Humphrey's POV

The longer I drove my car, the longer I thought about everything that had just happened. I had only been there for about thirty minutes and everything went to shit. What this meant for me and my mother I don't know, but there was no way this was going to last. My mother would come to her senses eventually, I just had to wait it out. I saw Lilly's house coming up so I slowed down. I saw that her parents were home as well, maybe I could get their two cents on the subject. Kate wasn't there though, most likely still on that date with Rick. they better enjoy each other while it lasts, because according to a certain someone they wouldn't be together after high school. Fucking joker. I parked my car by the curb to leave room for Kate, possibly Rick if they decided to come back soon. I then stepped out of my car and into the cool day. By now it was almost five o'clock, and the sun would be going down soon. I locked up and began heading to the house, cutting across the lawn to save myself time. Once there I gave the doorbell a quick ring and waited. It wasn't long until I heard the other side of the door unlock and then saw it get pulled open.

"Hey Humphrey, Lilly didn't tell me you were coming, '' Eve said after opening up.

"Oh she didnt? Is it okay that I'm here?" I asked with a slight hint of worry in my voice.

"Oh sweetie, I didn't mean it like that, come in" Eve said as she stepped to the side to give me room. She shut the door and then walked to my side. "Lilly is upstairs in her room, do you want something to drink or anything?" Eve offered.

"Do you have a bottle of water?" I asked, knowing the answer already.

"Yeah, I'll grab you one, '' Eve answered as she made her way to the kitchen. I followed. "So how have you been? I feel like we haven't talked in awhile" Eve asked.

"Honestly, I feel as though things could be going better, Lilly kind of called me over to calm me down about some things" I admitted. Even ducked into the fridge and grabbed a bottle, only popping her head out once I mentioned that things haven't exactly been going great.

"Nothing to do with you two right?" she asked.

"Oh no, just some things at home," I said.

"Oh well that's a relief, I never wanted to see my daughters bring home another boy, you and Rick are just perfect" Eve complimented.

"Thanks, yeah nothing could go wrong with us, I love your daughter" I said. Eve handed me the water bottle and smiled.

"So home life? Hope things aren't too bad" Eve said.

"Not terrible, but my moms been dating some guy and… he isn't the greatest" I said. Eve seemed to develop a look of sympathy, looking at me as if she felt my pain.

"Do you want to talk with me about it?" Eve asked. As much as I did want to talk to her about it, I didn't expect her to just outright offer for it. Yes I wanted to talk with Lilly about it, maybe someone else in the family, but Eve was a full grown adult with years of experience. Maybe not on the subject but I could take any wisdom if I can get it. I nodded as I looked down at the floor, holding my water bottle with both hands, ready to open it. Eve led me to the dining room table and took a seat, me sitting right next to her. I opened up the bottle and took a sip, it felt so good to finally have something to drink. "I didn't know that your mom was dating again, when did this happen?" Eve asked.

"Around the start of december. She didn't talk with you about it?" I asked.

"No, I haven't seen your mother since thanksgiving. If I knew she was dating I would have asked all sorts of questions, I'm nosy like that" Eve said, making me chuckle.

"I get that, I can be pretty nosy too" I admitted. Eve nodded.

"So tell me about this guy she's dating, what's he like?" Eve asked. I took a moment to gather my thoughts to give an accurate answer.

"Well he works at a prison, I'd say a cop but if you try saying that to him he won't take it well, he talks with my mother when he's over and never tries talking with me, and yes I have made an effort to talk with him in the past, he kind of just shuns me. Always being short with me whenever I ask something, me and the others have been talking about it and we think that he sees me as an obstacle" I explained. Eve cocked her head in confusion.

"Obstacle?" she asked. I nodded.

"Yeah, like I'm in the way of him and my mom, like he wants all the parts to dating my mom except having me, if I wasn't there thing's would be perfect, that type of thing" I explained.

"Oh, I see. Does your mom not see this?" Eve asked.

"I don't think so, I don't want to tell her either. I don't want to look like some sort of brat, and even if I do take that risk, there's another one of her simply not believing me, I feel like she would but the way she would handle it wouldn't help things, just make them worse" I said.

