"So what if he's a quick learner? Come on Kevin, you know that we're all different and such deviations between us is normal. I expect the two of you to bond, no, I want you to apologize to the scandal that was that meal." Kevin let out a groan, as if he had an idea that Clara wasn't catching. "Mom, I'll come clean. I won't deny that I am a bit envious how easy Andrew's return has been but could you blame me?"
"He has a lot of money, made friends with no difficulty and shortly after started to get good grades. I know that it was wrong and I am sorry about that version of myself, you can't tell me that you still think that Andrew is the same from all those years ago? When have you ever seen this version of Andrew make any mistakes? He's not the same Andrew, hell he might not be even human!"
Clara found Kevin's words absurd as a sigh of disbelief left her lips. "What? Are you going to tell me that he's an alien Kevin? You're not ten any more so it's time for you to grow up and accept change. This version of Andrew may be a bit more silent but so what? He's still our Andrew!" Kevin crashed back into his chair, his face cupped.
"He might appear like Andrew but this isn't the same Andrew from back then and I won't admit that he is. I will apologize for my shortcomings but accepting that freak to be Andrew is something that's never going to happen!" Clara took a long look at Kevin, unsure of why he was being so difficult to deal with.
"Maybe it's because of fights like these that Lara left." Clara didn't dwell on that before she made her way to her room, Kevin briefly catching the tears already pooling at her eyes. 'Was I wrong? Maybe I was a bit too much during lunch but there's no way that's Andrew.' Kevin made his way to the sink, the dishes still dirty. Turning on the tap and cupping the water, he splashed the water on his face, his mind digesting what had transpired.
"Lara…if it's because of me that you chose to leave then I'm truly sorry." His murmur only something he could hear, his words solemn akin to a confession. He looked at his hands, now dripping with water before slumping on the kitchen sink, his head sunken as a deep sigh left his lips.
. . .
"You wouldn't mind divulging why you're so distant. I take it that you have a philosophy or a way you live by for you to be that silent, right?" Brittany's question landing as the two were now in a park, this time the clouds hovering above them, threatening to release a massive downpour if they didn't hurry.
"Intent is a powerful thing that humans have. But are you still human without it? My silence is a remnant of that question answered." She furrowed with his words, his vagueness eliciting a groan out of her. "Are you back to that bullshit side of yours which is trying to be mysterious?" His lack of response coming off as an affirmation of her question. "What specific intent do you harbor Brittany? What is it that you want once all of this is over, once you're done with your studies and out in the real world."
His question making her fall silent in thought. "To have a lot of money sure, and with your tips I could become famous as well. But that's for my father's wishes if anything and the reason as to why I do it is because it's not a bad goal either. But as of late with your presence, I'm unsure of what I want." The two making their way through the barely populated park, gusts of wind threatening to blow their clothes away.
"How about world domination? Immortality isn't out of your grasp with your blood." His proposition catching her off guard before a question left her lips. "I refuse to believe that you aren't human to an extent. For you to talk to me the first time we met had an intent to it so I find it hard that you don't have any intent." A smile formed on her lips as if congratulating herself of her discovery.
"That was purpose but never mine." His statement eliciting a frown out of her. "Are you like this because of the people behind you? Do they train people to be like this? Because if so then it's dangerous to have someone like you to someone lacking restraint."
The two entered her car, Brittany on the wheel while Andrew was in the passenger seat. "I'm aware of the conversation with your father and he is right about you needing restraint. Your argument with Kevin proof that you are too easy to provoke. I don't need to know your intent for having me assassinate people or help them, your intent is what defines you as a person thus it would be best to have you carve it yourself. If you do want the world to play in the palm of your hands then your intent should match your greed as well as the steps required to get there."
Her hands tightened on the wheel, a light sigh leaving her lips. 'Greed. What is it with him and shooting me with that name?' Her gaze rested on his figure which looked back at her with no intent. His words came off as stating what he saw, not with the reverence a mentor would give their student or from a friend. Just the same emptiness she was used to. "You keep associating me with greed, it feels like you're projecting the word onto me. Or is that what you see when you see me?"
Her tone lacking her playfulness, her mind understanding the gravity of the situation. "No, it's what who gives me my intent sees in you." Her brows furrowed. "It wouldn't happen to be Charles, right?" Taking his silence as a nod, she let out a sigh. "I don't get this Charles person. If you can spy on me having a conversation with my father then killing us wouldn't be a problem for you. I do have to ask, who are you in Charles's mind? A servant or what?"
