"Why are you just sitting there like an idiot? GET UP! What the hell, Kai!" Thorne pulled the hand where his phone once was to his chest, looking like he wanted to punch something. He kept pacing back and forth like a walking bomb ready to explode. Kai could not help but watch the dreadful scene. In the back of his mind, he kept cursing and cursing and cursing. And he kept asking and asking and asking.

Why me?

I should've known.

I'm such an idiot.

Did I really think I could go unnoticed for under an hour?

Should I have picked a better hiding place?

Has Cinder seen this yet?

No, he couldn't possibly think of that. There were too many things going on for him to process already, just dwelling on the thought of when Cinder would hear the news crushed him. He could picture her brown eyes get a little teary, or maybe her hard day at work making her even more overwhelmed once she'd see her blurred face on any social media platform. Maybe her step-mom would drag her into an all 24 hour labor at their luxurious apartment that was not free access for Cinder.

He simply couldn't think about her at this very moment.

He had to figure out a way to explain. Then again, what was there to explain?

He had to figure out a way to quench his pounding heart, his panting, his widened eyes, his damp black hair that was covering his forehead.

He had to come up with a way to calm a fuming Thorne.

Footsteps could be heard coming closer and closer to where Kai and Thorne's room was, and they were greeted by a sluggish Wolf and Jacin at the door.

"What's going on?" Jacin growled while wiping his eyes.

Thorne turned around from his stance at the wall to face Jacin. "You wanna know what's going on?" He yelled, his eyes gleaming with anger.

As if getting caught by the press and lectured on by Thorne wasn't enough, Kai shook his head. "Thorne-"

"-this is what's going on!" Thorne hissed, pushing his phone towards Jacin and Wolf both to see. Jacin slowly grabbed it from his hand, Kai assumed he already read the headline. With both of them reading the article, their faces turned from drowsiness and surprised to disappointment.

Jacin slowly looked up at Kai before squeezing his eyes shut. "Is this true, Kai?"

Kai sighed, still under the covers and still not processing this whole thing. He'd been caught.

He'd been caught.

"Kai," Jacin said more harshly.

"Yes," Kai responded. "Yes, yes it is true."

He saw both Jacin and Wolf shaking their heads, and Thorne looking like he was ready to explode. His jaw was tense, both of his hands were formed into fists. Kai tried to figure out what was going through his head, besides being furious. He knew that Kai was interested in Cinder. Heck, he even knew that Kai went so far as to contacting her. Maybe Thorne didn't take him serious when he said he liked her and she was different. Kai knew Thorne would've never guessed in a million years that Kai would try to sneak behind their backs unattained and meet up with her. Because that would be too much of a foolish move.

Foolish Kai was, and in love he is.

In love Kai was, and foolish he'd be.

Naive and stupid he was, how he'd manage to ever recover from this, he didn't know.

"So much for leaving him be with his love life, right Jacin?" Thorne retorted.

Jacin still shook his head in shock, glaring at Kai with those ice blue eyes that could freeze someone. "What in the world is this? Why in the world did you meet up with this chick?"

"Stars above, you said you would be meeting up with your dad," Wolf spoke up, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Yeah, well, that's what he gets for lying to us and deceiving us. You get busted. I think what will never cease to amaze me is the fact that he thought he wouldn't get caught. Such an idiotic move, Kai. And how long was he gone for?" Thorne directed the question towards Wolf and Jacin, sarcasm dripping from his mouth.

"About an hour," Wolf sighed, his voice filled with betrayal. Kai felt a sting of penitent.

"Look, there's a lot going on... just do not let this happen again, alright?" Jacin's voice was stern, pointing his index finger directly at Kai. "This is not something I want to be rudely awakened about early in the morning. I'm going back to bed. We have some long days ahead of us."

"Yeah, we do. I think I'll be going back to bed myself," Wolf agreed, following Jacin back upstairs to their separate rooms.

Kai was glad that they could save it for later, earning him more time to generate some ideas on how to quench this disaster. If only the main person he wanted to avoid would back down. Thorne.

Thorne was still standing right in front of his door, his eyebrows furrowed, stance hardened, and his eyes looking like they could tear Kai to pieces at any given second.

