"I was wondering whether you could tell me about your past. What exactly happened during your captivity?" His question felt out place and Andrew's indifferent glare only heightened the awkwardness that Kevin felt. "I've already told you, there's nothing to add." Kevin however remained rooted at the door, his chest heavy. "We know what you are and what you've done to Kevin!"
His words a bold statement that now grabbed Andrew's focus onto Kevin, the two locking eyes. "What do you mean?" Kevin looked at Andrew, his presence felt wrong regardless of how many times he had looked at him. "We know that you had something to do with Eliot's sudden disappearance!" Kevin pressed on. Andrew placed his book down, not with concern but out of necessity.
"I didn't know that Eliot was missing. I was here,at home,reading." Kevin balled his fists, Andrew's words came off as him trying to play dumb. "I know what you are Andrew and you are not human. You're too perfect in every way. Did you really think that no one would notice this? Good at tennis, good at debate, good at games of all sorts. If you are here to try and learn as to how to blend in with humans then you are doing a terrible job!"
Kevin had expected at the very least some push back or a reaction out of Andrew but nothing of the sort ever came. "I never said that I was trying to be human, Kevin." His words though casual felt like cold water splashed on Kevin's back on a hot summer day. "You…so you do admit that you aren't human!" His tone full of conviction as he cast an accusatory finger at Andrew who was still at the edge of the bed.
"Yes." His words making light of what he was confessing. "Then what are you?! Some rogue alien? A super human under government testing?! An android?" Andrew watched Kevin blurt out, from the outside looking in making Kevin look like a lunatic however for the night, it was just the two of them with Clara working overtime. "I'm what I need to be Kevin."
Kevin marched closer to Andrew and picked him up by the hem of his shirt. "Speak you fucking freak! I always knew that there was something wrong with you and kidnapping Eliot was nothing short of a misplay on your end! It's only a matter of time before everyone else figures out who you are and wish to kill you! Do you view us nothing more than people to be used in a test experiment? Meant to orbit you?!"
Andrew was now up, barely in Kevin's hands as he was taller than the latter. His push on Kevin back wasn't rough just enough to sever Kevin's grip off him. "I have no need of explaining anything to you Kevin! After all all of your efforts and concerns will be deemed useless in due time." His words flat as if stating a fact which irked Kevin as he tried to close the distance between the two of them. "If you're not Andrew then leave this house! You're nothing more than a freak wearing his skin!"
Kevin's words failed to have an effect on Andrew as he sunk back on the bed, reaching for his book and going back to his studying."Did you hear me?! Get the fuck out already!" Kevin backed up, rage all over his face and his fists ready for a fight. Andrew's silence as if mocking his efforts settled in between the two. Kevin didn't push it any further as he left the room, his rage still palpable.
'i can't believe that he actually admitted to that. I even got the recording for that as well.' Kevin mused as he reached for his phone showing that it was still recording. Without thought he sent the recording to the group with Claire and the rest and their reactions were immediate.
[{Claire: How did you manage to get this out of him?}]
[{Jason: Is this fake or not? It's hard to tell these days!}]
[{Kevin: It's real and he just admitted to it with no hesitation}]
[{Claire: Well I'll show this to my uncle and I'll tell you what we do next. Though we can't show this to the public as we'll be seen as insane}]
[{Jason: Make sure that you're okay! I don't want to see you suddenly disappear as well after Eliot just vanished}]
[{Kevin: Of course I'll be careful, there's no way he would tell me something like this if he isn't going to make a move on me. Catch y'all later}]
Kevin after the phone chat reached for his sweater and left the house and spent the night at a motel not far from where he was. Going against his expectations, nothing happened that night and he went back home where Andrew and his mother were waiting.
"Where were you?! Andrew told me that you just left in the middle of the night with no explanation! I was worried sick about you! Thinking I may have lost you as well!" Clara without warning wrapped her arms around Kevin, nearly crushing him to death. "I'm fine mom as you can see. I just happened to need some air and with how late it was chose to spend the night at a motel."
