Kevin had just celebrated his 15th birthday; he and Javier were hanging out in the park when Kevin's cell phone rang.

"Hello… oh hey Rachel what's up?...what! Is dad ok?"

"What's wrong Kev?"

"The police are at my house, my dad's been attacked by a gang" with that Kevin got up from the bench and ran back home with Javier hard on heels.

Javier waited outside Kevin's house, five minutes later Kevin burst out of his house not seeing Javier and carried on walking with a furious look in his eyes, Javier was scared he had never seen that look in Kevin's eyes before.

"Kev… Kevin!.. Wait up!"

Kevin span round to face Javier with a murderous look in his eyes,

"What happened Kev?"

"Well the cops showed us the photos of the guys and I'm gonna kill them!"

"Why do you wanna kill them?"

"BECAUSE THEY KILLED MY DAD!" screamed Kevin, Javier stood still in shock. Kevin kept walking. "Where are you going Kev?" said Javier as he followed Kevin.

"I'm going to see the gang"

"How do you even know where they are?"

"The cops said that where they attacked my dad is where they hang around"

"I'm coming with you"

"No you're not"

"Yes I am!"

Kevin span round to face Javier and this time the murderous stare was directed at Javier and Javier took a step back when he heard Kevin snarl "No you're not! Now go away!"

"I'am Kevin and you can't stop me!" Javier forcefully replied, while he stepped forward. Kevin glared at him and turned away. Javier grabbed his arm and made Kevin look at him. "Javier just. Leave. Me. Alone!" spat Kevin.

"Kev this isn't a good idea! Just let the cops deal with it!"

"What do you know?" Kevin's eyes flashed, again Javier was taken aback he had never known Kevin to lose it like this.

"I know that your dad wouldn't want you to do anything stupid!" Javier wanted to make Kevin see that he should leave the gang alone, but seeing the pain in Kevin's eyes at the mention of his dad, Javier regretted mentioning his dad. However, as quickly as the pain appeared in Kevin's eyes it was replaced by anger.

"You don't know anything!" screamed Kevin and despite Javier being bigger than Kevin, Kevin pushed Javier against a wall and took off down the street, Javier only remained still for a few seconds in disbelief at what Kevin did. Although I think I would have done the same thought Javier and then he took off after Kevin.

#####

After five minutes of running Javier hadn't caught up with Kevin, but had kept him in his sights. He saw Kevin stop and face a group of teenagers, by the look on Kevin's face Javier knew he had found the gang. This spurred Javier on Kevin was facing four older teenagers by himself, they had already killed Liam, Javier was not about to let them hurt Kevin or worse and he was not about to break the promise he had made two years ago. As he neared Kevin Javier heard police sirens getting nearer, he prayed they were the cops investigating Liam's murder coming to pick up the gang, because he had no idea what he would do if Kevin started to get into a fight, even if he got there to help they would still be out numbered. As Javier got nearer he could hear what Kevin was saying,

"What did he ever do to you?"

"Let's just he tried to protect a boy who we thought needed punishing"

"That was it?" asked Kevin in utter disbelief

"That's it" shrugged a gang member with a shrug.

"You asshole!" shouted Kevin, Javier saw the gang member bring a knife out of his pocket, Kevin didn't see it. Javier managed to pull Kevin away just at the moment the cops pulled up, the cops leapt out of their cars and caught the gang as they did they gave Kevin a sympathetic glance, but didn't question why he was there. After the cops had left Javier looked over his friend remembering the knife, his heart skipped a beat when he saw red on Kevin's arm.

"Kev are you alright" Kevin just stared at the ground so Javier pulled his arm up and relived when he saw only a cut on Kevin's hand, it was a little deep but no majorly.

"Why did you have to come Javi?" murmured Kevin,

"I had to make sure you were ok Kev"

Kevin for the first time looked at him and said "I was handling it just fine"

Javier got annoyed with that answer "oh yeah sure you were, it's not like that guy was about to stab you or anything"

"But-"

"No Kev listen to me! How could even think of risking your life like that? Did you think about what you were doing? No you weren't because if you were you wouldn't have done that! Did you think about what would happen to your mom if you were hurt or even worse killed? She already lost your dad today Kev what would she have done if she lost you to?" By this point Javier had calmed down because he didn't know what he would have done if he had lost Kevin, he hadn't realized until he pulled Kevin away from the gang, that Kevin was more than a best friend, he was the brother he never had. He then looked back at Kevin who was pacing around the alley they were in, Kevin kicked a trash can and Javier was pleased that Kevin was letting his frustration out on something that wouldn't turned round and kill him. Then he heard Kevin let out a little whimper and watched as Kevin sank to the floor leaning against a wall and let his tears fall. Javier came over and sat next to Kevin, he knew no words would help Kevin right now, so he just let Kevin cry and put his arm around Kevin's shoulders.

"I'm here for you Kev I always will be"

Even though they weren't into hugs Javier brought Kevin's head onto his shoulders and they sat like that for ten minutes when Kevin sniffed and pulled his sleeve over his eyes and looked up at Javier,

"Sorry about that Javi"

"Nothing to be sorry about bro"

Kevin smiled; Javier helped him rise to his feet. When they got back to Kevin's house, Kevin stopped; Javier looked at him and patted Kevin's shoulder. Kevin looked at him and sighed as they walked the last few meters to Kevin's house Fiona came out and met them on the pavement, she held out her arms and Kevin walked into her embrace. Javier stood watching them, knowing that if anyone could keep Kevin going it was Fiona. Javier heard Kevin say "don't worry mom, I'll help out we'll be alright you'll see"

"I know we'll be alright Kevin, you're a good son"

Javier saw Kevin slightly flinch at those words, and then he realized it was because of what he said to Kevin mentioning his mom and how she would feel if things went south with the gang. Fiona began leading Kevin into the house, then she saw Javier she smiled at him and in the smile she gave Javier, he knew that she knew Kevin had gone after the gang and that Javier had stopped him, "thank you Javier"

"It's ok Fiona" Kevin nodded at Javier and then Kevin and Fiona walked back into their house, Fiona saw Kevin's hand looked at it and led him inside and Javier began walking home. He was glad that Kevin had escaped serious injury and vowed he was going to be there for Kevin until his last breath because that was what brothers were for.