If Thorne looked like a raging bull, it did not show through his voice. His voice was wavering from the sudden height of emotions, but it was low and timid. "What did I tell you that day backstage?"

Kai shook his head, gulping down the huge lump in his throat. "Thorne, not now." His voice was shaky.

"No, tell me." Thorne persisted, not letting Kai back down from this one.

"I don't want to-"

"-tell me." Thorne's blue eyes had darkened, and his smooth, brown hair was damp around his forehead.

Kai's shoulders slumped down from his already sluggish posture like a man defeated.

He was a man defeated.

No, he was only a boy that was defeated.

Before he could answer Thorne's rhetorical question, Thorne saved him from his embarrassment.

"Fame and girls don't mix. Get that in your brain and quit thinking your heart is what you should believe in, because it's only going to cause you more problems. It will, and already is causing all of us more problems." Thorne let out a half-hearted chuckle, eyes rolling to the back of his head. "You might be the favorite, but now everyone will realize how much of a fool you are. And here I was thinking I was the biggest fool out there. But you," Thorne pointed his finger at him. "You've beaten me by several points. I mean, really Kai? A robot?"

"She's not a robot," Kai growled.

"Well that's what they're saying right here." Thorne pointed to the article on his phone.

"You out of all people should know not to pay attention to the press. That girl right there has a name. Her name is Cinder, and she's a cyborg. Not a robot."

"Her name right there?" Thorne mimicked bitterly. "Her name is temptation and nuisance, and I don't ever want to hear her associated with your name or our reputation ever again. Cut. Her. Off." With that being said, Thorne stomped off to his part of the suite.

Although Kai was in too deep and knew it was too soon and too early in the morning, he immediately grabbed his phone and messaged Cinder once he felt that he was in the clear.

How could he approach her?

Did you hear? You're all over the internet, with me.

Um... so we got caught by the press and guess what? They had the audacity to call you a robot. I mean, how crazy is that?

Instead, he sent out a simple text.

Are you okay?

Of course she wasn't, but in times like these, his options on what to say were limited, and the most obvious question would be the most safe to ask.

Kai knew it would take her a while to respond back to him, maybe a few days.

And he was okay with that.

He had to be okay with that.

First day.

"Say no more, baby

I wanna see you, today.

Today, I'll swing your way

I wanna be where you are

Baby, baby.

Could you let me?

Baby, baby.

I wanna hear your voice

Baby, baby.

Say no more, baby

I wanna see you today.

I gotta see you today,

Baby, baby.

Baby."

Kai sang a run-down of songs on their album, this one being a bonus track that they would sing for the last performance they had in Seattle. This song was a duet shared with Wolf, who joined in at the "baby, baby" part and had his individual verse.

Right after they finished practicing the song, Kai's dad gave them the signal that they could take a break.

A break was what Kai needed, except from everything.

Kai was no later approached by his dad yesterday after hearing about the incident, and was given a long, drawn out lecture. A lecture he zoned out on in less than sixty seconds.

He'd been checking his phone every other minute since yesterday, waiting for a phone call, a FaceTime, a text from Cinder. He was not surprised when she didn't respond back to him. He knew the girl needed some space if word had already gotten to her

To make matters worse, the guys weren't talking to him unless they had to. Unless it was business related. It was something he was afraid that would happen between all of them. And his nightmare was coming true.

Second day.

"Has anyone ever felt sorry yet not sorry at all about letting someone go? This song's for all my guys out there. One, two, three, go!" Thorne screamed, fiddling with his guitar while speaking on his mic to talk on, his shirt unbuttoned and hair disheveled. They were already playing their sixth song for the packed crowd tonight.

"Do you know right now that I'm problem free?

Do you know right now that I'm so happy?

'Cause ever since you left my life

I quit moping around

trying to figure out what I did wrong

after every fight we had.

Things got way too hectic

and I would go to the bar every night

thinking bout if we'll be alright

well now it's safe to say I wasn't right."

Wolf picked up the pre-chorus after Kai finished his verse on the song, his deep voice getting a wave of attention as the spotlight turned to him and the girls screamed. Wolf's cheeks got even redder.

"I just wanna let you know

that since you're out of my life

I've been hanging with the guys

taking shots like no tomorrow.

I just wanna let you know

that I'm doing fine.

Hope you're doing alright.

