California Dreaming

Four years ago...............

Chapter One

Ben

Welcome to Laguna Beach, one of those boring tourist towns, where the only thing going for it is the beautiful landscape. Picture this – A classy seaside resort city well known for its beaches, coastal canyons, natural lakes and wilderness trails. A home away from home of sorts, for those looking for a little rest and relaxation. Ok, so I admit, for you this sounds like an ideal dream location, but for myself, and my friends, this is all we have ever known. A place that Luke, Kyle, Stephen and I, have called home all our lives, in a born and bred way.
What really makes our town stand out though, is that ridiculous TV show 'Laguna Beach: The real Orange County' and the equally annoying 'The Hills'. The fact that they are both filmed here, has people flocking to our little slice of heaven, all year round.
What I don't understand is, how people can watch that crap. Every one of those actors oozes flakiness, but what would a fourteen-year-old boy know, right?
If you are new to these parts or just visiting and are an adventurous sort of person, then there is nothing the boys, and I don't know about Laguna Beach. We could even point out a few less published attractions as well, if you want to stray from the map.
Well, that's what we tell the tourists anyway!
It's our con, a way to earn a few extra bucks, to compensate for the lack of funding from our parents. The best part is the eye candy that presents itself, during our dealings. That in itself is an added bonus. We may only be fourteen, but what can I say, puberty has come early. We are mere males, whose brains aren't always located in our heads.
Speaking of eye candy ... The boys and I had spent the better part of the day sitting on the sand watching the sights go by. Nudging at my side of me snaps me out of my thoughts. Turning slightly, I see Kyle rising. "Dude, we need to go. I told mum I'd be home by six today. She will skin me alive if I am home late again." Nodding, I attempt to follow suit, until four girls came into our view. "On second thoughts, maybe a little longer wouldn't hurt," he murmurs. "What's the worst that can happen?"
No surprise there, and they reckon I have a one track mind...
Dropping back down onto his towel, he leans on his elbows directing his attention to the four girls who have conveniently positioned themselves in front of us. Always the ladies' man, Luke strikes up a conversation with them, inviting them to move closer. "Where are you lovely ladies from," Luke drawls. He is laying the charm on thickly, giving them his side grin that highlights his dimples. Those god damn dimples attract all the girls, and he knows it. He positions himself so that his knees are drawn up to his chest, draping his arms around them casually. "We are down for the weekend." A pretty little blonde replies. "We are doing our own spring break. We live about forty-five minutes north of here." Propped up in front of Luke, her wavy, long, blonde hair flows over her shoulder onto her chest, which she conveniently thrusts forward, highlighting her best assets. Resting on one arm, with her legs curled behind her, she gives him, her complete attention. I have to stifle the laugh threatening to escape as I watch her, twirling her hair around two fingers. Her actions aren't obvious at all!!
There is no way we will be leaving anytime soon, not now that these beauties are here to keep us company. "So, just out of curiosity, how old are you boys?" Blondie asks. She has inched herself close enough to Luke, to enable her to run her perfectly manicured fingernails up his thigh. That dirty bastard is lapping up the attention.



We don't normally admit our real ages, because frankly, who would take an interest in someone so young. Every one of us looks older than we actually are, which has always served us well. There are limits though, we only target the ones we think are close enough to us in age. I, for one don't want to get caught up in a Mrs Robinson scenario. That is wrong on so many levels.
For the last six months though, my hormones have been out of control. I haven't been the only one, but only Luke and I have acted upon it. Kyle and Stephen are pickier than we are, likely waiting for the perfect girl to jump in their laps. I don't believe there is any such thing as a perfect girl. They are all selfish, manipulative creatures who just want to sink their nails into you, sucking you dry. That's never going to happen to me. I'm just in it for a good time, not a long time.
That's why we target the tourists, we get to have some fun, and then they are gone. Who could ask for anything more. "You first cutie" he taunts her. Rolling her eyes in fake frustration she admits, "Eighteen, we are all eighteen. My birthday was last week, that's why we are here." Grabbing hold of her hand off his thigh, he pulls her into his lap. "Lucky us." He tells her, his voice now low, and rough. He is getting off on the banter, he always does. It's what turns him on. "Or should I say lucky me." He continues. "My eighteenth birthday was just last week as well." I nearly spit out the cola I am drinking. That lying prick.
Always the smooth one, that boy. He has perfected his game over the last couple of months, always choosing just the right words to have them eating out of his hand. I may not be as smooth, but I have no trouble pulling either. The brunette in front of me will be a push over for sure. "What about you gorgeous, what's your name." I ask. Looking up, she glances at me with wide eyes. She likely wasn't expecting anyone to take any notice of her. I don't know why, she's gorgeous. Those long lashes of hers set her blue eyes off in a way that has my cock taking an interest. "Do you mean me?" she queries. "Uh yeah," I say, glancing around us. "Who else is there? If you haven't noticed your friends are a little tied up with mine, leaving just you and me." This grabs her attention and she straightens up moving closer to me. "I'm sorry, I'm just not used to anyone talking to me. Usually they hover around Susie and the others. I'm really only here because I can drive." Her admission shocks me. I can't imagine why she would think so lowly of herself, although her friends do appear to be high maintenance. "My name is Katie" she almost whispers, her voice barely audible. She would have to be almost shouting to get over the noise her friends are making anyway. Looking over at Luke, Kyle and Stephen, I can see that the novelty is wearing off. It won't be much longer before they are making excuses to get away.
"Well Katie, I am Ben. It's a pleasure to meet you." I offer in response. I hadn't noticed how quiet, and nervous she was before. "You really are a beautiful girl," an encouragement I offer, to ease the awkwardness. "Don't let your friends tell you any different." Her smile lights up her face, which in turn makes me smile.  "Thank you Ben, that really has made my day."
Before I could say anymore, Kyle is on his feet. "We need to go guys. We were supposed to be somewhere an hour ago."  Looking up, he is glancing down at his phone with a pained look on his face. His mother must be blowing up his phone. "Looks like we are out of here," I tell Katie. "Pass me your mobile, and we will get together tomorrow." I am surprised she hands it over so quickly. Typing in my number, I save it under Hot Boy and return it to her. The smile on her face was one of pure excitement. I doubt anyone has ever done that to her before. "That sounds great, thank you," she finally manages to say. Leaning forward I kiss her cheek whispering, "Till then gorgeous," and then rise to my feet to follow the others. Blondie doesn't look impressed that Luke has just dumped her ass. "What's more important than us?" she yells after him. "My girlfriend," he shouts back over his shoulder. The cussing coming out of her mouth was priceless, leaving me to stifle my laugh when I notice Katie watching me with wide eyes. Waving cya, I head in the direction of Kyle, who by now is walking at warp speed. As I catch up to the rest, I can still hear blondie yelling at Luke. He is paying no attention to her at all. The funny thing is, he doesn't even have a girlfriend, he just needed a way of ditching her.
"How much trouble are we in?" I ask as we make our way off the beach. "Well, put it this way," Kyle begins. "I have been told to bring you lot to my house. That usually means all of our parents are there." Cringing, I nod in acknowledgement. "We are screwed then." I offer. "Yep, I'd say so." he replies. "My phone has been going off for the last forty-five minutes. Ignoring my mother only managed to make her worse. I texted back to say we were on our way."
This isn't going to end well.
Kyle

After everyone left, I excused myself, heading to my room before they could yell at me for something else. With my headphones on, I have been camped out on my bed playing COD. My parents were pissed. I don't think I have ever seen them that angry before. They knew they couldn't ground us as such, so they put a stop to us using our basement for band practice instead. That hurt, especially since over the last month we had finally synced as a group. We had found our niche, our rhythm and now we were out of action for a month. I can't blame the boys though, for my parents acting this way, because it was me who made the choice to stick around. When those four hot chicks sat down in front of us, there was no way I wanted to leave. I have been taking more notice of the girls around us lately, it's just that I haven't found anyone that really takes my interest.
The cute blondie with the purple tips was hot, there was no doubt about that, except when she opened her mouth. Oh my fucking god, could that girl talk! I don't think I have ever heard anyone talk as much as she did. I don't even remember half the crap that came out of her mouth, because I tuned her out when I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. Knowing it was my mum, I finally pulled it out, and told the others we had to leave. In all honesty, I couldn't wait to get away.
All of us knew that we would be screwed, when we finally got home, but none of us were prepared for how badly. When we finally walked through the door, we found them all waiting in the living room. From behind me I could hear Luke cussing under his breath.
Well, maybe it wasn't that quiet, but only the three of us standing with him heard it.
"Boys" my father called from the living room. I knew he was angry because of the tone of his voice. It was hard, and his face was tight. As we made our way towards them, we took our positions, arms crossed over our chests, leaning against the wall, waiting for whatever they dished out. I think Luke just wanted an easy exit if it all went south. "How hard is it for you four to come home when you are told to?" he continued. "Do you have any idea how worried your mothers get when you won't even take their calls?
Yep as expected he laid out the guilt trip. I'm sure that's a personal favourite of his, using my mother to guilt me into doing stuff.
We stood there, unmoved, for at least an hour listening to each and every one of them lecture us on causing them worry. That was followed, with my all-time favourite - you never know what is out there, and that we are too young to be wandering the streets at night without an adult ....  Blah, blah, blah! I think I lost track of what they were saying at one stage, it was that boring.
If only they knew the extent of what we got up to when they weren't around. We would never be allowed to leave the house again.
When they caught onto the fact, that we weren't paying any attention, they relented. There was the threat of putting us into military school if we kept it up, but none of us believed it. It was easier to just nod your head and apologise when you think it's the right time, and move on. I have no doubt we will be in trouble up to our necks again by tomorrow.
It's us, and it's what we do.





For tonight though, I am going to spend it here in my room. My mum will bring food up eventually, so it's not like I will starve. She has always been the soft mark of the two of them. She never lets me go without. A bright light catches my eye and I notice a message flashing on my phone.
​Ben: Dude, beach again tomorrow? ;)
Laughing I reply....
​Me: Sure thing! J
Like I said, we will be in trouble again in no time...
​Ben: Cool, see you in the morning.
Throwing my phone on the bed beside me, I don't bother replying. It's not like he is expecting me to anyway. Turning my attention back to the game, I smile when I see his name pop up on the screen next to the rest of us. Now we will kick ass, time to take my frustrations out on the kids we are playing against.
























