Everything | A FORTY FOUR

A/N: Before I say my standard dedication, I'd like to give a big, long overdue thank you to none other than christbeulah. She's been an avid reader and dating back to my earlier books on Wattpad and I just wanted to let you know I've always been thankful for it.

This chapters dedication goes to;

ImaSuckaMC and CobiCo12! Your votes and comments are always welcome and appreciated!

I found it funny when there would come moments in life, you'd stress and strife over the outcome in a countdown that seemed endless. Until it did end.

Thing is, you couldn't really hold it, or pause it like a film or page in a book. You could only live onwards to look back at it.

From what felt like an ongoing night of anxiety with tossing and turning, faded into nothing when the sun came.

"CHEERS!" cried Ben, diving onto the bed and jostling us slightly at the impact. His medal slung over his neck. "Quick, someone put on We Are The Champions. I have this epic move for when the chorus hits."

"Ben you can't do a backflip." said Will.

"That's not what I was going to do." Ben denied. "It's a triple backflip!"

"Ben don't you even try it. I'm not taking you to the hospital again."

As Will continued to make warnings, Ben bounced away on the springs being joy personified. It brought a smile to my face and made the situation feel all the more real.

"Y'know, other than Ben you guys aren't acting like you just won the tournament." I commented to the boy perched by the balcony beside me, scrolling on his phone.

The three days of the junior IAO were over in the blink of an eye and St. Sinclair was deemed the victors. Other than the big smiles for the camera and the shiny medals adorning our necks with the plaque, it had felt like any other day. Excluding that we were camped in Garren's single deluxe suite.

When I'd walked in those three nights ago all shaken up, I hadn't had the time to admire the greater decor and charm of the regal chamber that was twice the size of the regular suites. I knew it wasn't only me impressed with how Will and Ben climbed up on the emperor sized satin sheets like kids playing up on a fort. The pair hadn't left the comforts since we entered from leaving the Pennant Hall. I regretted not taking Garren up on his offer. Amina was a snorer.

"Benny has it in his nature to look for any excuse to get excited." said Garren. "It's a little juvenile to behave overzealous at winning something for the fourth time."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah alright, 'cool guy'."

"So what about yourself then?"

"Hmm?"

"If anyone has an excuse to be jumping off the roof it's you. Taking down Míng Dao's elite on your first participation at IAO- quite the accomplishment."

"I didn't take Xinyi down. She beat me four out of five matches."

"But you beat her at chess. That game counts for double more than the others, not to mentions she hates losing the most at a challenge in wits. It's her greatest high to get off on."

"Oh."

"She won't forget you for it, trust me."

As crazy as it may have seemed to reassure me the girl who was viciously scowling at the other side of the table when I put her in checkmate and looked ready to bite my head off if there weren't witnesses, I did hope I was memorable. Even for petty revenge. That would certainly be a feat worth jumping off the roof for.

"So, I'm guessing you guys will throw a party when we fly back?" I gathered.

"Probably." Garren nodded with a sigh, as if it was more of a mandatory task than an opportunity.

"You don't sound happy about it."

"I kind of agree with Xinyi about this league growing dull. The achievement isn't as savoury but it's giving an off impression if I'm not celebrating it."

"Do you really care about that?"

"My parents do." He explained with a little frown. "Image is a big thing in their books, I don't get a pass."

"Oh." When the subject of Mr. and Mrs. Adler sprang, I could never quite get a fix on it. Garren would always harbour an expression I couldn't decipher and although Will had mentioned their relationship was fine, that term differed from person to person.

There was no hiding that Garren and Will were different. Irrespective of both being rich, I'd learnt even in that class there were other worlds. Maybe that should've been obvious from the start but it was a case of the grass always looking greener on the other side. The Aces weren't even on the same bloody yard, yet they coexisted together perfectly. Could I truly adapt to it?

"You'll come, right?"

Garren's voice drew me out of my mulling. "Mm?"

