Tyler stared at David. He, David and Evan were out back talking about what to tell the others they had to get rid of their girlfriends WITHOUT killing them. However, after what David just said, Tyler wasn't sure they could convince Jonathan, Alexa, Craig, Brock, Brian, AND Lui they could safely get them out and gone.
"They are pretty much Renegades, that's the problem," Evan was saying. They were all standing in a circle, hands in jean pockets thinking and completely lost. "There is no way we can send them to back empty handed."
"And they will be marked and enlisted if we do send them back," Tyler added. All nodded; this was tricky.
"We'd have to guarantee them a safe way out of the state. That's the only way we can have them be safe," Evan reasoned. "But Sydney won't go, I know that much. She wanted to move to LA for a long time. I'm surprised she didn't move in with Niki honestly."
Tyler shrugged. "She may of I don't know. Pretty much the only thing that was said between us at all so far was sex-stuff." Then Tyler paused, thinking. "Did you all get laid last night?"
They all nodded. Then groaned.
"Fucking perfect," Tyler hissed. "Now what are we gonna do?"
"We still have to send them away," David said, looking between him and Evan. "There is no way we can promise them safety here. Mari already said the girls aren't feeling safe, and they hoped here they would be."
"That's gonna mean that we call in favors then. We have to tell someone whats really going on and get them to help us," Evan objected.
"Right. And the chance that the Renegade program will find out about it is totally likely. They sent the girls because they wanted to break us apart," Tyler added.
"Which is working," David retorted, looking at Evan who rolled his eyes but still lowered his head shamefully.
"Okay, so Renegades wants to end us, they send the girls. We figure out girls work for them, and we decided to get rid of them. How do we get rid of them?" Tyler drew the attention back to the topic in hand. He was already annoyed at Evan, and he didn't need reminding how annoyed he really was. Being pissy and sarcastic would not help this situation.
They were all silent, thinking hard. Finally David looked up.
"Why not one of our friends outside of Renegades? Like Marcel or Luke?"
"Too obvious," Evan shot down. "They'll know something is up if we meet with them. I'm surprised they aren't part of the program honestly.
Tyler wasn't paying attention. He was thinking, going through a mental list of anyone he knew, coming up with multiple names and passing over them as too risky, not trustable, or for another reason. But finally, two stuck. He looked up, cutting them off with his question.
"Why not Mark?"
"Markiplier?" David asked. Evan starring at Tyler confused.
Tyler nodded. "Craig knows him, that's his only connection to us. If we ask him to get the girls out of here -" But Tyler was cut off.
"We can't trust him, Ty. We don't know them and what if they spill?"
"You got a better idea Owl Boy?" Tyler snapped. "We all know it was Sydney who drove the girls up here. Niki would have happily told those men to go fuck themselves because she never wants to see me again, and I'm sure Mari would have moved on without David. It's Sydney's fault they're here so shut up."
"I'm not the one who broke up the worst with my girlfriend, making Mari and Sydney come out and help her out!"
"Fuck off Evan. I loved Niki with all my heart, fuck, I still do man. This is fucking torture for me knowing that she's only here to do a dirty job; can you say the same about Sydney when you were two timing her?"
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
"You know goddamn well who I'm talking about you sick fucking bastard," Tyler growled getting in Evan's face.
"Guys stop it!" David pushed himself between them, separating them with his arms. He glared at both of them. "Tyler, stop being such an asshole. Evan…just stop," David sighed. Tyler knew he was being sensitive, but he'd seen the way Jonathan had reacted to the arrival of the girls. He'd seen Jonathan collapse after they all left and watched him break down and cry with Alexa holding him. Evan hadn't, but Tyler had. It was why Jonathan hadn't left his room all day, a conclusion everyone had reached, including probably Evan. The way he shrank back from Tyler in shame tipped him off.
"Go talk to Craig. I'll tell Alexa. Evan, take care of the girls; make sure they don't know whats going on."
The group split, with David running out the back gate to find Alexa who had gone out for a jog with Lui and Brock, and the other two walking into the kitchen through the backdoor. Tyler found Craig sitting on the coach the living room, totally engrossed in a CoD one on one game with Brian.
Tyler threw one last glance at Evan, a pleading look asking him to fix everything, but Evan looked away and went upstairs to find the girls. Tyler sat down next to Craig.
