All We Are

by Ariela246

Eddward frankly was a very mysterious guy. There were people in school who respected him, most, however, feared his intimidating presence. Little Kevin had no idea how Eddward had gotten so much power in his possession, but he hoped someone would step up and give him a piece of his own medicine. [REV!KEVEDD] SLOW BURN(Warning: Graphic Violence & Self Harm! Please read with caution)

61. Chapter 61

Thank you, thank you so so much for your patience with me in the slow rate I post these chapters!

In case you need more All We Are and can NOT wait for the next chapter , I have opened a P.a.t.r.e.o.n! I posted this chapter a month early on there and have TWO All We Are specials exclusive for member of any and all tiers. For as little as $1 you can get a Halloween special and a Christmas special I just posted yesterday! (I LOVED the Christmas special and if you finished this chapter well... let's say there's more where that came from LMAO).

Anyways, I share many KEVEDD/REV! Comics and sketches exclusive to P.a.t.r.e.o.n and you make requests which are ALWAYS so cute and someone requested that very last scene this month! Wink. Come hang out with us! (you can find me with the username Arielagam on any socials!)

Happy Christmas and Have a good New Years eve! I'll see you (HOPEFULLY) soon with the next chapter.

Enjoy the chapter!

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Kevin Barr should have seen this coming from a mile away, but he had chosen to ignore the issue until it was in front of him. Now he stood speechless as his green eyes met with matching ones.

"Kevin Thomas Barr," Lizzy's crisp voice was exasperated. Eyes staring at him across the street with an intense fire he had never seen before.

"Shit," he breathed out, his hand quickly sweating.

He had been forced to wait around as the sheriff dealt with Eddy and the rest of the cops searched around the area for the rest of the Great Whites Sharks. Hunter chose to help with the search while Llan and Nat stayed with him at the bar.

Truthfully, he hadn't thought the police would get further involved by contacting adults. But it was Peach Creek after all, news traveled fast. He supposed he was lucky it was his mother who showed up rather than his dad.

"You haven't told your parent's?" Both Llan and Nat quietly asked him, standing back just a step to not block the path of an angry mother.

"I haven't...yet," he said in a mumble, crossing his arms, beginning to feel uncomfortable.

"What do you think was going to happen kid?" Llan said before giving Kevin a push forward. "The cat's out of the bag, time for damage control."

Kevin watched as Lizzy stopped two feet from him as confused eyes scanned him. She was glued to the jacket he was wearing. "Since when?" the folds of skin at the corners of her lips appeared, making her look hesitant, and pained.

"Since January," Kevin replied, he was nervous but he knew Lizzy was an acquaintance to the Easterns, perhaps she wouldn't be as mad.

"This is what you have been up to?" His mother looked him in the eyes once again, as if trying to detect lies. "When you get all dressed up and tell us you're hanging out with friends?"

"Mom-" he began.

"Is it?"

It wasn't a question anymore, Kevin knew she knew. "Yeah," he responded.

"Tell me," Lizzy paused her eyes pensive, "The attack at the Vincent residence… tell me it didn't have anything to do with this." her small hand gripped his jacket.

Kevin frowned at her, "Then...and tonight," he said. He knew the way she must be feeling, conflicting emotions of her only son involved with people she respected but would result in danger.

"…," Lizzy looked behind Kevin, as if finally witnessing the mess left behind by the attack. "...Damn it Kevin." her voice was strained. "What in your right mind led you to join a gang?"

"I…" Kevin had to be very careful now. He didn't want to spill too much information, and didn't want to start with letting the dangers mix with his parents. It was a fine line and he wasn't about to let Sam threaten him like Jimmy. "They're good people, you know they are." He said quietly.

"Yes, yes, I know they are but-" Lizzy's face flickered between frustration and fear. "Honey, this isn't a school club or a hang out…"

"Do you think I don't know that?" Kevin pressed his lips together, his eyebrows furrowed. "I know exactly what this is," he gestured towards his leather jacket. "I joined because I needed something out of them and only they can give that."

"What is it?" Lizzy said her eyes set on him, searching. "Hasn't your father been enough? Haven't your friends been enough? Don't you trust us? You do not have to go around exposing yourself to this danger… not at your age."

"Mom…" Kevin started quietly. "This town is… messed up, and it's been affecting me and my friends. I can't do anything to fix it on my own. The Easterns are my only chance to help fix it."

Lizzy stayed quiet, her eyes now reminiscent, and he wondered if she was thinking of Isabella. "What's going on?" she asked, strained as if a nightmare was in front of her.

"What hasn't been going on," Kevin awkwardly smirked, his shoulders slumped. He felt so deflated thinking about everything he could not tell her but wished to confess. "You guys don't realize how insufferable it's been dealing with…all of it."

"Is it The Great Whites Shark?" she said, voice flat.

"You know?"

"Of course I know," Lizzy said with a frustrated laugh, "Honey, my best friend...Eddward's mother, was in the Easterns trying to fight back the gang. She had something against them, and it was insufferable for us as well. I just hoped they had finally dissipated after all these years. The town isn't as chaotic as it was back then, I had hoped…"

"Well, they're still kicking around," Kevin answered. "unfortunately."

His mother mirrored his look of exhaustion. She glanced over the mess that was on the street, over the police still taking reports and the Easterns staring at her with an apologizing expression. They knew she wouldn't be happy to have her son join them, but they also understood the complexity of the situation. They had given Kevin a choice, and so had Sam. Out of the choices he was given Kevin knew what he wanted out of this situation.

"These...attacks," Lizzy's voice cracked, "Kevin I can't let you involve yourself like this when you still have your whole life ahead of you. Your father… my god when he finds out."

Kevin felt himself shrink. Confronting Tom was going to be one hell of a mountain to climb. There would be an avalanche of disappointment and anger. He wasn't ready to see the look on his dad's face. "Please don't tell him," he felt like a child begging. "I can't just yet."

"Not tell him?" Lizzy stared down at him with bewilderment, "Kevin, this will become worse the longer you lie to his face. Do you realize how hard your father works to keep you both afloat and here you are handing your life over to the grim reaper. Tom wants something better for you, this shouldn't be an issue for you kids to deal with. This is an adult problem, and if it's the Great White Sharks, then they will be damned by my hand."

She grabbed his arm and started hauling him forward towards her car. "And I'm going to have a talk with Papa Aloe for even allowing you to join them, what the hell was he thinking!"

It was then an Eastern woman, the blonde one from his initiation, Spencer— as he had come to know—approached them. Her rough pale hand rested on Kevin's shoulder. "Lane," she said familiarly and her voice stopped Lizzy. "Don't blame him for wanting to help his friends."

"I'm not," Lizzy said, eyebrows still lowered in anger. "But don't you dare tell me this is ok." her freckled hand gestured at Kevin and the jacket.

"Wasn't Isabella just a year younger when she joined us?" Spencer said. "Didn't she have similar ambitions igniting in her? Don't you see what I see?"

Lizzy stared at Kevin at full view, her eyes back to calm and nostalgic. "This is not how to handle the problem. Fighting fire with fire will only create a destructive mess. Don't try to compare my son to Isabella. Her situation was different, Kevin has parents who care about him and will fight for him."

"I know he's young, Lane," Spencer said, "But you can't stop him from standing up to injustice. We have remained dormant, while the next generation have had to deal with our rival. He's angry, and frustrated. All of them are."

"I may have forfeited my right when I left him," Lizzy's hold on Kevin tightened making Kevin stare up at his mother. Did she really think she had no rights as his mother? "But Tom does have the right to stop him. He's too young to be throwing himself in the line of fire. This is our job to stop this mess, not theirs."

"Just what are you going to do?" Spencer questioned. "You have no gang affiliation, the enemy will hunt you all down, and you won't have protection. The police are not involving themselves with gang affairs, they will ignore you."

"I'll threaten to expose them," Lizzy's voice grew in volume, "There are kids involved, look at them." her hand pointed towards Kevin and Nat who was hiding behind Llan staring at them with curious eyes. "Unforgivable. I respect you all so much, but this is unforgivable."

"You'll end up with a bullet to the head, Lane,"

"Are you threatening me?"

"You know I'm not," Spencer said, "All I'm saying is Kevin came to us for help. He knows the dangers, but he trusts us to keep him safe and alive. That is our job, he has our protection and we will resolve this issue with the Great Whites."

"This is ridiculous," Lizzy said. "I can't believe you are telling me to let my son run straight into a grave. Look at this mess!"

"Mom," Kevin spoke up now, he kept silent until Lizzy's furious eyes finally turned down to look at him. "I know this is crazy, but I chose to involve myself. Nothing you say or do will stop me from trying. This has gone on for far too long, Nazz was right. Someone needs to finally demolish the Great Whites Sharks, and I promise you I'm safe. I don't plan on dying any time soon."

"You don't know what you're saying," Lizzy said.

"I'll tell dad," Kevin said, his hands in fists, "He should hear it from me. Just please give me a few more days."

Lizzy started down at him powerlessly, she was angry, and she was proud. It was a confusing expression to have, but he understood why. "I'm taking you home," she said, lips pressed together. She stormed off not waiting to see if Kevin followed or not.

Kevin turned around to look at Nat and Llan who were giving him an encouraging look. Then to Spencer, he said, "Thank you."

"She'll come around, but," Spencer patted his back, giving him a light push. "Don't expect her to give up. She will get herself involved in this."

The idea stressed Kevin out. He couldn't let that happen, Sam would be furious, and who knows what the Masked leader would do. Lastly, Eddward… He couldn't let Lizzy find out Eddward was a part of the Great White Sharks, couldn't let her fall down that rabbit hole. He had to distract her with something surface level, anything to keep her away from the deeper truth and the dangers.

…

Sam had given him the ability to sleep again. It was right in his hands, confined in a plastic bottle. So small in his fist yet powerful in its seducing temptation. He wanted to sleep again, without the risk of those terrible nightmares.

He wanted to sleep again.

But something held him back.

Eddward hid the bottle deep in a compartment of his car. Something about Kevin's voice echoing in the back of his mind was holding him back. Something about the look of Kevin's face the times he had caught him passed out. Something about the hopeful expression the freckled boy displayed at the hospital.

So he hid the bottle for now. Out of sight out of mind.

But the itching in his arms began, irritation and desperation.

He had more important matters to attend to at the moment. The night wasn't over, and Sam was expecting him to resolve the chaos by himself. So Eddward left the factory, leaving Sam to watch over the treacherous sharks. Except for one.

He had grabbed one and tied the male shark up, shoving them in the back of his car to give to the sheriff. He was mentally readying himself to spend the next twenty four hours in custody answering questions.

But before that, he had questions of his own.

Eddward stopped his car in the middle of the dirt road. It was pitch black except for his headlights. It made him claustrophobic. The rustle of the field from the gentle breeze, his engine running, and the shark's angry muffling filled the hollow of the road.

He turned to look at the male shark in the back seat. It was a kid who had joined the gang shortly after him. Eddward remembered the guy's initiation, he had chased some targets through the woods along with four other boys. The teen was an athlete as well, football.

The anger in the boy's brown eyes was like a fire wanting to burn Eddward alive. He stayed silent for a long moment, unsure of how to start, wondering if the guy would actually answer anything. Finally he reached back and pulled off the rag around his mouth.

The guy spat at him, and a part of Eddward wanted to punch the guy in the face for that. But he held back, wiping his hand on the guy's hoodie instead. "Mind telling me what the hell is going on?" he started.

The guy laughed darkly, "Are you fucking serious dude?"

Eddward stared at him with an unwavering face.

"We were a fucking team before this, Vincent." The guy snapped.

"Before what?" Eddward asked, "Sam has always been the one who united us."

"You know that wasn't it. We were all in this together even during school hours, at parties. It was actually fun back then!"

"For you, it must have been," Eddward stared down, "It never was for me."

"You're so loyal to him and you don't even know half the things he does behind your back,"

"It's his business," Eddward responded, "You know how this goes."

"He's changed up the game," the guys said, "He doesn't want us to hide anymore. I can't get caught, Vincent, you know this! I'll lose any potential of a scholarship for college! So will you! We'll be jailed!"

"That's why you should have stayed loyal," Eddward murmured, "Sam would have saved you from all those worries."

"And be eternally in debt to the Dubois?" The guy laughed out, "Are you fucking serious?"

