"You should watch yourself, Ms Greene." Prof. Moore sneers, his face losing his schooled façade as he looks at least two dozen different bundles that lay scattered on his office floor.

Spending so much time in a gang, especially noting how things work, there is one thing I have noticed all those years ago that remains constant in each man. It is their frustration and temper when things step out of the line in a field they don't like.

It doesn't matter if they are a part of the core member of the gang or not.

What matters is their lack of control over it when it happens.

I have no idea if what I did proofs something or not.

"I am so sorry sir, I will help you pick it up." I say as I sink down and start picking up the papers, keeping my eyes on him as he turns his back towards me and tugs harshly on his hair.

What I do know is, I need to trust my instinct. And my instinct is clearly warning me against him.

"Let it be Ms Greene. Leave."

His commanding tone is unlike any professor's that I have met in my life, but keenly similar to someone I knew... someone with unhealthy obsession with power. I nod at him and leave, speeding my way to the four wheeler that stood waiting for me.

Ryker was sitting in the driver's seat, waiting for me to buckle up before driving out the main gate. I bite my lip in concentration as I rack my brain of what link a Psychology Professor from anywhere can have with power and gangs.

Seeming impossible, but Kane did end up involved with two gangs too, didn't he?

"What's wrong?" The deep voice snaps me out of my thoughts. I look over at him to see his attention on the road, giving me a few minutes to collect my thoughts. I sigh, running my hand through my hair before messing it up and asking, "We are meeting the boys, right?"

He nods, before repeating his question.

"I will tell you all together."

"Man... Never thought I will be standing in Boss Man's house. Ever." Mason breathes out as all the boys stand in the hallway of Jayden's apartment, not one of them stepping in the living room.

Maybe it has something to do with Mason and Keith admiring it, but being too afraid to make any mistakes. The others standing behind them have no other option than to wait for them to snap out of it and walk in so they can as well.

"Come on guys, get in so we can talk." I deadpan from my place in the middle of the living room, groaning as they still ignore me.

Ace grunts before shoving those two in and walking in to find a place on the couch.

"Are you insane? What if he comes in?" Keith asks in absolute horror, as he tries his best to not tough anything as he sits on the floor beside me.

Before Ace can reply or rather fight if his clenched jaw is any indication, I snort, laughing "I will tell him that he needs to cook for me if he does come early."

"What? Boss Man can cook?"

I nod smiling at Kevin who looks at me in disbelieve, "His lasagne is to die for. And his pizza, he makes everything from scratch... though I am not sure if he still cooks." I end with a shrug, frowning as I realize how much of a gap there is now between us.

"Ash, we need to know what happened in college today. You seemed stressed." Ryker leans forward to emphasis on how serious he is.

I heave out a sigh, nodding.

"Remember the new professor that has been teaching us for a while now? Substitute of Kane? I... How do I say this... Let's say my instinct is warning me against him. I have now proof for this. Literally not even a zilch. But... I don't know how I didn't notice it before. We need to check him up."

"W-Wait... you mean that you have a suspicion on someone who has been in the town already? And you didn't tell us?"

I bite my lower lip sheepishly, "I may have just noticed it?"

Kevin chuckles, "And she can beat us up in a combat. But not notice someone suspicious around her." I poke my tongue out towards him, as he makes a motion of snapping his teeth in response, earning a smack upside his head by Ace.

I smirk at Kevin, then blow Ace a kiss, making Ryker clear his throat and shoot a glare at the two boys.

"Hey Ash... I have a question for you."

Everyone looks at Mason whose eyes widen at all of us looking at him seriously. He shakes his head immediately, laughing nervously, "Guys, relax. It's just gossip that I want from her!"

Ace rolls his eyes in exasperation while Ryker remains emotionless. It's amazing as well as scary, how well he can hide his emotions when he wants to. Kevin looks unsure but Keith, he looks rather interested.

"What is it?"

Mason rubs his neck nervously, "You know Boss Man so well right?"

"Better than anyone," my heart lurches painfully as I say this sentence, longing coming back in full force.

"So... Tell me about him. Because for everyone, he is unattainable. Many don't even think he is human. You know, when you said he can cook... it was shocking because people say he doesn't eat like normal humans."

