1 Prologue

He stood at the top of the hilled road waiting. His lightly tanned coloured skin lightened with the sun shining down. His brunette brown hair flowed with the wind which would fall to fringe around his emerald eyes. He wore a black hoodie with a black shirt underneath and black jeans that matched his black trainers that had a white lines running along them. Raising his hand to the sky waving, he called out to another boy his age, 18, catching his attention.

The approaching boy had a checkered shirt that was unbuttoned with another white t-shirt underneath. He wore blue jeans and blue and white trainers. His skin was dark and he had chocolate brown eyes. "Yo Alex." He called out.

Alex smiled standing at the top. "How's it going?" He said with a cheerful expression. The question was never answered as Alex knew how he was at the moment of looking at him. "What's troubling you now Prince?" Alex thought to himself. He extended his hand forward in a fist shape and so did Prince, bumping them together. Their friendship stemming back to being mere infants. They were inseparable.

"Where we headed?" Said Prince.

"To the market" Responded Alex. "We're gonna meet up with Levi there and I make sure you don't bring up what today is. I don't want her to feel she must do something."

They both walked side by side down the road. The street was neither busy nor quiet with a few cars passing by leaving a weak gust of wind following behind. The roads seeming relatively new although they had just been repaired from extensive damage from the elements. The houses semi-detached with all of them having a dull painting and the same brick walls. No colour existed on this street and all the people seemed ordinary. The street was their home. The place they grew up. They were different to the other people of the neighbourhood. They had an aura about them which would contradicted each other yet they still fitted together perfectly.

"I'm guessing Clara is gonna be there too, with Levi of course." Prince said breaking the quiet of the walk.

"I guess so too. Hopefully she hasn't said anything to Levi. I just need to pick up the gift I got her from the market. She knows that I'm not to keen on receiving gifts but still finds a way to get me one." Responded Alex in quiet mumbling tone.

"Well, you know that's not gonna happen, for all we know Clara may not have said anything and Levi would still turn up with gifts. You know Levi well enough, she'll make sure you get gifts on a day like this. She doesn't need to be convinced into it by anyone."

"I know."

Alex sighed and looked up with a smile. His green eyes glinting in the sun. Prince looked at him and smirked. They were close to the market, they could tell by the sudden abundance of people around them. All people of different ages, ethnicities and cultures. The different smells of different sections of the market, spicy, sweet, citrusy and a lot of others which you could taste at the back of your throat, exciting the senses.

Alex looked past the stalls, his eyes widening and a smile growing on his face. His face lit up. A girl stood at one of the stalls looking at the different anime key chains. Little chibi characters. She also held a big gift bag. Her eyes blue, sapphires that drew the attention of people around. Her eyes spoke the things she was; caring, beautiful and loving. She had blonde hair that just passed her shoulder, it faded to a green from a quarter way down to the bottom. Her skin not too pale and a blushing glow in her cheeks as she smiled excitedly. She wore a fluffy jumper and a pair of jeans and also a headband that matched the colour of her eyes. Her name was Levi.

Next to her stood a girl who was just an inch taller than her at a height of five foot seven. She had long, light brunette hair. Her eyes a bright brown with pale skin. She had slightly visible freckles on her cheeks. She wore black jeans and a black NASA shirt as well as a cap with a rocket on the front. She also looked amazed at a chibi figurine she was holding from the stall. Her name was Clara.

Clara glanced up and spotted both boys looking over. Alex noticed and began walking over to them as Clara smirked. As Alex reached them Clara reached up to Alex who was four inches taller than her wrapping her arm around his shoulders. "How's my baby bro doing?" She said as she rubbed her other hand onto his hair roughly.

Alex laughed as Clara held him down. "Hey, come on, you're only a month older than me."

Clara released him giggling. Clara and Prince bumped fists together. "Respect bro." They said in unison. Levi looked over to at Alex with a smile that melted his heart. He stuttered momentarily as he smiled and tried to speak. Prince nudged him lightly helping him release his words.

"Happy Birthday Levi. I just need to pick up your gift." Alex said blushing slightly.

"Don't you play dumb with me. Today is June seventh, It's also your birthday too. I got you something you'll love." Responded Levi playfully whilst grinning. She pulled his jacket pulling him down. She moved her hand through his hair and then patted his head. "Your hair is so soft, I love it."

"Man you are getting pulled around." Chuckled Prince.

"Aww, look who's jealous." Teased Clara followed up by her sticking out her tongue.

Prince stuck out his tongue back at her and laughed. Levi looked at her phone checking the time. "Our booking at the restaurant is in about twenty minutes. Let's head over so we're not late." She said.

"You guys head over. I just need to go pick up the big surprise." Alex said with slight urgency.

"Ok, we'll see you there. I wonder if Kellin is gonna show up. I wonder if he remembered." Responded Levi.

Alex's face went blank momentarily and quickly turned away so she wouldn't see. The mention of that name did something to him. It didn't bring out a pleasant reaction in Alex. He headed towards the postal shop where the parcel was waiting. The others headed to the restaurant.

The shop interior walls were an old faded red and was like a basic, off licence corner store. It had a small postal unit at the back with a little old lady at the stand. She was small and short and had long black hair. Although she was elderly, she had a smile that made her seem more youthful. She smiled as Alex walked to the back with a black can of cola. She had known him for a long time. She knew how his parents fate came to be. She knew what he was living through and supported him.

"Happy birthday sweet child" She said gently as he walked up to the counter. "Here's your package, and you can have that drink for free as a treat." She placed a slightly large package which sounded to have multiple items in. Alex picked up the package. Only to notice that a familiar presence was standing behind him. He felt it as if the person was right over his shoulder. Alex slowed his breath.