"To the party." He appeared invested in his app game but I caught him peek at me from the corner of his eye.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

He shrugged. "You surprise me from time to time. I wasn't even sure you'd attend the other one, since you didn't look like you believed it when I said you were one of us."

Footsteps came through the slide door before I could form a reply. "Guys, let's head out." Will let out a breath, flippantly throwing his arms over me from behind. "I heard Tokyo Tech and a few Woodland Wick knobheads are planning to have a showdown tonight."

"Oh god." Garren groaned. He rubbed his temples as he momently thought. "Club then?"

Will gasped, "Ooh yeah, let's. I've always wanted to try attending a foreign club."

"When you say club, you're not talking about a nightclub are you?"

"Obviously." confirmed Garren.

"But we're not old enough."

The boys exchanged glances and fell into a fit of chuckles. "God Stevie, you're so cute." Will snuggled closer, cheek pressing my own. "Isn't she, Garren?"

"Just adorable." Garren patted my shoulder.

As much as I didn't appreciate the patronising, it wasn't enough to peel away from Will as he smelt divine so I settled on scowling. "But what if we have to show them ID? We can't lie."

"No one's saying you have to lie," said Garren.

"It's breaking the law."

"Locking a burglar in the toilet here is breaking the law, Stevie. The Dutch clearly aren't taking the legal system seriously."

I turned my head to voice of reason and or sense. "It's just for one night Stevie and I doubt the offense is gonna be huge for it, especially to non-citizens." Will effortlessly caressed my hair with a smile. "We'll be fine."

I bit my lip, still uneasy even if he was flashing me that stomach fluttering smile but then I weighed which scenario I could find myself in tonight; stuck in a Dutch holding cell or possibly catch a quiet night in of Amina's verbal abuse. "Screw it, let's go."

"Yes! Trust me, Steves. You won't regret this." Will pecked my cheek and spun to face the exit. "Alright, let me just go get Benny before he lands himself in the hospital-"

Suddenly, there was a thunderous crash but the chances of a storm brewing indoors were more than unlikely. We all hurried to the source.

**

In hindsight, neglecting a hyper boy subjected to a springy bed in a room with sharp, rural furniture to break his fall was an accident waiting to happen. Fortunately, Ben's failed triple back flip hadn't been disastrous enough for him to be hooked up to life support. His right arm was encased in a cast from dislocating his shoulder though. Yet the boy was chipper than ever when Will let it slip we planned to go clubbing. None of us could break it to him that staying behind was safer so equally dividing the shift of being Ben's nanny, we get set for a night of rule breaking.

I was glad I decided to pack one of my new outfits, courtesy of lovely Ms. Dion. I learnt some make-up tips too with a handy tutorial clip online so the cosmetics she purchased didn't go to waste either.

It was spurred on the thought that I might end up attending a fancy formal or some sort. To bring it down a notch in terms of casual, I decked out the blazer for my Burgundy cardigan but left it unbuttoned. It felt like such a waste to hide the gorgeous rouge V-neck even if I wouldn't see it once stepping away from the mirror.

Which I came to learn I was staring into too long when I forgot Amina was there, throwing me an odd look. I didn't give her a chance to say anything and walked out.

I reached the indoor pools threshold where Garren and Ben were present. The sling Ben wore did nothing to diminish the charm his smile and apparel brought.

"Whoa, you look nice, Stevie." Ben whistled.

"Thanks."

"Like, I'd definitely go down on you without even ask for a turn." He offered a wink I might've swooned at if not for the former statement.

I pursed my lips. "Um... Let's just leave it at nice next time, alright?" He calmly nodded his head.

On the other hand, I wasn't sure if Garren had even noticed my presence with the way he was deeply scowling at something up ahead. I followed where the daggers were aimed to spot Will and a brunette leant by the diving area, chatting.

"Is that the girl from next door Will said could recommend a good place?" I enquired.

"Apparently." Garren heaved a sigh. "Even though he's been there flirting for ten minutes instead."

