Dedicated to TheTenthLetter because of your amazing, AMAZING feedback :) Btw, you don't have to read this chapter, it's just dedied to you <3
Keagan rolled over, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. After fourth period he ditched, deciding he was too tired to continue with the rest of the day and that if Mrs. Valen caught him, oh well. He could care less about the detention he got too, he was over trying to please people. But there was one person in particular that he wanted to please, get to know better…
“Get up!” he heard his step brother, Duck, shout from the other side of the room. Keagan shook his head quickly, getting whiplash before he rolled off his bed and onto his feet.
“Did you hear the truck?” Keagan panicked, seeing the fear in his brother’s eyes. There was one thing Keagan never told anyone and that was the fact that he had a step brother in middle school to look after and a drunken bastard of a father to worry about, but he was worried more about himself than anything. Weekdays were tough on him, trying to keep his brother safe and withstand the blows his father gave him every night. He only lied to Mrs. Valen to protect his brother, saying his father was finally attending counseling, but they were all lies. He couldn’t have Duck taken away from him. He wouldn’t let that happen.
“No, but I saw his coming down the street.” They lived in a small neighborhood where everyone knew everything about anyone, but them. The Thomas’ were off limits and though neighbors had a vague idea of what was happening in their household, they never once bothered to ask, as if Keagan would tell anyhow.
“Grab your bag,” Keagan ordered, watching Duck reach under his bed and pull up his backpack. Usually Duck stayed at his best friend, Stevens’ house, so he’d be okay, but they still needed to get out. Keagan actually hoped that he could stay home tonight and forget about the party Torin invited him to, but when he heard the slam of his father’s truck, he knew all that was too good to be true. He was going to that party tonight and only because he needed somewhere to stay for a bit until his father winded down.
“So, can I go now?” Duck asked, raising his eyebrows. Keagan gave him a small smile and waved his hand, just as Duck hopped off of his bed, slung his backpack over his shoulder and jumped out the window, climbing down the big oak tree that ran down the side of the house. When Duck’s mom was still alive, Keagan used to sneak out all the time to hang out with friends and she kept it a secret until the day she died, knowing her husband would kill Keagan if he ever found out.
Keagan slowly stood up and stretched, listening as he heard the front door open from downstairs. Quickly running a hand through half of his curly hair, he bent over grabbing his black, worn leather boots and sliding his feet in. Earlier, before coming home, his main mate Dodge had shaved half of his head, carving two thin lines on the shaved side, with an HG for Harley Gang, the local motorcycle gang he sometimes hung around with.
Keagan yawned and then looked around for his black My Chemical Romance t-shirt he had been wearing earlier. He wasn’t big on presentations at all, so he could care less about what others thought about his wardrobe. As soon as he spotted it hiding beneath his pillow, he snatched it up and pushed his nose into it, sniffing. It still smelt fresh so he shrugged and then pulled it on. Seconds later he heard the kitchen sink turn on from below. Moving quietly, he grabbed one of his leather jackets hanging on the back of his computer seat and shrugged it on. It was time to go, before his father decided to pounce.
“See ya later,” he whispered to no one but himself and then ducked out the window, jumping on one of the thicker branches of the oak. He had climbed the tree so many times; he could do it with his eyes closed. As soon as his boots hit the ground below, he made a run for the side of the house and hopped on his black, 1982 Yamaha. The only reason he had started riding it was because of Harley Gang but after a few months, it had become his baby, even if it was his father’s at first.
Revving the engine, he took off and within fifteen minutes he was at Stratford’s mansion, already regretting coming. He didn’t need directions to his house because like it or not, everyone who was anyone knew where Stratford lived. He made it known almost every single day at school, along with the fact that he had more money than he could handle, but Keagan could care less about that. He may have had a bad attitude, but he still had moral, wherever it hid. Everywhere people milled around the front yard, but could it even be called a ‘front’ yard? The entire thing was bigger than a baseball field and he couldn’t imagine Stratford living all by himself, yet he could at the same time. Misery didn’t need company when it had money as its best friend.
