, one of few neighbors in area. She cursed softly under her breath and presented him with a plastic smile. "Oh, I didn't know you were already back from student exchange, " she laughed.

His eyebrows furrowed and gave her a plastic smile back. Kieran at least thought the lie the family would give would be more interesting than a student exchange. Maybe he took a year off to backpack around the world or help hungry kids Africa. "Yeah. It's so much harder in that darn Westminster."

"You went to Westminster?" If Edith was trying to suppress her surprise she miserably failed.

"Yeah, yeah. Great school, snobby kids," he added. If there were to be a fictional story of him out there, he might as well make it sound like George R.R Martin wrote it.

He leaned in raising a hand to one side, as if it could block the secret he was sharing with her. "Between you and me, British kids do a lot of coke. So much I bet it could fill your entire body double fold. Not to mention the type of sex they have in private schools. Jeesh." He pulled his head back to see her eyes widen. Kieran flashed a smile. "Well, it was nice talking to you Edith. Now if you excuse me, I got finish this run." He peeled off without giving a glance back to her.

The gated community he lived in presented itself as a circle, but when stretched it was a mile. He forced himself around four times, until the natural high had kicked in and disappeared. He's stopping point appeared two houses down from his own. The last thing he wanted was to be kept in a room that barely allowed himself to breath. His legs gave out and placed him on the sidewalk, looking at the endless rows of evergreen trees.

A white Mitsubishi pulled from the curve and stopped so close, it almost crippled Kieran's legs. "Fuck. Is that you Kieran Haas?" Reed called from his car.

"That's my name, don't wear it out." Reed popped out of his car and took a seat beside him on the sidewalk. He was dressed for a night out. A white polo shirt a few sizes too small hung close to him and pastel shorts that said, if you hurt me, my daddy will sue you. After six months, he still looked the same, too lean for someone his age and a raspy voice that cut Kieran's skin every time he talked. Neither the less they were friends.

"You smell like shit, dude. How far have you ran?"

"Five miles. It gives me a somewhat high."

"Ah, a druggie's replacement drug," Reed snickered. "That and sex. What brings you back to good ol' Colorado anyway?"

"I live here," Kieran answered bluntly.

"No shit Sherlock. But why come back?

"It wasn't my idea to be gone in the first place," he admitted.

"Ah," he had sounded like he knew why he'd left, but it was clear that he didn't with the pouted look he gave.

Kieran let the conversation die from there. He didn't care if he knew or not, it really didn't change anything in the end.