K A D E N

The house was dead quiet when I came back from my run. Which was expected. There was no one left to wait up for me this time.

My hair was plastered to the back of my neck as was the rest of my clothes to my body. Only my footfalls were heard as I went up the stairs and into the shower, stripping myself of the sweat and forbidden thoughts, watching as it all went down the drain.

Through it all, I heard a muffled banging sound coming from downstairs. Turning the shower head off, it became much louder. My relaxed muscles stiffened once again as I fixed a towel around my waist and got out of the bathroom.

Water dripped from my hair and down the staircase. The trail followed all the way to the front door as I came closer with my hand clasped into a fist.

The banging happened again. But this time a voice followed. "Kaden whatever Mordecai you better open this door right now or I'll--"

"Elsa?" I opened the door, dropping my fist in confusion.

She stared at me for a while then shook her head. "Why aren't you ready?"

"What?"

"We're going out. You need it." I just stared at her. "Well don't just stand there. As fine as you look like this, you'll freeze outside. Go put some clothes on."

She practically shoved me in the direction of the stairs as she invited herself inside. I had no choice but to comply. And that's how ten minutes later I found myself in the seat of Elsa's car wondering how I ended up there.

"You suck at skipping school you know? Just cooped inside all day like a chicken."

"I never said I was free range."

She laughed. "See. That's the person I want to see tonight."

"Where are we going anyway?"

"To watch Incredibles 2."

"That superhero movie?"

"Yep. Don't tell me you haven't seen the first one." She joked but when I shook my head, her smile vanished to be replaced with horror. "Oh Lord. No wonder you had no friends. . . or a childhood."

I decided not to take her comment to heart.

She pulled over to the curb at that moment and dug out her phone, tapping away at the screen before handing it to me. "Don't talk to me until you watch all of it."

I didn't watch all of it. That's because when we arrived at the movies, I saw we had company. Chloe and Jay were there. And Noah. I didn't wait to see who emerged from the lava wall because I was too busy watching Noah walk towards me.

"Movie starts in 15. Anyone want anything?" Chloe offered.

"What was the name of those green things?" Jay asked.

"There're loads of green things. You need to be more specific." Elsa said.

"You know. It's the one. . ." Their conversation got quieter the further they went, leaving just Noah and I. I dug my hands deeper in my pockets and hunched over.

From my posture, it was clear that I didn't want to engage in any conversation but Noah took that as more of an invitation.

"How've you been?"

"Better."

"I heard you were sick."

I sighed. "You don't have to do this."

"I just. . . I just want to say I'm sorry."

I gave a short nod to show I understood.

"Is there anything I can do. . . I don't know, anything?"

I was about to reply when two things happened. Elsa and Chloe came back with snacks with Jay complaining how 'it wasn't the right one'. And Phoenix walked through the doors. She smiled at the others, faltering slightly when she looked at me.

I didn't get the chance to go up to her because Elsa began to shoo us all towards the double doors of the screening room. From the order we went in, I ended up in a seat between Noah and Chloe for the duration of the film. Half of which I briefly shut my eyes for. When I did wake up, it was with a sharp gasp, making heads turn in our direction.

"You alright?" Chloe whispered to me.

I nodded, sinking lower in my seat and wishing I was anywhere but where I was. After I dozed off, things seemed to speed up. The film finished and everyone began to get out of their seats. I watched the credits roll up the screen in a blur before following the others out.

"Phoenix." I called out.

She stopped, murmuring something to Jay before turning around to me. As I came closer, I started to take deep breaths until we were face to face.

"I just wanted to apologise for the other night."

She waited for a beat longer, arms still folded. "Is that it?"

When I didn't say anything she began to turn away but I couldn't let that happen again. I caught her wrist to stop her. "Wait."

Whilst I struggled to find my tongue, she ran her figures through her hair, making my stomach flip. She wore a jacket which flattered her figure and jeans to match. Her lips were stained a permanent wine red which I focused on but that made it even harder to concentrate.

Talking was the last thing I wanted to do at that moment.

"Kaden."

"Hmm."

"Do you have anything else to say?"

I moved my gaze to her eyes. "What do you want me to say?"

"I want answers goddamnit." Seeing her frustrated was no help in making me focus. "I want to know why there was a homicide detective asking you questions about where you were. I need to know that you didn't. . ."

I caught onto what she was saying and I wanted to reassure her that I hadn't killed anyone. That I wasn't a murderer. But my tongue was frozen.

She sighed and turned away. Instinctively, I reached out again but this time I put my palms on either side of her face. We were close enough that I could feel her breath on my lips.