Ben

I felt for my boy Kyle, his parents ripped him a new one right in front of all of us. The blank expression on his face only seemed to irritate them more. It was like he had turned them off, and was tuned into something else. He wasn't giving anything away, and then, just for laughs, the rest of us copped it from our parents. It was like they were looking for support, a trigger to go nuts on us. Oh, and they did go fucking crazy. It's like we had committed a criminal offence with the way they were yelling at us.
Not that something like that makes a difference. They knew we would be back out today, to do it all again. Our only punishment being, that our band couldn't jam in Kyle's basement for the next month. Fuckers!! They knew those instruments were the only things we cared about, and it was going to be the only way to hurt us.
I sent Kyle a text last night, asking if he was keen to go to the beach today, but the question was newt, because I already knew the answer. Standing by the garden fence I am now waiting for him to come out. He would have waited till his parents had gone to work, like I did. Vibrating on my ass, distracts me momentarily. Grabbing it out, I grin as I notice the sender. As soon as I got to my room last night I sent a text to the brunette I met on the beach. She wasn't expecting to hear from me, admitting that she thought I had given her a fake number. After the initial shock, she spent half the night texting me. I have made plans to catch up with her today, but away from her friends. Seems that the others she came down here with weren't too impressed to find out that she was talking to me. According to them, Kyle, Stephen and Luke were dirty players and she should stay away from me as well. If you ask me I think those bitches were just jealous. They weren't wrong about Luke being dirty, but not the other two. We can't even get them to part with their virginities. Way too fucking fussy if you ask me.
"Dude" Kyle calls out, slamming the door behind him. "Let's move before my mother gets back, I have avoided them all morning and I don't want her nagging at me now." Laughing, we fist pump and I put my phone back in my pocket as we head towards Luke's. "Did they say much after we left" I ask him, making my way down the footpath. "Nah, I took off to my room after you left and didn't come back out," giving me a sidewards glance, he smirks "I had some serious killing to do in COD anyway." I punch at his shoulder, making him laugh.
As we continue towards Luke's my ass starts vibrating again, giving Kyle more reason to dig at me. The endless banter between the four of us has always come easily. He throws the usual wisecracks at me about my choice in girls, but is surprised that I have taken an interest in Katie. I get the point he is trying to make, but reassure him there is nothing more to it than me having a little fun. No different to any other tourist I have encountered over the past six months. In jest, he ribs me about fooling around with the wrong girl one day.
Yeah right, like that's ever going to happen. This boy is free and easy, nothing will ever change my outlook on that.
Arriving at Luke's we find him and Stephen already out on the porch. As soon as they spot us they make their move. "Asswipes" Luke calls out. "Needle dick" Kyle responds, before I even get the chance. A loud burst of laughter explodes out of Luke's mouth as he approaches. "You wish, fuckface." Always with a comeback that one. As I said the banter comes easy between us, offence is never taken.












With that, we head towards the beach. It is like a twenty five minute walk from Luke's, and I'm itching to get there, now that I know my sexy little brunette is already waiting for me. "That chick of yours isn't bringing those stuck up friends of hers, is she?" Luke asks, nudging my side to jolt me out of my daydream. Should I torture him and take my time responding. It's always fun fucking with him, he takes things way too seriously most of the time. This is why he plays the drums. It's his way of getting rid of his frustration, over the way his parents treat him. I pity that drum kit of his, and the thrashing he gives it. "Nah man, she says they think you three are dirty and they are truly pissed at the way they got dumped yesterday." I finally say, putting him out of his misery. "Thank fuck," I hear Kyle say. "If I have to listen to that chick talk again today, I will lose my shit. She was so fucking boring."
That cracks me up, he never has had time for chicks who like to talk. He seems to prefer the quiet ones. God knows why though, he won't get anywhere with a chick like that. The other two do a little hallelujah dance on the spot, which cracks me up even more. "There is something wrong with you lot. Don't ruin it for me today, I've got this one right where I want her" Raising his hand, Luke high fives me, before bringing it down to slap my ass. "One day, those games of yours are going to come back and bite you in the ass," Kyle lectures, the sudden smirk alerting me that he isn't finished yet. "You will meet your match one day, and I will worship the ground she walks on."
Yeah right, like that will ever happen. I'm not even going to humour him with a response.
dick...
Moving on, I hear the other two calling out amen as they start following me. I have better things to do, than listen to them riling me up all day. I have a warm body to get my hands on.




















Kyle

Oh boy, that was funny. Ben won't accept that one day he will meet his match.
I can't wait!
I wasn't lying when I told him I would worship the ground she walked on. It will take one sassy chick to bring that boy to his knees. When we hit the beach, Ben heads off looking for Katie, leaving the rest of us to our own devices. It would have to be a cold day in hell before I will go near him today. Knowing our luck those prissy friends of hers will show up. "I'm heading over to the café for food, any other takers?" I hear from behind me. Turning around I see Stephen looking at me, and Luke expectantly. Luke nods, making a move away from us. "Sounds like a great idea." I tell him and follow suit.
Grabbing a booth at Penguin Café we wait for the waitress. The aroma drifting from the kitchen was mouth-watering. The food here, is what keeps us coming back. They make this amazing breakfast sandwich called a Penguin Melt. It has egg, bacon, onion, spinach and tomato in it. You combine that with a banana milkshake and I'm in heaven. There is also a quirkiness to this place that grows on you. What originally attracted us, was the jukebox they have. It reminded us of one of those fifties café's. I always feel like I am in Al's from Happy Days, and before you ask, my mother is a huge fan of that TV show. I swear that woman has the whole set of DVD's.
This place though, has booths alongside the wall, with tables and chairs lined up horizontally next to them. I generally prefer to sit at the counter on the stools, so that I can see outside the window. The quirkiness I mentioned before is the ton of penguin pictures they have on the walls. My favourite random thing about the place is the penguin clock at the end of the counter. I once asked the waitress about it and she said it's what brings character to the place. She wasn't wrong about that.
"Looks like Ben lucked out after all." A smirking Luke mumbles. I look up just as Ben walks through the door with his latest girl toy. Spotting us, he heads our way, with a very shy looking brunette in tail. She doesn't strike me as his type, although she is gorgeous to look at. He isn't normally attracted to the quiet ones, that's more mine and Stephen's type.
This should be interesting.
"Thought I'd find you lot here." Ben declares, squeezing in beside Luke. His pretty little date has squeezed in opposite him next to Stephen and me. "Aren't you going to introduce us?" scowls Luke. Her eyes have been fixated on the table since she sat down, until Luke spoke. When she looks up, she has the prettiest green eyes I have ever seen. "My name is Katie." She replies, her tone flat and harsh. "And yours is?" Whoa, so the girl does have a voice. Even with Luke glaring at her, she doesn't budge. Ok maybe she isn't as shy as I originally assumed.
"Ignore him babe, that's just Luke." Ben answers, not allowing Luke to chance to speak. "And over there, you are sitting next to Stephen and Kyle." Relaxing her expression, she turns to us, and says hello. "What can I get you all?" saved by the waitress, thank god. "The usual please." I call out. "Sure Sugar," I hear her say before she turns to the others. Once our orders are taken, our table once again grows silent. "So what are you all doing today?" Katie asks no one in particular, trying to break the silence. "Sunbaking and Perving," replies Luke, minus his previous attitude. "Watch out for Susie and the girls, they will be down here soon as well." That makes Luke grumble, which makes me smile. "What end?" he asks. "Just down from here," she quickly remarks. Looks like we will be moving further south today.





By the time our food comes out we have relaxed, and fallen into easy conversation with Katie. She seems nice enough, but we know better than to get too close, because she won't be around too long. Once her and Ben are finished they rise to leave. "It was nice meeting you all." Katie proclaims. "Will you be sitting with us on the beach?" she queries as they turn to leave. "No." I answer. "Sorry but we aren't looking to run into your friends again today." She gives us a small smile before following Ben out the door. "How did he end up that one?" Stephens questions once they are gone. Turning back to face us, Luke shrugs his shoulders. "Just lucky I guess. Let's get out of here." Nodding, I follow them out of the booth. After paying for our food, we head towards the beach.
The beach is crowded, bikini clad bodies are lining the sand, a hell of a lot earlier than normal. Am I missing something today? It's definitely warm outside but I am not usually one who checks the temperature. If the sun is out, and I don't have to be in school, then I am here at the beach. I'm not one of those surfer types, those guys have no brains at all, but I like to sit on the sand and watch the waves. It's calming. I spend just as much time in the water as I do out, but it's relaxing just to sit and watch the water, especially when the sun starts to go down. That's one of the reasons we are always late. Well that and our distraction with the tourists.
It never gets old, there is always someone who wants to know if you are a local and haven't they seen you on tv. Sometimes we say yes and milk it for all its worth, and sometimes we say no, offering to show them around instead. Luke's our charmer, the one that draws them in. He has a way of leading them to believe that butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. I mean how can something that sweet be so filthy? What bullshit! There is nothing sweet about that one, he is always looking for an in, a way to get what he wants. The little old ladies who come to town to enjoy the sun and quiet, love him.
Our main gig is acting as unofficial tour guides. We offer to show them things you can't find on a map, for a small fee. It works every time! You have to work out what they really want first, what excitement they are after so that you can find the right location to take them. That's what Luke is for. He has a knack for getting anything, out of anyone. Fucking charmer! That's for sure. Once you know what to target, the rest is easy.
For today though, I am just going to sit my ass here on the beach and soak up the sun. There is no shortness of hotties strolling around in front of us, so I doubt I will get bored too easily.
"Ha, I knew it," an excited Luke shouts.
We have been laying here for the last couple of hours when Luke's phone dings. "You knew what?" asks Stephen. He sits up, dazed. He has been asleep for the last half an hour. "Ben wants our help, his girlie's friends have rocked up and he needs an out."













