ANMELDENCHAPTER 85THE SILENCE BETWEEN USThe click of the door signaled Gina’s exit and left the apartment uncharacteristically silent.For a few seconds none of them moved.Ethan stayed frozen in the same position in front of the open fridge with one of his hands holding a bottle of water he had forgotten he was holding. His cheeks were still burning due to the recent events and every single time he glanced at Blake he could feel the heat of that kiss on his lips.Blake was not in much better shape.He awkwardly leaned by the kitchen entryway with both his hands buried deep in his gray hoodie's pockets rocking on his heels like he did not know what to do with himself anymore.Nobody spoke.Neither knew where to start.Silence grew.It just kept growing.Finally…Gina leaned against the entrance and glanced first at Ethan……then at Blake……then back at Ethan again.She sighed dramatically.“You know,” she said. “This is kind of painful to watch.”Neither boy answered.Ethan cleared his throa
CHAPTER 86A DEBT THAT NEVER ENDSJake groaned as he pushed himself off the floor, one hand cupped over his nose.Blood streamed through his fingers, dripping onto the kitchen tiles."...Fuck."His head throbbed from the punch.Aaron took another step toward him, fists still clenched, but before he could swing again, Nathan rushed between them and shoved a hand against Aaron's chest."Enough!" Nathan barked. "Jesus Christ, Aaron. Stop."Aaron glared past him, chest rising and falling violently."Move.""No.""I said move."Nathan didn't.For several long seconds, the two men simply stared each other down before Aaron let out an irritated grunt."Tch."He rolled his shoulders, flexing the wrist he'd punched Jake with before turning away."The fucking idiot isn't worth breaking my hand over."He walked across the kitchen and dropped into one of the dining chairs, leaning back heavily.Jake stayed where he was for another moment, still trying to stop the ringing in his ears.He wiped ano
WHAT FEELS RIGHTThe Camry slowed as it turned into Ethan's street.None of them had spoken much after leaving the station.The silence inside the car wasn't awkward.It was heavy.Each of them had too much on their minds.Gina tightened both hands around the steering wheel as she pulled up in front of the Sanders residence.Then she frowned."...Guys."Ethan looked through the windshield.Two police cruisers sat outside the house.Three officers stood near the front porch while another spoke into a radio.Blake's stomach immediately tightened."They're here again," he muttered.Ethan swallowed."They found Jake."He reached for the door handle before stopping himself."What if they arrested him?""They would've taken him already," Gina said quietly. "Just... stay calm."Nobody moved.The officers outside continued talking among themselves.One of them glanced toward the arriving Camry.Gina noticed."I'll talk to them."She switched off the engine before turning toward the two boys.
A DEBT THAT NEVER ENDS Jake pushed himself off the floor with a loud groan as one hand cupped over his nose. Blood streamed between the cracks, dripping down his wrist onto the kitchen tiles. “Fucking hell," he cursed, stumbling forward and crashing into the cupboard. His head throbbed from the punch and his vision blurred, distorting whatever stood before him. Aaron walked toward him, fists already clenching again. But before he could take another swing Nathan dropped between them and shoved Aaron back. "That's enough, man!” he barked. "Fucking hell, Aaron, I think you broke the bastard's nose.” Aaron grimaced, glaring past him to Jake. Grunting irritatedly, he flexes the wrist he'd punched Jake with before turning away. "Tch,” he hissed, shaking his head. "Fucking idiot's not worth breaking my hand over." Grabbing one of the dining chairs, he walked across the kitchen and dropped into it. Jake stayed where he was for another moment, the taste of iron settling in his mouth
THE PUNCH THAT FOLLOWED Jake slammed his fist against the Thompson mansion’s front door again. BANG! He rested his frame against the wood, breathing hard as he tapped the doorbell for the upteen time. “Aaron!" he shouted. “Open the fucking door. I need to talk to–" The sound of a car driving by caught his attention and his head snapped toward the street. His heart beat against his ribs as he pressed his back against the door. Then the vehicle pulled up from behind the house–a cab–and drove past. The moment it turned a corner, Jake grabbed his chest and sighed. Good. Jaw tight, he turned back and banged harder. BANG! “Aaron!" he shouted, desperation etched in his tone as his breathing grew heavier. "Come on, man…” He raised his fist to hit again when suddenly– Click. The door swung open to reveal Nathan standing there in a black t-shirt and sweatpants. His brows knitted together the moment his eyes landed on Jake. For a second, Nathan simply stared. Then his eyes
THE RIDE HOME Ethan placed a hand over his eyes, trying to block out the afternoon sun as he stepped out of the police station. The heavy glass doors swung shut behind him with a soft hiss and the chaos of the lobby faded to a low hum. Hands in pockets, he stopped on the concrete steps and looked back at the building. Even with the sun up, the place still looked eerie, if not more than before. Slowly, his eyes dropped down to the hallway where he'd seen them bring Blake from. He still didn't under why he was there. When he asked, the police claimed it was because of Aaron and they just wanted to question Blake as they did to him. That statement left an unsettling feeling inside him. That and the footage he had seen. The images refused to leave his head no matter how hard he tried to push them away. From Aaron shooting the old man behind the counter, to the gunfires and bodies stacked in that room, and to the execution at the alley. If those videos were real, then Jake
LEFTOVERSThe class buzzed with almost instantly. The moment Dr. Keller said they should pick their partners, the sound of chairs scraping across the floor echoed across the room as students began turning toward “Calm down," Dr. Keller shouted over the noise, slamming his palm against the desk. “G
THE TASTE OF REGRETThe house carried the strong smell of beer–one that Ethan knew too well. It mixed with the faint scent of cigarette smoke clinging to the couch cushions and curtains, welcoming him as he opened the door. Coughing, he pushed through the ash cloud as he prayed his brother was alr
KISS ME LIKE YOU HATE MECoach Daniels' sharp whistle rang out, echoing across the empty court. The sound of squeaking shoes and quickened breath filled the space as everyone huddled at a corner. “Alright, y’all pair up,” Coach Daniels shouted in a thick southern accent, as he grabbed a basketball
DREAMS, DESKS AND DIRTY THOUGHTSHis hands were everywhere and his kisses were like fire, burning with passion. Blake ran his hands over Ethan's body before pushing him hard, pinning him against the locker. The cold, metal surface bit at Ethan's skin through his shirt but he didn't mind it. He wan







