=Normal POV=
(October 7, 2018-1:45 pm)
[Raven Point Park]
Seven friends walked along the paths of the town park while trying to make any sense of what occurred almost an hour ago now. A former friend that the group had walked away from in August when they discovered him making offensive remarks and talking trash about them on social media, was on the verge of tears and had run away demanding to be left alone. Why was this concerning? Because in all the years they had known Hayden Haddock; that man never got cold, angry, nor did he cry. Hayden did run, but it wasn't hard for them to miss how visibly upset he was to have seen them, and try to act like he wasn't hurt that they had abandoned him. However, the gaggle of friends felt like something was very wrong about the encounter, but no one had said a word thus far during their travels.
"Okay! I'll say something; what the hell was all that about with Hayden?" Drew broke the silence.
"I have no idea," Shane shrugged.
"He's your cousin!" Avery rolled her eyes.
"Exactly; I've never seen him like that before," Shane responded.
"None of us have, and that's why it's confusing," Hailey frowned.
"Perhaps not so much," Fisher interjected as the friend glanced in his direction. "I mean; we did stop being his friends, and that probably hurt him,"
"I hate to agree with Fish here, but I think he's right," Rylee informed.
"But why would he snap like that? It's…not like Hayden at all," Tyler asked.
"Seems like there was a lot more going on than running into us unexpectedly," Drew remarked.
"How so?" Hailey wondered.
"For starters; it seemed like he was in his own little world before Avery called his name. We drew attention to ourselves on the cross or I don't think Hayden would have noticed us at all. Secondly; Hayden had been crying, and he didn't deny it once called out," Drew enlightened.
"Also, Hayden rushed off right after saying that he everyone hates him," Avery added.
"I believe Hayden told us too that his parents lost all respect for him, and he'd lost his job. Hayden said he didn't care anymore, and that's not the Hayden we know," Fisher reminded.
"The guy posted a bunch of shit about us; I don't think we knew him at all," Shane mumbled with his arms over his chest.
"That's not fair to say, Shane. Hayden stated that he was hacked, and unfortunately, that kind of thing does happen," Hailey sighed. "Do you think we should have given him a chance instead of walking out?"
"I suppose everyone does deserve to prove their innocence, but it doesn't seem like Hayden's willing anymore because it sounds like what we did in our haste hurt him pretty badly," Avery muttered.
"Well, maybe we should go check on him? Hayden never does what he did today, and if something happened with his parents, plus losing his job or whatever-," Drew started.
"I agree. Hayden was crying, and something was definitely off about him saying that we didn't need to worry about him anymore and goodbye," Fisher looked at his friends.
"And the whole hate me because everyone else does comment. Typically, you don't hear that kind of thing unless someone is wicked depressed and on the verge of a breakdown, which could explain everything else," Rylee offered.
"Well, Hayden ran in the direction of The Cove, and that's always been a favorite spot of his in the summer. Maybe we should try their first?" Hailey suggested.
"Alright. We'll go," Avery closed her eyes.
. . .
[The Cove]
(2 pm)
It was empty and quiet. The seven friends walked around The Cove, but there was no sign of anyone being there except them.
"Guess he's not here," Tyler said. "Now what?"
"We leave. Maybe Hayden saw us coming and bailed?" Shane looked at them questioningly.
"It's possible," Drew replied. Avery was walking back towards them as she tripped over something and stumbled a bit to catch her balance. Avery looked to see a gun laying there, then crouched down to inspect it more.
"What did you find, Avery?" Hailey asked. Avery grabbed a tissue from her backpack's side pocket, then picked the weapon up carefully. "I-Is that a gun?" she stammered.
"And not just any either. I'm almost positive that this is the same one that Hayden's father keeps in the house for the family to use in case of a break in," Avery informed.
"Why would that be out of the home?" Shane inquired.
"I don't know, but I think it's worth taking it to Spencer and Vivian so they could confirm if it's theirs, then let them know where we found it," Avery mentioned. The group nodded in agreement as Avery flipped the safety on, and hid it away in her bag to transport it to the Haddock Household.