"He's the son of one of the most notorious mobsters in the country," Eddward said, "What did you expect? That this was an extracurricular activity? They're loan sharks, they get kids young in hopes to generate more money and build up the number of members."

"This is Sam's trial," Eddward continued, facing forward now, his eyes focused on the edge of the light, "He's hoping to generate more worth than his brother ever did."

"Is that why he's obsessed with you and Jimmy?"

Eddward looked quietly at the darkness ahead of them. "I wouldn't say he's obsessed with Jimmy."

"You're wrong," the guy said, "Ask Johnny, he knows, he's the one who was glued to Jimmy. Johnny knows shit, knows there's something bigger going on, Vincent. I'm not involving myself with Sam's shit anymore, I need to get out of this."

"What about those still loyal to Sam?" Eddward asked, "The masked gang is infiltrated, they find you out, you're dead."

"Jimmy has our backs," He said, "He won't let Sam get us. He wants out as much as we do. I know you do too."

"You honestly think Jimmy cares about you all?"

"He cares a hell of alot more than you and Sam," the shark said, his eyes red from anger. "You know as well as I do that the reason the Great Whites have managed to sustain as many members and fucking function was because of Jimmy. Without him, Sam would have failed, that's why Jimmy was his right hand man before you, despite you being the favored one."

"Thus Sam values Jimmy," Eddward added, his hand tightly gripping the steering wheel.

"Sam didn't leave the gang to only you," the teen continued, "He left it to both you and Jimmy. We all know he wants both his hounds to follow him into daddy's mafia. Sam can't function without both of you around. That's why the gang is going to crash and burn eventually, Jimmy leaving is going to cement that finality."

"If Jimmy succeeds,"

"He will," the shark said. "You know he will."

"I don't," Eddward said, "I know Sam better, and clearly you're not as afraid of him as you ought to be."

"Because he didn't abuse us like he did you," the shark replied, "Not even Jimmy was trained like you were. We weren't blind, Vincent. We saw how he treated you, then and now. He thinks treating us like that will make us loyal, but it only worked on you. Why? Because of your shitty issues? Were you desperate for attention? Fuck man, you were a lost cause."

Eddward stared at him through the mirror in silence, he knew the guy wasn't wrong. But Eddward was far more afraid of Sam than Jimmy, he knew who the losing party was going to be. "You won't run your mouth if you know what's good for you."

He slammed the pedal hard, having had enough of this conversation. There was a loud yelp from the back. Eddward had enough of this fucking night, enough of the gangs and enough of Sam.

His head was throbbing.

…

It was when Lizzy finally parked in front of the Barr home that Kevin managed to speak up again. "Mom," he tried. Lizzy's eyes were glued to the front of the Barr home, she was quiet but her hands gripped the steering wheel of her car for dear life. "Mom, I need you to promise me you'll let me tell dad."

Lizzy's eyes turned to Kevin then. "When were you going to tell him? When he got a call from the hospital or the police? He was going to find out eventually, he's not stupid Kevin. He knows when you sneak out to supposedly see Eddward. Which reminds me, Oh God, I better hope that boy isn't involved in this as well. Is he in on this too?"

"No, just me," Kevin said, hoping to fool her. "That doesn't mean it doesn't affect him as well."

"I know that," She said, her face turned away in thought. "I know how it affects everyone. Let me tell you something... Eddward's mother, Isabella, was in the Eastern sharks as well. Back when we were in high school that is." her shoulders were shrugged, her eyes distant. "There was a side of her life I wasn't allowed to know about, she just told me it would be dangerous for me to get involved. She kept me in the dark, but I knew there was more. I knew there was more to the reason why she joined the Eastern sharks. There was always a reason for everything she did, I know she was the one who told the Eastern Sharks to become inactive."

"How bad was it back then?" Kevin asked.

Lizzy let out a small laugh, "There were gang fights every other day. Something about gaining territory. The Great White Sharks wanted to dominate this entire town, I think Peach Creek was the hometown of the founder of their gang, but the Easterns wanted to run them out, wanted to make this a safer place."

"It was dangerous," Lizzy looked at her son, "I grew up on Great White territory. That's where they hung out most of the time, my older brother was a member, until years later… Walnut's Creek police found his dead body just thrown on the side of the highway."

"That's when it all came crashing down on me," Lizzy bent down her head, "And then...I found out I was pregnant and you know the rest. But I left knowing you would be in safe hands, because you were in Eastern territory, knowing you had your father. By the time I left, the Great White sharks had quieted down significantly."

Lizzy's tired green eyes met Kevin's, her lips pressed together. "Honey, in any other circumstance, maybe a couple years later, I would have been so proud of you. The Easterns are good people, they have watched over me for years, even over your father despite his anger. But you joined them to involve yourself in matters completely out of your hands."

She paused, her fingers resting on her thigh. "...Now I wonder if she came back to live in that house, with that man, for the very reason of attempting to resolve unfinished business. Or if her situation worsened." Her arm rested on the window of the car, biting her nail.

"Why do you say that?" Kevin asked, noticing the way Lizzy spoke of Victor.

"It's just a gut feeling," Lizzy's attention turned to the Barr home. " But maybe…" she went quiet, clearly her mind racing with thoughts. "...Why leave…"

After a long silence, she sighed again, palm pressed to her forehead. "I can't force you out of the gang, You're almost eighteen...You're part of their family now, it's entirely your decision to leave or to stay with them. But I don't want that for you, you got your whole life ahead of you. I don't want to see what happened to my brother happen to you. You're my only son… and your father, it would break him immensely to lose you."

Kevin didn't know how to respond. He couldn't make any promises, he knew his life was anything but walking on the edge at this point. She didn't know the whole truth, Eddward and his ties with the Dubois, of the masked gang, of Victor Vincent and the abandonment from Isabella. Did Lizzy even know who the name Dubios belonged to?

"I agree that the best way to tell your dad is from you, personally." She spoke up again, frustrated but committed. "I'm trusting you to tell him, but you will tell him." her voice was stern, "No more lying, I don't want him to find out when they find you on the side of the road or…" she was sniffling, her voice choked.

He felt a sinking feeling of guilt when seeing Lizzy tear up. He reached for her and Lizzy turned to wrap him up in her arms. "I'm proud of you I really am...I know you are fighting for something important. But you could have trusted us, Tom and I, you know we would do anything to help you out."

"Yeah, I know," Kevin mumbled out, that was exactly the reason he had kept this all a secret. Why before the gangs, he knew what would happen if Tom knew about the physical bullying. And he knew what Tom would do now. "Thanks," he said. Kevin wasn't willing to risk his parents.

…

The metal chair was cold, he was tired and the silence in the small square room wasn't doing anything to ease up the soreness of his muscles. He had been sitting here for hours, and now fully expected it to be morning.

The door opened "I hear ya, kid!" The Sheriff came in with two cups of coffee in hand, Eddy's cries could be heard in the background. She placed the ugly bitter thing in front of him and upon noticing his distaste, she shrugged "Only thing I got," then turned to close the door empting the room of any noise once more.

A tired sigh came out once sitting down, her arms crossed. Eddward watched her bite her lip in frustration. "So, are you gonna explain why the hell your kids shot up a Wolf bar? Where did the guns come from? Or where the hell is Sam Dubois?

"Sheriff, I told you already I had no idea they were planning to do this." Eddward exclaimed, "I had no part in it."

"Are you sure it wasn't Sam who had beef with a Wolf?"

"I know we may have had our differences, but we've been keeping it civil..." Eddward said, "There's been a clash with another gang, these sharks were trying to stir up a riot."

"It's one thing to start a rebellious chaos, and another to bring guns into the problem."

"I don't know where they got the guns," Eddward said, exasperated, "We don't distribute weapons, you know this. They must have gotten it from another gang, perhaps Serpents."

"Kids are saying it was from the other snakes, from Walnut Creek, your allies."

"I…" Eddward shook his head, lips pressed together, "No, they are risking ties with the Dubois. It had to be Serpent's; they have no affiliation with Dubois."

"Look kid, I agreed to let you guys on your merry way, because this wasn't supposed to be the real thing," The Sheriff said, "Liam made me the promise of keeping everything lowkey and on the side, and Sam had been keeping his brother's word until now. I didn't want this town to go to shit over a Dubois, you know the Beast has enough power to wreak havoc. But if your people are going to put citizens in danger, I won't stand by that. I don't care if you are all kids."

"We are keeping our side of that promise," Eddward said, controlled, "But we can't control the gangs around us. They are the ones bringing chaos into town, trust me when I say that we will try our best to keep the peace."

"..." The Sheriff nodded, her face unconvinced. It was then the door opened to reveal a tall man with vicious eyes staring down at the Sheriff.

"Dr. Vincent," The Sheriff greeted with a dry voice, as if expecting his interruption. "You finished with the other one?"

Eddward didn't want to look at his father, he knew he was about to be dragged out. "May I speak with Eddy before I go?"

Victor snapped at Eddward's request, "You don't need to associate with such low-"

"Go right ahead," The Sheriff allowed with a gesture of her hand, ignoring Victor's demand.

Eddward stood up and shot past Victor, into the cell room where Eddy was lying on the metal bed facing the brick wall. His arm and leg were bandaged up, and Eddward spotted his father's leather bag on the table. Victor must have come in to take a look at Eddy.

The teen's cries were disgustingly pathetic, but something punched Eddward in his stomach. "You don't know if she's dead," Eddward said in a quiet voice.

Eddy shot up at Eddward's voice, nose bright red and eyes wide. "I know she is, Sam made sure of that. He's getting his revenge."

"How do you know it was Sam?"

"I don't have to," Eddy looked away, "It must have been him who led the masked gang to her and to me. Jimmy must have told him! They knew where I was hiding, Jimmy must have known I made a deal with the serpents."

"...I tried," Eddward said, voice strained. Something in the depths of his stomach knew the woman must be long gone, dead or alive. If it were Sam, she would never be seen again, the Dubois would hide it well.

"I know," Eddy sobbed out, "I fucking know that. It's my own fucking fault Double D."

Eddward had nothing to say to this, the kid was already grieving enough as it was. It was then a realization hit him. This could very well be the last he would see of Eddy. "Eddy…"

It must have been Eddward's tone of voice because Eddy didn't look up at him. The shorter teen's shoulders were slumped in defeat. "Just like that huh...my life is ruined."

"It doesn't have to be," Eddward tried, "You still have an entire life ahead of you."

There were more sobs, "You know I'm not making it out," Eddy covered his face, "You know Sam will get to me somehow years down the line or now. Fuck, fuck...fuck."

"May I ask…why?" Eddward asked, angry to feel pity for the boy in front of him. The one who sent him straight to rock bottom, the last reason why he ended up at the lake years back. The partial reason for why Eddward ended up in the hands of Sam Dubois. Eddy, the boy who had once been his most precious friend and most heartbreaking betrayal. Eddward would never truly forgive him, but in the moment there was nothing but overwhelming pity for the loss of a mother.

"I was jealous," Eddy confessed, "I was jealous that you of all people were the one who managed to wrap Sam around your finger. The Dubois provided for you, Sam focused on you, and here I was working my ass off to get on their good side in hopes of getting the taste of that life. You didn't even work for it, as if they had you picked from the very start."

"You knew who you were going up against," Eddward said. Ignoring Eddy's last comment, because Eddy wouldn't have survived Sam. Eddy would have been dead long ago, had Sam chosen him, Eddy was too egotistical. The teen wouldn't have been able to form the intoxicating bond that he had with Sam. There had always been something there, maybe it had been the shared loss of Blaine.

Blaine had united them.

Perhaps Blaine was to blame for everything.

"I know," Eddy cried into his hand. "...hey sock head, can you do me a favor?"

"Another?"

"Yeah," Eddy sniffed, finally looking up at him. "Mind telling Ed, I'm sorry for being the shittest friend ever?"

"You'll be able to tell him that yourself,"

"Just...in case, you know." Eddy looked away. "He deserves an apology… He was my first friend and I feel real shitty that I forced him into this shit and that I… turned my back on him when Sam was torturing him."

Eddward nodded, "..."

