Sunny's eyes widened,
"What? What the hell are they going to do with," He paused, thinking carefully about his next words,
"With him?"
Kaiya didn't answer, just conitued to look off the edge. He followed her gaze, watching the way the lights danced on the pavement that ran through the large park. Snow fell slowly around them, landing in their hair and ghosting on his eyelashes,
"Come on," he whispered, placing a hand on the small of her back,
"I don't want you to freeze out here."
"I'm not gonna freeze, Sunny," Kaiya said softly. "If anyone will freeze it will be you. I have your jacket."
She paused, wanting to say something but not knowing how.
"I knew…I knew you guys were a thing the whole time."
Sunny didn't know how to respond to that,
"I-what do mean?"
He asked, playing dumb,
"What thing?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Sunny. I knew my brother. Probably better than you did."
She smiled softly, staring out at the slowly freezing lake.
"He couldn't hide anything from me, no matter how hard he tried. Don't worry though. I only knew because I'm his sister."
"Ah, right…" He mumbled, looking at the ground. They stood in silence till the warning bell for crefew rang out,
"We should probably get going…" He whispered, grabbing her hand and pulling her along the pathway. How long had she'd know about them? What did she know about them? He kept himself quiet, restraining from asking questions he didn't want the answer too.
They arrived at the dorms and made their ways through the whinding halls, before coming to a halt outside her door. They stepped over the flowers and condolences cards and stood facing each other in the, Kaiya in the flat and Sunny in the hall.
"Look, I know that things are hard and a regular routine is not what you're really thinking about right now," he started,
"But I need you to try and get up on time tomorrow, I don't want you slipping behind on casework and creating more stress for yourself…"
He paused,
"You're a smart girl, but I you need help, come and ask, okay?"
Kaiya smiled sweetly. "God, you're just like him. Really. I feel like you need to hear that even more than I do. In the protective way, I mean."
She pulled his jacket off, handing it to him with an outstretched arm.
"And you know that it's the same for you. If I'm smart then it means I can help you too. I'll make sure to come over tomorrow to redress your wounds."
When he refused to take the jacket, she slung it over his shoulder and gave him a thankful peck on the cheek.
"Have a good night, sweetheart."
The walk back to his dorm was slow. Everyone had already taken refuge inside their room, it being long past curfew. Cold air pricked his skin as he hurried back, not wanting to draw attention from wandering guards. He slithered past lamp posts and night-life, watching the snow pile up on the side of the pavement. his mind was ravaged with questions about this whole situation. When did Kaiya find out about him and Rylee? They both had promised to keep it a secret, so when did he spill to her? Why would his family hold a funeral? What were they hiding?
He slipped into his dorm and locked it behind him. He showered and pondered the subject more. Why doesn't Kai get along with her family? There must have been some falling out, or maybe they were just too poor? No, that doesn't add up, only rich folk get sent here. he changed into his pyjamas and settled down in his bed. The day repeated itself over and over as he drifted off to sleep, thinking about other ways he could have handled the situation.
Kaiya knew Sunny was questioning how she knew - she could see it in his eyes. She wanted desperately to tell him that she figured it out herself and that Rylee didn't tell her. She knew her brother so much better than he thought she did, and she'd put the pieces together. The only thing Rylee had told her was that he was gay, which she had fully accepted.
A message dinged on her phone, and she looked to see that it was from her father. Pictures of the gala from tonight!. She texted back a quick Looks fun!, though there was no true emotion to the text. She preferred her father over her mother, even if neither of them really cared.
Sunlight tickled Sunny's face as the time ticked over to 6:15. He had never needed an alarm clock, he had loads of self-discipline. Slipping into the bathroom, he began the undress. He looked down at the bandages on his chest and sighed.
How was he suppose to shower, then?
He ended up settling for a plastic bag, taping it over his wounds. The shower was a quick one, he washed then got out, same old same old. He dried his hair and got a glimpse at the thin scar along the side of his wrist. He studied it for a minute, remembering the fight he had had with Rylee that ultimately lead to the cut. And to think, it was all for nothing.
He shivered, brushing the thought aside and continuing to dress.
Breakfast was a bit more sombre than usual, but his roommate made an effort to talk to him.