"What's up? Haven't seen much of you today," Craig piped up, eyes still on the screen. "Brain, where the fuck did you go?"
"You can clearly see from my POV," he laughed.
"No, I fucking can't!" Craig cried exacerbated, reaching down to punch Brian who was sitting on the floor in front of the TV.
"Craig, do you still talk to Mark?"
Craig was silent a second. "Uh…yeah. Why you ask?"
"I need you to ask a favor of them."
"What's the favor?"
Tyler sighed. With that Craig paused the game and turned to look Tyler in the eyes. He told Brian to fuck off and get him a drink so he could talk in private with Tyler.
"What's going on Ty?"
"Well…Mari just told David why they are here, and…it's not pretty."
"Are they Renegades?"
"Not yet, but they will be if we send them away."
"So they're spies then?"
"…yeah," Tyler 'fessed up.
Craig ran a hand through his hair. It stuck up on end as his hand coursed through.
"What has Alexa and Jonathan said?"
"Jonathan we haven't seen yet; David went to find Alexa."
Craig bit his lip, glancing at the doorway to check if Brian was there.
"It's okay if Brian figures it out. We have to get rid of them, one way or the other."
Craig glanced at Tyler. "The other?"
Tyler sighed. "Let's not talk about plan B or C, can we?" But by the way Craig responded to that comment, Tyler guessed he figured out what plans B and C entailed.
"Okay," Craig said, after a moment of thinking. "I'll call them. I can't guarantee they'll do it, but I'll float the idea their way and see if they would want to help."
"That would be great buddy," Tyler clapped his back gently. Craig flinched slightly, but not at the force of Tyler's hands. Tyler didn't see him flinch, and he didn't see the slight smile on Craig's lips as he got his phone out either.
Evan heard Tyler talking with the Craig downstairs and swallowed. Like fuck he was going to go and keep those girls company; Sydney had been nothing but a constant reminder of how badly he fucked up the night before. Now, Jonathan was hiding in his room on the third floor and his ex-girlfriend was a spy for the very program that was causing them so much heartache. As far as he was concerned, it was all her fault.
Evan was on the third floor, standing in front of the a locked door. He hadn't knocked yet, because he was trying to go over what he was going to say. He wanted to apologize, to say sorry to Jonathan and tell him he just was scared. He didn't know what he wanted, but he hated how sad he crushed he made Jonathan. So after running it over in his head, he knocked on the door three times, and waited.
It was full minute before he heard someone unlock the door. As it swung open, a scruffy Jonathan was framed in the doorway. He was wearing gray sweatpants and a blue hoodie with no shirt underneath and no socks. The hood was pulled up, but as Jonathan took in the man standing in front of him, he pulled down the hood and starred surprised.
"Hey Jon," Evan said shyly. "Can I come in?"
Jonathan walked away to open the curtains, not saying anything as Evan went in and shut the door behind him.
"So, I wanted to say sorry…about everything," Evan started, rubbing his left arm.
Jonathan didn't make a move.
"I guess I was just…scared? I mean…I didn't - don't know what I want…" Evan shoved his hands in his pockets. Even though Jonathan had his back to him, Evan couldn't look at him. He was blushing hard and his voice quivered with anxiety just by looking at his back.
"But I…I can't stand you not talking to me…and…I like you, Jonathan," Evan finally got it out. He took a few tentative steps until he was close behind him. "I really like you, and…I…I want to be with you…God dammit please just look at me," Evan sighed exacerbated.
Jonathan turned and tilted his head up slightly to look Evan in the eye. He was expressionless, and Evan felt a shiver hit him as their eyes met.
"I just…I just wasn't ready to admit to everyone else that…you know…that I…" Evan trailed off, unsure of what to say. He ran a hand through his hair, glancing everywhere but Jonathan's eyes. "I just want you back, I guess…"
Silence. The only sounds heard were faint footsteps downstairs. Evan's ears were filled with the sounds of rushing blood. "Aren't you going to say something Jon?" Evan asked, trying to laugh but it came out more as a nervous exhale then looked away again.
"Aren't you going to say something Jon?" Evan asked, trying to laugh but it came out more as a nervous exhale then looked away again.
