So sorry for late update... did I literally forget, nooo~ lmao
yes I did so sorry!
anyways, I know these chapters have been quite short compared to previous ones, however, I have been much more consistent on posting these in a timely manner over on Patre*n, which I think is a good thing. Also it allows for me to much more easily focus on editing so, hopefully the chapters are better in that sense.
ENJOY!
Sleep would not touch him that night. There were no nightmares or anxiety to keep him up. In fact, it had been the most peaceful Eddward Vincent had ever felt in the
A splashing wave crashed onto the beach, and slowly rumbled back into the vast ocean. There was wind, and the faint sound of seagulls flying above. His bare feet buried deep into the grain, the only thing keeping him on the land. There were pulls from the water, wrapping her hand around his ankle urging him to continue forward- to sink in.
But the water was still too cold, and that was the only thing keeping him from jumping in. As much as Eddward Vincent enjoyed the pool in the natatorium, there was nothing that could replace the natural beauty of the ocean. He pulled his hair back into a low pointy tail, annoyed by the constant blinding from the strong wind.
He'd wondered what it would be like to be out there, in the midst of the sea. Neverending, and bottomless. Would the mornings be just as lovely as they were on land?
In the far distance there was a flash of water, springing high about its surface. Then a smaller splash, but Eddward could hear them. He'd gotten up much earlier than usual today because today was expected to spot orcas swimming by the coast.
"Choice!"
Eddward turned to look at Kevin standing beside him, camera in hand. With his ginger hair dancing over his freckled face, and round nose a bright red matching his ears. Eddward's fingers reached over, pulling Kevin's hoodie over the boy's hat. It was when his fingers started brushing Kevin's hair when those mesmerizing green eyes finally turned to look up at him.
"You're missing the whales," Kevin said amused, face a pale blush.
But the boy took a hold of Eddward's hand, and gave it a gentle kiss and Eddward was entirely bewitched as he often found himself in recent days. With his other hand, Eddward reached for Kevin chin once more, turning him to meet in a kiss. As gentle as the one Kevin had given him.
Eddward never allowed for his eyes to close for too long, terrified this was a dream. But the sting of cold air and the warmth of Kevin's hand always told him otherwise.
Then another much louder splash caught their attention.
"It's a baby one!" Kevin shouted, excitedly.
Eddward smiled, moving to stand behind Kevin and sinking into the boy's frame, wrapping his arms around Kevin and placing his lips to Kevin's head. Eddward couldn't place his chin down comfortably on Kevin anymore, the boy had grown a bit. Kevin's shoulders were slightly wider too, and frame much stronger than the boy had been only a year ago.
Just a whole twelve months ago… He'd found Kevin in the boy's bathroom, beaten, scrawny and angry.
Eddward closed his eyes, allowing Kevin to ramble on as he watched the whales go on. Eddward could very easily fall asleep just like this. But he'd come here for a reason after all.
"Eddward, look!"
As he eyes opened, there it was, the first burst of ember in the night sky. Ray's glistening through the water, bringing in the dawn of a new day. The beginning of a whole new year for them. Eddward prayed for a much happier one.
He prayed for another whole year by Kevin's side.
…
"When the hell is our next break again?" Kevin moaned, head on his textbook.
"June 20th," Nazz said without any remorse.
"Until summer!" Kevin squeaked, "Can't we have like mid-spring break?"
"I wish," Ed said quietly, surrounded by notes and the thickest textbook Kevin had ever seen.
"Back to work," Nazz slapped Kevin on the head with a stack of paper. "Since, Eddward is too busy to help tutor us, we're on our own."
"I want to go see him practice," Kevin said, sitting up and staring at his own scattered papers. "We need a break."
"We only just started," Ed let out a laugh.
"It's been an hour," Kevin argued.
"It's been 45 minutes, you drama queen," Nazz said with a sigh, stopping her typing to look at Kevin. "Besides, you know the rules."
"What does it matter if we're together," Kevin said, annoyed, "We're at school."
"There's a policeman on school grounds patrolling him and his sharks,"
"And somehow Sam gets overlooked," Ed said, bitterly.
"You know Sam has this man paid off," Nazz said, quietly.
"And what about Eddward?" Kevin said, slamming a hand on the table immediately being shushed by the students around them. "What about him? Can't Sam pay for Eddward too?"
"Of course he can," Ed answered, voice tight as Kevin's was, "But it's suspicious, besides it makes sense since Sam didn't come back to lead the gang until after the attack. So their eyes were on the one who was in charge."
"That includes Jimmy,"
"Jimmy isn't in the clear either you know," Nazz said, leaning close to the boys, "The Great White members, all of them, get searched every morning. I saw them today, they have to report to the office first thing."
"Eddward hasn't said anything about that," Kevin frowned.
"I mean, it's nothing to worry about," Nazz said, "It's just a precaution. He probably didn't want to worry us."
"Let's just hope Jimmy doesn't try and get back at Eddward with this," Ed said, continuing to write in his notebook. "But I don't think Jimmy is willing to risk anything right now."
"Have you heard anything from Nat or Raine?" asked Nazz.
"Just that's it's been eerily quiet since the attack here,"
"Really?"
"Yeah," Kevin shrugged, eyes looking towards the library's double doors, "It makes me even more uneasy."
"I feel you," Ed said, quietly focused on his study.
They went on silent like that for another twenty minutes when Kevin remembered to check the time. It had been just a few minutes after the swim practice was over, Eddward usually stayed behind a little longer to enjoy the pool to himself.
"Bathroom," was his quick excuse to escape his other two friends. But it hadn't been entirely necessary as both were engulfed into their workload. Between projects and essays, Junior year was definitely kicking their butts in these last months of the school year.
He quickly made his way downstairs, making sure no one of any significance saw him. But as he rounded the corner, he caught sight of two swim members walking out, he recognized one had the vice captain and the other as Elijah, the freshman.
"Hey, Kevin," the Vice captain greeted him with a wave of his hand. "Looking for Eddward?"
"Y-yeah,"
"In the locker room still," The Vice said, "Should almost be done."