"Sorry about your loss, man.", was all he mumbled, quickly grabbing some coffee and hurrying off to his bedroom. He didn't know much about that boy, Ethan, he thinks. Kids shy, doesn't say much but somehow has a large group of friends he frequently goes on outing with. Sunny cleaned his bowl, then his teeth, then his attitude as he made for the door, hoping to get to the study hall before all the hangover dafts.
6:30
Kaiya didn't wake up early, but she didn't wake up late. At the sound of the alarm, she moved into the bathroom and undressed, hopping into the shower.
She often only had showers in the morning in order to wake herself up.
It wasn't long before breakfast was delivered. Those of the 'highest class' got to have their breakfast made for them, rather than making it for themselves.
Though Kaiya didn't mind the school's food. It was comforting.
The hall was empty, odd considering that it was usually packed with people studying for a test they had first period. Sunny sat down and began writing out some math equations. He wasn't necessarily studying for anything, he just liked being on top of things before his teachers. He eventually lost interest in the endless stream of number and started doodling on the side of his notebook. His drawings ranged from little cats to the face of an all too familiar boy, he had almost gotten lost in his beady little pen-draw eyes until someone spoke up behind him.
"You like drawing?"
He shot around in surprise, only to be greeted with a face that made his stomach churn.
"No, I don't. What do you want, Carson?"
He brown-haired boy behind him shrugged,
"Just come to do some catching up on my chemistry work."
"You don't like Chem." He whispered, eyes narrowing into him. Carson chuckled,
"Oh, you know me too well! Yes, I'm here to talk to you."
He took a seat and placed his hands calmly on the table, watching the other boy's defensive nature,
"You and Rylee, then?"
"What about us." Sunny replied coldly,
"I just didn't know you too had a-" he paused, scrunching his nose,
"a thing"
"Our "thing" isn't any of your business, and frankly I don't understand why you feel it's necessary to come and interview me about it."
Carson stood up, towering over the other,
"Listen, Rylee wasn't like that till you came around. He wasn't sad or a-"
he glanced around the room, teeth clenched,
"-A homosexual. I don't know what kind of sick motive you have, infecting this school, but watch your back, kid. This isn't the last time you'll see my face."
And with that, Carson left.
A knock on Kaiya's door made her look up.
No one even visited her in her dorm apart from Sunny and Rylee.
It wouldn't be Sunny and it definitely wasn't Rylee.
She sighed and reluctantly walked to open the door, trying to close it as soon as she sees who it is.
"That's no way to treat your boyfriend, Kaiya."
"We're not dating, Colton. How many times do I have to fucking tell you that?"
"Oh, don't be like that."
He pushed his way into her room and closed the door behind him.
Kaiya didn't like that.
Class had started 30 minutes ago, yet Kaiya still hadn't shown up. No one really questioned it, considering yesterdays antics, but something still put Sunny on edge. The usually empty seat next to him made a creaking noise as someone sat down. Sunny didn't look up to acknowledge them, hoping not to make any contact.
"Hey" the person spoke, smiling warmly at him. He replied with a simple "hi" before going back to writing his notes.
"What's your name?" the girl was persistent, trying to hold a conversation.
"Sunny."
"Oh that's such a cute name!" she giggled,
"My names Lemongrass, but my friends call be Lee. I'm new!"
Sunny had to physically stop himself from laughing. What kind of sick bastard calls their kid 'Lemongrass'? Rich people named their kids some stupid things nowadays, what happened to the simple 'Oliver'?
"That's cool," he said calmly. his hands were writing but his mind was somewhere else, mostly that being Kaiya. Where the hell was she? She'd let him know if she wasn't going to classes. Lee was still rambling on in the background as he tried to convince himself she's okay,
"Hey, are you gay?"
"What?" Sunny snapped his head over to the girl next to him, twirling her brown hair between her fingers,
"Well, you just don't seem that interested in me. Most guys can barely keep their hands off me." she laughed,
"My sexual orientation is none of your business, sorry love."
"Oh, you are aren't you! It's cool if you are, I-"
"MISS! Can I move please?"
Sunny gathered his things are moved to the other side of the room, away from whatever abomination had just joined his class. Hw tried his best to work, but between worrying about Kaiya, and the lemon girl staring at him like a dog who'd just spotted a bone, it was fruitless.
"Miss, I have to take my meds," he stated, standing up and packing away his things and promptly leaving the room.