'If he's taking orders from Charles then I believe that he knows about Andrew's blood. He could have been the one who made Andrew the way he is right now. If so then he definitely has the power of taking over the world.' Andrew paused, as if for the first time he didn't have an answer for her question. "He's…a complicated figure. But you could view him as a friend of mine."
Brittany heard the rain grate on the roof, the water crashing on her windshield. "A friend of yours? From the way I'm seeing it, he's treating you like a servant more than a friend." Andrew's focus shifted from her to nothing in particular. "I'm what he needs. Be it a friend, a servant or a toy." His words making Brittany look to the side in guilt. "Well since this Charles guy is rather powerful then it wouldn't be much of a loss for him if I took one of his servants for my own, right?"
"Our relationship as I said is rather complicated thus for he can't lose me. Because of this you are required to be as greedy as possible with me for you to savor me." His words only raising more questions than answers. "How sure can I be that this whole idea of having me to keep you to myself not something you're planning to lure me in and turn me into something like you?" The downpour grew louder, the skies dominated with the dark-gray nimbus clouds.
"Because for you to survive the game, should your intent or greed falter, you will fall off the board." His words sending chills all over her figure in the car. The streets were empty, only their car visible as she looked at his figure. 'The way he says it seems like there's more to come.' She wanted to ask more and yet no questions left her lips as she started the car and drove back to Clara's home. "As long as you harbor your insatiableness of me to it's extremity, you'll live."
Brittany locked eyes with his obsidian beads for eyes. "Are you sure, because once I start I can't stop." His nod following as he reached for the handle. "What kind of person encourages another to be as greedy with a person?" Her query met with his apathetic gaze. "It's not a person but rather a player."
His figure left the car and was met with a barrage of rain crashing into his figure. Despite the intensity, he made his way to the door, as if unbothered with the rain leaving Brittany left alone in the car. 'Andrew, why can't you just be simple with what's on your mind. However as much as I don't want to admit it…' Her mind recollecting the lunch scene and her clash with Kevin. 'What if he's wrong? What if he wants to turn me into what he is with his blood? I still don't know who exactly Charles is despite how many times he's brought up.'
She recalled the irony that hit her when the two were at the park. 'Friends, huh?' She was still unsure of the relationship between Andrew and Charles. 'But he has no reason for him to lie to me and given what I've seen with him, it's better to have him close to me.' A murmur only she could hear echoed in the sleek red car. "I hope that you don't regret your words Andrew because what you have unleashed on yourself is something that you can't underestimate."
The car pulled out of the driveway and snaked it's way into the road. As for Andrew, when entering, he was met with an image of Kevin ready at the door. His hands fidgeting with the air around him heavy. "Andrew, it's about some time we have a talk. Just the two of us."
Kevin said as he gestured at the table which Andrew complied, his gaze the apathetic mask he had grown accustomed to. "I've realized over the lunch meal that things between us haven't been quite…as-" Andrew cut him off, his tone flat as ever. "Your jealousy is something I've ignored as it never bothered me. Whether you keep it or not is something I don't care about." Kevin grit his teeth as he heard his words. "Do you even have the slightest clue of what I'm doing? I'm trying to apologize and here you are, cutting me off!"
Kevin stopped himself, letting out deep breathes. "I was getting carried away. Andrew, I know that we haven't been talking with each other as of late and the connection that I wish to have from years ago won't come back. I confess that I envy you, how you're so good with those around you or what you touch. I know that we're different and given what you went through, I haven't been a good friend to help you settle in."
Andrew looked Kevin, his reacting as if something he deserved which baffled Kevin. "Well…say something already or are you going to wallow in your silence?" Kevin's tone though measured, a bit of left over rage could be felt. "After all a big reason as to why things got to the way they are is because you can't communicate on your end." Kevin's words felt more like a justification rather than an apology, trying to share the blame onto Andrew.
"I accept your apology Kevin. I haven't been as conversant either and I do apologize however don't expect me to change going forward." His words felt like a slap to the face for Kevin. "What do you mean you won't be changing? Are you so far gone that you can't comprehend what's going on here? I'm trying to open up to you and you're telling me that you're going to keep that distant attitude of yours? Do my efforts mean nothing to you?"A face caught between disbelief and rage etched on Kevin's face.