Rimnerel: Hello everyone! Let's see, where am I in this story?
Johnny: You don't know?
Rimnerel: Well...not really, that's why I'm thinking about it now. Okay, anyway, it's going to be a great chapter! I finally get to why I've called this thing Oleander Summer and there have been no mentions of oleanders whatsoever.
Johnny: Wait, didn't someone ask a while back what an oleander was?
Rimnerel: Everything will become clear in this chapter. And I would like to thank B. Tiamat Atardecer for always being there when I need help writing, you are my greatest co-writer, SelenaWheeler, The-Dark-Fire-Elf, Dark-Demi-2001, russle, Cat in the web, and blazing-wolf-08 for reviewing last chapter and all your great comments. Now on to what you really came here for.
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Tyson's eyes studied the ground as he just sort of wandered aimlessly. He was supposed to be heading back to the house, but his mind was elsewhere and he doubted that it would go unnoticed about his current mood. His aunt was always staring at him now and then when she thought he wasn't paying attention. He noticed, and knew she was worried about him, but this was his problem and he had to find his own way about it. After all, he doubted she would approve of him liking Kai Hiwatari in the first place. Well, him liking any guy in the first place would toss her into a loop.
How in the world had this come about? The last thing that came close to this was that time almost a year ago when Tyson came back here to go to school while his father did some work around the area. He had told Max to wait for him while he went back to his locker to get his books. The hallway was empty and Tyson hadn't noticed the figure until he closed his locker and turned around, finding Kai watching him.
Knowing the male only wanted to start something, Tyson tried to ignore him, but that was when Kai pinned his against the locker with his eyes. Moving in close to Tyson as if he was about to kiss him. Only, the male whispered that Tyson knew he couldn't resist him forever. That eventually he would break down and give in to what he was denying. At the time Tyson was about to hit him, but something stopped him. It was his racing pulse, hesitation for what Kai said. When Kai had looked into his eyes, there was a shimmering that tossed Tyson into that sea of auburn.
The fight almost left him, if it had not been for the fact that Max came running up, and Tyson pushed the male away from him. Snapping at the male that he would never give in to someone as perverted as he was. An amused smile played on the corners of Tyson's mouth, thinking about those words.
Guess I'm eating my words now. He thought. What was it about Kai? What was it that Tyson just could not shake off, it was as if he and Kai were meant to be together or something.
"That's impossible! Never in a million years! Kai was arrogant, anti- social, reckless, pompous, a flirt, perverted, irresponsible, and...and..."
"The most sexiest individual you've ever in your life had the chance to meet," a voice finished the sentence. Tyson turned around to find that said person walking up behind him with a bag in his hand, pushing his dirt bike along the road.
"Kai!" Tyson flushed for some unknown reason. "You...you heard all..."
"You know, you forgot to add in dangerous, irresistible, and witty," Kai smirked.
"You right about dangerous, as for irresistible, I doubt that seriously," Tyson scoffed.
Kai tilted his head to the side, giving Tyson a curious stare. "Then why would you be thinking about me then?" Tyson flushed, realizing how loud he must have been. "Well, are you going to honestly lie to me that you weren't thinking about me, Tyson Granger?"
"If I was, it's none of your business," Tyson snapped. He was just about to storm off when Kai put down the kickstand to his bike and walked over to Tyson, stopping the male in his tracks. Tyson glared up at Kai, only to find those auburn eyes studying him quietly. "Let go!"
"Not until you tell me the truth," Kai said, grabbing Tyson's hand as it swung up to his him. "So, were you thinking about me or not?"
"What if I was?" Tyson stated. "It's not like you really care all you want to do is screw with my head like all the others you've messed with. I don't want you ruining my reputation."
"You realize Tyson, that I would never do that to you," Kai said. "I love you. I've loved you for so long now."
"Yeah, you tell me that now, but that's probably only to get what you want from me. Then you'll find someone else," Tyson said. "I can't trust those words or any thing you say to me. I know you and know how you operate."