"How do you feel that she'll handle it?" Eve asked.

"She'll probably confront him, tell him to stop doing what he's doing, and he won't. If anything it will just make him hate me more and I don't feel like living with that, the way I see it the best thing to do is to wait and have my mom find out on her own. There's no way it will take that long'' I said.

"Humphrey, if something is going on like that you need to tell your mom, if something was troubling my daughters I would want to know, no matter how small the issue was, and if it came down to it I would handle it. I wouldn't leave it up to the problem to fix itself" Eve said. I sighed.

"I guess I'm just scared," I confessed.

"Scared of what?" Eve asked.

"I don't know, that's part of the problem. It's been months and he hasn't tried to get to know me or my friends, during christmas when he came over he just shunned them, even before that Rick tried to introduce himself and he just didn't respond, and then Kate did it and his response was just…" I stopped to ponder what word to use to describe how weird his response was, but Eve cut my thought process off when she spoke again.

"What did he say to Kate?" she asked with a bit of anger in her voice. Glad she wasn't angry at me.

"He just commented on how many kids there were at the house, '' I answered. Eve didn't seem to have a response for the answer I had just given her.

"Why is your mom dating this person?" Eve asked.

"I thought about that, I think she feels alone, like she's running out of time, and if she doesn't do something then she's gonna die alone, I asked her if she felt this way and she said no, but when she did she just looked…" there I was, trying to find a word again.

"Uncertain?" Eve asked.

"Sure, we can go with that," I said, taking another swig of my water.

"So he hasn't tried to get to know you at all?" Eve asked. I put the water bottle on the table before answering.

"Today he did, my mom set up a small fishing trip for the two of us and…" I started but, where do I actually start?

"And?" Eve urged.

"I met up with him and he started talking about how spoiled I am, how much I take my mother for granted, how all of my dreams are hopeless, and the worst thing of all that I was just gonna forget about Lilly and the others after high school, he said that high school relationships don't last" I explained. Eve's eyes seemed to widen a bit as I was explaining everything, it was as if she didn't know what to say.

"What happened?" Eve asked.

"I left, came straight here" I answered. Eve nodded. "He didn't even know my name," I said. This really got her attention as her head shot up to directly line up with my eyes, now hers really were wide. She had a look of how could someone be such an asshole? I didn't have an answer for that.

"Listen Humphrey, this relationship between him and your mom won't last, she'll see that he's an asshole eventually, and when that happens he'll be out of your life. Believe me, nothing comes between a mother and her child, and your mom loves you. Now I personally wouldn't just let this happen, I still think that you should say something, but if you don't just know that it will go on longer that way, and I know you don't want that" Eve explained. I looked to the left to process what she was saying to me and nodded, it was all right.

"As for you being spoiled and all that, don't even give that a thought, you're a sweet boy, you've got a lot going for you and he knows that. He's probably jealous, didn't have it like you did growing up, and he's just mad about the job he has now, he didn't want to be a cop, he got stuck with it, and when he sees you and all the time you have to start a career, it makes him feel a type of way. Tell me, what is it that you want to do?" Eve asked.

"I… I wanted to write scripts and stuff" I said, hoping she wouldn't laugh at me.

"There's nothing wrong with that, you just have to go to school for it and get a decent gig, work your way up the ladder, and if you make an absolute masterpiece, people will take notice, go for it Humphrey, don't listen to that asshole" Eve instructed. I nodded with a small smile.

"Thanks Eve, I'll do that" I said. Eve smiled back.

"And I want to hear when that bastard is no longer in your life, it will happen I promise" Eve said.

"I'm sure it will, thanks Eve" I said.

"Of course, and if you have something else on your mind you can always talk to me, I've been told I'm a good listener" Eve smiled. I nodded and gave her a hug. It was very motherly, the whole situation was actually. Maybe she was right, maybe I should confront my mother about this. I was really grateful for the advice, even if it was just a tad bit cliche. We broke the hug and then Eve stood up. "Why don't you go upstairs to Lilly, I'm sure she's wondering where you are, I gotta go help Winston with some things outside" Eve said. So that's where Winston was.