"Get out."
Evan turned back to him, confused and alarmed.
"What?"
"I said," Jonathan growled low in his throat, his eyes dark. "Get out."
Evan backed up as Jonathan took a threatening step.
"You flirt with me, you play with my heart, you act like you're interested, then you break both my heart, and my trust. Now you tell me you love me?" Jonathan's sudden, loud bark of short laughter startled Evan. The smaller man held up his hands in mock-confusion. "What changed Evan, huh? What fucking changed?"
Evan's legs hit the back of Jonathan's bed. He glanced behind him then back at Jonathan who was glaring with a hatred Evan had never seen in anyone before.
"I - I didn't want to - you know - um - I just - I didn't want them - the others - all of them - uh - you know," Evan was a mess. He was scared out of his mind. Jonathan was so angry.
"I didn't want the others to make fun of us," he finally got out.
Jonathan laughed a spiteful laugh.
"Fucking really, Ev? Is that the best you could come up with? No," Jonathan grabbed the front of his shirt pulling him down slightly so he was on his level, starring into his stormy, ice cold blue eyes that Evan had always thought were perfect but were now terrifying.
"YOU didn't want to be made fun off, Evan. YOU didn't want to be laughed at. You've always been," Jonathan's voice was low and hot in Evan's face. "You think I give a damn about what they think, huh? You think I'm that FUCKING SENSITIVE?" Jonathan screamed into his face. With one fluid motion he spun Evan around and let go, throwing him against the wall. The impact left Evan winded, and he slumped to his knees. He looked up, Jonathan's eyes flashed with fury.
"GET OUT OF MY ROOM!"
Evan stumbled, trying to get to his feet. Once he was up, he faltered in his steps. He starred at Jonathan, a swell of tears rising in his throat as his best friend stood there hating every breath Evan took.
"Jonathan…I…please…I'm sorry."
"Well it's too fucking late, isn't it?" Jonathan spat. "I'm not afraid to say that I loved you - fuck, I still do - but I'm not going to let you string me along and fuck my emotions over just so you can use me."
"Jon I didn't tell the girls anything, I swear. I had no idea they -"
"Save it for Sydney."
Evan stopped. He felt helpless, powerless, his body still aching from the impact of the wall.
"As far as I'm concerned, your dead to me."
"Jonathan…please…"
"Just get out before I break every bone in your body," Jonathan growled, his body shaking slightly with the rage built up inside him. "Just get OUT!"
Evan ran. He threw the door open and slammed it shut, hitting the wall outside his door and sinking the ground. Tears spilled down his cheeks as he silently cried, Jonathan's words ringing painfully in his ears. He sat for a while, sobbing into his arms as he curled up clutching his knees to his chest, he sat for a long few minutes before he looked up at the ceiling, trying to catch his breath.
His chest hurt from crying, his head ached from when was slammed into a wall, and his ears bled from the sharp words his best friend had thrown at him: "YOU didn't want to be laughed at" "GET OUT OF MY ROOM" "Well it's too fucking late, isn't it?"
Evan lowered his head again, feeling another wave of tears rising in him, but he saw something else that change the wave from a wave of sadness to a wave of anger.
The room across from him was open a jar; Alexa's shared room. Inside was two duffel bags, the bags from the previous day's heist. The gun bags.
Evan unzipped both of them, searching through the contents as he thought up the new plan. One way or another, he had to get rid of the girls. It was because of them this all went to shit with him, with the gang, with Jonathan. It was because of them he hadn't slept at all last night and why Sydney was mad at him, as usual, for not enjoying their reunion sex. It was because of them he spent the rest of the night thinking about Jonathan and feeling like shit. If they were gone, everything would go back to normal, everything would be better, everything would be right again.
Evan pulled out a small, hand-held gun. It was a matte black weapon that fit snuggly into his palm a way those assault rifles or Alexa's training guns never had; it felt right. He turned the gun sideways to read it's model: HK45C. Perfect.
The gun fit snuggly into the back of his jeans, the cold metal pressed against the small of his back as he pulled his black shirt over it. No one would ever be able to tell he had a gun. Evan walked back out, glancing at Jonathan's door as he passed it and went to the stairs. He was going to get ride of those girls, and he was going to get Jonathan back. One way or the other.