Rainbow Connection, AFTG ✔️

2.1

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
PORTER

Kevin told the Foxes the truth about Neil's whereabouts a day before their flight home. Knowing Neil was supposed to be back in South Carolina had made him anxious, and after being unable to reach Neil, he'd given up and called Wymack. When Wymack learned that Kevin had known, he was forced to tell the boys; and whatever the boys learn, the girls aren't far to follow. Matt and Nicky had taken it horribly, and though Aaron wouldn't admit it, he looked uncomfortable at the very least when he heard Neil was with Riko and the Ravens. When Matt got angry, Porter quickly put a hand in front of Kevin and said he knew as well.

They were still in disarray when they got on the plane the next day, bidding Randy and Erik their goodbyes. There was obvious tension between them from the plane to the drive to Fox tower.

Too much was happening today. Porter was grateful the girls and Hayden weren't returning today. With Neil -- who according to Wymack, looked like he lost multiple fights with a sasquatch -- returning from Evermore and Andrew returning from Easthaven, today was going to be endless and stressful.

Porter was meant to move into Matt and Neil's dorm with James this semester, but he wasn't in the mood to leave Nicky and Kevin's sides. He threw his bag on their couch after grabbing his phone -- a gift from Randy, which Porter had thought far too expensive.

They were all waiting outside the door of their dorm for Neil. He would drive them to Columbia to get Andrew. Matt burst out of the room first.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" He shoved Kevin into the wall and punched him before anyone had a chance to react. Though Matt yelled a lot more, Porter's ears buzzed in familiar white noise. The world started to go blurry before he knew why.

Matt's yelling turned to him, and it shook Porter hard enough to break through the haze, "And you--" Porter flinched into the wall and closed his eyes on instinct.

"No lo supe hasta que el descanso ya había comenzado, lo juro, LO JURO!" Porter quickly pleaded. Matt stared for a second, then shook his head and left.

Porter looked to Kevin and tried to speak, but Kevin looked away, and Porter knew it meant stop. When he looked around at Nicky and Aaron, his breathing caught, and when he closed his eyes, he remembered the full-body fear that shook him when he was young.

At the moment when he was sure he wouldn't be okay, Kevin put a hand on his shoulder. They didn't say anything to each other, and Porter didn't acknowledge the weight, but the anchor made him breathe again.

The door to Neil and Matt's room opened again, and this time, Neil walked out. Nicky dropped the gift bags he was holding.

Neil was covered in bruises from head to toe. Porter expected that. He came back to the Fox Tower fully prepared to see black eyes and purple, yellow, green skin. Though he was right about that, Porter hadn't expected Neil's looks to completely change. In December, Neil had been a brown-eyed dark-haired brunet. Over the New Year, he had transformed into a red-head with sharp blue eyes.

It was more confusing than worrying. At least, it was for Porter. Nicky seemed sick with his worry. Kevin's face was already bruising when Porter looked for his reaction. Kevin was more confusing than the change in looks; he looked paler, like all the tone had drained from his skin. He looked like he'd seen a ghost — Porter intended to figure out why. Aaron looked as curious as Porter; Neil gave him a moment to see if he'd ask, but all Aaron did was shrug.