"You're looking a bit tense Alex." Said a voice he'd heard before.

Alex held his breath and gritted his teeth and forced a smile to turn around to the person. It was a boy of the same height of five foot eleven. He had pale skin and wore a purple t-shirt. He wore black skinny jeans and had messy blonde hair. His eyes were a golden colour with the look of an unhinged madman behind them. He smiled in a menacing manner that made it look as if he was looking down on me. Pitying me for being a human. "I didn't see you there..." Said Alex trying not to grit his teeth.

"I know." He said as if Alex wanted to hear. He walked up to the counter. "Hey lady. Do you have package C473E1?"

"Oh? Kellin child? I have your package, and please call me Ms Khun." Said the lady.

"Ms Khun, you know Kellin?" Alex asked surprised.

"Yes, I do my child." She replied. "From how I know him I can't tell you, but you may find out soon."

Kellin's smile turned the most sinister after Ms Khun gave the answer. He took the package from her and turned back to Alex. "I hope you didn't get her more of that anime crap, I already have to put up with enough of that crap." He said with a sense of spite.

Alex's forced smile turned to a grin. "Aww, I guess you'll find out what I got her when I give it to her." Alex said in a slightly mocking manner. Kellin's smile dropped from his face. He didn't like the answer he received. He walked past Alex out the shop. Alex looked back to Ms Khun who was smiling and waved.

Both Alex and Kellin headed towards the restaurant side by side. Not one word was spoken yet the tension was high. The air around them was thick with the intent of a potential fight but they just walked normally. To others they just looked like friends walking about together in the town, but it was far from that. Looking at their faces you could see how much they despised the others presence around them. It was as if they were both ready to pounce out like lion onto a weakened deer. But they were both lions who knew not to attack the other.

They had to headed through an alleyway to shortcut to the restaurant. It looked gloomy even in the sunniest of days like today. They continued into it without any thought. There was a group of three shady looking men who looked to be armed. Looking as if they were about to approach us, Kellin slightly turned his head towards them, it was as if he was showing them his face as confirmation. They then continued about their own business and we were soon out the other end of the alleyway around the corner from the restaurant. They made their ways there with no more strange events.

Levi waited inside with both Prince and Clara. They sat at a table which had couch like seats on both sides. One side fully occupied by All three of them with Levi in the middle. Prince noticed them walk in and looked confused. Clara noticed Prince looking over and looked up at both of them. "Ah, both of you arrived together, look at them. Best of friends they are!" She announced loudly.

Kellin walked ahead of Alex and took a seat on the opposite couch. Alex did too and was greeted by a mumble from Prince. "Surprised ya didn't kill each other before ya got here." He said.

"Now that we're all here we can finally begin" Clara said smacking one hand down on the table.

Levi giggled and looked over at both Alex and Kellin. Both of them looked uncomfortable next to each other. They didn't look in each other's direction. Levi noticed this and stood up from her seat.

Can you please move out for a second Prince?" She said.

Prince got up and Levi moved out only to tap Alex on the shoulder to get up. She sat in between Both the boys. They both looked slightly embarrassed as they knew why she sat there. Prince and Clara grinned at them snickering.

"Let this party begin!" Levi announced. She smacked both Kellin and Alex on the back and they looked away in embarrassment. Prince started giggling and Clara nudged him. "Stop man." She said hypocritically as she broke into laughter.

Prince got his backpack and took out two matching hoodies. They were black and the slightly smaller one was fluffy. They were the first edition hoodies of the Colliding Sky tour from Pierced Veil. Both Alex and Levi looked shocked at the hoodies.

"Dude how'd you get these?" Alex exclaimed.

"Wow! This is so cool" Levi said.

"My turn!" Clara yelled as she took out two purple boxes and handed them both over. They both opened the boxes at the same time and looked amazed at the contents. It was matching bracelets that were limited edition by the band BST.

"What...?" Alex said.

"How?!" Levi exclaimed.

"I have my ways." Clara responded whilst giggling.

Kellin smirked looking at those gifts and got out his bag. "Here you are Levi." He said.

Levi took the bag and pulled out a pair of shoes.

"EHHHH?!" She exclaimed in shock like a character from an anime. They were super expensive shoes that she had been looking at for a long time. They were white and faded to baby pink on the back. She gave Kellin a hug in appreciation.

He gave a card to Alex that read "don't open until you get home" and chuckled.

"Ok" Alex said. "It's my turn." Kellin looked on closely at the gift.

Levi took the package from Alex and was greeted to a wig of a golden brownish colour.

"It can't be." She said. She continued unpacking and her face lit up with glee.

"Oh my god!" She yelled and hugged Alex followed by a kiss on the cheek. It was the super rare very limited Tohru cosplay from her favourite anime Working Lady's Dragon Maid. Kellin Gave a slight look of disgust for a slight second and Alex grinned happily.

"We're not done yet" Levi yelled. "I knew you would do this Alex. So I got you something of equal worth. She pulled out a box. Alex opened it. It was a necklace with a circle patterned pendant. The pendant could be opened and inside was a picture of both of them smiling on the day they won an award together for best Lyrics and Singing.

Alex put it on and smiled. "I love it" he said with a bright smile. Kellin looked at him with disdain.

"Ok! It's time to actually order some food." Clara announced.

The day continued and everyone went home after.

Alex got home. He opened the card from Kellin. "SHE'S MINE." It read.

Alex looked down at it and put it back in the envelope in his pocket. A serious look built on his face. Prince who he shared the house with saw his expression but said nothing. He could already tell what was wrong.