K A D E N

On the eve of the annual senior dance, I had two visitors knock on my door. The first was the detective. When I opened the door to see it was him, I immediately closed it again and would have done so completely if he hadn't stuck his foot out at the last minute.

He stuck out his hand too, a familiar set of keys dangling from his fingers. Slowly, I reopened the door to see him hold his arms up in surrender. "I just want to talk."

Despite me wanting to do the opposite, I let him in anyway. "Can I have my keys?"

"After you hear me out." He said, fisting the metal. "How about you start with telling me how your car wasn't at the garage like you claimed?"

I stayed silent. He sat on a stool and waited for my response. "I'm not on duty so I can stay here all day."

"What do you want from me?"

"Answers, firstly." He let out a tired sigh. "I'm on your side, Kaden, even though it might not seem like it."

"How do I know you're not just saying that?"

"I wouldn't be here with your car and keys if I wasn't helping you. It would have been in a forensics lab right now." He motioned towards the window. "Your car wouldn't be out there either. Go on. Look."

I didn't look. But I knew he was telling the truth so rather defeated, I slumped onto the stool opposite him. "It was stolen. My car."

"By who?" I didn't answer even though I knew I could have easily given him Taylor's name. "Whoever it was, they didn't do a very good job of stealing it."

"Where did you find it?"

"Just on the borders of town."

So she wasn't in town at least. Not anymore.

"I'm going to assume Dante was involved in this." He raised a brow in inquiry. I didn't say anything to protest.

But I did ask, "What are you getting out of questioning me?"

"A witness. Another step to getting Dante behind bars. Justice for the lives he's ruined-- do you want me to carry on?"

"You're building a case against him." I frowned. "Do it without getting me involved."

"That's where I need you, to fill in the gaps in the case. You know what he's capable of. You can convince a judge of the truth."

I rubbed my temple. The detective's words were making my head spin. "But you need more than a witness. You need evidence."

He dropped the keys on the counter but I had a feeling that wasn't it. And I was right because then he reached inside his jacket and pulled out a clear plastic bag. Inside the bag was my phone.

I stared at the cracked Samsung for a while longer before looking at the detective. "You knew all along, didn't you?"

"I know you were at Martin Bridges residence the night he was killed."

Hearing his name made my stomach turn. I'd heard it before the last time the detective tried to question me but it sounded louder this time around. Martin Bridges was dead.

"I know you made Phoenix give you an alibi--"

"I didn't make her do anything." I bit back.

"But you did lie about your whereabouts." I couldn't come up with a response to that.

"Will anything happen to Phoenix?" I asked instead.

"She'll be fine as long as you cooperate."

"Is that supposed to be a threat?"

"I don't want her to be involved in this any more than you do. You have my word, nothing will happen to her."

I ran a frustrated hand through my hair and got up to pour myself a glass of water. Through all of this, the detective hadn't made any inclination that he thought I killed Bridges. Maybe he was trying to help after all.

"Say I do agree to be a witness. What happens then?"

"You'll be called to stand up in court. Give your side of things."

"Last time I was in a court, I ended being shipped to rehab."

"I won't let that happen."

"You're making an awful lot of promises, Detective. Sure you can keep them all?"

"I don't know what else I can do to convince you of my intentions." He stood up, tossing my keys in the air. I caught them midway, feeling the cool metal in my palm.

As for the plastic bag with my phone, he folded it up and put it away in his jacket. "I'll let you think about it."

As he was about to leave, he stopped in the doorway. "Listen, if you don't do this for yourself then think of all the others. Kids like Sam could fall under Dante's grip. Don't let that happen."

And with that final statement, he was gone.

-

My second visitor was Zach. It wasn't so much of a visit than it was a run in. It was on the day of the dance. I was parking my car in the lot beside the beach and scrolling through the messages and missed calls from Phoenix. Part of the reason I wasn't responding was because of my predicament with the detective. The other reason was that I simply didn't know what to say.

"I didn't peg you for the dance type of guy." I looked up briefly to see Zach coming closer.

"What do you want?"

"I heard you've been talking to the detective lately."

"What are you, Dante's spy?"

"That's not why I'm here."

I raised a brow, "What were you doing on the night I was stabbed?"

He didn't reply which was answer enough for me. I'd seen enough and that was why the other guy had run after me. To make me shut up. And Zach knew that too.

I made a move to walk past him but he barred an arm across my chest to prevent me from doing so.

"Dante gave us a task."

"Did you ask why?"

"You know I didn't." He glanced at me warily. "He told us to bring you to him or. . ."

