****

 Kenner couldn't think straight as he thundered through the hallway that morning, his gaze dead set on a boy in the distant.

   He'd woken up that morning with a very clear goal in mind --- to make Tyler Donovan pay. He couldn't believe that Tyler would be heartless enough to play such a wicked game with him, taking advantage of his closeness with Terrence. Kenner had been shocked to his bones when he'd seen that cruiser in front of his cousins' house, but when he finally calmed down enough to reason properly, he'd figured that it was Tyler.

   He should've seen it coming, though. Tyler was nothing but a bag of pranks and useless games. And he fell for it.

   "Move," he hissed whenever someone stood in his way, continuing towards the last locker in the hallway.

   A permanent scowl was plastered on his face as he stormed towards his target, and unintentionally, his thoughts wandered to Kyra. If she was standing in the crowd that was starting to form behind him, she would've spotted him. If she had spotted him, she'd be able to tell trouble was brewing. And then, she'd try to stop him.

   He didn't want to leave this half-done.

   An oblivious Tyler stood in front of his locker, emptying out his backpack into it. Kenner caught sight of a familiar packet of Marlboro cigarettes that Tyler slipped into his pocket, throwing a lighter after it. It was when he looked up to see if anyone had been watching that he noticed Kenner standing beside him.

   A look of shock crossed his face, but he easily replaced it with a thin smile. "Kenny, what's up? You look like shit."

    Kenner felt his blood boil as Tyler snickered. "You thought that was funny? Messing with me like that?"

   "Woah, jeez." Tyler chuckled, pushing his locker shut. "What? I can't make a little joke, huh? Where's your sense of ---"

   Kenner watched him stumble backwards, disbelief and hurt strewn across his face. He felt his fingers sting from the punch he'd just thrown, but he didn't falter. Instead, he focused all that anger on Tyler, and before he could do a rethink, he was already on top of him, throwing blows to his face.

   It wasn't alright for Tyler to mess with him, to make a joke out of his brother's death.

   Tyler suddenly shoved Kenner off him, then reversed their position. A surprised Kenner did everything he could to dodge Tyler's punches, but he had already begun to feel the blood rush to his face. A distinct metallic taste hit the back of his throat, dragging a nauseous feeling with it.

   Kenner could faintly hear the students urging them on with loud chants and yells, but what he mostly could hear were the bells ringing in his ear.

   Tyler's face had reddened with anger, some spots more dark and bruised, and his baby blue eyes had turned dark blue. Kenner knew he had to do something before he was knocked out cold, so he grabbed hold of Tyler's hand and twisted it, earning a yelp from him, and buying himself enough time to get back on his feet.

   Before Tyler could lunge for him again, Lyon Knight, one of Tyler's buddies held him back, while the latter struggled to be free.

   "Do you believe this little bitch?" Tyler screamed, breathing heavily as he spoke to Lyon. "He just came at me... for no reason!"

   "No reason?" Kenner argued, adrenaline still pumping through his veins despite the pains he felt. "You fool parked that cruiser by my house."

   "What are you --- what is he talking about?" Tyler asked, glaring daggers at him.

   "Oh, you know. You know what you did."

   Kenner's attention shifted front Tyler to the students that had started to scramble around, turning the hallway into a chaotic room. He looked around to see the cause of the ruckus and his eyes landed on a familiar grey-haired man, with a glass that was possibly the twin of Harry Potter's.

   He frowned as he realised how much trouble he'd gotten into. His gaze shifted to Tyler who was standing a few feet from him, a slight trace of blood on his forehead, and a murderous glare on his face.

  
****

   "What were you thinking?"

   Kenner heaved a deep sigh, and leaned back on the driver's seat of his Ford truck. He watched the students wandering around the school, some in pairs, others alone, while some had already started leaving. He blinked furiously when he thought he saw Tyler, then heaved another sigh to let go of all the pent-up tension he had inside.

   "Kyra, he was trying to play mind games with me. What did you expect?"

   Kyra shook her head at him. "I expected you to act responsibly and simply let it slide, but of course, you're Kenner Hawthorne. Calm doesn't exist in your dictionary."

   Kenner turned to give her a pointed look. "Kyra, I really don't have the time for your good behavior lectures, okay? This is serious."

   "Exactly!" Kyra turned away and looked out of the window, then Kenner felt a pang of guilt.

   Maybe, she was right. He could've acted responsibly, but he'd gotten enough of Tyler to think rationally around him.

   He reached over to take her hand, but she moved it out of his reach.

   "I'm sorry, Kiks. I was just upset," he told her, reaching out again to hold her hand. "I'll try to control myself next time."

   Kyra didn't smile at him. He pulled his brows together when he saw the worried expression on her face.

   "Have you heard?" She asked, angling her body till she faced him.

   He shook his head. "Heard what?"

   A fake smile jumped to Kyra's face as she held her phone towards Kenner. He frowned at the device, but still collected it and stared at a text message from Liz.

   Lizzie: have you checked Facebook lately? You won't believe who everyone's talking about

Me: who?

Lizzie: um... what do you have Facebook for if you won't even use it?

Me: just tell me, I'm in class.

