"What's coming will come and we'll face it when it does."

————

What does the name you give to the look in his eyes? Amusement perhaps? But it was far from humour. It seemed as if his eyes had crossed all the oceans of emotions and had stilled themselves at a point which was unable to decipher.

Ryan gave me that vast look. Breaking the boundaries, crashing down the walls and through those concrete barrier, there was sadness seeping out.

'What the hell is happening here?' Ian's unexpected voice played an important role in bringing me back from the voyage of a vast world. But I knew, I'll go again. Meanwhile, there were other matters to be considered such as Ian's older-brother look.

'Ian!' I pulled back from Ryan who seemed to be unaffected with this sudden arrival.

Ian cocked his eyebrow, demanding for a good explanation. 'He's Ryan. Ryan, Ian.' I introduced them, simultaneously passing the first level of awkwardness. 'I'm going to a party and he's dropping me there.'

Ryan extended his own hand. 'Hey man, Ryan O'Neil.'

Recognition drew upon Ian's face as he herd Ryan's full name. 'Make me happy and tell me that you are The Ry O'Neil. Yes?'

Ryan's face broke into a smile. 'Margot King eh?' Ryan asked him.

'Oh God man!' Ian and Ryan did that bro hug that consisted of bumping fists and half hugging merely with shoulders. 'You are a good player.'

'And so are. Your combos are KO ones specially the one I lost the match with.' Ryan remarked.

'Yeah, that was a fun match. The King needs a bit practice though.'

'I know. I couldn't quite find time for the practice.'

I was standing there, watching there two making the deepest of bond in petite span of time. I mean like if there would be girls here, the best we'd be saying would be that your hair looks good and here they were, taking about ... the game Tekken. What else can I expect?

'Guys, I'm glad you recognised each other but would anyone of you like to tell me how?' I drew their attention back to me.

'We both play Tekken online almost every night.' Ryan explained and I nodded my head like I don't care and I'm glad at the same time. 'I thought you belonged from Atlanta?'

'It was fake .' Ian told him.

'Cool.' Ryan seemed to be nodding.

'Can we go now?' I asked Ryan before Ian could start his investigation.

'Yeah sure.' Ryan nodded and began walking out of the door.

'Hey wait,' Ian stopped him. Oh God! Ryan turned around at his call. 'I'd need your phone number bro.'

'Uh ... Okay.' Ryan came back, gave Ian his phone number. When he suspected Ian to be satisfied, we both began walked out of the house. It didn't go that bad. I expected Ian to be asking his ID.

When we reached the car, Ian shouted from the door. 'BRING HER HOME SAFE! OR I'LL KILL YOU!'

Ryan who was walking towards his driving seat perplexed at Ian's request. 'Er ... Yeah, okay.' He said back. 'Chill dude. She's safe.'

'And Elle no drinking!' Ian told me. I instantly sat in the car closing the door behind. 'Enjoy.'

I dug my face in my lap out of embarrassment. Ryan sat in and his laughter echoed in the silent car. I looked up and  at Ryan deciphering the reason behind his humour. 'Why are you laughing?'

'I love brothers like those.' Ryan turned on the ignition of his car.

'Are you teasing me?' I shot back.

'No I'm not. I mean it. If you do not investigate the boy taking your sister out, then you're not a good brother.' Ryan drove out of the driveway of my home. 'If I'd be a brother, I would've been like this too. Hell even I'd ask his ID card too. Anything could happen.'

'You don't have any sibling?' I asked him.

'Nope. I'm the one and only.'

'Lucky.'

He narrowed his eyes at me. 'You think that's cool?'

'Kinda.' He simply nodded. Not pressing the topic any further.

Our car skidded to a halt in front of Yang's house inside from which, loud and incomprehensible music pulsed around. Despite the area of Yang's house —which was considerably quite large—the music erupted and random shouts and hooting earned themselves another number of frustrations and curse words from neighbours but Yang or whoever was the Dj, didn't mind it at all.

