Rise

Conversation between Gwen, Eddy and Split Sir.

I went to the park in front of our apartment. When I left the bedroom, she was asleep, but I felt her eyes on the back of my skull as I walked around the park’s main pathway. This is a bad idea. I kept walking. In the distance, I saw Gwen. She was sweating and jogging away from me. Good, I have enough time. I walked towards the bench she always stopped at. There was a man already sitting next at one end of it. Eddy, if I remember correctly. As I got closer, Eddy sniffed the air and laughed before saying, “Long time since I’ve seen you around these parts. How’s it going.”

I sat at the opposite end of the bench. “Oh, pretty good. Working. And such,” I said, casually looking around the park for Gwen.

"Well, keeping yourself busy is good and all. I see you haven’t gotten off of the cigarettes yet." Eddy smiled. His yellow teeth formed a jagged mountain ridge.

I looked away. “No, I’m off of them. My friend, on the other hand…”

"Oh, then you better be careful. That second hand smoke is a killer."

"I’ve heard." Gwen had made a loop around.

"Hey, look at this! I’m having myself a little party," Eddy said, throwing his hands up.

Gwen smiled at Eddy and then looked at me. “Oh. Hey.” she said.

"Hey," I said, before looking in the opposite direction of my apartment.

"Well, this is the damn saddest party I’ve ever had. Why don’t you sit down and join us, Gwen?"

Gwen started to mumbled, “Oh, I really shouldn’t, I’ve got to-“

"I’m about to leave-"

"No, it’s fine," Gwen said. "I’ve just got to tie my shoes."

"Party pooper," Eddy said, before spitting to the side of the bench.

Gwen rested her left on the bench, in between me and Eddy, before leaning over to tie it. “Untie your shoe,” I whispered.

"What, why?" she said, turning her head towards me.

"Because it’ll give me more time," I said, looking away from her.

"Okay. What’s going on?" she asked, untying the knot she just did.

"My…girlfriend. She…" I shook my head. "I think it would be better for you to leave town."

"Wow. Really?" Gwen pulled on the laces tightly.

"Hey, I’m looking out for you here."

"So what? One night stand. You disappear and come back a couple days later with this?"

I glanced over at her. Her hair hung down in front of her face. A nice shield, I’d imagine if it wasn’t- Get back on subject. "This is for your protection. I wouldn’t bother if it didn’t matter to me."

"Oh, so now you care about me."

"I never said that."

Gwen stopped tying. “You have some nerve.”

"I have a lot more than just some. You should run off now."

Gwen blew her hair out of her face. Her tongue was pressed in between her teeth and bottom lip. “You should go f**k yourself. Nice talk. I’ll be back here in a lap, Eddy.” She glared at me. “You better not be.”

"I won’t," I said as she started jogging away."

"Ain’t she precious," Eddy said, wiping his lips with his thumb.

"Ain’t she. I’ll see you around." I stood up from the park bench, stretched out my arms. "See you around."

"See you around, man," Eddy said, waving in the right general direction.

As I walked back towards my apartment, I saw the shut window shades. Darkness Rising.