"Choice, thank you," Kevin waved them goodbye and watched them disappear before entering the natatorium. The room was brightly lit and the water looked clearer than usual, though the floor was covered in water spots from where the team had left uncleaned.
He could wait here…
Yet with a flush on his face, Kevin decided to walk into the locker room. Somehow, leaving Eddward by himself in that room had never sat right with Kevin. It wasn't like Eddward was still breaking down like then, well, he hadn't done that in a long time. Not since Nazz had found out, but Kevin never knew what could be the trigger for it happening again.
There was complete silence in the room, it always made Kevin's skin fill with goosebumps. As he turned to the locker Eddward used, he saw the boy's folded clothes and backpack on the bench, his black striped beanie inside the opened locker.
"Eddward?" Kevin called out, turning to the shower stalls.
"Come here," Eddward voice was quiet, but indeed inside one of the stalls.
"Are you done?" Kevin said, looking down at Eddward feet under the stall. He doubted he would be able to fit under that gap like he had done before.
The stall opened just a bit, Kevin looked away, face burning up. Then he felt a hand grab onto his hoodie and pull him inside. His eyes come to land on Eddward's face looking at him with amusement. The boy's hair was still very wet, and skin still… Kevin felt his face on fire as he removed his eyes from Eddward and looked to the wall. He heard the stall close, and Eddward chuckled, fingers on Kevin's jaw.
"You can look," Eddward said, eyes lidded and lips into a smirk.
Kevin felt his heart pounding a million beats a second, but he let his eyes glance downwards. Eddward was still in his swim attire. The raven haired boy let out another laugh at this, and Kevin pressed onto the wall looking away, embarrassed.
"What would you have done if I was naked?" Eddward asked, leaning against the other side of the stall.
"I wouldn't look," Kevin said, his hand coming to cover his face, "Unless you wanted me to."
Eddward just smiled, eyes looking down at the floor as if reminiscing and Kevin understood. The boy was recalling the last time Kevin had found him in this very stall, in a way… vulnerably nude.
Kevin tried to bottle up his embarrassment and pushed off the wall to lean onto Eddward instead. Kevin found Eddward's hands and laced his fingers with Eddward's, gaze locked onto Eddward's mouth.
It was like Eddward could read him like no one else, because the boy didn't hesitate to comply and tilted his head to kiss Kevin. Eddward's mood had quickly changed back to normal, because the boy disantagled their hands and instead cupped Kevin's face. It made Kevin let himself fall into Eddward's hold and allowed his hands to touch the swimmer.
Eddward made a small noise at the contact but didn't say anything more, so Kevin continued to let his hands slowly feel around every scar Eddward had accumulated over the years, every fight, every scratch, every self battle, on full display for him alone. Because Eddward wouldn't ever show even the ones on his wrists to anyone but him.
But…had Eddward shown them to Sam?
Eddward's kisses always make their way down to Kevin's left ear, but that meant that Eddward was almost done with kissing him. The thing was, that for one reason or another Eddward never…continued past that. Always stopping when Kevin was entirely melted. So Kevin turned his face to catch the boy's lips again, when Eddward had started trailing kisses on the cheek.
And Eddward understood, a hand wrapping around Kevin's back and pressing him even closer, locking Kevin in place while the other had his finger's around Kevin's neck. And Kevin in turn, tangled his own in Eddward's damp hair.
Kevin was so lost in their kissing that it caught him by complete surprise when Eddward suddenly pulled back and lifted Kevin off the ground. Head was still fully dizzy and in the moment, Kevin was about to lean back in when Eddward pressed him to the cold wall and turned on the shower.
"Eddward?" came an all too familiar voice.
"Oh shit," Kevin whispered out, eyes wide, face burning as he recognized the voice to be none other than Ed. Of course one of them would come looking for him, had it been that long already?
Eddward had a look that just about dissolved Kevin.
"Yeah Ed?" Eddward answered, lips in a devilish bite.
"Has Kevin been here?"
Eddward raised an eyebrow at Kevin, before replying, "No, why?"
"We were studying in the library when he left for the bathroom," Ed said, stopping close to the stalls. "Hasn't been back, we were just about to leave and we thought he was with you."
"Haven't seen him," Eddward replied, looking down at Kevin with a wild look that made Kevin nervous. "Have you called him?"
Kevin punched Eddward, before freaking out and realizing his phone was in his back pocket. Eddward quickly grabbed it and gave it to Kevin.
"I sent him messages, but I'll try that," Ed said quietly.
Kevin switched his phone to silent mode, giving Eddward a playful look. Then leaned to Eddward ear and ever so quietly whispered, "Tell him I'm at my locker."
Eddward shivered, tightening his hold on Kevin and pressed his cheek to Kevin's, his back muscles moving under Kevin's hand.
"He won't answer," Ed's voice was becoming alarmed, "Maybe–"
"Try his locker first," Eddward said under gritted teeth, "He might have gone to grab something. Call me if you can't find him. I'm almost done here."
"Yeah, you're right," Ed started walking away. "I'll let you know if we find him."
As soon as Ed closed the locker room door, Eddward turned off the shower but did not put Kevin down. Eddward's nose was pressed to Kevin's temple as if holding back. Just when Eddward was beginning to shift away, Kevin pressed their foreheads together.
"You said you were almost done here," Kevin said, face once again warm. "Meaning you're not done yet."
"Pumpkin," Eddward said breathlessly. And just as always, fell into Kevin's wants by kissing him again.
…
Ed was glad for the calm at the moment, and so desperately wished for the rest of their Junior year to continue as such. With big exams coming up, they had to focus on studying and get those scores in order to get into their preferred university. Ed knew Nazz was being vigilant about it and studied every morning before school, her dream school was out of state, across the country and in the big city. Ed had tried talking to Double D about what the teen was looking into but instead kept dodging the subject by running off to swim practice or the factory. As for Kevin, well, Ed thought that the boy would go out of state but turns out the boy was looking at local schools, and it made Ed smile knowing that in the end he would at least have one friend nearby.
