THE REUNION

Today I changed

New town with the same old face

One way to shake this place

That I can't escape

Stuck in America

Sugarcult

'Hey boys, just letting you know that Rachel's gone out to a friends. Kirsten is buying dinner tonight so don't worry about making anything. I'll see you later."

"That's it?" Ryan asked.

Seth was staring blankly at the answering machine. "Unless it decides to give us an encrypted code with more message, I'm guessing, yes."

Ryan nodded his head slightly feeling a sense of relief now that he knew where his sister was. Coming home to an empty house after everything that had been happening wasn't something that he needed right now.

"So..." Seth began.

"So...?" Ryan asked.

"Is it just me or is Rachel different somehow?" Seth thought about his question. "Okay, that was the most obvious question I think anyone could have asked."

"Got that right."

Seth opened up the fridge and pulled out some juice. "You want any?" he asked

"Nuh, I'm good."

Ryan watched Seth's face as he poured himself a glass, it seemed as though he was having an internal fight with himself, contemplating wether or not he should do something.

I can't tell him, she told me not too, a voice said to Seth.

He's her brother, he has the right to know, said another.

If she finds out she'll kill you.

It's not like you have a choice.

Seth turned to talk to Ryan and his arm swept over the bench knocking the open juice carton off and spilling the contents all over the floor.

"Dammit," he whispered.

"Something wrong?" Ryan asked.

Seth disappeared behind the counter and re-emerged only a moment later, wet paper towels' in hand.

He placed his hands on the top of the counter and took in a deep breath before looking directly at Ryan.

"Rachel..."

Ryan stared at him expectantly. "What?"

"She cut herself."

Seth instantly saw Ryan's face drop as his words hit home. He couldn't know how he was feeling, even though Seth himself loved Rachel with all his heart, to know what it was like to have such news broken to you, as a brother was something Seth hoped he would never know.

Ryan couldn't speak, no words were forming as his mind completely stopped. He was trying to convince himself that Seth was lying, that this was all just some joke. How could his baby sister be cutting herself? It just wasn't possible.

"She came to my room a couple of nights ago," Seth began, cautious as to how he worded his explanation. "I saw it by accident."

Ryan looked strongly at him. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Well for starters, she pretty much threatened to kill me if I did, and you don't wanna mess with that girl when she's mad."

"Seth!" Ryan screamed, his voice was full of emotion. "Do you have any idea how serious this is?"

Seth looked back at Ryan with an honest face. "Of course I do, that's why I am telling you. She needs help Ryan. This is getting way beyond what we thought it would be."

Ryan wasn't hearing his words any more, he was just staring into space, mind blank of thought.

"Wake up, we're here."

The voice sounded from the distance, but as Rachel slowly opened her eyes to the twilight sun she became aware that it was coming from right next to her.

"Hey, lady, are you listening?"

Her eyes slowly came into focus, before a gut wrenching, tidal wave of memories flooded into her mind. Looking around to see the mobile homes, some barely standing, her entire childhood flashed before her eyes.

Drunken mother....

Broken promises....

Two protective brothers....

Lost friendships....

Lost love....

Rachel slowly unbuckled her seatbelt feeling as though she were in a dream world. Nothing seemed real; nothing registered properly in her mind.

She took a tight hold on her bag and only then realised that the driver was leaning over her, taking a hold of the doorhandle and throwing the door open.

"Caleb said to drop you off and go."

Rachel nodded absently before climbing out of the car. She smelt the familiar smell of times gone by. Saw the familiar houses lined along the street.

It was only when the driver slammed the door and took off down the road leaving her alone on the street did she realise what was happening.

She was back.

"Home sweet home."

As the night slowly fell Ryan sat alone in the pool house, his mind awhirl with emotions and realisations. Rachel was falling apart; nothing about her screamed his sister any more. He felt that it was entirely his fault. Lately he just hadn't been the brother he used to be, they never talked, never shared stories, emotions.

Somehow Ryan believed that through their previous connection they had been each other's strengths. Used one another as a shoulder hold onto, to lean on, to cry on.

It wasn't the same any more. Everything was changing, and none of it for the better.

Ryan looked out the windows and into the backyard wondering at that moment; just what Rachel was going through.

He smirked at the sight, a young girl, walking alone through the mean streets of his town, oblivious to the dangers, which lurked around every corner.

"Hey good looking!" He yelled out causing his companion to raise an eyebrow in anticipation. "You charge by the hour?"

