But serenity can only last so long in a world of disruption.

And by the next day, as I headed towards the elevator, I was once again reminded of the chaos I faced. Even though last night had been fun, watching planes soar across the sky as if a train on ice, it came to a close when we ran out of planes. And even though reading and drifting off to sleep was peaceful, I dreaded the morning I had to face. For it's impossible to distract yourself forever.

The elevator door opened, Scott stood inside as he did every morning, but no words were exchanged as I stepped onto the elevator. There was a bruise underneath his eye that hadn't been there the day before, and he continued to look as tired as ever. I wanted to ask if he was alright, but knowing how the conversation had ended before, I decided against it.

The walk to the train station remained this way as well. The figure of silence following with every step, glaring, its piercing eyes watching like a camera. It was hard to call Scott a friend, but he was somebody who was stuck in the same situation. And I was scared of losing that small bit of understanding.

The train arrived as it always did, the quiet air remaining as we stepped aboard. It didn't feel right to speak, nor to even try to apologise. I wondered if he was still mad at me for Jack, despite me not knowing anything about it. Perhaps it was something else? I doubt I would find out.

It was still cold when we arrived, still silent as it had been. And no paper planes to distract me from any of the troubles that wandered through my head. Trying to gather them into a cohesive thought was like trying to find someone lost in a crowd.

Arriving at the door, the silence continued. There was a brief pause as Scott knocked on the door, but it quickly fell once more.

Noah was silent, Evan was not but he did not speak as much as usual. The day was filled with boring learning of code, working the ways on how the technology actually worked. And as it came to a close, the silence continued its close footsteps, a watchful eye. Despite how much I tried to concentrate, the only thing I could find myself drawing back to was the faint ticking of Jake's watch.

The travel back was also done without a word, and my night was not filled with the adventures of paper planes as it had previously been. Jake had made a lasagna, which although it was pleasant, did not cause many conversations at dinner. I was tired, going to bed before him, drifting to sleep, my mind complete pandemonium.

The next morning was much like the previous day, no conversation as I stepped onto the elevator. But as the idea of yet another agonizingly boring day gnawed at me, I decided to say something, even if I knew it would end up going nowhere.

"I'm sorry," I said quietly, not even sure if he had actually heard me. We stepped out of the elevator, the typical lady at the desk typing away something that was probably as useful as a pen without paper.

"What for?" he said after a few moments of silence. At first, I was relieved to hear him talk to me, but it was clear his mood had not changed from previously. But knowing, or I suppose not knowing Scott, at least it was a step in the right direction.

"You seem annoyed at me," I said as we left the apartment building. The air was bitter and cold, much as it had been on that fateful March morning. He sighed, only slightly glancing to me. Despite his calm attitude, I couldn't help but worry.

"I'm always annoyed at you," he said, not pausing for a second moment.. There was a part of me that wanted to ask him about the bruises, his father, everything that truly puzzled me about Scott Preston. However, I knew it wouldn't end well, and thus the travel continued as before. A silence following us once more.

The train ride was silent, a different tone to the air. Yes, nothing had changed aside from Scott stating his obvious feelings toward me. But it just felt different, like another chapter in a story. However, despite knowing this, I knew we would not be on a talking basis for a while.

The silence was cut short as we arrived at the usual station. Marlin was due to be arriving back today, which would hopefully break the painfully boring cycle. I didn't know Marlin well, but he seemed kind at heart, something about him was just trustworthy, and whenever he was around he would bring peace. Harmony of sorts.

But harmony was definitely not the thing which came to my mind as we arrived at the door. As soon as we were in hearing range, Evans cussing became apparent. Something smashed, and a loud bang as a chair likely collided with the ground. I turned to Scott to try and get some idea of what was happening, but he continued to press forward wordlessly.

As he went to knock on the door, ignoring the chaos that likely was contained inside, it swung open. It had been unlocked, something uncommon given how paranoid Noah appeared to be.