"What?" I snorted. "Garren you do remember who Will is right?"

"Yeah, a moron who lets himself get caught up in other people's paces."

I observed the two and derived for myself, the girl was indeed flirting. I didn't need to know what they were saying, the lust in her eyes was evident and the way she pressed herself so close made it crystal clear. Shockingly, it was visible in Will's body language and nervous smile he was trying to evade intimacy.

How could she not see it? Had this been what Will explained to me on the plane about attraction making you misinterpret people's behaviour? It was scary.

Shortly, Will came over to us with the girl still having her eyes glued on his back.

"Have you got the address?" questioned Garren, notably irritable from the wait.

"Yeah but um, Fenna says she wants to go with us."

Even Ben wasn't surprised by that.

"You mean she wants a go on you." Garren replied.

Will tried to protest but quickly grew too tired to bother. "Yeah, probably."

"You do realise that stupid showdown can start at any second? Stop wasting time and tell her she's got no chance in hell of that ever happening." ordered Garren.

"Or that you're bent." chimed Ben. "That could work too."

"I can't just do that." Will refused. "It's rude and I don't wanna brush her off like that when she's being so helpful."

"Helpful?" scoffed Garren. "We already just established all she wants is to shag you. If you asked her to hide a bloody dead body she'd do it."

"Why don't we just ditch her and go?" suggested Ben.

"Brilliant, let's do that." agreed Garren.

"That's even worse! And let's not forget she's staying in the suite right next to mine. I'm not risking running into her in the morning after pulling something like that."

"Look, why don't we let her tag along?" I asked. "Would it really be so bad?"

"Not for me but Will can't keep his shift on watching Ben if some twit is trying to shove her hands down his jeans the whole time." argued Garren.

Suddenly the great night out was taking a sour turn with none of us in agreement on what to do in the predicament. Then she decided to cut in, "Everything okay?" Her voice fluffy and thick with accent. "We should start leaving soon."

Garren gave the taller boy a knowing look. Lips mouthing the words 'Ditch her.'

Will turned to the girl with a kind smile. "Yeah, alright."

Somehow, Fenna missed the dark cast that fell on Garren in that instance. She would've turned to stone. Instead, there was a dimple as she smiled back. "Let me just make a quick call to my sister to let her know not to wait up for me." With that, she walked to the pool with phone in hand.

Will warily turned back to face his doom.

"You are so pathetic." seethed Garren. Ben shook his head, equally disappointed.

The blonde hung his head, doe eyes shimmering but also this glint of sadness. "It's not that easy for me, y'know that."

I sensed an underlying conveyed there and Garren regressed the demon glare, rolling his eyes. "Fine. Stevie, get rid of her."

"What? How?" I questioned. "What do you want me to do, drown her in the pool?"

Garren gave me a look of pure horror. He shook his head and sighed. "Jesus, I'm surrounded by morons and a psychopath. Nevermind."

It seemed I'd spectacularly failed to catch his implication. However, it wasn't a total loss from the faint smile on his lips and Will's chuckles. When Fenna finished her call and was back to sticking herself next to our nervous friend's hip, Garren instantly plastered on a dazzling smile. "Hi." He stuck out his hand. "You must be Fanny."

"Actually, it's Fenna." She corrected, shaking the given hand.

Garren's smile stretched wider and I had a bad feeling on where this was going. "I just want to properly thank you for showing us around. It's been pretty boring in this hotel."

Fenna chuckled. "Oh, I know. It's a gorgeous place but after you've been here a few times, you run out of things to do."

"My thoughts exactly. A club sounds like the perfect change of pace. And it'll be great for Will here to finally have a chance to pay me back for buying him this shirt."

Will's brows pinched, blatantly confused. "What? You didn't buy me..."

His words were shut down when Garren roped him by the collar and brought his lips to meet Will's.

My jaw dropped. The gesture was far from a simple peck; tongue vivaciously sliding in to eradicate any shadow of a doubt what was performed was in no way still on the borderline of friendly affection. Then we just stood their gawking for a while as they passionately made out.

