They were driving down the quiet highway, casually chatting and catching up. Katie craned her body around in her seat, extending her hand behind the seat. He looked down and saw his phone in her hand.

"We thought you'd want this," she said, "We had to turn if off because it was going off at least 17 times everyday."

Curiously, he turned it on, finding he had 54 new messages, 26 missed calls and 4 new voice mails. Half of the calls and texts were from people he didn't know pestering and harassing him about all the shit that was none of their business. He wondered how they got his number anyways. The remaining calls and texts were from his friends and a few were from his dad's side of the family.

New message from Uncle Barry
"Listen you crazy prick, you better fucking pay for what you did."

New message from Aunt Judy
"I hope you rot for a lifetime in prison."

New message from Jo
"What the hell's going on Kendall?"

New message from Jo
"Seriously you've been AWOL for days. Text me."

New message from Jo
"I'm not kidding Kendall, call me."

New message from Jo
"These rumors are spreading like wildfire. I don't know what to believe anymore Kendall. Call me."

New voicemail from Jo
"Hey, I just saw the news. I can't believe you killed your dad. My mom is worried and doesnt want me talking to you anymore. And I think she's right. I'm sorry Kendall but please don't try to contact me."

He sighed angrily shutting his phone and tossing it across the backseat. Ignoring the questioning looks from his mom and Katie, he peered out the window at the passing scenery, now dreading how his life would play out.

It was extremely difficult but he tried not to let all the small unimportant things affect his homecoming. All the stares and whispered words, however, from his neighbors as he walked up to the house he hadn't seen in three years fueled a deep rage within himself.

He would have launched himself at Mr. Harrison, who blatantly pointed at him and whispered to his kids, if Katie hadn't shoved him through the door. The house looked just the same as when he left. The only different between now and then was the few boxes scattered around the living room. "What's going on?" he asked.

"Well sweetie," his mom began cautiously. "We just thought it'd be nice to get a fresh start. We're moving to Minnesota."

Even after the big news was dropped, Kendall couldn't bring himself to care. His life here had crumbled and withered over time, over his mistakes. A new life was exactly what he wanted, what he needed. "When do we leave?" he asked with a grin.

He spent that evening, his first night back, packing. It seemed he couldn't pack up his old life fast enough. Therapy. This was far more therapeutic than all the group sessions he attended up all his stuff and tossing away all the painful memories, he cleansed all the negativity from his life. He froze when he came across a picture of him and Jo. The pure happiness in their smiles sank his heart with a conflicting sadness. He just had to accept that his life now, like the photo, had been thrown away.

Even the lack of eventfulness in his night couldn't bring him down. He was free and could do anything he wanted. He was looking forward to a nice, home-cooked meal. Words couldn't express how inedible and questionable the majority of the prison food was. He could not wait to eat actual food. he wondered what it'd be like eating dinner just the three of them. He hadn't eaten a home meal since that night that started it all.

It was a nice evening. The California sun was slowly setting, creating a beautiful dim scene in the sky. The air was light with content. Kendall helped set the table as his mom finished cooking dinner. this picture perfect scene was shattered the second the door slammed shut. His heart snapped in two when his little sister looked up at him with wide, innocent brown eyes and asked. "Is Daddy mad again?"

Kendall did his best to put on a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it, sis." He hoped she missed the flinch that shook his body when the obviously angered man flopped down in the seat beside him. The tremble didn't leave his body even as they silently ate dinner. He was waiting for that inevitable set off that just made him snap.

Fed up with all his dad's shit, he knew he wouldn't be able to take one more unexplainable bruise, one more declaration of his worthlessness or one more night of listening to his mom's heart-wrenching sobs. That's why this time, when his dad started yelling at him, he was the one to throw the first punch.

His mind was flooded by horrific images of his past, vivid memories on a constant loop as he walked through the living room.

He could almost see his father's dead body lying before him, feel the adrenaline rushing through his veins. He took a deep breath and pressed on, walking into the kitchen. He was surprised to see Katie setting the table. "You're setting the table?" he questioned in disbelief.

She shrugged, "Mom lets me watch an extra hour of TV if I do," she explained.

"Makes sense," Kendall commented as he sat down in his usual spot. Ignoring the memory of his dad that bore into his mind, he smiled and thanked his mom for dinner. He couldn't shake the sorrowful reminiscent feeling that washed over him.

Regardless, dinner felt perfect; it felt like what a real family dinner should be, casual conversation, not enraged arguments that always escalated to more. Even though he'd never bring it up to ask, he wondered if the other two felt the same.

"So I called a recommended therapist in Minnesota," his mom brought up randomly as she twirled a bite of spaghetti around her fork.

