Chapter Two
Hunter called Dustin early that morning. When Dustin did not answer, he got dressed snatched a donut and drove over to his friend's house. Twenty minutes later he was driving up the driveway and turning the car off. Getting out, he paused making sure he had his cell with him as he walked up the sidewalk and rang the door bell. Someone moved over and unlocked the door. Pulling it open.
Hunter gave Dustin's father a smile. Fumbling with his newspaper as Hunter tossed it to him.
Dustin's Dad gave a 'thank you' nod and gestured for Hunter to proceed into the house.
Hunter's slow steps revealed his tiredness.
"He's not up yet but hey you and I can talk while we wait for my lazy son to get up."
Hunter burst into a bright-laughter.
"I hear ya. But yeah so you been keeping up with your riding?" Hunter asked as he sat down on the couch in the living room. Dad following suit.
"Course . . . you? I heard you got into that Academy or University place . . . what's its name . . . ?" Dustin's Dad fumbled with the right name of the college Hunter had wanted to attend.
"CSU." Hunter offered after a moment. He blushed slightly. He hadn't meant for the world to know he'd been accepted into, "California State University. It's got all that I want in a college. I am just not totally prepared to leave at the moment. Plus I am waiting to hear word from my bro. You remember Blake? He went pro so I want to make sure that he knows where I am and I know where he is. That way if he breaks his neck I'll know where to find him and, kill him for it."
"Right, right. Well that's great for him. I am thrilled to see any of you three boys motocrossing."
Another pause was made as the distinct sound of an alarm blaring and a body crashing to the floor was heard.
"Must be my son. Only he crashes that hard." A shared chuckle as the two stood from their comfortable spots. "You want some coffee?" Holding his own cup that needed a refill. He made his way to the doorway of the kitchen.
"That'd be great."
"All right then follow me. Dustin'll be rushin' in hear in no time. I am making him a cup too."
"Oh so it's you who makes him hyper with all that caffeine." Hutner teased, grabbing a cup from the cupboard and starting to fill his own. He handed it to Dustin's Dad and then went for the sugar and cream.
"Dude! I gotta go. We're going to be late." Dustin rushed in. Hair totally askew and struggling with his favorite yellow shirt. He combed his fingers through his hair in a rush. His Dad handed him the prepared travel cup of coffee, "thanks Dad."Sipping it, then blowing on his burned lip.
"Careful it's hot." Hunter couldn't help but exclaim. Pulling his keys out of his back pocket.
"Dude, I am so not a morning person." Was his answer, ungracefully he jammed socks and shoes in a bag, "you drive, let's go."
Hunter started forward.
"Thanks Mr. Brooks." He remarked, referring to the coffee. Dustin was already at the door and out of it. In a hurry to get to the airport and pick up their new friend. Hunter followed at his own pace getting in and sliding into the driver's seat.
"Somebody in a rush?" He inquired innocently as he drummed his fingers on the dashboard before putting the key in the ignition.
Dustin shrugged slightly. Putting on one sock before...
"I don't want to be late . . . For once . . . well not exactly once- but you know what I mean."
Hunter gave his head a solid shake.
"Not entirely." Backing out of the driveway. He looked over his shoulder at his best friend. He made a left and started toward the entrance to the freeway. Dustin was lost in thought so he barely heard the music blasting from the speakers.
"So did Van ever mention his sister?" Dustin glanced toward Hunter's direction a moment before taking a sip of his coffee. The warm, feeling of a hot cup of coffee bringing back memories of him and his Dad, getting breakfast after a practice run out on the track. They'd go to this place two blocks from his house and just sit there. Talking. It was the second best part of the day.
"Nope. Speaking of," Hunter beeped his horn at a wild car as he switched lanes, " what's her name."
Hunter had needed to turn down the volume so neither would have to shout their answers back and forth.
"McKenna. McKenna Shields."
"Huh . . . " Dustin was just about to ask what Hunter had meant exactly when he said "huh" but never got a chance because he saw their exit.
