The Delinquents

Chapter Twenty

It had been five years since I left Ash Falls Group Recovery Home for Troubled Youth. I had been taken in by the state, my case looked over, a local defence attorney assigned to me and a new judge with a new opinion on where to hold me.

After a few weeks of debate, the judge sent me to a female only group home run by the state. I spent two years there before being let off for parole for the following six months. When the six months ended, I was considered rehabilitated and thrown back into society.

With my mother gone, I was shuttled to my Aunt Kate even though I was past the age of eighteen and no longer considered a dependent by the state. She took me in without much complaint. She cared for me while I completed the education I had the opportunity to start while at the group home.

She took me to my mother's grave for the first time and offered to tell me how her last moments had been. My mother was buried beside my sister, her gravestone small and modest. My Aunt told me that only seven other people had attended her funeral.

She had died painlessly. Her last weeks were spent in a medicated coma until her brain rotted away to nothing. My Aunt had held her hand while she died, made sure she wasn't alone even if she didn't know the difference.

I had stayed by her grave for a long time, standing alone once my aunt returned to the car to wait for me. Sarah's gravestone was starting to show signs of exposure, the stone bleached by the sun. My mother's was brand new and still shining. The wounds they had left on my heart were the same way.

Some months later, my aunt told me where my father lived. It took me another two months after that to go and find him. When I did he didn't want anything to do with me. He opened his door, just wide enough for me to see his new family―two sons, a young wife and a beagle―before he slammed it in my face.

I got a job, started to save, found some roommates and moved to a new city. I let go of my Aunt Kate and tried to let go of my old haunts. I had been living in Seattle complacently for a few months before his letter arrived.

Travis's sentence was up. He was due to be released from the detention centre he was in a month after he sent me the letter. In it, he requested that I pick him up. I had written back the same day, telling him I would.

I stood there now, outside of the detention centre. I had gotten off the bus and parked myself next to a lamppost, hoping he'd have a clear enough view to spot me. I twisted my hands together, picking at my fingernails and playing with my bracelet.

People shuffled around the parking lot, heading in and out of the building. Whole families came through, single women, old men. I watched them go and come, I watched them leave crying and go in shaking.

A woman passed in front of me and stopped, titling her head up to get a good look at the building. Her hair was long and dark, curled elegantly down her back. She was small and slim, her body petite but toned. She raised her arm to fight the sun and then turned around, one eye pinched closed.

"Lily?" her named tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop it.

Lily turned fully, revealing her full face to me. She was still beautiful. Her features had matured but her eyes still held the same dark gleam. Her smile was brilliant as she recognized me, hurrying over to pull me into a hug.

"Piper!" she said, hugging me tightly. Her hands rested on my shoulders as she pulled back and took a better look at me. "How are you?"

My smile was shaking. "I'm good," I said. Everything felt completely surreal. "And you?"

She lifted a golden shoulder in a shrug. "Can't complain."

"What happened to you?" I asked. I wasn't allowed to contact the other delinquents after I was transferred. I had seen Evan for one fleeting moment but that was it contact wise.

"I was cleared," she said, "Evan's final report sprung me. I guess my charges weren't bad enough to put me in prison. I went to see a slew of shrinks before my retrial and they cleared me. I ended up with six months of checking in with a parole officer and then I was home free. And you?"

"Another group home," I said, "two years."

"Ouch," Lily said. "At least you're out now. Are you still in Oregon?"

"Seattle," I answered. A moment of silence passed between us. "I guess Travis sent you a letter."

She eyed me thoughtfully. "He told me he had no one else."

I laughed. "I guess I'm no one."

"I don't fucking believe it!" We both spun and caught sight of Gabe as he sauntered towards us. He had the same dirty blonde hair, cut short, and those smiling green eyes. He had filled out quite a bit, some width to match his height.

