Chapter 15: Inevitable Explanations

I sat in his lap, stunned for a minute. Helia. Helia? Helia!

"Wha…Helia?" I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact that Helia could even think of doing something illegal. It's Helia for goodness sakes!

"Don't think of him as a bad guy now," Brandon says quickly. "It wasn't his fault…well, actually it was, but not completely."

"Just explain it to me please."

"Alright. Let's take another walk." I jumped off his lap to let him stand and we began walking. We were strolling along for awhile and he still hasn't spoken up. I guess I'll have to encourage him into speaking about this apparently sensitive subject.

"So Baltor and Helia knew each other…" I trail off.

"Yep," he chirped and fell silent again. I sighed and slumped my shoulders.

"You don't have to tell me. I get it; you don't trust me completely yet."

"No! I do it's just," he blew out a long breath. "Okay, so Baltor and Helia went to the same college freshman year."

"That's when we were rising juniors?"

He nodded. "They were best friends. He even brought Baltor back home for Thanksgiving break because he had no family to spend it with. I never liked him. Everyone else did though, which was infuriating." He shook his head as if to clear it. "Anyways, they were all good and dandy until after winter break.

"They went to this Frat party. Free booze and girls. Every college guys dream." I looked at him with my eyebrow raised. "Well, not me of course. I've got you." He said swiftly. I smirked and nodded for him to continue.

"So they were pretty much broke. No job, no income. They met some …guys at the party."

"What kind of guys?" I ask hesitantly. He grimaced.

"Bad guys. Like Drug dealing guys." I gasp and Brandon rolls his eyes. "Trust me, that is just the start. The guys convince them to do a few drug runs for extra money. Helia and Baltor were already intoxicated so they didn't need much convincing. At first, they were just running around and handing off drugs and stuff. They got paid a lot though, so they kept doing it. That is until Helia's roommate started to get suspicious.

"He was a nerdy looking kid named who wouldn't mind his own business. When he got too close to the truth, Helia wanted out. It was getting dangerous for Kyle to find out about this stuff and Helia didn't want anything to happen to him. He told Baltor about it and they had this huge fight. Baltor stormed out and left in his car. Helia was concerned about him so he followed him in his car. He really shouldn't have done that.

We sat down on a low cement bench. "Baltor ended up going to this warehouse with a bunch of other people," Brandon continued. "Helia decided to stay outside until Baltor came out so they could talk. Then he heard the gunshot." My breath hitched and Brandon sighed.

"A bunch of people rushed out of the building. Helia noticed that Baltor wasn't one of them . Fearing for his 'best friend's' life, he ran into the warehouse. Only Baltor wasn't the one on the ground. It was Kyle. Baltor was standing over him with the gun in his hand." I think my jaw dropped completely in that moment. Baltor killed someone?

Brandon scrubbed his face. "He wasn't even dead yet, princess. Helia wanted to get him to the hospital, but Baltor said that the nerd knew too much…and shot him in the head."

I stood up in shock. "What!? Murder! He kille-" Brandon covered my mouth and pulled me behind a large tree.

"Shush," He quieted me and grabbed my shoulders. "Stella you can't just yell out stuff like that."

"I don't care! He's a…murder, Brandon! We have to tell someone about this," I exclaimed.

Brandon shook his head sadly. "Not if we don't want Helia to go to jail."

"He didn't do anything."

"I know that, he knows that, you know that, my Dad knows that, and even Baltor knows that. The thing is, Baltor has proof he was involved."

I stared at him incredulously. "From what you just told me, Helia didn't do anything."

"No, he didn't, but there was a security camera in the warehouse that caught the whole scene. Helia was there, so he's an accomplice. If Baltor goes down for this, then he can easily show the footage and get Helia to go down with him. The worst thing is that they arrested the wrong guy."

"What!?" Is he flipping kidding me right now? Some innocent person was blamed for something that he didin't do?