He couldn't afford to go out of state, he's known this for a very long time. If Sarah was still in coma, Ed might not have gone at all. But Sarah was much better now than she had ever been since her recovery started, and Ed knew he would be able to go. Somewhere local and close enough that he could drive back home to see his family and help them out if they needed him.
Ed figured Kevin had the same thinking process.
And maybe, Double D would follow wherever Kevin went. Maybe that was why Double D was avoiding thinking about the future that was a little over a year away. But Ed did want Double D to know that there was the opportunity to go somewhere else
Distance wouldn't change that.
All it came down to was if Sam would let go of Double D.
A part of Ed was convinced Sam had other plans, and he wouldn't let go of Double D
that easily. The raven haired boy was far too beneficial that it would be ridiculous for Sam to give up. It didn't make sense, not for Sam anyways.
But what could he do? Nothing, and it made him feel useless and on edge.
The entire town seemed on edge. Between the Eastern, The Great White Sharks, the student body and the eeriness of silence, It was as if they were all just waiting for a bomb to come crashing down on them. So, Ed studied.
Studied until his goosebumps would calm down and his bouncing thoughts and worries died down. Studied because that was the only thing that he could do.
He saw how Nazz was avoiding the situation too and it seemed a bit odd that Sam was not even attempting to ease the fight that the pair had. But it had been weeks now and no sign of Sam, just whispered admirations from the cheerleaders traveling through the halls. He watched Nazz turn her head and press her lips together, slam her locker and stride to class.
He noticed Kevin disappear randomly and reappear throughout the days, face reddened and a smile on display. It made Ed smile, but he couldn't be sure not until something was said. So he stayed quiet and pretended to not notice whenever Kevin showed up happier than the boy had been thirty minutes ago.
He knew there was something wrong with Double D, there always was when the boy kept to himself as if shielding children from a horrid truth. But Ed could see there was something on the teens mind. Despite the focus on swimming, Double D's eyes were always somewhere else. But Ed wondered, where?
Ed's leg was sore today, it happened every once in a while but he tried his best to hide it most of the time. The doctor who had fixed him up was obviously skilled enough to have allowed his leg to recover with the faintest of scars but a gunshot wound was still a gunshot wound. Ed could still visualize the pain of his bleeding leg if he thought about that night too long, so he didn't.
At least not intentionally, but the scene came to him. At times like the day he had heard about the shooting at the wolf pub where Kevin had been, or when he knew Eddward had to leave town on 'business' the leg's wound pained him stronger then. The thought that that bullet could have killed him if the Serpent had aimed correctly, or rather, with true intention. That a bullet could be coming for one of his friends was painful to think about.
A bullet had come back, but it had been for Johnny instead.
A unmerciful way of getting rid of someone who was too dangerous and riskful to let live. Whoever had that power to end someone's life was the real monster. They were who Ed feared most, because now, lives were in play.
Had it been Sam or Jimmy?
The masked man?
Had it been someone completely unknown and detached from personal connection to these people following them, just to get back at someone else?
"Where are you going this late?"
A quiet and amused voice ripped away Ed's attention from his sore leg. He turned to see Sarah watching him from the doorway of his bedroom.
"It's not that late," Ed said with a smile, grabbing his phone and sticking it in his back pocket.
"No?" Sarah said, her arm raising as if to check her invisible watch, "Seven, my dear studious brother, that's quite late for you."
Ed just laughed with a shake of his head and shrug, "Hanging out with friends, Nat came down from Lemon Brooke and invited us out."
"Oh, look at you brother, finally getting a social life." Sarah teased, she had a smile but her eyes were trained on his leg and a part of Ed wondered if she had seen him trying to sooth the pain. Nonetheless, she said nothing.
"What's wrong?" Ed asked anyway, "Want to come along?"
"No, no," Sarah said, her eyes scanning his room, "I couldn't possibly have fun with your nerd friends."
"Not even if Double D is one of those nerds?" Ed teased back.
"He won't be there," Sarah said, glancing down at her gifted ring.
Ed stayed quiet a moment, no Double D wouldn't be there tonight, because he was off at Walnut Creek once again on business. "Why so sure?" he smirked.
"Hello, it's Double D, of course he wouldn't hang out where ever it is you're going,"
"He's too cool for us then," Ed smiled, his shoulders relaxing.
"Sorry, Ed, but yes he is," Sarah sighed, "He'll be at the factory or somewhere else won't he? Just like Benji was."
His hands stopped fidgeting with his pants when he heard that name, Sarah's ex-boyfriend. "Do you remember Benjamin?" he cautiously asked. Up until now, Sarah had not ever mentioned that boy and who knows if she had during her therapy sessions. He was afraid the name would trigger her.
Sarah let out a laugh at the question, "Of course I remember Benjamin, he was an out right bastard." she said his name as if the name itself was a joke. "Impossible to forget the idiot."
Ed nodded to that, he never truly knew what his little sister had to go through while in that toxic and terrible relationship but he could only imagine nothing good. "Did he ever take you to the factory?"
"I went everywhere with him, Ed,"
"Oh," Ed said with a sadness in his voice. If only he had been brave back then, then maybe he would have been able to save Sarah from such experiences that a girl at her young age shouldn't have endured.
"I know Double D is with them, you know," she said almost just as sadly as Ed felt.
"How?"
"It's not hard to guess who the King of Sharks is," Sarah said, "I've heard his name whispered throughout the town. I've heard many whispers, you just have to know who to listen to."
"Who are you listening to, little sister?"
"I have friends you know," Sarah's smile was back, "Your school's cheerleaders are chatty ones."
"Ah, of course," Ed said, understanding, "My little sister, ever so popular."
His sister smirked, flipping her hair over her shoulder in response. But Ed could tell she was concerned and something told him she knew more than she let on. Of course she did, her boyfriend had been a Great White Shark under Liam's rule.
"He's doing fine, you know." Ed said, stepping up to her, "I'm fine."
Sarah didn't look at him but tapped her nails on her chair and nodded, "Good," she said, "Have fun tonight, get a girlfriend maybe." Sarah pushed her wheelchair out of the way and waved Ed goodbye.
"Maybe," Ed said with a laugh.