"And one more thing," Eddy forced his breathing to calm down. "Whatever the fuck is happening, it goes beyond us. Don't sell yourself to Sam, and don't trust Jimmy. I heard when Sam demoted Jimmy from his position in the gang. It wasn't cut and clean. I eavesdropped on them, they were arguing heavily, but all I got was that Jimmy knows something about Sam and his brother. Something Liam did almost eight years back and Sam helped cover up later. I don't know what that is, but that threat resulted in Sam taking Jimmy's family as hostage."

Eddy paused, clearing his throat, "I'm guessing whatever they did then, they're facing the consequences now."

"With the masked gang?" Eddward asked.

"They're most likely tied," Eddy said, "Though their rage seems to be focused on Sam rather than Liam. Sam never told you anything?"

"Never," Eddward said, now curious. "But I'll look into it."

"We're leaving now Eddward," Victor announced suddenly, catching the boys by surprise. The man briskly picked up his bag and turned back around.

Eddward just kept his eyes trained on Eddy's scared ones. When his father left, Eddward spoke again. "I'll see you around."

"Bye, and I'm sorry Double D…honest to god, I'm so sorry,"

Eddward pressed his lips together, didn't say anything but kept his eyes on Eddy. Deep down fearing what Eddy feared.

Then left without another word.

When he sat in his father's car, a dizzying panic started to crawl into his veins. A sense of claustrophobia as he closed the door and tied his seat belt. He strained his eyes away onto nothing in particular, tuning out every noise his father made.

But then a question popped into his mind. The thought that his father all these years belittled him over the fact that he was associated with Sam Dubois and then the man himself also had ties with the mob family.

He willed his voice to come out steady, but kept his eyes forward, just enough to see his father's hand for any possible reaction. "Since when do you work for the Dubois?" He asked.

Eddward noticed a tightening of the steering wheel but could not determine anything further. "Sam said something to you?" It wasn't a question, Eddward knew this.

"He mentioned something," Eddward replied and then continued, "Are you the one who looked after Ed?"

"Your friend was unconscious throughout the whole thing," Victor responded.

"Had it been anyone else…" Eddward paused, feeling nauseous, "Ed wouldn't have healed as fast as he did. Thank you for treating him."

Victor did not reply, and Eddward took this in his favor. He continued to question his father. "You haven't answered my initial question."

"Why should I?" Victor said.

"Because father, you have strongly disapproved of, and I quote, 'running around with a bunch of criminals and sucking Dubois dick'," Eddward forced that sentence out, his mouth bitter. "And ironically, and perhaps laughable, that you are doing the very same thing that you judge me for."

Victor's hand was incredibly tight on the wheel, he pulled out of the road and harshly stopped the car. Eddward forced himself to stay put and controlled, he looked his father in the eye. He needed to see the man's expression now.

It was vicious.

Hard lines framed his brown eyes and frowning lips. If looks could kill, Eddward would have been killed on the spot.

"I judge you, because you were supposed to be above the Dubois. It was the one thing your mother wanted." Victor stared down at Eddward, hard lines framing his old eyes, "You went to them so willingly, it's disgraceful and pathetic."

Eddward ignored everything but one thing from that statement that had his heart racing a million miles a second. "Mother knows the Dubois?"

Victor said nothing. Instead, he sighed a heavy breath out, controlling his anger for once.

"Father, does she know them?"

"Don't ask questions you'll regret." Was all the man said before, moving back into the road.

"Since when have you been working for them?"

"For a very long time now," Victor snapped, "before you were born, before…I met your mother."

"Where did you meet?"

"You know the answer to that,"

"At a business party," Eddward said, "but what was that business?"

"I'm not subjecting myself into this little interrogation, Eddward," Victor barked out, "Everything that happened in the past is in the past, it is of no matter to you."

"Father, do the Dubois know where mother is?"

"No, no one but me knows where she is," Victor said his face turned away, "she's finally safe and as far away from them as she can be. If you're worried about her, don't… no one will ever be able to touch her again."

Eddward felt speechless, but his heart full, because… because maybe "Is my association with Sam why you won't tell me? Is the Dubois why you've kept her away?"

"Stop asking me questions, boy," Victor said, irritated.

Eddward shut his mouth instantly, feeling something so new around this man. Feeling hope that one day he would be allowed to finally see his mother. If he could get just one day before he left with Sam, that would be enough for him. To know she was well and hug her once more.

Maybe she wouldn't despise him as he had originally thought, Isabella's diary had given him that hope. But new questions arose, what did the Dubois want with his mother? How had she come to know them? Through Victor? How did Victor come to work for them?

Was everything tied to the Dubois?

…

"Where's Eddward?" Kevin found himself asking that question far too many times these days.

Ed looked up at him from his lunch, "All he told me last night was that he was going to miss school because of what happened last night."

"It's all the entirety of Peach Creek is talking about," Nazz chimed in, eyes glued to her textbook. "Something about it happening again."

Kevin frowned, looking around them at the whispering students. "You don't think he's stuck at the sheriff's office again?"

"Sam or Dr. Vincent will surely get him out of it," Nazz responded, "I wouldn't worry too much, it's not like he was actually involved with what happened."

"But it was his gang," Ed said, face concerned. "It's getting out of control, they know Sam isn't following through on his promise of keeping things low key. He's been doing business with other gangs that are like, real, you know? And Eddward has been involved with that side of it. If the police actually try to investigate..."

"They weren't really trying to accomplish anything," Kevin mumbled thinking back on it, "I mean, the masked gang or the serpents, whoever it was, they just left Eddy by himself. Maybe they were trying to get the authorities to keep eyes on Sam and Eddward, bust them for anything."

"Like a distraction," Nazz finally looked up. "Keep them looking at the enemy while they skeem in the background."

"Yeah," Kevin nodded. "Allows for them to move freely and keep Sam chained down."

"What's their next move then?" Ed asked, looking between Kevin and Nazz.

"Well, that's the question," Nazz let out a breath, her eyes wandering behind Kevin to a table of the cheer squad leaning in and mouthing.

Some insane rumour, Kevin was sure of it. "Then, we figure it out," he announced, "Before there's another shootout."

"We have to," Ed agreed.

The day was unsettling and grey. Milky fog and gloom has settled into the grounds of the town as if there was something bad about to happen. It was hard for the ginger boy to focus on any of the lectures that happened after lunch that day. He had messaged Eddward right as the bell rang ending lunch, but an hour before school ended and there was still no reply from the raven haired teen.

As soon as the final bell rang, Kevin jumped out of his chair and rushed out of the building. What if Eddward was still being detained? What if something else happened last night?

It was as he was running down the entrance steps that he spotted a familiar shaggy haired boy waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. Kevin slowed down, coming to a stop in front of Hunter. "What's up?" he asked, confused.

"Your shark sent me," Hunter said, his eyes searching for Kevin as if knowing what Kevin was about to ask next, "He's alright. But…"

"But?"

"You can't go to him," Hunter said, a hand pressed to Kevin's chest, "It's for both your safety."

Kevin made a face he knew he did, because Hunter eye's only hardened him. "What the hell is that going to do? I'm in danger with or without him, there's no stopping whoever is after me."

"No, there is not but Vincent believes it best to keep you away for now. That was the plan and it should stay as is."

"Fuck this," Kevin pushed Hunter's hand off and started making way but Hunter's arm wrapped around him again stopping him from escaping. "Let me go,"

"Kevin!" Ed's voice called out from above the stairs.

They turned to look up at the tallest Ed rushing his way down, his hand grabbed onto Kevin pulling him back. "What's going on?"

"What's going on is your friend is desperate for chaos," Hunter said, shoving his hands in his pocket.

"Fine," Kevin said, "fine, then have it your way."

He grabbed Ed and dragged him away. "Where's Nazz?" he asked.

"Library with Sam I think," Ed said.

"Good," Kevin said rushing to his motorcycle, "Cause we have something important to do."

"Where are we going?"

"To the hospital to see Johnny,"

…

Eddward had been home for hours now, occasionally leaning against the cold white wall of his living room, eyes trained outside peering through the curtains. There was a police officer around the block and most likely around Jimmy and Johnny's homes too.

With a sigh of exhaustion he turned away. It was one thing to know that Sam was watching his every move but now that included the police as well? He couldn't have Kevin associated with him, it would put him on radar and only more trouble would erupt.

He had been pacing around with the ringing of the pill bottle teasing him. He couldn't pass out, not today, or tomorrow. Not yet, with all the stuff that required his full attention at the moment. But what exactly could he do with all the eyes on him? It was suffocating.

A loud ringing from his phone made him jump from where he had been standing and he made his way into the kitchen counter where he had left it.

Ed.

"Hello?" he answered, tired and worried.

"Wait! Kevin!,"

"Ed?" Eddward put down the pill bottle on the counter and turned already heading for his keys.

"Kevin wants to talk to Johnny!" Ed said out of breath.

Eddward paused to think for a second. His father had dropped him off at home hours ago, but Victor wasn't going into the office. He knew this because Victor had been available enough to see Eddy today. Had Sam asked his father to go? Was his father preoccupied at the moment?

"Give Kevin the phone," he said urgently.

There was a ruffle and quick footsteps, and a quiet 'It's Double D'.

"Eddward?" Kevin's voice was so relieving to hear. It brought an immediate flutter in Eddward's gut.

"Kevin, wait a moment, I have some things I need you to ask Johnny for me."

Kevin seemed to come to a stop because Eddward no longer heard footsteps. "What is it?"

"I have… many things I need to tell you, but I'll explain later." Eddward started, hand on his hair. "Ask about Sam's true intentions with Jimmy and… if he knows about a Dubois secret."

"A secret?" Kevin's voice was alarmed,

"Yeah," Eddward's shoulders deflated, "I'll explain another day. Sorry I can't go right now, I'm being watched."

"I can't come over?"

Eddward paused, his eyes scanning the empty kitchen. "No," he forced his lips to say. "Sorry, that wouldn't be a good idea."

"Then I'll call you later tonight, yeah?" Kevin said, and Eddward knew the boy was pouting.

"I'll be waiting," Eddward let out a sigh, "be careful Kevin."

"I always am,"

Eddward let out another breath of a laugh, "Ok, then."

"Talk to you later, bye"

"Bye," there was a moment of silence before the call ended. Eddward put the phone down hesitantly. It was frustrating not being able to rush over to take advantage of the moment and try to snoop in his father's office. That would have to wait another day.

There was nothing he could do but lay low. As he looked around the room he couldn't help but feel the same feeling as when he was stuck in the sheriff's office. Caged in, and trapped.

Not a nuanced sensation in the Vincent home.

…

Kevin and Ed had made their way up to the room Johnny was being held up in. There was a guard sitting just beside the door and Kevin pulled out the card that Sam had signed, a small but powerful thing it was.

The guard stared at the card only a brief moment, before ripping it into pieces, and gesturing that only Kevin was allowed inside. Ed had given Kevin a look of worry but kept to himself and fell back a step. Kevin wasn't worried, rather there were so many questions poisoning his brain.

A Dubois secret? What could Johnny possibly know about a secret?

Unless… Kevin thought, unless it was through Jimmy.

As he stepped inside the room, the hospital room was nearly identical to the one he had been in save for the position of the bed. It had moved closer to the window, and Johnny was sitting on the edge of it just staring out.

As Kevin took some steps closer, he could see that Johnny's left hand was cuffed to the bed. The boy's leg bandaged up but was clean. There had been a lot of blood loss that night, it had freaked Kevin out.

For all the trouble the J's had cost them. Kevin wouldn't want any of them dead, they were all just kids after all.

Johnny slowly turned to stare at Kevin with a dark and sunken expression. Eyes furious upon seeing who was standing at the foot of the bed.

"I'm sorry," Kevin suddenly said, "about plank."

Johnny pressed his lips together and turned away once more facing the window. "No you're not," he mumbled, "everyone hated Plank…"

Kevin made a face, what was he supposed to say? It was a piece of wood.

"It meant more to me than anyone," Johnny said, "I know he's just a piece of wood… but Jimmy made him for me. Said it would help me cope with…" he trailed off.

Kevin looked away, shoulders slouched defeated. He did feel bad about destroying Plank, everyone in town knew just how attached the teen was to it. No one knew why, no one knew that Jimmy had made it.

Johnny always followed Jimmy around like a pup and it made sense now. That Johnny was probably just as attached to Jimmy as he had been to the piece of wood. Jimmy had been the one to make a gift for him.

