Dedicated to: nkorenica

****

   The Hawthorne house buzzed with activities on that cold October morning.

   In his room, Kenner pulled a knitted sweater over his shirt and walked to his window to inspect everything going on. There was a huge MRV and sons truck in their driveway and over a dozen men moving things from his house to the truck. The driver remained in his seat, while Mr. Hawthorne talked to him from the window, probably telling him where he would keep everything.

   The men all wore waterproof jackets with their hoodies pulled over their heads to shield themselves from the light showers. The smell of the rose bushes that decorated the front of the Hawthorne house hit his nose, along with an icy wind making him shiver and move away from the window.

   God alone knew how long it would take to empty out the two storey building with six bedrooms that he'd been living in since he was born.

   He wasn't having any sentimental feelings -- he wouldn't even let himself. On the contrary, it felt like the best thing that had happened to him all year.

   Yes, he was going to have to move in with his cousins miles away and that was going to change his entire schedule and put a marker in his lifestyle, thanks to his nosy aunt Kathy, but he could survive it. What other choice did he have?

   Move in with his mother and her doctor boyfriend?

   Follow his father to God knows where after he sold the house?

   Aunt Kathy and his cousins were the best options he had. Besides, what he needed right now that his family had fallen apart was some serious bonding with other relatives.

   He looked around his room, from his bare bed to the pile of boxes in one corner to the lone box sitting comfortably above others the others. Those contained things he'd thought he lost over the years that he'd found when he was packing.

   He was about to go through them when a knock on his door drew his attention, and he looked up to see his mom poking her head through the open door.

   "I just wanted to check on you--- see if you're alright," she said, edging into the room.

   Kenner stared into her icy-blue eyes for a while, then shrugged, looking away. "I'm fine. Just curious---who's gonna drive me to aunt Kathy's?"

   "Your father's gonna do that," she answered, then shook her head as a short chuckle escaped her lips. "I really don't think it'll be a good idea to show up at the house of your dad's sister now."

   "Yeah." Kenner nodded. His aunt could be sweet, but everyone knew how close she was with her brother. So, his mother wasn't exactly on her happy side.

   "Are you ready?" Teresa Hawthorne asked, leaning on the boxes Kenner piled up.

   "I am. I've packed everything, I just need ---"

   "Kenner, that's not what I meant." Teresa shifted to stand beside him. "Are you ready to move on?"

   He ran his hand through his damp hair and crossed the room, needing that distance between him and his mother. Teresa sighed, then crossed her arms waiting for Kenner's answer that didn't come for a while.

   "If you mean your broken marriage with dad, I couldn't care less," he finally answered, putting on the most unconcerned look he could summon. "You two obviously can't stand each other, so the best thing to do is get divorced and dump your son with some relative."

   "Kenner, don't be like that," Teresa pleaded, letting her hands fall to her side. "We still love you. I still love you."

   Kenner scoffed, turning his back to her, fixing his gaze on the truck that was almost filled up.

   "You staying with your aunt is temporary, that is, until the court decides who gets to keep custody of you." She began to walk towards Kenner. "Whatever happens, I'm your mother and you remain my son. Don't let this little divorce change you."

   Kenner raised an eyebrow then faced his mom again. "Little divorce?" He sneered.

   "Ken---"

   "Leave... now," he ordered, rolling his fingers into fists at his side.

   "Kenner?"

   "Get out, I don't wanna see any of you." He walked to his door and held it open for her. "On your way out, you can tell your former husband that he doesn't have to drive me to aunt Kathy's house. I'm going on my own."

   His chest heaved up and down as he struggled to keep his breathing in check. Even as Teresa stared at him, mortified, he didn't budge. He nodded towards the hallway and crossed his arms.

  He wished her luck in that custody battle, because whether she won or not, he knew he wouldn't live with any of them.

****

   Kenner pulled his car to a stop in front of a five storey building a few minutes away from his house. He studied the building for a while, squinting to see through the heavy droplets of rain on the windshield.