"Alright, thanks again" I said.

"Of course" Eve called as now she was almost at the back door. I stood up and grabbed my water bottle and went up the stairs. Once I was at Lilly's bedroom door I saw that she was playing video games, so that's why she didn't hear me. She spotted me coming up the stairs through her doorway and took off the head set.

"There you are, I texted you but you didn't answer" Lilly said. I quickly pulled out my phone to check and sure enough there were three messages from Lilly. I chuckled and slid the phone back in my pocket.

"Sorry, I was talking to your mom," I said.

"For that long?" Lilly asked as I sat down next to her.

"Yeah, she kind of beat you to it" I said, giving Lilly a small peck on the lips. Honestly that small kiss probably could have saved me all the talking and calmed me down all the same.

"Oh yeah? So I guess you don't want to talk about it now?" Lilly asked.

"Hmm later? I kind of just ran through everything" I said. Lilly groaned.

"Fine, but you'll have to tell me later. Want to just watch something and chill?" Lilly asked.

"Sounds like just what I need,'' I answered. We kissed again, this time longer and smoother. Her tongue always felt so wet and smooth and tasted so sweet. I broke the kiss and then took my shoes off to hop on her bed, it wasn't long until she put on netflix and crawled next to me to watch whatever we could find.

Rick's POV

"Are you sure you don't want to come over?" Kate asked me, arms wrapped around me just the way I liked. We had just gotten done eating and were about to go our separate ways in our cars, but Kate really wanted me to come over, so when she pulled me into our usual kiss she asked again.

"Kate, you know I always want to come over, but it's gonna be late soon and I have some thing's to take care of," I said.

"What kind of things?" Kate asked curiously.

"Well me and Angel really have to catch up on the new Dexter, we only have a couple episodes to watch" I explained.

"Oh, you want time with your sister, you shoulda just said so" Kate said.

"I really do want to come over though" I said, making Kate groan playfully and then give me another kiss.

"I'll see you in school tomorrow" Kate said, and then she broke our embrace and opened her car door. Once she was in the driver's seat she turned to me once more. "I love you" she said.

"Love you too, drive safe" I replied. Kate shot me her sexy smile and shut the door, starting her car as I walked over to the drivers side of my truck. I climbed in and buckled up after shutting the door. I then turned on my truck and the radio, making sure my phone was hooked up so that I could listen to something that I actually wanted to. Once I was done I looked in my rearview mirror to see Kate fully pulled out of the parking space, she then drove off to her house, leaving me by myself. I never liked goodbyes, no matter how minor, they always gave me a slight feeling of sadness. As my truck warmed up I figured it would be a good idea to message Angel real quick, so that's what I did.

R. hey, Dexter tonight?

A. For sure, when?

R. Tonight I just said it.

A. well no shit, I mean what time?

R. whenever you get back.

A. well, I was gonna come home after this episode anyway so I'll see ya soon.

R. alright, tell Shaky I said hi.

A. okay. Bye.

R. bye.

I put my phone in my pocket and made my way home, making sure to stop and get some gas on the way there. The ride home was nothing more than me listening to music, and occasionally thinking back to what that pussy said in the hallway. I'll never understand why people like that go out of their way to be assholes, when they're not even remotely involved with the people or situation. It doesn't help that they are clearly in the wrong. As long as they stuck to just me I wouldn't worry about it much, at least not as much as long as Kate and the others weren't involved. I'm not sure why but I wanted to know why Garth did not confront me himself, maybe he was too big of a bitch. Maybe it was him who sent those douchebags to send a message, or maybe I was right in the first place in thinking that they were taking problems that weren't theirs and stretching the truth to fit their delusional truths. I took turns with these thoughts and listened to music all the way until I got home. Once I pulled into the driveway, I did the usual task of stepping out of the truck and locking up. Then going to my house and stepping inside. Mom and dad were watching TV on the couch, and greeted me warmly as I stepped inside the living room.

"Hey, where have you been?" mom asked.

"Went on a date with Kate, she wanted to spend some time with me, and possibly clear my head of everything that happened at school" I answered.

