At Jolene's Diner...

"I really don't like this," Kelante said for the fifth time since the reading of the letter as he, Tiffany, and I sat down at a table to enjoy a round of steak fries. "What if that Moseley kid was right and Uncle Brian knows what went down? This is a hot mess coming straight out of the comic books and I feel like we're the villains who are facing the end of the road."

"Don't remind me," I commented as I accepted a milkshake from a passing waitress who sent me a friendly grin. "Anyway, they must've gotten the tip-off from what we did by someone from Mr. York's end. I'm just worried about Moseley's granddad- the guy named Smitty who was Grandpa Tillman's mole. If he ends up being exiled, killed, or turned into a Titan; I'll never be able to forgive myself."

Tiffany patted my shoulder. "He's one of the good guys," she agreed. "So, what do we do about the future? There's no doubt that we're going to be caught in the backlash if we're implicated."

Kelante took a deep breath. "I hate to suggest this, but maybe it might be for the best to walk away now," he said uneasily. "You guys, if I know my uncle as much as you all do, then we should know that Brian York never forgives anyone who tries to go against his plans and he never forgets. We each have a big fat target marked on our backs and it's not going to be any easier unless we turn tail and leave Berkeley for good. That, or end up surrendering without much of a fight."

"We can't do that," I protested. "What about our futures for college? And the rest of the school year?"

"Exactly," Tiffany agreed. "We might be seen as lost causes in the teachers' eyes, but we're basically smarter than our fellow seniors and all of us are slated to be honor graduates. We have to stick it out until the end of graduation."

"I know that, but hear me out," Kelante defended. "What if this meeting is about us and everyone wanting to keep us as either marginal students for display or examples for future Neutrals to not end up being like us? The way I see it, I think that our plans for college life might be jeopardized if we don't humble down and keep low."

"Jeopardized be damned," I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "I made a vow to head to college even before my parents joined the enemies. And not even the Yorks or the Dermotts will deny me that dream."

"Then we might have to keep low on the scheming until further notice."

"No way. That'll mean letting them win and us having to kiss all these snobs' asses and wiping them right. I'm not going to do that at all, Kelante."

"Me neither," Tiffany added. To me, "What do you think is going on at the school now?"

"I don't want to even think about that," I replied. "The school was gracious enough to let us take the rest of the day off and that's what we intend to do."

The rest of our after-lunch powwow went on without much discussion about the war between us and the town and it was time to head on our separate ways. But no sooner than we were out the door when we had the unpleasant run-in with the engaged lovebirds. And despite them dressing as if they came out of a typical fashion magazine, neither of the duo were happy to see us. "Ah, the super-powered gay couples," I greeted them mockingly. "Out for some lunch, aren't we?"

"Watch it," Kyle hissed, eyes glowing gold before calming himself down. "We're not in the mood for your games, Browning."

"Fine with us," Kelante replied sassily. "We'll be out of your hairs soon enough."

"But not before my fiance and I let you know that you three are on extremely thin ice right now," Marcel warned. "We can't prove what you three did with your families and all, but we know that you set off those explosives."

"We can neither confirm nor deny that we did," Tiffany shot back. "That'll mean that you'll convict us without a fair trial. And despite me being a Valley Girl, I do know my way around a courtroom to know a few things about being a suspect and all."

"I'll bet," Kyle remarked sarcastically. "Just know that we got you on our radar, you three. One wrong slip and it's game over."

"Don't start none, there won't be none," Kelante commented.

"Watch it."

"We will," I replied before snapping my fingers twice. With that, I led my three over to the waiting limousine where Grandma and Grandpa Tillman were waiting for us. "You guys saw all of that?"

"We did," Grandpa commented crisply as we all piled inside before the limo pulled off. "Had a visit from Deveraux and your parents as well, boy. We're not backing down from this."

"I know, but we need to lie low in the meantime. And trust me, by the time the wedding of Kyle and Marcel arrives, I intend to end this war with a big bang," I replied as I sat back. "Tiffany, let your parents know that we're soon to leave Berkeley once we finish everything by the end of the semester."

"Right," Tiffany replied as she got out her phone.

The game is on, folks. Because he who wins will win it all. Devil take the hindmost!

**************

Kyle's POV

"I think it's time to take drastic action," I said lowly to my fiance as we sat down to our lunch. "Whatever Browning is planning is going to happen at our wedding."

"Then you know what we gotta do, right?" Marcel asked me.

I nodded somberly, remembering Dad's instructions. "After today, there'll be no going back."

So it goes. So it is.

We're getting closer and closer to the end, folks! And it's a good thing because it's time to put the whole thing to bed completely! Anyway, it's one more time-skip as wedding bells are in the air and the Outcasts...well, you're not going to believe what's going down in the next chapter!

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