Three days earlier …

A teenage boy gets off at Grand Central Station, swings his messenger bag across his back and brushes his fingers casually through his gel-slicked hair. Shoves a fist into his worn jacket as his hair falls back into place. Businessmen clutching briefs skid past him as he stands frozen, admiring their quick paces and the noise their shoes made on the flooring.

Once he hears the train beginning takeoff for their next routes, he steps through a crowd of well-dressed lawyers and excited tourists.

There's so much here, even if only a train station. Everything's just so different.

Foreign.

That's what he feels: foreign. Because of how he looked, because of how he walked, because of where he came from.

Everyone dressed differently and walked with a more rapid, overconfident step. He needed to be like that here. He needed to be strong and willing like these people, who looked like they dominated the world as they sped to their destinations.

Chin up and shoulders squared, he moves to stride and precisely narrows his eyes as he searches for the closest direction to his own endpoint.

Not great with directions in something he barely knew, he approaches a woman standing by the train, checking the time on her golden Gucci watch. As he reaches her, she jumps at his presence and nearly drowns when in his eyes, which possessed the color of sunlight reflecting off muddy waters.

He spoke first, mostly because of her loss of words from his boyish handsomeness. "Now, ma'am, if you don't mind me. Do you know of the nearest route to … ah –" He sneaks a glance at the document in his hand, meeting her eyes once again. "Midtown Manhattan?"

She nods and directs a topaz-clad forefinger to a path flooded with escalators as the people hurry to reach them. "Right through there. Head up the escalator and the next stairs on your right-hand side and you'll be outside in an instant."

He nods after processing her information. "Thank you," he says and dips his head. "Have a good day."

Dimples crease the edges of her mouth in a smile. "Likewise."

And he heads to the escalators, patting a gloved hand on the banister as he smiles at what would soon be his home.

X

"Mhmm, gphma, yphna, hungry …"

From underneath the table, Bryn lodges her heel into Steven's sneaker. He startles, wipes drool off his chin with a textbook, and tosses it onto the ground. Matt watches in amusement as Steven dries his chin, cursing vulgarly, lifts his foot up onto an empty seat to make sure his toe isn't severely damaged.

"Come on, man, I was only sleeping." Steven drawls to Bryn, who keeps her eyes on him blankly. Circles hollow beneath her painted eyelids, clearly due to lack of proper sleep. "What's wit you? You look as dead as Betty White."

"Just exhausted." she replies. "You would be, too, if you had to listen to your brother snoring from down the hall. Plus, I had to study all this stuff for the music teacher. I'm freaking because I finally have to teach the new student for Mr. Man's afterschool class."

Steven smiles sheepishly and lifts his shoulders. "I'm just tired and –"

"Hungry, right?"

Bryn jumps when Steven slams his palms on the table, pointing a quivering finger at Matt, who is unaffected. Steven continues to glare at him with a dimpled smirk.

"Bitch, stay outta my head!" he yells and Bryn cracks a smile. "How the hell you know?"

Matt shrugs and cocks a brow. "Lucky guess, I suppose."

"Hey."

For half a moment, Bryn had considered the voice to be Javier's. Maybe she was finally getting the apology she deserved since Tinsley's drugged kidnapping and the anniversary of the teacher's death. But so far there's been nothing, only silent backlash as he's been avoiding her since their argument. She didn't care though. Not if he treated her as terrible as Vena did him.

The man before them was tall with pride. His brown hair spiked and unmasked intensity in his eyes. His mouth twists and his gaze is purely serious. He didn't wear a St. Jude uniform but a gray pullover sweatshirt and dark jeans with tears in the knee. He casually folds a hand in his pocket and stares between them.

"Do any of you know a –" He takes a glance at the paper in hand. "Bryn … Blackwell? The music teacher-dude told me to come find her."

Bryn raises her hand. "Present." she calls from beside Stradlin, eyes narrow. "You new? I don't think I've seen you here before."

