( 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦 )

"I-i don't know what to say," Mr. Blackbourne whispered as he stood up, placing his hands on his desk, leaning against it.
"Don't say anything." My voice rung out across the room that had gone deadly silent. I sighed and got up, preparing to leave, "I'm sorry - for everything." He spoke quietly, his jaw clenched tight.
I only nodded and walked out of the room, before grabbing my purse from the guest room.

I had to get out of here for a while.

"Keelan? Are you alright?" Luke called as I threw open the front door; "I'm fine Luke, I'll be back later. Don't wait up." I told him with a sad sigh as I slammed the door shut before starting to jog away from the house.

I didn't know where I was going to go - I just knew I needed to somehow outrun my thoughts...if I could. To do that; I run -- letting my legs take me wherever until I ended up at a...diner? How had I never noticed there was a diner nearby?
I shrugged, before walking inside, hopefully they had decent food here.

"We're about to close!---Little Bird?" A familiar voice called out as they exited the kitchen. "Oh, Hi Uncle." I waved with a small smile, I had met Uncle at the cafe when I started working.

He was always nice to me. Which I appreciated.

"You own this place?" I questioned, my hand resting on the doorhandle as I prepared to leave.
"I do, come on in, little birdie. You look like something is bothering you." He invited, beckoning me over to the counter. "Thanks," I smiled slightly before setting down at the counter in front of him.

"Owen gave me a call to tell me you had walked off. He hoped I would run into you." He explained, scratching at his beard as he grabbed something from beneath the counter, along with a couple glasses.

My eyes widened as he sat the large bottle of jack on the counter.

"You mean Mr. Blackbourne? How do you know him?" I asked, keeping my hungry gaze off of the booze.

Do not allow yourself to break, Kee. You've come so far.

"North and Luke are my nephews." Uncle grinned as a sour frown overtook my face. "Luke, I get. But North? Your nice and he's a..." I trailed off as Uncle gave a bellowing laugh that seemed the shake the walls before he focused on pouring the drinks.
"He's an ass. I know." He nodded in agreement, before sliding a shot glass filled with amber colored choas my way, my eyes were so captivated by the alcohol, that I failed to notice three people coming inside the diner behind me.

"Don't you want it?" Uncle asked, with a challenging glint in his eye. I sighed and picked it up, before looking at it.

"No."

"No?" He asked, a slight proud smile overcoming his lips.

"Because I'm stronger than this." I wagged the shot before setting it back down on the counter. "I know you are." Uncle nodded, admitting to testing me.

"Miss. Nolan?" Mr. Blackbourne's voice rung out from behind me.

Why is he here?

"Why are you here?" I finally asked the question that had been on my mind. Uncle smiled softly and patted my hand.
"We're here too." Sean smiled and sat down on the barstool beside me, grabbing a shot Uncle had left on the counter before draining it.

"How did you end up here?" Luke asked as Mr. Blackbourne and himself took a seat. "I don't know," I shrugged and continued to stare ahead, I didn't feel like talking much. "I just somehow ended up here."
"I'm proud of you, Kee." Luke grinned, "I never once doubted you." He gave me a side hug as I finally let a small smile escape.

"Thanks Luke."

"Why do you say fuck so much?" Sean asked suddenly, with a glazed look in his eye. I snorted and looked down at the four empty shot glasses. "Damn lad, you're a lightweight." I smirked, but continued on.

"Fuck can be used in many different ways and it's the only fucking word, that you can put every fuckingwhere and still makes fucking sense. Fuckers." I shook my head with a smirk as they're faces dropped as they took in my small speech.

"That's deep bro," Luke nodded, grinning with amusement. "Now, let's get you out of here." He spoke quietly, gently grabbing me and carrying me outside.
I only nodded, too tired to do anything else.

--------------- "I'm fine Mr. Blackbourne. You can stop staring at me like I'm going to break." I told him, frustrated as I looked up from my biology book.

"I understand, Miss. Nolan. But I have something something discuss with you." He sighed with a tiny smile, thankfully I had gotten used to his millimeter smile. The first few times he had did it, it set me on edge - wondering if he was planning something malicious.

Weird, I know.

"What is it?" I looked up yet again from my textbook as I gazed into his eyes. "Sang wants to leave to visit her parents in California, all of us are going." He started off with a tired sigh, "do you want to come?" He asked, surprising the fuck out of me.

Did I hear that correctly? He really asked if I, little Ole me, would come? But I couldn't, I couldn't leave Marc or school. Plus, Im.surw Sang would try to murder me on the airplane if I decided to come.

"No thanks, Mr. Blackbourne. I still have to work at the cafe." I told him with a small smile before I looked down again.
"I thought you might say that; So I called Mr. Weiland to tell him to keep an eye on you while we are away."

"Really?" I asked with a raised brow, "Thanks for looking out for me."

"You are welcome. You will be required to call me once when you wake up, once in the middle of the day, and once in the evening." He ordered as I rose my eyes to his, three times? What was he worried about?

"T-to make s-sure you haven't burned the house down." Mr. Blackbourne awkwardly looked away, clearing his throat.

Wait...was he blushing? Holy fuck! He was!

"If you're that worried about it -- I could just stay with Marc."

"You will not!"

A/N: Thanks for 400 votes guys! Your awesome!!

What do you think of Owen's blushing?

Should Keelan stay with Marc and the Toma Team while the boys and Sang are away?