Kai growled at Tyson's words. "You don't know me as well as you think Tyson. Just because of things I've said and done in the past, that doesn't mean that things are like that when it comes to you. You're the only one that I would be honest with besides Tala."
"Oh, that's real assuring," said Tyson sarcastically.
"Tyson, just listen to me," Kai snapped. "If I didn't love you, I would not have hesitated making you submit to me."
"Oh, so you're trying to get me to give in to you so I can't scream rape."
"Dammit no! What I'm saying is that, I've had plenty of opportunities and I haven't taken one, have I?" Kai remarked. "I would never forgive myself if I forced you into wanting me. I love you that much Tyson. That much to wait no matter what stains my reputation."
"Speaking of opportunities, last time!" Tyson said. "Why did you stop? Why! What did you mean by the fact that you said I wasn't ready. How do you know what I was and wasn't ready for. I could have been ready and you just walked away! You had the greatest opportunity into making me yours and you're just going to—"Tyson was silenced as Kai's mouth covered his.
Kai ran his hand through the younger boy's navy hair, loving the taste of his mouth, his lips, and his sweet scent surrounding him. When Kai pulled back, Tyson looked up at him through dazed eyes. "Do you really believe you would be comfortable with giving me something so precious as your virginity?"
"I..." Tyson flushed, looking down at his feet.
"I thought so," Kai murmured moving away from Tyson with a chaste kiss on the lips. "As I said before, you're not ready."
"I told you, you can't tell me when I'm ready to do something or not! What if I'm ready right now! I may be a bit shy about it is all!" Tyson shouted at Kai who turned to look at his with a studied glance. Tyson flushed to his hairline, realizing what he just shouted to the older male.
"Seems my little Tyson has grown up without my knowledge," Kai simpered. "Are you trying to tell me what you want? Are you trying to say that you won't regret what I might do to you if you really are giving yourself to me?" Kai turned back to Tyson, his brow rose questioningly.
"I..."
"Well?" Kai inquired.
Silence fell between the two as Tyson tried figuring out what he was going to say. After all, he just stupidly declared to Kai that he could take anything the male dished out. His big mouth got him in trouble yet again. How was he going to get out of this? The easiest way was saying he didn't mean any of it, but then Kai would say he told him so, and Tyson did not want that. Running away would just make him look like a coward and he would probably never be able to face the male again.
"Hey, Tyson!" The young man looked up to find his cousin coming down the road the opposite way. Surprisingly enough was the fact that Tala was holding on to the male's waist while pulling his dirt bike along. Tala's face was pale and pinched, as if with pain.
"Kenny!" Tyson said. "What the hell are you doing with him?" This was just the distraction he needed to slip pass Kai's question.
"I found him by the road," Kenny lied. There was no way he was going to tell his cousin that he was with the male and they were kissing and...no way! Tyson would really die on the spot. "He looked like he needed some help."
"Help my ass," Tyson remarked. Tala lifted his eyes to Tyson, and then looked at Kai.
"I could ask you the same thing Granger. I thought Kai was too contagious a person to be near for so long? Changed your mind about him I see?" He watched the color in Tyson's face shoot three shades pass red. "Don't pop any blood vessels."
"You fucking—"Tyson started.
"Tyson stop it now," Kenny ordered. "He's hurt. We have to get him to a doctor immediately. He's probably hurt very badly and now is not the time to be arguing with him about things."
"Kenny, let me take him," Kai said, walking up to the male, slipping his cousin from off of Kenny's weight, but not before noticing the red mark on the brunette's neck. With a mental smirk, he shifted the male's weight onto his. "Get his bike and we'll walk to Doctor Tate's office."
"Okay," Kenny said. Kenny's eyes turned to his fuming cousin. "Tyson, are you coming or are you just going to stand there?"
