Chapter 5

I really am enjoying writing this story, so please give me feedaback on what I can fix and improve on in the story! PLEASE!?!?

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Chapter 5: Cole's POV- Friday, after the pool

I wiped at my sore, red eyes. I couldn't believe that I was crying my eyes out to some guy who apparently had been living next to me for my entire life.

I also couldn't believe how good Kent looked without a shirt on.... I men, I always knew swimmers were supposed to have amazing bodies, but I never knew that they could look like his! Aw hell, what the hell was I thinking? About how good a guy looked shirtless? I'm not some gay guy, right?

I blamed my confusion and frustration on those dumb-ass police officers for thinking that I was the culprit for attacking my brother. They said that they had the proof in my room, and I couldn't believe what they took out, but they brought out the knife that my dad had held against Paul's throat. I was as certain as fire was hot that that knife wasn't in my room during my time at the house, so how did it get there? Did my bastard of a father place it there while I was getting Kent to help me? I couldn't think of any other explanation though....

I felt my face blush as my mind wandered to think about how kind Kent has been to me recently, how helpful and cooperative he's been, and how good his soft, lush lips looked...fuck... not again....

I muttered a long string of curses on my way to my house, where I would have to pack my things form my house, and move at least five fucking miles away from where Paul would be staying: Kent's gigantic home. I secretly envied my brother, but I was also really excited for him; Paul would finally be living in the kind of place I could only dream of sending him.

I glanced at the giant clock placed in the heart of the school as I went to my locker, and it read three o' clock. I sighed, wishing that I could just see Paul again and tell him how everything is going to be ok again, and it pained me so much to not be able to do that this time. I reluctantly opened my locker to only have dozens of letters wishing me luck at the big game tonight. I muttered even more curses for forgetting about this game. It was the last game of the season, and of my high school career, so I knew that I had to perform really well, whether I liked it or not.

I slammed my locker closed, trying to run the new maneuvers through in my head in preparation for the game in just four hours.

I couldn't believe all of the shit that has happened to me in just a few days....

-time-skip to: Cole's house-

I grudgingly pulled up to my old, wrecked driveway in my newly fixed truck. At least I could drive to the place that I was going to be staying for a while.

I came into the house to see Paul and Mr. and Mrs. Whitman helping to pack all of Paul's stuff that he would be taking with him next door. As soon as Paul saw me, he immediately dropped what he was holding, thank goodness that it was only a pillow, and ran to me and hugged me as tight as he possibly could as he sobbed into the edges of my shirt. I ran my fingers through his soft hair in poor attempt to try to console him. “Shh, shh...it's ok Paul....”

“B-but brother,” Paul stammered. “You didn't do anything wrong! Why do you have to leave?”

“It's just for a while,” I could feel my will and strength shattering with every passing second that Paul clung onto me. “Come on, Paul, you're a big boy, right?” I knelt down to him and brought him into my arms.

Paul weakly nodded, his crying had finally stopped.

“That's my brother,” I lightly smiled as I stood back up.

All of a sudden, Mr. Whitman coughed rather loudly, and I blushed at showing my emotions in front of someone other than Paul. That's a bit embarrassing in front of Kent's parents, huh?

I sighed and placed a smile onto my face as I went to my room to collect my things, not that there were that many things to get though.

I went thorough all of my things, and found something that I had thought that I lost years ago: a small, shark-tooth necklace and a matching bracelet with my name engraved on it. I remember how I got it like it was yesterday....

-Flashback: Ten years ago, Cole was eight-

“Mommy!” I called out, running barefoot down the beach to the towel where my mother lay in the sand.

My mom was beautiful to say the least: she had light green eyes and red-orange hair and she had pretty, smooth, pale skin that looked nice on her. Everyone has a hard time telling that we're related unless they look at what mommy called a 'bone structure'. I guess she was right though because she was my mommy, and mommies never lied. Everyone said that I looked like daddy, but that was ok with me because my daddy was what my teachers called a 'role model'.

“Look what I found!” I showed mommy a sea shell that I had found in the sand near the ocean. The shell was really pretty with swirling lines and colors that mixed together really well.

I handed my mommy the shell and she told me to close my eyes and hold out my hands. I did as she instructed, and I felt something cool and small being place into my hands.

“Open you eyes, Cole,” my mommy said as she took her hands back.

I opened my eyes to see a bracelet and necklace in my hand, and both of them had a white tooth on it somewhere.

“It's a shark-tooth necklace and bracelet, Cole.” Mommy pointed to the things in my hands.

“Thank you so much, mommy!” I gave her a big hug and she laughed a bit and called me a silly boy.

-Fast-forward: Three years ago, Cole was fifteen-

God Fucking Dammit! I hated my life! It was totally unfair that some people who didn't deserve to live lived, and the people who really didn't deserve to life continued to live. Just because of some drunk driver, my mom was killed in her car. Dammit! I cursed the world and everyone in it, except for Paul though, he was my exception.

I was rummaging through my closet and my drawers for the only physical gift that I had left from my mother: the shark-tooth accessories she gave me when I was eight.

I couldn't find it! Where the hell was it? I had checked the entire room, and even the entire house looking for it.

After a few more hours of fruitless labor looking for it, I gave up in my room, slumped against my wall, and eventually cried myself to sleep.

-Present day: Friday, in Cole's room-

I looked at the objects from my mother, and sighed in relief while throwing them in my pocket. I grabbed all of my junk and went to say goodbye to Paul and the Whitmans.