Brandon exhaled. "Yeah. He wasn't exactly a good guy either, but he didn't kill Kyle. Baltor said this was the perfect setup. They are off the hook."

I felt stupid for gapping like a fish. I had so many thoughts, but had no idea what to say. Tears started to well in my eyes. Brandon pulled me into his side and kissed my temple.

"But Helia didn't even touch the guy!" I said. Brandon shrugged.

"Doesn't matter. He was there and he didn't tell anyone about the murder. The investigation is closed, but anything can come up. Like new proof or something. That's why we moved here," Brandon gestured all around us with his hands. "To get away from all of that. It was terrible at first. Helia felt so guilty that he wanted to go to jail for Kyle's death. He didn't care. Of course, my Dad wasn't going to let that happen."

"Wait, I thought you moved here because of your Dad's new marriage."

"Yeah, we did. At first they were suppose to come live with us, but since the whole college thing happened my Dad convinced step-mom to let us live there. It was crazy." Brandon scrubbed his face with his hands again and I noticed for the first time how tired he looked. I was about to hug him when a new thought occurred to me.

"Flora!" I gasped. Brandon furrowed his brow and I further explained, "Does she know? About any of this?"

"I don't know. Probably not. It's easier for me to talk about it than Helia, as I'm sure you can imagine. Plus, this isn't something that just comes up in casual conversation," He said. He narrowed his eyes at the look on my face. "You're not telling her, Stella."

"Oh, come on! She deserves to know about this. Her boyfriend could be accused of," I lowered my voice to a whisper, "being an accomplice to murder."

"I know that, but if Helia wanted her to know, he would've told her. I really had no right to tell you, but I hate keeping secrets from you." He admitted.

I started to pace a short distance back and forth. "I don't know Brandon. I promised to keep it secret, but…"

Brandon stopped me by grabbing my shoulders and turning me to face him. He bent down slightly so we were eye-to-eye. "There is no 'but' about it. This can't get out. Swear to it right now," He spoke firmly. I can't tell anyone. I can't tell anyone about who actually murdered an innocent young man.

I took a deep breath. "I swear."

"And promise me another thing, will you?"

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What?" Brandon smirked slightly.

"Stay away from Baltor."

I laughed humorlessly as I wrapped my arms around his neck. "You don't have to worry about that." And I brought his head down so his lips would meet mine.

I was walking alone on the sidewalk now. Brandon had to leave for work about 20 minutes after his confession. I still can't believe this. Baltor killed someone. He was a murderer. How could anyone just walk around, knowing that they killed someone, and act like nothing ever happen? Ugh, the thought of me hugging him before makes me cringe.

I feel my phone vibrate and answer it without looking at the caller ID. "Hello?"

"Hey, Stella." Flora's usually excited voice sounds somber. I instantly frown.

"What's wrong?" I heard her sigh.

"Helia. He's going to his new college next week." She sniffed. "I'm just kind of…sad."

"Hey, cheer up girly. Are you at your house? I'll come over." If a friend was in need, I was there. That's just the Stella motto. Unless that said friend stabs me in the back.

"Do you even know where my house is?" Flora laughed slightly.

"Oh, yeah. Forgot about that. Where do you live?" She gave me the address and I realized that it wasn't that far away from the park. I drove there in under ten minutes. I rang the doorbell twice when Flora answered. She was in a tank top, boy shorts, and a robe with a remote in her hand.

"Hey," She said softly. "Sorry I'm such a mess. Didn't feel like doing anything today." I rushed forward and gave her a light hug. She squeezed me back and led me to the couch.

"It's going to be alright, Flora. Have you talked to him today?"

She nodded. "I knew he would eventually have to go back, and I know it's not like he's leaving tonight, but I'm still not ready." She pulled her legs up to her chest.

"Well, I'm sure you guys will work out something, right?"

She smiles slightly. "He said he'd come back every weekend to see me. Sometimes I might be able to visit him too. I don't know about that, though. At least I'll still see him."