. . .
[With Troy & Hayden]
(2 pm)
The new friends had left The Cove fifteen minutes ago, and reached the exit of the park where Troy's car was parked. Somehow, Troy convinced Hayden to come hang out with him so they could get to know one another better.
"What would you like to do?" Troy asked.
"I-I don't know. At this time; I'd still be working until like 7 pm," Hayden admitted. "I guess I should be looking for a new job before I end up homeless," he sighed.
"Searching for employment when you're like this will do you no good, Hayden. You need a day or two to recover from things and get your head right," Troy smiled.
"Yeah, guess it wouldn't be a good idea to try with this mindset," Hayden agreed.
"Well, you undoubtedly don't wanna go home, or risk running into your old friends, so why don't you come home with me? We can have some snacks, game a little and talk?" Troy offered.
"Your family won't mind you bringing home what is essentially a complete stranger?" Hayden quirked a brow.
"As long as I'm not doing drugs or getting myself into trouble; they don't care what I do. If anything, they will be overjoyed I have a friend who I'm bringing over," Troy laughed a little.
"Why don't you bring any friends over?" Hayden questioned.
"Have you ever had to deal with being the son of a cop, embarrassing mother, and annoying little brother?" Troy inquired.
"Yes to the first two, and I'm an only child," Hayden responded as Troy blinked. "My father is Spencer Haddock; Chief of the Berk Police Department, and my mother, Vivian Haddock, owns Hearts & Hugs Second Chance Sanctuary," he informed.
"Wow. My dad, Dustin Raseri, is the Director of Law Enforcement for the Barbaric Archipelago, and my mom, Rachel Raseri, works as a Paramedic," Troy chuckled. "What are the chances that we end up becoming friends and both have parents in the legal and medical field?"
"I, uh, don't know, but it's pretty up there in the probability rate," Hayden smiled some. "What about your little brother?"
"His name is Cole, and he's fifteen, and a Freshman this year at Berk Island High School," Troy said as they reached his car and Troy unlocked it, then both males climbed in and put on their seatbelts.
"I just graduated from there, and you're my age. How come I've never seen you?" Hayden blinked.
"My family and I moved here from Eyja Nott in July," Troy enlightened.
"Ah, that would explain it," Hayden nodded, understanding now. Troy started the car as he put the gear in reverse, then backed out of his space before switching to drive and leaving the Raven Point parking lot.
. . .
[Raseri Household]
(2:15 pm)
The drive wasn't long, fifteen minutes from the park to reach Troy's home. Pulling up, Hayden saw a beautiful one-level brick house with an attached one car garage. The outside view from the car showed a semi-large front yard, bushes, few trees, and the walkway to the front door which was under wooden cover.
"You know, there's a lot more to admire inside," Troy remarked as Hayden unbuckled his seatbelt, then the two got out. Troy led Hayden to the main door and opened it. "Again, sorry about my parents," he said. "Mom! Dad! I'm home, and I brought a friend with me!" he called out.
"What are you sorry for?" Hayden asked as Troy held up five fingers, slowly putting them down as three people rushed forward.
"This," Troy sighed.
"Oh, wonderful! Hello, dear!" the mother greeted.
"Hi," Hayden waved nervously.
"Hayden, this is my mother, Rachel. And next to her is my father, Dustin. Finally, my brother, Cole. Guys, this is Hayden; we just met at the park and became such good friends that I insisted he come hang out," Troy introduced.
"Well, welcome to our home, Hayden," Dustin smiled.
"Thank you, Mr. Raseri. It's beautiful," Hayden complimented.
"Alright, so I'm gonna give Hayden a tour, then we're probably gonna hit my room to game. Cool with you two?" Troy asked his parents.
"Absolutely! Will you be staying for dinner, Hayden? I'm making baked macaroni and cheese with broccoli and chicken," Rachel said.