He smiles. "I moved here a while ago, I'm Kenny. Kenny ... Ciccone."

Steven nods between Matt and Bryn. "Kenny, dude. No need for formalities. We don't use that here, especially if Bryn's your teacher."

"And since I am –" Bryn begins, smoothing down her skirt as she glides towards him. "Why don't you join me for a coffee-run? To show people how I'm actually human and actually take coffee breaks like any normal person." She meets Steven's eyes and they share smirks.

He shoves her arm. "Fine, but you're paying."

She walks ahead and looks back to smirk. "Next time, you are."

They watch them walk off as Steven throws his head back and groans.

"Damn, I wish I could hook up with someone that easily!"

X

Claire and Tinsley sit on the bleachers as they watch Harper's lacrosse match. Tinsley watches with intrigue as Claire does proudly at who she once dated. It was insane how they both looked at him with different eyes: Tinsley's in fascination, Claire's in greed.

"I've never realized how talented he was," Tinsley breathes as Harper is swift on the field. The coach observes his step thoroughly. "He's an athlete and his sister's a musician. It's cool how talented people are." Claire keeps her eyes solely on Harper and nods at Tinsley though she doesn't really care for what she what saying.

Was it so wrong to like him and Dean? It's not like she'd ever hook up with him again. He didn't want her anymore. He already had his sights on Tinsley and spent more time with the guys than he did her and always called her selfish. She was spending time with Tinsley, was with Dean yesterday, and the day before she went to see Javier.

He could at least show consideration and spend reasonable time with her.

"He always was." The words slip before she can stop them. Tinsley doesn't pay mind as she hurriedly stops to nod, not bothering to turn around as she watches Harper with glinting eyes. "I think he always will be too … it's just his thing."

"A Blackwell thing." Tinsley corrects and finally looks away from Harper. "Bryn's great, too. She's really talented and is even trying to teach me how to play guitar."

"I wish her luck with that," Claire jokes and they share smiles. "I can only wonder how she'll teach the person she's supposed to receive today. She's pretty impatient at times."

In a synchronized movement, Harper shoots the ball past a mid-fielder, blocking their strike and effortlessly scoring. The goalkeeper collapses to the grass after a failed attempt of catching the ball.

The other fielders surrounding Harper cheer and scream for him as Tinsley jumps up, a bright grin on her face as she claps and whoops. Claire doesn't make as big of an effort to cheer as she stares over him with a smile.

"Go, Harper!" Tinsley yells as he removes his helmet to shake the hair out of his eyes. His smile stays when he looks over them. "You show 'em!"

He chuckles and puts his helmet back on, adjusting it correctly. "Will do." He returns to his team as the ball is thrown. The game is restarted. The coach continues watching, eyes skimming the field and the frantic steps of his team.

Tinsley sits once she sees Harper already concentrating on scoring. She catches Claire's gaze happily and notices how her demeanor has changed. She has suddenly grown rigid and quiet, her brows furrowed and a dent on her forehead. Tinsley's smile fades and she raises her brows. "Are you okay?" she asks. "You look … stressed."

"Far from it." she answers, words throaty. "I've just had a lot on my mind. Nothing too important. Wasn't Harper great out there?"

All apprehension disappears from Tinsley's face as she nods. Stray giggles escaping her. "Yeah, he is. I wonder where Bryn and Javier are. I haven't seen them all day."

Claire shrugs and smirks. "Who knows? They're probably together." she says with a gossipy smile. "They may even be dating."

The blonde looks away to laugh and suddenly notices a couple coming into view. They chat and laugh like a couple as the girl hands something to him, she looks to him and a warm smile graces her. She shoves his arm and motions for him to follow as she approaches Tinsley and Claire.

The queen bee's eyes nearly bulge out of her skull. "Bryn has a new guy already?"

The guy follows chivalrously. Before Tinsley could formulate a proper reply, her smile becomes a smirk when she sees them and she directs her hand to the man, holding her coffee.