Even for purely an act, Garren didn't spare any takes on dramatics. When he gradually released Will's mouth, eliciting a low moan and he kept the gap fairly short, running a hand along Will's coiffed locks down to the dazed boy's collar. The dark haired devil grinned in pride as he briefly admired the fabric and looked up to the blonde to say in a husky drawl, "But I guess it still gets me hard the most when there's nothing on."

Another kiss. This time short, with no tongue dips so Will hadn't collapsed.

Fenna seemed to have lost consciousness on the spot. Mouth gaping, body motionless.

Then Garren faced his audience, haughty smirk in place. "Right, shall we?"

**

The journey down the streets was a quiet, awkward one. Well, aside from the diabolical boy calmly strutting by with his hands in the pockets of his chinos. Will didn't even seem to be with us. His feet were only moving out of instinct, mind adrift to another realm.

Fenna kept her distance. She stayed between Ben and I, not sparing a glance to Will's way even once, grudgingly navigating us.

The nightclub was only a ten minute walking distance from the hotel. The sign above glistened by the neon frame with the alloy of the metal molded to spell out 'ZILVER'. The Roman column themed entrance was guarded by a built man in suit with a buzz cut. Fenna hopped over to him and he immediately looked a hundred times less frightening as he smiled at her, a hug ensued. They exchanged some words in Dutch and the bouncer fixed his radar on us, ushering for us to enter without requesting IDs or anything.

My first hour frolicking in a nightclub and endeavouring in transgression started off pretty great. The music booming in the glittering stage, whether the lyrics weren't English still had bobbing your head to the beats crazily contagious. Will had the first shift with Benny but was still drastically in aftershock to even watch over himself.

Fenna was hanging by them. She'd actually started to chat with Ben after curiously asking about his cast. Since then, I'd glanced over to find her tossing her head back in laughter or beaming brightly. No trace of that previous miserably, mopey girl. There was still apprehension due to Garren's stunt so she was hesitant at flirting, visible in her meek body language but I knew Ben was capable of handling that part anytime he chose.

Garren went his separate way when a pretty girl in a sequined strapless asked him for a dance. After assuring him countless times I was fine with it, he let himself be led to the dance floor. He'd disappeared from my sight but who I was eager to seek out was the other boy. I finally spotted his golden crown of hair treading by a booth, wandering mindlessly that he didn't register the bloke staggering about with a beer slushing until it painted Will's plaid shirt.

He stopped. Eyes sinking down to regard the stain, shoulders sagging at a low exhale and the drunk bloke seemed be trying to apologise by the shaky pats. Will offered a tight smile and peeled away, course steered to the toilets at the west.

I watched the boy wistfully turn the taps, dowsing the damp patch setting in. There was another sigh.

"I think some lemon would work."

He jumped to my comment, abruptly making my presence known and he whipped his head. "Stevie what the heck, this is the men's room. You can't be in here."

"And I'm also technically not meant to be in this club." I countered.

"That's not a very sound argument to be making. Are you trying to get yourself in more trouble?"

"Yeah, it was getting a little stale breaking just one rule." I jested.

Will shook his head, smile creeping. "I'm worried we're a bad influence on you." He tried once again to rinse the stain but to no avail. At the third sigh, he began unbuttoning til every one was undone and revealed his vest.

He caught his reflection, mirroring that sullen gaze that made me so fretful enough as to disregard barging in here. "I really am pathetic." He murmured with palms rested on the basin. "I know it was just an act to get Fenna to lay off but, I'm still getting so worked up over it and I even kissed him back- god, how stupid can I be?"

"You're not stupid. You can't help how you feel."

"Story of my life." He replied, turning the tap on again. No attempt to rinse though, only to hold an absent stare on the water pressure.

"Will you're not doing anything wrong there." I started, but my amateur counseling was interrupted by two lads stumbling into the place.

