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"Before you question anything, let me explain," Sarah starts. We got to the diner just a few minutes ago and hogged maybe one of the last tables available. The diner is a lot more crowded than I expected.

It's called Jacke's Twenty-Four-Eight Diner and aesthetically maintained. It looks like it could be in any movie with bright pink walls and turquoise and white highlights. There are neon signs hung up on the walls adding even more light than the whole wall of open windows. There are barstools lined in front of the counter for quick sit-ins and around twenty to twenty-five larger tables for people like us.

It's pretty loud in here especially with all the people and the old eighties music playing in the background.

I only recognize a few people from school, the rest are unfamiliar faces. They're dressed a lot edgier with street style rather than put together and high end compared to what the students at Weston Art mostly wear.

"This diner is located in the middle of the city splitting the low class and high class people. Most of the kids here are from Weston Secondary. Our schools have been rivals since the nineteen fifties, but this is the one place we both promised to keep it civil, but off this field, anything is fair game," Sarah explains.

"Wow, and I thought I was dramatic," I let out a small laugh as I flip open the menu.

"Can that, I got you," Philip says taking the menu away from me.

"Hey, Cindy!" Philip calls over one of the waitresses. A girl with red hair and fair skin walks over to us with a big smile.

"My favourite crowd, let me guess, the usual?" she smiles sweetly.

"You guessed it, but add one more of everything to the order for her," Philip nods his head towards me. Her eyes fall on me and she's confused for a second before she flashes me a smile.

I'm sat on one side in between Philip and Everleigh with Philip being closest to the end of the table. Opposite of us is Jake who is the closest to the end following Sarah who is sitting across from me and then Zoya.

"I don't recognize you, you must be new. I'm Cindy," she extends her hand.

"Reese," I smile and shake her hand.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Reese. You're going to love the food here," she says.

"I'm a foodie, I'll like anything that I can eat to be honest," I truthfully reply. I notice how young she looks and wonder if she should even be working right now.

"Let me get you some food and then you let me know what you think after, okay?"

"Will do," I smile.

"I'll be right back," she says before heading behind the main counter.

"Isn't she a little young to be working at this time?" I quietly question the group. I don't want her to hear me and offend her in any way, so I keep my voice low.

"Yeah, but she got pregnant last here and popped out a whole ass baby boy a couple of months ago," Jake shares whispering as well.

"Oh," I reply sitting back in my seat. The uniform consists of a small red skirt and a white tank top which compliments her body and hair perfectly. I could have never guessed she's a teen mom. I'm sure it's been hard for her but she's probably proud of her postpartum body. At least that's one less thing to worry about.

"She's home schooled," Zoya adds noticing my concern. My emotions always show on my face.

It's a curse and a blessing.

"Who's the baby daddy?" I question curiously.

Before anyone replies, the bell to the door rings and I turn around to see who had walked in. I spot three tall figures all dressed in monochrome. Not going to lie, they look like Gods, but they're dressed less Godly. Almost like God is having an off day and decided to wear sweats and a hoodie instead of his usual attire.

Maybe that's why none of my prayers have been answered, maybe God's on vacation. Huh, never thought of it that way before. Weird.

All of them are at least five-eleven and six feet, I can tell because they seem as tall as my brothers, but my brothers are probably a bit taller. Two of them are of fair skin while one of them is darker toned, but all of them look heavily built even under the loose clothing.

They turn and head down the same aisle as us and I finally see their faces. They look young, but mature at the same time. They remind me of my brothers with their built frames, so it's hard to guess their real ages. They could be my age or a couple of years older too.

The one in the middle though, catches me staring and we lock eyes. His grey eyes catch my brown ones and I swear time slowed down as a grin slowly forms on his face displaying his dimples.

"Reese," Everleigh bumps her shoulder to mine.

"Huh, what?" I turn around and face my friends. They're all looking at me confused and concerned at the same time.