Meaning Johnny wouldn't backstab Jimmy, but could the same be said about Jimmy?

"Was Jimmy the one who sent you to Eddward's house?" Kevin finally spoke up again. Eyes coming back to find Johnny looking up at him with curious eyes.

"You know that by now," Johnny said, voice horse, annoyed. "Don't you?"

"I want to hear it from you," Kevin said. "I don't want to make you the bad guy, Johnny. I just… I need to know that there's a real reason behind all of this."

"But I always have been the fucking bad guy," Johnny let out a laugh, "are you willing to forgive me?"

"No," Kevin said plainly, "you've done a lot of very bad things. What I want to know is why?"

"Is that what you asked our Captain?" Asked Johnny, eyes emotionless as he stared at Kevin. "Is that why you forgave him? Cause he gave you a good reason? You know, he's done worse than me right?"

"…I know," Kevin said.

"Has he told you everything?"

"I know enough," Kevin could feel his heart rate picking up.

"No, he hasn't" Johnny said, eyes and mouth like a hard straight line. "And yet you forgave him. There's always been a reason why he was named the King of Sharks."

"I know that," Kevin was tense. He didn't want to hear it.

"Has he told you that he tortures those of us who don't obey Sam? How he had always participated in that? And shows no remorse? Has he told you why he's always been favored by Sam's father? Has he told you that they are slowly training him to be able to slaughter like The King of Beasts does—"

"Stop!" Kevin shouted, hands tightly clenched together, nose flared.

"How can you forgive him after everything he continues to do?"

Kevin felt his stomach sink into an abyss. Why?

"Let me tell you something," Johnny said, turning away once more. "We're all bad guys, and no one deserves forgiveness, because people are evil. Even if we're forced into this lifestyle."

"Were you forced?" Kevin asked.

"At least when it comes to the three of us, Jimmy, the Captain and me," Johnny said, "let's just say we never had a choice in the matter… we were all sold into it."

"Sold?" Kevin's anger dropped.

"In one way or another," Johnny said, "we were never told, but Jimmy figured it out. He told me."

"Wait… your families are all associated with the Dubois?" Kevin's hands were sweaty, the new revelations overwhelming him.

"Apparently," Johnny said, "but it's always been the Vincent's that are close to the Dubois. As far as I know."

"The Vincent's…" Kevin bit his lip, stopping his brain from spinning out of control. "Jimmy…knows a lot about the Dubois."

"Yeah,"

"You want out, right?"

"Yeah?"

Johnny's eyes were curious now, but staring at him with an intensity that Kevin knew would go in his favor.

"Tell me what Jimmy knows," Kevin said, "what secret does he know about Sam?"

"I'm not telling you that,"

"I'm trying to help you," Kevin said, determined. "If you tell me—"

"Sam will know," Johnny said, "I'll be long gone before you try and get any more information out of me."

"So you know what Liam did?"

"No, but I know what Sam did," Johnny said.

"You're not going to tell me," Said Kevin, frustrated.

"I want to live,"

Kevin frowned, "Then you spill about the Masked Gang." His eyes trained on Johnny. "Sam will know I spoke with you but the Masked Gang won't know. Not even Jimmy knows I'm here."

Johnny cracked a smile, "I'm on their side dumbass."

"Are you?" Kevin asked, "or are you just following Jimmy?"

This made the other boy frown. Kevin smirked, "You have no affiliation, Johnny. Help me out here, and Eddward and I can talk to the sheriff to be easy on your trail. I'll drop charges, whatever it takes for you to tell me who the Masked leader is and what they want."

Johnny gave him a harsh glare. "Whatever?"

"Whatever, I'll do my best," Kevin said. "As I said, I don't want to make you the bad guy. You're just following orders, I believe that much."

Johnny winced as if in pain, his hand soothing the area where there was an I.V needle stabbed into his arm. "...The Masked Leader…" Johnny breathed out, almost as afraid of speaking the title as if speaking Sam's name. "Jimmy is one of the few people who knows who the Masked Leader is. I know it's a woman, and that she used to belong to the Serpents. That's why they're helping."

"Is she involved with whatever the secret is?" asked Kevin.

"I...suspect she is," Johnny said, thoughtfully.

"Johnny, you gotta give me something more to go off from," Kevin said, frustrated. He was starting to feel like he was running in circles. "Like… Why is she after me and Nazz?"

"Nazz is Sam's bitch," Johnny said, "There is no more to it, that's all I know. You all didn't want to listen to Jimmy. He wanted to hide you away but you didn't listen. Sam acted fast, you're part of a plan between Jimmy and Sam, she has no care or need for you. I'm sure she's letting Jimmy do whatever he wants with you."

So, everything that Sam and Jimmy had said was correct. It had been Sam's way of getting rid of Kevin while misleading the pointing finger. "What about Eddward?"

"If I'm right," Johnny swallowed, lips chapped, looking ever so pale. "Then our Captain is valuable to her. We're forbidden to harm our Captain."

"What were you going to do with me the night you tried kidnapping me?" asked Kevin

"Beats me," he shrugged, "My job was just to get you to the meeting point."

"Where?"

"The old trail road in the northern woods," he said. "Someone was supposed to take you somewhere else, I don't know. Maybe you would've been dead by now."

"This was arranged by Sam?"

"Disguised as Jimmy's plan, so probably," The teen shrugged, "Sam is the one who knows people to do the job."

"The masked leader doesn't?"

"No,"

Kevin nodded, crossing his arms together, "Then why is Jimmy helping the Masked Leader when he still feeds Sam information? He's betraying the very person that could benefit him the most."

The bald teen cleared his throat, skin ghostly white. "...You've heard the phrase, don't keep all your eggs in the same basket, right?"

"I get that," Kevin said, "But what's going to happen to his family if Sam and his family find out his true intentions? Is he willing to give up the Masked Leader to save them?

"I don't know," Johnny said. "But I think she knows."

"She knows that Jimmy's playing the double agent?"

"Yeah,"

"Look, if the Masked Leader is after Sam," Kevin began, "Then they have to let me help out in some way. This is about getting justice right?"

"And freedom," Johnny said, licking his dry lips as if in need of water.

"The Masked Leader needs to know we're no threat to them,"

Johnny cracked a smile, "Yes you are. You're the worst kind of threat."

"How?" Kevin exclaimed, "We want the same thing."

"The Masked Leader doesn't want to play nice," Johnny said, "Not when it comes to Sam and Jimmy is all for the destruction. You want him behind bars but they… they want him dead."

"I want Eddward out of this gang, as much as you want out." Kevin said, "That's all that matters now, and if we have to get our hands dirty… then so be it."

"You're no killer, minnow," Johnny stared quietly. Then sighed, "If my suspicions are right… Then she was never the target of what Sam was doing. She was just very unlucky. Wrong place, wrong time."

"Then who?"

There was a grunt, "A guy…" Johnny groaned out, in pain.

Kevin lowered his arms now, and took a few steps in front of Johnny, "Hey, you ok?"

"...He used to be with the Great White Sharks…" Johnny made a choking noise, and all of a sudden, his skin was almost a shade of blue.

"What's happening?" Kevin said, worried, looking all over at Johnny's. "What's wrong?"

Johnny was falling off the bed, Kevin attempted to try and catch him, but the guy was as heavy as a boulder. Once the teen landed as swiftly as possible on the floor, Kevin picked up the hospital control and smashed the button to call in a nurse.

"Johnny!" Kevin tried keeping the boy conscious, but he was quickly losing body temperature.

Finally Kevin stood and ran out of the room, "We need a doctor!" he screamed out when his eyes spotted a dark head of red hair.

Sarah was curiously staring up at him, with a soft smile on her lips. "Oh hello, Kevin. What brings you here?"

"W-where's your brother? The guard?" Kevin frantically looked around the long empty hallway.

"My brother's getting me my phone," Sarah said with a shrug, "I left it in my doctor's office."

Kevin then spotted a nurse at the very end of the hallway, and as he was about to make a run for it, a slender hand gripped his tight. Kevin looked down at Sarah with confusion.

"What's got you in such a hurry?"

"Nurse!" Kevin shouted, trying to rip his hand away but Sarah held on tighter.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," She giggled out.

It gave Kevin a swirl of emotions seeing her look up at him with a smile. Then the nurse was mere feet away, and he felt Sarah finally let go of him, "Something's very wrong with Johnny!" Kevin said.

As soon as the nurse saw Johnny, she took immediate action calling in for the doctor and more help. Kevin was forced to stay out in the hallway. Where had the guard gone? What was happening.

"Is he dying?" Sarah's sweet voice brought him back to the eerie hallway.

Her smile was gone, and instead stared up at him with an intense look that almost scared him. "I don't know." he mumbled out, feeling his hands shake.

"Hm, I hope he'll be ok."

There was a sudden wave of staff running into the room telling them to move away. Kevin helped Sarah move and as he came to a stop a few feet further down the hallway, Sarah's slender hand seemed to snake it's way onto his again.

"Are you scared?" she asked, staring out the window, seeing the same view Johnny had been seeing.

"For him?" Kevin found his voice, "Yeah…"

"Of dying I mean," she clarified, her nails lightly scratching his hand, fingers soothing it.

Kevin paused, a faint shake of his head, "I don't know… maybe."

"You should be," She tilted her head up, her brown eyes catching his green ones. "Humans are so fragile. We're like porcelain dolls." she let out a laugh, "But you should let that fear inspire you to thrive. To rise above all odds."

Kevin's heart stopped when there was a loud constant beep from Johnny's room. He was going to throw up.

"Facing death is the best motivator to live, and survive."

Kevin's hand wouldn't stop shaking. He took a few steps towards Johnny's room, following the loud and steady beep. "Move," Kevin breathed out, "Come on." but the beep didn't change.

Someone had known.

"Some of us are destined to survive," Sarah said, lips in a sad frown, eyes pitiful as she stared into the crowded room. "Some aren't so fortunate."

Kevin couldn't peel his eyes away from Sarah now. How was she so controlled? While he was on the verge of crying over a bully who had made his life hell. How was Johnny's death natural? Someone had to have known.

"S-sarah," Kevin said, "Did you see anyone else come by here?"

"No," She said, curiously, "It was just my brother out here."

Was it the guard? Kevin thought. Had Sam instructed the guard to...do something to Johnny if he came in to see the boy? Kevin wouldn't put it past Sam.

"Why are you crying?"

Kevin looked back at Sarah, confused. "Someone just died," he said.

…

Eddward had decided to sit on his back porch, looking out onto the nothing, lit cigarette in hand. Watching the smoke disappear into the evening, noting that for the first time he was not particularly craving it.

He was anxiously waiting for Kevin's call. Not even Ed had called but Eddward trusted it was alright. He had to, otherwise he'd go insane.

As his eyes wandered the backyard he noticed a great many things. Small things, but bigger in the grand scheme of it all. There was life starting to bloom.

He should have expected that, knowing March was around the corner. But it seemed almost too early still for anything to show. Specks of bulbs of flowers were just peeking out from the ground, and the grass was brighter, the birds were a little louder and the evenings were less cold.

He wondered what the Vincent home was like when his mother was growing up. Had she ever sat in this very spot and just watched the evening go by? Finding the beauty of the residence despite it's nightmarish interior.

Why had she hated the house?

He had reasons to, but it was something bittersweet. He loathed it's lonely grand rooms but enjoyed the speckles of good memories.

But he's father would sell it.

And despite its horrendous cage, it belonged to his mother. Eddward found himself unable to let go of all the bad, but he supposed it only meant he had to hold on tighter to the good.

His phone rang then, a loud distraction in the quiet somber evening.

"Hey," Eddward answered expecting Kevin to immediately start speaking fast and as bubbly as he did.

There was a pause in the other line, and it made Eddward really listen. He could almost see Kevin staring off into nothing in heavy thought Eddward did, based on the steady breathing. Then a sniffle.

"What happened?"Asked Eddward, calmer knowing the boy was more anxious than him right now.

"He's dead," Kevin's broken voice whispered out as if afraid of speaking any louder. As if it was a secret between the two.

However, Kevin's statement alarmed him. "Who?" He asked.

"Johnny,"

His eye sight moved towards the furthest part of his yard, past the pine trees as if there was something there. But it was just darkness "…what?"

