Page 16 of Tears of Ruin

But I wanted… no, I wasdyingto know what it felt like to be a part of such a close friendship.

“Okay. The rules are simple,” Kyson said to me while pointing to the other end of the hall. “Run, then slide when you feel you’re stable enough. You have to touch that wall, but for fuck’s sake, don’t hurt yourself.”

“I did it one time!” Dane argued.

“And sprained your wrist. Then Satan was ready to gut everyone,” Kyson said.

I slapped a hand over my mouth when I snickered at Kyson calling Malachi Satan.

I still had no idea what he was, but Kyson was comical.

He winked at me. “That’s his new nickname, Noam. Thanks.”

Dane rolled his eyes. “Ready to try again, Mr. Always-Falls-Down?”

As I slipped off my shoes, my heart raced like crazy. I couldn’t believe I was actually doing this, while I prayed I wouldn’t wipe out.

“Ready?” Dane asked, bouncing from foot to foot.

I bent my knees slightly, leaning forward. My muscles tensed, ready to spring into action.

“Get set...”

I took a deep breath, wiggling my toes against the smooth floor like this was some Olympic event and I was going for the gold. My heart pounded, but for once, it wasn't from fear. It was excitement bubbling up inside me.

“Go!”

We took off running, our sock-covered feet pattering against the polished floor. As we neared the end of the hallway, I pushed off with my right foot, tucking my left leg behind me. The world blurred as I glided forward, wind whipping through my hair.

I was doing it! For those few glorious seconds, all my worries melted away.

I felt free.

Weightless.

Like I could fly if I just stretched my fingertips a little farther. A laugh burst from my lips, startling me with its unfamiliarity.

The wall at the end was approaching quickly. I reached out, slapping my palm against it just as I came to a stop. My chest heaved as I caught my breath, but I couldn’t stop grinning.

“Not bad for your first try!” Dane called out.

I turned to see him and Kyson sliding toward me, goofy smiles on their faces.

“That was...” I paused, searching for the right word. “Amazing!”

“Want to go again?” Kyson asked, eyes sparkling with mischief.

I nodded eagerly. “Heck yeah.”

We lined up once more, this time with me in the middle. On Kyson’s signal, we took off running. I focused on matching their pace, letting myself get caught up in the moment. At the last second, I tucked my arms in and dropped into a crouch. The extra momentum sent me sailing past Dane, my fingertips grazing the wall a split second before his while Kyson crashed into it. I doubled over laughing, clutching my sides.

It felt so good, so freeing, I couldn’t stop.

Soon Kyson and Dane joined in, our laughter echoing off the walls.

* * * *

I was still stunned at how much fun I’d had as I walked back to my room, but I’d also felt eyes on me. Not the entire time. Maybe the last twenty minutes or so.

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