Gabe slung his arms around our shoulders as he approached, squeezing us tightly to his sides. He grinned down at both of us making a show of telling us how he had toughed it out in a detention centre for a year and almost got sent back after avoiding his check-ins. He was still in Oregon, working as a mechanic.

"So the little punk set the three of us up, eh?" Gabe said.

Lily rolled her eyes. "It appears to be that way."

Gabe swore. "I should've known his I have no one bit was an act. What a fucking kid."

I tried to hide my smile as a rush of memories came back to me. Happy memories from a time when I depended on these people, when they depended on me. I felt a pinch to my cheek and glared up at Gabe.

"What's with the smile, Piper?" he quizzed. I pushed him off of me playfully. Before I could answer a man had jumped onto Gabe's back, nearly taking him down. Gabe cried out in alarm and reached behind him, pulling Simon off of his back and mock wrestling him.

Lily moved to my side and mumbled, "I think a pattern is emerging."

A spike of nerves hit my stomach. "Simon! It's so good to see you, how's it going?"

Simon grinned at us. "Four year and nine months completely sober." Gabe and Lily freaked out, hugging and high fiving until Simon's face was stuck with a smile on it. Gone was the acne and long, greasy hair and in their place was a handsome young man.

"We're proud of you," I told him, "it couldn't have been easy."

Simon shrugged. "I fell off the wagon a little after Ash Falls was shut down but I realised Evan was right. Our mistakes didn't dictate our future." We all lapsed into silence for a moment as we all recalled different memories of Evan.

"What happened to Ash Falls?" Lily asked aloud.

Gabe shrugged. "No idea, I was never sent to another group home." Lily looked to me but I had no information to offer.

I heard footsteps behind me falter and turned around just as Derek said, "I can't believe..."

My breath caught when I saw him. Derek was as handsome as he'd ever been. He looked well, dressed in a clean suit and carrying a leather satchel. He looked strong and independent and successful; everything Derek was meant to be.

"Hi Derek," I greeted.

He approached me slowly and gave me a small, lasting hug. "Piper," he breathed, confronting a ghost from his past. "I can't believe you're here... I didn't think I'd ever... wow."

Gabe cleared his throat. "We're all here too."

Derek blushed and greeted the others, clapping their backs and asking about their recent endeavors. Everyone chatted as we waited, falling back into old habits of sharing and supporting.

I watched Derek closely, my throat sealed tight. I couldn't speak. Suddenly I was seventeen again and I was looking at Derek but seeing his cousin. I never found out what happened to Keegan and I couldn't ask now. I couldn't bear it if the answer was the wrong one.

"Jeez," a voice said, "I already feel left out."

We all turned and saw Travis walking towards us with a small bag at his side. He grinned wildly when we met his gaze, opening his arms out wide. Lily ran to him first, nearly knocking him flat on his back with the force of her hug.

Travis looked insanely different. The last time I saw him he was a shaking fifteen year old. Now he was a fully grown man. Broad and strong, Travis was still a lady-killer with sparkling eyes and cropped brown hair. His smile was a little lopsided now, turned on its side by a difficult life.

Gabe, Simon and Derek took their time greeting Travis. Simon laughed when Travis didn't recognize him, Gabe tried to pull the same stunt on Travis. Derek was ever the gentlemen, inquiring about Travis's mental and physical health.

I pushed myself forward, blinking away the memory of Travis silhouetted next to a burning shed, on the ground retching up the pills he had swallowed, holed up in an abandoned building. This was the boy who had shoved his feet on my lap during group and the man who had been through it all.

"Pipes," he greeted, holding his arms out. I stepped into his embrace, closing my eyes and turning my face into his chest. He was taller than me now. I remembered the days were our gazes were even.

I slung my arms around his waist and pulled him tight to me. "I was so happy to get your letter."

Travis chuckled nervously. "I thought you'd be pissed I was interrupting your life."

I looked up at him, surprised to be squinting through tears. "Are you crazy? I would drop anything for you, Travis. All I ever wanted to do was support you. All I ever wanted was to help. I'm just glad you're alright."