He headed out, taking his truck and passing by Kevin and then Nazz on the way. As they passed Eddward's neighborhood he noticed Nazz and Kevin take a peek to see the missing black car and empty looking Vincent home.
Their hang out was down at the wolf bar, early enough that there were still many town residents lingering in the streets. The bar had been shut down for over a week following the terrible event that happened and then the Easterns had gathered and rebuilt the damage and got on their feet once more.
There was security now, a shark stood outside keeping watch, and as Ed and the group approached he simply eyed them and nodded. Kevin and Nat being members, the Eastern was nice enough to them giving the two a small handshake. Ed eyed Kevin, noticing the boy's posture more relaxed than he ever saw Kevin at school these days.
No hard to know why, with the uncomfortable security at school even the students who weren't involved at all were upset. The athletes were the ones more affected now than ever, unknowing control and consequences they seemed like they could erupt any moment from the sudden regulations. Sam didn't seem to care, the guy was as free as ever but Ed knew based on what Double D told him that something had changed with Sam. Something bad, Double D wouldn't tell him but Ed could see that whatever happened, had also affected Eddward.
And Kevin didn't seem to know anything.
Nazz had a hand on his sleeve as they entered the bar, it was lively and full of grown ups. Ed felt awkward that they were the only highschoolers around, the youngest was the bartender. Nat had run straight up to her and started chatting while Kevin led them into a corner, but before Easterns had approached them to greet them.
They seemed nice enough, good people, Ed knew. The way they greeted Kevin and Nat when they entered as if they were greeting a family member, nothing like how Sam treated his gang. The Eaterns all greeted them with the same handshake, some patted Kevin's shoulder and asked about his well being listening to Kevin talk about what was going on at school and they tried to reassure him.
A part of him was relieved to see at least some gangs were like this, but maybe that was the difference between a group of adults and one run by a psycho teenager.
Kevin stopped by a wall of frames and pointed to one right in the middle of it all.
"Is that Eddward's mother?" Nazz said, surprised.
"Sure is," Kevin said, giving Ed a quiet look. One that held so many questions, the very same ones he had.
"She must have been a sophomore in Highschool when she joined," Ed noted looking at the date under the photograph.
"I think she was," Kevin said, "and my mom and dad were freshmen."
"Have you ever figured out what happened to Malcom Jones?" Nazz's voice brought Ed's gaze back down.
"I overheard something…" Kevin said quietly recalling his parent's hushed conversation. "I'm not sure if it's about him but I think it is."
"What did you overhear," Ed said, moving to take a seat at the small round table.
"I overheard my parents talking about Isabella," Kevin said, following Ed and slumping down.
"Your parents are looking into it?" Ed said.
"Yeah, my mom I think is investigating," Kevin said, "I'm not surprised, she's been asking about her since she met Eddward. But, I'm scared of what she'll find out."
"Have you told Eddward?" Nazz said, elbows on table looking at the bar.
Kevin looked guilty, "Not yet," he said quietly, "I know I should and I will, but I want to tell him until we get more information. I don't want to scare him with my mom's involvement and I don't want to give him false hope again."
"So, what about Malcolm?" Ed pushed, arms crossed. He had the same worries as Kevin did, but with Lizzy involved it might be a more realistic hope of finding the woman. But what if they didn't like what Lizzy found out? What if Lizzy found something dangerous? If what Eddward told him was true Isabella could have been involved with the Dubois and that was a dangerous territory.
"I heard my mom said he's been dead for seven years now,"
"What!" Nazz leaned forward, mouth agape.
"Seriously?" Ed said, just as shocked, "How?"
"I don't know," Kevin reapplied. "I don't know anything else. She didn't say."
They were all quiet for a moment processing that revelation, then Nazz tapped her nails on the wooden table in thought, "Seven years ago… Eddward was ten."
Kevin had a frown on his face, "About a year before Isabella and Victor disappeared."
"Could it be connected?" Ed asked.
"How could it not be?" Nazz replied.
"Got the goods!" A loud thump on the wooden table interrupted their conversation. Nat had brought back a tray of drink, mostly soda cans, tall empty glasses with ice and small glasses filled with a clear liquid. "Vodka, if anyone wants to spike their drinks."
"Ed's driving," Kevin raised an eyebrow, grabbing one of the glasses and mixing it in the tall glass.
Nazz let out a sigh and a shrug and mixed a small amount. "Since when did you start mixing drinks, Kevin Thomas Barr?"
Kevin just gave her a sheepish look.
"Bummer luck for you big guy," Nat said, giving him a sympathetic look.
"Nah, I don't drink," Ed smiled, taking his soda pop gratefully.
"At all?" Nat looked at him as if he were a strange creature.
This made him laugh, "At all," he confirmed. It was true, watching Double D, Eddy, and the entirety of the Great White Sharks get wasted was enough for Ed to be completely turned off from that experience. He didn't mind it a bit, thought it better. He felt more comfortable watching out for the group.
"Well, good for you," Nat said, taking one of the small shot glasses and taking a swing of it. "It's better that way honestly."
"You're talking like a middle aged depressed man," Kevin commented.
"I am your senior, youngling," Nat smirked, hand on hip the other raised, "about to enter the age of partying and all that, but I already feel like I've done enough of that. Who knows, maybe college will reignite my flame once more."
"You're bored of it because you party every weekend with the wolves," Kevin smirks, "maybe tone it down a bit and you'll get your spark back."
"Perhaps," Nat said dramatically, sitting down. "Don't you feel a bit weird sitting here again."
Nazz seemed to catch on and looked towards Kevin, her eyes focused and observant. Ed saw Kevin's smile twitch as the boy looked towards the entrance.
"We're not the only ones feeling that way," Kevin said, hand securidly on his glass. "Everyone's on edge."
"Have you told your dad?" Nat asked.
"Of course not," Nazz replied, "Tom will intervene and— "
"I don't think it's a good idea but," Ed interrupted, "If Kevin's mom already knows, then there is no point in hiding it from Tom. She wants to help and maybe we can let her, she's already started."
"She was here last time the gangs had at it," Nazz seemed to agree, "but Tom is a different story."