"Mom, I really don't want to go to more therapy," Kendall groaned.

"I thought the 3 of us could go," his mom explained calmly.

Kendall sighed to himself, he supposed he knew how they felt now. Apparently everything was as perfect as he thought. Nothing like family therapy to reopen the door he just slammed shut.

The time had finally come. Nightfall settled all around them. It was indescribable how ecstatic he was just to sleep in his own bed. No more stuff, unsupportive mattress; no more waking up with random aches and pains. And now there was a possibility of actually sleeping through the night.

He had just finished changing into his pjs, relishing the soft, comfortableness of the cotton against his skin. He was slipping under the covers when there was a knock on his door. "Come in," he called softly. The door opened revealing Katie standing there, also clad in her pjs. "hey Katie," his voice obviously expressed shock since his little sister was walking over to his bed.

"I can't sleep," she murmured, "will you sing me a song like you always used to?"

A fond smile tweaked at his lips. He hadn't sung to Katie in years. He lifted the covers and motioned for her to lie down. Putting an arm around her shoulders as she settled beside him, he started singing one of the less morbid songs he'd written recently. Once he was done, he was going to ask her opinion but a soft, steady breathing was the only answer he received. He kissed her forehead, noting how for the first time in a long time, things seemed content.

Another soft knock. He looked up and saw his mom walking in, a green mug in her hand. "I brought you some cocoa," she said, setting it down on his night stand. She gingerly sat down on the edge of the bed beside him, "Listen sweetie," she spoke softly. "I know you don't want to go to any more therapy..."

"It's just...I've put that all behind me. I've had my closure, I don't want to dig all that up again," he justified, hints of reluctance and pain in his voice.

"I know," she empathized, patting his leg. " I think Katie needs to go through this with us. She has really grown up since then but she's still confused about it all."

Kendall looked down at his baby sister. It hurt him strongly to think how deeply this all affected her but at the same time, he did it for her, to protect her, keep her safe. After all, that was his job as her big brother, prevent any monsters from hurting her. he knew he'd do anything for her, to protect, to preserve his carefree innocence.

"I just want to leave this all behind," he whimpered, gazing up at his mom with pleading eyes.

"Maybe once it's all out in the open we can do that," she said, standing up and kissing his head. "Night Sweetie. Just try to some sleep. We'll figure everything out later." As he drifted to sleep, he could only hope he would figure it all out.

The next morning he awoke to a rustling from downstairs. He peered around, briefly taking in his surroundings and declaring, ecstatically, that it was no all some cruel dream. Gently, he untangled himself from Katie who continued sleeping peacefully.

A moving truck was parked outside and Kendall found himself smiling. The sooner they moved the better, there was nothing left for him in this town. He padded downstairs, dodging the multiple men carrying boxes and furniture out of the house. He found his mom in the kitchen, brewing a pot of coffee.

"Are we hittin' the road today?" he asked, referring to the loading of the moving van.

"Unless you want to stay longer," his mom answered.

"No," he replied too quickly, very decisively. "I don't want to stay another minute."

"That bad huh?"

Kendall shrugged not wanting to explain everything. "There's no reason for me to stay."

His mom just nodded, thankfully not pressing the matter any further.

They were ready to go that afternoon and, as they drove away, Kendall watched his old life vanish into the rear-view mirror. He rested his head on the window, hoping that when he woke up, he'd wake up to his brand new life.

A bitter coldness assaulted his body as he woke up, a deep crick in his neck.

"Well we're certainly not in LA anymore," he heard his mom say to Katie.

"Good," he mumbled, staring at his new home. He peered out the window intently as they drove through town. He took mental notes of the possibly entertaining places he could visit, the top couple being an arcade and an ice rink.

A deep yearning resided in his heart for the sport he was forced to give up years ago. It had always been a great stress relief, a perfect outlet for all his built up aggression. Hockey was so much more than just a hobby to him. It used to be his life. He wondered if it would reclaim that status. He knew he would definitely have to visit the ice rink.

His eyes fell upon a single movie theater, the kind that only small towns had. The other two seemed to notice this as well because his mom was suggesting they see a movie instead of unpacking. Kendall, who was still tired from the whole move, couldn't have agreed more.

The drive from downtown to their new home was just under ten minutes. It would be a relatively short walk to town. Kendall found this extremely intriguing considering, even though he was 18, he didn't have his license. He was taken away right after he got his permit.

A part of him was curious as to where the school was. It'd be nice to start at a school where no one knew him and yet at the same time it would be unpleasant, trying to find a place to fit in in a brand new school. He took solace in the fact that it'd at least be better than returning to his old school.

