The next day at school, Caius walked through the hallways with a sense of fear. After the tense conversation at Bianca's house, he wasn't sure how his friends would react. He spotted them at their usual table in the cafeteria, but something felt off.
As he approached, Grayson, Bianca, Penelope, and Kial seemed engrossed in their conversation, their backs turned slightly towards him. Caius took a deep breath and walked over, hoping for the best.
"Morning, guys," Caius greeted, trying to sound upbeat.
"Morning," Grayson replied, barely looking up.
Bianca offered a slight nod before hastily looking away. Penelope and Kial exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. The sense of camaraderie that usually permeated their group was noticeably absent.
Caius sat down, feeling the tension. "So, uh, did anyone find out anything new about the principal?"
There was a brief silence before Kial finally spoke. "Nothing much. Just the same stuff we talked about yesterday."
Caius nodded, trying to ignore the gnawing feeling in his chest. "Right. Okay."
The conversation was stilted, each of them making an effort to avoid the topic that had caused the rift. Caius could feel the distance growing between them, and it hurt more than he had expected.
As the day went on, Caius noticed his friends drifting further away. They no longer walked to class together, and during lunch, they seemed to find excuses to sit elsewhere. It was clear that the revelation about his family's past had made them uncomfortable, and Caius felt isolated.
After school, Caius lingered by his locker, hoping one of his friends would come by and talk to him. But as the minutes passed, it became clear that they were avoiding him. Feeling defeated, he gathered his things and headed home, the weight of his friends' distance heavy on his shoulders.
Last Night
Trevor knew it was time. He had avoided the Panthers' world for too long, and now it was catching up with him—and affecting his son. With a determined sigh, he grabbed his leather jacket, his Panther jacket, and headed out the door.
Trevor's motorcycle roared to life, the engine's growl reverberating through the quiet streets as he made his way to The Panther's Den. The familiar rush of adrenaline surged through him, a mix of nostalgia and trepidation. He hadn't set foot in The Panther's Den in years, and the thought of facing Bonkin again filled him with a sense of inevitability. Once they were the best buddies in the world but now, especially after the night Bonkin had hit him, he knew things had changed.
The nondescript building loomed ahead, its faded black exterior and flickering neon sign, the very one his mom had designed, a stark reminder of the past he had tried to leave behind. Trevor parked his bike and took a deep breath, steeling himself for the confrontation.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door, Trevor stepped inside. The interior was as he remembered—dimly lit, the air thick with smoke, and the low hum of conversation. Patrons glanced up as he entered, a mixture of recognition and curiosity in their eyes. His mom's painting is still drawn to the wall, not even a single color faded.
Trevor made his way to the bar, where the burly bartender eyed him with a cautious nod. "Trevor," the bartender greeted, his voice gruff. "Been a while."
"Yeah," Trevor replied, his tone steady. "I'm here to see Bonkin."
The bartender nodded toward the back room. "He's in there. Be careful."
With a nod of thanks, Trevor headed to the door at the far end of the room. He could hear the low murmur of voices and the occasional burst of laughter from within. Pushing the door open, he stepped inside The Panther's Den.
The back room was larger, filled with the same thick smoke and dim lighting. A group of men sat around a table, playing cards and drinking. Their eyes turned to Trevor as he entered, and the room fell silent.
Bonkin, who had been laughing at something one of the men had said, looked up and his expression hardened. "Trevor," he said, his voice cold. "What brings you back here?"
Trevor walked over to the table, standing tall despite the tension in the room. "We need to talk, Bonkin. About Caius."
Bonkin leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. "What about him?"
"He's getting dragged into this mess," Trevor said, his voice firm. "He came here last night looking for answers. I can't let him get involved with the Panthers. He's just a kid."
Bonkin shrugged. "He's your kid, Trevor. And he's curious. Can't blame him for that."
"That doesn't mean he should be put in danger," Trevor replied, his frustration evident. "I left this life to protect him. But now it's pulling him in, and I won't let that happen."
"You're lying again Trev. When you left Caius was already born. If the reason you left was to protect him you would have left before that." Bonkin's expression softened slightly, a hint of understanding in his eyes. "But you're right. Caius shouldn't have to deal with our mess. But he's got the spirit, Trevor. Just like his grandmother."
Trevor felt a pang of pride and sorrow at the mention of his mother. "Rose would want him safe. And so do I. For the reason of my leave It's better you guys don't get involved. Look the thing is Caius is in a rough place. He was getting bullied at his old school and then I divorced his mom. I'm an alcohol and drug addict. We suddenly moved across the country. Caius wants someone to rely on. I don't want that person to be you just because you told some old sweet stories of my mom. Keep him out of everything"
Bonkin sighed, leaning forward. "Alright, Trevor. I'll keep an eye on him. Make sure the guys know he's off-limits. But you need to talk to him. He needs to understand the stakes."
Trevor nodded, grateful for Bonkin's concession. "Thank you. I will."
As Trevor turned to leave, Bonkin called after him. "Trevor, be careful. Things are getting heated around here. The principal's death stirred up a lot of trouble."
Trevor paused his hand on the door. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Bonkin."
With a final nod, Trevor left The Panther's Den, the weight of the confrontation lifting slightly from his shoulders. He wanted to tell the reason. He wanted Bonkin to know he didn't betray the Panthers and would never betray them.
"Messy," Bonkin said.
"Yep"
"Were you the one who led Caius here?"
"No. You saw me here. I was here all day."
"Did you make Bennet or Nina do It?"
Mesmeralda laughed as she replied " Ben. I thought you guys wouldn't realize It. Well done to you for being smarter than I thought you were BJ."
"Not that nickname again. But It wasn't your place to tell him"
"He saw you hitting his dad. And Panthers is his right soo."
"No. We established. After Trevor's betrayal, Panther won't be anyone's. Only the best could be the leader."
"He got potential."
"Whatever, I have to go and take care of a new shipment."
"Gun or drug?"
"Drug. Guns won't be here until the end of the month. Try to keep up with things Messy." Bonkin said and with that, he was out of the Den.
"Miss Nicole, the painter came should I let him come here?" a Panther asked.
"Yes, tell him to cover the bullet holes properly and then re-paint Miss Rose's picture. Where is Larry?"
"He didn't come today" the Panther replied.
Mesmeralda sighed and ran a hand through her hair "Perfect(!), they are making me do all the work."
"Alright, let's get this place in order, Sisi" Mesmeralda said, her voice firm with resolve. Sisi quickly nodded.