An End To The Distance Read online

  TEGAN walked out of the library and headed back to her favorite (but now a little less favorite) coffee house. Now there were three people working registers and she had her coffee in seconds. She sat down at a booth in the back and pulled her laptop out, beginning to write in the notebook section of her computer. She still doesn't know how Peyton managed to figure out what she was writing. She may have to relate back to pen and paper. She wrote in full detail about her and Jasmine's encounter and felt like an idiot when she realized she had been smiling to herself the entire time. When she finished, she sipped the rest of her coffee and stared out the big glass window. She suddenly got an idea and opened up Safari and typed Jasmine Dennings into the search engine. A few articles came up mentioning her name but it was only school stuff. There were mostly links about her father or someone who she thought could be her father. President of U.S. Handball Association, Jeffrey Dennings In Critical Condition. Will Daughter and Current Interim, Jasmine Dennings Take Reign After Death? Tegan must have spent hours sitting in the back of the cafe reading articles on her professor and her father. She found out that her professor's father had been at Harbor Memorial for three months due to cancer. The atmosphere of the cafe changed as it became close to closing. Tegan had gone through her third cup of coffee and her eyes were tired from looking at her bright screen for so long. She twirled her coffee straw in her lukewarm drink mindlessly as she read through so many articles, going several years back. Jeffrey Dennings was a successful businessman who earned his fame by hunger for power and his desire to be on top. Of course that earned him several enemies as well and in the current articles, Tegan read how some people were glad he was diagnosed with cancer; that he deserved it because he was just so mean. After going through the images of Jasmine leaving court, leaving the hospital, wearing only dark shades and a frowned expression, Tegan exited out of her many tabs and closed her laptop shut. Of course Jasmine was acting bitter, her father was dying. Tegan placed her laptop in her messenger bag and pulled out her phone, searching in her maps how far Harbor Memorial was from the cafe and found that it was only thirty minutes. Not giving herself enough time to react on her emotions, Tegan tapped the address in her phone, threw her coffee, grabbed her jean jacket and called a taxi to meet her outside.

  FIVE

  PEYTON stretched her left leg and bent down to tie her neon green Nike running shoes tight before she hit her watch, plugged in her earbuds and started to sprint. She did a campus loop before she headed to the school's track. There were very few lights on as nightfall approached and the track was soon to be closing. She hated the way she felt. She felt like her body was slowly deteriorating. She didn't feel a part of the world. Like she was trying to blend in with everyone but couldn't because she was the only one who didn't have a functioning heart. To hell with love. Peyton mentally cursed whoever invented the overrated emotion as she hit another mile.

  For the past couple of weeks, running was Peyton's place of respite. That and a cold shower. Running allowed her to clear her head. It reassured her that she still had a beating heart. She ran every time she thought of Kat. I wonder what Kat is doing. Sprint. Does she even know what she did to me? Sprint. Does she even care? Sprint. Probably not. Sprint. She scrolled through her playlist to find a song that had a faster pace so it could keep up with her legs. She didn't realize that she had increased her pace every lap she did. She was on her fourth mile when she saw a tall figure stretching on the bleachers. She ignored them and continued to run, but remained cautious of the strange figure. Hopefully it wasn't a killer. Peyton was sweaty and stinky and she didn't want to die like that. At least let her take a shower. When she did another lap, the figure stopped her. Peyton looked around as if they could be stopping someone else but it was just she and the stranger out there...and it was pitch black outside.

  Shit, they wanna talk to me. Please don't kill me. I left my pepper spray in my room.

  Peyton put her feet to a halt, skidding the track as she slowed down, her earbuds slapping against her neck as they fell out of her ears from the force. The night lights shined brightly on the figure, creating a dark silhouette. Peyton squinted her eyes as she walked closer.