"My mom's been bugging me about it," Kevin said annoyed, "She will tell him soon if I don't. But…Nazz is right, my dad will rush in without letting me explain and– I don't want…"
Nazz placed a hand on Kevin's hand and gave it a squeeze, her expression was sympathetic and they all understood Kevin's worries. Ed knew their parents could only be so ignorant of what was happening, considering Kevin's and Eddward's had been involved before if not currently still. This was something much bigger than they all could have ever imagined and it wasn't until now that that fact finally slapped them in the face.
"We do need more help," Nazz said in a whisper. "Look at what she's already found out."
Nat eyed them curiously but was intuitive enough not to ask, Ed felt almost sorry for not including him in that conversation but this was too personal. Instead of keeping him in the awkwardness of an excluded conversation, Ed interrupted by starting something else. They were here to hang out, weren't they?
"Any plans after the swim meet?" Ed directed it to Nat who instantly cheered up.
"Party at Fangs of course!" Nat said, "You all should come by, it gets so hype after a win."
"Who says you're winning?" Kevin said playfully.
"Hello?" Nat said, "I know we'll win."
"Well, we'll see about that," Kevin teased, "You've seen Eddward swim right?"
Nat smirked, "Oh yes, but I have no doubt in our school. We're fighters, our team is good."
"Lemon Brooke is pretty good," Ed chirped in, Nat eyed him happily. "I was there for my first year of Highschool."
"I knew you looked familiar!" Nat yelped, before leaning forward and whispering, "You were the one getting picked on by the sharks right?"
Ed's smile was strained and he nodded, not something he liked to think back on but ultimately the best outcome that could have come from him leaving. Sam could have made it much worse. "Yep, that's why I transferred."
"Then you're out?" Nat asked curiously.
"Thankfully, yes," Ed said.
"Good for you big guy," Nat smiled, impressed. "Not many have the courage to leave the Sharks."
"I told you," Nazz gave him a light shoved.
Ed felt shy now, his face warming up but he smiled nonetheless. They were happy now, the tension had cleared and Kevin and Nat bickered about the upcoming swim meet while Nazz pulled out her phone and began to show Ed her summer college lineups. She would go out of town visiting this summer, and a part of him was happy she would be far away form the situation of Peach Creek. Hopefully everything could stay just as quiet as it had been since the spring dance.
…
A pull of his lungs made him open his eyes, his legs and arms burning as he was riding through the current that he had formed. A rumbling at his ears and heart racing as he pushed even harder to beat that painful sting at his lungs, he would soon be forced to breathe air but he had to push as hard and fast before then.
His hand touched the solid cold wall and he instantly shot up and allowed the rush of air to enter him as he mouth opened and his nostrils flared.
There was loud excitement surrounding him but his vision was still unfocused. Only seeing water, and blurry people.
"Time," he gasped out with a raspy voice.
"One minute thirty five seconds," someone in the small crowd replied.
Eddward smiled, he'd bet his own time. There were two other swimmers in the pool with him, but they had a long way to go. As their time was now over two minutes.
There was a hand in front of him belonging to Elijah, the only other team members who had improved tremendously enough to give Eddward a challenge. Eddward took the hand gratefully and allowed his teammate to hoist him out of the water.
"You're getting back to normal," Elijah commented.
"Yeah," Eddward said with a nod. Despite the eerie static day by day, it did seem to be normal, or as normal as it could get in Eddward's standard. Away from the drinking, stress, Sam, the gangs, the police. Away from everything.
Just him and his cigarettes and, well, now Kevin.
It truly was the most that Eddward Vincent had come to reach to normalcy. Well, if he could call the relationship he had with Kevin, normal, by which he still could not. He was happy, yes, but the voices in the back of his head told him otherwise. He wondered what Kevin thought of it, of being held and kissed by him, by a guy.
If Kevin was weirded out, he never showed it and yet another part of Eddward told him he had somehow manipulated Kevin into liking him back. Into the feelings of queerness, like Blaine had done him.
But Eddward kept all that to himself, there was no point in bringing it up because by now Kevin, Nazz, and Ed had all proven their perspective and stance on the subject. They had all accepted him for what he was. Something that Eddward had realized early on was going to be an impossibility to change.
Which was why he rejected his father, over and over again.
Because if there was an ounce of change that he could change, he would have taken it that chance years ago. But there wasn't.
"Are you up for the relay then against Lemon Brooke, Captain?" They turned to see the team's co-captain approaching with a questioning look.
"I will be," Eddward affirmed with certainty. He wanted to get back the competitive adrenaline he had once before. It filled his brain with a high that nothing else came close to, the strain and tiredness in his muscles was exciting.
"Good," the co-captain said with a smile, before giving Eddward a pat on the back and turning away to supervise the next set of freestyle swimmers.
Practice had gone far too quickly for Eddward, but now he had to focus on the line up against Lemon Brooke that was coming faster with every day the sun rose over Peach Creek. He studied the list of his teammates and made note of those who needed work and those who had yet to participate in a meet.
The school was emptied, most had long gone home, club activities had ended over an hour ago. It would have been an eerie scene if Eddward did not find the silence tranquil, but it was. As he turned to look at the vacant hallway, full of lockers and classroom doors, and scattered posters over the walls announcing the current swim meets and the rest of the school sport matches, he couldn't help but let his mind wander once more.
A vision of a young tall girl, with flowing black hair walking down the hallway away from him. A laugh paired with a conversational comforting voice, the voice too distant for him to remember how they truly sounded. The girl walked slowly but her posture was upright, that he could remember. She always walked with a straight spine, as if making herself taller on purpose.
He never had seen his mother slouch.
The girl turned towards him, but her face was slender and pale, a thin smile with bright red lips. Her eyes out shined the moon, and maybe that was why he was always so transfixed with it. Because the moon was the closest thing to how illuminant and alluring his mother's eyes were.
Eddward had his mother's eyes, but if he looked at his reflection of them, he could tell they were vastly different. Isabella's eyes shined, they were confident while his were dull and tired. Like a ruined jewel, one that could never get their beauty back.