Chapter Two

Ben

"What the fuck, Katie!" I mutter, when I spot her friends approaching us. We have spent the last couple of hours swimming, sunbaking, and talking, getting to know each other. It's been going great until now. "I'm sorry Ben, I had no idea they were coming. The last message I got said that they were going to go shopping instead today." Shopping my ass, I thought. Those bitches just didn't want her to know what they were up to. She is way too trusting of that lot. "We can leave if you want to," I offer. Turning towards them, it looks like she is contemplating my offer. "No, it's ok. If I leave now, I will have to deal with them when I get back to our room." Her tone is sorrowful, I have no doubt they treat her like shit when no one else is around. "If you want out, let me know. I will create a diversion." I joke with her. At least I managed to get a small smile out of her. Turning to face me she whispers, "Thank you" as her friends descend upon us.
"Oh hey, you two. Fancy seeing you here." The blonde one who was all over Luke yesterday spews in a sickly sweet voice. "We are all shopped out and thought we would hit the beach one last time before leaving tomorrow." No wonder this chick doesn't have a boyfriend, that voice of hers is sure to grate on even a shy guy's nerves. She has on the skimpiest of bikini's I have ever seen. The little material it does have leaves nothing to the imagination. Under normal circumstances, I would be all over that shit, especially with the way her tits bounce when she walks. The two other girls with her are no better, all of them are out to ruin their friend's day. Like I said before, this lot are jealous because this gorgeous girl by my side is with me and they got dumped. "Ok, well Ben and I were just getting ready to go for a swim." Katie tells her friend. Her response is a lie though, because we only just got out of the water. "Do you want to join us?" she asks. Why would she invite them? "Eww no, you know I don't like getting my hair wet. It took me ages to get it this perfect. We will just sit here and soak up the sun. Have fun though." Blondie replies, in that horrid voice of hers. I just can't decide if it's her real voice or if she puts on a fake one to impress the guys. If that's the reason, someone should tell her it will only make them run in the opposite direction. With what looks like a fake smile, Katie apologises for forgetting and tells her friends we will be back soon.
"What's with her voice?" I have to ask. "Does she always talk like that?" Katie laughs aloud, obviously finding my question amusing. "Yes, but she thinks all the boys love it." Fuck that! I will have to congratulate Luke later for dodging a bullet with that one. He would have lost his shit, if he had to deal with that.
I don't know how long we stayed in the water for, but when we surfaced her friends were still planted firmly on their beach towels where we left them. I don't think I can put up with them for long, but how the hell do I get rid of them "We need to ditch them." I tell Katie as we head towards them. "I don't know how you plan to do that, they will follow us, because they are trying to ruin this for me." Thank god she knows what they are doing. I am going to have to enlist some help for this. "I have an idea, just trust me." Her eyes go wide, but she just nods. The less she knows, the less she will have to deal with when she has to head home with them.
"You two were going for way to long," blondie whines. "I hope you were a gentleman Ben, I have to protect my friend. She is a virgin you know." WTF, what a nasty piece of work, that one is. Way to go making your friend feel like shit. "SUSIE." Katie's voice, now high pitched squeals. The blush that has overtaken her face should be cute, but all I can see is the humiliation that now covers her face. Why she hangs around with this lot is beyond me. They aren't her friends, she is just convenient. "Why does that matter?" I confront whiney. "Maybe I like Katie, and enjoy spending time with her. I haven't tried anything, so what makes you think otherwise?" Two can play at her game. "Your friends are nothing but dirty players, and you are guilty of being the same by association."
Her response annoys me and what the fuck is guilty by association supposed to mean? "It doesn't matter what you think of me, I'm only interested in what Katie here thinks of me. I have no interest in forcing her to do anything that she doesn't want to. You aren't her friend, she is just a convenient person to know because she has a car. One day she will stand up and ditch your stupid ass." My blood is boiling by the time I finish. I get no reaction from her stupid friend. She just laughs in my face. I will fix her.
Pulling out my phone, I punch out a message to Luke.
​Me: I need reinforcements. Need to clear out the trash.
He wouldn't want to take all day responding either.
​Luke: Help doing what? Are you having trouble getting to third base?
He can be such a dick at times. Always thinking with the other head.
​Me: Katie's friends are here and I need to get rid of them.
Let's see how he replies to that.
​Luke: Fuck no! Deal with that shit on your own.
​Me: Don't be a dick, if you three come here, they will leave.
Or at least I hope they will. I'm up shit creek if this backfires on me.
​Luke: You will owe me for this.
Chuckling to myself, I already knew that. Everything comes with a cost where Luke is concerned.
​Me: yeah, whatever. Just get over here.
Let the fun begin.
It takes Luke, Kyle and Stephen ten minutes to reach us and I get the desired effect when Katie's friends spot them. "I'm not staying here, if they are sitting here as well." Blondie spits out. Thank god! It takes her and her little followers all of about a minute to gather their shit and stand up to leave. "Are you coming Katie." She asks. The look she gives her friend annoys me. She is scowling at her, as if it's her fault my friends are here. I didn't mention it, because I wanted her to be able to look at them and honestly tell them that she didn't know they were coming. Which she is doing right now, although from the looks of it they don't really believe her anyway. "I invited them." I say, interrupting. All eyes are now on me, and not in a good way either. All bar Katie, whose eyes are twinkling with amusement. She knew I was up to something and is obviously happy it has worked. Turning back to her friends, she tells them, "I'm going to stick around for a while. I will see you back at the room later." Fighting back my smile, we watch as they leave, just as my boys reach us. Their mumbling has me fighting back laughter. I don't want to get this pretty girl beside me in any more trouble than she is already in with them.
"Do I stink?" Luke calls out after them. I can't help it then, I have to laugh. He has his hands raised above his head, sticking his nose under his arm, sniffing. Our amusement at his actions only pisses blondie off more, but I can't hear anything she is saying over our laughter. Turning to me, he raises his fist to me and we fist pump. "I've taken out the trash," he declares, making us laugh harder. "Thanks dude, and be grateful you dodged that one." He glances at me, his look questioning. "Her voice is annoying as fuck, man." Laughing again, I hear Katie gasp when he says, "It's ok dude, she wouldn't have been able to talk with my cock shoved down her throat." Slapping my hand to my forward, I shake my head. "Not helping man." The beautiful blush covering Katie's face just confirms what her friend blurted. Smirking, Luke turns to fist pump with Kyle before setting his towel down on the sand. Whatever chance I had of getting in this girl's pants before is now gone, especially since I now know how inexperienced she is. "Don't pay any attention babe. Your friend wasn't wrong about this one being dirty." She lets out a giggle, but little does she realise, I'm no better. "Like you can talk," Luke mutters. Thankfully the only one who caught that was me.




"Who's hungry?" I ask no one in particular a little later in the afternoon. We have been hanging out on the sand talking shit since the boys sat with us. When everybody calls out, we pick up our stuff and head up to a little café just across from the beach. Their food is nowhere near as good as the penguin café but it will do. I'm more thirsty than hungry and this place makes the best iced chocolate I have ever had. Also, it is pasta night at Luke's tonight and I have been hanging for that all week. It's sort of a tradition, all four of our families gather on a Sunday evening, alternating houses for dinner. Tonight is Luke's house and his mum makes the best pasta I have ever tasted. I think her grandmother was Italian and passed on a few recipes. There is no way I am passing up on that. Getting our food and drinks, we head back to the beach but onto the grassed area this time. We only have a few more hours until we need to head back and I don't want to waste the time I have with this pretty little thing sitting next to me. She has been acting a little nervous around me since her friends left and I have to wonder if it has something to do with what blondie said. She is so fucking adorable with the way she is twisting her curly hair around her finger. I know she wants to say something, but it's obvious she doesn't know how to.
"What's on your mind babe?" I am tired of tiptoeing around the subject, time to get it over with. "You have been acting nervous since we ditched your friends. She was right wasn't she?" There is terror in her eyes, so yes there is truth to what her friend said. Fuck! I definitely have no chance with her. I was hoping to slip away for an hour before it got too late. That's not going to happen now is it? Gulping loudly, she looks down at the grass and starts picking at her fingernails. I just wish she would just say it already. "Yes," she confesses. "I am a virgin, but I really liked you and wanted to spend time with you." Glancing up, the terror in her eyes really is evident. I have been a fool. I never had a chance of getting into her panties at all. What do I say to her now? I'm disappointed, I won't deny it, but she isn't like the others I normally target. I can't treat her the same way I do them. "I'm not going to deny, I had hoped our day together would turn out differently." I finally admit. "But, I'm not that much of a dick where I am going to force you to do something you are not ready for." Look at me acting all grown up, and shit. Makes me forget how old I really am. Her sigh of relief, surprises me. I never picked up on her being that uncomfortable. "Thank you Ben. Look, it's been a wonderful day, but I think I should head back now. I need to get ready for the trip home tomorrow. Thank you. It's been a day I won't forget." Her words make me feel like I am being dumped, although I know this isn't the case.
We watch her leave and without fail, Luke does what Luke does best... "Shit, pity that didn't pan out. That's definitely one for the bucket list. Sex with a virgin." I just shake my head at him, throwing some of my chips at his head. Maybe I'm the one who dodged a bullet after all.















Kyle

The last thing I wanted to do after Ben texted, was spend more time around those chicks from yesterday. I was praying that just the mention of our arrival would annoy them enough, so that they would be gone by the time we got there. Thankfully, by the time we did reach Ben and Katie, they were already heading away from them. I'd like to say I felt sorry for Ben, for not getting what he was after from Katie, but in all honesty, that boy is too much of a player for someone as nice as her. She really does deserve better, especially for her first time. Unlike Luke and Ben, I actually value my virginity. I want my first time to hold some sort of meaning, regardless of the fact that most days, this cock of mine, tends to lead me astray. 
Once she was gone, it freed us up to source out our next targets, and man were the pickings good. We came across this Australian family wandering around aimlessly, who had come to America for an adventure of a lifetime, as the father put it. They thought we were very well mannered, considerate young men, for offering to help guide them around our lovely town. Ha, what a joke that was! The only reason we offered to help, was, so Luke could get into their daughter's panties. I have no idea how old she was, but she was this tall, slim girl, with blonde hair, that had the brightest pink bits at the ends. She was god damned gorgeous. There wasn't an inch on that delicious body of hers that wasn't perfect, but it was her accent that had us all drooling. Fuck me, she sounded hot!
Mostly, her, and her family were interested in seeing where they filmed the reality shows we have become famous for. The mother just wanted to please her daughters, because they were apparently huge funs. I never really understood the attraction to those shows, but I suppose if you are into half naked guys and sexed crazed chicks, these are the shows for you. The excessive giggling coming from these two girls, was doing my head in, as was their constant head turning. They were always looking around them to see if they could catch a glimpse of someone famous. I grew tired of them quickly, but Luke was still hooked.
After guiding them around half the town, Luke asked Chelsea's parents if she could come down to the beach with us. He was looking to get her away from her parents, so that he could make his move on her. He promised that it would only be for an hour, as we had to be home by six. They agreed, but only after their daughter promised to take her mobile with her. She's a chick, since when do they not have their mobile's permanently glued to their hands. I just assumed that this one was also older than us, seeing how quickly they agreed to let her go.   
No sooner did we hit the beach, when she stripped down to a bikini that barely covered her body at all. Fuck me! What a sight she was. She would have had every one of us adjusting our cocks when she took off her shirt and shorts. Wow, what a vision. When her and Luke took off for the water, we knew what was going to happen. That's Luke's angle, get them hot and bothered in the water and then slip them into the men's toilets to finish the job. He doesn't care that they are on their knees on the dirty toilet floor, as long as his cock is buried down their throats. As per usual, he got what he wanted. He always does. He has that whole bad boy persona nailed, perfected to a T. This chick was no different to the others before her, she got sucked in by his charm. Before parting ways, he programmed his number into her phone. She must have been good, because he rarely does that, unless he is going back for more.
Sitting back down on the sand, we watch the waves crashing onto the shore. There is something soothing about the way they roll in towards the beach, crashing down onto the sand as they reach the end of their run. "So..." Ben starts. "Did you taste good?" Did I just hear correctly?  The smirk on Luke's face is just wrong. Katie's friends will never know just how dirty that boy can be. "Yep, fucking oath. I read in one of dad's playboys that if you drink pineapple juice it sweetens the taste. I hate when they spit it back out, so I thought I'd give it a go. I have been drinking pineapple juice for the last week to test it out. Not bad if I say so myself"