It was almost funny how LA and this small town in Minnesota were polar opposites. LA was big and spacious, filled with opportunities and people seeking fame and fortune for a better life. Small Town was small and crowded, filled with little or no promise and people content to settle with their mediocre lives.

But in the most laughable irony, Kendall didn't find it the least bit suffocating. It was actually quite the opposite for him, liberating, freeing. Most people around here probably wanted to escape this small town but, for Kendall, it was his escape.

Kendall soaked up the complete lack of attention he received when they went out that night. No one was whispering behind his back or pointing him out to their friends. The only attention he got was a few girls giggling and smiling at him. It was nice to know they were only wondering if he was single, not the morbid details of his past. Uninterested in the girls themselves (they were cute but not exactly his type), he brushed past them, following his mom and sister into the single theater that wasn't even a forth of the ones in LA.

A few scattered people sat in the lesser quality chairs, some of which looked as if they'd break any second. They sat down after finding some steady-enough looking chairs. Kendall peered around the small theater, also noting the ripped carpet and the questionable stains on the walls.

A couple minutes passed before his attention was stolen from counting the number of cracked ceiling tiles as 3 teenage guys walked in, laughing and grinning as they walked down the aisle. Kendall wasn't sure what was more attention grabbing: the fact that the two shorter boys had their fingers proudly laced together or the tall, well-built guy that was walking alongside them.

Kendall thought it was great that the couple was so open and proud about it; to was even greater that no one seemed to care. There were certain parts of LA where they would get attacked or even killed for simply holding hands. But still Kendall found his gaze was stolen by the extremely attractive stranger.

He'd known he was gay since he could remember. he had always gravitated towards the guys, finding them more interesting and entertaining. His best friend was a girl and it was always easy to relate to her. He finalized his presumption freshman year when he found his eyes wondering in the locker room after gym.

Considering the majority of the guys he'd seen the past 3 years were old, hairy, and/or fat convicts, this guy was definitely a sight for sore eyes. He watched slightly excited as they sat down just two rows in front of them. The Latino boy immediately put his arm around the smaller boy, who settled against his side. The previews were no longer even remotely interesting.

Even as the movie started his gaze was fixed elsewhere, mind creating different possibilities to who this hot mystery guy was. Halfway through the movie he was barely watching, the couple besides the hot guy started making out. Kendall looked around frantically, genuinely shocked that no one was glaring at them in disgust. Everyone was just continuing to watch the movie like it was nothing out of the ordinary.

This town truly was nothing like LA. The two guys were fairly attractive and Kendall caught himself observing their publicly intimate affection. He was only human; thus he couldn't deny the affect their display had on him. Though it was hard, among other things, he focused on the movie, wondering why he agreed to see this god-awful movie in the first place.

Not even five minutes later, the Latino was nodding to the stranger as he dragged the other boy out of the theater. Kendall could only imagine what the couple was about to do or how shitty it must have felt to go from the third wheel to the ditch third wheel.

For a few seconds, he just watched him sitting along before leaning over to Katie, announcing that he was going to go sit with him. She responded with a grin and a "go get him big bro."

He got up and ducked as he walked two rows forward, taking a seat next to the well dressed guy, "I'm Kendall," he leaned over to tell him, stifling a sigh at the sweet scent o the other's cologne. "and you seem way too nice to be sitting alone." By nice, Kendall meant smoking but he'd never admit that straight to his face.

"James," the other returned with a soft, captivating smile. His deep, yet sweet voice made his heart melt a little. "And you'd think I'd learn since this happens almost every week. And it's always a movie I never wanted to see."

"Tell me about it," Kendall muttered with a contradicting smile.

Somehow sitting by this guy, James, made the movie bearable. Maybe it was the witty commentary or that he was the most attractive guy he'd seen in years. It was also the first time in those years that he'd laughed so hard he almost cried. He couldn't believe how easily/well/naturally they clicked and got along.

This alone was more than enough to justify the move. The best part...this guy didn't know him at all. He could just be Kendall Knight, a fun-loving, funny, confident guy rather than Kendall Knight murderer. The credits seemed to roll far too soon. Kendall stood up along side James, chatting with him casually as they exited the theater.

"Do they ever play any good movies?" he asked curiously, chuckling.

James laughed along with him. "Very rarely."

Kendall flashed a charming smile. "Well, keep an eye on that and let me know."

James seemed to share his flirtatious smile as he nodded. "Will do."

Kendall nodded in departure and walked over to where his mom and Katie were waiting in the car. He got in the backseat, smile still etched on his face.

"Did you make a friend?" his mom asked, pulling away from the curb.

"Yeah, I think so." He could tell life was going to be much, much better here.