“Parking his motorcycle in between two small cars, he hopped over and began the slow trek across the yard. People nodded at him, no one saying anything, just watching. Keagan was known for his partying ways, but he left that behind when Duck’s Mom died. Now and then he’d hit a party, but usually Harley Gang was hosting. This…this was different. Everyone seemed relaxed, cool. They almost seemed…normal.
“Aye, watch out!” Keagan had bumped in to someone, almost making them spill whatever they had in a red plastic cup all over him. Keagan smirked at the thought of Stratford actually using plastic for once. It was funny. He had assumed there would be silver forks and golden spoons. Guess not.
“Watch yourself,” Keagan spat, pushing her aside. Keagan made to move ahead, but she grabbed his shoulder from behind.
“Keagan Thomas, didn’t your mother ever tell you pushing girls is rude?” Keagan stopped dead in his tracks, shrugging her hand off his shoulder. He knew that voice and he didn’t want to do it here. He had avoided her for years and here she was, in the flesh.
“Leave me alone Seth,” he growled, curling his fists. Seth was the last person on Earth he expected to see at a party like this. She lived halfway across town for crying out loud. What was she doing here?
“Right, yeah…” he heard her say. Seth Michelson was one person he didn’t ever want to deal with, especially since she brought up so many memories from his past. It was better she stay away.
“Duuude, I see you made it,” he heard someone slur. Turning around he saw a very drunken Rory. He didn’t even talk to this chump and yet, here he was being all buddy-buddy.
“I don’t know you. Back off,” Keagan said roughly, tired of the party scene already. He hadn’t even been inside yet and he wanted to travel home. It was better than talking to people he could care less about. If it hadn’t been for the thought of seeing Torin, he would’ve bounced when he first saw everyone. He knew something was up. This was the biggest party in all of San Francisco tonight, no one was missing it and there was bound to be some drama.
“Drinks in the kitchen, check em out!” Rory shouted before being dragged off by some red head. Red heads were hot but they weren’t the kind Keagan messed around with. They were bad news in his book.
He cleared his throat and then pushed past a group of skaters. The closer he moved to the front doors of the mansion, the stuffier the yard seemed. In every direction he could see kids he had known his whole life practically either chopping it up, or trying to slow it down on the drinks. A few ladies dripping in glitter and sweat swayed past him, a line of eye thirsty guys following close behind. To Keagan, the girls looked like whores, but who was he to pin down a job like that?
A few seconds he was inside, the house surprisingly easier to breathe in, but it was still packed, girls grinding against guys they probably didn’t know, geeks hanging off to the side, ravers jumping in the air as if they were at their own mix. It was lively; a breath of fresh air and Keagan found himself bobbing his head to the beat of a new Kesha song.
“Thought you’d never come,” someone whispered seductively in his ear from behind. Keagan turned around in surprise, catching a glimpse of Lindsay Cooper just in time as she tripped forward and fell into his unwelcome arms. Lindsay was a well-known flirt from school and had been trying to nab Keagan since freshman year. He never gave her the time of day.
“Ye-Yeah,” Keagan laughed awkwardly and pushed her away, watching as she fell into the arms of a willing participant. Not even five seconds and she had her lips pressed against his.
“Such a slut,” he heard over his shoulder. A pair of fingers danced just below his chin, making him shudder.
“I’ve been looking for you,” he heard another voice say. Both of his arms were grabbed from behind and then he was walked around, made to turn and face Heather Trumpet. She was another flirt, but she played dirty. Keagan had learned never to get on her bad side…ever. Though she had graduated high school two years ago, she was still pretty popular at Carendale High, her name popping up every now and then.
“I’m guessing Vanessa is the one holding me against my will?” he laughed, as Vanessa Boone tightened her grip on him. She had a thing for high school boys too, but it was a good thing she had a certain type. Bad boys weren’t her thing so Keagan suspected he was good enough to fly beneath her radar.