Lizzie: the queen has arrived. Riley Daniels just got back to new York two days ago, and you know what that means.

Me: yeah, I'll text you later.

Lizzie: really??? Jelly already?

Lizzie: Kyra? You there?

Kenner handed the phone back to Kyra and leaned back into his seat, as the message sunk in.

   Riley was back. His Riley was back. He hadn't seen her in almost two years, just on Tv when he watched that movie she starred in. The image of her face popped into his head, and he felt something stir in his heart.

   Wrong thoughts, Kenner, he mentally scolded himself, then opened his eyes.

   He turned to his side and met a pair of expectant hazel-green eyes staring back at him. As he stared at her, he felt every thought simmer away. She was who he loved now, Kyra, the perfectionist.

   Kyra who worried too much.

   Not out-of-the-blue Riley. Kyra.

   "There's nothing to be worried about, Kyra," he assured her. "You and me, she won't come between us. I promise."

   Kyra nodded, then looked down at her fingers playing with the strings of her bag. He didn't even have to ask her to know that she didn't believe him.

   Hell, he didn't believe himself either.

****

   Kenner settled down on one of the street benches along the footpath in the middle of Central Park. He tugged the strings of his hoodie tighter and adjusted his baseball hat on his head. He didn't want people staring at him and the purple marks on his face.

   The blue sky had given way to the purple and red ones, and the sun had begun to make it's long journey west, leaving a soothing warm feeling in the atmosphere. Birds chirped loudly in the tree above Kenner's head, and a cool breeze swept through the empty space, racking up dust and dried leaves.

   Kenner took a deep breath, reveling in the sweet sound of nature, hoping it would by some means, last forever.

   It didn't.

   The nauseating smell of smoke and expensive Cologne hit his nose and as he looked up to see who was ruining his peace, quiet, and clean air, he stared at a grinning Tyler Donovan.

   "The devil just can't leave me alone," he muttered loudly, then frowned at him. "What do you want?"

    "Well, I got bored at home and decided to get some air," Tyler explained, taking a seat beside Kenner. "I came to Central Park, and look who I bumped into."

   "Yeah, great story. Now, get out." Kenner closed his eyes.

   "I know you're upset I ruined your perfect face, but I won't pretend I'm sorry. You deserved it, coming at me like that."

   Kenner opened an eye to look at him, then shut it. Kyra's words echoed in his brain, he wasn't going to let Tyler get to him today.

   "But you mentioned a black cruiser showing up at your house," Tyler said.

    "Very funny, Tyler. I know it was you," Kenner replied, sitting up straight to stare at him. "In your psychotic mind, you thought it was a great joke. Ha-ha."

    Tyler frowned. "I didn't do that. You moved, right? I don't even know where you live now."

   Kenner rolled his eyes. He didn't even know why he was even sitting here, talking to that maniac.

   "Kenner, listen to me." Tyler tapped his knee. "You're being followed, and it's not just you. Last night, I got an anonymous email telling me that it wasn't over."

   Kenner wanted to dismiss what he was being told. He didn't want to believe that Tyler was right about Terrence being murdered.

   "I don't believe you, you're making this up." He nodded. "You're playing mind games with me."

   "I'm not."

   "Yes, you are! You're taking advantage of the fact that I cared about your brother to mess with my mind ---"

   "I cared about Terrence too!" Tyler slammed his hand on the bench, making Kenner flinch.

   Kenner turned ever so slowly to stare at Tyler. His eyes were filled with tears as he looked back at him.

   He looked away immediately, then with shaky hands, reached into his pocket for a pack of cigarette and a lighter. He lifted a single stick to his bruised lips, then lit it and took a drag at it. He heaved a sigh, exhaling the smoke through his nostrils. He sat quietly for a while, making Kenner wonder what was going through his mind.

   "I won't lie to his memory, I promise." He looked at Kenner. "My brother was murdered for some unknown reason, and now they're coming after us. We're next."

   "Why?" Kenner didn't realise how hoarse his voice had become until he spoke.

   "I don't know," Tyler answered. "We'll have to find out before they kill us too."

   Kenner drew a shaky breath. "Why are you so sure he was murdered?"

   "Why are you?" Tyler returned.

   Kenner shrugged and leaned back on the bench. His mind was reeling with different thoughts and questions he couldn't find answers to.

   What was he supposed to do? Who was going to believe him if he told them that Terrence was murdered, seeing as he'd broken the only piece of evidence they had? What had Terrence done to get himself into that kind of trouble?

   What didn't he know about the boy he called his best friend for as long as he could remember?

   As he watched a puff of smoke from Tyler's lips mix with the air, a memory of Terrence drifted into his thoughts.

****

Thanks for reading this chapter. I really hope it was good. It's a bit of a filler, really. So, I hope it was okay at least.

what were your thoughts about this? The next chapter, we'll get to see what Terrence was like. An entire chapter dedicated to him, and I've got the perfect actor for him. Also, now we know the name of our mysterious new character, Riley Daniels. She may or may not make an appearance in the next chapter, but expect her very soon.

So, show some support and vote for this part. I really appreciate everyone who's taken time out to read this.

Zina xx