The final bell of the school day rung out across the halls, swallowing all order from the classrooms as students flooded out from every door towards the exit so they could get home and do whatever they had planned for the evening. Some were hitting the skateparks, others the video games.
Tyler ran to catch up with Roxy, who was waiting with Thomas and William at the front gates for him.
"You didn't forget me?" Roxy asked mockingly.
"Of course not! I was kept back as punishment for being late!" Tyler explained before winking at Roxy, causing her to cover her face to hide the blushing.
"We'll catch up with you tomorrow, bud!" William told, walking off with Thomas, understanding that Roxy and Tyler would want to be alone.
"What's up with them?" Asked Roxy, "I didn't make a bad impression, did I?"
"No! Don't worry! They just wanted to leave me with you like children."
They both laughed as they walked out of the exit, "So, how was your first day? Diamond High's not such a bad place, huh?" Tyler asked.
"It was pretty good. I met this nice guy!"
"Oh yeah? A funny guy?"
"You could say that. Some of his jokes are a little bad, though. I'm going for coffee with him in a little bit."
"Oh? He sounds like a real treat! I'm sure he's a fortunate guy." Tyler started to grin. He began to feel a stronger connection to Roxy.
"He sure is! I'm a hell of a girl! Shame I'll have to bail on you to see him, though." She laughed as she said this, bumping into his side.
They made their way to Tyler's house, a small bungalow that fit snug into a small neighbourhood filled with elderly couples.
"Well, isn't this cute? Your people surround you!" Roxy exclaimed.
"Well, it's home to me. Wanna come in?" Tyler asked.
"I think I'm going to wait out here. You won't be that long, will you?." She cockily asked.
Tyler gave a wink before entering his house and headed upstairs. Tyler lived with his mother, a nurse in her mid-thirties. His father left when his mother was pregnant, which meant she had to take all the hours she could. However, that meant she was never home, so Tyler had to cook and clean himself.
Opening his wardrobe, Tyler picked out a pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt and headed back outside.
"Ready to go?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm all good. You look nice!" She exclaimed, looking him up and down.
The pair began to walk along the pavement towards the nearest colder shop, 'Diego's', a small building with a couple of tables and chairs inside.
A young lady stood at the counter taking orders whilst two baristas would make the drinks to order.
"Staying in or taking away?" She asked.
Roxy looked at Tyler, "Taking away, thank you."
"Okay, and what can I get you?" the young lady asked.
"I'll have a Latte, please, Tyler?"
"Just a small cappuccino for me, please."
"Okay, that'll be £5.47, please."
Roxy reached for her purse, but Tyler reached his hand to stop her.
"I've got this. Don't worry." He said, paying for the drinks. The pair were directed towards a small table for the two to sit at while waiting for their drinks.
"What do you like to do for fun?" Tyler asked.
"I'm quite into Martial Arts. You know, Krav Maga and Kung Fu. I'm also heavily into parkour. My parents wanted me to be able to protect myself and get myself out of trouble, so I've been doing it for a long time. What about you?" Roxy asked.
"Well, nothing like that! I play a little guitar and drums, but I mainly hang out with Thomas, Robert and co."
"Well, it's lucky you found me. I can make your life so much more interesting."Roxy tunefully claimed; however, before explaining, one of the baristas brought over their coffees.
"How do you fancy a walk?" He asked, "I know a place with a wonderful town view." Roxy nodded before being led by Tyler into the town square.
"Over here!" Tyler directed Roxy towards a small alleyway that led to the fire escape of an apartment building.
"Oh, someone raised it. Usually, it's left lowered down. Someone must've gotten wise to me climbing up there.
"That ladder there?" Roxy pointed to the rusted ladder that hung too far off the ground to jump and grab. Assessing her surroundings, she asked Tyler to hold her coffee before moving back, preparing for a running start. She placed her foot upon a nearby rubbish bin before bounding off and latching herself onto the ladder, using her body weight to lower it back to ground level. She turned around to take her coffee back off Tyler to see him frozen and his mouth agar. Taking the coffee, he asked, "You HAVE to teach me to do this!"
"Come on!" She told, climbing up the fire escape towards the roof of the building - Tyler followed. The view was magnificent; from the rooftop, they could see all the buildings in the entire town; granted, it was a small town, but neither could resist the view. They sat on the roof's edge, watching as the sun started to lower behind the buildings and the ruined church that sat on the hills, creating a beautiful orange horizon that extended for miles, and began to turn the sky from a pink shade to a dark black.
"This was a nice night, Roxy. I'm so glad I met you!" Tyler started, "There was just something about you that brought me to you. I felt like I needed to be with you today. Does that sound crazy?"
"No, Tyler. I felt the same way! It was as if we were meant to be together!" She replied, moving closer to Tyler with every word until the two were face to face, staring into each other's eyes. Tyler could see Roxy's eyes shake and her lips tremble; he knew what he needed to do. He moved his lips closer to Roxy's and closed his eyes. Roxy followed. Their breathing got faster as they began to move their lips in a synchronised motion, but just as soon as they had started, Tyler pulled away with a painful cry. A shooting pain began from his side, almost as if someone had stabbed him - he looked down at his side, expecting it was just muscle spasms, but instead was greeted by a silver handle. They could hear approaching footsteps behind them. Roxy grabbed Tyler, pushing him behind an air vent as cover, applying pressure upon the wound, leaving the object inside of him.
"Stay down!" She demanded, horrified at the events that had just taken place. Then, peering over the top, she saw three men heavily armoured in black, with assault rifles slowly approaching in a military-style formation. They wore a name in bold white writing on the front of their armour 'REAPER'.
"Shit! I thought I had more time!" Roxy exclaimed as she reached into her bag and pulled out a leather bracer.
"I'm sorry you have to find out this way. I'll explain everything, I promise." She flicked her wrist, and out came a small blade. Then, flicking her hood from her hoodie over her head and a small black face mask over her mouth and nose, she tossed a smoke grenade towards them, encasing the attacker in a blanket of smoke. Roxy snuck towards the guards, out of Tyler's sight, leaving only his sense of hearing to track her, although he didn't have much to go off of other than grunts, smacks and bodies falling. Then, finally, a blade retracts. As the smoke cleared, Tyler peered around the corner of the air vent only to be greeted by a pile of dead bodies.
"Roxy! You!" He stumbled on his words.
"Did what I had to. If I hadn't killed them, they would've killed you." Roxy explained. She looked around at the floor where Tyler had been sitting. Blood covered the roof whilst Tyler began to turn white with shock.
"You need to trust me. More guys are coming. Can you stand?" She asked.
Tyler didn't say a word. He was frozen stiff, unable to blink, let alone stand!
"Come on, Tyler! Please!" Roxy begged while more REAPER soldiers gathered on the roof as a helicopter hovered above. Roxy threw on the hood again, preparing to strike; however, a hooded figure towered in front of her.
"Get him to safety now! I'll handle these guys!" They demanded.
"You have no idea who you're dealing with." Roxy explained, "Whoever you are, you're not a Hunter. You won't stand a chance. They will slaughter you."
"Trust me. I can handle myself. Get the kid to safety before he loses too much blood!" They told, throwing some projectile at the men. "GO! NOW!"
Roxy did as the figure told, grabbed Tyler and jumped off the building.
"Was that the Vigilante?" She thought to herself. "Not a Hunter. Either way, they seemed to be on our side. I need to get Tyler to the hideout before there's no return!"