istwatch, which re

her only childhood friend besides Delilah. They were tenants on the same street, so his house was o

d game with his mother and his two brothers. By the looks

e sign he was winning. He knew how to p

the football and volleyball captain for the boys' teams at school, every stu

smile. They replied to her greetings one by one. His mother, a

your mother?" Dan

between Daniel and his mother. "Da

him to the side of the building, where t

and you want me to help," he said,

ou? How did

his pockets. His sweaty skin glistened under the rising sun as his almond-brown eyes stared b

e was still in her sweatpants. But even so, someone must

ommercial," she said. "Tell me t

voice. She was never this confident around o

rces to

deeper. "W

y, he gave up trying to protect the peopl

atic pause, then breath

nd biggest bully. She and Juli

She never expected Jessy to gossip ab

s like it," Daniel clarified. "He just told me h

rm my mom before w

ka

king him what Mackenzie had been saying. He would probably just

.ᘛ

, right up until she trip

were sore, and her face and armpits were bathed in sweat. She felt like she had th

ding flat on her butt. She had only been able to clear three consecutive

les are weak,"

her sweat-slicked arms and legs, she nodd

hen was the last ti

. When was the last time she ran? She remembered being c

er run a real

d a chicken,"

istmas had escaped its cage while Julia was home alone. Daniel had come to visit for the holidays and found her standing on the kitchen counter, yelling at the chicken to get back in its cage. Luc

race,

e is a real ra

, Daniel was already tired of

inting at a shade tree next to a nearby duplex, "then we'll end

ad set out looking for a skipping coach, but now h

ed, "Then

raining over with. She wanted nothing more than to go home, wash

ng up her weary legs, she d

ng like he thoroughly enjoyed the alm

t incredibly fast, but she maintained a decent beginner's pace. She ran to the tree and back with great

ded. She was too dehydrated

he said, giving her a hand to boost her up

elf, abeg, I'm tired!" sh

try. O

st

said with

ka

sted off. Surprisingly, Julia took

she yelled during her

to the starting line. Julia flailed her hands in the air like

f to stand up straight, pulling her hands off her knees to catch it. She

nk y

again," he

ard the tree, letting the wind catch her natural hair as her legs flew, determined to reach the target before him.

. In fact, she giggled the entire time she lay there. This wa

a familiar sound nearby. It was still far off, but the distin

n west, scouring the road unt

cooler box attached to the front. He rode down the street,