His reply has us all laughing, he really is a dirty bastard. Imagine how bad he will be when we finally do reach eighteen. Nothing shocks that one. There was a time when he wasn't like that, but his home life has always been far from easy. Over the years he has slowly become harder, shutting off all emotion, just taking what he wants, when he wants. After the incident with his parents, six months ago, he completely changed and hasn't been himself since. Funnily enough though, he was pretty happy with himself for giving that aussie chick her own personal, adventure of a lifetime.
We will not doubt get the gory details of what happened on the way home. "That's just wrong, you know that right?" Stephen scolds him, making Luke's face break out into a massive grin. Even his eyes lit up with excitement. "Jealous, my man. You should give it a go. You never know, you may like it." Stephen scrunches his nose up, as Luke continues his assault of words. "Oh that's right, we need to remove that little thing you keep holding on to...... You know, your virginity."
It's a good thing none of us get offended easily, otherwise we would be at each other's throats all the time, with the stuff we say to each other. Stephen just laughs him off and replies, "In good time my man, in good time." They fist pump, and move on.
Speaking of moving on.... Ah shit, we are going to be late again. "Oi fuckers, we need to go, we are going to miss curfew again." There is a chorus of fucks as we gather up our stuff and head off the beach. "My mother will have my balls this time," a frustrated Luke sighs. He isn't the only one. I doubt any of us will get off so lightly this time around. "I think we are all in the same boat." I console him. My mother will have mine for supper as well, if we are late again.
Looking at the time on my watch, it's ten to six. There is no way we will make it home in time. We are going to have to take the short cut we use from time to time. I hate going that way, it's fucking creepy. It's a laneway in between a shit load of old buildings in a part of Laguna that we don't venture to often. The problem is, that it's actually quicker for us to go that way, because it cuts off about fifteen minutes from our trip. We only go that way when we are desperate, and it looks as if we are just that, right now. "Short cut boys?" I ask. No one says a word, they just glance my way and nod. Yep we all hate having to go that way. That will teach us for not watching the time. 
















Chapter Three
Luke

I started my day bummed, shit got real after we arrived home from Kyle's last night. My parents were pissed at me, but I am used to that. The others thought they saw Jill and Marcus, a.k.a, my mother and father at their worst last night, but nope, they saved that shit for when we got home. Nothing I do is ever good enough for them, so I figure, what's the point in trying. Most days, I prefer not to be on the receiving end of their crap, which is why I choose to stay out as long as I can. The problem is, they now have an image to uphold and I'm not fitting into that image at all. James on the other hand, my precious older brother, fits that bill perfectly. Our golden boy, the one to follow in dad's footsteps. He is away at university up state at the moment, thank fuck. The thing that cuts deep is that, it wouldn't have mattered if I was heading in the same direction or not. I will never be as good as James.
My father, ladies and gentleman, has just been made partner in the law firm he has worked in for the past twenty years. Big fucking deal I reckon, but for him it's a huge thing. Now that he is partner, he expects me to bow down and kiss his feet. "It's all about image" he dribbled last night when we got home. There was a time when I would have been happy to follow suit, when I wanted to please my father, but not anymore. They ruined that for me six months ago. I don't think I can ever forgive them, but that's not a story for now.
Our day started out no different than normal, expect for the cutie Ben was trying to pull. Fuck it was funny when he found out she was a virgin, and that he had no hope at all of bedding her. She wasn't his type anyway. I don't know why he even went there to start with. You see, Ben's like me, he likes the easy targets. Neither of us are looking for anything long-term, we are only out for some fun. Both of us enjoyed a challenge, but if you have to put in too much effort, then it's not worth your time. That is what had amused me about him today, all the time he had put in, to get nowhere.
I know I am a player, and it doesn't offend me, when someone calls me out on it. I never used to be this way, but over the last six months since Peyton left, my reputation at school has become increasingly worse. What the small minded people of Laguna don't get is, I don't care. It seems the more callous I become towards these chicks, the more they want me. I just don't get it.
Females can be very hypocritical, especially where us mere males are concerned. We are simple creatures, especially when our cocks start ruling our lives. All I hear them say is how they want someone who will shower them with gifts, and worship them. What amazes me is the fact, that they don't want that at all. What they want, is a dirty, bad boy who will use them and treat them like crap. Don't get me wrong, not every girl I know, or meet is like that, but fuck me, most of them are.
It's those types of girls, that turn me on the most.
After Ben finally gave up the chase with Katie, we set our sights on an Australian family who stood out like a sore thumb. We knew straight away, that this would be too fucking easy. Like taking candy from a baby. Obviously, they are not the first Australian's to hit our shores, but this particular family had a sexy as fuck daughter with them. How was I supposed to resist that? She is the reason we offered to guide them around town. Well that, and they gave us some cash for our troubles.
Suckers.
This lot were lost, with no idea at all on how to get back to their hotel. Their girls wanted to catch a glimpse of the actors involved in those piece of crap reality shows filmed here. Yeah, I'm so not a fan of that shit. I ended up spending the whole time smooching up to Chelsea – said daughter, with the intention of having some of my own fun with her later on. They were such a fucking easy prey, it was ridiculous. We showed them the touristy crap, and then I took their daughter for a ride of my own a bit later. I probably could have picked a better location than the men's toilets, on the foreshore, but she had my balls ready to combust. Let me just say, she has a gifted mouth and talented fingers.
It was too fucking easy.

Now that Chelsea has left, we have found ourselves in a little bit of a dilemma. Prior to her leaving, I added my number to her phone, so that I can tap that again before she leaves. I very rarely do that, because I don't do clingers, but I will make an exception for this chick. It does help, that she lives on the other side of the world. Anyway, we haven't left ourselves enough time to get home and my mother is going to kill me if I rock up late again. The only way we will even remotely be able to make it, is if we take the dreaded shortcut.
Thus shortcut, involves us using a dodgy as fuck laneway that no sane man, normally dares to use. We aren't going to have a choice though, especially if we want to avoid the firing squad awaiting us at home.
The closer we get, the more nervous all of us seem to get. We have seen some pretty bad shit going on down here. It's usually where the seedier locals tend to spend their time. It's basically a straight through laneway that has buildings on either side, that back onto it. There is only enough room for the dump truck to travel through, when emptying the trash cans. Needless to say, we try to avoid this place.
On a good day, it's only the homeless that frequent it, but usually, it's where the crack heads, and whores come to do their business. Here's hoping today offers us no surprises. I want to get through here as quickly as fucking possible. I'm not admitting to being scared, but holy hell I am only a teenager still. Most of this attitude you see is all for show. "Fuck, we really need to stop doing this to ourselves." I mumble. I wasn't really aiming that at any of the boys, but I got an amen from all of them.
As we approach the entrance, a couple of old homeless bums move out from behind a dumpster scaring the shit out of us. "Seriously dude," I call out when they come to a stop in front of us. They are cackling, like it's their own private joke, with their fucking toothless grins.
I settle myself, fuckers, I think, as we keep moving.



















Ben

God damned homeless men, scaring the crap out of me like that. I should have known there would be one or two of them hiding out around here. Those asswipes found it fucking hilarious when they jumped out and we nearly went through the fucking ceiling. Ok, so maybe there is no ceiling in this laneway, but you get what I mean. Moving past their stinky asses, we keep walking, hoping no one else is hiding around here. Although the sun is just starting to set over the beach, it has become dark very quickly in this laneway. It's making it hard to see too far ahead of us. So much for our shortcut, we have had to slow down just to see where we are going. You never know what you will run into through here. Dodging trash cans is one thing, but it's the junkies I hate. You can't tell if they are high or dead, when they are slumped on the ground.
The first time we went home this way, about a year ago, we came across a couple of junkies shooting up against a wall. All four of us froze, not knowing what to do. None of us had never seen anyone shooting up, using a needle before, so we were all shocked. We'd all been to enough parties where you could get your hands on alcohol or drugs, but that was the first time we had seen anything like that. Us watching, made them paranoid, so they chased us. We ended up being too quick for them, making it easier to lose them in the end.
Not wanting to attract any attention to ourselves, all four of us quietly keep walking until a door opens ahead of us. We watch as a youngish guy steps into the laneway, coming to a stop a couple of metres ahead of us. He looks like he is searching for something in his shoulder bag. Not wanting to attract any attention, we stay still, waiting. I hope he hurries up, because at this rate we are going to get home even later. I really don't want to have to listen to my parents ranting at me again tonight.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice something move in the darkness. Turning my head in that direction I watch. It would just be our luck today, for there to be more homeless guys hiding ahead, waiting to jump out at us. The guy with his back to us doesn't seem to be in a hurry, whatever he is searching for must be important. As I continue to watch him, more movement to the side of me, catches my eye once again, only this time it continues moving. When it finally comes to a stop, it is literally right behind the guy in front of us. Looking across at Luke, I notice his eyes have widened in shock.
Seriously what the fuck!!
The guy in front of us, is completely obvious to what's going on around him. He has no idea there is someone standing directly behind him. The dark figure doesn't make a sound. It just stops, dead still. We can't make much out about this mystery person because, every inch of his body is covered in black clothing.  Even the face is hidden. Now that the shadow person has stopped, we watch as what appears to be an arm holding a gun is lifted. Mystery guy has it aimed at his oblivious targets head. All I can think of, is what the hell have we walked into, as a body suddenly drops to the ground.
I suck in my breath; I'm fucking stuck like glue. I can't move. What the hell!! I need to get out of here. Hell, we all need to get out of here, before shadow guy realises that we are standing here.
Just as quickly as it raised, the gun is lowered, the killer stepping over the dead body to move quietly away. He is heading towards the other end of the laneway like he was never here. Releasing my breath, I nudge Stephen as if to say let's go. Slowly moving backwards, we continue in the direction that we just came from.
Fuck it, I don't give a shit if I'm late now. The last thing we need is this guy ahead, realising what we have just witnessed, and turning back to silence us as well.
I can't believe how easily that shit just went down, or how smoothly he eliminated his victim. I have only seen shit like that on tv. I never imagined that I would actually get to experience something like this in real life. We continue, slowly moving backwards, trying to be as quiet as possible, all our eyes on the black shadow walking away from us.