"Sounds like a plan." I grin at her. It was around one o'clock, so we just sat around, talked, laughed, and watched movies. Flora insists on watching romances so I have to sit through those. By the middle of Dear John, she was knocked out cold. I tucked a blanket around her and continued watching the movie. It was actually pretty good. I was at the part when John comes back home again, when there's a knock on the door.

I looked through the peephole to see the looming form of Helia. Shit. What is he doing here? Oh, right. Flora is his girlfriend and everything. I just don't know how I can react to seeing him just yet. Oh well. Here goes nothing.

I open the door. "Hey, Helia!" I hoped I didn't sound too over exuberant.

"Hey, Stella," He says, slightly confused. "Is Flora here?"

"Yeah, yeah. She's asleep on the couch. Come on in." I step aside for him, but he remains outside.

"I wanted to talk to you really quick first, if you don't mind." He said hesitantly. Looks like Brandon told him I knew. I stepped outside and closed the door behind me, standing in front of Brandon's only brother.

"Does Flora know?" I just had to ask.

He shook his head quickly and looked away in shame. "How can I tell her something like this?" I reached forward and put a had on his shoulder.

"It wasn't your fault."

"That doesn't really matter, does it?" He replied bitterly. "I came to actually tell Flora that I must leave tomorrow morning."

"What? No, you can't. You should see how torn up she is about you leaving next week. You can't leave tomorrow!" I exclaim.

Helia holds up his hands and sighs wistfully. "I don't want to, trust me. Leaving her…it's going to be one of the hardest things in my life, but Baltor is here and I have to leave as soon as possible."

My big mouth thought it was a great time to make an unexpected appearance. "So that's it? Is that all you do? Run away?" I regretted it as soon as it came out because of the pained look that crossed his face.

"Helia, I'm so-" He raised his hand in a warding off gesture.

"Don't be sorry. You're right. I'm a coward. I can't go to jail, though. I have a reason for staying out of there now." He glanced at the door and then back at me. "Don't tell her anything, alright? I'll tell her eveything soon."

"I won't tell. I promised Brandon. Are you at least staying with her up until you leave?"

"That was the plan. I don't want to be anywhere else. You don't have to stay if you don't want to. I understand that all the lovey-dovey stuff can be uncomfortable for others."

I didn't get a chance to respond, because a new voice joined the conversation. "Helia?" Flora was still kind of ruffled from sleep, but smiled brightly at the sight of her boyfriend. Helia grinned right back. "Hey, sweetheart."

She rushed over to pull him into a tight hug. He kissed her cheek and pulled back, stroking her hair as he said, "I need to tell you something."

I cleared my throat. "I'm going to head on out. See you later, Flora. Helia."

"Bye, Stel. And thanks for today," She grinned at me and I returned the sentiment.

"What are best friends for?" I waved as I got into my car and backed out of Flora's driveway. This is terrible. Finally, Flora starts to get a happy ending, to have it all crash down. I can't let that happen. If he leaves tomorrow, she'll be even more of a mess then before. Baltor can't get away with this. I think I know how I can make sure of it as well. All I have to do is get rid of the only evidence that ties Helia to the crime.

I can't do it alone though. Luckily, I know exactly who to call. I dialed the number and waited until the fourth ring when the person picked up.

"Hello?"

"I need your help."

A/N: Once again, your reviews make my day. Keep them coming please.

Wow. A lot of stuff went down with Baltor and Helia. Can Stella really fix this? If she can, how? Who do you think she called? Tell me what you think about the whole situation.

Sorry that this one is so short, but it was a miracle that I got it all done today. This unfortunately means that I won't update until Saturday. Maybe earlier, but Saturday is my deadline.

Only a couple chapters left and then the epilogue. I know that you guys wanted me to go into their senior year, but there's not much to right about it. Sorry! I'm thinking of doing another All Human story, but this time the characters will be adults. I don't know. Tell me if you think that would be a good idea.

So…Review!