"Those are Weston Secondary's most popular delinquents," Zoya says. "Ridge Canning, King Baxston and Maverick Bishop also known as Cindy's baby daddy."

"King Baxston is the one in the middle," Everleigh whispers in my ear. "I saw you staring."

"Psh, I was not," I blush.

"Reese Price blushing? God, that's new," Sarah exaggerates.

"Here you go guys," Cindy walks out with our food. Another waitress helps her with our food as there's too much for just one person to carry.

"Thank you," I say as she sets down a burger with onion rings and an Oreo milkshake in front of me. My mouth drools just at the sight.

"Before you start digging, King wanted me to pass you this," Cindy says extending a note to me. Before I can take it, Everleigh does.

"Tell him she's not interested," Everleigh says. I look at her skeptically but remain silent. Cindy looks at me for confirmation and I slump my shoulder in agreement. I look over to the three boys sitting at the counter and spot then discreetly trying to eye the scene. I don't think they've understood what happened because they look kind of confused there would be a different type of reaction if they did or maybe not so I'm just assuming.

"Got you," Cindy confirms before leaving.

"Everleigh, Reese. Reese, Everleigh or... also known as King's ex," Jake explains as he sets a napkin on his lap and grabs a fork and knife.

"Are you about to eat a burger with a fork and knife?" I question a bit traumatized.

"Yeah, how else do you want me to eat it? I'm not an animal, I'm not about to eat it with my hands," Jake explains as if he is some superior human being.

If I wasn't already so confused, I'd reply with something snarky, but I'm getting hit with a lot of complex information from every angle and it's a bit much to process and I rather not process what I am witnessing, it's just something I'll never be able to get past.

A fork and a knife? Really?

"Wait, you and King?" I look at Everleigh. She looks at me, her long locks cover the edges of her face, but I can see the regret on her face as she bobs her head answering me.

I don't say anything, instead, I grab my burger and take a bit. The cheese melts in my mouth as the onion crushes under my teeth and I moan with pure pleasure as all the juices mix to form the most delicious taste that has ever entered my mouth.

"Mmm, what sauce is that?" I moan and the whole group laughs.

"It's a secret," Philip laughs as he starts to eat.

"King Baxston," I hear a deep voice and I swallow the content in my mouth as my eyes trail upwards. He's wearing black jeans, a white shirt and a black leather jacket. I notice his bruised knuckles but I don't get distracted and make sure to reach his face fast.

I realize there's sauce on my lips, so I lick it off. There's a smirk on his face and he lets out a small laugh. I wonder why at first, but then realize that it's probably because of me licking my lips. I was not trying to flirt, I swear.

I wonder what I look like from his angle? I can't be that attractive from where he's standing.

"Uh... hi," I awkwardly reply. Without taking my eyes off of him, I reach over to the table to grab my milkshake and when I grab a cup, I slurp from the straw. "Ew, that's not Oreos."

"Yeah, because that's my strawberry milkshake," Jake glares at me.

"Oops," I smile innocently looking at him. I grab my milkshake and wash down the ungodly taste of strawberries in my mouth.

I hear someone clear their throat and I remember that King is still standing by our table.

"Shit, totally forgot you were still here," I mumble brushing my hair back. "Can I help you?"

"Yeah, for starters, I was wondering if we could possibly be on a first-name basis? I think it's only fair that if you know my name, that I know yours too."

"Reese," I smile.

"Reese?" he raises an eyebrow and I nod in confirmation. "Okay, then uh- Reese, are you new?"

As I take a long inhale, the smell of weed causes me to falter a bit. It doesn't seem like it's coming directly from them because it's not as strong but they've definitely been around someone who was smoking.

I take a minute to clear my mind before I can reply.

"I am," I take a deep breath and try to ignore the thoughts impeding the back of my mind. I need focus on the situation on hand.

I feel Everleigh about to say something, but I reach back and hold her hand to stop her.

"Mh," he clears his throat – "I would love to show you around if you're ever free."