"Fuck," curses Kyle and the next thing I know there's a loud crashing noise. Holly hell! Twisting my head sideways, I catch site of Kyle as he trips over an empty trash can, falling backwards, crashing onto the road. Rushing to him, Luke and I quickly pull him up. "We have to go," Stephen roughly calls out. Lifting my head, I glance back to see our mystery guy, now watching us. When he starts moving in our direction I know we have to go. Grabbing Kyle by the sleeve I yank him towards us and we all start running.
Without looking back, the four of us continue running, faster than I think we ever have. Dodging everything, we run until we are out of that laneway, and back on the beach. We have to find somewhere to hide, until it's safe enough for us to get home.
Deciding that it would be better to stay in a public place, we head towards the Penguin Café. Luke suggested that if we are there, we could hide in a booth, and watch as people pass by the window. "You boys back again?" The waitress calls out as we walk through the door. "You know we closing soon right?" she continues as we take our seats. "Yes," answers Luke. "Sorry Doreen, we won't stick around long." Picking up on his tone, she moves out from behind the counter to approach us. "What's going on boys? Why do you all look like you have seen a ghost?" I don't know about a ghost, but she's not fucking far off it. I am still catching my breath when she calls out for her husband to bring water over. Putting the bottles in front of us, he comes to a stop next to his wife waiting for one of us to tell them what is going on. "I'd talk if I were you," Bob declares. "She won't move until you do."
Glancing at the others, the fear is clear in their eyes. Each one of us, just as scared as the other. One of us though, is going to have to say something, we can't sit here all night. "We just witnessed a murder," Kyle finally admits, his voice squeakier than normal. Doreen's loud gasp has me dropping my head, resting it on the table beneath me, my hands coming to rest on top. I want to cry, the tears welling are threatening to burst free and consume me. Gripping my head tighter, my hands shake uncontrollably, as the wetness of my tears escape my eyes, moving down my cheeks onto the table below.
For what seems like forever, it's silent, nobody utters a word. Lifting my head up I'm happy to see that I'm not the only one who has been crying. I watch as Bob locks the front doors, while Doreen places her hand on Kyle's back consoling him, as she obviously contemplates what to say. I know what we need to do, but if we call the police, how do we know he's not watching. We don't even know what the guy looks like. Ah fuck, did he see our faces when we turned back. Shit! What do we do now?














Chapter Four
Kyle

I don't know what we were thinking coming here. If that guy in the laneway even got a glimpse of our faces and followed us, we would be putting Doreen and Bob in danger as well. "You boys need to call the police." Doreen tells us, breaking the uncomfortable silence we had fallen in to. The look on Luke's face is one of panic, and I feel his pain. "What if that guy is watching right now?" Luke replies. "How do we know he's not out there waiting for us?" There is panic now radiating through his voice by now as well. He's right though. How do we know that guy isn't hanging back somewhere out there waiting for us to leave? If we are followed home, we will be putting our families at risk as well. "Did you see his face?" Bob asks. "If he was following you, the four of you would not have made it to us. He sounds like a professional, which means you wouldn't have gotten far at all. I think it's safe to assume, that he never got a look at your faces either. This keeps you safe for now."
I don't think I have heard Bob talk that much....... ever. I do believe he is right, about us being seen. It was really dark by then, and there is hardly any lighting down that laneway. It's mostly focused above the doors and that's it. When I tripped over that trash can we were in complete blackness. Surely he didn't see us. He probably doesn't even know there were four of us. Maybe we should call the police.
"We should do that, but we also need to call our parents. It's after six." A quiet Ben announces. Fuck! I forgot about our parents. Boy are we screwed now. Everyone goes quiet again. The silence around us is becoming unsettling. Sensing our hesitation, Doreen turns to her husband. "Bob, ring Alex. Get him to come here, but on his own and have him enter through the back. We will keep it low key just in case there is someone watching the boys."  Slapping my hand to my forehead, I sigh. Of all people, she is calling Alex Clark.
Waiting for deputy douche bag as we like to call him, or DD for short, is making me edgy. After Doreen phoned our parents to explain what happened, she managed to get them to agree, to meet us at the station. She was going all mother hen on us, and it was a relief to have someone takeover like she was. I don't know about the others, but I was too scared to move.
I jump when I hear a door slam. Snapping my head up, I see DD walking in behind Bob. Slumping back down the booth, I start to relax again as he makes his way to our table. "Trouble seems to find you lot, doesn't it?" DD scowls. God he is a douche. He has been riding our asses all summer. It doesn't help that he is Krystal's older brother. Who is Krystal you ask? One of Ben's conquests. She didn't like him dumping her, so she told her brother. Needless to say, he has made it his mission to harass us all summer. "Leave them alone," Doreen shouts out. "I didn't call you here to pick on them."
A small smirk finds its way onto Luke's face, it's brief and DD misses it, but the rest of us don't. "Are you going to help them or not?" She insists. She is now standing beside him with her hands on her hips. "Yes, I will help them." He replies, his shoulders slumping slightly, dejectedly. Smiling Doreen moves back over to the counter to finish closing up. "Alright, let's get your boys back to the station. We can finish this up there." Rising we follow DD towards the back door, stopping briefly to thank Doreen and Bob before heading out into the squad car waiting outside.








Ben

I cringed when Doreen told her husband to call DD. That cop has it in for me, thanks to his sister Krystal. Man that girl is trouble. I knew before I seduced her, that it was going to end badly for me, but I wouldn't listen. She is hot, I mean seriously fucking hot. She is one of those girls, who uses her brother's position as our local police deputy, to her advantage. Fuck with her and her brother will fuck with you. Like I said, I knew in advance what I was getting myself into.
I couldn't help it though, she chased me.
The boys warned me to stay away from her. Fuck, even Luke told me to give that girl a miss, which should have set off alarm bells, because he hits anything in a skirt. Everywhere we went, she was there. Always in her tight as fuck tops, and short skirts. It's like she paints her clothing on every morning, they are that tight.
My undoing came when she cornered me at a bon fire on the beach, at the beginning of summer. We were all drinking, and singing, sitting back, enjoying the warm summers night. When she sat down next to me, she was wearing nothing but a tiny bikini. My fucking eyes were bulging out of my head at the sight. I was hooked and she fucking knew it. That girl knew exactly what she was doing, and she played her part well. Just before sunset, and after a shit ton of beer, I had her naked in the sand dunes. I was covered in sand from head to toe, but none of that mattered. I was balls deep in her warmth, with her screaming my name.
The problem was, she wanted more and of course I didn't. I got what I wanted, I was happy, but she told her brother what happened, and he has been on my ass ever since.
While we wait for Alex to arrive, we sit in silence. I am contemplating what will happen to us now. There's no way we will know for sure, that the killer didn't see our faces. I am quietly confident he didn't, because it was pitch black where we were standing. I never saw his face either, which won't help the officers at all. That whole laneway was black except for light shining over the doors. The illumination offered was only enough to help those entering, or leaving those buildings. We never got a good look at either of the two guys standing in front of us and for that I am grateful. The sight of him pulling that trigger and the other guy dropping will be etched into my mind forever. It's a sight you just can't unsee.
Gulping, I watch as DD walks in. The smug look on his face pisses me off, because he knows he has us now. He has been trying all summer to pin something on us, and this is giving him just the ammunition he needs. Not that we have done anything wrong. It's just that, he is always saying the four of us are heading for trouble, and that he would be the one waiting when it happened. He is such a dick.
I have to smirk when his wise crack is attacked by Doreen, the look on his face was steely. He doesn't like being challenged like that, he will no doubt make us pay for that when we reach the station. Saying our thankyou's and goodbyes to Doreen and Bob, we follow officer dipstick out to his cruiser. He allows Stephen to sit in the front, and gets great pleasure shoving the rest of us in the back. I spend that whole trip back to the station in silence, like the others, except my gaze is concentrated on the streets outside. By now it is pitch black, the darkness finally encasing the whole town. I wonder if our mystery man is watching, if he saw who we were. More to the point, I wonder if they found the body yet?
By the time we get to the station, all our parents are in the waiting area pacing. All of them with worried looks on their faces. Making our way through the doors they rush us, engulfing us in massive bear hugs. It's stifling, but comforting at the same time. When my mother starts crying, the realisation of the extent of trouble we are in hits home.
There's no coming back from this, is there?




