Who Are We?

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My heart races as Jason begins to walk towards the car. Holy shit. He just, and I. The men who had captured us begin to laugh. They talk with Jason for a bit outside of the car but I don't listen. All I can focus on is the pounding of my heart and how dazed I feel. Jason killed a man. The person I'm living with, that my... friends are living with. He just killed someone. Soon he opens the car door and slides into the driver's seat. We sit there in silence until he puts the key into the ignition. "I talked to the guys, we get the car." He says, his voice void of emotion. I just nod silently averting my eyes from his deep blue ones. I can tell he knows what I'm thinking. And my suspicions are proved when he speaks again about twenty minutes later while we're stuck in traffic.

"Seth, I know you're scared. But I promise you. I won't hurt you. I won't hurt any of them." As we sit in mile long traffic I look at him.

"I know. It's just. I've never seen, ya know. And it's my fault anyways. I just don't understand why me escaping is such a big deal. I don't see anyone hunting you down." He chuckles a little bit, making him take on the persona of a big brother more than a man who had blood on his hands.

"Well I don't think they wanted me back." I raise my eyebrow at this statement. What did he mean 'they didn't want him back' they see everyone as a valued part of the system. I open my mouth to say something when he reads my mind again.

"I wasn't exactly a normal kid for the Imperium-"

"You were a part of one of the Projects!"

"Hold your horses and let me finish."

"Sorry."

"Anyway. I was part of a Project. Agh, I've never told this to anybody. But, I lost a few people, but, the Imperium was more than happy to have their problem out of the way." He sighed. It was obviously hard for him to explain this. He seemed ashamed. But after what just went down, I don't think keeping secrets is our biggest problem anymore.

"So only you and me know?" I queer. The idea of keeping this a secret from the rest of the group felt wrong yet, it also felt like I had a reason to stay. Even after these horrible events, Jason and I now had something to share. Something that made him more that just an acquaintance, and more of a friend. Well maybe a friend is the wrong word.

"Well what happened here tonight is to remain a secret from the group. Ryker and Scout especially. They're already paranoid enough."

"And as for the thing about you and the projec-"

"Ryker knows. He saw something he shouldn't have and, well he just knows. But he doesn't need to know you know." He clears up, but even though his voice seems like it's all I need to know, my mind wants more.

"Why can't we all know together. Us boys I mean. It gives us something we can do-"

"I know you want to be accepted and welcome in our little group. And I get that. But I assure you, bonding over my past is not how you have to do it." He almost growls causing me to look down at my ragged converse high tops in embarrassment.

"Sorry." I mumble. He sighs and puts a strong hand on my shoulder. I look into his layered blue eyes and nod in understanding. I know he doesn't mean to be rude. He just deserves his space. His privacy. Soon the traffic clears up and we continue towards the small apartment that's beginning to seem more like home.

~ ~ ~

The door swings open and we stare straight into Cade's bright blue eyes, full of worry. Before we can do anything both Jason and I are trapped in her embrace. We can feel her shaking madly."Where were you? We've, well, I've been worried. I don't know if Ryker or Scout is." She pulls away from us and backs into the small living room. Ryker is sitting on the sofa and Scout is walking towards us.

"Scout..." I barely hear from Ryker in an attempt to do...what? Before I know It there's a loud SMACK. I am full of confusion until pain flares across my cheek and another loud sound of skin against skin is heard.

"You insufferable little peices of shit. Have you no IDEA what the past week has been like!?" She screams, piercing my ears like knives. The thing that really strikes me is the fact that we had in fact been gone for a week. And the fact that she cares about me? Kind of.. weird.

"I'm sorry guys but-"

"Oh no I'm not done with you two. We searched for you guys day and night. Cade barely got any sleep. Ryker was constantly out looking during the day. And every goddamn night I would. I mean for fuck's sake! What happened?" She lectures exasperatedly.

Jason walks forward and into the room. "We found a trail that lead to large sums of money. I thought we could find a decent job for Seth. Turns out it was for nothing. Sorry for making you worry." He lies smoothly. She glowers, not seeming to believe him.

"Yeah right. You would have called one of us if that was the case. God damn it! Am I supposed to believe that?! You were gone for a WEEK and we don't get a fucking call? Because you found money? Bull!" She was going crazy.

Her shoulders were bunched up to her ears and her face was scrunched up. I've never seen this before. Ryker steps forward, placing a hand on Scout shoulder. She automatically calms down and sighs, her shoulders going down slightly and she rubs her temples. He then looks and Jason.

"What did you do Jason?" The look in his eyes proves he knows something. His gaze drifts towards me and I meet his dark hazel eyes. Shadows ring his eyes, proving how late he stayed up. He reads me like an open book. I always thought I was good at hiding emotion during Secrets class. But around these people. These people who have seen so much, I break down. He smirks as if he realizes I know Jason's secret.

"Or maybe Seth can tell us?" He points out. I stare at him blankly as all of the eyes in the room direct their attention towards me. I can feel the questioning gaze from Cade, Scout, and Ryker. But The daring look from Jason overruns them all. I know he wants me to lie. And that is what I'll do.

"He's not lying. We we're shopping for new clothes and headed for lunch. We were seated and the booth behind us started to talk. About large sums of money. We decided to investigate. Of course we didn't get far but, we got an idea for a job." I lie mainly. The girls seem pretty convinced, although Scout has to think about it for a while. Ryker on the other hand sees right through me.

"Well, don't do it again. I've been in charge of making food and I can't bake and cook for my life!" Cade exclaims walking into the kitchen. I chuckle a little as I hear her annoyed sigh when the sound of smoke alarms goes off from that area. Scout's corners of her mouth turn up and looks at the both of us.

"Well thanks for coming back. And next time you have a chance for money. Let me fucking in on it." She jokes before plopping onto the couch and grabbing a book off the coffee table. Ryker continues to look at us.

"Hey guys. Mind if we talk for a second? In private." He spits. Jason glares at him while I simply stare at him confused. He walks up to him, and stands an inch away. Daggers are flying through the air and Scout raises her grey eyes from the book she was reading. They stare at each other for a few more moments until Jason speaks.

"I need to take a shower." Is all he says before walking into the bathroom. Scout and I exchange looks before she looks back down at her book once more. Ryker looks at his feet, muttering a few curse words before stalking into the kitchen, more than likely to help Cade cook something not burnt. I stand there in the middle of the small living room. Once again I am all alone with the pit viper.

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