"Hey, guys," she greets. "I wanted to introduce you guys to my student, Kenny."

Even though they didn't know who Kenny was, they both had the same thought.

Hotness.

Kenny smirks, something like Bryn's. "It's cool to meet you both," he murmurs and narrows his eyes, adding secrecies to his stunning gaze. "Did anyone ever tell you both that you're both gorgeous?" Claire and Tinsley reply to his comment with their most dazzling smiles.

"Damn. Flirting so soon?" Bryn inquires and snatches her coffee back. "The only compliment you gave me was how my hair was crazy-looking." She tangles her fingers through it.

"I'll give you all the compliments you want because you're just as." he rasps, Bryn laughs and rolls her eyes as she punches his chest. He chuckles. "What? I mean it. You're damn beautiful."

"See her in the morning and you won't think the same."

Bryn whips around to smack Harper as he tucks his helmet under an arm. They hadn't even noticed his game had finished. Kenny was being too amusing. Harper narrows his eyes at who was complimenting his little sister and looks on cautiously. He thought Javier was the only flirt he'd ever know.

Within seconds, Kenny holds out a hand to Harper. "Hey, man." he replies. "I'm Kenny Ciccone. I'm guessing you're Harper Blackwell?"

Harper doesn't shake his hand. "I'm surprised you know." he says, looking over Bryn, who smirks proudly.

He grins widely and turns his head to Bryn. "Yep, teach here, has been telling me 'bout all her friends and shit. Steven Adler, Matthew Stradlin, Tinsley Hastings …"

"Crammed a lot into his head, didn't you?" Harper questions, reaching to accept Kenny's hand but Kenny finally takes it back once he sees, slicking a hand through his hair in mock-cockiness.

At that, Harper lets a smile fall to his face as Kenny directs at Bryn. "Don't murder me." He chuckles, holding his palms forward defensively, jokingly looks to Bryn. "She's the one who taught me that stupid move."

"Cool move." Bryn clarifies, sipping her decaf. "I'm gonna turn him into a mini-me by the end of the day."

Harper places a pretend-sympathetic hand on Kenny's shoulder. "I wish you luck, my friend."

Kenny grins. "Thanks, I know I'll need it!" He swings an arm casually over Bryn's shoulders and her brow furrows as she throws it off. "You betta teach me somethin' good, Miss Blackwell!"

"You take what I give you."

His grin widens and he taps his fingers to his forehead in a salute. "Yes, ma'am!"

Claire hides her laughter as a smile comes to Tinsley's face.

"I'll see you guys later," Bryn promises. "I'm gonna try to teach this smartass some good music." She waves and heads off, Kenny in tow.

Harper blinks and swigs his Vitamin Water. "I sure wish I could get someone that fast."

X

Dean accepts a cup of black coffee from the clerk behind the Starbucks counter as Floria waits with him, already draining what was left of her latte. He smiles and they both head to school, savoring their lunch break. Floria smirks as they pass middle schoolers. She whips her curls out her face and shakes the ice in her empty drink. "You sure your girlfriend won't throw a fit for hanging with me?" she asks, chewing the straw. "She seems to hate every girl in the world."

"As long as she doesn't see you," Dean claims and gulps coffee. "so stay hidden or she'll rip your head off."

Floria's smirk becomes a grin and she nods, springy curls bouncing. It was hilarious how he didn't deny Claire as his girlfriend unless he didn't realize her response. But what if he liked her? It wasn't that she had a problem with it but Claire was rude and ruthless. She wouldn't want someone like her using Dean.

No one deserved that, especially him. He was one of the sweetest guys at St. Jude's other than that man, who may or may not go there, Hunter.

That … Hunter was such a charmer and she was surprised at how much she blushed. She never blushed and stuttered so much in her life, not even when she was with Harper. And who knows? She might never see him again. It's been weeks since they had another encounter.

And in some indifferent way, she found herself wanting another.

She couldn't refrain from sighing as she bites harder on the straw.