"Someone did something to him…" Kevin mumbled, "poison, I think."

"Wait, hold on," Eddward shook his head in confusion, "What happened?"

"I...I talked to him for a few minutes before," Kevin made a noise like he didn't want to think about the memory. "He started showing signs of pain, but I don't think he noticed what was happening. Then he...started choking and…"

"You don't have to continue," Eddward said quietly, unable to process the reality of what Kevin had just said. "I'm sorry."

"…" Kevin's breathing was steady, "Um, Johnny said some weird things."

"Like what?"

"Your dad works for Sam," Kevin said, "but I think it's been going on for generations."

"Well," Eddward started, "Father picked me up from the sheriffs office this morning and we had a brief conversation."

Eddward paused, looking at the cigarette on the floor beside him, "He told me he's been working for the Dubois family since before he met my mother."

"Seriously?" Kevin finally had a bit of emotion in his voice.

"Yeah," Eddward breathed out the word. "He wouldn't tell me anything else."

"He hasn't ever said more?" Kevin said, cautiously.

"No, why?"

"Johnny kept talking as if you three were 'sold' to the Dubois,"

"Sold?" Eddward shook his head with a laugh, "Sometimes it sure feels like it, but I joined them willingly."

"He said," Kevin paused, and Eddward could envision Kevin biting his nail in thought. "He said that Jimmy had found out somehow, and maybe it wasn't for money. Maybe it was for other reasons. Like, don't you think it odd that you've been indirectly associated with the Dubois family since before meeting Sam?"

"The picture…" Eddward breathed out, wanting to know how Sam had gotten a hold of it and why he was keeping it.

"Sam had to have known Dr. Vincent," Kevin said, "Johnny said something about how the Vincents were always the one closer to the Dubois. According to Jimmy that is."

"So, Jimmy knows a hell of a lot more than we don't,"

"Yeah, including everything about what Sam did," Kevin said with a sigh, "But what'll it take to get him to talk straight."

"He likes the game as much as Sam,"

"He does." Kevin said.

"Another thing," Eddward began, stepping on the cigarette with his slipper. "It doesn't seem like it was just my father or his side of the family who were connected with the Dubois. I think my mother was too."

"To be honest, that doesn't surprise me," Kevin replied, clearing his throat and sounds of shifting were heard. "So...last night, my mom found out I'm with the Eastern sharks."

Something dropped into the pit of Eddward's stomach, "How?"

"The police called," Kevin said, tiredly, "She told me a few things too. But, something that stuck out to me was how she mentioned that your mom always had a reason to do the things she did. She had even told my mom that whatever she was involved in was too dangerous for her to know. Your mom was also the one who told Papa Aloe to let the gang go inactive. But why?"

"She must have known something she shouldn't have," Eddward said, eyes scanning the darkness once again. "Maybe the Dubois family threatened her and my father has kept her away this entire time for that very reason. He said that I was supposed to be above the Dubois."

"If he didn't want you working with them, why treat you lesser," Kevin said in a quiet shout. "He could have warned you from the beginning and at least you would be free of Sam."

"I don't know," Eddward's shoulder relaxed, feeling that for the first time, the abandonment from his mother wasn't his fault. It was such an elevating sensation. "But I know now that...maybe Papa Aloe was right. She has to have been kept away, and Father won't tell me as long as I remain beside Sam."

"The question now being," Kevin began. "What did she know?"

"And how she met the Dubois family," Eddward added, then asked, "Did Johnny mention anything about the secret?"

"He had a suspicion on who the Masked Meader was," Kevin said, his voice uncomfortable again, "But the only thing I got from him was that whatever Sam was doing wasn't meant to be directly for her but towards someone within the Great White gang."

"What?"

"Yeah, I know," Kevin let out a breath of air, seemingly just as confused, "That guy was involved with whatever Liam did."

"Is the guy alive?"

"I don't know…he said used to be in the gang..." Kevin breathed out.

"Used to be," Eddward thought, wondering if he might have known this person. "Ok, that's a start."

"Yeah…"

Kevin's voice was distant, making Eddward feel bad for the teen, "pumpkin?" he called out.

"Hm?"

"Are you going to be ok?"

"I wish I could see you right now," Kevin mumbled out.

The comment made Eddward's ear hot. "Sorry…"

"Um, I know this is stupid but…what about the Spring dance?" Kevin asked, "It's only a week away and Nazz was excited to dress you up and drag you out."

That statement brought out a chuckle from him. Eddward knew Kevin was just saying that to cheer them both up. The boy knew Eddward never had intentions to actually go, but if there was someone who would be able to at least get him in a suit, it was Kevin Barr.

"I'll have to take a rain check, pumpkin," He said with a smile stretching his lips.

"Darn that's a bummer,"

"Hm, but maybe you can save me a dance?" His words came out before he had time to process what he had just said. He didn't take them back, he let them settle between them like a bridge.

"Will do," Kevin said, in a warm tone as if smiling. He must have been, in the same way Eddward knew Kevin's face must be flushed red, illuminating his freckles and his green eyes. In the same way that he knew his posture would become timid, but satisfied.

And it hurt, Eddward's chest hurt in the thought of not being present to see Kevin's endearing smile.

"That's a promise," Eddward said, sharing that bit of happiness. He was wishing to hold the teen right then and there and hold on through the night, knowing Kevin was needing that extra support right now and honestly he could use some too.

Because this new revelation was voidless and peculiar. He couldn't believe what had just happened but there was a somber sensation in his chest. He was scared. Scared for everyone now, because if it happened to Johnny, then it could happen to anyone else as well.

So he prayed.

…

A week had come and gone as quickly as the sun rose and fell.

Kevin had not seen Eddward within that week leading up to the spring dance. There were flowers and ribbons and posters decorating the hallways of Peach Creek High. Keivn had witnessed many students making grand gestures in asking another to the dance. There had been balloons involved in some and the school's choir in another.

Ed had told them that Eddward had been suspended from school that week and it included the spring dance as well. Nazz was in a fit about it, but Kevin was somewhat glad that the raven haired teen wasn't around at the moment. Among the chaos of the romantics, was the chaos of nasty rumors.

Johnny's death was whispered about throughout the entirety of the town and after people had found out Kevin had been in the room many had begun to assume the worst of it all. But authorities and anyone who was actually there knew there had to be something else that occurred that day. And that question only got the sheriff more pissed off and the investigation turned even tighter.

Now more than ever was Kevin kept away from Eddward.

And it hurt to know that Eddward was locked away in the Vincent home knowing just how miserable and lonely the teen must be by himself. It caused him anxiety to wonder about Eddward's current mental health. Because on top of all the rumors and eyes staring at Eddward, he had also just lost someone he knew.

They might not have been close, but Johnny had been part of the trio. It should be a weird and sad feeling to know that a person who he used to hang out with was buried six feet under. No one from the school had been allowed to go to the funeral, Johnny's family had been adamant about that. As far as Kevin knew, Jimmy had been the only one allowed.

Jimmy hadn't shown his face at school either, but it didn't worry him. The teen had just lost his right hand man, the only one he could trust and depend on. Johnny had been so loyal, following Jimmy everywhere and now knowing how deep that friendship went, well, it was sad.

Kevin couldn't imagine losing a friend. It would destroy him.

This truly was on another level now. Sam had brought a gun into the game, uncaring for anyone but himself anymore. Uncaring that he had just killed a boy. But then again, this was what Sam had signed up for hadn't he?

But Johnny wanted to live, he had told Kevin that. Sam had taken that choice away as punishment for Kevin going to talk to him. It had to have been Sam, but the bastard had been missing too.

The mood for a dance was in no one's list of priorities, but Nazz insisted it was the perfect distraction. What was Kevin going to do, lay in his bed feeling sorry and bad for everyone? Might as well feel sorry and bad for everyone trying to do something. It was a simple distraction, she had said.

So, Ed picked up Kevin and Nazz early in the evening in his parents truck. Ed had worn the same beige suit he had worn to Sam's birthday party, except it was dressed up more casual, no tie and an opened up white shirt. Kevin had been given a deep forest green suit by his mother when she had found out about the event. Lizzy's stern trailing eyes as she took pictures however, told Kevin he was running out of time to tell his father by himself. And Nazz, well when was she ever not stunning in a dress. As simple as the 50's inspired red dress was, it had intricate lace in the back. Lips the same shade of red, neck presenting an elegant dainty necklace and hair in a braided updo.

"Where's Nathan?" Nazz asked, looking around the school's busy parking lot.

"He said he'd meet us here," Kevin said, looking down at his phone. "Let me call him,"

Nat wasn't answering, with everything that was going on in town it worried Kevin. As soon as the attempted phone call ended, he received a message from the green haired boy.

[Be there in 10! Go ahead inside, I'll find you!]

Hm, Kevin looked around the parking lot one last time, feeling a sense of lonesomeness at the fact that Eddward wasn't with them that night. That he was probably smoking the night away again. But Kevin was missing him nonetheless, they hadn't spoken on the phone again. He felt Ed's hand on his shoulders, looking down at him with a supportive smile.

They went in to find the school completely transformed. There were lights strung on the entire hallway leading to the gym. Flowers decorated the floors and colored paper covered the usual boring walls. They gave their tickets at the front and shuffled into the gym, which appeared much smaller, filled with round tables and the entire student body.

Clear balloons and falling stars decorated the ceiling, some had confetti inside and some flowers. At the far end of the gym was a stretched out line of couples waiting to take their picture in front of a variety of flowers -covered wall. A giant moon was at the center of the front of the gym where the stage was. The DJ blasting the latest pop hits and the kids lost in their dancing.

Kevin frowned, how could people be so care free? In the midst of a tragedy? In the midst of everything that was happening in their own backyards? Then again, he was just as ignorant as they had been once before, hadn't he?

The entire room was engulfed in ever changing lights, once pink, now blue. Kevin couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. They found an available table where to set down their jackets, when Nazz's group of girlfriends had come in like a tidal wave, washing her away with them for photos and dancing.

"Kevin!"

Kevin heard his name being called and he looked over into the crowd where he saw Nat, wearing a light pink suit with a white turtleneck underneath cutting his way through to them. Kevin smiled, waving a hand and stood to be embraced by Nat in a tight hug.

"Who knew Peach Creek knew how to party," Nat looked over Kevin's shoulder, and waved a hello to Ed, "Looking spiffy, big guy."

"I like your suit," Ed complimented politely.

"Why, thank you," Nat showed off his suit in a twirl, before stopping to hold onto Kevin again, "Speaking of handsome suits. Damn Kevin."

Kevin smirked, shaking his head, "You're the one who looks great," he noticed the teen wore a bit more makeup than Nazz had, eyeliner and painted eyes. It was then he noticed Nat's eyes...almost glassy and his cheeks were faintly flushed, hair not as smoothed back as it would have been had he just done it.

"Oh stop it," Nat said, giving him a pat on the shoulder.

Nat had convinced them to get into the photo line, and as they waited the green haired boy went on about how crazy the dances at Lemon Brooke could get, that after the school dance ended it would always continue in the parking lot into the next day. People hooking up in a secluded classroom and sneaking in booze into the punch.

Nazz had joined them for the photos, and as fun as it was, Kevin couldn't fake the sensation of wanting to leave. That Eddward was missing from the photographs and he would always remember that night as the night that the raven haired boy was by himself at home.

Nat whisked Kevin into the dance floor and Nazz had Ed. It was hilarious watching his friends just let loose for the night, it had been uncomfortable for the first moments and then Nat seemed to know just how to lighten the mood. But as Nat gave him a spin and his hands were on Kevin's waist, it only drove the memory of him dancing with Eddward and Kevin wanted to leave.

Kevin found himself by the snack table half an hour later, feeling too warm and uncomfortable. Ed was standing beside him watching Nazz and Nat dancing together, stealing the attention of people around them.

"You're missing him, aren't you?" Ed said, quietly sipping on the punch before spitting it out and leaving it on the table, "Do not drink that."

Kevin eyed the punch curiously, "Aren't you?" he asked.

"Yeah," Ed shrugged, "but I'm sure he's missing you more."

Kevin gave Ed a look before ignoring his comment and taking a moment to think.

"He misses you more than you think," Ed said, quietly eyes trained on Kevin.

"...he misses us all," Kevin mumbled out, his face becoming warm.