"Hey! Get into that lane, there's our exit!" Hunter snapped to attention at Dustin's hurried voice. The car swerving a hard right. They slowed down and after about five miles started into the entrance of the Airport.
"Woah...it's big." Dustin was looking in twenty directions attempting to soak in all the confusion surrounding an airport.
"You never been to an airport?" Hunter was mildly amused at Dustin's gaping mouth.
"Nah. I have never been to this one. The one I have been to was a lot smaller. Maybe we should park somewhere over there."
Pointing to a sign that had said "parking garage".
They parked and gradually made their way inside the massive building. It was teeming with life. All sorts of passengers and non-passengers were coming and going past the two. Sometimes one or two would push them out of the way, in a hurry to get somewhere. Teenage girls and business people alike attached to their cell phones like glue. Creating an even larger noise than there might have been.
They walked toward the escalators and took a left.
"Think she arrived yet?" Dustin asked his friend. Searching the people. But not really knowing what she looked like.
"Probably..."
A girl walked right past Hunter bumping into him. She laughed as she continued to go to the direction of baggage claim.
"Hey watch it!" Hunter yelled at her. She merely waved her hand in dismissal. "Who do you think you are!"
Now he was getting angry. An older woman in A blue skirt/suit was running to catch up to the girl. She stomped her foot in aggravation.
"MCKENNA! MCKENNA! DON'T YOU DARE WALK AWAY FROM ME YOUNG LADY!"
It was the two boys' turn to blink, in confusion. Dustin stopped the woman, tapping her on the shoulder.
"Was that McKenna Shields? We're looking for her."
The older woman sniffed in frustration. Her eyes carefully taking notes.
"Yes . . . Are you-" She had started but then Dustin stuck his hand out for her to shake.
"Dustin Brooks. We were instructed by Kiana to pick her up from here."
"Ah yes. I remember now. Good . . . good. You can take that bloody witch off my hands. Have fun." Then the woman, huffed, turning back and starting toward another entrance as someone over a loud speaker spoke of a leaving plane.
"Guess she had a plane to catch." Dustin gave his pal a shrug as he started toward baggage claim to speak to McKenna.
"I think she's the witch." Hunter snickered as he followed Dustin.
McKenna brushed her hair out of her dark brown eyes as she slid an elastic around her hair, twisting it up into an odd, ponytail.
She sighed loudly, leaning her back on the brace of a structure. All, the while, looking for her pink bags. Cringing at the high-pitched squeal of her babysitter from the institution. She shook her head. Not like she had been asked if she wanted to come back here . . . when did she ever have a choice for the past ten years? Somebody tapped her on the shoulder and she set herself in stone mode. Her feelings had been damaged for so long, that she felt she could not be able to hope for any sort of feelings ever again. Especially at the hands of that babysitter from hell. Expecting the worst, she twirled slightly. Her breath caught in her throat. Amazed that it hadn't been her sitter.
"Who are you?" She asked in high sarcasm as she glanced unsure at them. Her hands folding over her chest.
Dustin's jaw dropped. He didn't answer hers but asked one.
"Is that color hair real?" In slight shock, the five-foot-three-inch girl, in jeans and pink shirt, with raven hair and dark brown eyes resembled nothing like the picture-perfectness of her siblings. Her siblings carried the blue-eyed-blond-hair tradition that ran in the family.
"Yes." She snapped losing her cool. "Why? Cuz I don't look like my siblings? Believe me I am glad."
Hunter causally made his way to the duo.
"Hey can just get your bags and get going?" He slid his hands in his pockets, a look of boredom crossing his face. McKenna returned his gaze with a 'put off' look of her own.
"Whatever." She saw out of the corner of her eyes, her bags,
"Ooh!" struggling against the others waiting, she grabbed her small duffle bag. When she returned Dustin looked surprised.
"Is that all you got?"
"Yep."
McKenna didn't know what to think of the two of them. So she calmly, mutely, followed them as they went to the garage and then slammed the door shut. Making sure they understood how annoyed she was at the present situation.
Dustin didn't know how to help her. He thought maybe she just needed her space and he gave it to her. After all it would be hard to explain why she was temporarily staying at his house instead of being with her own family.