  TEGAN took a deep breath as she rode the elevator alone up to the seventh floor. She wasn't too fond of hospitals. There was something about the sterility and silence that she found odd. As the red numbers flicked to the next level, Tegan thought about whether this was a good idea or not. I mean, what would she even say? And that’s if she got passed all of the security. They probably had the entire floor swarming with guards. The elevator buzzed and the doors slid open. Tegan was surprised to see nothing but a lady sitting at the front desk and hear nothing but the sounds of her fingers clicking away on her keyboard. Tegan stepped forward, approaching the woman and waited for the woman to acknowledge her.

  “Hi, uh is Jeffrey Dennings here?”

  The middle-aged woman looked up from her stack of papers and smiled thinly at Tegan, her face wrinkling in the process.

  “Well you certainly aren't Jasmine. Mr. Dennings doesn't get any visitors except his daughter. Who are you?"

  “Tegan…Flint. I'm a...close friend? I just found out about his…diagnosis and wanted to see him.”

  The woman pointed her sharp red nails to the left.

  “Down the hall, room 21B. Oh and here, you’ll need this.”

  The woman handed Tegan a visitor sticker and Tegan took it and placed it on her chest.

  “Thank you."

  Tegan hesitantly walked down the hall, counting each room number. She was so caught up into her head on what she was going to say and if her professor found out about it would she even make it to see the next day that she passed the door and was now at 25B. Tegan back pedaled and knocked on the correct door. When she heard signal that she could come in, Tegan opened the door to see Jeffrey Dennings laying in bed. He looked like a regular middle aged man that was happy and healthy besides the years of stress evident on his face and the fact that he was laying in a hospital bed. Tegan stood idly by the door and swallowed, careful of her next words.

  “Hi, Mr. Dennings. I uh, I’m Tegan. Your daughter is my professor at UCB and I have just recently found out about your um—what happened and just wanted to bring you this.”

  Tegan held up the blue get well card she purchased on her way to the hospital waited with baited breath for a response.

  “Are you here because you think my daughter will pass you because you befriended me?”

  Tegan’s mouth went dry and she took a couple of steps back. God, he was more intimidating than his daughter. Tegan's heart began racing and she swore she could hear it in her ears. This was a bad idea. Not only did she totally just fuck up but Jasmine was going to find out about it too.

  “No! God no."

  Tegan spat.

  I would never. I just…I know that Jasmine is going through a rough patch right now and I wanted to help.”

  “Well, you can’t help me dearie.”

  Jeffrey sat up in his bed and sipped his water.

  “But thank you very much for the card. You can sit it on my nightstand along with the rest of my get well cards."

  Jeffery laughed and Tegan awkwardly smiled when she realized there weren't any cards on the nightstand. She stepped back and pressed her back against the door, nervously shoving her hands in her blue jean pockets and popping back and forth on her heels.

  “Well, um, it has been a pleasure meeting you but I think I may have bit off more than I can chew. Thanks for seeing me.”

  Tegan began opening the door when Jeffrey called her back.

  “Wait. You can stay a little longer if you'd like. I don’t get a lot visitors up here besides Jasmine and news reporters. It’d be nice to have some new company besides watching baseball games.”

  “You sure? I mean I don't want Jasmine—Ms. Dennings—I mean..."

  "It's fine. I insist."

  Tegan pulled up a chair and sat at a reasonable distance from Mr. De
nnings.

  “So, tell me about yourself.”

  Tegan licked her lips.

  “I uh, I’m Tegan. I’m a sophomore at UCB—“

  “Sophomore? Did you skip a couple of grades?”

  Tegan stared down at herself.

  “No.”

  “If you say so. Continue.”

  Tegan paused.

  "Is it...because I'm short or something?"

  "That might have something to do with it. And your freckles kind of knock a few ages off of you."

  Tegan scratched her head, blushing.

  “Um, I am an English major. I was originally a PolySci major but it was actually your daughter that made decide to change."

  "So, you think my daughter's a good teacher?"

  "The best...and I'm not just saying that because you're her father. She's really great."