"Kevin…" Ed said leaning closer to Kevin, then staring into Kevin's eyes. "Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"How do you think Double D feels right now?"

"Miserable,"

"And why would he feel miserable?"

"Because he's alone,"

"And don't you think he's been alone for too long already?"

Kevin stared at Ed with a look of bafflement. "You know why I can't go…"

"You know that's not what I'm talking about," Ed's eyebrow raised.

"No, I don't know what you're talking about," Kevin said, turning to face Ed.

"Kevin, it's been written all over your face all night," Ed made a circle with his finger, "I want to be with Double D."

Kevin opened his mouth only to close it again, arm's crossed, then a shrug.

"Do you like him?"

Kevin stared wide eyed at Ed, "yeah?" he said slowly.

"No," Ed elbowed Kevin on the side, "I mean like-like him, you know?"

Kevin's entire face burned, his hands sweaty. "I...Why are you asking me that?"

"Because it's ridiculously selfish of you to hold that from him," Ed said looking back at the crowd.

"I-" Kevin stared but closed his mouth shut tight.

"You miss him, but he misses you more, trust me," Ed said. "And I'm done seeing him feel so left out and lonely when there shouldn't be any reason to feel that way."

"I am not being selfish," Kevin said in a whisper.

"You are," Ed said, lips in a frown.

"How?"

"You're letting him believe this is one sided," Ed said, "You're letting him continue to suffer alone. He puts you above everything and you won't give him the decency of being honest with him."

Kevin was speechless, caught like a deer in the headlights. Unable to make out a clear thought. His legs were weak, his chest was pounding and his skin burned.

"I have never seen Double D look at anyone else the way he looks at you," Ed said, seriously but with a smile. "Have you ever considered how he must be feeling?"

"It's why I haven't…" Kevin said, it was why he hadn't confessed anything because he had thought about Eddward's feelings. He was scared of ruining what they had.

"Do you miss him?'

"Yeah,"

"Then you should go to him," Ed said, pointing with a look at the gym exit, "I'm sure he's been waiting for you."

Kevin looked between Ed and the dancing crowd. "B-but…"

"But nothing," Ed gave Kevin a little push forward, "Don't keep him waiting any longer. He's miserable."

"W-wait!" Kevin said, confused and flustered. He looked hard at Ed then at the crowd then back to Ed. "I can't just do that."

"Why?"

"B-because!" Kevin gestured with his hands out, "Just how is he going to be ok with this?"

Ed sighed, but there was a sympathetic smile, "You won't truly know until you try." Ed said, "Trust me when I tell you, that nothing you say to him will make him hate you, or push you away. He values you too much to all of a sudden ruin your friendship."

Kevin stared at Ed, unable to speak properly, unable to move, his heart pounding with the idea of ever being so vulnerably honest with Eddward… but wasn't Kevin expecting the same from Eddward?

"What's the worst that could happen?" Ed said, giving Kevin a pat on the shoulder, "I hope you know that the friendship you both have is capable of surpassing many hardships, including a simple confession."

"I can't just leave" Kevin looked back to the crowd, searching for the girl.

"Don't worry about us," Ed laughed, "Nazz is having the time of her life and Nathan's in good hands. They'll understand."

"Is this really a good idea?"

"How about you tell me tomorrow morning if it was or not?" Ed tried pushing Kevin forward again, "Oh wait, maybe a sip of this will help."

There was a small cup with a red liquid in it shoved into his hand, Kevin took it and shot it back in one go. It was a bitter, vile thing, where was the fruity taste? "Ugh! What the fuck is in it?"

"I think it's supposed to be spiked," Ed made a face as he looked at the bowl.

"It tastes like ass," Kevin shook his head with a shiver.

"But it helped didn't it?"

"No, not at all,"

Ed shrugged, "Worth a shot."

…

Nazz looked around the gym, looking for her friends. Only spotting Ed by himself seated at the table, wondering where Kevin went she was about to join Ed when a gentle hand touched her elbow. There were some gasps and giggles around her.

As she turned to see who the touched belonged to, her eyes caught sight onto a gorgeously elegant white suit. Sam stood in front of her in all his regal presence, eyes soft and smiling as seductive as ever.

"Evening love," he said.

"Where have you been?" Nazz said, not amused.

"I've been around," Sam said, "You just haven't seen me."

"Are you hiding?" Nazz said, eyebrows narrowed.

"Why don't you follow me," Sam gestured with a nod of his head, "So we can speak privately."

Nazz looked behind her having lost sight of Nat, and Ed was distracted on his phone. As weird as it was, she knew Sam wouldn't do anything bad to her. Not directly at least. So she allowed herself to be dragged through the on looking eyes of the crowd through the double door of the gym into the crisp cold air of the outside. Onto the open patio behind the school that was lit with lights, a few stars hanging but was empty. The ground was wet but the sky was just darkly grey.

"Dance with me, love" Sam said, pulling Nazz into the middle of the courtyard.

"I'm in no mood to dance with you," Nazz said, allowing Sam to hold her hand, touch her waist and pull her close.

"Are you cross with me?" Sam said in a tease.

"How could I not be?" Nazz gasped, annoyed. "How do you expect me to smile and play along with your little flirtatious impulses?"

"Because you desire me as much as I desire you love," Sam said, roughly starting to sway along to the distant sound of the slow music. "You allow me to whisk you away and pamper you."

"You have every power to hurt my friends," Nazz said, "I'm terrified of you, not in the slightest appeal by your fancy dresses and elegant gifts." She pulled away, undoing her necklace and shoving it into Sam's hand. "You killed Johnny!"

Sam stared at the necklace in his hand, eyes steady before looking up at a Nazz. "You honestly believe that?"

"Yes!" Nazz croaked out, "It was your guard at his door."

"Everyone seems to believe that," Sam said, "Love, I've done nothing but be good to you. I protect you as best as I can."

"It's your fault I've been in danger in the first place," Nazz was exasperated, "I've placed my trust in you time and time again, I've fooled myself to believe you were worthy of a second chance, but I've never been so wrong."

"You're so certain I killed Johnny?" Sam said, dark eyes so intense it made Nazz shiver with rage.

"You've done absolutely nothing to convince me otherwise," Nazz shook her head, "I feel so sorry for you. Because at the end of the day, if you continue to be as you are, you will lose everyone you care about." Nazz turned to leave the courtyard. She was overwhelmed and frustrated and angry with Sam and herself.

A hand grabbed her once again pulling her back.

"Don't turn your back on me," Sam's voice was firm, frustrated but not angry.

"I should have turned away from you ages ago!" Nazz shoved his hand away, tears in her eyes. The rain started once again. "You're a monster!"

"Don't call me that," Sam said, lips pressed together, "Not you."

"You killed Johnny," Nazz said, her hand gripped Sam's suit in a powerful hold. "I will not very forgive that."

"I did not," Sam mouthed the words slowly.

"Don't lie to me," Nazz cried out, her make up ruined. "Stop it."

"I did not do it," he repeated again with a shake of his head, "I will do everything in my power to prove to you that I was not his killer."

"I won't listen," Nazz said, letting go of Sam. "Not anymore."

"You must," Sam said, voice desperate but Nazz would not look at him anymore. She would not pity him any longer.

"You can't make me," Nazz turned away once again but Sam had moved now, stepping in front of her and blocking her way. "Let me leave!"

"You must know that I would never hurt you," Sam said in a plea. "You've bewitched me completely, Nazz"

"Stop lying,"

"You are no hostage, love," Sam said, his hands finding her waist, "Can't you see how enamoured I am with you? I'll move mountains to see you happy."

"You'll move mountains but never anything as simple as leaving us all alone?" Nazz said amused, "You're enamoured with Eddward, not me."

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't pretend," she shook her head, "You're obsessed with Eddward. And it's because you're obsessed with him that I know for certainty that you won't ever change."

Sam quieted down now.

"They've all been right about you," Nazz said, "I just really wanted to believe that you could be better. I'm horrifyingly disappointed."

"Go ahead and leave then," Sam said, "You've always had that freedom, love. But you are horribly wrong. I was not Johnny's executioner, and my feelings for you are the most truthful thing I will ever confess."

Nazz placed a hand on Sam's chest, "You refuse to keep your promise, so why should I?" then finally stepped away. But she would not go back inside the building, she couldn't. It was raining and her dress was soiled and makeup was a mess. She felt a mess.

Her steps trailed to the front of the school. Down the stairs and out of the parking lot, her coat and purse were forgotten. She was furious with Sam, and with his outrageous lies. She couldn't pretend anymore, she couldn't pretend anymore.

…

"Have you seen Nazz?" Nat red cheeked, came up to Ed with still glassy eyes.

"No," Ed said worryingly. He stood to look around the room, finding Nazz's friends at the center laughing away he decided to approach and ask.

"Didn't you see Sam come in and twirl her away," One said.

"Like Cinderella," Another giggled. "Ugh, she is so lucky."

"Oh," Ed said, "I didn't notice."

He made his way back to the table where Nat was sitting waiting.

"She seems to be occupied with someone," Ed said carefully. Not sure if Nat knew if Nazz was involved with Sam or not.

"And Kevin?" Nat looked up, concerned.

"Same thing," Ed smiled then, "I hope at least."

"Oh?" Nat smirked then, "Really?"

"You know?"

"I found out suddenly," Nat said, "Can't say I'm happy about it but I'm happy for him. Sorry, I don't mean to offend, I just don't know the guy."

Ed shook his head "No need, I get it. Your part of the Northern Fangs, all you've heard about him is bad."

Nat let out a laugh in a quick breath, "I sure have."

"But Double D, cares about Kevin." Ed said, "Genuinely, and more honestly than I have ever seen anyone care about another person."

"Kevin does too," Nat smiled sadly.

"Yeah, he does,"

Nat's eyes were distant, sad. Now that Ed had actually looked at the green haired boy he could finally read the melancholy off of his posture, and in the forced smile. "Nathan… Do you like Kevin?" he asked suddenly.

The green haired teen looked up at him with bewilderment, then a laugh, " Do you mean...oh no, why do you ask?"

"You seem sad,"

"Ah," There was a twitch in Nat's smile, eyes looking into the crowd before looking back at him. "It's not about Kevin… He's my friend, I don't" Nat shrugged, "Trust me that's not it."

"Want to talk about it?"

Nat breathed then, his eyes looking back at the crowd. "Not now, I don't want to spoil the night."

"Hardly," Ed said, calmly. He looked around the room, not enjoying the room anymore. "Want to get out of here?"

Nat stared at him again, "What about Nazz?"

"We can drop her home, then go wherever you want to. If you want to go home, I'll take you back."

"I don't want to go home just yet," Nat said, sadly smiling, "I need a breather first, somewhere quiet…away from everyone."

"I know a place," Ed said, standing back up and giving Nat a pat on his shoulder. "I'll go get Nazz."

He made his way around the room scanning the area before peeking into the school hallways. As he was about to head to the entrance, a pale hand was shoved in front of him. Ed looked down to see dark angry eyes staring up at him.

"She's gone home," Sam said. "safely."

Ed lowered his eyebrows, "What did you do?"

"We argued," Sam said, "That is all."

As Ed was about to say something else, Sam's enraged eyes were strong enough to silence him. It reminded Ed of the times Sam had looked at Double D in the same exact manner. When Double D would defy Sam, as if it were the worst sin Double D could do. But the difference now was that Double D would suffer the consequences from Sam's rage, and Nazz had escaped before that.

"If you do something to Nazz…" Ed started, terrified of the person in front of him, but strong enough to stand and defend his friend. "I'll do you one worse."

Sam said nothing but stared at Ed. Then the blonde finally turned away and left.

Ed could feel his entire body shake, scared of the repercussions to surely come. He already knew this wasn't some petty argument, something had been said for Sam to have those destructive eyes.

"Did you find her?" Nat's voice pipped in behind him. He was holding onto Ed's, and Nazz's coat and purse.

"She already left," Ed said.

"What?" Nat's eyes seemed worried, "Shouldn't we catch up to her? Make sure she gets home ok?"

"Apparently, her company already made sure of that,"

"Oh?" Nat's smile was devious, "Damn girl, it's still early."

That's assuming the look on Nat's face told Ed everything the boy was in fact assuming. "Not like that!" he said blushing. "She wasn't feeling good."