   His phone rang in the passenger seat where he'd tossed it to minutes ago, but knowing who the caller was, he ignored the call and got out of the car.

   The heavens must've been annoyed that morning, releasing barrels of water on Kenner as he stepped out of his car. A lightning crossed the sky, drawing a low rumble of thunder with it, as the rain continued to pour down on Kenner who didn't even bother to get to a cover.

   His sweater was soaked in a matter of seconds and so were his boots, but he didn't move. His eyes remained fixed on the building, as if he was waiting for some sort of sign from it.

   Suddenly, two people came bolting out from the staircase, heading towards him. A grin quickly replaced the look of uncertainty on his face as he recognized his aunt and her son.

   "Oh my God, Kenner!" His aunt covered him in a hug, not minding the fact that he was totally soaked. "What are you doing out in the rain?"

   "I---" he started, but couldn't find the right words to answer her, so he simply shrugged.

   "Let's get you inside, it's raining hell out here," Noble said, coming over to place his arms around Kenner's shoulder, leading him towards the staircase.

   Kenner began to feel the effect of his damp clothes as they stepped into the elevator. Excluding the fact that his clothes pressed against his body, showing his thin build, he had to deal with shivering every two seconds. As much as he would like to think differently, it was obvious that he'd catch a cold soon.

  "So, how've you been?" Noble asked, while they stood in the elevator.

   Kenner simply shrugged, spreading his hands in front of his face. "I'm coming to stay with you guys for heaven knows how long. How do you think I am?"

   Noble laughed, pushing back wet strands of his blonde hair. "Yeah, your parents are bi---" he stopped when he caught his mother's raised brows. "Very terrible people," he completed.

   "Forget about them," Kenner said, waving his hands dismissively, then turned to his aunt. "I'm really grateful you agreed to take me in."

   "Oh, please, you know you're always welcome here," Kathy replied, reaching up to ruffle his hair. He hated that, but he let it pass.

   Shortly after, the elevator doors opened up into a short hallway, with people shuffling around. A group of guys were carrying speakers and cartons of drinks into an apartment, while some flitted around. The flurry of activities going on didn't fail to catch Kenner's attention as he looked around curiously.

   He ignored the steely glares he was getting for staring too much and the funny looks he was getting for his wet clothing.

   "What's happening?" He asked, tugging Noble back to walk in step with him.

   "I think our neighbor's gonna throw a party." Noble sighed, turning around to look at the activities going on. "And that's the third one this week."

   Kenner smacked his lips. "I can tell this place will be fun," he noted, with the slightest hint of sarcasm in his voice.

   Maybe, just maybe, he wished his parents hadn't separated. He wasn't used to living away from them, even though they were almost never around. He also knew that staying with his cousins would inconvenience them, one way or the other, and he hated to be a bother.

  "Where's Dru?" He asked, breaking the silence that had been hovering around them while they walked.

   "Right here." Noble stopped at a door, then tugged it open, stepping away from the doorway for Kenner to go in.

Before Kenner could even properly step in, a girl who looked like the female version of Noble, only slightly shorter, launched herself into Kenner's arms. His face lit up as he spun his cousin, her giggling filling his ears.

  "I haven't seen you in ages," she said, when he put her down, a grin glued to her face.

   "Me too, Dru," Kenner agreed, looking from her 1D T-shirt to her sweatpants. "You look hot."

   "I know!" She said, flipping her blonde locks playfully, earning a laugh from Kenner and a scoff from her brother.

   "Seriously, I've missed you guys," Kenner admitted, following them into the living room, while Kathy excused herself to go to the kitchen. 

   The house smelled like apple fritter and the distinctive smell of a perfumed cleaning agent. His aunt wasn't as rich as her brother, but she was so coordinated and clean that it was almost impossible to tell if a particular item that belonged to her was old or new. From her squeaky clean tiles to the spotless countertop, Kathy was a dirt police.