"I don't know why I'm coming anyway, it's not any of my concern," the male stated.
"Call it a truce between you two until he's better," Kai remarked. "Now come on, we'll need your help too."
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"Doctor Tate?" a young woman with short aqua blue hair stuck her head in the woman's office, concern on her face. Judy looked up from writing a prescription to stare at it.
"What's wrong Tierra?" Judy inquired.
"Well...Kai said he needs your help. He's with Tala and two other boys," the girl, that had just started to be an intern for the older woman, stated. Judy frowned, wondering what in the world it could be. Why was Tala out of bed anyway?
"I'll be right there," Judy said, placing her pen down and standing up. What on earth were they doing here? And who were the other boys with them? Walking away from her desk, she stepped out of her office, seeing Kai standing next to Tala, who was seated on the patient couch with his eyes closed next to Tyson Granger, one of her son's friends and a brunette. This surprised Judy a lot because of the fact that she knew for a fact that Tala did not seem to accept Tyson on any level.
"Judy," Kai said. "Sorry to be a bother but Tala's a bit banged up. Mind looking at him?"
"What happened?" Judy inquired, use to the male using her first name from time to time. She was familiar enough with both not to take offend to it. She walked up to Tala, giving him a quick medical look over.
"He hasn't told me a thing. You know how he is?" Kai shrugged. "You can probably get him to tell you the whole story."
"I see." Judy turned to her intern who was bringing in a wheelchair to get the boy into the back of the small private quarters of the building. Despite it was a private practice she still had room to treat a few patients. "Tala, are you awake?"
The young man cracks open an azure eye, giving her a look before closing it again. "Yes, I'm still awake, what is it Judy?"
"Can you walk or do you want us to wheel you in the back?" Judy asked.
"I can walk myself," Tala said as he got up from the couch. His face strained with pain as he made his way into the back. Judy sighed, shaking her head as she turned to stare at the boys.
"Stay here, it shouldn't take long to find out what happened." Kai nodded along with the brunette. Tyson didn't say any thing he just looked at the floor. Judy followed after Tala shortly opening the door to the room Tala went into. She found his on the bed in the room, holding his sides. His head was bent into his chest. "Tala, what happened? Is it your ribs?"
"I think I overdid it," he chuckled slightly before wincing in pain. "I guess jumping out windows with broken ribs is never a good idea, is it Judy?"
"Why were you jumping out of windows?" Judy asked as she realized that more than likely he was bleeding internally. "You know, I might have to transfer you to the hospital if you really did do what I think you did. You might be bleeding internally."
"I can't go..." the male murmured. "He'll find me there...he'll try to kill me..."
"Your uncle?" Judy said without having to know whom he really meant. "What happened?"
"He...caught me with...Aunt Irene," Tala struggled pass the pain. "I tried...getting away...I did..." Judy's eyes softened, seeing the vulnerable side of the male come out. She seemed to be the only one that could see it. The only one that cared it was there. She had to help him she couldn't break that promise to him again. "He's...going to kill me now. He's..."
"It's okay Tala, you'll stay right here," Judy assured. "I'm going to see can Kai sneak you out a few things and everything will be fine." The woman walked over to a drawer, opening it and pulling out a small vial along with a needle. Sticking the needle in the vial, she filled the needle with the anesthetic within the vial. "I'm going to give you something for the pain, okay."
Tala opened an eye, peeking at her. "Tell me something."
Judy placed the vial on the table, grabbing the other little items that she needed to give him the shot. "What is it, Tala?"
"Why do you care?" he inquired. "Is it because I'm injured?"
"No," she said simply.
"Then what is it? No one can care for one individual that much without wanting something from them? Why do you care so much for me? I don't understand it," Tala stated. "It doesn't make sense."
"You don't know why?" Judy said, walking over to him, taking his left arm, opening a cotton alcohol swab and cleaning his arm before putting the piece of rubber on his arm. Then she tapped on it finding the vein she needed.