"What happened at school?" dad asked. I already knew this was going to be a bit of a conversation so I sat down on the edge of the couch as mom paused the movie they were watching.

"Just rumors, things like me lying about the whole thing, and me just wanting to climb the popularity ladder. There was one kid that threatened me but he didn't say much. Just told me to watch my back" I explained.

"Watch your back?" Dad asked angrily. I nodded.

"Watch my back," I sighed.

"Maybe you should stay home for a couple of days," mom suggested.

"There's no point, shits just gonna keep happening until they're through. Me staying home will just prolong it" I said.

"Well did you tell someone?" mom asked.

"I wouldn't know who to tell what" I said, even though if I did I still wouldn't say anything. Honestly, part of me wanted them to make a move on me so that I could scrap with them, release some anger. But another part of me knew that it most likely wouldn't be a one on one fight.

"I'm sorry you have to deal with this," dad said.

"Not your fault. You two did everything you could" I replied. I then stood up to go and take a shower. As I reached the bottom of the stairs though dad called out to me again.

"Rick, where's your sister?" he asked.

"She's with Shaky, she told me she's on her way home now" I answered. Dad nodded.

"Let us know if you want to stay home, '' Mom said as I went up the stairs. Once I reached the top I went into my room and took off my jacket, hanging it up on my closet door. I then went back out into the hallway where I heard the movie playing again from downstairs. After turning the bathroom light on I began to undress. I then turned the shower on to heat up the water as I tossed the dirty clothes into the hamper in the hallway. The shower felt so nice, especially after the cool day and cold night. What started out as bearable, turned into freezing once the sun went down. It just felt nice to warm up under the hot water. After drying off and slipping into black sweatpants, and a white T-shirt I layed down on my bed to go on my phone. Since my parents were using the downstairs TV, me and Angel would most likely have to use the TV in my room which didn't bother me. I sighed and then dialed Kate's number. I already missed her so much. I listened as the phone rang one, two, three, four times until she answered.

"Hey, miss me already?" Kate asked. Her voice sounded so heavenly, even through the phone. I smiled with a light chuckle.

"You know I did. Sorry I didn't come over tonight" I said, knowing that Kate wouldn't be mad, but still it was sad that I didn't give Kate what she wanted.

"Hey, there's always the next day. Did you tell your parents about what happened at school?" Kate asked.

"Yeah, my mom wants to keep me home until everything blows over," I said.

"What did you say?" Kate asked.

"I told her that there was no point, and that it wasnt gonna blow over until they get bored with me. Keeping me away from them is just gonna make them want me even more" I explained. Kate laughed. It sounded so cute.

"Your dumb, I'd take sleeping in any day of the week, but I'm glad you didnt accept it. Not seeing you in school those days you were out was torture" Kate explained. I laughed.

"Thank you for the kind words" I said. Kate laughed again.

"Hey, weren't you supposed to be spending time with your sister?" Kate asked.

"Yes but she's on her way home right now, should be here any minute" I answered.

"Oh yeah? What were you doing before you called?" Kate asked.

"Showering, it feels so good to feel clean" I said. Kate giggled.

"I feel ya there, when I got home I practically ran to the shower. Humphrey's here by the way" Kate said.

"Oh yeah? Wonder how the fishing trip went" I said.

"Not sure, I'll probably ask him if I catch him in the hallway or something, but he and Lilly are just chilling right now. I popped my head in real quick to say hi and they were just playing video games" Kate explained.

"Playing video games huh?" I asked. I heard a knock at my door frame, looking up I saw it was Angel. From the looks of it she had just gotten here.

"Shaky say's hi back. Listen I'm gonna shower real quick and then I'll be right in okay?" Angel said.

"Okay" I replied. Angel then disappeared around the corner to go shower and get more comfortable.

"Was that Angel?" Kate asked.

"Yeah, don't worry though she's gonna shower, we still have time to talk" I said.

"Good, I feel like our conversation just started," Kate replied. I sighed in response. "Problem?" Kate joked.

"I miss you," I said. There was a brief moment of silence on the phone that kind of scared me. For a moment I was really hoping that she didn't find me weird for saying that, even though we were way past that point. She did end up responding though.