Isabella had walked down this very hallway before, she had even been in the natatorium before. She had friends and people surrounding her. Had she been popular? Eddward wondered– Had she ever wondered what her life would end up being? Would she have hated knowing where she would be now?
Would she hate him, if 17 year old Isabella had met Eddward now?
Eddward tore his eyes away from the vision, letting it melt from his mind. He pushed the entrance doors open hoping to catch the setting sun but summer was coming and the days were longer. With a sigh, he made his way down the stairs and to his car.
Sam was waiting for him at the factory.
The first time Eddward had seen the teen there since the night of the attack on the Easterns. The factory was semi-full, the sharks slowly getting comfortable with getting back to their base despite the watchful eyes of the authorities. But for now, they acted as a simple, non-violent or sady gang. The drugs were relocated hidden in Jimmy's cabin after the police had swept the area and given it the all clear.
The Shark members were scattered throughout the top level of the factory, cluttered into groups. Some whispered as they saw Eddward enter, others just watched intensely and some glared before looking away.
Eddward entered the office, only to find Sam sitting with the blinds closed staring at nothing. It was now that there was a dreadful sensation in Eddward throat. He closed the door slowly then locked it and stood still waiting for Sam to acknowledge him.
After several moments, Sam's dark eyes moved to meet Eddward's. Sam didn't need to speak for Eddward to know what the teen needed, all Sam had to do was stare at him with that sinking black gaze. So, Eddward mechanically moved and knelt beside Sam, his hand curling around Sam's leg.
Eddward didn't dare speak, not right now.
After another long moment of silence, Sam's hand had come down to touch Eddward's cheek, his dark eyes still looking somewhere far off. But the teen's finger slowly touched Eddward's face and Eddward wanted nothing more than for those fingers to belong to Kevin.
As if reading his mind Sam eyes shot down in a glare. Sam's hand snatching the beanie and in a swift but harsh motion yank the hat off, catching some of Eddward's hair in the process. Eddward made damn sure to keep his painful groan in, because Sam was in a dangerous state of mind right now. Anything could set him off.
Sam's finger intertwined with Eddward's hair and gently massaged the scalp.
"We're the same, aren't we?" Sam's voice broke through the darkness. "In every goddamn sense of the word. We're the fucking same, arn't we?"
Eddward didn't reply, but allowed his gaze to travel up to meet Sam. The teen wasn't glaring at him anymore, there was sympathy there now.
"Would you kill your father?" Sam asked again, "for keeping your mother away from you for so long?"
"Would you?" Eddward now answered, his voice quiet.
"You know I damn will," Sam replied, "He has her as a fucking prisoner now, somewhere far off. Somewhere I won't be able to find her. Just like your damned bastard father has done to you."
"She won't be harmed," Eddward replied, trying to be comforting. "So long as you stay in line and obedient."
"That's exactly right," Sam said, voice a moment away from breaking. Sam's hand guided Eddward's head to his lap. "This is the wicked game we have to play as the unfortunate son."
Eddward stayed quiet a moment longer, before speaking out again. "Let me see your injuries," he asked cautiously.
Sam cracked a terrifying smile. His finger's moving to Eddward's neck now a thumb on Eddward's jaw. "Let them be," he said.
"You're going to scar," Eddward argued.
"We'll be the same," Sam simply said, his eyes intently on him. "Ugly scars to remind us of our hatred."
"Sam, I'm serious," Eddward tried lifting his head up, but Sam's hand quieted him with a touch to his own scar.
"They're more permanent than a tattoo," Sam said quietly.
"Show me," Eddward tried again.
Sam stood up and slowly removed his hoodie, then his black shirt. He sat on the desk, indicating for Eddward to join him. Sam's back was nothing compared to what Eddward had seen the night he had shown up at his door.
That night had been like a nightmare, Sam's back had been covered in cuts as if he had been repeatedly whipped. It had been covered in dried blood, who knew for how long Sam had laid in pain before he had the strength to run to Eddward.
Sam had run to Eddward, of all people.
Now the cuts were in the process of healing, some done, others still mending the flesh together as if Sam had reopened the wounds. He turned to open one of the drawers and tried to find something to help, he knew Sam kept ointment around to aid Eddward after a nasty cage fight.
After a moment, he found the small tube and started attending to the reopened wounds. It was a quiet moment, and it reminded Eddward so desperately of Kevin. How careful those freckled hands tended to him.
"No need to be so gentle, Vincent," Sam's voice spoke amused, his hand gripping Eddward's knee. "You can't hurt me."
Eddward's mind went blank after that. His hand moving in stiff, mechanical motions and eyes vacant as Sam's had been earlier. There was darkness around him, as if they had been transported somewhere else, in a soundless lonesome pocket in the universe. As if the rest of the factory wasn't just a door away.
Eddward wasn't sure when he had finished, or how much time had passed. All he knew when his focus came back was that Sam had moved towards the window, only a small slit of light broke through and Eddward had stayed seated on the desk, hand covered in the strong smelling ointment.
He moved to clean his hand with a tissue.
"Go home," Sam's voice was distant again.
Eddward didn't answer, just picked up Sam's discarded clothing and folded it. As he unlocked the door he was suddenly very aware of Sam's eyes on him. "What?" he asked.
"I've never given you a scar, have I?"
Words choked in Eddward's throat at that statement, "No," he replied in a whisper.
Sam's expression was pensive, then he turned away back to stare at the window. "Go home," he repeated once more.
…
Kevin's chest never felt lighter.
Somehow the radiance of the setting sun was calming enough to ease his nervousness of Eddward's whereabouts. He knew the teen was at the factory again, and nothing good ever came from regrouping with the Great White Sharks.
Who knew if Sam was back. The blonde teen hadn't shown his face at school whatsoever. Kevin knew Senior year was easy enough and sure there were only two months left as of now but still.
The night was pretty and warm. Kevin was waiting outside on Nazz's porch. He had invited her to go with him to the Northern Fang and Eastern Shark gathering in Lemon Brooke.
Hunter had told them he would be picking them up. Any minute now.
