[i]Why is this so strange?[/i]  Griffith leaned against the kitchen counter.  Wisps of steam wafting over from the bathroom, all but dispersed.  His eggs, coated in garlic and onion, fried an arm’s length to his left.  [i]Oh, yes.  No morning run today.[i]  He reached out and lazily flipped the eggs, stifling a yawn.  [i]I can’t very well go running and make it on time.[/i]  Normally, the short run would get his blood pumping, and help him wake up—showers never helped with that for some reason—but he couldn’t manage a normal run without being late today.

His parents had left him alone, going off on their own weekend trip, leaving the house quiet.  Not that he minded, for all the noise he made, quiet was one of his favorite things.  It helped him relax a little.  He opened the toaster-oven and pulled out two sliced of toasted bread, covered in cheese.  With a smile, he scooped the eggs onto the toast, one apiece.  Fork in hand, he ate.

[hr]

Griffith’s bag was where he left it, leaning against the far-side wall of his room.  He had packed the night before, knowing that he wouldn’t have time this morning.  With a single motion he swung it onto his back.  Then his sleeping bag fell off.  With a muttered curse, he strapped the wayward sack back onto his bag, and tried again.  Nothing fell off this time.  Taking a swig from his canteen, a grin began to spread across his face.  Water was probably the heaviest thing in his bag, but he didn’t want to risk anyone getting dehydrated.  And he didn’t trust the lake water.  Not after last time

[i]That poor hydrangea.[/i]

Refilling his canteen in the kitchen, he began hopping from one foot to the other.  This would be a strange sight to some, but those who knew him well would recognize it.  He made a final sweep of the house, making sure nothing was left one, and exited, locking the door behind him.  Keys stowed away, his little ritual dance blended into a run.  Towards the school, of course.  It wasn’t as long as his usual morning run, but his usual run didn’t come with any weight on his back.  It was satisfying enough.

He saw the RV before any person, though they soon followed.  Once he could actually make them out, he saw the girls, Scout doing something gentlemanly,  Aaron messing about with a bike, and Ryan and Cassandra over by a bush.  “Hello Everyone!”  It was then that Griffith saw David in the bush.  At this sight, he began to laugh.   “You alright over there?”