Hey, girl

I'm sorry

No, I'm not sorry

That we didn't end out right."

Both Kai and Wolf joined in for the chorus.

"Whoa, oh, oh!

Whoa, oh, oh!

I'mmmmmmmm sorry

No, I'm not sorry

That we didn't end out right.

Whoa, oh, oh!

Whoa, oh, oh!

Hey girl, I'm sorry

No, I'm not sorry

that we didn't end out alright."

Kai started to sing the second verse.

"Forget the days that I said I would die for you.

I just wish those days would come back, it's true

that I miss you but it might be for all the wrong reasons.

I just want someone I could vibe with and you,

You and me,

you and me,

we had that something.

You were my everything.

Hey, you and me

you and me,

we were inseparable, babe.

Here comes the non-sober me,

here comes the sorrowful shots and the drinks.

But I know, I know

That I'm better off without you.

I'm sorry but not sorry,

I just had to cut you off and

it's only for the best,

the best, the best."

Kai nearly cried from those words at how true yet untrue his situation was.

Third day.

"This is power 93 coming back at you with an interview with your favorite boy band, the Rampion Boyz!" DJ Kenzie, a girl with cotton blue hair and a numerous amount of piercings said animatedly.

"So tell me," Kenzie gestures to all the guys seated next to her in a row. "Who are the Rampion Boyz?"

"Well you have the heartthrob of the group, which is me, Carswell Mcsmooth Thorne."

Kai could tell that DJ Kenzie was trying to hold back her laugh. "Okay, okay! What about you, Wolf? Actually, where did the name 'Wolf' derive from and how does it symbolize you?"

Wolf smiled his cheesy smile, the sides of his teeth hanging like fangs. "This is the first person that asked me about my name, surprisingly. Well for starters, my actually name is Ze'ev Kesley. I was given the name Wolf in my high school days. You see, I was kind of the bad boy type and quite a troublemaker who got into a lot of fights. So, since I've never lost a fight and came off as a very scary and abrasive kind of guy, they started calling me Wolf. And sooner or later, I started to call myself Wolf. It just kind of stuck."

DJ Kenzie nodded her head in understanding before moving back to Thorne, whose shirt was magically unbuttoned. "And you, Mr. Carswell Thorne. How is it that your shirts magically disappear wherever you go?" she chuckled in amusement at whatever stupid but charming thing he was about to say.

"Well you see Kenzie, I have a way with the ladies... and sometimes, I get a little ahead of myself. But just like how you could associate Michael Jackson with the glove or Prince with the color purple and his flamboyant style, my signature move is to roam shirtless, if that makes sense."

Kenzie folded her hands under her chin, leaning in closer. "Mhm," she encouraged him on.

"Now of course, there are haters out there, and it just so happens to be the people I work with." Thorne gestures to all three boys. "They all give me crap about it."

Jacin rolls his eyes. "We're not hating, we just think you do a little too much at times."

"A lot too much," Wolf smiled.

DJ Kenzie shifted her attention to Jacin. "Now Jacin, I know you really don't like speaking, and you're the most quiet in the group. I have to say, you seem like the most mature. Are you like-and I don't want this to come off offensive-the dad of the group?"

Jacin flashed his sunrise smile, all of them feeling cameras flash around them. "Well, in a sense, I guess. I never really thought of it like that. But yes, I'm the one that keeps all of them in balance when they get to be a little illogical. I'm also that person whose just the realistic and 'don't do this because so-and-so' type of band member. I keep them all in check, you could say."

DJ Kenzie nodded before moving onto Kai.

Kai didn't really want to contribute or speak in fear of the events that took place just this week that could be used against him. It was still a fresh new wound that needed healing, not just for him, but for all the guys. There was always tension between them these days.

"I see you've been very quiet over there, Kai. Don't think I forgot about the fan favorite of the group! How's life going for ya?"

Kai forced a grin to appear on his face. "It's been going good. You know, this is our first ever tour and I couldn't be more excited to be on the road and meet most of our supporters and just see different cities." What Kai had said was only half true.

"Interesting, interesting. Now, I know you know that this question would come up sooner or later, but there's been a picture going viral on the internet of you and a mystery girl. Care to share who that is? Does Kai have a girlfriend?" DJ Kenzie teased.