I knelt down in front of Paul and smiled at him, pulling him into my chest kissing the top of his head. “Paul?” I asked softly.

“Yeah, big bro?” Paul looked at me with his dark blue eyes shimmering from the tears that threatened to fall.

“I want to give something to you before I go, I think you'll like it,” I dug into my pocket and pulled out the shark-tooth objects and held them out for him to see. “These were from Mom to me when I was exactly your age, and since I have two, I think it's only fair for you to get one of them to remember her by when you sleep at night. And heck, it may even help you to remind you of me too. Why don't you pick whichever one you like more.”

I placed the bracelet in my left hand and the necklace in my right hand. And held them both out to Paul. Paul put a finger over his mouth, clearly deep in thought of choosing such a priceless object.

“I want this one,” Paul pointed to my left hand with the bracelet in it.

I handed it to him and asked him, “Why did you choose that one?”

“Because it has your name on it,” Paul turned it over so that I could see my name engraved on a small wooden plaque opposite of the tooth.

I chuckled a bit as I let Paul clip the necklace onto my neck.

I smiled a huge grin and pulled him into a final hug as I turned around and whispered to him, “I'll always be there, even if you can't see me. And so will Mom. I know that you're strong enough to get through this. You'll do it for Mom and me, right?”

He nodded and I got up to thank the Whitmans, and Mr. Whitman said he would call me later to discuss my defense for the court hearing.

I said my goodbyes to everyone and drove to the place that Kent had arranged for me to stay at until things were settled. When I got there, I was extremely surprised to see a large, luxury hotel in front of me.

I went into the lobby to see one of the most grand entrance rooms that I've ever seen before, only second to Kent's house's entrance. I cautiously walked up to the receptionist's desk to see a smiling young woman named Sandy.

“Uh, I'm here to pick up a room under the last name of Whitman?” It came out like a question. I felt strange in such a grand place like this; it really wasn't my style...not that I wouldn't accept it or anything....

“Ah yes,” Sandy said, reaching into a wooden drawer to pull out a shiny set of keys. “You're on the top floor, floor fifteen, room twenty-five. Enjoy your stay!”

I walked into the elevator, which was no less prettier or flamboyant as the foyer, and pushed fifteen, and waited patiently for it to open to the correct floor.

I proceeded down the hall to find my room, twenty-five, which said that it was a 'Presidential Suite'. How the hell am I supposed to pay Kent back for what he's been doing? He's so sweet. For some reason, describing Kent as cute didn't bother me as much as it had earlier today. Strange things acts of generosity could do to you.

I opened the large door to reveal a luxury bedroom with a large plasma-screen TV, master bathroom, king-sized bed, and a balcony! Jesus, this was amazing!

Noticed that there was a letter on the bed though, folded up neatly with my name written in print beautifully on the front of it. I opened it to read the letter:

Cole,

If you can't tell, I don't mind at all paying for this, money is no issue with me. I am truly sorry for what has happened to you recently.

I am also excited to spend time with Paul, who seems like such a sweet boy already from what I've heard from your fellow football teammates. My father will call you sometime later tonight after your football game and talk to you about what he thinks is your best option.

I thank you graciously for opening up to me the way you did to me today. I hope I may see you soon to do the same.

Please enjoy your stay at my favorite hotel, and I hope to see you soon; Monday if not this weekend.

Your friend,

Kent Whitman

P.S.- I got you room service already, so feel free to get anything you'd like. Just fill out the forms for each meal and follow the directions.

I couldn't believe all that he had done for me....

-Time-skip: Friday night, the football game-

I was all psyched p to win tonight and hopefully impress the scouts for some colleges that I was interested in because they gave out amazing athletic scholarships.

As soon as the game began, I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my body, fueling my desire for a victory.

Surprisingly, the time flew by while I was playing, and we were able to pummel the other team by winning 51-14. I was pretty proud of myself.

After the game, I said goodbye to some of my teammates and went to Caitlin Castle's house for her end-of-the-season party. As usual, I had to drive Caleb to and from the party, unless he could find a ride back.

“Cole, man,you were awesome out there!” He clapped his hand onto my shoulder as I started driving over to the party.

I said thanks, but I wasn't really aware of what he was saying because my mind was worrying about Caitlin's party. She did know how to throw an awesome party though...but she was one of my exes, and she's gone downhill a lot after I broke up with her for cheating on me. And being the desperate girl she is, she tries to get me back every chance she gets.

I hate Caitlin Castle....

We pulled up to her street to see her house already surrounded by people's cars, so I parked a few houses down from Caitlin's.

Her house was the school's largest house, not including Kent's, and it was really secluded, making it a great destination for people to go if they wanted to have a good time.

“So are you going to have sex with anyone here?” Caleb asked, his long black hair just nipping the tips of his shoulders.

“Eh,” I hesitated. Why was I hesitating? I didn't get a chance to finish my answer because Caleb had run off to one of his other buddies just ahead of us.

I sighed in frustration and relief; Caleb wasn't a great friend, but I picked him for that reason: he'll leave you alone but still listen to you as long as you listen to him or if you're in some deep shit.

I shrugged at some nagging feeling I had as I felt my necklace before entering the crowded party.

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First of all, I'm sorry for the font change in the middle of the story; I blame the internet.

Second of all, VOTE and COMMENT! Nah, you don't have to, but it is really appreciated. I'm not horribly eveil, just remotely evil.