Travis looked at me closely, reading closer than the others. "I am. But are you?"

I blinked and opened my mouth to answer, only to be interrupted by Simon's 'No Way!' I shook off the moment and backed away from Travis, tucking my hands into my pockets and clearing my throat in an effort to dislodge the tears.

Approaching was a tall figure and for a fleeting moment I hoped that it was Keegan. But it wasn't. Evan headed towards us, a huge grin lighting up his entire face as he walked. Everyone ran forward to greet him and I forced myself to do the same.

"I'm sorry," Evan said, "I tried to be here on time but I had to find a suitable replacement for me at Ash Falls." A flurry of discussion ensued until Evan could regain some control. "Yes, Ash Falls is operational again and the gang I have now is a lot rowdier than any of you ever were."

"Yeah right!" Gabe shouted.

"Sure, sure," Travis mumbled.

"Good luck," Lily snorted.

I just smiled.

Evan caught my eye and smiled brightly, relief clear in his face. Pride spread through my chest. He could see I was alright, he knew I made it, and he was happy I did.

Evan caught Travis's shoulder in his hand, giving it a quick squeeze before hugging him. They shared a conversation no one else could hear, both pulling away with glassy eyes and blocked throats. Travis was smiling.

"It is so good to see everyone," Evan said, gaze lingering on Derek and then moving to Simon. "To see you guys all together and to see you all happy and healthy... I can't describe how that makes me feel."

He didn't have to describe anything to me. I felt the same thing. The mix of pride and relief and happiness and Déjà vu. I felt like this moment was so thin, stretched by the high of it all, about to tear apart. This was too good to be true. Too sweet to be real or lasting.

"Thank you all for coming," Travis said, looking at his through his lashes. "I really didn't have anyone..." We all groaned and Gabe gave him a light shove, making way for a fit of laughter.

"What do you guys say to lunch?" Evan asked. "I've got the day and I'd love nothing more than to catch up with my favourite kids." Evan took a look at all of us and amended his statement. "My favourite people."

"I'm down to eat!" Simon declared. We all laughed and agreed, arranging rides and picking a place to dine. Once everything was settled we turned and dispersed, heading towards our respective cars.

I turned, laughing with Lily over something Travis had said and stopped short. I felt as though all the breath had been robbed from my lungs. My legs couldn't move. My mind wasn't working. I didn't even blink.

Five feet away from me was Keegan. He was still as well, studying me with the same intensity I was staring at him with. He opened his mouth and shut it again, fingers working at his sides.

I stepped forward and almost buckled, catching myself at the last moment. I raised a hand and felt my lungs burn, drawing in a breath that I couldn't release afterword. Everything was spinning, everything was blurred except for him.

Everything about him was the same. His hair was dark and long, curling slightly at the ends. Dark eyes framed by darker lashes. Broad shoulders, ropes of muscles, towering height. He was dressed the way he did when we were at Ash Falls together, jeans and a t-shirt.

He took a step towards me, eyes burning into my face so intensely I felt heat rise to my cheeks. He was here. A moment later everything sped up and the others had swarmed Keegan, asking him questions and greeting him.

He spoke to them evenly, the warm tenor of his voice reaching me where I stood. I closed my eyes as I listened to it, revelled in it, drank it in. He was here and he was speaking. A tsunami of emotions rose in me; relief, grief, anger, happiness, love.

I heard Evan tell Keegan where we were meeting, heard Lily tell me to ride with Keegan, heard them all get in their cars and leave. Keegan stood directly in front of me, staring as openly as I was.

"I'm sorry," he said.

That was all it took. That was all it took to become putty.

I ran to him, nearly tripping as I did. He caught me in his strong embrace, drew me into him, refused to let me go. I dug my face into his chest, the crook of his neck, his shoulder. He still smelt the same, igniting butterflies I hadn't felt since I was a teenager.