He didn't have medication, he just needed to see if Kaiya was okay
"Colton I have to go to class," Kaiya insisted, trying to wrestle her wrist away.
Colton's grip was too strong for her.
"Come on, just let me go. Please."
"You don't need to go to class. You're smart. You'll catch up."
"Please just let me go."
Colton pulled Kaiya close to him, and his strength stopped her from wrestling away.
Colton was the one person Kaiya couldn't get away from.
He sped through last nights snow, what was now slush soaked his shoes and dampened his socks. The walk felt a lot longer it normally does.
Something was wrong.
"Colton let me go."
"Neither of us want that, do we Kaiya?"
"Let. Me. Go."
In an effort of defense, Kaiya brought her knee up and hit Colton's crotch.
He let her go and grabbed his crotch, allowing Kaiya to kick him away with a foot to the stomach.
Sunny had started sprinting, a sickly feeling of dread built in his stomach. What if he was too late?
He arrived in the hallway of her complex and was greeted by a struggle. He ran to her dorm to discover the door unlocked and swung open. A man was slowly hunking his way to his feet, pain present in his face.
"Come on Kaiya, that wasn't very necassry, was it?"
It wasn't until Sunny had processed his voice had he recognised to man.
"Colton! What the fuck are you doing here?!"
"You have no part in this, June," Colton hissed, eyes on Kaiya.
From the moment Kaiya started at Littlewood, Colton had claimed her.
He wanted her, and he didn't care how he would get her.
Of course, Kaiya didn't want that.
But Colton didn't care.
"Like hell- Get your hands off her!" He growled, tugging the boy away. Sunny always towered over his classmates, but Colton was the only person who stood at his height. Plus, he was double his weight, his muscle mass being enough to make anyone thinking about approaching him uneasy. But Sunny still stood his ground, eyebrows knit.
"What don't you understand about "fuck off, never contact me again" ?"
Kaiya ran into the bathroom and locked the door behind her, shaking.
She took deep but shaky breaths, trying to calm herself down.
Remembering something, she rummaged around in her bathroom drawers under the sink.
She found what she was looking for: a gun she'd stolen from her father.
She loaded it with a few bullets, then exited the bathroom aiming it at Colton.
"I don't want to shoot you, but I will."
Sunny's eyes widened.
Where the FUCK did she get a gun?!?
"Kaiya, no!" he demanded, holding his hand out like it was going to stop her.
Colton took this as an opportunity to swing, striking Sunny in the jaw.
"FUCK-" he fell to the ground, hitting his head on the hardwood. His vision blurred as he made a gasp for air, the last thing he saw before fall into a seizure was Colton, swiftly stumbling over to grab Kaiya.
As he fell unconscious, two thoughts crossed his mind. The first being, 'fuck epilepsy'.
The second being, 'I how she knows how to use that gun'
Kaiya's hands shook, and she rushed to steady them.
She saw Colton punch Sunny, knocking him out.
Now Colton was coming towards her.
This snapped her into action.
She shot him in the leg, a warning shot.
"Don't come any closer."
Sunny unconscious mind was a wonder.
He opened his eyes to a familiar surrounding.
A classroom.
He shook his head and studied his surroundings. A group of children sat on the floor at the feet of an elderly woman, singing nursery rhythms in a soothing/haunting tone. He stood up and approach the children slowly, his focuse mostly on a little, curly haired red-headed boy in the front.
Colton looked at Kaiya in sudden fear, now knowing that she knew how to work the gun.
A strange feeling washed over Kaiya as she remembered a song Rylee would sing to her.
She began to sing it, the words seemingly having an affect on Colton and reminding Kaiya of Rylee's death.
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree?
They strung up a man
They say who murdered three
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree
Are you, are you
Coming to the tree?
They strung up a man
They say who murdered three
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree
The ladies voice numbed out to a whisper, leaving just the kids chanting the eerie song. Sunny eyed up the boy, watching as the other kids around him laughed and envelop him in a hug. A load bang shook them out of it, all eyes glued to the door of the classroom. An alarm played over the sound system, followed but another round of consecutive bangs. The lady had secured the door shut and demanded the kids hide under the tables. All the panic and motion made Sunny feel sick. He followed the red-headed boy under a desk, hoping to hide from an impending threat. He hadn't realised where he was. What was about to happen. He had blocked it from the deepest part of his memories.
