K A D E N

"You might as well admit defeat now." Noah said cockily as he moved his chess piece across the board.

"Get off your high horse, nerd." I rebuked, although I was looking for a way to turn the game around. The heat didn't do much to help my concentration. The sun beat down mercilessly, reducing me and those around to taking off layers and seek the shade. Even the bench I was sat on was scorching hot, making it all the more uncomfortable.

Noah shot me a grin as I made my move before making his. "Checkmate."

"Congrats. You win."

"Again." He clarified.

I shot him a blank look. Having him hang around me these past few weeks did nothing to prepare me for his newfound confidence. At least when it came to chess. After seeing him in every corner I turned, I eventually got used to his presence.

Now, I was no longer classed as the new guy at school. Within that time I managed to blend in with the crowd. The rumours and conspiracy theories died down, though that didn't mean some people still didn't turn in the other direction when I was in the hallway. Then there was also how I was able to avoid any more unfortunate interactions with Dante which was another bonus.

I thought that the storm had passed when Noah said something that day. "So, Australia. What's it like?"

"Sunny." I deadpanned.

"Do you move around a lot?"

"No."

"First time, then. Coming here?"

I narrowed my eyes. "What's with all the questions?"

He shrugged. "I'm just curious."

"Yeah well, don't be."

"It's just that, you don't have an accent." He said slowly. "If you'd lived in Australia all of your life, surely you would have had that distinction."

The challenging look in his eyes was unnerving. I was two seconds away from grabbing his collar to make him spit out what else he knew when I saw Elsa approaching our table. Trailing just a few feet behind, was Phoenix.

I'd never been happier to see someone as I was now. While one was sporting a water bottle, the other was in the process of lighting a cigarette. The latter had no choice but to take the vacant seat beside me once Elsa occupied the one next to Noah. "Whatcha guys doing?"

Noah shared an unreadable look with me, before turning to the former. "Beating Kaden at chess. If I knew it was going to be this easy, I wouldn't have suggested it in the first place."

I shot him a blank stare again, more occupied with the smoke entangling in my hair and the recipient at the root of it. Her own was pulled up into a quick ponytail, giving me a clear view of her tattoo. As a whole, she didn't seem like the sort. For any of it, in fact.

"When did you start smoking?" I asked, not expecting anything in response since she'd been giving me the silent treatment for the past week, so when she did, my head immediately shot up.

"When did you stop?" She questioned with a raise of her brows.

"Funny you assume that." Though my tone was far from obtaining humour in it.

"No, what's funny is that you're denying it." She counter argued.

My jaw ticked, despite my resolve to not let anything she said get to me. It was going fine until she decided to dig up the remnants of my past, including the habit she had adopted into her lifestyle. It took me almost a year until I was clean. I wondered how long it would take her.

Judging by the way she began to cough from the smoke, told me that she was fairly new to it. I frowned, reaching out to pat her back but she quickly retracted, stumbling away from the table.

Not a second later, a shadow fell across the table and also blocked my view of which way Phoenix had gone.

"Kaden Mordecai?" A man in a slightly wrinkled oxford shirt and black slacks invaded my line of sight. My eyes immediately fell upon the badge he was holding up.

"Yes." I said warily.

"I'm Detective Johnson. Don't be alarmed by this but I just need to ask you a few questions. Please come with me." He said in a clipped authoritative tone.

Elsa looked at me with worry while Noah didn't seem to be fazed by the unexpected drop in. I caught his eye for a second before standing up with a blank face and started to head inside flanked by two more policemen behind me. The stares, however, were expected and grew in amount with the more ground we covered until we reached the building.

It wasn't until we were standing outside the principal's office and the lady herself had come out did I begin to question the nature behind the visit.

"You're not in trouble so don't worry. The detective is only here to ask you a few questions." Principal Vandenhoff reassured, though her lips were pressed into a tight, thin line. The conversation I'd had with her after my encounter with Hampton rang alarm bells in my head.

"I'd like a word with him alone first." The Detective ordered. Everyone obliged and left, even the principal which made me wonder if all I was going to be asked were just a 'few questions'. He ushered me into the office and motioned for me to take a seat, mirroring my actions and pulling out a small recorder to place on the principal's desk.

"It's protocol." He said as I looked sceptically at the device. "I'm sure you remember from your prior experiences."

My jaw tightened at his words. "Which department do you work in, detective?"

"Homicide." He got out what looked like a newspaper and handed it to me. "Joshua Paten was found dead in his apartment two weeks ago, allegedly from an overdose. Did you know him?"

I scanned the article before placing it on the table. "Never heard of him."

"Are you sure about that?"

I stared blankly at him. "I'm wondering why a homicide detective is looking into this case. Isn't this more suitable for the narcotics department?"

He waited a beat before saying. "We have reason to believe that this is not as simple as Paten taking one too many."

"You think he was set up?" He nodded. "So then where do I fit into all of this?"

