The Lost //✔️// [DEVON SEQUEL] BOOK 2 [DISCONTINUED]

• Coincidental •

"Pleasure to meet you-" Oliver was cut off by the shrill and raspy scream of Stanley.
He came pounding down the stairs, comic book in hand, and threw himself at his uncle.
Oliver chuckled and embraced him for a moment before going in for an intricate handshake.

Stanley began blabbering away to Oliver, but I wasn't about to have Alexis on my ass about Stan feeling sicker tomorrow.
"Stan, look dude, I know you want to spend time with your uncle but...you gotta sleep kid, you're sick."
Stanley merely looked at me blankly, as if he'd never been denied the opportunity to hang out with his uncle.
He didn't budge.
"Stanley." I said sternly, pointing at the stairs, "get into bed, I'll bring up your soup in about an hour, special hot chocolate?" I tried to persuade him, but he did what he always does. Stands and stares at you like you're the only one in the room who can see and hear yourself talking.

"Stan-" Oliver began, "-I'm not going anywhere iron man-" he ruffled Stanley's hair, "head up to bed, get some rest, if you rest up and get better for tomorrow...I'll take you to the cinema."
I was stunned by how quickly Stanley shot up the stairs. Didn't hesitate.
His bed creaked as he clambered on top, and the familiar rustling of the sheets confirmed he'd tucked himself back in.
The sound of his television switching on floated down the stairs.

I sighed and looked over at Oliver who was smirking at me, "Well, guess I'm staying the night!" He said with a grin and traipsed back into the living room.
Maybe if I followed him in I could collect my soul, which all but left my damn body when he scared me earlier.

•

Oliver told me everything after we'd settled in front of the tv. He was as open as a book can get. Answered all of my questions, even the unusual ones, laughed and joked, and even threw in a few of Alexis' secrets whilst he was at it.
She used to-
No. No too mean. Hardly know her yet.

"Yeah Alexis met Dennis when she was..." he sucked his teeth, "...fifteen I want to say. They were inseparable, the usual yano? Cheerleader, football "star"" he waved his hands, "-but, the relationship soured a little when Alexis had her first baby, Kennedy."
I frowned, I didn't know Alexis had another child.
I kinda didn't know if Oliver should be spilling this at all, but... I'm all for the gossip.

"Alexis has a daughter?" I gasped.

Oliver shook his head, "nuh-uh, had."
My heart sank a little, expecting the worst, but Oliver continued, "-yeah they were still in high school, Alexis wasn't ready - I mean that, she really wasn't - and... Dennis threatened to leave if she kept Kennedy. So, Alexis got her adopted into a nice family we knew, actually it was our old babysitter. She couldn't have children, she always wanted a child, so Alexis felt more than happy with her chosen family." He shrugged.

"Do you still see Kennedy?" I asked and Oliver nodded.

"Yolanda, our old babysitter, is really nice about it. She likes Kennedy to get involved in our side of the family because Yolanda lives alone, that way Kennedy gets the nuclear two sets of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins- although not on our side yet - thank god." He winked, "-she's happy. Alexis made sure of it, and she still does now."
My heart warmed slightly, knowing that Alexis - despite her issues - is warm inside.

"And Stan?" I pressed.

Oliver nodded, "Alexis and Dennis got married a few years after graduating, Dennis decided he wanted a kid. Alexis... didn't trust him - but obviously she wanted a baby too so, they had a baby."
"...but she was right not to trust him because after Stanley was born, Dennis kind of distanced himself. He just kept saying that parenting is hard, he overestimated himself, didn't really want a baby- yadda, yadda, yadda."
"Then, to conclude-" he chuckled, "-Uhm, basically he left one day, Alexis filed for divorce and now Dennis uses the magic words 'I don't believe that I am the father'." Oliver's expression soured a little, "...he doesn't deserve to be put it that way." He hissed.

"I can imagine. I've only heard a few phone calls but, they never sound too pleasant." I said softly, Oliver nodded and rolled his eyes.

"Either way-" he waved his hand, "it's for the best, Dennis is mixed up in bad business, always has been- runs with the dangerous crowds." My heart began hammering in my chest.

"Dangers crowds?" I cocked my head to the side slightly, "like what?"
Please don't be. Please don't be. Please don't.

Oliver let out a long breath and rubbed his neck sheepishly.
"I'm not supposed to know but...I know." Was all he said.

"Oliver?" I pressed.

He sighed and sat back.

   "He's mixed up with some ruffians. I overheard a pretty heated conversation with a guy called...Jensen I think? He slung a few random names around, code words I reckon. Dragons, serpents..." my palms began to sweat and shake, "...the last thing I heard was an arrangement of sorts between him and this Jensen guy to "track down" the rest of them." Oliver laughed to himself, "he won't be around much longer if he keeps it up." He finished.

   Dennis knows about us.
   Track down the rest of them?
   When did he hear this?
   Where?

   "When did you hear this?" I probed.

   Oliver swallowed, "a lot of questions."

   I shrugged it off, "I'm curious is all, I live alone, don't really hear much gossip." I lied.

   "Last week actually, came across him on the street looking shifty outside of some strange vape shop. He kept looking in the windows and staring at someone working in there." Oliver folded his arms and shook his head, "I didn't stick around long though, god knows what he's up to."
   My heart sank.
   The vape shop. The only vape shop in town, is the one Devon works at.
   It's too coincidental. Way too coincidental.

   "Are you okay?" Oliver asked.

   I felt my breath catch in my throat.

   "I have to go." I whispered.

   And took off out the door.

•

I LOVE THIS CHAPTER!

•

®️//©️

•