   He plopped down on the couch, dragging Dru down with him, then he let his eyes scan the living room. It was a small, cozy room, probably the size of his bedroom back at home, with little decorations on it.  A family photo hung on the wall beside the plasma TV pinned to the wall. A simple flowerpot and a stuffed puppy at the side of the wall were the only embellishments in the room, except for that fancy clock on the other side of the wall.

   The smell of food lingering in the air made his stomach rumble in response. He hadn't eaten that morning out of anger and overall lack of appetite.

   He should've just damned his stupid man pride, and accepted the food.

   He cringed when he felt a pair of hands rummaging through his trousers.

   "Where's your phone?" Dru's hazel-green eyes stared up at him, one of her hands still in his pocket.

   Kenner carefully removed her hand, a stiff smile on his face. "Careful where you put those hands, Dru. My phone's in my car, my dad's been blasting me with calls."

   Noble came into the room, then gestured for Kenner to follow him.

   "And you," he pointed to his sister. "Get off your lazy butt and go help your mother in the kitchen."

   "Call me lazy again," Dru threatened, a forced scowl on her face.

   "Lazy," Noble drawled, then bolted out of the room before his sister could reach for the remote to haul at him.

   Kenner shook his head, stifling a laugh. Nothing had changed about the pair.

****

   "Used to be my room," Noble told Kenner, holding open a door for him to a room.

   Kenner stepped into the room that was clearly nothing like the one he had back home, but there was something about it that sent warmth rushing through his spine.

   The only things in the room were the bed without a cover and a small wardrobe near the window. The blue paint had peeled off in some parts of the room, showing that there had been posters over them at some time.

   "Where do you stay now?" He asked, turning around to face Noble, who was simply standing by the window.

   "There's an old room beside my mom's room. I stay there." Noble shrugged.

   Kenner felt a sliver of guilt. "I could've taken it."

   "Nah, you're our guest. Besides, I was tired of looking at nude Stacy."

   "What?"

   Noble laughed, then waved for Kenner to join him. He threw an arm around Kenner's shoulder, then pointed through the closed glass to a flat below them.

   "There's a girl there. She works down the street at a bakery, and when she comes home from work, she heads to her room by this window." He pointed to a window that was currently shut in the house below.

   "She rolls the curtain up, then gets undressed right there. In front of me." Noble smirked.

   "No way." Kenner snorted. "On purpose?"

   "I don't know." Noble shrugged casually, a distinct smirk on his face. "At first, I told my mom to tell her about it, but she probably forgets or does it on purpose. I've done my part."

   Kenner chuckled.

   "Dude, that's just wrong. On so many levels." He backed the window, and faced his cousin again. "But I'm really glad I get to stay with you guys."

   "No problem, K. We got you," Noble replied, then edged towards the door. "I'll get your things from the car, you change out of those clothes and join us for lunch."

   Kenner pushed a smile to his face, looking down at his wet clothes. Yeah, he had to do something about them.

  Once Noble closed the door, Kenner spotted something dark on the wall where the door had previously been. A lightning struck the rooftop, highlighting the writing on the wall.

   Kenner's heart began to thump against his chest as he stepped towards the writings. The words, as well as their impact, got clearer with every step he took.

It's not over, Kenner.
Look out the window.

   Before he could stop himself, he'd raced to the other window and was peering out of it. His breath caught in his throat as he noticed the black cruiser packed next to his truck, just in front of the building.

He was being followed.

****

Thanks for reading this chapter, it was really fun to write. It was written in a hurry, so excuse the mistakes. I'll fix them.

At this point, I'm really excited for the story. There's this new character I really can't wait to introduce. Small spoiler; it's a girl, and you might love or hate her, but she will be here nonetheless.

If you think this chapter was deserving enough of a vote, don't forget to do that and leave a comment telling me what you thought of it.

zina xx