"Thank you for the offer, King but I think my friends have me covered," I state.

"I'm sure they don't have everything covered," he looks around his but specifically at Jake and Philip.

"Oh, no they sure do," I argue.

"Really?" he smirks.

"Yeah, want me to show you?" I ask.

"I would love to see that actually," he retorts amused.

Without hesitation, I take Philip off guard and grab his jaw turning it towards me and kiss him. He's stiff and melts into the kiss letting me do all the work. It doesn't last long, but I part from his lips and flash King a huge smile.

"See, everything is taken care of," I assure.

"You're a hilarious," King laughs and it wipes the fake smile right off my face.

"I am, but you know what's a funnier? A guy hitting on his ex's friend right in front of his ex," I retort.

Games over bud.

"True, should've just went for the old goods. My bad," he winks smirking.

"Who the fuck are you calling old?" Everleigh angrily questions.

"Oh, so you can speak."

"You would know better than anyone, wouldn't you," Everleigh throws back.

"Yeah, you were the loudest in bed," he cocks.

"Okay, that's it. Move," Everleigh orders Philip and me. I look at her. Should I let her go? I look at how red her face is turning and come to the conclusion that I am not gonna be on the receiving end of her anger so I tell Philip to move.

King moves back a few steps as Everleigh's small figure gets as close to him as she can to assert dominance. I stand behind her, not sure of what to do.

The whole diner is now silently watching this playout.

"Move a little closer, Ev, maybe you could feel his hard-on," King's friend Ridge hoots from his seat as he drinks his beer. 

"Why don't you come here and help him out, isn't that what friends are for?" I couldn't help but retort. Even though I don't want the situation to get worse, I need to stand up for my friend and I could sense she was at a loss of words for that one.

Also, my parents and brothers did not raise a bitch.

Ridge's smile instantly drops and he glares at me. He gets up and strides his way towards me. Ridge tries getting close but King extends his arm and his hand lands on Ridge's chest stopping him from getting to close to me leaving both Ridge and I a bit shocked. Ridge turns his head aggressively towards King, but with one side glance he's able to get Ridge to follow his order. Ridge takes a step back while continuing to throw daggers towards me through his gaze. King put his arm down and returns his focus to Everleigh. Their other friend Maverick walks in standing on the other side of King.

Jake, Sarah and Zoya are still sitting. They look worried and scared while Philip is standing behind me and I think he's still too dazed from the kiss to process anything.

"You know, you and your friend both got quite a mouth. Why don't you use it where it matters most?" King talks mostly to Everleigh, but I can't help but to be raged.

I swear I feel the blood inside my veins boiling. I can only imagine what Everleigh is feeling right now, but I'm proud that she's keeping her stance.

"Words seem to be a lot more filling than your toothpick," Everleigh comments and even I'm left speechless. King's jaw clenches and my eyes drop to the fists forming on his sides.

It takes a few seconds, but he's able to cool down and like an idiot starts smiling.

"Tell us more," King says amused knowing she probably won't be able to.

"Fuck you!" Everleigh raises her hand and before anyone could stop her, she slaps him. His head turns ever so slightly as he closes his eyes and the redness draws to his face.

Everything feels like it's in slow motion because just as the gasps echo throughout the diner, King towers over Everleigh standing only inches away from her now as he slaps the table my friends are sitting at. The cutlery chimes and my friends let out a scream at the unexpected noise. Everleigh screams, about to fall back onto the table but King wraps his arm around her. With his hand on her back, he holds her in an uncomfortable angle with his face dangerously close to hers.

My hands cover my mouth shocked and my body moves to a different angle to get a better view.

I watch Everleigh stretching her neck back and keeps her eyes shut clearly uncomfortable with the proximity. The only thing between them is her bent arm as the other supports her up slightly on the table

A part of me wants to go apeshit on these fuckers, but the other half of me is left absolutely stunned. Not in a good way, but I'm not sure as to what to do.