"I asked didn't I?" Which was basically as nice as he was going to get about that statement. She, of course, didn't mind, being that she was use to his sudden mood swings from curiosity and quiet to arrogant and egotistical. With a life like his, she didn't blame him at all.
"Remember our last session when you decided to try to play Russian roulette, scaring the hell out of me." The boy didn't say a word, but she knew he remembered. "That day, I made a promise to you. I broke it. I want to reprimand it. That's why. I didn't know how to take it, but I'm going to stick it out. I should have whooped your ass for it though."
"That would have probably done it," the boy said after a long bout of silence. Judy looked down to find tears in the corners of his eyes, knowing that he wouldn't say it, but he was grateful for her being there.
"Yes, I suppose so."
Meanwhile, the other three boys waited for news. Tyson wasn't in the best of moods, especially having to help his arch nemesis and all. Kenny was as worried about Tala as Kai was. Occasionally Kai found the male twisting an end of his shirt. Kai's mind for a moment wandered, thinking about Tyson and his brunette cousin. It was strange, in a way, the four of them. He, in love with Tyson and Tala going after Kenny, it was amusing that their lives became entangled by two individuals they were so different from, yet alike.
He wondered if Tala was becoming attached to the brunette on a deeper level than what he claimed. Even from the first time they met Kenny, there was interest, over time it changed. Something about the male eased his cousin, something not even he was able to do. And considering all things, Kai was not only his cousin and best friend, but Kenny just met the red head.
From the few times that Kai watched his cousin, especially when he returned from out of town, Tala seemed thoughtful. At times when he slept, he called out the male's name. Maybe in a passionate, wanton way, other times simply as if it eased him. What could it be that was making him do a complete 360? Kai lowered his head, looking at the male behind his light blue colored bangs.
Kai wondered, if the young man knew the truth, knew all of it, would he still smile so pleasantly towards the male. Kai wondered if Tala would ever tell the male the whole truth, or allow him to go back to his life in the city never knowing the real him. This was a chance that didn't come by every so often. He wondered, could Tala open up to someone, anyone?
"Hey," Tyson's voice brought Kai back.
"What is it?" Kai asked.
"What's the deal with you using Max's mom's first name? That's rude," the blue haired young man said.
"They've known me for a while now," Doctor Tate said, coming back from treating Tala. "You don't have to worry about it Tyson. It's nice to see you again. How are you?"
"I'm fine. So...how's the idiot?" Tyson stated, turning his eyes to the floor. "He isn't going to die or anything, right?"
"No, he's not going to die. Calling a truce for a while, I see," Doctor Tate smiled. "He should be fine, I gave him something for the pain he's sleeping now. But I may have to treat him at the hospital if he's jarred his ribs out of place."
"His ribs were broken?" Tyson blinked.
"Yes, he...broke them some time ago. He was fooling around and jarred them out of place," Judy said, knowing that probably had a good idea how he managed to do it.
"He told me he jumped out a window, is that true?" the brunette inquired.
"He told you that?" Judy said with shock. Tala telling anyone anything that was a new one for the young man, she figured he would never let anyone other than she and Kai know anything. "Well, yes that's true. He did. He can be reckless at times. I'm sorry if I haven't correctly introduced myself. I'm Judy Tate, one of the doctors in town."
"This is my cousin Kenny Shinoda, Mrs. Tate," Tyson introduced. "He's staying the summer with my aunt and everyone. He's the one that really helped that idiot you're treating."
"Kenny. Ah, you must be the young man that my son was talking about. It seems that you and Maxie are becoming good friends. It's nice to meet you, Kenny," Judy smiled.
"It's nice to meet you too," Kenny said. "Is...Tala going to be okay...to visit tomorrow?"
"He should be," Judy said. "You can come by and visit him if you want. He's not going anywhere for a while."
"Thanks."