“Guess right…” Vanessa purred into his ear, making him shudder again. She had a voice like an angel, but her words were nothing but cheap tokens to jump in bed with her.
“My, my, my…you’ve grown into a fine young thing,” Heather sang, locking her arms around his neck. He leaned back. As beautiful as she was he wouldn’t kiss her, not when he was feeling someone else.
“Look, I’d love to stay and chat with you…pretty ladies, but I’ve got a date,” he lied and ducked under and away from Heather’s arms and watchful eyes, shrugging Vanessa’s hands off of him. He turned around and for a moment caught a glance of Vanessa as she smiled and then slowly walked around him. He had to admit, with those long chocolate legs and just-right-get-it-tight hips she was something every man dreamed about, but it wasn’t for him. Not tonight anyhow.
Keagan ran a hand through his hair, feeling a bit hot as he crossed in and out of bodies, towards an opening, which appeared to look like a huge hallway leading somewhere. He had expected to see Torin right away but from the looks of things, she was nowhere to be found. Bored and somewhat dazed, he followed a line of girls in short skirts and see through tops into what appeared to be a kitchen. Keagan nearly passed out cold when he saw the size of it. The mansion was huge but the kitchen…he wished he could own a little spot like this. It looked like his whole house could fit inside. Forget the nicely done decorations that people were already disregarding, setting cups on and crumbling chips over, this place beat anything he had ever seen in his life.
He dunked a hand in a huge bowl of Fritos and shoved some of the chips in his mouth. It wasn’t until he found a Strawberry soda lying around and popped it open, his mouth still full did he catch a glimpse of familiar blonde hair. Though he had only seen it once, he knew it was hers. He remembered how wavy her long hair was, natural white and gold highlights making her stand out from the bottle blondes in Home Ec. Swallowing and then coughing lightly, he set the soda down and watched as she moved away from him and down another hallway. He was about to make his move, when someone roughly yanked his left shoulder.
“Heather, I said-”
“Not Heather,” he heard before he felt himself hit the ground below. All around he heard were ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ knowing that whoever had shoved him to the ground had made a bad move. No one fought Keagan, unless they were plain stupid or just felt like getting their butts kicked clear across Carendale.
“Brent, now’s not the time,” Keagan said evenly, trying to push himself up and contain his anger, “You want yours kicked again?” He felt someone kick him in the back and by then he had had enough. Reaching around he expertly grabbed a leg and felt Brent slip right behind him, trying to catch his breath. Keagan let go and sat on his knees quickly, turning around and leaning over Brent with a scowl over his face.
“Bring it on….BITCH!” Brent spat in Keagan’s face before he delivered the first blow. Keagan fell backwards and landed on his back, watching with blurry eyes as people inched closer in packs, trying to get a look.
“You asked for it!” Keagan growled, using his elbows to get back up. By the time he was standing, Brent was standing too, his fists held up in front of him. Keagan almost laughed. Brent may have had the first punch, but he wouldn’t have the last laugh. Keagan had fought bigger dudes than him and he was not going to let some pussy-eyed baseball player one up him because Keagan had make Captain his sophomore year and had the nerve to turn it down. Ever since, Brent had been trying to show him who was ‘boss’ though Keagan tore him up each time, making Brent look like a wussy.
Brent grinned, raising an eyebrow as he swung at Keagan, missing him completely. This time Keagan laughed. The idiot was drunk. Just for fun Keagan knocked Brent against the side of his head, earning laughs from the crowd in return.
“Go home Brent!” someone shouted from behind Keagan stepped away as Brent let another one loose, this time barely missing Keagan’s nose. Keagan jerked him arm back and up-cutted, watching as blood gushed from Brent’s nose. It should’ve ended when Brent cursed out in pain and grabbed for his nose, but Keagan was done playing. He lunged at Brent, knocking blow after blow over his head until the guy fell to the ground and his arms were tired.