  "That's always good to hear. I knew my daughter loved helping people. So just how old are you really? You look too young to be in college.

  "Well guess that's a good thing. I'm nineteen. I'll be twenty next August. You're right. I am pretty young to be in college."

  "At least you're getting ahead of everyone else."

  "One way to look at it."

  Tegan hated being so young. Her birthday was right in between the mark to enter kindergarten or stay in preschool for one more year so she entered kindergarten as a four year old. She was excited because she loved learning and wanted a challenge but now it had come back to bite her in the ass. She had to wait two years just to be with Professor Dennings. Stupid Governor changing rules. A lot could happen in two years. Like Jasmine could run off and get married to someone else.

  Negative.

  "I hate to ask but, what are the doctors saying?"

  "Nothing good, I'll tell you that. Lung cancer. Jasmine told me for years to quit but that's what we did in my day. We ate like kings and smoked like trains, died at fifty and liked it. Besides, I feel like I've done all I can do. I raised my beautiful daughter, seen her grown up. I just wish I could've seen her get married, have some grandkids would've been nice too."

  Married?

  "Oh, is she seeing someone...if you don't mind me asking.".

  Tegan quickly interjected.

  "Jasmine seeing someone? God no. Jasmine is more of an independent person. She likes being alone and it probably will stay that way."

  Tegan wrinkled a brow. That wasn't the plan she made out for them.

  "Maybe things will change. You never know."

  "Yeah let's hope for the best. I want my Jasmine to be happy."

  I can make her happy.

  "And she will be Mr. Dennings."

  I'll do my best.

  Tegan sat in the chair and talked to Mr. Dennings for hours discussing the olden days and how Jasmine used to play handball just like Tegan only she was a goalkeeper and how Jasmine dreamed of teaching students because as a child she felt that teachers didn't do their job right and she wanted to further the education. Jasmine was a big softy. Tegan knew it but it was nice to hear personal things about Jasmine too. Tegan usually didn't get along with elderly people, they were always so snappy with her. But Mr. Dennings was different. He was sweet, kind, and funny. Tegan had laughed so hard that she had already cried three times. Her body was tingly and she had a permanent smile on her face. She loved meeting nice people and having a good time with them. It's the few good people in the world that keep you sane.

  Tegan stood up, stuffed her hands in her jean pockets and rocked back and forth on her heels. Several nurses had came in to do different procedures on Mr. Dennings and Tegan was just...there. Finally after they left, Tegan spoke.

  "Mr. Dennings it's been a pleasure meeting you but I must go now."

  "Of course! Thank you for the visit though. I will tell Jassie you stopped by."

  Tegan smiled at the nickname before she realized the actual context it was being used in.

  "Oh! No, that won't be necessary. This can just be our little secret."

  Mr. Dennings winked at Tegan before Tegan grinned and shut the door on her way out. She took the elevator down to the ground floor and took a cab back to school.

  "Peyt, I'm home. I know you missed me."

  Tegan unlocked the door to her dorm to find it dark and peytonless."

  Where the hell was she?

  SIX

  TEGAN flicked on the light switch and closed the door to her room. Maybe she went for a jog. She’s been doing that a lot lately. Tegan simply shrugged at her thoughts and took off her jacket before slinging it on Peyton’s bed. She decided to go down to the cafeteria to kill some time; hopefully it was still open and grab something to eat. The hospital wasn’t really known for pleasing Tegan’s taste buds, not that she was ever there long enough to try their food. She hoped when she got back, Peyton would be here because it got pretty boring when Tegan was alone and her thoughts tended to shift to inappropriate ones. When she got to the cafeteria, there was hardly anyone there. Just a few people that she had never seen before. It was rolling up on ten thirty and it was a school night. Peyton had never stayed out this late when she had class early the next morning. Tegan hoped her tardiness didn’t have something to do with Kat. Tegan settled for a green apple and a nutri-grain bar. She threw the apple in the air, catching it every time as she made her way back up to her room. No such luck. Peyton was still gone. Tegan sighed and figured she had to come home sooner or later. But just in case, she shot her a quick text.