Dean places a hand on Floria's forearm. She hops out of her thoughts and looks up. "What's up with you?" he asks, single brow arched. "You seem glum."

"I just have too much on my mind," she says and that isn't a lie because she's been thinking nonstop. "Nothing important, just my grades and my broken bass. I'm an idiot, sometimes. I need to get it together and I'm completely neglecting time." She rakes fingers furiously through her ringlets. "My accounting teacher always yells at me for being so reckless."

"Well … in words of Bryn: 'Tell her to shove it.'" Floria giggles and throws her cup in the nearest trash. "Don't worry and though I don't know much about music. Just head to the teacher in Constance. I'm sure you can always borrow one of his instruments."

Well, that solves two of her problems.

She still worried about her friends and her moneyless situation. She could barely afford her apartment and just that was expensive. She envied Bryn and Harper. They inherited a mansion and their father's fortune. Sometimes, they had nothing to worry about.

But they were like her. Something was always on their mind.

"I guess," she breathes and turns to Dean, a thankful smile on her face. "you give pretty good advice."

"I know. I should start an advice column. I'd be good at listening to feelings."

"Careful," she cautions, her smile in perfect place. "You may even swing the other way."

His eyes grow round. "No, thanks. Not in my lifetime."

"You never know …"

"Never say that again, okay?" he tells her in complete seriousness. "I'd rather date an inanimate object before I decide to switch."

"You are such a guy."

X

Javier reaches Tiffany's and even though he didn't necessarily have any interest to come in. He was only looking to purchase a gift for his mother. Her birthday was coming and he did have a heart unlike his shameless brother, who wasted their fortunes across the globe. Abusing it on rich malts and cheap blondes.

Sounds a lot like him, doesn't it? That would be a no. However, he did most of those things, he certainly wouldn't use his parents only for money. They meant something to him, more than just moolah providers as his brother called them.

When he enters, he's immediately greeted by a woman. He forces one of his rare polite smiles and strides to another worker behind the glass counter displaying varieties of gold engagement rings and birthstone-encrusted brooches. His mother wouldn't like any of that. She was picky when it came to the jewelry with the exception of her wedding ring.

The question of marriage recently became tough. He never imagined himself being married or at least engaged. He was always flirting and being his usual womanizing self. He didn't have time to tie himself down to one person. Tinsley always said to Vena when they were together that they should get married and have kids. She always went on to say how good-looking their kids would be.

Vena always seemed disgusted with children. The mere thought would sink her in disgust. He never imagined himself with a kid either. He knew he wouldn't be able to take care of one as mentioned before. He never had time. He was either drinking or organizing his life.

Vena left him flat when they were young and the questions of engagement no longer came up.

He didn't need to be worrying about the future, anyway. He only had to keep thinking about the present because that's where he was.

It was all that mattered.

What Bryn had told him the night he finally let Vena go wandered through his mind. He screamed and sobbed as she stood calm, watching angry tears dirty his face like rainfall. Her eyes emotionless and lips pursed. She wore a stiff face that looked carved from marble.

All her words were meaningful, even though he didn't really process them until he had gotten home and drunk himself into abyss.

Bryn's final words to him rung like white noise.

"We may be different but we're much more alike than you think."

They were.

"What may I help you with, sir?" the woman questions, voice laced with fake concern.

"I'd like to buy a necklace," he stats, turning from her warm eyes to check his watch. "for my mother. Something fit for a socialite."

Because that is exactly what she was. A lovely Spanish socialite or so the tabloids said.

The clerk hurries to bring their most extravagant diamonds forward as Javier, hearing a sheepish voice, went to watch a conversation engage between another clerk and a girl at his far right.

She dons bronze curls that reach her shoulders and inquiring green eyes, which were several shades lighter than the leaves of a palm. A scowl mars the flawless skin of her forehead as she hefts her Prada bag onto her shoulder, sifting through the pockets of her Burberry coat.