"I miss you too, Jesus Rick, we were just together" Kate said.

"I know, but I hate saying goodbye. Especially to you" I replied.

"Maybe you should come over tomorrow, or maybe even the other way around" Kate suggested.

"You want to come over here?" I asked.

"It's up to you," Kate said. I sat and thought for a moment. In reality I just wanted to see her, and couldn't care less whose house we were at. As long as I got to see my precious Kate. "Hey Rick, I have an idea, '' Kate said.

"Shoot," I instructed.

"So with the apparent blizzard coming and everything, the school may or may not shut down. If that happens we'll probably have a few days off. Most likely shut in as well. It's gonna be deep snow" Kate explained.

"Alright, so what are ya gettin at?" I asked.

"Well if we're gonna be shut in next week, maybe I could come over and be shut in with you?" Kate suggested. The idea immediately excited me. I'd get to wake up next to my lover, we would spend so much time together. Watching movies, playing chess, most likely making out, and when everyone else is asleep…

"Would your mom be okay with it?" I asked.

"Most likely, but I'll probably wait until it's closer until I ask" Kate explained.

"Alright, and as long as you're okay with some more of my mother's cooking, then we'll be set," I said.

"Oh my God, that stew she made last time I was over for dinner was amazing. Is she making it again?" Kate asked.

"Most likely a roast" I answered.

"Oh yeah? That sounds good" Kate replied.

"It normally is, but we can still pick up snacks and stuff if you want. My parents are most likely gonna go food shopping before the storm hits anyway" I said.

"Hm, they should go sooner. Wait too long and everybody's gonna be fighting for food. You know how stupid people are" Kate said. I rubbed the scare on my stomach after hearing that.

"Yeah, I know," I replied.

"We'll talk more about it Friday, okay?" Kate asked.

"Sounds like a plan" I said. Just then Angel came into my room wearing a loose T-shirt and sweatpants.

"Ready?" she asked. I sat up and turned my TV on.

"Yeah. alright Kate I'm gonna let you go" I said. I heard Kate whimper and smiled. "Come on, don't be like that. I'll see you tomorrow okay?" I asked.

"Alright. I love you" Kate said as Angel took a seat on my bed. Meanwhile I was scrolling through menus to get to the showtime app.

"I love you too. Good night" I said.

"Night" Kate replied. I then hung up and tossed my phone to the side.

"Holy shit did I interrupt something?" Angel asked. I stopped scrolling to turn to her.

"Huh?" I replied.

"You just seem so… sad. If you wanted to hang out with her so badly I would have understood" Angel replied.

"No it's not that, I mean yeah it sucks being away from her, but I want to spend time with you too. It's been awhile since you and I spent some time together" I explained. Angel giggled.

"Yeah, I really missed hanging out with you. Just you" Angel said.

"What about Shaky. Don't you like spending time with him?" I asked, turning back to the TV and going through the menus again. This time I located the app and clicked on it.

"I'm not even gonna answer that," Angel said. I laughed.

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because you know the answer, of course I like spending time with him, but I miss you too, '' Angel explained. I nodded as I went over to the continue watching tab. There it was, Dexter new blood. I was going to click on continue but stopped when I thought of something. Angel and Lilly are so close, and yet they don't really hang out like that anymore. Yes they still hang out, but only from time to time. Maybe twice a week. They used to be inseparable.

"Hey Angel? Why don't you hang out with Lilly much anymore?" I asked. Angel cocked her head to the side.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I don't know, it's like ever since the whole Humphrey thing you guys just sort of… drifted apart a little. You haven't been spending much time with her, is everything okay between you two?" I asked. Angel went to speak but was cut off when I heard my dad call me from down stairs. It sounded extremely urgent.

"Rick, I need you down here. Now" he called. I glanced over in the direction of the stairs where I heard him, and then glanced back at Angel before standing up.

"What is it?" I called, but when I got to the edge of the steps he was already at the top, practically running past me to go to his room. I followed him over where my mom ran up as well, close behind me as she followed my dad. "Dad, what's going on?" I asked.