I remembered when I came here with Mia and saw Ryan singing. It was a strange night with Abigail's nails in my neck.

Ryan instantly unbuckled his seatbelt , so did I, and ran out. Meanwhile, I unlocked the door and stepped out of the car when Ryan stood in front of me and huffed.

I raised my eyebrows demanding the reason of his knitted eyebrows but he simply scooped me up in arms , opened the door of the car and placed me on the seat erstwhile ignoring my wailing. 'What are you doing?' I yelled but he closed the door.

I watched him from the window asp he took a deep breath, and opened the door for me bowing as he did so.

'Now you come out.' Ryan said.

'What?'

'Listen, whenever you come out of my car, you're gonna let me open the door for you.' Ryan said as I stepped out of his car with widen eyes.

'Why? I'm cool by doing my job by myself.'

'Cause I am a gentleman.'

'Who picks up girls and throw them back in their car so that they can pretend that they care. Yes Ry, you are a gentleman.'

'Can you simply listen to my one request and not make sarcasm out of it?'

'No, I'm sorry but wrong number.' I earned a chuckle from Ryan.

Ryan brought his knuckles to the door. 'The music's so loud, no one would hear it.' I told Ryan stating the obvious.

'I know,' Ryan said and twisted the knob opening the door. 'But see, I'm a gentleman. Gotta display some manners.'

'Are you trying to impress me?' I asked him. A small smile spread across Ryan's lips but he chose not to answer.

'Are you gonna sing here too?' I yelled, leaning closer to his ear.

'Not today! Soar throat!' He yelled back.

A strong smell hit my nostrils comprising of sweat and beer. Yang's house was as large as one could see. The lounge filled with people jumping and dancing (mostly jumping), showcasing their best moves on the beat of the music. A stage was placed in the end of the lounge where the DJ was lost in the beats penetrating off by his instruments. A huge chandelier hung at the ceiling whose crystals wrapped themselves into each other and overlaid atop the one another showing off their shine and glint.

A boy—drunk—came by my side. 'Janelle Margot has come to this party!' He shouted and reached out to hug me but Ryan pulled me back.

'Careful dude. This one's rare.'

Ryan held my hand and took me to the place that was a little less crowded. 'Wanna have a drink?' He asked.

'Nah, I'm good. I'm going to find Mia.' I told him. I started walking away but then, Ryan, with his hand in mine, pulled me back.

'You don't have to go. They're already coming here.' He pointed at Mia, Yang and Noah ambling towards us.

'Bro!' Noah came to hug Ryan but Ryan pushed his back from his face.

'You stink. Stay away.' Noah made a face but ignored Ryan and hugged me instead.

'Aw, you came. I thought you wouldn't.' Noah said as he pulled back. His eyes sparkled as they trailed down to our linked hands which I almost forgot about. 'You guys are dating?!'

I instantly unlinked our hands. Mia moved forth and pulled Ryan in a hug then me. 'We were waiting for you for so long.' She said. Mia wore black shorts with off-shoulder purple shirt pairing with a cardigan. Her blonde hair were tied up in a messy bun. Large circular earrings dangled from her ears. She looked so beautiful.

'Got caught up.' Ryan answered and casted me a look. 'With someone.' I instantly looked away.

'Don't Janelle, if you are dating him. He sucks in it.' Yang said and greeted me with a mere nod.

'Yeah last time he dated in kindergarten. He asked the girl out and got a detention for it.' Noah recalled some Ryan's history that intrigued me. Ryan glared at Noah to shut up but Noah ignored him.

'Oh really? What happened?' I pursed.

'Noah don't.' Ryan warned Noah.

'Let him Ryan.' Yang said. 'She deserves to know.'

'Yes Ryan, I do.' I blinked at Ryan.

'Cause he wet his pants and didn't brought extra with him.' Noah said and I burst out laughing so hard that I bent down.

'Oh my God,' I wiped the tears that actually came out of because of laughing, 'Ryan Seriously?' Ryan ran a hand through his hair.