"One moment." she stalls as she looks for her lost possession. The woman behind the counter looks impatient as she stares, a small ring with a missing gem in her palm. "I have the extra money here somewhere. Just spare me a moment."

The woman rolls her eyes and frowns. "Take your time …"

Javier continues watching the scene for a few more seconds before he grabs a fifty from his pocket and thrusts it in the girl's face. She blinks and stares at Javier with timid eyes. He doesn't lower his hand or the fierceness in his glare as he places it in front of her.

"Take it," he offers. "Don't think anything of it."

Reluctantly, the girl reaches but hesitates when her fingers find it. "Are you … sure?"

"Yes, don't think much of it."

She smiles gratefully and hands it over to the woman slowly, cautiously.

He doesn't reply, only looks away and searches for the clerk to see her chatting on a work phone. He rolls his eyes and leaves without purchasing anything. His mother would have to make do with a Beamon choker –

"Wait!"

In an instant, he recognizes the voice as the girl he assisted. Her curls blowing messily as she smiles through them, brushing them back with manicured nails. "I just wanted to thank you," she chimes sincerely, clutching a blue ring box in her small fist. "I truly am grateful for your assistance and I promise to pay you back somehow."

"There's no need." he responds, even though he already has dozens of ideas in mind. "A mere fifty is nothing."

"I know," she assures. "you are Javier Dominguez after all."

He can't hide the confusion from his face. She knew who he was? She sure didn't act like it in the store. He usually received different reactions from girls like her.

Bryn wasn't surprised to meet him either.

"Yes." he announces. "Allow me this, then. Who are you?"

And with a burst of sudden confidence, she holds her hand out to him. "Elle Cullen. It's a pleasure."

X

"What are those, Steven?"

"Stupid ass papers."

Matt snatches the paper from his hands and skims them, narrows his eyes, rereads the first sentence before scoffing drily, shoving them into a local trash. Steven doesn't say anything as he throws the manila envelope they came in after.

"Like I said." Steven points out, looking to the papers clogging the bin. "Stupid. Ass. Papers."

The guitarist rolls his eyes and lines his mouth grimly. "I don't know why they sent you copies. I think you'd know already that you were disowned." he snaps and looks over Steven, who rolls his eyes but deep in his honey orbs was regret, looking like he deserved the punishment. "Don't look like that, man. No one deserves this."

"But me, right?" he asks and lowers his gaze to the concrete, knuckles in his pockets. "I must be pretty effed if my parents really wanted me out of their lives."

"That stuff is illegal. I don't know how they got away with it."

Steven lifts his eyes to meet Matt's questioning greens. "Because they're my parents and when you're an addict, your parents rather just cut you off."

He sighs to the sky. "Stop already!" he seethes. Steven looks baffled at the outburst. "Face it. We're all junks. Bryn, me, you, Tinsley … sober or not, we'll always be addicts. We will always be that fucked bunch!"

"I doubt I'll ever be normal."

Matt finally lowers his voice and calms himself. "You're right, we won't. I guess you'll just have to deal with it."

"I think I can." His eyes narrow in humor. "Especially if Bryn stays in that corset more often."

"Say that again and you'll be missing teeth by morning."

In weak fright, Steven backs away as Matt fixes a glare on him. "Come on, man! You were probably thinking the same at the time. She looked hot."

"No, Steven. I actually didn't."

In all honesty, he didn't find Bryn necessarily attractive in that. Steven would probably faint if he saw Bryn in it again. He's more infatuated to girls who dress simpler, even if just black jeans and a tee. His best friend thinks differently and would die to see a girl in such a scanty outfit like Bryn's copyrighted creation.

Maybe that's why he's become such good friends with Javier.

No one really trusted Javier, he knew Floria didn't. Dean was neutral seeing as he didn't really know Javier to begin with and Harper was bordering on it since he's been spending an awful lot of time with her.

Did that make him a bad person for not trusting? He was only doing what he deemed right. There wasn't a problem with that.

