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tece26

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1. Jake took the shortcut to the park. It was his escape, somewhere he went when he wanted to think.
2.  He passed an elderly man setting his trash out on the curb for an early morning pick up. Jake waived but the man just scowled and mumbled threats under his breath. Oh well, Jake thought, even these escapes didn’t totally get him away from reality as it was now. That would only happen when he left.
3. After he passed the house he chanced a look back. Yep, there was the man in the window, watching with a phone in his hand ready to call the police if he needed.  Man! It didn’t even matter that it was never him. No one took the time to realize the problems were his brothers. But the family reputation was strong, and everyone assumed the worst.
4. Every one, that is, but Kylie. She was the only person he had ever known who hadn’t given up trying to reach out. She didn’t care who his family was but when she looked at him he felt like she was really seeing him.  He cringed remembering he had been unable to stop his brothers from torturing her so many times. But if he had, they would know he liked her, and life for both of them would have gotten worse.  She had looked so sad lately and it bothered him more than he wanted to admit. And it angered him even more the way her boyfriend treated her. Why did she put up with that?
5. No, he didn’t want to think of this.  This was out of his hands. He had chanced getting involved with the police the other day, but that was more to stop him from joining the fight and making it worse. He had wondered what the matter with Mike was. Didn’t Mike know what a great girl Keri was? Was he really risking losing her?
6. Damn! He couldn’t stop thinking of her. It only figures that he would fall in love and with someone he could never have.
7. He came up to the park from the side, off the path, and in the shadows. She was there on the swing pushing herself slowly back and forth. Why had he invited her back when this would go nowhere? Why had she come back? This was pure torture. He wanted to go out and just be with her, but the more time he spent with her he knew it would be harder to leave later. She made him feel… Well she made him feel.
8. He should just not start something that could never be. Jake turned to leave and kicked a rock with his foot. Keri’s swing stopped moving. “Jake?” She called out looking in his direction. “Jake is that you?”
9. He could hear the uncertainty in her voice, maybe a little fear. She definitely looked ready to run. Not wanting to leave her scared, he stepped out into the light. “Yeah, no worries, it’s just me.”
10. Jake saw her relax a little and settle back into the swing. He decided he was going to have to stay. Besides, it wasn’t safe for her to be out alone this late at night.
11. “I’m glad you came. I was hoping you would.” Keri said, breaking into his thoughts.
12. “You were?”
13. “Yeah,” smiling she continued, “you said you came here all the time, but I thought maybe I missed you. It was a little late by the time I got here.”
14. There, right there, that was what he meant. She never doubted that he hadn’t been lying about meeting him here, just that she must have missed him. She had faith in him no one else ever showed. Damn, he thought again, I am in trouble.
15. “No I am always here.” Jake said shifting from foot to foot. He started to wonder now how much time he would have with her.
16. Keri patted the swing next to her. “Pull up a seat.” She laughed a little and watched as he shuffled over to sit on the swing.