"Mrs. Tate, it's getting late, we should be getting home now," Tyson said, pulling his cousin by the arm towards the door. When the two left, Judy turned her eyes on Kai.
"Tala seems to be opening up to him," she said.
"He hasn't told the boy much. But it's true. I think Tala's starting to like him more as time goes on, he just doesn't say much towards it, but you can tell," Kai said. "Maybe he can open Tala's heart up."
"You think? How does he feel about Tala?" Judy said, crossing her arms over her chest. She was no stranger to Tala and Kai's "strange" habits, when she got back to town she heard trickles of things towards the two boys' sexual habits and adventures.
"I think he's starting to like Tala too, if not already," Kai announced. "I'm just wondering if he would ever tell Kenny everything. I doubt he would on his own, would he?"
"Probably not."
Back with Tyson and Kenny who were unsuspecting of the talk that went on between the doctor and Kai, Tyson continued to drag Kenny away from the doctor's office, until they were in a secluded area. Letting go of his cousin, Tyson stared at the male incredulously. "What do you think you were doing back there?"
"What do you mean?" Kenny said.
"Now you're going to visit him?" Tyson declared. "You don't have to play Good Samaritan to that bastard, you know."
"But I want to go see him," Kenny countered. "He's not a bad person you know Tyson. I know that you've known him longer and you don't like him. But I'm sure that's just an act. More times than not, he just acts that way to piss you off."
"How would you know? You're holding something back from me, aren't you?" Tyson narrowed his eyes at Kenny. "You didn't find him by the road did you?"
"What are you getting at?" Kenny voiced.
"You know, that mark on your neck is going to be there for a while," Tyson spook after a long minute. He watched Kenny flush, remembering that in fact Tala had more than likely left a mark when he was kissing and sucking on his neck. "I can't believe that you would let him...Kenny!"
"What's it to you?" Kenny said. "It's not like we've done anything else. I really like him Tyson. And from what I've seen of him, he's not like you expect of him. He has his moments, but there's more to it than just pompous arrogance. He has an aura about him that draws me."
"Kenny, I forbid you to fall for him. He's only going to hurt you and he wouldn't care. He's always been like that, both him and Kai. You can't trust things they say," Tyson shouted hotly. "I can't accept it. I want you to stay away from him from now on."
"Tyson...I'm going to tell you this once. Don't try to run my life. You can't stop me from wanting to know him, nor can you stop my feelings for him. It would be telling yourself to stay away from Kai," Kenny said.
"What!" Tyson flushed. "I don't like Kai!"
"Can you honestly tell yourself that without feeling like you're denying yourself? I know that a while ago he kissed you. And I'm not going to say anything about it. It's your decision whether or not you want to act on it. But don't stand in my way of discovering if Tala really is as dangerous as you think he is. Everyone deserves a chance, even Tala and Kai. So maybe, before you start judging them because of things you see, try looking at them from another point of view first." And with that, Kenny headed back, leaving Tyson to think about that for a long minute.
"Look at them from another point of view..." Was it possible? From the first time Tyson met the two, it seemed as if...well...who knew. Maybe they got off to a bad start. Whenever their paths crossed, he and Tala would end up fighting. He used to hear people in town saying how wonderful a child he was until he decided to stop being an angel and playing a devil. The adults would always speak lowly of both boys.
The words slipped from parent to child and the two boys were always ignored or snubbed by their peers for being different. In response to that, Tala would beat his peers. Fights came natural to the red head, fights leading to get the reputation as being more of a troublemaker. Could...his reaction be because...he...
"Have I really mistaken that idiot?" Tyson said. Kenny and Doctor Tate seemed to be at ease with the two. Doctor Tate didn't act like the other adults, glaring or speaking lowly of the two. In fact, she treated them as if...well...any other person in that town. Tyson raised his eyes to the sky. "Mother...am I overlooking something that Kenny sees so clearly even if I've known those two longer?"