Inside it was apparent the destruction that had happened. Chairs we scattered across the ground, one table had been pushed over, and several computers had shattered as they hit the ground. Papers lined the floor like leaves, and I was speechless as I stared at the scene in front of me.

"You fucking prick!" Noah shouted, pushing Evan's chest as he stumbled back. Evan shoved him in return. The place where Marlin usually sat was empty, space was complete turmoil. Yet, Scott appeared to remain as emotionless as ever.

"You know I didn't—" Evan began, quickly throwing his hands in front of his face as Noah's fist swung at him. Looking at Noah, I could see he was shaking. Hot tears ran down his face, a terror in his eyes.

"What's going on?!" I demanded, stepping forward to try and stop whatever was happening. Noah lifted a chair from the floor, attempting to throw it at Evan. However, he grabbed the chair as it was thrown, tossing it to the side. He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted as Noah turned to us.

"Marlin's dead!" Noah shrieked, his eyes wide, anger coursing through his body. He turned to Evan, pushing him with further force causing him to collide with the table behind him, "And it's this bastards fault!"

"He got caught doing something he shouldn't have—" Evan started, but Noah stepped forwards once more, bringing his fist forward and punching him in the nose. Evan let out a grunt, eyes beginning to water.

"You snitched! You fucking snitched!" Noah wailed, throwing his arms against his chest in rage. I was unable to process what he had just said. Was Marlin really dead? Evan scowled, before shoving him backward by his shoulders.

My mind was running at a thousand miles an hour. But knowing Scott would continue to observe without interference, I tried my best to stop the fight between the two grown men. I stepped forward, moving my way between them.

Noah shoved me aside as he tried to lunge at Evan once more. Tripping over a fallen chair, I stumbled into the small heater in the corner. I gasped as my back made contact with the hot metal, quickly stepping up.

"You're gonna shove a kid now?!" Evan yelled, now equally as annoyed as Noah appeared to be, "I'm not a snitch I loved that man!"

"Bullshit!" Noah screamed, grabbing Evans shirt as he tried to pull him to the ground. Evan grabbed his shoulders, trying to push him away, as blood ran from his nose.

Noah pushed back, fistfuls of his uniform before throwing the far taller man backward. He tripped over the chair from before, stumbling into another table. The computer that Evan typically used skidded off the table before smashing onto the floor.

"You son of a bitch!" Evan spat, a cut running down his arm. Blood splattered on the floor, anger building in the man. I felt useless, speechless, and unable to comprehend what was happening. I might relate the feeling of not being connected to reality. Like a dream that I just can't wake up from.

However, a few things happened in the next moment. Noah, now with a bleeding lip and tears running down his face had lunged at Evan. Scott had decided that it was time to call off the fight, stepping in between them. Thus, resulting in Noah shoving Scott.

Scott was slammed into a nearby table, which quickly toppled over. Computer screens smashed, as Evan swore loudly as Noah fell to the ground crying. Shards of glass went everywhere.

Scott cried out, collapsing to the ground, his hand now pressed to his left eye, his glasses shattered next to him. Blood seeped from between his fingers, his hands covered in glass shards. I was frozen, staring at the scene before me.

He wailed something which made my skin crawl. A boy I thought impossible to have emotions was now crying in pain. Within a moment I was stumbling over chairs towards him, as Evan starting to kick Noah in the chest as he cried out. Scott was crying, blood pouring from his hands and left eye.

"Help..." he yelled, his words muffled by tears. I found myself pushing back tears from the stress, the two adults a complete mess. One, completely having a breakdown. The other, our supposed mentor, kicking him and screaming at him, calling him things such as useless, coward, and more.

"You idiots!" I shouted, turning back to the two men. Evan stopped, seeing Scott in a bloody mess on the floor. He held his head in his hands as if trying to stop himself from crying. But he just stood there, doing nothing.

"Call someone!" I yelled again, frantically trying to find something to help Scott. Evan ran over to the emergency phone, stumbling over the chaos that had happened before, swearing constantly. Scott was still sobbing, now clutching his broken glasses in his other hand.

It was all too much, and I began to weep.