A blush crept in Kai's cheeks. "No, she's not my girlfriend. Just someone that I deeply admire and appreciate."

"Oh. Well where did you all meet?"

Kai dreaded where this conversation was going, feeling all eyes on him in a sudden twist of dead silence. What was just so lighthearted and cool became an interrogation room for him. He could feel his bandmates looking at him, daring him to mess up or spill new information that he'd never revealed to them before.

"We met at our first concert here in Washington backstage. She was with a friend, and was just a very cool person to be around. She willingly offered to fix my portscreen after I had confessed that I was looking for someone to fix it, and we've been talking ever since." Kai thought he downplayed it very well, even if he didn't want to. In order for everyone to stop freaking out, he had to give out the impression that they were just acquaintances., not two people who had a developing relationship going on. Not some pop star of a guy developing a crush on a cyborg.

"Ah, I'm sure the girls would love to hear that. What do you have to say about this whole situation?"

Kai squirmed, wanting it all to be over. "I have to say that to everyone promoting hate or anything of that sort, please, stop. Do not believe every magazine you pick up or anything the press may put out, because it could all be a lie. She's no robot, and that's very offensive to her and to people like her who may be disabled and have prosthetic replacements. We're just casual friends, nothing more and nothing less."

Except, it was something more and would cost him something less after this.

Kai was close to dozing off in their suite, his phone on top of his stomach and his head laying on his comfortable, soft pillow in his bedroom. He was tired of all the things that took place the past week and only wanted to rest. He only wanted to clear his head and go back home in Arizona, or even take a trip to his birth place, China.

All of a sudden, he recalled the conversation he had with his dad when he was taking that giant step as a celebrity. Kai thought he was ready then, and he still is, but you know how all that goes. You just never really know what you get into until you do, and that was exactly his current condition right now.

"Son," DJ Rikan started. "You'er about to start your first ever tour in the summer, and I just want to make sure you're prepared."

"Dad," an ever so cheerful and excited Kai began. "I'm so ready, you don't even know. I can handle it, I've made it this far."

That was back when he didn't have any bangs under his eyes.

That was back when it was still all new to him, fresh out of recording their album.

That was back when he didn't know the meaning behind his life changing words.

DJ Rikan looked at his son like he knew all too well about young credulousness, as if he had been there before. He could see the exhilaration in Kai's eyes on what was to come, could see Kai fidgeting his hands, could see the days marked on Kai's calendar in his room of the countdown until the Rampion Boyz tour began.

"Okay, son. Okay. I just want you to become affiliate with what you will be facing."

But with words like those in comparison to life decisions like these, it would take more than a small yet serious talk for Kai to get the bigger picture.

It would take experience.

Looking back wistfully at the memory when life seemed to be all rainbows and sunshine and not a tornado or hurricane, Kai missed those days. Those days when he was only a kid who could sing. Those days when he was just a youth and nothing more than a youth. Those days when he could actually be a youth.

He was young in the scene and the youngest of the group. Sometimes, Kai himself would forget he was only nineteen doing big things.

Kai felt a vibration on his stomach, coming from his phone.

He knew all too well what that meant, but didn't know.

He didn't know if it was an important business call or just a friend. A girl friend.

Cinder.

As Kai flipped his phone around to where he could see the notification, a name popped up.

Cinder.

He made sure not to get his hopes up, and he was glad he didn't once he saw the string of words right next to her name.

We should take a break and not speak to each other anymore.

Kai felt his heart drop.

Another cliffhanger! I'm pretty sure you guys will hate me after this. I know, I know. Poor kid, he can't seem to catch a break. But that's the type of writer I am and how this story will be :) *cue the cackling and inwardly laughing.* I know you're thinking, an update three days in a row? How? Free time is how and the encouraging reviews you guys give! Don't forget to comment your thoughts and opinions on this chapter, and if you like this story so far, don't forget to follow and favorite. I really really really appreciate everyone whose been a supporter of my story since day one. A special thanks to MastaGamerita, PennThewriter, and everyone in general! To the comment about how wolf is the only one that can drink, wait till we get to his story next *wink, wink.* Kai's story is almost over, we have four chapters left! Guess what you think will happen. Also, re-uploaded this chapter again because I didn't see it appear on the website that there was a new chapter on it.