"Follow me" he said as he grabbed something from the nightstand. He then passed me again and my mother as well. I glanced at my mother for a second and then followed my dad down stairs. By now Angel was standing at my doorway looking nervous.

"Stay here Angel" I said, following my dad downstairs.

"Like hell," Angel replied before following me. I didn't bother to stop her, if it was bad enough my dad would tell her to go upstairs. My mother wasn't following us though, so this might have been bad. But what was it? The only thing I could think of was… I should have figured. I went over next to my dad who was peering outside the window into the darkness.

"What is it?" I asked quietly.

"See that?" Dad asked, pointing into the darkness. I squinted my eyes trying to see what he did, and eventually was able to make out a truck parked by one of the bushes. "Do you recognize that truck?" he asked.

"I can't really make out any features. How did you see this?" I asked.

"I saw them park, dumb asses left the headlights on until they turned it off" Dad answered.

"Do you think it's them?" Angel asked. Dad turned to her with an angered expression.

"Angel, get upstairs. We don't know who that is" dad instructed.

"It's fine dad, she had to deal with these pricks earlier. She can handle it" I said. Dad seemed to shake his head before turning back to the window. Angel on the other hand gave me a small pat. I guess as a thank you.

"Those fucking cock suckers. Come outside with me Rick" dad instructed as he went over to the door.

"Wait, why not just call the cops?" I asked. Dad stopped and turned to me.

"We can handle a couple of these punks" he said, he turned to the door again and continued his way over. I turned to Angel and gave her a sorta uncertain look.

"Our funeral" she muttered. Dad opened the door as well as switched on the outside lights. Me and Angel followed as he stepped outside into the night. By now it was really cold and all I could think of was getting this over three of us made our way down the steps and slowly over to the truck that was still behind one of the bushes.

"Stay here" my dad instructed as he put his arm out to us. Me and Angel waited in the driveway, looking around to see if we saw any movement. Meanwhile Dad had gone over to the truck and inspected it. I felt so exposed as I waited for him to look in through the windows. I just kept thinking of what I was going to do if he actually found someone. What he would do. Dad took his look inside, and then walked back over to us.

"Well?" I asked.

"No one," dad answered. He then looked toward the backyard.

"You think they're back there?" Angel asked.

"Maybe" dad replied. He then motioned for the two of us to follow him. We did as we continued to look and listen for anything out of the ordinary. Nothing though. Just the darkness of the backyards with trees, and woods, and your usual night sounds accompanied by the occasional passing car on the road. We walked around to keep checking the loop of the driveway, but only when we reached the very back of the house we saw a light flash on us. Someone was holding a bright flashlight, and we couldn't see the person behind it. We stayed staring at the light with our arms raised to shield our eyes, trying desperately to see who it was. "Whoever the hell you are, you better leave. This is your one and only chance" my dad called out.

"Think that'll work?" I asked. We heard laughing from behind the flashlight as it was held up to us still.

"No," my dad replied. As the laughing continued I realized that it was a set of people, two of them. So there were multiple people behind that flashlight. What the hell was they're game plan?

"Guys?" Angel whispered. Me and dad turned to her briefly and saw where she was booking. In the darkness we saw someone else approaching us. Three people. A loud step to my left made us turn our head quickly and see another also coming toward us. Four people. What the fuck were we gonna do? All these people for me, these people are a bunch of pussies. By now the laughing had stopped but the flashlight was coming closer as well. They were coming for us. I heard a click from behind me and saw Angel had a pocket knife. The one that I always leave on my desk along with two others. At least she came prepared. If only she grabbed the other two.

"All of you for us? How tough" my dad mocked.

"Your son has been a bad boy," one of them taunted.

"Because doing what you're planning on doing is so much better, besides he did nothing" dad replied. Another one spoke to us, turning our attention to him.

"Garth doesn't really like any of you, so it doesn't matter what was and wasn't done" they said.

"Did he put you bitches up to this?" I asked angrily.

"No, but we can't let you just disrespect him like you've been doing," another one said, once again turning our attention. They were about to close in on us completely, by now we could make out some features and these guys were definitely here to cause harm, physical harm.