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"Tala, are you awake yet?" Kai inquired, having stayed next to his cousin's bedside during the whole night. The young man with red hair turned his head to the male by his bedside.
"Kai?" The young man looked around his surroundings, noticing he was not in his room.
"Remember, we're at Doctor Tate's. Uncle's searching for you, you know. He's pissed. I heard Judy talking to him on the phone and he was demanding that if she knew where you were to tell him. She covered your ass good," Kai smirked before letting it drop. "Aunt Irene again?" Tala didn't say a word towards it he just turned his eyes away. "I see."
"Kai...maybe we should leave here," Tala stated, turning his eyes to the ceiling. "Maybe live somewhere on our own. We're old enough to. We don't have to stay here or with any of our family. Get jobs, make it on our own, what do you say?"
"It doesn't sound like a bad idea," Kai murmured, playing with one of Tala's locks of hair. "Between the two of us, I'm sure that we could do it. Where do you want to live?"
"Anywhere. As long as it's away from here," Tala voiced.
"Do you think you could leave that easily?" Kai asked.
"I'll try. He can't hold me forever."
"True. But...what about Aunt Irene?" Kai watched Tala's eyes darken. "Need to get away from her too. That's understandable. I guess we could do that. How about at the end of the summer we do that? Leave and don't come back."
"That would be nice. I think I could do that. We have enough money each to start out like that."
"Tala." Judy stuck her head in the room with a short smile. "You have a visitor."
"A visitor?" Tala frowned, looking at Kai who shrugged. "Who is it?"
"A young man whose been worried about you since yesterday," she said, pushing open the door to show Kenny. The young man smiled lightly at the two. "He came to check up on you."
"Kenny..." For some reason, it made Tala happy that the male was visiting him.
"Hi," Kenny said. Kai secretly looked from one to the other before getting up from his chair and walking to the door, pulling Kenny into the room and sitting him next to Tala's bedside. If they weren't going to start the conversation, he was going to get them going.
"I'm going to get a change of clothes from the house," Kai said. "Kenny, keep him company until I get back."
"Um...okay."
"Kai," Tala started only to find a smirk on his cousin's face.
"Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself. I'll be okay. You just worry about getting better so we can do what we talked about," Kai said. "And if you're worried, I'm sure that Judy would come with me, right Doctor Tate?"
"Um...yeah. Of course," Judy said.
"See, everything's fine." Kai left the room before Tala said anything, taking Judy with him. Which left just Tala and Kenny, neither one really knowing what to say.
"How are you?" Kenny finally said.
"Fine, I can't complain too much," remarked Tala. "You found your way here on your own?"
"No. Tyson showed me." The statement shocked Tala. His enemy and thorn in the ass showed him the way? "You know...he's not as horrible as you think. I was telling him the same about you. I think if you really got to know each other, you wouldn't be so hostile."
"I don't think he would stop yelling at me long enough to say anything other than kiss my ass Tala." The remark made Kenny chuckle a bit. Tyson had said something similar when he offered to show Kenny the way back to Doctor Tate's office earlier. When Kenny suggested it would be the perfect moment to mend distorted ties between them, it was as if Kenny suggested that Tyson strip and run around town with a blue ribbon on. "What's funny?"
"Tyson said something similar to what you just stated. You two really are alike in some ways, but different in many ways," Kenny smiled. "You should really give each other a chance."
"Maybe," was all Tala said on the subject before noticing that the young man was wearing a collared shirt, hiding the mark he gave the young man. A sly smirk rose to his lips as he sat up.
"Should you be sitting up?" Kenny said immediately.
"I'm fine," Tala said. Reaching over, he pulled Kenny's collar back, revealing the mark. "Got too many questions about it?"
"No! I..." Kenny flushed. "I didn't want anyone else to see it. Tyson went crazy when he found that you were the one that gave it to me. I don't mind it, but it would be sort of complicated to explain."
"I guess so," Tala said, pulling his hand back.
