Run

The smell of sweat and alcohol fill the air as I run through the house, tears streaming down my face, it’s likely that there are 150 people inside of this home. Parties have never been my thing, but for some reason I said yes. Such a dumb decision. Humiliation is my biggest fear and right now I wish it wasn’t.

At the top of the stairs sits the man I’ve been dating for five years. He sits with his arms wrapped around a woman, my best friend, tongue down her throat. I want nothing more than to kill them both. High-school sweethearts is a myth, at least it is in my eyes.

Never again will I trust a man my age.

The sea of people around me becomes calm, everyone is frozen in place. Everyone but me. I push through, trying to get the hell out, and just as I reach the edge of the crowd I run into a extremely large man. His face is covered by a motorcycle helmet that he’s attempting to take off. I apologize as I run past him out of the house.

Nobody is outside and I’m more than grateful for that. I sit on the curb, head in my hands and sob. How can a true man break up with the woman he loves, in front of such a large crowd and then practically fuck your best friend in front of you. What kind of friend would allow it to happen? That should be the real question.

“Kenna, is that you?” Kenna? Nobody has called me that since middle school. I turn around, as I do I see the helmet of the man I bumped into. I slowly look up and am shocked as I meet the green eyes of Jameson. My brothers best fucking friend.

“Yea it’s me.” I turn away quickly. Rumors have gone around that he’s now extremely rich, and the leader of a gang. Bad news. I grab my phone and call my brother, as I do, a phone behind me rings, I turn again. Right next to Jameson stands my brother, red in the face and fists clenched at his sides.

“why’re you here.” He shouldn’t be here, this isn’t his scene, he’s honestly too old to know any of these people.

“Carls little sister was here and called him when everything went down with that little jackass and the little bitch. Where are they?” I look away again, I love how protective he is but I hate feeling like he’s everywhere all the time.

“And why in the hell is he here?” I motion towards Jameson.

“McKenna don’t be a bitch. Me him and Carl were out at the bar when carl's sister called. You’re...” he gets cut off by Jameson.

“I like beating the fuck out of little jackass men, so I volunteered to do his dirty work. Now show me where the hell he is and don’t be fucking stubborn.” To say I’m taken aback is downplaying it, him speaking to me like that and being dressed the way he is just upped his attraction by way too much.

“It doesn’t matter where they are, Im leaving. Carter, I’ll be at home.” I begin to walk off but the sound of leaves crunching beneath a shoe make me turn around. I’m now staring into Jamesons eyes, why is he so close.

“You’re not walking home, it’s a thirty-minute walk and it’s about to storm. Carl is on his way and will take Carter home but you’re leaving with me, they will meet us at the house.” I look over to my brother and he only nods.

“I’m not fucking going with you; I’m walking home or riding with my brother.” He reaches out and grabs my arm. I quickly push him away, he stumbles back, clearly not expecting the reaction. “Don’t touch me, I’m leaving.”

“You’re going with him Kenna.” I glare at carter as the words leave his mouth.

“Don’t fucking call me that, either of you, and no I’m not. I’ll see you at home, and hopefully I’ll see you never again.”

“About that...... Jameson is going to be staying with us for a couple weeks while his house is being finished. Now go with him and I will meet you back at the house.”

“I’ll walk, and I guess I’ll be staying with Em......” tears cloud my vision again. I can’t stay with her; we’re no longer friends as we have been for the last 12 years. Carter moves to me and wraps his arms around me, resting his head on mine. I cry into his chest, thankful at this point that he is here. He kisses my head and pulls away.

“You need to go home, you’ve been drinking, and you’re upset, don’t argue, just go with Jameson.” I look up at him with pleading eyes, but this is a fight I won’t win. I huff, wipe my tears and stomp over to Jameson. He’s now leaning against the bike, arms folded in front of him, causing his muscles to bulge out against the tight black T-shirt he wears.

I move my eyes away from him as I get closer and stop directly in front of him. As I’m about to speak the front door slams and my name is being yelled across the yard. The three of all look over at the same time, of course it would be him. He stumbles down the steps and I turn back towards Jameson.

“Give me the helmet now and let's go, please.” I’m quickly lifted up onto the back of the bike and his helmet is slid over my head. He nods to my brother, jumps on the bike and starts it up. I look over to see him running across the yard. I flip the visor down and wrap my arms around Jameson. As soon as his foot touches the sidewalk, we take off. I close my eyes and rest my head on his back, suddenly feeling sick and extremely cold. I tighten my arms around his torso and fight back the feeling of vomiting. It shouldn’t take much longer to be pulling into the driveway.

We come to a stop rather quickly, and it’s enough to jar my stomach. I quickly sit up releasing my hold on him and yank the helmet from my head.

“Are you okay Kenna?” He jumps off the bike quickly and crouches down to eye level.

I shake my head head motioning with. Y hand that I need to get off the bike. He takes the helmet and grabs me, easily picking me up and sitting me on the ground.

I run to the spot of grass and begin to puke. I hear him mutter a string of cuss words under his breath before my hair is being pulled back. I compose my self after a few rounds and straighten back up.

“God bless Kenna, how much did you drink?” I look up at him, put 5 fingers up and then give him the bird. “Don’t be an asshole right now kid. I’m over here trying to help you.” I am kind of being a bitch I guess. But I also didn’t ask for his help or for him to be here.

“I had 5 tequila shots, thank you for holding my hair, but I’m still not the asshole. Can we please go I want my bed.” He says nothing as he heads back to the bike. I go to get on but he stops me. Puts his finger under my chin and lifts my head till our eyes meet. Suddenly everything else is out of my mind. I’m staring into the eyes of my first childhood crush.

He says nothing as he drops his hand onto the helmet and smirks at me. I have no time to react before the helmet is pulled onto my head and I’m placed on the back of the bike again. Any other time this would make me feel like a child, but it’s quite hot when he does it. I wrap my arms around him again as he starts the short drive back home. Why oh why did he have to come back to town after being gone so long?