Nazz stepped outside in jeans, a black turtleneck and black boots— Jacket in hand. "Is your dad home?" She asked, looking at her phone.
"Nah, he went downtown to the bar with Jerry," Kevin smiled, "Don't worry, he knows we'll be home late."
"Oh, is that them?" Nazz nodded to the street.
Kevin turned to the direction Nazz was looking to, and seeing an all too familiar car swiftly made a stop in front of them. Hunter was sitting in the passenger seat with a lollipop in hand and feet on the dashboard. Llan was the one driving, she gave them a wave from the opened window.
He quickly introduced Nazz to them, as they filed into the back of the car.
"When you said you were picking us up I thought you meant you would be driving," Kevin said, leaning against the window Hunter was in.
"Can't drive," Hunter smirked.
"He got suspended," Llan said, "six months."
"What did you do?" Kevin asked curious.
"Speeding," Llan answered.
"100 on a 45," Hunter smirked.
"Oh my," Nazz looked at Kevin wide eyed.
"Don't worry," Llan said, entering the highway to Lemon Brooke. "I'm the better driver anyway."
"Hey," Kevin gently elbowed Nazz, "This isn't the first time I get in a car with them and I haven't died yet."
"That's reassuring," Nazz said quietly.
They lightly talked all the way into Lemon Brooke. It had mostly been Llan asking Nazz questions in an attempt to get to know her and then Kevin turned off after their conversation got too boringly girly, so he busied himself with asking Hunter about his speeding ticket. Turns out it hadn't been the first, but there had been many times Hunter had escaped.
By the time they arrived at Lemon Brooke, the sun had set and the night lights of the city shined like glistening jewels. Nazz had rarely visited Lemon Brooke and if she had, it had most certainly been in the daytime, but the city was a whole different being at night. Kevin noticed her eyes widened in amazement.
"It gets better at Fangs," Kevin mumbled to her encouragingly.
"Look at you," Nazz playfully elbowed Kevin on the side, "you've become quite the extravert."
Kevin smirked at her with a shake of his head, "These are good people. It's easy to like them, you'll see."
"We don't bite," Llan said, over her shoulder.
"Only some times," Hunter announced, with a chuckle in his voice. He got swatted on the head by Llan in response.
They arrived at Fangs shortly after and Nazz stared at Kevin with wide eyes. As they entered there were many members standing outside who greeted them all. The music was loud as always, blasting as far as a few blocks down the roads,
"This is where you go every other weekend?" She said exasperated.
"Yep, pretty cool huh?" Kevin smiled, turning as he heard loud footsteps running down the staircase.
"Yo!" Nat pushed through the crowd cheerfully, "Welcome, welcome to our home." he greeted Nazz with an arm lifted for her to take.
"It's quite loud!" Nazz said smiling, taking the arm and letting Nat pull her through the crowd.
Kevin followed gladly right behind, but his eyes wandered around the room in hopes of finding Raine. The lights in the office were dark, but everyone seemed normal. There was no sign of Raine anywhere. Kevin uneasily turned to Nat and grabbed his arm, leaning in closely and whispered.
"Where is Raine?"
Nat seemed uneasy towards this question and quickly looked around, "Honestly, I don't know. I asked when I got here but no one wanted to tell me anything. I'm not a member and involving me in that is just putting me in danger, Gray said."
"Where is Gray?" Kevin asked instead.
"Upstairs I think,"
Kevin looked at Nazz who was looking at them seriously. "Keep Nazz company for me?"
"You don't even have to ask," Nat smiled.
"I'll be back," Kevin said to Nazz who just nodded uneasily.
Kevin sprinted up the stairs looking for Gray. He asked around and was told that Gray was upstairs in the balcony talking on the phone. So, he followed up the stairs and into the balcony. The air was cool, and refreshing from the busy inside, and Gray was hunched over the railing looking to the street of Lemon Brooke.
His dark eyes turned to glance at Kevin with curiosity, "What brings you up here Eastern?"
"Where's Raine?" Kevin cut to the chase.
"We got another masked person on camera," Gray said quietly, "Raine said it was the same masked girl from the night the King of Sharks showed up here."
"Raine went to investigate then?" Asked Kevin.
"Took a handful of members with them," Gray said with a nod of his head. "But we don't want to worry the entire Pack. Thought it best to tell only a few of us to keep careful watch tonight. Since, we have two targets and a serpent at Fangs tonight."
"You don't think the masked people will come tonight?"
"We don't know," Gray said, "The serpent won't spill anything and honestly I don't think we will get much out of her."
"Can I speak to her?" Kevin asked.
Gray gave him a look, but ultimately sighed, "We should wait for Raine, but she's perfectly tied up so I don't think they'll mind."
Gray stood up, towering easily over Kevin but motioned for Kevin to follow along. Kevin did, going back inside and downstairs toward where he could see Nazz and Nat chatting until they spotted Kevin and both gave him uneasy looks. He waved them a gesture as if saying, It's all good.
Gray opened the office door and let Kevin step in first, locking it once again upon entering. The office was empty, and just the same as Kevin had last seen it. Gray turned on the light and smirked at Kevin.
"You don't think we'd keep the bitch so easily exposed," Gray patted Kevin's back before walking behind the desk and opening the closet. Just as before the weapons box was inside, but Gray stepped over the box and inside then there was another jingle of keys opening another door.
Kevin poked his head inside watching Gray turn another set of lights. "We have a basement," He said with a smirk. "Come on, watch your step."
Kevin stepped inside and followed Gray downstairs.
"This seems kinda creepy," he said quietly.
"It was put in by the previous leader," Gray's tone was quiet, but serious, "The man was crazy."
"I've heard," Kevin said quietly, goosebumps forming on his arms.
The room was hot and stuffy, and when Gray turned on a second set of light that illuminated the area, Kevin's eyes landed on a woman chained up to a post. She was sitting on a chair, eyes looking tired and worn down. She was dirty, and wore black leather pants and a black crop top. Her Serpent tattoo displayed on the side of her left neck.