"Give me another chance, please?" I said it as a question. A big part of me was terrified that she'd walk out the door and never come back. And for that, I would never forgive myself because right now, she was the only good thing in my life. As the selfish part of me argued, I needed her. More than I realised.

She didn't say anything for a long time. And then, "How can I when you keep pushing me away?"

Just like that, my fear came true. I watched her walk away as I was powerless to do anything. I felt my hand twitch, wanting to pull her back but I curled my palms into fists.

Soon, she'd all but disappeared.

-

The walk back to the house was a long and frustrating one. I'd declined Elsa's offer for a ride, knowing that Phoenix was already sitting in the back. I didn't want to see her but even then, she consumed every inch of my head. I thought about her laugh, her smile, her frown as a one of my own began to form. It was a strange feeling.

Sure, there were girls back in Sydney but I couldn't remember their names or faces even if I tried. This was somehow different. I couldn't will myself to forget so easily. And then there was Taylor. Just the thought of her made me snap back to the present, to the direction I was walking in. To my darkened surroundings and to the huddle just a few meters away from me.

I stopped, seeing glimpses of something on the floor and blurred shadows. I began to back away, quickening my pace but it was already too late.

I'd stopped for too long. Long enough for someone to see and footsteps start to follow. My own were much heavier as I began to run. I heard shouts from behind me.

I didn't know what they'd said but I found out a moment later. As I turned a corner, one of the shadows began to move, making me skid to a halt. I sharply turned back around but that was my first mistake that night.

Another shadow was behind me but it wasn't just anyone.

It was Zach.

He stared at me quizzically and that was all I had time to see when I felt the air leave my lungs as I was shoved forward, stumbling to the gravel. My palms stung from the small stones indented into the skin. I tried to get upright when I felt a kick to the back of my knees, making me fall back down.

"Wait." I heard Zach say. It was enough to make the guy pause and me enough time to lunge towards him. He stumbled back but judging from the way he retaliated so quickly, the guy was experienced.

His fist collided with the corner of my eye and I had to blink a couple of times to get it to focus again. The shots went back and forth from then on. With each swoop of my fist, I felt myself become more vexed. I was annoyed at how it went down with Phoenix. I was mad that Dante continued to target me. More than anything, I was irritated at myself.

The other guy did nothing to help my situation either. We both struggled to get the advantage over the other. My knuckles stung, having split open but I knew it wasn't just my own blood. My rival spat on the ground. It was too dark to make out anything but I did see the punch coming my way. Quickly dodging, I reciprocated with one of my own and as soon as I got the opening, I brought my knee up between his legs. With a guttural cry, he dropped to the ground spewing out curse words.

Breathing heavy, I got back on both feet. My head fell back as I looked at the sky. It was dark, only a few pulsing stars were in sight. It was that and a dully lit street lamp that was the only sources of light. Under the lamp, I saw Zach. He'd stood there the whole time.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I felt my fists twitch.

He stayed quiet. His hands were in his pockets and it looked as if he was scrutinising me. That's when I made my second mistake. I watched as Zach's eyes widened a fraction, all whilst I still had my back to a conscious opponent.

"Watch out!" I heard Zach say but my leg still buckled underneath me as I felt something slash across my calf. Biting down on my tongue, I turned back to the other guy.

He'd gotten back up, limping, but there was now a knife in his hand. It was red.

We circled each other like vultures around prey. I was determined not to be the latter so using all my energy, I lunged at him. I swung my fist, hitting his cheek, he swiped the air in front of him. I went for his ribs, twisting his arms and the struggle went on. I could tell he was getting tired and I was sure the next hit would bring him down but I didn't see his hand coming down.

That was my third mistake. I felt another sharp pain across my torso. But it all seemed muted as I channeled everything into my fists. With every hit, more blood seemed to pour out. It caked my knuckles, my clothes, my skin.

With one final punch, I unsteadily stood back up. The other guy was unmoving. Unconscious. I couldn't tell out his features because it was so dark but I'd felt the blood that was on them.

I heard footsteps behind me. "Are you--"

Zach didn't get to finish what he said because with whatever last energy I had, I used it to turn around and punch him as hard as I could.

He stumbled back under the flickering street lamp. I saw the blood on the side of his face. My blood.

It was an immense struggle to stay on two feet. I managed a few more steps until I fell to the ground, knees and palms smacking the concrete. My chest heaved as I tried to regulate my breathing.

My vision was blurring but I saw a shadow cast over me. Despite my desecrated throat, I spluttered out a bitter, "Fuck off."

And then the lights went out.