"So youre gonna kill him? Is that it?" Angel asked.

"Only if he doesn't survive this, if any of you do. Not intentionally" one of the guys behind the flashlight said. They were now only a few feet from us.

"Last chance" my dad growled. A Couple of them chuckled as they now started to pick up speed, but then my dad did something that I hoped would magically happen. He pulled a gun from his side and pointed it at the two behind the flashlight, the flashlight was not even blinding anymore, and we could see the two behind it. It had been like this for awhile but only now had I noticed. My dad then pointed it at the guy to the left, then the right. Angel stayed ready with her knife while I only had my hands. Two of the guys put their hands up, while the others stopped entirely.

"You're not actually gonna shoot us," one of them said. He still sounded worried, but I guess he was asking permission to leave. He did get what he wanted.

"If you fucks leave right now, then you can go" dad said. ANgel turned to him briefly with a look that asked if he was serious. He was.

"Fuck this guy, how do we even know if that's real?" one of them asked. My dad then shot at the ground directly in front of him, making him jump.

"I'm so tired of you people, now you go and you never come back. Leave my kids alone" dad said. It was silent for a moment before my dad spoke again. "Run," he said. They did, taking off for the truck except for one of them.

"See you in school bro" he said and then took off. I recognized that voice. He was the bitch in the hallway from earlier. Me, dad and Angel turned the corner to see them hoping into the truck and taking off. As we watched them leave I had something to ask.

"Jesus dad, when the hell did you get a gun?" I asked.

"After court. Took a bit of time but I got it, figured something like this might happen" dad said. After that he walked back over to the front and inside, me and Angel following close behind. I stayed by the door as Angel came inside, after she passed me I closed and locked it. ANgel then handed me back my knife.

"Sorry, you guys went downstairs so fast and… it was close by" she said. I smiled and accepted it.

"It's okay, I'm glad you grabbed it," I said. After accepting the knife Angel wrapped her arms around me.

"I feel like this is never gonna end," she said.

"It will… eventually" I replied. We then broke the hug and made eye contact.

"Sorry. I'm not really in the mood to watch anything now" Angel said. I chuckled and put a hand on her shoulder.

"It's fine. Are you gonna go to bed?" I asked.

"Yeah, mind if I sleep with you though?" Angel asked back. I shook my head with a smile and began going up the stairs, Angel close behind me the whole way up.

"Scared of the monsters I presume?" I asked. Angel laughed as she sat on the bed.

"Yeah, those monsters outside were scary," she mocked. Before I could reply or sit on the bed next to her mom came in, still looking just as worried as when we left her.

"Your dad says that there were four people out there? Are you okay?" she questioned.

"Fine, we're probably just gonna go to sleep and try and forget about tonight" I answered. Mom then approached me and placed her hands on my cheeks.

"Your dad told me that they threatened you about seeing you at school. I don't want you going" mom said. I gently placed my hands on her wrist and lowered them until I was holding both of her hands.

"Mom… I'll be fine, if they try anything there I have friends who will help me" I explained.

"Are you sure because last time they…" mom started but didn't finish. I cocked my head with what must have been a sad and confused expression. I knew what she was referencing.

"I'll be fine mom" I said calmly. She pulled me into a hug in response and started to sob. I hugged her back and hoped that it would at least assure her.

"You won't mom, I promise" I said. I broke the hug and looked into her tear filled eyes. "Mom… I'll be okay" I assured.

"If you feel even remotely threatened tomorrow, you come straight home okay?" she instructed. I sighed.

"Alright. I love you" I said.

"I love you too," she replied, giving me a kiss on the cheek. She then looked past me. "Goodnight Angel" she said.

"Night mom," Angel replied. She was already in the covers. Mom gave me one final look and then left the room. After she left I got into bed.

"When the hell did you get in the covers?" I asked.

"It's not like I snuck in, you were just occupied" Angel answered. I chuckled and then turned the light out and laid down. "Hey Rick?" Angel called.

"Yeah?" I responded.

"How long do you give it until this dies down?" she asked.

"Not for a while" I sighed.