Keagan wasn’t thinking as he kicked him one good time across the stomach and turned around, his eyes on the hallway he had seen Torin go down. Shocked faces stared back at him in return, most…looks of fear crossing their faces. If Keagan couldn’t be happy and be left alone, no one could. He glared and nodded his head. He was the boss now. He was the one they needed to fear, not dumbasses like Brent and his colleagues. Keagan felt a new sensation arouse his body as he realized he didn’t have to follow anyone’s rules but his own. Content, he shrugged off his leather jacket and then walked forward, the crowd moving back for him.
Music thumped as he moved closer and closer to his destination. He just needed to find her, tell her that he had come here for her. Keagan felt the stares die down as he followed the same hallway he watched Torin go down. This one wasn’t as packed and there were a bunch of open doors, people playing games. Keagan could’ve laughed. Who played games at a party? As he walked further down, he caught a whiff of something sweet, like strawberries. Sidetracked, he followed his nose and was turned down another hallway, this one completely empty.
“BOO!” someone shouted from behind him, making him trip on my feet and almost fall over, but instead…he fell into the wall.
“God Torin!” he said, wincing. His head started to throb.
“Ahahaha I’m sorry,” she said, putting a hand on his back. Keagan stood up straight and moved away from her.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, walking around him, with a look of concern on her face. Keagan shrugged his shoulder and licked his lips.
“Nothing kitten,” he replied. Torin laughed and then gasped.
“What happened to your face…I-I didn’t mean to scare you that bad?”
“Huh?” Keagan reached up and started at his cheek, wincing.
“Your eyebrow,” Torin said slowly, lightly touching the right side of his face, “Your face…”
“I got in a fight,” he answered, grabbing her warm hand and pulling it away. He hated when people touched him like that. It was cool earlier, but not tonight.
“Oh, well…I think-”
“Don’t go,” he begged, regretting getting gruff with her. He wanted to talk to her.
“Why are you like this?” she asked, folding her arms and rolling her eyes. Keagan smirked. He knew she couldn’t be serious for long.
“Like what?” he mocked, rolling his eyes too and folding his arms.
“I’m serious.”
“Oh.”
“Why do you have to put on this act that you don’t care?” she asked, frowning. Even when she was upset she looked adorable. If she were chocolate cake, Keagan could’ve eaten her up right then and there. But she wasn’t cake and this was reality.
“What act?” he asked, brushing off her concern. If he wanted to act, he could. She wasn’t the boss of him and she didn’t have to pretend she could see right through him either.
“The one-” she started.
“Nice to know one of Carendale’s finest could attend,” he heard a snotty voice say from behind him. Keagan breathed in and out heavily before turning around.
“Happy Birthday,” Keagan said, biting back his tongue. He had a string of insults for Stratford, but he really did need to play nice just for tonight.
“I heard there was a commotion earlier?” Stratford posed, leaning his shoulder against a wall. Keagan put his hands up as if to surrender.
“My bad.”
“No problem. There wasn’t any blood on the tile so you’re good,” Stratford said back, playing with the hem of his suit.
“Good to know…anyways, I think I’m just gonna head-”
“No, don’t go,” Torin said from behind, grabbing Keagan’s elbow. Keagan nearly fainted. For a guy that had girls fawning over him all the time, he sure couldn’t hold himself together when she touched him.
“I-”
“No, let him go if he wants…” Stratford interrupted, eyeing Torin. Keagan cleared his throat and then put one arm around her shoulders.
“Know what? I’m thinking…I stay and you go,” Keagan said boldly. Stratford snorted and then walked past Keagan.
“You’re going to regret that,” he whispered, low enough for only Keagan to hear. It was Keagan’s turn to snort. Stratford’s threats were nothing to him. Tonight, he only had one thing to worry about and she was standing right beside him.
“Drinks?” he asked, looking down at her. She looked up at him and smiled.
“One.”
“Okay,” Keagan agreed.