Chapter Five
Stephen

After the initial interviews and then the confirmation from Alex that they had indeed found a body in that laneway, my body was aching. We had been sitting in separate interview rooms for over an hour at least. Why we needed to be interviewed separately I will never understand, but that's what they did. My mum was devastated; she hasn't stopped sobbing since we were brought in. As much as I understand what she is feeling, it has nothing on what Kyle, Luke, Ben and I have been going through. We have no idea if that guy with the gun saw our faces, or what will happen next. There is talk amongst the officers that we will never be able to show our faces around town ever again, but I think that's DD being a dick towards us. We are currently waiting in another waiting room for the feds to show up. It seems there is more to this story than the asswipe officers of our town are willing to share.
When the Feds showed up they had our parents in toe. "So you are the four that witnessed the hit." Some dude in a black suit throws at us as he walks through the interview room door. Removing his sunglasses, he manoeuvres across to the room to take a seat on the other side of the table. By now he has the attention of all four of us. Placing a file on the table, he opens it up deliberately showing us the photo sitting on top. Picking it up he throws it in front of us. "I'm agent Nickle from the F.B.I. I have been assigned to your case. Now please have a good look at this photo, does this person look familiar in any way?"
Leaning forward Ben takes the photo in his hands, bringing it towards him for a closer look. "No, should he?" he asks, throwing it back down. Sighing, our man in black pinches the bridge of his nose before turning his attention back to us. "I was hoping you could confirm our suspicions. We believe the man in that photo is the one responsible for the hit you witnessed. If it is, you boys are in grave danger. Are you sure you didn't get a look at his face?"
"Like we told the other officers, we didn't see his or the one he murdered's faces and we doubt he saw ours." I proclaim, the frustration seeking into my voice. "Can I ask what you boys were doing walking through that part of town?" he asks. He is quite tall, with tight lips and a worn face. If I had to guess, I'd put him in his late fifties. As if communicating silently, Luke looks over at me as if to say he will answer. "We needed a short cut" he starts. "We were running late and that's the quickest route. Are we nearly done, because we just want to go home." His voice was quiet, but his tone was harsh. I don't blame him since deputy dickweed had been on our cases since we arrived. Fuck Ben, and his uncontrollable cock. That fucking thing has gotten us into more trouble than its worth. Some days I wish he could better control his urges. "Unfortunately, that's not going to be possible. If Silo didn't get a look at your faces, he will still be looking for you. To him you are unfinished business, the only ones to have ever witnessed his actions. He will hunt you down, I can promise you that. We have spent years trying to find him, but he is a ghost." What does him mean we can't go home, where the hell are we supposed to go?
Picking up his file, the fed tells us to stay put as he rises to leave. "What the hell are we supposed to do now?" Luke calls out to him. "We need to make arrangements for protection detail for you all. Just sit tight while we get this shit sorted." Agent Nickle replies, closing the door behind him as he leaves the room. "What the fuck!" Luke curses. My thoughts exactly.
We sit in this interview room for what seems like an eternity. Our parents were called out when the F.B.I guy left so that they can make arrangements for when we leave the station. No one is saying anything, we have become silent once again. I have spent the time confined in here wondering what the hell we are going to do now. What do they mean by protective custody? How long will this affect us? Movement outside the door sparks my attention. When the door opens we all look up to see our parents filing back into the room and they don't look happy at all. Following them was agent Nickle and another stiff in a black suit. "Boys this is Agent Backe and he is my partner. We are here to inform you that as of tonight you are being placed into the witness protection program."


I don't know about the others, but I am dumbfounded. What the hell? No wonder our parents look pissed. "Where?" is all I ask. I know how witness protection works, they uproot you and place you in some obscure place where they think you can't be found. "We are still working on that. For the next couple of days, we will place you at our safe house in Brooklyn. Not even Silo will think to look for you there." Agent Backe informs us all. There is so much talking going on in that one room, I swear my head is going to explode. Ben, Luke and Kyle are yelling, saying that there will be no way in hell they are moving to Brooklyn. I'm with them, I don't want to move either. Our parents are throwing questions at the agents, wanting to know exactly what will happen next. They have jobs here that need to be sorted, schooling for us, their homes to sort out, and so on.
I never realised the impact this was going to have on them, I've only been concerned about me and the others. Uprooting us to Brooklyn is a massive deal for us, but in reality the problems it will cause our parents are greater. Fuck, we really got ourselves into trouble this time.


























Luke

I'm fucked! Well and truly fucked. What the hell am I going to do now? My father is never going to forgive me for this, it's just one more stupid act I have performed. My brother is another issue, when he gets wind of what has happened I will have him on my ass as well. How the hell do I get myself involved in shit like this?
The Feds let us go home to pack, but not without protection. We had a guy tailing us the whole time. When I got home, I tried to head to my room, but got stopped by the stairs by my father. "Luke wait." He calls out. Hesitantly I turn in his direction, preparing myself for the barrage that was set to be hurled my way. "I know you are expecting me to yell at you, but I'm not going to. I realise you never meant to get involved in this, that you were just trying to get home on time. I just want to reassure you, that although I am not happy about the situation I am here to support you." Did I just hear correctly? "Ok, who are you, and what have you done with my father." I reply. Shit, I never meant to say that out loud. Laughing, he gestures for me to follow him. "I know I ride you harder than James, but I only want the best for you." This still doesn't explain the turnaround, but I will let it play out for now. Hugging me, he sends me in to help my mother pack. We have been told to pack only the essentials, they will organise the relocation of our stuff once we have been permanently placed.
Heading towards dads study I find my mum going through paperwork. It looks like she is gathering only the important documents to take with us. "Do you need any help?" I ask her, making her jump. I didn't mean to startle her. Looking up, it's like she is staring straight through me. "I'm good Luke, just go gather what you need. I won't be long." Her voice is flat, and her eyes are already back on what she was doing, before she even finishes her sentence. It's like she is in her own little world. Leaving her to finish what she is doing, I move towards my room. I don't really need anything up there, it's all material, except for the locket.
I need to make sure I don't forget to grab that. I can't leave that behind.
"Marcus, what will do about the partnership?" I hear my mother ask my father. I was heading back downstairs when I heard voices coming from the kitchen. Planting my ass on the last step I sit and listen. "I will fly back and forth for the time being. Gregory is going to place me at the Brooklyn office, but that will take time. It's not an ideal situation but it we will have to manage it." My dad replies in a strained voice. If I'm not mistaken my mum will be in overdrive and it will be grating on his nerves. I really have fucked up royally this time. "How could he do this to us?" I hear my mum cry. Yep it's back to being my fault. I wondered how long it would take. "It wasn't deliberate; you know this Jill. He is our son or have you forgotten that?" That's a surprise reaction, one I wasn't expecting. Not wanting to hear anymore, I gather my stuff and head towards the door.
"Are you ready?" Agent Nickle asks, once we are all gathered back at the station. "As ready as we will ever be." Kyle's dad responds. It's almost midnight and we are getting ready to be transferred to the airport. Apparently the F.B.I is granting us use of one of their jets because there is so many of us. Thankfully Kyle's older sister is at college as well, so she has avoided this drama along with my brother James. Ben and Stephen are only children so that works in our favour.
Our parents have organised urgent time off from their jobs to get settled in Brooklyn, to take a breather, and work out exactly how this witness protection shit is going to work. "Great, let's get this show on the road shall we." He says as they are bustling us out through the back of the station to awaiting SUVs. I don't want to be too sarcastic, but there is nothing stereo type or suspicious about four or five black SUVs speeding away into the night at all.
Do these guys not watch movies?



I found it funny that each family had their own driver and vehicle, as we slipped away into the night towards the jet. Awaiting us on our arrival at the airport were more agents, who quietly ushered us onto the aircraft. The flight itself was apparently going to take around four to five hours so we were told to try and get some rest.
How am I supposed to rest and get some sleep after the day we have just had? All I have churning through my head like a revolving door is, why us?
They don't understand, I can't move to Brooklyn. I won't be where I am supposed to be.
I said that I would never leave. I promised to always be here waiting... Peyton...

























Chapter Six
Kyle

After what turned out to be a five-hour flight, we finally landed at JFK airport an hour ago. The drive to Brooklyn didn't take as long as I expected, we arrived at their safe house half an hour later. The F.B.I's safe house has actually turned out to be a dingy motel, buried deep in Brooklyn itself. I can't really tell you much, because I have no idea where we are. It was still dark when we landed and they whisked us away that fast, we barely had time to think. Each family has been given their own room, with an agent assigned to them. Our one is talking with my father in what I think is the kitchen.
The whole size of this little room would fit neatly into my parents' bedroom back home. It has a double bed in the middle of the room with a lounge suite near the window. There isn't much to do apart from watch TV on the tiny fucking television screen that is sitting on a dodgy table. The kitchenette I think my mother called it, has a sink and a stove and a really old rusted fridge. I was too scared to open it when we got here, in the fear that something might crawl out. I hope to god we aren't hauled up here long. I think my mother will have a coronary if she has to live like this for too long.
Curling up on the lounge I listen as the agent tells my father that our stay here will only be for a couple of days, until the department find us more suitable lodgings. There's an apartment building not far from here that they have placed other witnesses in over the years, so he believed they would look at that first. My father seemed content with that, but made it clear they would have to place all four families together in that building. Would that even be possible, I can't imagine there being that many spare apartments available? You would think the likelihood of this happening would be slim. I fucking hope they can make that happen, I'd hate to be separated from the others. I won't survive here on my own.
Putting my headphones in my ears, I search the music playlists on my phone for something to drown everything else out. My head feels heavy, my eyes burning from the lack of sleep as I lay back turning the music up so that I can finally close my eyes.
"Dude, wake up." I hear, as someone grabs my headphones out of my ear. Turning over to ignore them, I snuggle back down into the lounge suite, whoever is trying to wake me can fuck right off. "Come on Kyle, get up man. We have to go." The voice grunts. Man am I tired. Why do I need to get up? Where the fuck are we going anyway? "No, I don't want to." I whine like a three-year-old, but I don't care, I just want to sleep. "Get up Kyle," my father booms from across the room.
Ok, there's no avoiding it now.
Sitting up slowly, I rub my eyes to gain focus. My eyelids are still heavy, and my head is fuzzy due to the lack of sleep. Obviously there something is going on otherwise my father wouldn't be harassing me. "Alright, alright I'm up, what's so fucking important?"
Owww... The slap across the back of my head means I said that out loud and one of my parents must be close by. Shit! Looking up, I find my mother standing next to me giving me a dirty look. Yep that wasn't very fucking bright of me. "Watch your mouth son, I'm not opposed to washing it out with soap." She scowls at me. I deserved that, I really need to think before I speak some days. "Ok, now that everyone is here," a voice from the kitchenette area calls out. "We can discuss what is going to happen next." It sounds like agent Nickle has arrived, but I can't see him, because our parents are flanking him. I raise my chin at Luke, Ben and Stephen as make their way over to me, each grabbing a spot on the lounge suite.
"Where do you reckon they will place us?" Stephen mumbles. He has been biting his nails since he sat down. He only ever does that when he is nervous, and we should definitely be feeling nervous right about now. "Maybe we will get one of those huge big houses with the cute little white picket fence, for all of us to share." Yeah I can't see that happening. "I overheard the agent we are stuck with say something about an apartment building close by. We will probably be placed there." I confide. There is no point pussyfooting around the obvious. We all know our lives are never going to be the same, we might as well accept the reality of our situation. "They are moving us here?" Ben voices questioningly. "I thought we'd end up somewhere else. I never pictured it being Brooklyn."
Laughing at his naivety, Luke tells him he has been watching too many movies. Slumping into the lounge, Ben's face pales, and his eyes become colourless as though he is in mourning. It's like death when you think about it, especially when the realism of our situation finally sinks in. There is no escaping this, no hope that we can wake up tomorrow and everything will be as it was. Sinking into a pained silence none of us say a word. What's there to say anyway, we've always been good at creating trouble, but never to this magnitude.
My parents haven't said much about it, but honesty everything has happened so fast that we haven't had a chance to stop for long at all. I have no doubt its coming, I am just waiting for the smoke to settle. 