"King," she begs struggling.

"Don't ever hit me again," King warns clearly angry by the fact that Ev slapped him. "Do you understand?"

"King," Ev whimpers.

"Everleigh, don't test my patience."

"King, please," she pleads. She finally opens her eyes and pleads with them as he stares at her. A few seconds later, he takes a step back and Ev stands up only to drop down squatting. I finally suck in a breath I didn't know I was holding in relief. Ev starts to cry in her hands as she breathes heavily.

"Is there a problem here?" We all turn around to find Landon and his friends walking in. Reis, Everleigh's brother, was the one who spoke up first.

My eyes fall to Landon who is looking at me. I nod with assurance and his shoulder relaxes just a little.

"Your sister decided to choose violence today, but what's new?" King chuckles devilishly. When I turn around I spot Ev standing up and she has managed to wipe away her tears and stop crying. Reis walks over standing beside his sister and Landon comes to stand beside me.

"Did he do something to you?" Reis
questions Everleigh.

Tell him, Ev. Tell him the truth.

I know she shouldn't have slapped him, but he was taunting her and he seems aggressive.

But, Everleigh nods claiming that nothing happened.

"She's lying," I speak on instinct. "He was taunting her and then she slapped him. He couldn't take it and he was being aggressive with her. Sh-she was crying before you came in."

Reis looks at me and I see the anger rush into his eyes as they darken. He looks back at his sister and asks, "Is she telling the truth."

Come on, Ev.

"Yeah," Everleigh replies and I sigh.

"Everyone, out!" Travis yells. "Come on, let's go!"

With that, the rest of their friends help escort everyone out including the staff members.

"You guys too," Landon says looking at me and my friends.

Jake, Sarah and Zoya get up to leave and Philip does too, but I remain in my spot.

"I'm not leaving."

"This isn't a discussion, Re," Landon sternly replies.

"I'm staying, you guys need an alibi," I remind them.

"Fine, you and Everleigh stay behind us and do not, and I mean it, do not come in between us. Do you understand?"

"Yeah," I reply and Everleigh nods her head.

"This isn't going to end well," Everleigh whispers to me. "You shouldn't have told them what King did. This is King's Land."

"Well, not anymore," I retort. The fight is five against five, I don't know King's other friends that decided to join but they seem like they're dirty fighters.

"This is mutual ground, Reis. You know that," King comments.

"You should've thought about that before you you started talking to my sister," Reis gets up into King's face.

"If she can't handle what she started and wants to be a b-"

"You finish that sentence and you won't be able to finish your last breath," Reis grabs King by the collar.

King puts his hands up in surrender and Reis lets him go.

"I like a fight just as much as the next man, but your sister is the one who got into my business. I was trying to talk to her," King explains pointing at me.

All the boys turn around and look at me. Landon's expression gets a lot more deadlier.

Uh oh.

"Is that true?" they question us.

"No, he started calling her names," I say.

"After she ripped the note that was meant for you," King reminds me.

Ugh, fuck shit.

Weren't they supposed to fight?

When did these men start using their brains?

"Ugh," King grunts as Reis punches him on the jaw without a warning. He spits out the blood and straightens his neck back.

"Don't come near my sister again," Reis orders.

"As long as she stays away from me, it won't be a problem. But if she decides to hit me again, she better be ready to fight," King threatens as he clenches his jaw.

His eyes scan the whole diner even connecting with mine for a brief second and it causes goosebumps. His dark eyes are intoxicating sending shivers through my body, but I can't help but feel a sense of warmth, somewhat of a familiarity in them.

"The next time they're alone anywhere on the south side, including this diner, it'll be because they're looking for trouble," he adds.

"Now we got a problem," Landon speaks under his breath. Before he can get to King, I hold him back.

"It's not worth it," I whisper loud enough for only him to hear. Landon clenches his jaw and takes a deep breath before nodding. I let him go and he walks up to King. He's an inch taller than King.

