To Live Forever

Chapter 19

Jason stared at the purple bruises decorated on his fists and knuckles, marvelling at the colour.

His forehead was sweating and he was in dire need of a shower, but he couldn't conjure up enough energy to go through the process of cleaning himself up.

He had been practicing for almost five hours, working on his punches and kicks, making his shoots perfect, and testing his agility through different activities. And now he was sitting on his bed, feeling sleepy as the day finally came to an end.

Everyone had eaten food a few hours ago, the girl still sleeping, as no one wanted to disturb her in her slumber.

For some reason, Jason kept thinking about her.

Aria.

The way she looked at him, her cheeks turning rosy on her tanned skin tone. The way she frowned at him and got flustered, looking away from Jason. The way her eyes reminded Jason of a rainforest due to their golden and green colour. The way she smiled, a cleft showing on her left cheek and her red lips opened in a sweet way, making her eyes crinkle slightly. Her light brown hair, which were a cross between blonde and brown, making them shine in the tiniest amount of light.

Jason smiled, shaking his head and got up, stretching and groaned as he heard a few satisfying pops come from his back and neck.

He threw on a sweatshirt, walking outside, craving a bottle of juice.

He walked towards the end of the corridor when he heard someone's voice.

It was coming from Logan's room.

Jason shook his head, telling himself that he couldn't eavesdrop, but when he heard Noah's voice reply to Logan's, he walked towards the elder's room.

Cursing himself for eavesdropping, he stood beside the door, breathing slowly as Logan's voice said, his voice desperate, "Noah, you know the truth. You have known for a long time. Don't give me that bullshit. I've been with you for more than eight years. They were not after you. They were after me. You went out of the house at the exact same time as I do everyday. You wore my black coat that I wear almost everywhere. You even had on my Yankees cap."

Jason frowned as he heard Noah sigh and say, "I know. You're right. I've known for a long time. I think I got what they were trying to do when you got attacked a month ago. They want to kill you, Logan. That is why I wanted to make sure of their intentions. Which is why I went out that day."

"Look, I...I don't know how to tell you the intensity of this, Noah. But please, please, don't risk yourself for me. I'm not that important. I don't know if I would forgive myself if anything happened to you or any of the members. Especially because of me."

"I don't care about what you think, Logan. I will do anything and everything in my power to distract these people from you or any of my gang members. I don't care if I get hurt in the process."

Logan sounded like he might object but Noah raged on, "You all are my family. More than my family. You all are...you, Hayden, Nathan, Tyler, Max and Jason." His voice turned soft, "You guys are all I have. Look, I'll be careful. I'll take extra care. But please don't think that I would not do this. I won't let you - any of you - come in any harm's way if I have any say in it."

"But we have to figure this out, Noah. I can't just sit here, whilst knowing that there's someone out there, someone powerful and dangerous, who is targeting me and this gang. How did they even find out our real identities in the first place? Its impossible. Only the High Quarter knows about our real identities and some of the other gang members. And I refuse to think that any of them would tell out on us. They can't do that. Its...they can't." Logan's voice was soft as he sighed.

Jason frowned, thinking about whatever he had heard the two leaders of Gray Dawn say.

"I don't know who it is, Logan. Or how they got to know the real us. But...I think we should start being more careful in whom we trust."

Jason heard a scuffle from the other side of the door and quickly walked away, not wanting to be caught listening in to their conversation.

He walked into the kitchen, taking out a bottle of juice and sat down in the garden, ignoring the cool breeze which made him shudder and close his eyes.

His thoughts were dominates by Noah and Logan's words.

These people were smart. Jason was new here, but he knew that if the leader of Gray Dawn went down, the whole team would go down.

He knew that if anything happened to Logan, it would be like the team has lost their backbone. The importance of Logan in the gang was too much. Not too mention how the responsibility of the unit would fall on Nathan's shoulders, because he is next in line, being the only Gray left. Someone who was clearly against the world which was their home. Jason didn't know Nathan too much, but what he did know was that if Nathan had any say in any of this, he would never have chosen being in a gang. Killings, drugs, prostitution, it was just too much for him. Jason could fathom as much from the small amount of time spent with the older, who was maybe the most kindest person Jason had ever layed eyes on.

Jason couldn't even imagine what they would do without Logan, or any other member. He shook his head as he thought about Nathan. He couldn't go through losing his brother again. He was much too fragile for that.

And sitting there, alone with his thoughts, Jason realized how much he cared for each and every member. How his protective side lashed out as he thought of any of them getting hurt. He was surprised to see that he related with Noah, at least in the part of agreeing that he would put himself in the line of danger for any of the members.

Jason had a lot of people taken away from him, some because of his own faults as well. And he wasn't going to lose his new family. Not if he could stop it.

He sipped juice from the bottle as he looked at the sky, not really sure what captured his attention, but kept staring nonetheless.

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Love,

Alexandria 💚