"O-Oh, I wouldn't want to impose. Or make you go out of your way to feed an extra," Hayden said nervously.
"Sweetheart, I am the only female in this house. I make enough food to feed at least eight people, so it's no trouble at all! Come, you must stay!" Rachel beamed.
"A-Alright," Hayden nodded. Rachel clapped her hands together happily.
"Come on, Hayden. I'll show ya around," Troy motioned as Dustin, Cole, and Rachel all split off to do their own thing. "Well, this is the living room on your right," he began showing the area. Hayden could see that it had a big picture window on the right, and a fireplace with shelves built into the wall on either side towards the back. Troy kept walking to where there was a hall on the left, but straight ahead was the dining room/kitchen. "Down this way is mom and dad's room on the left, then forward is the bathroom, and right is dad's office,"
"And I assume that way is the dining room and kitchen?" Hayden pointed.
"That's right," Troy chuckled as he led Hayden into it. There was a four-person table, but Hayden could see that if pulled apart; the table could extend. There were two windows directly across, then a china cabinet on the left wall. Opposite of that was a horseshoe kitchen with stools at the counter which continued around to show another window above the sink, then more counter until the stove top. There were cabinets both above and below all the way around, and as Troy showed him more, there was a microwave and smaller oven on the right wall, next to another, smaller counter space with cabinets and the refrigerator.
"Is your room through there?" Hayden asked motioning to the open door frame between the fridge and stove.
"No, that's laundry, utility closet, and an extra freezer, but it does lead to the back porch, garage, and basement doors," Troy chuckled while continuing forward as Hayden followed. There were three doors after going left into the room off the kitchen. The left led to the back porch, the one in the middle was the garage, and the right door revealed stairs behind it. "Not much on the porch except patio set, and grill that we use in the summer or for picnics. The garage is self-explanatory, but down here is mine and Cole's rooms," Troy took Hayden down the stairs revealing a finished basement that had couches, a bar, televisions, and more.
"Wow, someone ran a bar out of here before you moved in?" Hayden blinked.
"No idea, but it works so Cole and I use it to store drinks and snacks. We call it Raseri Cave; don't judge," Troy said.
"It's a nice name, and fitting," Hayden smiled.
"Alright, so Cole's room is the far door on the right along this wall; and mine is right here. We've got this central room split up for which side belongs to which brother. Cole gets everything on the side, and I get this section," Troy explained. "We each get a TV and there are basically two living room sets," he added.
"What's back there?" Hayden questioned.
"Holiday decorations and storage, plus an exit in case we get trapped down here. Oh, and a bathroom," Troy led him past Cole's room and through the doorway. Hayden was able to see the small place ahead of them that he assumes was the bathroom, but then off to the right was another room where there were boxes in different areas labeled for each holiday. Hayden noticed the five stairs and a door passage. "That takes us into the backyard closest to the side of the house where the line of trees is across from the porch," he mentioned.
"Your home is amazing," Hayden informed.
"Thanks," Troy replied while he and Hayden returned to the central room. "Well, my room literally just has a bed, dresser, desk, and closet. I keep all my gaming stuff out here, so what do you say to us grabbing some snacks, and sodas, then hitting the systems?"
"I say that sounds like a fun time that I could desperately use after everything today. Seriously, thank you, Troy, for earlier," Hayden told him.
"Hey, what are best friends for? Come on! Mom won't be done with dinner until 5:30 pm; we got like, at least three hours to kill," Troy put his arm around Hayden's shoulders, then gave a squeeze and shake as Hayden nodded to him. Hayden sat down on the couch across from the TV as Troy brought over a bowl of chips and two sodas for them. Troy got one of his systems hooked up and laid out the game choice for Hayden. Once one was selected, Troy popped it in as the teenagers starting playing. Hayden knew he had bigger things to worry about, but for right now, he was just glad to have someone who went out of their way to help him out. Troy was fantastic, and Hayden could not argue that Troy was indeed his best and only friend.