When agent Backe calls us over, we move slowly. Gathering around the small table our parents take a step back allowing the agents and ourselves room to move. I am still struggling with how surreal the past twenty four hours has been. If you were to ask me what I was going to be doing today, when I woke up yesterday, this definitely wouldn't have been it. I'm supposed to be back at school today, starting as a junior not sitting in a dingy motel room in Brooklyn with a dozen F.B.I agents surrounding me. After taking our seats, we are informed that they believe the professional hitman would be long gone, so the initial threat no longer stands. Agent Nickle stated that their contacts at the C.I.A had been informed and were dealing with the dead kid as we speak. From what we have been able to learn, both of these departments have been working together for years to find this guy. They don't want this death to make the news, so they have disposed of the situation quickly.
I had to look at him when he said, they disposed of the situation, because that kid was a human being, not a situation. Letting them continue we are informed that we will be placed in the apartment building I mentioned to the others, in a few days. We will be kept close together seeing this was a stipulation our parents demanded. When Luke asked how it was possible to do that, all they offered in return was, it is a government owned building. That still doesn't explain the schematics of how it all works, but I'm not really in a position to question them either. The feds will organise the packing and shipping of our belongings, which will arrive by the time we move into our new homes. For the time being we will be based in this crappy motel, but are free to move around the city. They don't believe we are in danger here and want us to adjust to our new surroundings before we start at our new school.
This is so not how I expected our summer break to end, but in seven days we will be in a new home, going to a new school.
Yep, this is definitely not how I saw my day ending when I left home yesterday morning.












Ben

My head is still reeling, the last few days have been unreal. After all the excitement died down and we had time to adjust, we decided to explore our new city, our new home. It is nothing like Laguna, the people here are nowhere near as friendly and our parents have us on lockdown. Yep, that's right, we are under strict orders not to venture far. Whatever little trust they had in us is long gone, that ship has sailed – as my father put it. At least we are out of that disgusting motel we started in. I was more concerned that the cockroaches were going to carry me away while I slept. We were finally placed in our new homes yesterday. I don't know how the feds managed to pull it off, but in all honesty after what we have been through, I don't think I want to know. Every little demand from our parents had been fulfilled without any argument at all. At least some of us got what we wanted. 
Not long after the feds handed over the keys, Kyle, Luke, Stephen and myself sat ourselves on the steps of our new apartment building and watched as two removalist trucks pulled up. Fuck it was a funny sight, watching them trying to find parking spaces. Out of the four families, only mine, and Stephen's parents chose to transport their furniture out here. Luke and Kyle's parents decided it would be easier to start afresh. I can't blame them, because the stress it caused my mother, flying home to sort it all out was pretty bad. Both of my parents have aged considerably in the last few days. When I asked what they would do with our house, my dad mentioned that his cousin had offered to housesit. They didn't want to sell, in the hope that we could one day return to it. Stephen's parents had put caretakers in theirs, until they could make a decision on what to do with it. Both Luke and Kyle's parents left theirs in the hands of real estate agents to rent them out.
​Kyle: Be there in five
Buzzing on my drawers, distracts me from my thoughts. Although there isn't much to look at, I have been staring out my window for the last few minutes, almost dazed. Turning around I notice my phone vibrating on the wooden surface. Grabbing it, I see Kyle's message. It's our first day at our new school, and I'm not overly excited at all.
​Me: Sure, see you soon.
The four of us agreed to walk together after scoping it out yesterday. When we walked through those gates with our mothers to organise our transfers, I felt like I was five years old all over again. It was the worst feeling, especially when we had everyone staring at us, as we were dragged across the courtyard. Thus, explaining my late of motivation this morning. "Ben, breakfast." My mother yells. It's going to take a bit to get used to the set up here, seeing our home was two stories and massive enough to get lost in. This apartment reminds me of that pink song where she says 'I can fit your whole house in my swimming pool". Yes our apartment is that small.
Leaving my room, I head to the kitchen to find my mum sitting at the table staring at her phone. "Are you waiting for something?" I ask in passing. "Your father promised to call this morning, I am waiting for that." She replies. When she looks up her face is pale and sullen. The pressure has definitely taken its toll on her. "I'm sorry." I whisper, walking over to hug her from behind. She grips my hands and hugs me tightly as if she is too scared to let go. "I know darling, we will get through this. Please do not worry." Breaking the contact I move to sit down, staring at the toast before me. How can I not worry, if it wasn't for our stupidity she wouldn't have to be living 4000 odd miles away from her home. I will make it up to them one day, I just can't promise when.
"I will see you this afternoon." I call out as I head out the door. I don't hear her response as I close it and make my way down the stairs. Each of us has been put on a different floor, and although we are on the fifth and there is an elevator, I have taken to using the stairs. Back home, we had a gym room that the boys and I used to use almost daily. Right now I am using these stairs to keep up my fitness until we can find a gym or somewhere else to continue our training. It's all about staying fit and toning up, we are too young for anything else. Reaching the bottom, I can see I am the last to arrive. "Dick," Luke shouts over at me. "What took so long?" God he's an impatient prick. "My mother," was all I had to say. He nods and gestures for us to leave. Following them out the doors, we make our way towards our new school.
God help us.
Luke

I can't believe how different my parents have been since we were relocated. No sooner did we get settled in our new home, my father left to head back to California for work. They didn't want the stress involved in moving our stuff out here so they left it all behind, with the exception of all our personal belongings. My mum flew back with Ben's to gather what she wanted and then organised for an agent to take care of the house. When she returned, she ended up ordering all new furniture for this tiny ass apartment we are now living in. I expected the worse, once all the heat died down, but I received nothing. Not one word.
It makes me wonder if the realisation that something serious could have happened to me has changed their outlook maybe. I don't really fucking know, but I'm rolling with it for now. Who knows when they will change their attitudes towards me again.
It doesn't change how I feel about them though, or what they did. Some things are unforgivable and can't be taken back. It also kills me to know I won't be there to keep my promise, that I am just another let down, another person who can't be trusted. I can only hope that our time here is minimal, so I can get back to where I need to be. I am thankful I have Kyle, Ben and Stephen or I don't think I would survive. They are my brothers, and without them my life would be even emptier than it is now – if that is even possible. Just another good thing I would be forced to give up without a choice.
I need to focus, and get a grip. It's time to shut out the shit and concentrate on something else.......
Well hello sunshine.......... Now that is a distraction, I wouldn't mind having wrapped around my cock. I know I am not supposed to be thinking shit like that, but those are my thoughts as I watch a tall brunette seductively saunter past me. Stopping to get a good look, I find my staring at a goddess, whose legs have my attention right now. It's as if they are long enough to go on for fucking ever. Fuck me, that's hot. What I wouldn't do in this instance to get a look under those tight, little pair of shorts she has hugging her tight ass.
A sharp pain to my shoulder snaps me out of my thoughts. "Oi fucker what was that for." I curse, turning to see which asswipe hit me. "You were fucking her with your eyes dude, it was fucking disgusting." Kyle replies. Mind you that ass has quickly moved ahead to avoid me walloping him back. Slimy dick. "Maybe it won't be so bad here after all." I throw out to no one in particular, turning back briefly to get one more glimpse at the ass that had me mesmerized before moving on. "Can we get through one day, without you looking for a hole to stick that skanky ass cock of yours in?"
WTF! Surely I'm not that bad, I wonder as I turn back to the others, and make my way through the gates of our new school. Looking around it doesn't seem any different from the last one, apart from the new faces. You can change the buildings, but school is school and it's not somewhere I want to be. I am also going to ignore Stephen's smart ass comment for now otherwise I will want to punch the fuck out of him. I know I am a dirty fucker now, but I haven't always been that way. There was a time when I believed in love and giving my heart to that one person I believed would be my forever. But, when I lost Peyton, I lost my world, nothing can take away that pain. Since that day, I have found a way to temporarily numb the ache, allowing me fleeting moments of relief. I can't deny that yes, that relief comes in the form of a warm body, but I have no plans on giving that up. Unlike Kyle and Stephen I have embraced my sexuality and I like to play. When the hurt starts seeping in and I need to forget, I will find an outlet, like I always do. If that hot piece of ass, who just passed by is anything to go by, I will have no trouble finding willing participants.
Taking in the side glances we are receiving as we walk towards the administration building, I know we will be the hot topic for the next week. Ben and I don't care about that sort of crap, but Stephen and Kyle are a little more sensitive. They won't like the extra attention put on them, especially when we need to keep our heads down. We have been warned by the feds not to draw any unwanted attention to ourselves, that we need to stay out of the limelight. That's the least I can do, considering the impact it has had on my family. I am yet to hear from my brother but I know what I can expect when he does show his face. Although I'm still angry at what my parents have put me through, it is nothing compared to what I have just subjected them to. I will reign my shit in and pray that our time here in Brooklyn is minimal. Agent Nickle said that with any luck they should have the case wrapped up within the next few months, allowing us to go back to our normal lives.
Wouldn't that be novel, a normal life...
Pity mine will never be like that again. Ah hell it hasn't been normal in a long time, but for now I will do as I am asked and ride this journey out for as long as I need to.
Maybe it won't be so bad here after all.



























Epilogue

A Silent Killer......