I put two and two together. If Zach was still here, then the other guy was probably six feet under. There was no more 'us'. I wondered why it hadn't been the other way round. After all, Zach was the one who took me to Phoenix's place.

In a quiet voice, he said, "I want out."

"What?"

"I want out." He repeated. "The stuff with Dante. The running around-- I'm sick of it."

"And where do I come into all of this?"

"Well, you've done it, haven't you? You managed to get it out."

I scoffed at his words. "I went to rehab and another country but I'm still here."

He looked crushed at that moment, probably understanding that it was a lose-lose situation. For a moment I saw a bit of myself in Zach. Scared of what was going to happen. But it was only for a fleeting second.

After that, I did leave him behind. The more I walked, the more I was able to breathe easily. I tried to convince myself that nothing could be done for Zach and pushed my doubts down.

The temperature was a little lower down on the beach. I felt it through my thin white shirt, wondered how they were keeping the bonfire going. The saltiness permeated the air, lingering on my skin. My sneakers sunk into the soft sand, filling my socks with the tiny granules. It had already turned dark. The sea and the shore blurred into each other until all you saw were the slight silhouettes of those who decided to take a late night dip.

Despite the open space, the beach was filled to the brim with dancing figures in dresses and tuxes. Speakers were dotted around the edges of the beach blasting out music. At the very end was a stage set up and in the very middle was Phoenix.

I watched her with her headphones on, swaying to the beat like she was in her own little universe. She looked happy, making me feel horrible for what I planned to do next.

But before I could do anything, I felt another presence beside me.

"Hey, you made it," Chloe said. "Come on, we're all over there."

Willing the corners of my lips to turn up, I let myself be pulled into the throng of bodies. Chloe pushed people aside as she led me to a space that was less crowded. There, I saw Sam sneakily putting sand down the back of Noah's shirt and him jumping up in surprise. Elsa joined him and Jay in chasing Sam into the water, his laughter ringing through the air.

I shoved my fists into my pant pockets, silently watching my friends. When I'd first came to town I thought I'd keep to myself, put my head down and stay out of trouble. That plan hardly went the way I would have liked. Looking around now-- I realised I got something better. For a moment, I was content.

Then I saw Phoenix whisper to the guy that was up on the stage with her and the music became even louder. He nodded at what she said and I watched as she made her way down the stage to where I was. She was in a fitted black dress and as hard as I tried, my eyes fell to the opening of fabric across her chest.

"Hi." She said.

"Hey." My voice lowered as I focused my gaze on something else. Like the tattoo on her neck an intricate design of a key wrapped in vines. I remembered her telling me there was no one left, according to her, when she got it. Of course, it made me feel even more awful for what I was about to do.

"Listen, I'm sorry if I freaked you out over the whole asking you to New York thing."

"You didn't," I said. "Freak me out."

"Then why have you been ignoring me?"

Her words brought me back to the present. I thought about my chat with the detective. Nothing could happen until I was sure Phoenix would be safe. Staying with me didn't guarantee that safety. I knew what I had to do.

"Phoenix, I--"

Before I could finish I heard a shout that sounded like it belonged to Sam. Followed by my feet no longer touching the ground.

"What the--" Before I knew it, I was being lifted up only to be thrown back down in icy cold water.

It was a shock at first. The cold. For a moment I thought I would sink but I kicked myself back up to the surface. The others clutched their sides at what they'd witnessed and after the water dribbled out of my ears I could hear their cries of laughter.

I shot Sam a glare and he shook his head, still chuckling. "We couldn't resist."

I made a mental note to get him back at some point. The water wasn't so deep, only reaching up to my chest. Or it was until I heard another scream and my head submerged under water again. This time, I felt someone on top of me.

I unconsciously grabbed hold of Phoenix as we both broke to the surface. She coughed and said something but I couldn't hear because my ears were still filled with water. On the sand, I could make out laughing faces and photos being snapped but no sound.

I realised then how closely I'd been holding Phoenix. She was completely pressed up against my body and once some water dribbled out of my ear, I heard her soft laughter. Her face was close enough to mine that I could see the water clinging to her eyelashes. How they slid down her cheek to her lips which I felt on my own only a second later.

I didn't even think when reciprocating the kiss. It came so naturally. Felt as easy as breathing. Yet, I still pulled away. Even though it pained me to do so.

"I can't do this." I said quietly, my chest heaving.

"What?"

"Not here."

I began to get out of the water, Phoenix close behind me. When we reached the shore, she grabbed the towels the others had left out for us and offered me one.