Nat laughed and with a shake of his head, "Well, whatever she may be up to. I'm glad she's ok."

"Yeah,"

"Well, can we go?" Nat asked quietly, "I'm starting to feel a bit claustrophobic here."

"I thought you were a party kind of guy?" Ed smiled.

"Normally I am," Nat smiled. "I love being among strangers. No one knows you, can't judge you… but I'm not myself tonight."

Ed held out his elbow for Nat playfully hoping to cheer up the green haired teen. "Then shall we?"

Nat held his elbow with a careful smile.

He knew that cheering anyone up when they were a bit blue would always be fixed with some comforting junk food. Nat was ecstatic about it and ordered two large fries and a coke as his meal. But Ed decided to take their meals to go, because the diner was crowded from the rain.

Thankfully the umbrella in his truck was sufficient to protect them but most importantly, their food. Ed took them to the park, it's streetlights giving the area a light illuminance.

"Where are we supposed to eat without getting wet?" Nat had asked.

Ed had just told him to follow him, because at the center of the park was it's plaza with the gazebo. They made a run for it, and were pleasantly surprised to find the area decorated in lights, the railing covered in now wet flowers. But the majority, including the center, were dry.

With a chuckle, Nat sat down crossed legged at the center of the gazebo. "This place must be a dream in the summer."

"It's usually filled with all the town's kids running around and through it." Ed said, sitting down and grabbing his meal.

"It's a simple beauty," Nat said, with a mouth stuffed with fries. "These are so freaking good."

Ed smiled looking around into ongoing rain, "I guess it can be." he said, never really considering the prettiness of the plaza.

They sat in silence eating for a moment, before Nat spoke up again after siping from his coke. "Um… thanks for this." Nat said, gesturing around them and the food. "I mean you hardly know me. You could have just...ignore me, you know?"

Ed stared at him with raised eyebrows, "I know I barely know you but...I have a tendency to care for people around me, I guess."

Ed reached over with his cup of drink and tapped it against Nat's. "Besides," Ed continued, "You're Kevin's friend and you don't seem like that bad of a guy. So, if you don't mind, I'd like to befriend you."

And it was true. It had annoyed Ed how Eddward was easily jealous of Nat but everything that he had seen from the green haired boy indicated that there truly wasn't anything to be worried about. Nat just seemed like a touchy kind of person. Having Nat as their friend could be good for them as well. Nat was different, wild and spontaneous. And maybe he was wrong but Ed assumed Nat and Eddward shared at least one common thing. And he hoped they could get past their differences and be able to confide in their shared experience. Maybe Nat's confidence could rub off for all Ed knew.

"You're a real nice guy,you know," Nat sad smile was back, eyes staring down at his fries, "Truly."

"What happened? If you don't mind me asking?" Ed said quietly, setting his drink down.

Nat's eyes were red, lips twitching with a simple shrug of his shoulders, he looked away. "A lot of people just suck. They suck real bad."

Ed frowned, genuinely concerned now, "Yeah…" he agreed. "I know that really well."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," Ed gave Nat a smile.

The green haired boy wiped away a tear, a sniffle and then a breath, "Sorry, I'm so lame."

"It's ok to cry, and you're not." Ed smiled understandingly.

"Um…" Nat sniffed again, eyes closed, "This is so stupid. Please don't judge me but I haven't told anyone about this."

"You don't have to talk if you're uncomfortable?" Ed tilted his head trying to get Nat to look back at him.

"I need to tell someone," Another sniffle from Nat, "I don't know, I feel so stupid."

Ed scooted closer to Nat and hunched over to meet him at eye level, "Whatever it is, is not stupid if it's affecting you this badly."

Nat looked at him finally, "I...I was so excited… to meet this person I've been talking to for the longest time, and they live right here in Peach Creek and I've been seeing them here and then when I come over. But.." he bit his lip, "I realized tonight...he's made me feel so lonely this entire time. And I'm never lonely but he's made me feel so stupid and used and desposible." Nat's hands were covering his face, "I thought because he's...older, it would be different. I thought it was real."

Ed frowned now, feeling sorry for Nat. He wrapped an arm around the green haired teen, and pulled him in close, "I'm so sorry," he said, "He really sucks."

"Yeah, he does," Nat cried and laughed, nodding his head. "I feel so disgusting and dirty."

Ed pulled back but suddenly terrified, "Did he force himself on you?"

Nat shook his head, "No, no. no he didn't," his face was still hidden, "I feel disgusted because I gave him my consent...I gave him my honesty and he just...ended it right then and there without hesitation left me alone in…." he cried.

"How much older, Nat?" Ed asked carefully.

"He's twenty…" Nat said "I thought differently of him. Older means mature right? More stable and secure."

Ed shook his head, "He should have known better than to talk to you."

"I told him I was eighteen already," Nat said, "I lied. I'm the one who instigated it."

Ed frowned, "But he's the adult, he should have been more responsible."

"I should have been less stupid," Nat said, eyes tired with messed up makeup.

It wasn't ok, but there wasn't anything more Ed could say to convince Nat how wrong this relationship was so he tried to lighten the mood again. "It's his loss," Ed said, "He missed out on a fashion icon and a fantastic dancer."

Nat laughed at this, "I know right?"

Ed let Nat cry a bit more before making him laugh again. They finished their meals and sat under the gazebo for about an hour, before the exhaustion got to Nat. It would be a short drive to Lemon Brooke, but Ed didn't mind. He hoped to have made at least two people happy tonight, maybe three if things had gone well at the Vincent residence.

…

Kevin gave Ed a fist bump, before looking onto the crowd once more watching Nazz and Nat dancing together, actually enjoying their night. Then he slipped out of the gym, his chest feeling warm thinking back on the conversation with Ed.

The parking lot was filled with couples either making out or smoking by their respective cars. But they would soon enter the building, because by the time Kevin had crossed the lot, there were faint droplets of water hitting his face.

So he sped up, not wanting to be caught up in the rain. As he did so, his legs seemed to burn, and his heart was racing and mind was just focused on one thing. Never before, did he crave the sight of Eddward Vincent as much as he did then.

Was it normal to burn so fiercely by the simple desire of another? Was it normal to miss someone so desperately? Would he have the courage to convey what was going through his chest? Would he be able to even say anything at all?

The Vincent residence was as dark and ghostly as ever. Had Eddward already fallen asleep? Kevin stood outside just before the front porch steps, letting the now heavy rain soak into his suit without a care. "I shouldn't be here…" he breathed out.

What was he supposed to say?

What did Ed expect him to do?

Kevin turned around, anxiously, but the moment he saw darkness of the street the more he realized...that if he wasn't going to say anything, he could at least just be with Eddward right now. The raven haired teen was feeling alone, Kevin knew he must be.

Finally he knocked, his heart racing and his face on fire. There was desperation and desire and confusion. But he wasn't going to say anything, Ed didn't get it.

"Pumpkin?"

Kevin's eyes shot up at the sound of Eddward's voice. As soon as he saw Eddward, hair tied in a low ponytail, Kevin physically felt his heart spasm. This was a bad idea, he thought.

"You walked here in the rain?" Eddward's hand had reached out for him to drag him inside the house, the entryway was lit up as well as the chandelier in the center of the home reminding Kevin of the hanging stars at the dance.

The raven haired teen had told him to stay put as he disappeared somewhere in the house. Time seemed to slow down in the moment, and it was as if a new perspective had changed the Vincent home. It was grand, open and elegant. It had lovely wood carvings throughout it's architecture and shiny wooden floors. It had been a stunning thing in its prime. Things really did change when one started to notice the hidden details.

Eddward had come back with a towel and started drying Kevin's hair and it was then Kevin closed his eyes and let himself enjoy the caring touch from Eddward.

"Kevin?" Eddward's worried voice forced Kevin's eyes to open again, "what's wrong? You're not getting sick are you?"

Kevin remained speechless, unable to find his voice, but he shook his head. But Eddward had his hand on Kevin's forehead nonetheless, and it made Kevin flush harder.

"You should change out of the suit,"

Kevin noticed now, how Eddward's eyes trailed down Kevin's suit as if just noticing it and taking it in. Was there a possibility? He wondered, had Ed been right? Kevin shook his head once again, not knowing what to do now that he was here.

"What are you doing here?" Eddward's voice was confused and worried.

Kevin tried to speak, but his lips opened without any sound, then after a long moment of staring at Eddward, he finally said, "I wanted to dance with you."

Eddward was speechless now, then a laugh escaped him. The most lovely and joyful laugh Kevin had heard from Eddward, it was beautiful.

"You saved me a dance?" Eddward voice was amused.

"I told you I would,"

"Right now?"

"Yes,"

Another wonderful laugh, then Eddward was looking at him with the brightest blue eyes. "You're telling me you ran here in the rain just to have a dance with me?"

"Just the one,"

"Oh? so it's special?" Eddward said, his eyes lowering showing something like interest.

"Quite special,"

Eddward smirked, "Well, I'm honored."

Kevin finally got a smile in, his shoulders relaxing as he took out his phone and played the same song he had last heard playing at the dance. A soothing piano started playing and he dropped his phone on the floor.

Eddward's hand was already waiting for him to take a hold of, so Kevin did. He allowed himself to be dragged to the center, beside the stairs, under the lit chandelier. A voice started to sing in the background, soft and quiet.

"How was the school dance?" Eddward asked, his hand wrapping around Kevin's back pressing them close.

"You didn't miss much," Kevin said, with a shrug, "It wasn't as fun without you."

"I highly doubt that, pumpkin," Eddward looked at him with such a tenderness that Kevin was sure could melt him completely.

Kevin let Eddward lead him around the room, and it was the same as the last time. The same sense of rightness with how their feet followed one another, with how his hand fit in their hold and in how their eyes never seemed to trail away from each other. Like puzzle pieces unifying a whole image. A clear image that Kevin could finally visualize.

"How have you been?" Kevin asked.

Eddward seemed to ponder the question before answering, "Honestly, rough."

"Yeah?" Kevin frowned. "I'm sorry."

"It was...weird to not have you guys here at all," Eddward spoke in a quiet voice, "I've gotten so used to the house filled with noise and company."

"It's been weird not coming over," Kevin let out a breath, "After everything that happened. It felt wrong to not be here...I'm sorry, about Johnny."

"He...wasn't a close friend but…" Eddward said, lips down in a frown.

"It's still...sad," Kevin gave Eddward a rub to his shoulder, "It was so sudden."

"Yeah," Eddward agreed, voice breathy. The raven haired boy seemed a bit more quiet and closed off now.

"Have you been sleeping?"

Eddward just shrugged and gave him a sad smile, "It's easier to sleep through the day, since I'm not going anywhere."

"Nightmares?"

"It's fine," Eddward said, looking away, his elegant little scar now more present than ever. "I'm used to it."

"It's not fine," Kevin said. He knew that these nightmares, ignored and untreated, would lead Eddward down another intoxicating path. One Kevin did not want to see ever again. "What do you dream about?".

Eddward stared down at him with somber sincerity, "You wouldn't want to hear about them, they're terrible."

"It might help to talk about them," Kevin said.

Eddward lowered his head, eyes drifting away from Kevin, "I don't want you to know," he said.

"Why not?"

"They're awfully...disturbing sometimes,"

Kevin gave Eddward a smile, "I get disturbing nightmares too."

"You do?"

"Yeah," Kevin nodded, "and I had some pretty bad panic attacks...but you've helped me feel more secure and confident and...It's been a really long time since I've had one."

Eddward's smile was soft but pained, knowing he had been the cause of some of those attacks. Kevin sighed with a returned smile hoping to comfort the other.

"So, thank you for that." he ended.

The raven haired boy bit his lip then, eyes looking at somewhere far behind Kevin. Eddward's grip tightened on Kevin's shirt. "I...I'm always…" Eddward started lowering his head and tilting it away as if wanting to hide.

Kevin wrapped his arms around the taller teen pressing his face into the other's shoulder. The music continued playing but they had stopped swaying. It seemed as if it helped because Eddward embraced Kevin as well.

"I often go back to the night I got my scar," Eddward mumbled. "Everything is...so extreme, I can feel the glass...ripping my head open."

Kevin held on tighter to Eddward, "...The bastard that gave you that scar," Kevin started.