She suddenly stopped in her tracks at the comment and he quickened his pace, easily closing in the distance between them.

"You, know a girl like you could get in a lot of trouble in a place like this."

He suddenly pounced, charging at the girl and intending to take a hold of her. But to his surprise she sidestepped the attack and spun around with every intention on punching him square in the face.

He stopped short when his eyes fell on her face. A familiar one.

"Rachel?"

Rachel's fist stopped mere inches from her friend's face. "Mitch?"

"Well, look at you. I thought you knew better than that. Street's ain't safe."

Rachel was dumbfounded. What were the odds of running into someone from Ryan's old gang so soon?

"You know me, never been one to follow the rules."

Mitch laughed at the comment only then becoming aware that his fellow stalker was positioned behind Rachel. Mitch instantly went to stop him, but was too slow and soon Rondell had one arm rapped around her waist, the other blocking the instinctive strike, which came at his face.

"Wow, girl, hold up, it's me," he said.

Rachel froze letting her hand fall to her side but not before giving Rondell and decent wack in the stomach.

"What the hell are you trying to do, get yourself killed?" She asked accusingly.

"Only by the best," he replied.

Rachel rolled her eyes at the comment but at the same time she felt relieved to have familiar faces around her again.

Rondell took the bag she had slung over he shoulder and swung it slightly as the trio began to walk to the gangs meeting place.

"So how's my dog Ryan these days?" Mitch asked.

Rachel shrugged knowing that her brother would come up in the conversation eventually but at the same time hoping to bypass any small talk on him.

"He's cool," she replied bluntly.

"You know it's been too long girl, we missed you runnin' with the boys." Rondell was smiling as he spoke.

Rachel looked over at him, their eyes meeting for the briefest of moments. "I missed it too."

When they finally arrived at the run-down mobile home each of them breathed in the smell of cigarettes and alcohol. Rachel then realised that they were the only people in the three bedroom home.

"So what's been going down? Looks like everyone jumped ship," she commented taking to the sofa.

Mitch sat across from her opening up a fresh bottle of beer and taking a swig. "Out doin' some re-con," he said as Rondell sat beside Rachel. "Had a confrontation with Theoty's gang. Remember him?"

"Yeah, A.J's men, right?" Rachel asked shivering slightly at the thought of her mother's boyfriend.

"You got it. They said more would come tomorrow night."

Rachel frowned slightly. "Tomorrow night?"

"Down the road, past your old street," Rondell stated.

"What for?" Rachel asked. "These guys still do the revenge thing?"

Rondell smirked at the comment. "Mitch here went for a tumble with Theoty's sister."

"Since when does anyone cared about that?" Rachel asked sarcastically.

Mitch smiled at her. "No one cared with you because you're such a sweet find. Let's just say you know what you're doing."

Rachel cocked her head to one side. "And she doesn't?"

"She's already got a bit of flesh on the side who don't like Mitch moving in on his territory if you get what I'm saying."

Rachel let on a small that-explains-it nod.

"You know," Mitch said leaning forward on his elbows to look directly into Rachel's face. "Kurt missed you."

"I bet he did," Rachel replied absently.

"Said he hasn't found one as good as you since you and Ryan skipped town."

"Be still my heart," Rachel commented bluntly.

Rondell gave her slight nudge. "So, you two gonna hook up again?"

An image of Seth flashed across Rachel's mind and she was instantly filled with thoughts of him. The way he kissed her. The way she seemed to fit perfectly into his arms.

Later that night as Rachel slept she felt the bed she was in shift slightly then two strong arms encircle her waist.

"Hey Babe," came a familiar male voice from behind her.

Rachel didn't flinch; instead, she moved further back, pressing her body deeper into the new arrivals, feeling his breath against her neck.

"I missed you," she whispered sleepily.

A small laugh sounded. "Don't blame you."

Rachel voiced a small tired moan and turned her head slightly seeing Kurt lying beside her. She felt him kiss her neck lightly before she shifted her body and faced him fully.

A mischievous smile was evident on his face, even though the room was dark.

Rachel could just make out his attire, fully white. An Everlast singlet donned his torso, exposing his well-shaped arms. Champion sweat pants sat loosely on his waist. His face hadn't changed, it was still so beautiful. Dark brown eyes, which Rachel's always seemed to get lost in and dark brown hair to match, which thanks to the gel used to spike it almost seemed black.