"Tala, can I ask you...something..."
"Shoot."
"Well...your ribs. How exactly did you break them? Were you in a fight?" Kenny wondered. "You don't have to tell me if you don't—"
"Hey, you see that picture on the wall," Tala pointed to a large picture hanging adjacent to the bed. Kenny turned his head to the picture of a plant...? No, it was more like a flowering bush, or than just any regular plant, standing maybe 7 feet tall. Beautiful white flowers with five petals sprouted at the tips of the branches. "You like it? It's one of my favorite types of plants."
"It's nice. Do you know what kind of plant it is?" Kenny inquired.
"It's an Oleander. They originate from the Mediterranean regions of Europe and southwest Asia. They're in the Dogbane family, related to Jasmines and Periwinkle. A long while ago they were cultivate over here. There are different types of Oleanders, but I like this one the best. Simplistic and yet it has its secrets," the young man said. His eyes grew a bit distant thinking about it. "Did you know they are considered poisonous?"
"No...I had no idea," Kenny said.
"Every part of it is poisonous. So they are grown in remote areas where not many people are." There was a pause in the conversation as Tala's eyes flickered over the oleander picture. Kenny watched the shadows in his eyes change, shimmer then fade. What was he thinking about? And why had he dodged the question? Was it that he didn't want to tell Kenny why his ribs were broke or about his eye?
"Tala..."
"You know what, Kenny," Tala interrupted. "They say oleanders are dangerous, and you should try to keep away from them, but there is something worst, that its poison spreads far more quickly and kills mercilessly. Do you have any idea what that is?"
"No, I don't. What is it?" Kenny questioned.
"It's love. Love is the most powerful and deadly poison in the entire world. It can heal someone, it's beautiful supposedly, but it's the most powerful death when it comes in contact with people. It's like an oleander in a way. We don't truly understand why we nurture it if it causes so much harm. Why we take a chance each time to plant it where there's people. Maybe it's because humans hold some hope we can cultivate it without the consequences. Don't you think so?" Tala said, his eyes remaining on the picture.
Kenny was in fact speechless towards it. Listening to Tala speak like that was somewhat of an enlightening experience. The words themselves were deep, much deeper than just thinking on the subject. He believed those words with his soul and heart. He was pained, that Kenny could tell from how his words colored with emotions he knew so well. Bitterness, sorrow, and regret maybe.
"Love may seem like an oleander, but I'm sure that if handled with care, it won't slowly kill you inside when you touch it or take it in," Kenny countered quietly. "Only the foolish would abuse something so wonderful and eradicate those around them. So, now I don't agree."
Tala absorbed the words that the young man said. "You think that?"
"Love can't be as bad as you say unless you know from experience," Kenny said. "Is that why you speak so angst fully upon the subject? How many times have your parents not seen your hand reaching out for them? How many times has your father let you slip farther into the sea? Ignored the burning in your lungs for air?"
"None," Tala said.
"Then how can you say that with so much pain?" Kenny said, looking over at the male.
"Kenny, can I kiss you again," Tala said changing the subject again.
"You always do this when you want to change the subject," Kenny remarked, sitting on the edge of the bed close to Tala. "I'm going to get my answers—"He was silenced by the pair of lips pressed against his. Closing his eyes, he opened his mouth, allowing access to the male. One day, before he left this place, he was going to find out what it was that Tala locked away behind a door he refused to want to open.
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Rimnerel: Okay, I'm finally finished.
Johnny: After allowing Tyson to distract you ten times!
Tyson (smirking): What? I'm a distraction muse. That's my job. Anyway, all work and no fun time in between makes Rim turn into a veggie.
Rimnerel: Well, spending this much time on this chapter turned my mind into a vegetable! Nice going Tyson! (sighs) Okay gang, since I'm done with my tests for a while, I'll get you the next chapter like Wednesday or Thursday. So, until the next chapter, later!