The gentle crawling of the breeze between the almond leaves and the thudding of Jethro's heart formed low music as Finn stared at Ava, with an ominous smile laced on his face.

"So, it's not Stan now. It's another guy." He chuckled harshly and Jethro felt his heart falling off its hinges as Ava's eyes bulged at Finn in confusion.

"Another guy?" Ava stammered in her bewilderment and then gazed at Jethro, "Are you not his cousin?" Her whisper shook with force and sadness. And when Jethro's face faltered in a silent but clear answer, she looked back at Finn, hoping to say her explanation but the blond boy was already stomping away.

"I'm sorry." That was all Jethro could say as he watched the tears tumble down her cheeks.

"What just happened?" She blinked at him with a teary scoff, "You lied to me. Is that it?" She demanded, her wet eyes prickling accusingly at him.

"I'm sorry. I did that because.." Jethro stuttered and then trailed off. There were certainly not many good words he could say for now.

"Why would you?" Ava breathed critically at him as he raked his fingers ruefully through his hair, "Why would you do that...and see what you have caused." She sobbed, her soaked face glancing back towards the grassy path, wishing to still see Finn's back, but he was gone.

"I'm sorry, Ava," Jethro murmured his apology again and made to touch her but she shrank and turned fully at him, her eyes spewing venom.

"No way I'll forgive you for this. No way!" She snapped and wrapped her wet face with her palms as she scurried through the back of the house, while her dog trailed innocently behind.

"Argh." Jethro breathed his disappointment as he hit his head recklessly on the bench. Why had he lied about being Finn's cousin? Couldn't he have just thought of a better lie? Why had Finn even come to see Ava? Wasn't he supposed to be mad at her? His head banged with an ache as those questions flooded it.

"Jeth."

He raised his head and hissed when he saw Gavin pacing towards him.

"What are you doing here?" He grunted when Gavin reached the bench.

"I should be asking you that." Gavin slammed back and then leaned forward with a curious look on his face, "I saw  Finn earlier. Did he come down here?"

Jethro shot him a frown and then nodded stiffly, "Yes."

"Why did he come to see Ava? Wait...did you meet with Ava here? Did he see you and Ava..."

"Ahh..." Jethro growled an interruption, his hands clasping his burning head, "Can we just keep shut and leave here, dude?" He howled and started pounding away.

"You keep leaving me in the dark when things get interesting." Gavin sulked when they finally got to where his bicycle was parked. He expected Jethro to talk back and then hissed when he did not. He righted the bicycle and climbed, "Will you get on?" He fumed and then snorted when Jethro would still waste some seconds before climbing on.

The rest of the ride was dreary. The only time Gavin had felt this bored was the night his Dad had forced him to sit in the living room and listen to the late Fox News. That was the greatest punishment he had ever gone through. He had just sat on the sofa and stared sadly at anything that came up on the TV, and it was only in the morning he knew the hilarious thing he had done. Almost dead with boredom, he had taken permission from his Dad to use the toilet, and then he had slept off...there!

Mad Mad.

He laughed at the thought of that and then tried to inject life into the ride by making some dangerous moves again, but Jethro just kept quiet. He gave a frustrated hiss and shook his head sporadically till the bicycle slowed to a stop in front of Liam's inn.

"You can sulk at the world while I get the phone." He squawked at Jethro and moved angrily into the inn. He was back in a couple of minutes, his phone held firmly in his hand and his eyes looking everywhere but Jethro's cold face. The ride continued as lifeless as it had started and Gavin never bothered to make any exciting move again. He knew that would yield no result as Jethro had decided to be mute forever. His head wagged again in exasperation and then he decided to fully air his frustration when they got to the familiar roadside cottage.

"And you think this is all right?" His muffled voice called at Jethro as the boy just got down silently and charged towards the fence.

Jethro gave a sigh and turned back, his arms across his chest, "We'll talk about it tomorrow." He said dryly.

Gavin chuckled at the glum statement and puffed out, "Maybe you think you can do this all alone. Maybe you think I'm one duffer..." He paused and then stared into Jethro's eyes, "But the truth is you'll always need me." He said soberly.

"Dude, I said we'll talk about it tomorrow." Jethro huffed, feeling a big criticism groan inside of him as he watched the sad look on Gavin, "Everything. Everything tomorrow." He sang, putting some spice in his voice. And that worked, as Gavin gave a little smile as he pushed his bicycle forward and rode into an opposite street.

Jethro gazed as the bicycle faded into the distance and then slid into the fence. He paced roughly through the flowered path and prayed silently that he was not met with Rose's trouble tonight. All he needed now was alone time to cool off his head.

He pushed the door open and instantly knew his prayer was crap. Rose was standing at the doorstep, a wide grin on her small face, and Jethro knew that was trouble coming.

He sighed in despair.

"Jeth, I got something for you." The girl chirped at him.

"At least you'll let me in first." He growled back and pushed her out of the way.

"You're always stroppy. I wonder when we'll start behaving like siblings and not some cat and mouse locked in a cage."

He heard Rose nag behind him as he paced towards his room. He yanked the door open and before he could close it behind, Rose had moved inside too.

"What do you want, girl?" He asked in an exhausted breath.

"I got something for you." Rose smiled.

"You know the latest gossip in school wouldn't excite me, right?" He said glumly.

"Oh Woah," Rose scoffed, "You think the only thing your sis is good for is to gossip?"

" We both know that's what you're best at." Jethro sneered.

"And that's why I've got a best friend to do that with." Rose retorted and Jethro sighed tiredly. There was never a way he would win a squabble with Rose.

"Rose, what's it that you got for me?" He asked in a quiet pleading tone.

"Now someone is sounding defeated." Rose chuckled and then took her hands backward to bring out an envelope, "Here." She announced.

Jethro's eyes narrowed as he took the envelope and his heart mumbled ' not another envelope again'. He turned it to check for a name but found none.

"Some boy brought it." Rose offered to help when she saw his action and he gazed at her, his arching brows asking the question, ' some boy?', "Yeah," Rose nodded, "He was dressed in a black hood, face masked up and he asked me to deliver this personally to you. Guess it's something secret between you two, so when Mother asked about it, I had to lie." She narrated and Jethro gave her a pout in gratitude.

"Thanks." He winked.

"Now you'll have to believe your sis can be sweet sometimes, not every time bitch bitch." Rose chastened playfully.

"Yeah." He drawled his consent, "But glad you know you're mostly bitch bitch." He laughed.

"Yeah, I know. And I promise to continue to be that." Rose sang sweetly as she exited and Jethro gave a snort before his attention fell back to the envelope. He quickly tore it open and brought out the paper.

' Roberts grocery store, tonight(8pm). Do well to come alone. Remember, alone'

Those were the few words written in the letter but they had sent fear rumbling down Jethro's spine. The writer had not revealed his name and emphasized he should come alone. Jethro glanced up at the clock and it notified him he had less than thirty minutes to go.

Jethro's eyes rolled warily.

Should he go alone?

Like...

Alone?