But he had to admit, he trusted Vena much more than he did Javier.

And another came to mind, something completely uncharacteristic for him.

He was pretty sure he always would.

X

"Harper, what do you think of Kenny?"

Harper looks at Tinsley as she meets him with the same wonder. He shrugs as they stride through the Meatpacking District. Bryn never met up with them like she promised and they assumed she went to spend more time with Kenny. In many opinions, she was the luckiest girl in Constance to instruct guitar to someone like Kenny.

She didn't necessarily admit to liking Kenny even though her actions were enough. Flirting before and after the coffee run, they probably had more sparks flying during the first lesson.

It's every girl's dream to spend alone time with a guy.

Who knows? Maybe she'd choose him over Javier. They already seemed so alike attitude-wise and love for rock lifestyles and since Javier and Bryn weren't currently on their better sides, they might just start dating without waiting for anyone's approval.

What kind of drama were they facing now? Life was never normal.

"He's alright, I guess." he admits. "As long as he's nice to Bryn, I'm okay with him."

"You sound so distrustful of him," Tinsley replies as they continue down the pavement. "He seems like a pretty nice guy. She seems to like him."

He rolls his eyes. "She acts like that a lot with guys. You get used to it after a while."

"Well, she acts different around Javier and Kenny."

He raises his brow and hefts his bag onto his shoulder. "Didn't you already know she has feelings for him? She went with him to Claire's party, she was the one who called him to come get you, and he's probably one of the first guys to ever really come into our home."

Tinsley's eyes shimmer in curiosity. "So she does like him."

He kicks the cobblestones distractedly. "Don't tell her I told you. I don't need her to kick my ass. I'm not sure if she feels anything for Kenny but I doubt it. You'll have to ask her yourself. She trusts you enough."

In response, Tinsley's heart skips. She's already been in their home a few times. Bryn hasn't done anything cruel since. So she must be thinking of Tinsley finally as something other than an acquaintance.

"Does she really?" Tinsley inquires, still shocked by his answer. "I thought she didn't like me …"

A smile crosses his face. "She used to hate you," he advises bluntly. "But since you've been good, our worries are in the wind for now."

"I'm glad you both trust me."

"Don't say that. You're great." His smile widens as he continues, his voice lowering almost in suspense. "And whether Bryn did ever trust you … I always would."

A grin gives Tinsley's rosebud mouth shape. "You're way too good."

This time, he grins. Something with affection. "It's a Blackwell thing."

X

Javier enters Constance's courtyard the next day. Morning classes have finished as he searches for a rebel known as Bryn Blackwell. He finally considered his apology and after skipping a full day of class, he finally decided that she deserved it after having to deal with his uncalled outburst.

He looks around, eyes searching the slim crooks. A throng of schoolgirls exit and he notices none as Bryn. Tinsley told him she was in today so he should be able to find her, probably packing away guitars and rolling amps in the music room.

She wasn't answering her phone, which also came as a shock. Harper didn't seem worried as he only continued his game when it was brought up.

Was he the only one acting like this? He wasn't worried. He was Javier Dominguez. He didn't have a reason to be stressed.

Lucky for him, he found Claire in the midst of her minions, gossiping. As they chatter, rumors swirling. She listens to their white lies and monologues. She's a good queen bee. The profession has come to be fitting.

He approaches her and she looks away from a handheld mirror to lock eyes with him in confusion, silently urging for an answer. She would never be incredibly harsh around her crowd. She didn't need false rumors spread.

"Have you seen Bryn?" He skips right to the point. There was no reason for small talk. He wanted to get this over with.

She shrugs carelessly and returns to her reflection. "She's in the music room with Kenny."

Kenny? Who the hell? New kid? He wouldn't ask Claire any of this so he stuck with one.

He only knew one Kenny from the tabloids.

And he surely knew that he wasn't any better.

"Kenny who? What's his last name?" he asks.