"Hm?"

"It was your father wasn't it?" Kevin held on tighter, afraid Eddward would run away.

The raven haired boy stayed still, leaning deeper into the hug. Then a nod of Eddward's head was what made Kevin's stomach swirl with rage. If he ever saw that man again, Kevin didn't know what he would do.

"You should really change out of those clothes," Eddward leaned back, his forehead pressing to Kevin's. "Thanks for the dance."

"Can I stay?" Kevin asked tentatively.

"Of course," Eddward had pulled back and gave Kevin a long look, his hand a light squeeze to Kevin's arms. "Go on then."

Kevin picked up his phone that had been playing another random song and started up the stairs. Eddward had stayed still, arms crossed, face turned away. Kevin frowned but the boy needed a moment of quiet so he continued up the stairs to change into some sweats and one of Eddward's hoodies.

When he came back down, Eddward had disappeared from where Kevin had left him. But there was a trail of light leading into the family room Eddward always seemed to hide in. Kevin found the fireplace lit, an open book on the floor, the cozy brown blanket haphazardly thrown over the couch, and a glass of wine set aside on the coffee table.

He stepped up closer to the book looking at it's cover and a buzz of butterflies swarmed his stomach at the sight of it. It was the same pirate book Kevin had recommended many months ago. His cheeks flushed once again recalling Ed's words.

So many little details he had overlooked, but could they really be an answer?

Isabella's portrait looking over the fireplace brought Kevin's uneasiness back. He stood close to the portrait with it's elegant frame, enough for it's elegant subject. Who was the true Isabella Vincent? Who was she after marrying Victor Vincent? Everything he had found out about her always referred to the way she was before marriage, but why marry a man like Victor? If she was so rebellious and just, why marry a man who was everything but?

Why leave Eddward behind the way she did?

Could she really be connected to the Dubois secret?

Something in Kevin's chest knew Sam had to know more than he let on, more about the Vincent's and more about the masked gang. The gangster was awfully calm knowing there was someone wanting him dead. It unnerved Kevin now more than ever to realize that the secret might be why Sam was obsessed with Eddward.

The rush of cold air caught his attention, and a faint smell of nicotine flew inside. Kevin followed, the rain had stopped and now was nothing but that refreshing natural smell that came after a rainfall. The earthy smell of pines, grass and soaked wood mixed with the nicotine was exactly how Kevin would describe the raven haired boy. A combination of all earthy smells with a slight bitterness.

He found Eddward wearing his black striped beanie sitting at the foot of the porch stairs, with a cigarette stuck between his lips and quietly Kevin joined him.

"I wanted to apologize," Eddward said, voice low.

Kevin stayed silent waiting for Eddward to continue.

"I wanted to apologize…" Eddward repeated, careful and firm. His eyes met Kevin's observing the teen. "I've made so many bad decisions that hurt everyone around me, including you. I'm sorry for all of that, and I'm sorry for taking the pill, sorry for letting you see me in such a state. But I'm not sorry for trying my god damned best to survive."

"And I understand that," Kevin said, quietly, "I get it and I'm sorry too."

"You have nothing to be sorry about,"

"Oh but I do," Kevin let out a small laugh, "I have a lot to apologize for, to you especially." He could see the eyes in which Eddward glinted with curiosity. "I'm sorry for making you feel as your father did. Pressured and with constant fear that you'll disappoint me."

"You have never" the raven haired teen began to say but was interrupted.

"I have," Kevin frowned but eyes were fierce. "I know I have, that's why you keep holding onto secrets." There was a small gust of wind, grey clouds moving fast. The smoke from the cigarette traveling somewhere distant behind them. "That's why you sought out the pills instead of trusting me to talk or help." his knees were pressed closely to his chest. "But you won't ever disappoint me… I want you to know that. So, stop apologizing for your past, and present involvement with the gang's affairs. I know Sam's the one manipulating you to do them and if you feel like it's your own judgement, well it's because you're surviving."

Kevin felt as guilty about affecting Eddward negatively and Ed was right, Kevin was being selfish with Eddward. He was expecting so much more than what Eddward was. Eddward just like every person was nothing more than human. He wasn't some untouchable, talented, powerful god. Eddward was just Eddward. Kevin understood that now. With scars and flaws and past and present mistakes.

Eddward was perfectly imperfect, and that's what made him Eddward Vincent.

"I'm not a good person," Eddward said, voice dry. "Sam doesn't tell me to do everything that I do, and it's a side I wish to shield from you."

"Why?" he asked, curious. But something in Eddward's glassy eyes already told him the answer.

"I'm scared of you hating me," Eddward admitted, in a quiet voice.

Kevin sat up straight, legs stretching out. "That's impossible," he said, scared that Eddward would let that thought brew. "I can't ever hate you."

"You can," Eddward frowned, "And you might. The possibility will always be tangible."

Kevin stared speechlessly at Eddward. He couldn't imagine a time where he would ever hate Eddward, his emotions starting to flood his chest. He wanted to scream his infatuation, and wanted to engrave into existence that Kevin would always care about Eddward.

"What if…" Kevin leaned forward, his body was mere inches away from the other now. An unquenched longing for that was eating him from the inside, suffocating him, drowning him. A pain in his chest burned inside that he needed to let out, he needed Eddward to know his truth. The real reason why Kevin Barr would never be able to hate Eddward Vincent. "Eddward, what Sam calls love is not love. You know his version of looking after you isn't right."

"And what would you call love?"

Kevin held his breath, he looked down at Eddward's lips for a split second before continuing to let his mouth ramble on. Distract his lips with words, instead of desire. "Just because you are not perfect, doesn't mean you're not worthy of love or a better life. Your father made you believe otherwise and Sam showed you a torturous version of love. They are both horribly wrong."

Something seemed to torment Eddward, his face contorted as if he was keeping another secret from Kevin. "Please listen to me," Eddward said carefully. His shoulders dropped as if giving up.

"No," Kevin shook his head, "You have made mistake after mistake and I understand that your perspective is skewed by your traumas but I can't keep going on like this."

He noticed Eddward tense up, eyes scared like a child in the night.

"I can't pretend like I don't—Like I'm not—" Kevin paused, his face flushed like a blooming rose at the realization of his words. He wanted to confess, he needed to confess.

Eddward wasn't breathing, Kevin knew he wasn't. His body was tight, and his eyes focused on Kevin. Terrified to know what Kevin was about to say.

"Sam doesn't own you and especially not your so-called father," Kevin said, desperately now. "They don't get to choose your life or how you get to be loved. I've told you to be selfish, for your own good you have to be selfish. Choose to love and to live for yourself, only ever for yourself. That is all I want for you. Your past is your past but you can choose who you want to be and how you want to move forward. Forget about everyone around you telling you how to survive, including me. The choice should always be yours."

There was silence between them for a long time. Eddward stared at Kevin as if he was but an illusion. Then, Eddward gripped the collar of Kevin's hoodie ever so slowly as if Kevin was just out of reach and Eddward couldn't let him go. Eddward's face was determined and resolved.

"Then, what I am about to say is probably the most selfish thing I will ever say in my entire life." Eddward finally spoke in a husky voice. Eddward placed the cigarette down, somewhere out of sight, but it's smell was ever present. His eyes weren't meeting Kevin's, rather focused on where his fingers touched Kevin's clothing.

Kevin stayed silent, listening. His heart pounding like he had just ran a marathon, he was so close to the raven haired teen. Nothing but the quiet sounds of a breeze in the trees would interrupt what Eddward would say. Then he'd tell Eddward, right here and now while the moment was settled. He couldn't bottle it inside any longer, with another touch from Eddward's slender fingers would be enough to erupt his sentiment.

"I just need you to please listen to me carefully," Eddward looked at Kevin with an intensity that made Kevin speechless, ocean eyes glassy and terrified but set in stone. "How would you feel… If I told you I've liked you for a long time now?" Eddward said, keeping his eyes on his hold on Kevin. "I don't mean like in a simple sense but as something so much more, deeply and consuming."

Kevin's heart back flipped. His body was motionless under Eddward's words. He stayed quiet and stared up at Eddward wondering if he was dreaming. Wondering if he had somehow fallen asleep and that was the reason the moment felt so perfect. The dance, the silence… the confession. He was not expecting this confession from Eddward Vincent. He must be dreaming.

"And it's because I like you that I can not be selfish with you. You deserve someone worthy of you," Eddward paused. "I'm not and will never be that person for you."

"You are," Kevin said, his voice hoarse and shaky. A hand snaked to Eddward's wrist. "I like you. More than a friend, more than—more," Kevin confessed, his chest a pounding mess, "I can't sleep or think or live, you've drowned me Eddward Vincent." Kevin's hand gripped Eddward's in a plea for comprehension. He couldn't let Eddward go anymore, he wouldn't! "Sam is demented, your father is a bastard. That's not love, this is."

Something in Eddward changed right then and there because his grip possessively tightened, like Kevin had just set a wildfire ablaze. Before Kevin knew it, the raven haired teen was a mere breath away from him, noses touching. The teen's ocean eyes stared deeply into Kevin's as if looking for some sort of confirmation. "May I?"

Kevin said, "Please," with a breathless voice.

"Are you sure?" Eddward's eyes were intense and serious as he looked at him.

"Entirely,"

The firm confirmation was what Eddward needed, because without another moment of hesitation his lips smashed into Kevin's. It was like the gasp of air after being underwater for so long. Their bodies naturally came together like molded clay, Kevin's hands wrapped around Eddward's torso and Eddward's around Kevin's shoulders bringing their bodies as close as they could. A want, a need, a thirst so desperate.

Kevin let Eddward teach him as Eddward had done so many times before. The ginger's lips were clumsy but when Eddward tilted his head, they seemed to fit like that same puzzle piece. Eddward's slender hands found their way to Kevin's neck and waist. The swimmer's hands were desperately gripping onto Kevin, but his kisses were careful. Kevin knew it was because Eddward didn't want to scare him away.

Kevin, in a spur of bravery, let his hand wander underneath Eddward's beanie and pushed it off. His fingers tangled themselves into the boy's wavy locks and he pulled Eddward closer to him. A low growl was felt in vibrations between their lips and Kevin felt his stomach melt at the sound of it.

Kevin let Eddward push him down onto the wooden floor, knowing they both needed something to lean against. His whole body was already a liquefied mess under Eddward's touch.

Kevin wrapped a leg around Eddward and cupped his face pressing their lips together once again. For being a second apart was too much and too soon for either of them. Finally, Kevin thought, finally. Nothing in his life had been so perfectly satisfying then this very moment. Why had he waited so long? He couldn't remember, his mind was occupied with the taste of Eddward's lips. A deliciously bitter taste he surely would never get tired of.

The smell of nicotine beside them, perfuming the moment. He will forever remember this moment, of Eddward's kisses, as addictive as the cigarette on the ground. As passionate as the wine set aside, and as fading as the pills. He knew Eddward was thinking the same thing, for the raven haired teen continued to kiss him just as breathtakingly.

Again and again and again.

Gingerly, those wonderful lips began to deviate and found their way down Kevin's neck. A flush heated Kevin's pale skin, a hand encouraging the swimmer. But Eddward paused then, hot breaths on Kevin's neck. Kevin opened his eyes and looked up at Eddward's hazy eyes. Kevin smiled, pressing his forehead to Eddward's. "I-"

"Don't," Eddward sighed out, lips pressed together, "Please don't say it again. You'll ruin me, Kevin Barr."

Kevin gave the teen a peak on the lips, smiling. "I like you, Eddward Vincent. Truly, honestly, completely, I like you," A teardrop landed on Kevin's cheek and he reached up to wipe away the wetness on Eddward's face. "I like all of you, your scars and the darkest parts of yourself. I want to experience all of you."

Eddward face had leaned down to hide between Kevin's neck and shoulder, his long hands clinging onto him as if it were life or death. Kevin held on, as tightly as he could, because no other words would be sufficient enough to convey everything he had been feeling for a long time. Nothing could illustrate how much he burned for Eddward Vincent.

Then the rain started again.

But they did not move.

...

---

Happy Holidays, did you like your gift?

Thank you for your constant support and for coming back to this story. It has meant the world to me, but are finally here and there's more to go. I'm so excited and I hope I see you along for the rest of the ride 3

Sending much love.