Gray grabbed a glass of water from a table close by and handed it to the girl. Her chains were long enough to allow her enough range of motion to feed herself. There was no use in attempting to escape, the metal poll extended from floor to ceiling and the room was small with only two chairs and a table, a toilet and it seemed the wolves had been kind enough to provide the woman with a blanket. She was older than Kevin, most likely the same age as Raine.
"Who are you?" she croaked, taking the glass of water.
"Kevin Barr," Kevin said, keeping his distance.
"Ah," She responded after gulping the glass down. "Kevin…Barr,"
Kevin pressed his lips together, his eyes glancing towards Gray who was watching him curiously. Kevin stepped forward. "So you do know me?"
"I know your name," The Serpent looked at him up and down then shook her head, "You're just a fucking brat."
"Why are the serpents involved with the Masked Gang?"
"Why would I tell you?"
"Because at this point," Kevin said quietly bending down, "Any small information can and will set you free."
The serpent stared at him before bursting into giggles, "Oh as if you know any better kid." she said.
"Why don't you tell me then?" Kevin asked.
"Just watch your back kid," She said, with a sigh leaning back in her chair. "Watch out for the distractions."
"What distractions?" Gray spoke up now.
There was a loud burst upstairs and everything seemed to go quiet, just the music played faintly.
"What distractions!" Gray spoke up again.
"That's what you are," she said with a smirk, "The masked gang will come for you when you all feel the most safe, when your eyes are looking elsewhere. The sinners will pay for what they did, no one leaves this earth without payment."
"Who are the sinners?" Kevin asked, hearing the office door open, his eyes wandered upstairs.
"Isn't it obvious?" The serpent said, "Sam Dubois, he will crumble for what he did to our little sister."
This was the same girl Johnny had told him, Kevin knew it. "Who's your sister?"
"She was just a little one, only thirteen," she bit out.
"Gray!" Raine's strained voice boomed from upstairs and they all turned to see Hunter rushing downstairs.
"Get upstairs both of you," Hunter said, eyeing the serpent curiously. As Kevin passed him, Hunter grabbed Kevin's arm and motioned towards the serpent.
"Nothing I don't already know," Kevin mumbled then rushed up the stairs.
Raine was sitting in their desk chair, with Llan attempting to take off Raine's jacket for some reason. With a frustrated shove, Raine took off the jacket and Kevin realized Raine's left arm was seriously injured.
"Where's the first aid!" Llan yelled out in demand while Raine was hyper fixated on camera footage on the screen.
"What happened?" Gray asked.
"The maked girl noticed me and I quickly realized those bastards always move in pairs." Raine said quickly fast forwarding, "Kevin, you get anything from her?"
One of the wolves ran inside the office with a first aid. "Fucking finally," Llan said ripping the box out of the members hold and beginning to work on Raine's injured arm. Kevin told them what he knew, and this was enough to catch Raine's golden eyes on him.
"Sam Dubois is in deep shit and I am no longer going to contribute any help. I hope we're on the same fucking page Kevin, just the Easterns and us. We need to stick together and defend our own, whatever the fuck Sam did to them has nothing to do with us."
Kevin's stomach was swirling, what about Eddward? "I-I know that but–"
"No more buts," Raine growled, "We have to defend our family and friends first. You're an Eastern first meaning you defend them. Sam is only using us as pawns, attempting to bring out the masked people, attempting to see how far this will go."
"Distractions," Kevin said, quietly his eyes meeting Gray's. "We're the distractions, you are the distractions. The Serpents are the distractions, the shoot out at the Bar was a distraction."
"A distraction for what?" Hunter asked.
"For the bigger plan," Kevin said, his eyes landing on Nazz who had appeared at the doorway. "They haven't attempted to save their Serpent and she doesn't seem to be the slightest bit worried.
"They're real plan at the bar was to keep the Great White Sharks guarded by the police," Nazz replied, "They're vulnerable and distracted. They can't attack right now."
"They want us to back off now," Kevin said, "They're original plan of pinning us against the Great White Sharks didn't work and now they want to leave them without any sort of back up."
"Little Shark," Raine began, "I am not going to change my decision. This is not our battle to fight, we need to keep our gang defended and out of harm's way."
"But–" Kevin began.
"I promise protection over you and your friend," Raine motioned towards Nazz. "Since the both of you are dangerously caught up in all of this. That is all I can promise, Sam will have to fight his own battles."
Kevin looked to Nazz who was giving him the same worried look he must have on his face. They were both thinking about the same person, Eddward.
…
Shortly after their conversation, they heard motorcycles pull up in front of Fangs and Nazz finally saw a smile curve on Kevin's lips once more. The Easterns had arrived at Fangs. There was loud howling from the wolves which caught Nazz off guard. She followed Kevin outside to greet them, but waited a moment as the wolf member's all crowded around the Easterns.
Raine had stepped out and greeted the Eastern's second in command, which was the blonde woman. Kevin's eyes were on the pair as they headed back inside and into the office to talk. Llan had approached them and told them to try and enjoy the rest of the night. That at least for now, there were too many gang members for the Masked gang to be stupid enough to attack.
But Nazz looked out into the neon streets of Lemon Brooke and as her eyes landed in the shadowed corners, she swore she spotted a familiar hockey mask staring right at her.
With chills in her spine, she pushed Kevin back inside.
They were watching her, following her.
And she would no longer be saved by Sam.
She had to figure this out, before anything else happened. What could their bigger plan be? What would be the biggest distraction everyone would be focused on? And who would they target? When would all three targets be present? Sam was almost never in the same room as Nazz and Kevin.
So when would they attack?
Nazz stopped suddenly, her eyes on Kevin's back as Nat had an arm around the ginger boy and was laughing about who knows what. Nazz hadn't been paying attention because… the only big thing where members from three of the gangs would be present– Great White Sharks, Northern Fangs, and Eastern Sharks– The only event big enough for them to be present in would be…
The swim meet between Peach Creek and Lemon Brooke.
But would Sam be there?
…
…
Thank you for your constant support and for coming back to this story. I'm so excited and I hope I see you along for the rest of the ride.
Leave a review if you enjoyed and let me know if you have any predictions and thoughts!
Sending much love, i'll see you soon!