It's a quiet Sunday morning, and with the sun just beginning to rise, I'm the only one in the house awake. Having a hard time sleeping myself, I thought it best to start this week out strong with an early morning run. Maybe help clear my mind of the nightmares I keep having.

It's not my usual thing to do so early in the morning, though the times I have done it in the past have left my demeanor calm and set for the rest of the day. Something about the still of the morning, and the feeling of being the only person up, has always helped put me in a good mood and quiet most of my thoughts.

I lace up my sneakers and then grab a water and smoothy out of the fridge to keep my sugar from dropping. It doesn't always happen, but when I don't eat something before exercise or sometimes when I forget a meal, especially when drinking coffee, it tends to do so. This is only something that started shortly after turning nineteen. At least that's when I began to take note of it.

Taking a few sips of my strawberry banana smoothy before putting it down on the curb for the time being, I make sure to take my water with me. My feet start out at a slow pace as I prepare mentally to begin my run. Though I enjoy running, it is still something I get nervous about at times. Strange, I know.

You got this!

My pace gains speed as my feet hit the road below me more quickly. My lungs begin to burn from the crisp morning air, it's a feeling that exhilarates me.

I push myself to move faster, and faster with the growing distance until I feel as though I can't go anymore. I've gone about a couple of miles already, and it's about time for a cool-down lap.

Just a little bit more, and then you can slow down.

I see my house come up and slow my pace back to a walk once pasting it for the fourth time.

I try to calm my breath before bringing my water bottle up to my mouth to hydrate myself.

My head pounds and a light sweet clings to my skin. I would feel a chill with the cool temperature out this morning if not for my body temp being high from exerting myself.

Keeping notice of what is in front of me, I forget to check behind me as I normally would in any other state.

A hand lays itself on my left shoulder, and my heart drops as my body moves instinctively. I raise my left arm vertically to hit the strange arm away as I turn myself around counterclockwise and go to punch hard with my right fist. But, it's caught before landing in Kalston's chest.

Registering that he's the one to catch me off guard, I roll my eyes.

"Geese, how many times are you going to try to do that to me? That's twice now that you've tried to give me a heart attack."

A smirk comes across his face before I yank my fist out of his grip. Giving him more grief as I do, but this time in more of a light-hearted tone.

"What, do you enjoy sneaking up on people? It's like you're a cat or something."

Trying to catch my breath once more, I decide to settle down on the curb beside us.

He looks down at me as he explains himself.

"I do enjoy it sometimes, but that hasn't been my intention either time with you."

He shrugs his shoulders before sitting down beside me and continuing.

"I guess once you get used to doing something, it's kind of hard to not do so, even if you aren't meaning to."

Drinking some water before responding to him, I get where he's coming from. There's plenty I do unintentionally because of simple habits.

"I get it, but that doesn't mean I'll hold back next time."

I smile at him.

A curious look on his face, "That's what you call holding back." he begins to laugh.

It's similar to the ones I heard on our first encounter, but something about this one feels more authentic.

Weird, the others didn't seem forced. But, this one, even less so.

It's a somewhat deep laugh, warm and without his normal charm. Almost like my comment took him off guard and he didn't think about putting any thought-out intention into his reaction.

He catches me staring as I try to figure him out, and I look to the ground when realizing my eyes stayed on him too long. Keeping my gaze downward, I question him.

"What are you doing out here so early?"

"I usually get up to enjoy the morning while it's still young, and that's when I noticed you out running. I wanted to see if you would join me for some coffee. I didn't want to..." He trails off for a moment before rephrasing what he was about to say.

"Because I thought it would be nice to enjoy some coffee with a lady as lovely as you."

His charm is put back into his words.

'That isn't what he was going to say!'

If not that, then what?

I notice a wall up that I didn't notice before. Realizing that it was probably always there, it's only because of the moment prior, when he wasn't intentionally being charming, that I realize the charm itself seems to be that wall.

Wanting to question him on it, it's not my place. Not when I myself  have so many walls up to keep others out.

I look back at his face and notice the charm there as well when it wasn't a moment ago.

What is it you're hiding?

Getting up, I smile and take him up on his offer.

"I would gladly join you for coffee, under one condition."

I stick out my left hand to help him up.

He stays seated for a moment with his gaze locked on mine.

"What is the condition?"

'You stop with the charming wall you keep putting up against me.' That being what I want to say, I choose to go with something else instead.

"You tell me what happened the other night. I can't remember anything past you sitting down next to me."

He finally grabs my growing tired hand before we head in the direction of our places.

"Okay, but there isn't much to tell."