I shook my head, having stalled for long enough. But when I went to open my mouth, the words got stuck in my throat. Noticing this, Phoenix said, "What's on your mind?"

"Us." I answered truthfully.

"What about us?" She stepped closer, looking me square in the eye. Hers were filled with questions.

I dragged in a deep breath, taking a step back. "I can't do this."

"What do you mean?"

"This. I can't keep pretending like we're something we're not." She opened her mouth and closed it again. I continued to dig a deeper hole. "This was nice and all but it was never going to last."

She was quiet for a while and then, "You can't be serious."

I put my hands in my damp pockets and shrugged in indifference as I ground out another lie. "We were never a couple. I was bored and you were always just there. When it wasn't Taylor, it was you." My hands curled into fists at the mention of her name.

"You can't just kiss me a second ago and then do this." Her voice was raised, making a few heads turn our way.

"That's all it was," I said in a low tone.

"That's bullshit." Her voice cracked slightly.

My chest tightened. I wanted to fold my arms around her. I wanted to give her my jacket so she wouldn't look so cold. But I didn't.

"This whole thing began as a distraction."

Her frown deepened. "You're saying I was just something to pass the time?"

I stayed quiet.

"Say something!"

"There's nothing else to say."

"So that's it? You're just going to shut me out forever?"

"It's better this way." I repeated from earlier.

"For you or me?"

I didn't answer that. Instead, I began to turn away but I felt her hand on my arm. It took me everything not to turn around and pull her into an embrace.

"Kaden--"

"It's over, Phoenix."

She winced, dropping her arms in defeat. I felt like the worst person on the planet. The warm summer air did little to take the sting off what had just happened.

It didn't take more than a few minutes but it felt like hours had gone by. I walked past a crowd of people with my fists shoved in my damp pockets, letting the numbness set in. I remained that way for a while. Even when I was dry from the fire that had been lit up, I still couldn't get warm. Instead, I was accompanied by the grip of an iron fist in my chest and a beer bottle.

I didn't know why I stayed at the beach. Maybe I thought that leaving would make it permanent. That I'd ended something that made me want to get up in the morning. Something that helped me get through the nights I couldn't sleep. Someone who made them more bearable.

So I stayed. And I drank.

I watched the displays with a buzzed feeling. I didn't know what number the beer was in my hand but it made the colours merge together. Other than the noise from the fireworks, there were the shouts and hoots from the seniors around us, celebrating the end but also the beginning.

I closed my eyes for a second, listening to the fireworks fizzle and pop in loud bursts. When I opened them again, I saw a hand wave across my vision.

"You alright?" It was Zach.

I made a move to shove past him but it turned out to be just air. He caught my cuff and pulled me back up. This time I did manage to shove him off.

"You're drunk."

"No, I'm not."

"Where are you going?" He called out as I made a move in a direction to my car. Except I'd forgotten where I'd put it.

"Home." But it wasn't.

"Your car's that way."

Ignoring him, I turned my heel to the way he pointed. Soon there was concrete instead of sand under my feet. I was acutely aware of Zach following me but I didn't have the energy to protest.

It was like I still had water in my ears, everything was muted. The world had a film covered over it. I didn't feel Zach take my keys from my hands and unlock my car. I did remember telling him to screw off to which he replied that I couldn't drive drunk. Again, I denied it.

"Just shut up and get in."

The journey to the house had minimal talk. I had my forehead rested against the window watching the lights from homes flicker by. They made me dizzy.

"What the hell did you do?" Zach spared me a glance.

I didn't respond. I wanted to say that I did the right thing but it didn't feel like it. In fact, it felt like I'd made things even worse.

Then I asked, "Why are you doing this?"

"Still owe you, I guess." He shrugged.

Once we'd reached my place, all the fight had drained in me. I let Zach give me his shoulder as support when I stumbled out of the car. I remembered a similar situation not that long ago. Except there was no one to take my other side this time.

Zach all but dragged me inside and dropped me on the couch where I landed face first. I stayed like that, vaguely hearing him say that a thank you would be appreciated. After a few seconds, his footsteps began to get further and further away until there was silence.

My face was still pressed against the couch. My eyes were shut. In moments I would have fallen asleep had it not been for what came next.

And it wasn't like I could make myself believe it wasn't anything than what it was. Not an engine combusting. Not even a loud thunderclap.

At the sound of the first gunshot, my head shot up.

By the second, I was already up and sprinting towards the door.

At the third, my feet felt the soft grass of my lawn before hitting concrete.

"Get down!" I heard a voice yell.

But it was too late.