2 kids

Liar.

Alex.

The world around me darkens.

And stops.

With the world I halt too. Eyes glued to the devilish liar a few feet away.

And all I can feel in my veins is the boiling anger.

Begging to be released.

My friends have created an unclear half circle, staring defensively at the one person turned to them with his back. The one person I wish to kill so much right now. With my bare hands, strangle his throat until all life has evaporated from his body.

I ignore whatever signs of rationality left in my brain and yearn my eyes could kill. Wish the glare I'm shooting in his direction was a real weapon designed to kill.

But he's cluelessly standing and talking with his friends in a house he should not be.

He hasn't noticed me, or any of us.

He hasn't noticed anyone he knows. All it takes is one little turn and his eye would immediately land on one of us. For his own sake I wish he leaves right now without turning around. If he really turns around now, I don't know what I'll do. What Ace will do. Our behaviour cannot be predicted, nor can it be promised to be peaceful or merciful.

Just a single glimpse at him now, realising he's so close, makes my body boil with rage. Utter rage and hatred, the grudges I've held for years floating back into my consciousness.

I take a slow step closer to Ace, pulling Ashley with me. For a second I had forgotten about her tiny hand in mine. Remembering their relationship only angers me more.

"What the fuck is he doing here?!" I grunt through clenched teeth.

Ace's eyes are raging with that ice cold fire he keeps buried deep within. All I get from him is a stern shake of his head, and it's enough. I don't need more.

I can survive seeing him at some random party hosted by someone I don't even know, but him waltzing into Francis' house is a move made on purpose. He knows it will anger us, annoy us. He's doing it just to provoke us. Yet this move, though it's always carefully calculated, couldn't have been based on the location of the party. He has no idea this house belongs to Francis, yet alone who Francis is. He came to provoke us with his presence,

I won't let him have it.

Ashley behind me peaks over my shoulder, glancing at the scene in front of her. I block his body with mine, not wanting her to see him.

I had a perfect plan for tonight. To take it one step at a time with Ashley. That plan went to hell the second I spotted her leaning against the wall and eavesdropping on that conversation. The second I had decided taking it slow wasn't something I wanted.

Now it has been completely ruined.

Nico strikes up to us, jawline straight and clenched. I look at Mae, but her eyes are directed at Ashley whose eyes are jumping between us all. It breaks my heart to keep endless secrets from her and it results into his – confusion she doesn't deserve.

Unhurriedly, Ashley's fingers detach from mine, and she walks closer to Mae and Heather. Ciara's eyes are dangerously calm, arms crossed over her chest. My fingers are suddenly wrapped in coldness, and I almost pull her closer to me. Back to me.

Nico's hand holds me in place, preventing me from taking a step I'd regret. His body is blocking Ace from doing anything too. How the hell can he be so calm?

Nevertheless, his grip isn't strong enough to stop me from strolling up to the girls the second Leo's eyes land on them, and he starts to make his way to Ashley. I reach them before he does, standing in front of them all. Specifically hiding Mae and Ashley.