I watched as he got out a folder from the suitcase that I only now realised was by his feet. "I understand you returned to town due to your father's promotion-- From Australia was it?" At my nod of confirmation, he continued. "Since your arrival, have you had any contact with this man?"

Even though I'd prepared myself to see Dante's picture appear before me, it still didn't make the deep rooted hate I had for him disappear. So when Detective Johnson waited for a response, I leaned back in my chair and tried to ease my gritted teeth. "No."

"Spotted him anywhere in town?"

"No."

He sighed. "I've read your file, Kaden." The way he said my name irked me.

"I expect nothing less from you." I answered coolly, even though that hard exterior was beginning to form cracks.

"I know you've had run ins with Dante Travelli before." I was about to rectify him since he asked me within the time frame of my arrival but then realised I'd still be lying. He continued, "I know about the Miller shootings and how you were sent to a juvenile detention centre for a year." He paused and I waited with bated breath. "I know about Jane."

Hearing her name out loud didn't seem real. Not at first. The stigma attached to it had led it to be almost completely erased from my vocabulary. I thought that when I heard it again I'd break down into a puddle of tears, or smash the walls or something similar to that but I didn't. I was oddly fine. And it was this that made me more uncomfortable than the detective's questions.

"What are you trying to get out of all of this?" I said at last.

"I'm trying to get justice for Paten. He didn't deserve this and neither did his family." He looked me square in the eye. "I'm sure you can understand that."

I stayed silent.

"Let's try this again." He cleared his throat. "You were acquaintances with Travelli, correct?"

"Somewhat." I complied for a moment.

"Travelli is quite the sketchy character. He's been to prison for multiple felonies in the past decade and in the past year or so, word has gotten around that he's returned to such illegal activities."

"If you know all of this, why haven't you arrested him already?" I pointed out.

"Because without any proof, it won't do any good in the courts. That's why I've come here today. I hoped you could tell me a bit more about Mr Travelli so we can work towards making our town safer."

I deliberated his words for a few seconds but it was a no brainer. Too much had happened to me to not know the consequences that would follow. I'd done stupid things in the past and I was going to make damn sure that talking wasn't going to be another one of them.

"Look, it sucks what happened to that guy but I can't help you."

The Detective sighed, loosening his tie a little. The principal's office did act like a mini sauna but I was adamant about not breaking a sweat. At least not whilst I was being questioned.

"I'm on your side." He said. "And I assure you, you won't get into any trouble."

I shook my head, knowing that any promises he made when it concerned Dante were empty and held no worth. "It's not that. I washed my hands clean of him years ago. Don't make me go back to it."

Something ticked in Johnson's jaw, followed by an uncomfortably long pause. "Alright then." He finally said. "You're free to leave."

He pocketed the recorder and stood up. I mirrored his actions and was about to walk out when he stopped me. "If you do have any information, you can contact me at this number." He stuck out a piece of paper with the digits scribbled down messily.

I stared down at it then back at him. "Good luck with the case." I retorted and turned on my heel, leaving Detective Johnson and his questions behind a closed door.

-

Throughout the short trip I made to my locker, whispers followed me. I'd been in the principal's for twenty minutes max and already rumours were speculating. How easy it was for someone to come up with a lie and tell someone else and that person tells another person and so on. Nothing could be kept a secret in schools. It always got out in one way or another.

Too immersed in my own thoughts, I didn't pay attention to which direction I was going and ended up bumping into someone. Fortunately, this time around there was no scalding hot coffee to spill down the front of my shirt. Instead, there was the sound of books falling to the ground and a familiar voice that mumbled, "Sorry."

The girl had ash blonde hair and wore a light blue sweater despite the heat. I racked my brain trying to find a name and finally found it once I spotted the cast that was revealed when the sleeve of her sweater rode up. "It's Chloe, right?"

I kneeled down to help her pick up the remainder of her books and she nodded. "Thanks." She took the books from me, struggling to balance them all with the one working arm and naturally they fell to the ground again. She sighed in frustration.

"I got it." I picked them up once again and held onto them, knowing how much of a nuisance it could be to have an arm clad in plaster.

She thanked me again then took a moment to study me. "Kaden, isn't it?" I waited for her to say 'the new guy' but it never came. "You look really familiar."

"We met briefly last Sunday on Phoenix's birthday." I answered with a small smile, though my heart was hammering.

"Oh, yeah." We began to walk down the hall, me still holding her books. "Are you two good friends?"

I struggled to find the right word. "We're acquaintances."

She laughed. "It's hard, isn't it. To get her to actually like you." But the way she said it, it sounded melancholy. Even though I'd only been present for one brief interaction between her and Phoenix, anyone could see the obvious tension between them.

"I think that might be a fault on my part." I murmured, remembering her walk away from the snack bar and me.

"Well, this is me." She stopped outside a door and took her books back. "Thanks again."

I nodded and turned to leave but she called me again. "Hey, Kaden?"

"Yeah."

"Give it time. She'll come round."

I smiled warily and waited for her to disappear through the door before muttering, "Not if I scare her off first."