FADING (A novel)(49)

“I figured we could run around campus and through some of the surrounding neighborhoods. How are you with distance?” he asks.

“I’m good for around six or seven miles, but it’s pretty cold out today, so I’m not too sure how long I’ll last.”

The morning is bitterly cold, and the sun has just started to rise. The streets are empty aside from a few other runners we see as we start walking toward the UW campus. We begin with a light jog for about a half-mile before we break into our run. The streets are wet and soggy with dead leaves that are piled along the curbs and scattered over the lawns. A slight mist is in the air, which isn’t anything new, and it looks like we are due to have another rainy day. It has rained every day this month, and the news keeps talking about the city hitting the big ‘four-oh’ this next week when the yearly rainfall will reach forty inches.

When we finally hit the campus, the sidewalks are completely empty, and it’s abnormally quiet.

“Next weekend Mark’s band is playing another gig at the bar. You should stop by,” Ryan says as we run through the quad that is lined with now-bare cherry trees.

“Thanks, but I have to work.”

“Would you come if you didn’t have to work?”

“Probably not,” I answer a bit more honestly than I intended. He knows I don’t go out much, well, ever. Jase is always teasing me about being a hermit around Mark and Ryan, so it shouldn’t be any surprise to Ryan when I say that.

“Have you ever heard Mark play?”

Jogging up a flight of stairs, my breath is short when I answer, “No.”

“Never?”

“God, don’t make it sound like I’m such a bad friend, Ryan,” I say sarcastically.

Ryan starts to laugh. “No, I’m not. I’m just surprised, that’s all.”

When I look over at him, he meets my eyes, and I say, “No, you’re not,” with a grin.

“So, why don’t you ever go out?”

“I’m normally busy with either school or work. I’ve never gone out too much. In fact, the past few weeks have actually been a big stretch for me. But, Jase has been on my case, so instead of butting heads with him, I haven’t been putting up much of a fight.”

“I should thank him then.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because I really like hanging out with you,” he says openly, and I immediately feel my face heat despite the frigid weather. I don’t respond as we continue to run. If I’m being honest with myself, I really like hanging out with Ryan as well. He’s been a great distraction for me since the fight with my parents.

“So, what are your plans for today?” Ryan asks after a while.

“I need to study. I was also thinking about going up to the studio since nobody should be there and working on my solo.”

“Your solo?”

“Yeah, graduating seniors have to choreograph a solo and audition for our final production at the end of the year.” I say as we begin to veer off into another neighborhood. “It’s kind of a huge thing.”

“Why’s that?”

“It’s the one time that agencies come out to watch. So if you get one of the solos, then you have a good chance at having a job after you graduate.”

“Will it be hard for you to get a solo?”

“I honestly don’t know. My piece of music isn’t the best, so I’m having a hard time feeling it, and my instructor is noticing, which is never good. Plus, all the girls are insanely competitive.” I say with labored breath.

The cold air is starting to burn my lungs when Ryan asks, “You doing okay?”

“My lungs are burning.”

Looking over at me with a slight smile, he says, “No more talking, just run.”

I smile back and nod my head as we continue to weave through the quiet streets.

We are making our way back to the house when the rain starts to fall. The drops feel like tiny pieces of ice on my face as we pick up our pace to get back to my house. Ryan turns to look at me, and I see that he’s laughing.

Barely able to breathe at this point, I manage to huff out, “What the hell’s so funny?”

“Us.”

I stare at him until he continues, “Always getting stuck in this freezing ass rain.”

Smiling in agreement, we start sprinting to my house as we round the corner onto my street. Running up the sidewalk and the few steps to the covered front porch, I lean over and grip my knees with my hands as I gasp for air. I begin to feel lightheaded when Ryan steps in front of me, placing both his hands on my shoulders. He walks me over to the large bench on the porch, and we both sit down. Still feeling slightly dizzy, I lower my chest down toward my knees and lay my head in my hands.

Ryan places his hand on my back, leans down to my ear, and says, “Slow your breathing, Candace.” He begins to rub my back when he repeats, “Slow.”

I take in one long, deep breath and let it out gently. When the dizziness begins to subside, I slowly lift my head up and lean back into the seat.

“Here,” Ryan says as he unscrews the cap to his bottle of water and hands it to me.

My throat burns, so I’m only able to take in a small sip before thanking him.

“I shouldn’t have pushed you like that by sprinting,” Ryan says.