I hate this place, I hate the sun, the surf and everything it represents.
Happiness.
Let's not forget the people, I really hate the fucking people here, but a jobs a job and I do love my work. I am a contract killer, a hitman paid to take care of those unsightlier jobs. You know the kind; the ones no one else will touch. You want someone gone, a problem solved, but are too much of a pussy to do it yourself, then you call me. I'm one of those hands on, kind of guys. I don't mind getting my hands dirty for the right price. My rates may be high, but the quality of my work is exceptional. I pride myself on making sure the job is done right, and on time.
My reputation sometimes precedes me.
Today though, I find myself, once again in sunny Laguna Beach. I have spent more time here in the last year then I would have liked - fucking criminals, but I am here to send a message. My unsuspecting victim is the son of a crime boss, a boy who plays no part in his father's organisation. Unfortunately for this boy, he is a liability to his father, because he chooses to separate himself, thus making him unprotected and an easy target.
How do I know this? I do my fucking homework.
It's all about the research, knowing your targets, and their habits. It's called being efficient.
With each new job, I spend about a month tracking my target, learning everything I possibly can. I need to know their movements, their day-to-day shit. Anything that can give me the edge I need to complete the job. This particular target was easy, his movements predictable. He is a college student, who works at a pizza place during the evenings. He lives in a one-bedroom apartment paid for by daddy, and spends his spare time picking up random's in the local bars. This boy is quite the player. I don't think I have seen him with the same chick two nights in a row. He must have quite the libido, because there is a new girl lining his bed every night. I have had his schedule down packed for the past fortnight, and now I'm getting tired of being stuck here.
I'm done, it's time to finish the job and head home.
You are probably wondering why this college boy is a target, what my job may be. The boy himself, is not so much the job, as it's his father my client wants. It seems that a rival family are looking to cross boundaries, and expand. They need to eliminate the competition, but the risk of taking out this boy's father holds too many consequences. His reach far exceeds this small beachside town, and the ramifications of his death will be extravagant. Thus why I am targeting his boy. My client hopes that by taking out his son, it will send a message to his father. One, advising him to back off, and let them expand quietly.
I personally don't care what happens either way, as I am just the hired help. Once my work here is finished I will be on the road again, vanishing before anyone realises what has happened. I am a ghost, a face nobody has ever seen, including my victims. It's the way I like it, get in, get the job done and move on. Simple really.
I don't ever let my professional life impede on my personal life or vice a versa. It is not a healthy mix. I don't ever want my child to grow up knowing what a monster, their father really is.
Back to my work. I am a perfectionist. I like it clean with no complications. I thrive on it, the killing, I always have done. It all started with the cute little kitten from next door when I was five. That fucking thing used to constantly rub up against my leg, meowing at me. I hated it, so I got rid of it. I won't bore you with the details, but let's just say it was not a pretty little kitty by the time I finished with it.
After that my obsession grew, I targeted bigger animals until the day my mother caught me. I think I was about eleven and had been down by the creek on our property when she found me. At the time I was practicing my knife work on an unsuspecting goat from the neighbouring farm. I didn't hear her approach, and when she touched my shoulder, it startled me. I turned around suddenly, with the bloodied knife still in my hand, and my mother gasped. It was then that I looked down to see that the knife I was holding, had been embedded in her stomach. I had stabbed my own mother.
Instead of pulling it out and getting help, like a good son should, I pushed it in deeper. My mother stumbled backwards, her hands grasping the knife. There was no sound coming from her mouth, she was in a state of shock. Just watching her movements was exciting me, sending a rush through my body that I had never felt before. I just stood there observing, as she stumbled backwards, finally falling on the grass. My heart was beating rapidly as her breaths started coming in gasps. She was struggling to get air in. It made me curious and I wondered how long it would take for her to die. I could hear the sound of the blood pooling in her lungs and it was causing a reaction in my groin I had never experienced before.
I stood there, mesmerized at the sight of my mother dying, subconsciously rubbing my hand over my cock while she died in front of me. I didn't realise it at the time, but until I was getting off on it.
I'm a sick fuck. I can't deny that.

After taking my mother's life I couldn't go back to killing animals, I needed more. My father had me institutionised after my mother's death. He couldn't rationalise how any child of his could do something so horrific. I never had any intention of killing my mother, that was just accidental, but it only fuelled my craving, making me want more.
I spent those years stuck in that institution honing my skills, practising my methods on unsuspecting patients and staff. The longer I got away with it, the better I became. No one ever suspected it was me, I was good at manipulating them into thinking I was getting better. When I was eighteen, they released me, telling me I was cured. Little did they know I was far from being cured, all they did was help me perfect my talent. A talent that has served me well over the years.
I sort of fell into this chosen career of mine by accident whilst in New York for a business conference, a number of years ago. When I left the institution, I became a sales rep for a pharmaceutical company. I was at their annual sales conference at the Hilton, and I was tiring of the cockhead in charge, rambling on about sales figures. I needed an out, so when they broke for lunch I left.
Wandering down a laneway close by, I came across two bulky looking men beating down on some skinny kid. Inching my way closer, I was curious. Although I had no intention of intervening, I wanted to know what this poor kid had done wrong. When one of those big guys turned and told me to rack off and mind my own business I became enraged. The kid they were beating on looked half dead, so to give him some breathing space, I started asking questions.
Thankfully, they turned and focused their attention on me, giving the boy behind them a chance to move. I held no reservations that they were going to try and kill me, but I wasn't afraid. Hidden in the back of my suit pants was the knife I always carried. Those assholes made it very clear that I was messing with the wrong people, showing me their guns under their shirts. I stood my ground and continued talking, watching as each of them became edgier by the minute. When the bigger of the two reached for his gun, I grabbed hold of my knife. I had no trouble guiding it into his body, just off to the side, under his ribs where his liver was located.
After spending many years in a mental hospital I learnt the human anatomy well.
Twisting it, I wanted to inflict as much pain as I could and also use his body to my advantage as a shield. The second guy predictably used his gun to try and kill me, only hitting his buddy, quickening his death. It gave me another advantage as I was able to push his dead buddy onto him, allowing me to slip around and use my knife to stab the second guy in the neck.
The exhilaration I felt killing those two guys, especially because of their sizes was powerful. My whole body shook, the adrenaline rush flooding through my veins was indescribable. I moved in the direction of the beaten kid, helping him to his feet. He thanked me and asked if I could help him to his uncle's restaurant. I helped him to that restaurant and then his uncle offered me a job I couldn't refuse. One better suited to my skills.
The rest is ancient history. Stefan helped me make a name for myself in this cutthroat business – no pun intended, and I helped him carve out the competition. When I decided to freelance, he encouraged it, on the condition that I never forgot where I came from. The old man died a couple of years back, the family decided they needed some new blood and put a hit out on him. When I aimed the trigger at his head, he thanked me. He never got to finish what he was saying because I put a bullet in his skull.
He didn't need to say the words, because I already knew what they would be. He was thanking me for being the one to end his life. I wish I could say that his words meant something to me, but they didn't. I have never been capable of feeling any form of emotion.
Leaving my hotel room, I head towards the pizza shop. There is no need to scope out the place, as I know my target will already be there. The plan is to grab a bite to eat while I wait for the laneway behind it to get dark enough for me to hide. The location itself couldn't be any more perfect, especially with it being tucked away with building structures on either side of it. If you need a better description, imagine a street with houses on either side, that's what this laneway is like. The only difference is, that it's narrower and heavily congested with dumpsters and trash cans. Every building has a door that backs onto it, with the only lighting coming from the globes above the doors. When the darkness hits, and as I have discovered, it does very quickly, it becomes pitch black.
Opening the door, it's packed, but that's a good thing. It makes it harder to pick a face out of a crowd if there are so many to choose from. The aim is not to raise suspicion to yourself, you have to blend in. People will always remember the quiet, solemn ones, when asked if they remember anything strange. I always make sure to engage with my victims or the people around them somehow. It's easy to forget the nice gentleman you were speaking to right before something bad happens. Tonight will be no different. "Hi there, how can I help you?" My target, a bright eyed boy asks. "How are you doing? I'll just have the pepperoni tonight thanks." I reply, my voice level, void of any emotion. "It's a great night don't you think?" a bizarre question, one I'm not sure I understand. "Pardon?" I ask. "Oh sorry, I just meant it's a great night, but I'm happy because I finish up in ten minutes." He apologises, whist explaining his intent. Strange boy this one, but it doesn't matter, because he has just given me my time frame. Thanking him, I pay and move away from the counter heading towards the entrance. I will leave the pizza for now, there will be time to eat after I take care of business.
Walking around until I reach the entrance of the laneway, I count the doors till I find the one I am looking for. I made a mental note of exactly how far down I had to go a couple of nights ago. I thought it would be easier to do a trial run and get a feel for things. Moving slowly, I quietly progress until I find my hiding spot. Crouching down, I wait, tuning out everything else around me. I pay no attention to what sounds like footsteps further down, as I ran into a few of the bums that sleep near the dumpsters last time I was here. I am not afraid of them, or of them recognising me. I am just a black figure biding my time.
Talking jolts my attention back to the now, as I turn my head in time to see the back door to the pizza shop open and my victim walk out. He slams the screen door shut and heads down the stairs. The plan is to wait until he moves past me and then sneak up behind him. If he sticks to his usual schedule, he will stop in a minute to search for his headphones. Every fucking night without fail, he does the same thing. Why the hell he doesn't organise that before he walks out is beyond me, but it's the one thing I am counting on him doing. Like clockwork he stops and scrounges through his knapsack looking for his head phones. This is the opportunity I was looking for. Moving out of the shadows, I walk silently up behind him, stopping briefly to raise my gun to his head. Once my weapon is in place I pull the trigger and his lifeless body drops to the ground. Job done.
Stepping over him I start moving towards the direction I came from, I can definitely go for that pizza now. I'm surprised how easy that was, I haven't had a job like that in a while. It's nice to get some straightforward hits every now and again. Gives the mind a moment to shut down, instead of constantly churning in hyper drive.


As I get near the exit, a large crash behind me halts my journey. Quickly turning back around, I hear cursing and more crashing of which appears to be the trash cans, coming from the direction I earlier heard footsteps. Shit, maybe I should have investigated the noise, what if it isn't the homeless crew I've seen in here previously. The darkness makes it too hard to get a visual but I can make out four shapes running out the opposite end. I am too far away to give chase, but regardless of that I can't be seen anywhere near this body. There is no way they will have seen my face, so my witnesses will have to wait. I will find them, you can be rest assured of that, but right now I need to exit this laneway before the authorities get here. Thankfully I used the silencer, when I shot him. In times like this it is a cleaner method, I also didn't want to attract any unwanted attention. My preference has always been my trusty knife, but that wasn't on the cards for tonight.
I have spent the last three weeks keeping my nose clean, trying not to attract the attention of those C.I.A agents tailing my ass. I have had to get sneakier since London. I came close to those two agents nabbing me that time, I got sloppy and nearly paid the price. I'm not going to let that happen again, so it's time to pick up my pizza and belongings so I can leave this shithole of a town. They will know it's me when they find this body, I need to make sure I'm not here when that happens.
I told you I hate this place, now I have an even bigger reason.


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Stacey Johnston