Claire sighs irritably, clicking her compact shut. "Oh, I don't know. Something with a C. Ciccone, I think."

It was all too obvious.

"Thanks," he spits through gritted teeth and hurries inside Constance, nearly bolting through the half-empty corridors. It wasn't that he felt anything for Bryn – he didn't. She just didn't deserve to be hurt by someone like Kenny. He learnt much about him and knew he wasn't the safest to be around because Javier knew his limits –

Kenny shattered his.

Before he knew it, he is already in the doorpost. Eyes wide at Bryn sitting across from Kenny. A smile on her face as she strums a basic hand, fingers righting the guitar as Kenny observes, trying to mimic her as he clutches a guitar incorrectly, angling it before offering her a nervous grin.

"How's this?" he asks, only to receive laughter. "What? I'm not a rock star like you, ya know."

"I'm not but at least I know how to hold a guitar." She leans over and slides his hand across the guitar neck before fixing the instrument in his lap, enclosing her hands in his momentarily. "Like that. Once you learn, you'll be a pro. You look like you could play like Kurt Cobain with the attitude and teen spirit."

He cocks both brows. "Yeah, but I'm hotter."

She rolls her eyes and laughs. "You are so conceited."

"Bryn." Javier manages after seeing their exchange. She snaps over before leaning back with a smirk. "Can I talk to you?" Kenny notices his glare as he trades glances with Bryn before putting his rental down.

"Look, um, I'm gonna use the bathroom, I guess." He gets up and smiles at Bryn, ignoring the awkward pause. "I'll be back."

"Okay." She nods before he exits, not once locking eyes with Javier. She puts her own guitar down and crosses her legs as Javier leans against the seat Kenny just occupied. "What's up? You're finally in the mood to talk to me?"

He ignores the taunt. "Why were you with him?" he demands and is surprised by the chill in his voice. "Are you really that naïve?"

"Oh, so you don't even offer apology before you come back to yell at me?" she counters, lips pursuing. "Apparently, everything's still my fault, huh?"

"I was going to before I found out you were with Kenny." he snarls the name with special venom. "Don't you know how unsafe he is?"

"It only seems like you're jealous." she sneers. "Everyone is moving on without you. Go hook up with a slut. I won't be at your feet forever. I was already nice to you, as is."

"Nice enough. Hooking up with someone other than you seems pretty damn good." He leans in. "I'm trying to help you here and you're just blowing me off!"

"Because you're trying to wreck my life! I could never do anything without you being such an ass!" she says, raising her voice intensely. "Just stay out of my business! If he hurts me, he does! If he doesn't, fucking fantastic. Life is tough, Javier, face the facts."

He scoffs. "Fine, do whatever you want. Don't come crying to me when he fucks you up."

She reclaims her guitar. "Later."

He leaves and is immediately met with Kenny's glare, who reclines against the wall, having just eavesdropped on their argument. He arches a suspicious brow and smirks cunningly. "You know, bloke, it isn't very 'ice to expose someone for who they once were." he drawls, voice thick in an accent. "You don't see me entering your shame of a past."

"If you even bother to hurt her, I swear," he murmurs dangerously. "I'll kill you."

"I don't need to. I'm not as cruel. You are Javier after all." He chuckles beneath his breath and brings a hand through his hair. "And you're just a selfless bastard after all."

Javier clenches his fists. Kenny eyes his white knuckles and grins.

"Don't resort to violence," he says and wags a finger. "it is never the answer and what will Miss Blackwell think of you?" He checks his watch. "I would love to continue chatting but I have a lesson to finish." His eyes glint. "Farewell."

He heads back in and Javier just manages to contain his frustration with a new motive.

Revenge.

X

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter with our two newbies, Elle Cullen and Kenny – Ciccone? There's gonna be much more of them and just imagine them as I do… like the oh-so attractive, Matt Bellamy of Muse and Dianna Agron. :)

Elle will have a much bigger role, too. So enjoy the chapter!