"I ever see you touch another girl without her permission, I will have your intestines laid out in front of your eyes. Naming you King doesn't actually make you one and it'll take me two seconds to throw you off of your imaginary little throne," Landon speaks right into King's face and King twitches a bit.

King scoffs.

"Welcome to LA," he salutes laughing before his expression turns into a scowl and his body stiffens. He aggressively passes Landon brushing his shoulder on purpose as he walks towards the exit. His friends follow him out and I turn around to watch them leave. I'm met with King's cold eyes sending me a chilling look.

Once they leave, my friends walk back in.

"There's one last thing I forgot to clarify, Weston Secondary is a school full of delinquents and that is why our schools don't get along. We're diamond, they're coal. We're hot, they're cold. We're high, they're low," Zoya explains.

"By that, she means, King Baxston is a delinquent no one messes with. Having him as an enemy is as close as it gets to having a death wish," Jake adds as they take their seats again.

"Everleigh is still alive," I state the obvious.

"That's because he loves her," Sarah says confidently. Her words are a little difficult for me to believe because when I looked into King's eyes, I didn't see love in them for Everleigh. He didn't even seem to wanna look at her up until she stepped in.

In his eyes, I saw some sort of ache.

Heartache?

Nah, can't be.

"Do you love him?" I ask Everleigh. She doesn't reply. "Why aren't you guys together?"

"That's a story for another time," she speaks lowly.

"So should I be worried?"

"No, he won't hurt you. At least I don't think so. He's probably more pissed at me than he is at you," Everleigh explains.

"Either way, none of you need to worry. We're here for you guys," Reis pledges.

"Yeah," Landon agrees. "These muscles aren't just for looks."

"Really, you just need an excuse to flex them," I roll my eyes and so do his friends.

"Duh, it's not like every day I get to protect my baby sister from a delinquent ass bitch," Landon retorts.

"I'll try to make it more of a hobby so that you can."

"Please don't. I low key wasn't breathing when we were having that stare down, because I had onions on my sandwich for lunch and I was afraid he could smell my stinky ass breath and that it would ruin the whole moment. Then I kept thinking if I was turning blue and I thought of how Roman is looking right now and almost started laughing, but then I thought about a sad movie scene and how angry it made me so I could keep it together," Landon describes in-depth.

"Wow, that was a long process for you. Huh?"

We all laugh, even Everleigh.

"Yeah, tell me about it," Landon nods. "I'm hungry."

He reaches for my sandwich and starts eating it.

"Landon, that was mine," I complain.

"And that was mine," Jake replies as Landon sips his strawberry milkshake.

"Sorry bro, I'll get you another one," he says as he chews.

"It's okay, I think I've lost my appetite," Jake replies a bit disgusted by my brother's behaviour.

"But I haven't," both Sarah and Zoya state staring deeply at my brother.

"What about my sandwich?" I complain ignoring my delusional friends.

"What's yours is mine, any way you ate my pancakes this morning. You owe me."

"Ugh, fine. Then you can pay for us too, thanks," I reply as I tell everyone to get up. "You and your friends, enjoy."

"Reese!"

"Bro, I'm right beside you. Stop yelling," Reis grunts rubbing his ear.

"Not you, bro my sister! She's the devil, I swear. I can't believe she left me with the bill after I just saved her ass," he grumbles as we walk out.

"Your family always knows how to create a whole ass scene and then pretend like nothing happened," Everleigh laughs.

"That's the beauty in chaos," I laugh.

"King can't hurt us even if he wanted to, forget about him," I assure her.

"Yeah, Reis would kill him before he would ever let King touch me again."

"Good, I'll be following in his pursuit."

"Count me in," Philip says.

"Me too," Zoya replies.

"I've been in for the last two years," Sarah comments.

"I've been helping Sarah plan it too, finally!" Jake exclaims.

And we all start laughing.

Well, that was a scene.

A/N:

Hope you liked it babes!❤️