His hands were large and warm, leaving my skin burning underneath my t-shirt. I felt his breath fanning over my head, his heart beating against my chest. I felt it all and I still couldn't believe it was real. That he was real. That this moment was real.

I tried to catch my breath but my breathing was erratic. He was crying above me, hands in my hair, at the back of my neck, lips pressed to my forehead. I was crying too, salty tears caught in his shirt.

"I'm so sorry, Piper," he murmured, "for everything, everything."

I clutched his shirt, pulled him closer to me, turned my face up to his. His eyes sparkled with tears, his cheeks flushed with colour. My heart picked up, slamming against my ribs. He ignited feelings that had laid dormant for five years; desire, fear, love.

"I thought―I thought..."

Keegan closed his eyes and pressed his cheek to my head. "I know and I'm sorry."

I hiccuped. "No one ever told me... I never knew... all this time."

Keegan's hand closed around mine, squeezing them together between our chests. "What happened that day, what I did―" he sucked in a quick, painful breath. "I've regretted it every day since."

I felt anger crawl its way up my throat. "You tried to get yourself killed," I said, recalling the gunshot, the blood, the panic. "After everything, you tried―oh God, why?"

Keegan looked down at me with a haunted expression. "I can't tell you that, I can't say why because I still don't know. That time in my life was a mess. I thought I had it figured it out, I thought I was better, I thought I loved only you and hated the world. I blamed everyone else for my problems."

I held my breath.

"But I didn't love you, Piper. I didn't love you because I didn't love myself. It wasn't the world I hated, I hated what I had done to the world. I hated the image I projected, I hated the person I was. I had no room for love with all that hate."

My lungs burned.

"It wasn't until years later when I let it all go that I saw what remained. I closed my eyes at night and saw your face, I opened them and heard your voice. When I got out, I tracked you down in Seattle. I thought I would waltz back into your life but I knew I couldn't. It wasn't right. The way you looked at me, the way you spoke to me that night... I knew I wasn't welcome."

"No," I sobbed, "you were welcome, you're always welcome. I wondered for so long, I hurt for so long. I couldn't bear to inquire about that night, I didn't phone Evan, I didn't look for answers. I was too afraid that you d―didn't m―m―make it."

Keegan squeezed my hands, bottom lip quivering. "I made it."

I pushed my forehead against his, raising myself on the tops of my toes. "Are you better?" I whispered.

He shook his head, closing his eyes. "I'm not better. But I've never been better than how I feel in this moment right now."

My throat closed on me and I pulled my hand from his to place it on his cheek. Old feelings gave way for new ones as I pressed my lips up to his. He hesitated for a moment, his touch only gentle.

When we pulled away from each other, my thumb was circling his cheek and his eyes were careful on mine. He licked his lips before opening them to speak. "I don't have much to my name, Piper. An old beat up truck, a football, a change of clothes. I can't offer you anything more than myself."

I pressed down a smile and lifted my hand so he could see his keys hanging from my index finger. Keegan's eyebrows shot up in surprise as his hand dropped to his pocket. He looked at me with a silent question on his lips.

I grinned. "Whatever you can't offer I'll just take. I've always wanted a truck."

Keegan grinned back. "Still got it, don't you?"

Usually I had sly fingers, today was no exception to that rule.

I held up his wallet and thumbed through it. "You have enough for lunch."

Keegan's grin grew wider as he reached for me, pulling me close and whispering "I love you," in my ear.

I returned his wallet and keys into his pocket and grabbed his hand instead. I looked over at Keegan and felt hope blossom in my chest. After everything that had happened, I still loved this boy.

So I told him, and kissed him and told him again. 

* * *

C'est la fin! 

Ahhh, what a crazy ride this story has been! I started this years ago on my other profile and resurrected it for this one. It took me so long to cultivate a story that I was happy with and I hope I did right by all the characters in the end. 

Thank you so much to all the people who hung in there and stuck with me through all my uploading phases. You're constant support is the driving force behind wattpad writers like me. So thank you. 

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