Hunter was none too happy about the argumentative tone she held, so he bit his tongue and said nothing.
Half way home she broke the silence.
"So Van, how's our precious family." Venom pressed into each and every word. Hunter who'd been drinking, his cold coffee, spit it out hastily, coughing violently.
"You think I am your brother?" He hadn't meant to sound angry. Dustin twisted so that he and McKenna were facing one another.
"Aren't you?" Fear . . . no panic slowly creeping up into her voice.
"No." Was the sharp answer.
"But...but...you've got blond hair just like..."
McKenna wiped tears out of her eyes. Or at least that's what Dustin had guessed. He saw her worried expression.
"We're not kidnaping you, if that's what you're thinking..."
They were about a block from Dustin's house.
"Really . . . I don't care." She tried to act indifferent. "Then who are you?" Unable to resist for long. She started to relax a little. She hadn't been ready to face her siblings quite yet and if she had to she would beat them boys, senseless.
Hunter, gave her a wave with his hand before returning it to the steering wheel.
"I am Hunter, this is Dustin." Pointing with his thumb to the one in yellow.
"Oh . . . " Was all she said to them both.
Hunter then continued with,
"I work with your brother-" Was all that he could get out of his mouth before McKenna screamed in anger and without warning orbed out of the car, to the sidewalk. Dustin and Hunter's mouths played agape. Dustin said:
"Woah that was cool."
As Hunter hit the brakes and it halted with a loud screech as he said, "now I know why her babysitter thought she was a witch." Then both jumped out of the car.
McKenna had landed off of her feet on the sidewalk with a thud. She scrambled up as she saw them heading her way.
"Back off!" She yelled to them both. Shaking her head in refusal. "I am not going back to them... and you can't make me."
Dustin and Hunter stood six feet from her on the sidewalk.
"What are we going to do now? I am pretty sure she refused to get back in the car!"
Hunter's glare didn't evoke any response from the young teen as she stood there. Usure of her or their next play.
"Well dude you did kinda make a bad move." Dustin pointed out, "you shouldn't have mentioned you worked with her brother."
"Golden boy's right." McKenna responded, " but what's worse is neither of you said whom ya was."
Dustin took a step towards her and she took a step back. Hunter grabbed Dustin's shoulder. He gave Dustin the 'don't move' look.
"She's got to come to us-not the other way around."
Dustin went from her to him than back to her.
"It's not like we were planning on playing you." Dustin's eyes spoke truth but she didn't believe that she could trust in him.
While Hunter huffed before said,
"It's not like you asked."
McKenna shifted, her feet aching to flee the scene. Unlike the carefree attitude that Hunter and Dustin were expressing.
"Why don't we start over? My name's Dustin Brooks, this is Hunter Bradley." He held up his hands, palms up. Slowly drifting towards her. She hadn't moved back, something was telling her, inside, not to fight them . To give them the chance that they deserved. He held out his hand and she accepted. Then took a look past Dustin to his friend.
"I am sorry about-" She started to say feeling some remorse for causing trouble.
"Orbing away from us-"
"No problem, dude it was kinda cool!" Dustin exclaimed. The two realized that they had not let go of each other's hands. Reluctantly she dropped her hand from his. It was an innocent and sweet moment.
Right up until the kelzaks appeared surprising the three. McKenna screamed, from the disruption, not fear.
They quickly surrounded the three, giving them no way out but to fight. Dustin had to shove McKenna behind him in order to protect her. He had no idea if she, like her siblings, was a decent fighter but he was not willing to put her life on the line.
Dustin started to attack them and checked to make sure Hunter was doing all right. Hunter was losing bad to the red and black freak.
"Hunter watch out!" McKenna yelled. Enough was enough and McKenna found she had a strange urge to fight off these goons.
Cartwheeling to Hunter's rescue she landed and struck the first and hitch-kicked the second. But it was to late before either could stop them the kelzaks had what they came for!
"NO!" both yelled. Running towards where he had stood moments ago. The kelzaks disappeared and McKenna broke down crying.