'You're dead man.' Noah merely shrugged.

'Give me one good reason why I'm friends with you dumbasses?' Ryan asked frustratingly.

Yang pointed out. 'Because I gave you my extra pants that day.'

'And I painted that girl's pigtails and I lend you my eraser too.' It was Noah's turn to point out.

Ryan rolled his eyes. I looked around and it drew upon me that most of the people constituted of our school students. But I was glad, Abigail was not there. Not after what had happened to her that day. My eyes trailed back on the figure I didn't want to see but it disappeared or perhaps lost itself in the sea of people and I couldn't be grateful enough.

I swiped my hair on my shoulder when Yang asked Ryan whether he had brought the drinks. 'They're in the car.' Ryan responded as soon as he remembered. 'I'll go get em'.'

Yang and Mia , to my surprise, while holding hands, indulged themselves in a conversation that was inaudible over the loud music. Yang said something in Mia's ear and she blushed and he with Noah, set off.

A figure walked up to us stopping my heartbeat in the middle. The figure I could spend my whole life staying away from.

Mia came closer to me as she saw him coming towards us.

'Hey baby,' Marcus suddenly pulled me in a hug. 'Long time no see eh?' He stroked his thumb across my cheek but I pushed him away.

'Marcus.' I said and took another step back.

Marcus was a tall man, taller than the Ryan, Noah and even Yang but was not muscular. His possessed a shaved head and a lip piercing. His hazel eyes were sharp and could stare the life out of a man. He wore a white T-shirt on which , "muscular and taller is better than smarter" was imprinted. I couldn't disagree more with him. He paired it with shaggy pants and a bandana was around his wrist.

'Where are you going?' Marcus took a step forward. 'Would you like to dance with me?'

'No I'm good. Mia and I need to go to bathroom.' Mia nodded and we both set off towards the bathroom. My breath hitched and I couldn't think of anything but to escape from here. The sweaty smell, the loud yells, the joyous shouts, they all were nothing but a headache for me. A headache that could only be vanished by escaping from here.

'Mia, I need to go away from here.' I told her my thoughts. 'Does it mean he could be here too?'

'Logan? Oh god,' Mia agreed. 'I can't even breathe with that beast under the same roof as mine. I'll go get Yang and he'll drop us off. Okay?'

I nodded and she sprinted away for a silent call for help. I casted an anxious look among the crowd and there I saw Marcus, looking for someone, for his target ; me. My eyes widened. I searched for Mia but she wasn't there.

Marcus' eyes set upon me. I bit my bottom lip and deciding that I can't wait anymore, I aimed to get out of the house while keeping my head low. I looked back and knew that I lost Marcus as he was nowhere to be seen.

I pushed past students and reached the door. Twisting the knob, I breathed in the fresh air that hit me as soon as the door cracked open. I texted Mia that I'm outside and continued my journey to be as far from that house as possible whilst looking behind my shoulder.

How did he get here? Was he again after me? Did he and his friend not do enough last year? My mind swirled around the possibilities that attracted him towards me but none seemed to fit in or was unsure. Why my life has to take such a sudden turn?

I waited for Mia at the bus stop nearest the house. She texted me back saying she was  coming to get me but I saw no signs. I rubbed my palms against one another as the wind howled on my face. I shouldn't have come here. I told myself. I shouldn't have thought that I was safe.

The bus, at its rituals stopped in front of me. Should I hop in? Yes, was the immediate answer. I casted another look at my side to see if someone's coming but none was. Nor Marcus, neither Mia.

So I hopped in. Whatever happens, I needed to get away from this place. Away from Marcus and his another friend, who didn't waste a single second destroying my life.

The bus was totally empty and I chose the window seat at the last. I dug my face in my hands blocking my eyes from the view of the world. I don't know how long I stayed there, but I was totally brought back to the same world with the voice as deep and as husky it could get.

'You know you can't run away form me and Logan?' Marcus whispered in my ear.

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