Jeering and cackling merrily until one spotted me. Puzzlement struck first and then a slur of what I assumed was querying my unlawful presence. I held a sharp stare. "Ladies, fellas. Wrong room." I slowly shook my head.

They appeared incredulous but seemed to translate my claim they made an entrance to the wrong facility. They blubbered an apology, cheeks flushing from the liquor or the embarrassment and they departed, scratching their heads.

"Anyway," I continued, cutting the gap between the distraught boy and myself. "You don't need to beat yourself up for feelings. Garren should be getting the beating for doing something so unreasonable."

"I was just glad I didn't get a boner, otherwise I would've jumped right into the pool and killed myself rather than live that down."

I laughed, his own faint chuckles chiming in and there was only running water audible for a moment. "Honestly, I am surprised you reacted to this extent." I confessed. "I mean, what Garren did shocked me too but it was only a kiss."

"It didn't feel like only a kiss for me." His voice gripping. "It was... everything."

I furrowed my brows. "Everything?"

"Everything." Will echoed. His fingers absentmindedly traced along his bottom lip as he grew lost in reverie, this soft expression like nothing I'd ever seen before. Pained but so beautiful.

A kiss could do that? There were a lot of things that came to mind when I would make out with Shaun but never would I describe it as everything.

Maybe I needed to use tongue?

Or perhaps it could only happen because the boy in front of me was deeply in love and I wasn't. Whatever the case, I wanted to taste an everything kiss.

I might not have been in love with Shaun but my feelings could get stronger, I just needed time. Then I could experience it too.

The duo drunkards stumbled in again, triumph in their glazed faces that they were in the right room, until their eyes landed on me. They frowned. I put on a disapproving stare with hands on my hip. Slurred apologies were given before they exited, dragging their feet behind them.

"As much fun as it to watch that, you should really go before somebody sober walks in." Will advised.

"I'll leave when you come with." I conditioned.

"I'm fine, Stevie. Really."

I stood, dubious.

A fourth sigh. Seeing I wasn't going to listen, he gave up on trying to convince me. As anticipated, a few other men would come in but they were all too preoccupied on getting their heads to the toilets before their last dinner resurfaced or racing to the urinals. None had time to fuss on the two teenagers sat against the far corner of the walls.

At one point, Will suddenly cursed. "My shift! I left Benny..."

"That was over half an hour ago, it's Garren's turn but last time I saw him, Fenna was with him and she looked happy. Don't worry, he's not complaining about it."

He slowly came to lean back, tension regressing. "Fenna's happy? Well that's good." Will breathed his fifth sigh of relief.

"Yeah. Though, I wonder if Ben will try anything with that cast. Oh, who am I kidding? He's probably hooked up with a girl in a state like that before, hasn't he?" I joked, playfully nudging but was met with an apologetic stare. "What?"

"I'm sorry." He said. "I told you you wouldn't regret coming and now you're sitting on a toilet floor with piss because of me."

This boy never ceased on making me want to strive to be someone better. Someone who could at least protect him whenever he dumbly let himself think he deserved condemning. "Will, I'm here because I want to be. You're not forcing or guilt tripping me. We're friends, that's all there is to it."

It was there it dawned on me I'd never called us as friends before and the light on Will's face showed he realised it too. I would've preferred if the touching moment wasn't sidelined with the noise of a man regurgitating three stalls down but hey, you make the most of a moment.

"And I don't regret coming so thank you." I added.

I'd do just about anything to keep the fragile smile on the angelic boy's face maintained and it was in which, the door flung open again. Except it was no drunkard or Dutchman with a full bladder. Garren's eyes briefly scoured the premises before landing on us. "There you are! Do you know how many texts I sent you... why are two you sitting on the floor?"

I fought off the urge to spit out, 'Because of you, you tool.' However, I couldn't blame him for his obliviousness no matter how tempting. "The acoustics." I said dryly.

Garren didn't care for my satire but didn't press further due to the stench. "Whatever, just get up. Quickly. It reeks in here."