  Have u been kidnapped? Where r u?

  Tegan clicked off her phone and put it to the side before she pulled out her laptop to her notes section from earlier that day. She was really starting to use this application more than she wanted to. It was weird writing her feelings down. Like, she was some oddball who was socially awkward and the only friend she had was her diary but it wasn’t like she could really talk to anyone. Kat is gone physically and Peyton is like…gone emotionally. So Tegan told all her thoughts and issues to her virtual notebook because it listened to her and didn’t talk back. It was the perfect friend.

  “PEYTON, hey! I thought that was you.”

  Peyton blew out a long breath of relief and smiled, running her hand through her muzzled hair.

  “Professor Dennings. You sorta scared me.”

  “Sorry about that, I come in peace. I just like to go jogging at night...Less people.”

  Jasmine shrugged her shoulders.

  “Yeah, same here.”

  “Were you gonna run some more? It would be nice to have a running partner.”

  Peyton thought about it. It’s not like she had anything better to do with her life and she was still thinking about Kat, so why not?

  “Yeah, sure. I just hope you can keep up.”

  Peyton teased as Jasmine and her began to run around the track. There hadn’t been any words exchanged between the two but Peyton kept her headphones out and her music on pause just for the sake of respect. There was only silence except for paced breathing as they ran. After the third lap, Jasmine broke the silence.

  “You know, I was grading the poems today and I came across yours…”

  Well shit.

  Peyton looked at her professor, urging her to continue.

  “And?”

  “I was shocked to be honest, Peyton. I didn’t know you were such a prolific writer. Every word had intense emotion behind it. I don’t really have words for it.”

  Peyton couldn’t help but blush slightly. She didn’t think it was that good. She really didn’t consider it to be something good. She had only written what was buried deep inside of her. She actually felt bad after she had turned it in because she had completely forgot about what the assignment asked for. All she focused on was: paper, feelings, write them down.

  “Thanks, but I didn’t even use figurative language. Professor, I completely forgot about the assignment.”

  “So maybe you did. But it was written well. I don’t think I’ll take off as many points.”

  Jasmi
ne joked. Peyton didn’t know what to say after that so she didn’t open her mouth and they continued to jog as another silence took over them.

  “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but what was your poem about? Was it fiction?”

  “Um,”

  Peyton suddenly got uncomfortable. She didn’t want to have to discuss her pain like she was in a therapy session seeking special counseling because someone ripped out her heart. She should’ve written about trains, or something basic. Damn, why did she have to be such an over achiever?

  “You know what? I’m sorry for asking. It is obviously very personal and I am invading.”

  Peyton agreed with her professor and decided to leave the conversation at that. They kept running but the run sped up as the awkward tension spread amongst them.

  “It’s true.”

  Peyton blurted out moments later. She didn’t realize what she had just confessed to. Why was she spilling her heart out to her professor?

  “I don’t really like talking about it, but I’m okay.”

  They finished the lap they were on before calling it a quits. It was silence as the two of them packed their bags and headed to the parking lot. Jasmine wrapped a towel around her neck and slung her gym bag over her left shoulder as her and Peyton walked to her car. It was sort of chilly and sweating like this could lead to a cold.

  “I want you to know Peyton, if you wanna talk, you can always stop by. I want you to know that. Everyone deserves to have someone to talk to.”

  Peyton couldn’t help the reddening in her cheeks. She rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly due to the awkward situation she was in. This is exactly why she didn’t discuss what she felt on the interior. People felt bad for her and offered to help. She didn’t want that. She didn’t need help. She just needed to be liberated of a certain blue eyed beauty.

  “Thanks, Professor Dennings, but I’m good, really.”

  “If you say so. Good run today, I enjoyed it. You be safe getting back home, alright?”