I frown, hearing Mason say this makes me feel bad. Bad for the little boy who used to share his chips with me, the one that collected chocolates to give it to me, the one who always used to take the blame every time I messed up. Hearing he is termed as this, it make me hurt for him.

"Why the fuck would anyone say that? He is as human, and as normal as anyone of us." My voice comes off as cold and hard, making Keith flinch.

Guilty, I ease a smile on my face, whispering an apology to him.

"I didn't mean it like that. It's just... he is so.."

Kevin fills up for Mason, "Beastly of sorts."

"I hate to say this," Ace voices, joining in "but it is true. Ry and me, we saw how cruel he can be. We have seen him take men and leaving them as mere blood-bags."

Ryker nods, his hazel eyes studying me.

"Well," I say, "He wasn't like this you know. We first met each other through his sister, Sarah. She became my friend in First Grade and soon enough she bonded with me. She was close to him, despite their four year difference, and that led us three to spend hours together each day. He would always include us, no matter what he was doing, so much so that he had quite a few fights with his friends when they would try badmouthing us two."

I chuckle, eyes filling with tears as memories flashed through my mind.

"You know, he was the only one to have two dates on his Senior Prom. He was quite popular but he refused to go with anyone except the two of us. According to him, he will not give the opportunity of spending the best night of high school to anyone except us.

He used to cook for us a lot. Sarah hated the food cooked by their chef, and I hated being alone on my dinner table. He was fifteen when he started learning so that we all can have food together."

I wipe the lone tear that is trailing down my cheek.

Silence fills the room as the boys let me be.

Gulping down the emotions, I look up to Mason and smile brightly. "That enough Mr. Gossip?"

Knowing me well enough to know I am avoiding the emotions, he lets me do so and answers, "Well. We got to know your Mr. Carter and our Boss Man are two totally different men."

Kevin chuckle, Ace smirking at Mason and Keith whispers something.

Unable to catch it, I nudge him, "Keith, what are you mumbling?"

He blushes slightly, fiddling with his specs before clearing his throat and speaking, "The man you described... he sounds wonder full. I was just wondering, why is he so different now?"

I shrug, confused myself.

"I think it has something to do with the death of his sister?"

I think about what Mason says but then shake my head, "No... I was there when that happened. I saw how bad it was for him. It was the time he had joined the gang, and he got a great way to take his anger out because of it."

"So you are saying he was not like this after her death?" Kevin questions, now more interested in the talk.

"Not entirely. Sure his anger and pain made him scary for a lot of people, but he was never this bad. He did stuff, but he did end up regret the process."

"I may know what made him like this."

Everyone, including me look up at Ace who sighs and mumbles, "I have heard Level 2 men speaking about how Mr. Carter's girlfriend's death tipped him over the edge of insanity."

"Wha-"

"Girlfriend?"

"Man... Woah..."

Everyone had different responses but all I can hear is the line repeating over and over itself. Mason telling me about his reputation, Ace telling me about my supposed death affecting Jay.

My ears ring as breathing becomes difficult for me. I hear Mason and the twins asking Ace different questions about what he has just said, but my head barely registers anything.

Memories from the past, before and after Sarah's death, the night when it all changed, the year I spent with Chris, him asking me to think over everything.

It becomes too overwhelming for me.

I come back to my senses once I hear Mason asking Ace to elaborate.

"Well, no one knows how she looked except the Level 1 and 2 members. She was said to be the only one that made him human. Apparently she died approximately two years ago in a fire incident. It was a planned attack because the gang was going to use it for a traitor but somehow the traitor vanished and she was there... Wrong place." Ace shrugs indicating this is all he know about this incident.

It remains silent for a few minutes as everyone thinks about this new information, leaving me to be the victim of the on slaughter of a million emotions.

"Ash, want to tell us what else you are hiding?"

************************************************* 

A/N: Heya there readers, yes a double update today because it's my younger sister's birthday tomorrow. She is finally turning a teenager now!

Anyway, Girlfriend huh? Looks like Ash will have to tell them now right? oh, and how do you like Jayden and Ashlyn together?

Vote, Comment and Share.

Love, Rupanshi.