I was off to strike a deal he leave first, just so the disoriented boy could have a little more time when a voice beat me to speak. "Alright."

I whipped my head to see Will's stature towering over me as he was stood on both feet. He presented that glorious smile of his, eyes steadied as he met them with Garren's. No seeming shadows of a rattled heart.

"Come on, Stevie." A hand stretched out to me and I realised I'd been sitting there, staring. I blinked and maybe it was all in my head when Will's lips briefly pressed closer as if to subtlety tell me, 'I can get through it.'

Who was I to dare to interfere with his brave front? If he faltered at any moment, I would be sure to cover him. Ironically, I took his hand to support me upright. Garren regarded our exchange with a lifted brow but said nothing until we had stepped out of the facility.

"So, Stevie care to enlightenment me on what you were doing in the men's toilets?" He pointed to the masculine symbol for emphasis. "Or is there something you'd like to confess?"

When his eyes travelled lower, I followed the trail that led me to the space under my belts and I looked back up to find a smug grin on the prick's face. I thankfully wasn't forced to witness it for long when a conspicuous foot struck his shin. That, being my foot.

Garren recuperated by lounging on a dark booth, rapidly losing interest on whatever his sequined dancer was hoping to get from invading his personal space. I wasn't sure what he hissed at her because of the blaring music but she got up and stalked off in a huff. On the bright side, Will was spared from any more torture.

Fenna had her lips locked on Ben's from where they were smooching on the end, her taking precaution not to put her weight on his cast. It was ten pm and all three Aces had managed to sustain injuries physically or emotionally. What a night.

Except, it didn't end there as fate had it out for my turn.

Will's lap was being subjugated as a cushion for Garren to rest his leg with the limp while the brat whined about how slow the WiFi was. Ben and Fenna had taken a break from sucking face, because one of Ben's straps ended up getting unfastened from too much foreplay. So the pair were trying to find a temporary fix when neither of them had any patch skills. I volunteered to get the round of drinks.

I was handed the cash, the orders and Fenna's ID in case the bartender demanded it. Though, I wasn't sure how I would pass as a tanned, five foot seven brunette. She assured me it would be fine so long as I spoke to the employee who had three earring piercings and tattoo along his neck then told him I knew her and 'Radboud' knew I was here too. Her ways left room for question on how she formed these connections but this was neither the time or place to get into that.

So reluctantly, I ventured to the open bar with the given tools. I quickly spotted the bartender who fit the profile storing away a bottle of champagne. The resemblance to the bouncer was impeccable, in terms of intimidating demeanour at the least. His clear icy blue eyes regarded me with scrutiny as I approached the counter as if he was watching something peculiar.

He wasn't wrong on that judgement. I didn't get me at times.

I offered a nervous smile which wasn't returned. I proceeded to recite the drinks and as expected, he demanded for ID. His voice gruff, spooking me. When I slid it over, a curious expression sparked and through the nervousness, I followed the script perfectly.

Immediately, Mr. Spooky cracked a smile and shook his head. "I see she's having a good time as always..." He muttered, voice still gruff but there was a softness laced this time.

From there, I felt a lot more relaxed and watched in intrigue as he poured the drinks. Next, he generously dressed my cherry lemonade with those tiny cute umbrellas. I expressed my gratitude and took the tray. As I turned, a figure seemed to appear out of thin air.

His shoulder bumped my own but I speedily kept the glasses balanced at the expense of dropping the ID. The stranger's hand retrieved it before I could. Except it was no stranger.

I thought I was seeing things- maybe a doppelganger but that wouldn't explain the cologne being the same. Or the dozen necklaces dangling from his neck.

Beswick's eyes scanned the ID, then flickered my way. A deep frown set on his lips.

I gulped.

**

A/N: This chapter was a lot of fun to write XD! I'd love to hear what your favourite part or scene was and how do you think Stevie's situation will pan out with Beswick's sudden appearance?