where we went wrong, heather

[quint reed]

quint
We set the wrong course and headed due north
That's where we went wrong
We were young and learning steady hearts hate turning
That's where we went wrong

"RUN!"

Quint was going to kill Heather, he was going to kill her. Empathy? What good did that do him? Sensitivity – useless. You couldn't beat anyone up with it – which was exactly what he wanted to do at that moment. He glared over to Heather as his feet pounded against the linoleum floors with fury. What had they done?! What had Heather done?! His sweaty palm was clasped around Heather's own as they both tugged each other through the hallway. He still didn't understand why he had come, except to give Heather some sort of scapegoat. She claimed it was so he could calm anyone down who saw them, and at the time it had seemed decently plausible. But as Quint ran desperately down the hallway, his heart beating erratically in his chest and sweat beaded on his clammy skin, he realized that it was possibly the dumbest idea ever. He could barely calm himself down, how was he ever going to calm everyone else down? He gritted his teeth and pushed on faster through the darkness as Heather followed nearby.

Suddenly they hit a set of double-wide doors and threw themselves out into the blinding sun. The light poured over him in a blank expanse of white, then slowly as his eyes adjusted, objects faded back into their cool shades of green and blue. Still running, he and Heather found themselves rushing as far away from the school building as they could go. Shortly, they were in downtown Eventide, racing past a few pedestrians on there way to…well who knew where. Quint didn't know why they were still running, or why they were still holding hands. But for some reason, it didn't matter at that moment.

He caught the curious and somewhat bewildered stare of some of the people they passed, most to all of them were neighbors he had known since birth. Today's gossip would surely be centered on this little stunt. He could almost hear the whispered talk now. Did you see that that Reed boy today, running through town with the Heritage girl? And during school hours no less. Certainly up to no good. I wonder what their parents have to say about that. Especially the Reed child, you would think he had more decency than that. What with losing his little love last year, how quick to move on. Do you remember at her funeral… Quint frowned against this thought and jerked his hand out of Heather's grasp as he doubled over, breathing heavily. He heard her footsteps slow and then finally stop as well. He held his hands against his knees as he stared to ground and attempted to control his breath. Heaving his chest up and down, he pushed his hair out of his face and finally lifted his upper half back up.

"What the hell was that?! Run?! That was your plan?!....RUN?!" He threw his arms out before him, still breathing laboriously. Suddenly, he looked around and realized where he had stopped. Soft foliage cascaded down over terra cotta pots, and spilled out from hanging baskets. A fountain stood at the center, its waters trickling softly against the smooth stone. Eiríksson Memorial Park – he rolled his eyes and shook his head, figures.

Settling himself down on one of the worn benches, he propped his elbows up on his knees and stared with mock curiousity at Heather. "So what now genius?"

continued from THE ÓLHAPP