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sixteen

THERE WERE TWENTY THOUSAND THOUGHTS RUNNING THROUGH KAYDEN'S HEAD AS GEN THREW HER HER JACKET. She slipped her arms into it, and looked up as Gen put a hand on her arm.

"Hey," She said softly, her brown eyes terrified. "Will you hold my hand?"

Kayden slipped her hand in the girl's without a second thought, squeezing it tightly. Gen looked at Reed, who had opened the front door and was grimacing at the pounding rain. They were going to get soaked; and according to Aiden's watch, it was only 4:15 am.

Aiden caught Kayden's eye and placed a hand on her shoulder, moving his mouth down by her ear. "Do you need anything?"

His gaze darted to her collarbone, and she shook her head, smiling slightly. "I'm okay. After all, I'm with you."

Something flashed in his eyes as his face softened, and Reed turned away from the front door, saying warily, "Kay, you know where Lex is?"

Warmth flooded through Kayden's body at the nickname, and she knew for sure that in that moment, Reed and Gen were true friends. It was a strange feeling, to feel so close to people that you hadn't even hardly known a couple days before, but it was a good feeling all the same.

She nodded in response. "She shares her location with me. We can find her. Are you sure your mom won't mind everyone staying here?"

Reed shook his head. "My mom cares about me, and that means she cares about my friends. It was no secret how Alexis felt about Eliza. She needs us."

He sighed, pulling up his hood over his head. "You all ready?"

They exchanged glances, and then stepped onto the front porch, Reed shutting the door and locking it. Bracing themselves, they stepped out into the freezing rain and made a mad dash for Aiden's car which could fit the most people into it by far.

Gen was the last one in, scrambling into the seat beside Reed and slamming the door shut behind her. She shook out her hair, wrapping her arms around herself. "Fuck, it's freezing."

Aiden looked over at Kayden. "Where's the crime scene, Kay?"

She pressed her lips together, and when she spoke, her voice was shaky. "The backwoods, behind Kyle's house."

Reed's mouth dropped open. "What the fuck? Then this proves it! Kyle fucking murdered her!"

"No," Aiden said grimly, putting the car into reverse and pulling out onto the slick road. "He was in the main room with Kayden most of the night, and then he was trying to start shit with me when they found the body. He didn't do it."

"Damn it!" Reed swore under his breath. He looked over at Kayden, who was keeping her eye on the map's directions on her phone. "No offense, Kay."

She smiled bitterly. "It's fine. Left here, A."

He maneuvered the wheel onto the street, and then shot her a glance. "Did you just call me A?"

Her face heated up. "Shut up. Keep going straight, and it should be on the left."

Aiden steadily turned the car onto Kyle's street, mansions stretching down the roads. The houses here were much bigger than anything the four in the car had ever seen. Kyle often made Kayden feel like shit for her family not being as wealthy as his own, and she was often embarrassed when he taunted her in front of his team members. She supposed she had just gotten used to it, and let the matter slide.

She looked up as the wail of ambulances became louder. Flashing red and blue lights became visible as they neared Kyle's house, Aiden coming to a stop just by the curb. He turned off the engine, and looked behind him at Reed and Gen, who were clutching onto each other for dear life; as though they were bracing themselves for what was about to come.