It was no surprise that this young man, two years her senior and one of Ryan's past best friends was such a popular one amongst the ladies.

However, despite what others might say he had only ever had eyes for the girl whom was lying next to him now, in the house which he called his home.

Kurt noticed how Rachel seemed to be staring at him and raised an eyebrow.

"What?" She whispered.

He looked at her for a moment before pulling her close against him never letting his arms leave her waist.

"I forgot how innocent you look when you sleep," he murmured.

"Innocent?"

Kurt smirked. "If that's possible."

He pulled her closer to him so their bodies touched and their lips brushed against each other.

Rachel remembered the first time this had happened; it seemed so long ago now, almost a lifetime. They had been together for the first time – her first time – in the very bed they were in now. She couldn't help but feel her body stiffen slightly at the thought. For her, right here, right now, was not a good time.

She could feel Kurt smiling against her mouth even though he barely touched her, he was thinking the exact same thing and she knew it.

"Kurt..." she began but was cut off by his lips pressed against hers.

A jolt went through Rachel's body; they hadn't been together in so long. One of his hands moved to the small of her back, the other to the side of her face as the kiss deepened.

As he moved his lips down her neck and along her collarbone he rolled himself on top of her. Rachel could feel his hands travelling down her sides and coming to rest on her hips as his pinned her beneath him.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered meeting her lips again, feeling her fingers snake their way into his hair.

Kurt broke their contact for a moment allowing Rachel to catch her breath and he smiled down at her. He pictured the last time they had been together, the night before Ryan took her away from him. He had never felt so alive.

"Do you remember the first time?" He asked.

Rachel nodded her head not having a chance to speak because Kurt's lips were on hers again, taking away her breath. His hands moved from her hips and began to slowly push her top up exposing her flesh.

Rachel knew that if had not been dark, Kurt would have instantly wanted to know about the scars, which were evident there, along with her tattoos'.

Her hands pressed against his muscular chest and moved to rid him of his shirt before stopping short.

Rachel's eyes flew open and she instantly pulled away.

"I can't do this," she said.

Kurt frowned at her. "Why not Babe? You know you want to." He moved in again but this only caused Rachel to wriggle out from under him.

"I don't..." Rachel paused mid-sentence. "I – I can't."

Kurt looked at her for a moment before moving closer. "What's wrong?"

Rachel shook her head even though she was well aware that Kurt could tell she was lying.

"Nothing."

Slowly he nodded his head. "Get some sleep," he whispered.

Rachel lay back down, her back facing him and tried her hardest to again return to the realm of dreams.

She felt Kurt's arm rap warmly around her, his fingers entwining with hers as he did. A light kiss was placed on the side of her neck, followed by another one further down on her shoulder.

"Night Babe," Kurt whispered resting his head against hers.

Rachel didn't reply because she wasn't thinking about the young man lying beside her, she was thinking about another young man who should be there instead.

Seth awoke with a start to the sound of the phone ringing. Turning to his bedside table he reached out a little too far and soon found himself tumbling off the bed and onto the floor with a loud thump.

"Ow..." he whined rubbing his back slightly before half-heartedly picking up the phone and climbing back into bed.

"Hello?" he murmured.

An eerie silence filled the receiver but Seth thought he could just make out the sounds of someone breathing lightly on the other line.

"Hello?" He said again.

Seth groaned loudly thinking about all of the possible things he would do to the person who not only woke him up, but caused him to injure himself in the stupidest of ways.

"Look, if you don't say something soon, I'm hanging up and going back to sleep."

Still the phone remained silent.

He pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at it for a moment before fumblingly slamming it back down on the cradle. Turning his back on it as though it had betrayed him, Seth rolled over onto his side and closed his eyes.

Little did he know that if he had only waited one more moment he would have heard the young girls voice on the other end.

"Seth..."

TO BE CONTINUED.........

(Hello my gentle readers, sorry it had taken a little longer to get this chapter posted but I was kinda going through the whole 'writers block'.

Next chapter is focused a lot in Chino though don't worry there is still stuff in New Port. Obviously the Cohen's realise what's actually going on. There will also be a confrontation between Rachel and her mother Dawn and a scene I thought I had to put in, Rachel seeing Trey in jail. Don't worry the whole Seth/Rachel thing will be sorted out eventually.

Just to give you a little bit of a scare also...not all goes well in the fight between Ryan's old gang and Theoty's when one of your favourite characters gets caught in the line of fire – and no, it's not Rachel. Please review!!)