Kevin's gaze landed on Andrew, sharp and laced with a mixture of disgust and hatred before breaking away from his mother. "Well you better rush with your breakfast because you'll be late for your classes!" Claire said, her hands cupping her son's face with a motherly tenderness to them. "I'll hurry, don't worry about taking a shower, I already had one, it's just a matter of switching clothes."
Andrew however didn't last long as he took his leave for school.
. . .
"Darling! I thought that I would never see you again with how grave your injuries were!" Brittany's words attracting the attention of those around her as she crashed her body into Andrew's. The usual face now clean of the bruises she had last seen him with but this time there was a change to his hair, the locks that would be banded up were now in ringlets, some spilling and covering his face while the rest laid back.
"And I see that you took my advice as well. You look far more attractive than before!" Brittany's hands resting on Andrew's shoulder who had yet to offer a word to the conversation. The two left the stage and made their way down the hall, their presence attracting the gazes of students. "I guess Kevin should have told you that you became something of the talk of the school after your squabble back then. In the mouths of students and handsome, now you're more than qualified to be my boyfriend!"
Her cheerful words didn't last long as they were cut off by Rachel from the debate club. "Andrew! I hope you're okay. I saw the video and thought that you wouldn't be coming back to school for another week if not month!" Marcus next to Rachel had a look of concern replacing his usual professionalism smile. "Don't worry, I had some of those in the video brought forward and face justice. Should serve as an example for any other people who try bullying others!"
Brittany remain clung to his embrace, her presence catching the eyes of the two. "Brittany, the star of tennis as the coach and students chatter about, it's an honor in meeting you." Marcus and Brittany shook hands. "You've got yourself quite the prodigy in your hands Brittany. Silent yet when needed can leave his opponents speechless." Rachel turned to face Andrew, her smile ear to ear. "I was thinking that I could treat you to a beer for your injuries. After a debate that is, Marcus is still itching to clip your wings."
"It's a promise Rachel." After Andrew's response, the two took their leave. "They don't seem like bad people." Brittany said as they kept on going with their walk before finding a shade to settle under. "Yes, however replacable." His words an analysis of tools rather than actual human beings. "I'm sure you know this but you do know about the plan, right?" Andrew's nod satiating Brittany's queries. "Well I have classes so I'll see you later. Stay entertaining as always dear."
A strange goodbye out of Brittany but Andrew was now used to them. He too wasn't free as he made his way to his English Literacy class. Clara was already seated, Andrew didn't throw any glances her way as he sat and waited for the teacher. 'I still can't believe that we have to kill him. Is there truly no other way of going about this?' Her mind before it could run wild was jolted back into class by the lecturer.
"It would seem that we are in our last month and some of you, regretfully, from your past grades I doubt would be moving on. Thus I urge all of you to put all of your efforts into the last examination that you'll be seating for by the end of the month." Some laughed, others showed faces of concern while the rest seemed unbothered with the news. 'Maybe I should have taken some classes before I broke my friendship with him.' A joke she entertained before the class began.
*The weekend*
Kevin knocked on the door, his gaze under scanning before he was allowed. "Kevin's here so we can start." Claire said as she led Kevin to the living room where other figures could be seen. Connor and Jason. Claire sat next to her uncle whereas Jason and Kevin sat in another sofa now opposite to the former two. "We all know why we're here so let's get straight to it." Connor broke the silence, his tone gritty.
"If we really are going through with this, how sure are we that he can actually die to begin with. We already know that he isn't human to who knows what might be the thing to kill him." Jason's words making the air turn taut. "I was thinking of micro dosing his foods. And when he drops, the coroner could say that it was something related to a heat attack or the beating he had recently. Some internal injury."
Kevin however let out a groan. "That would take way too long. By then who knows will be taken away. We need something that is over and done with. A one time matter. We could shoot him till he stops moving." Claire heard the string of ideas presented however inwardly a knot began to form in her stomach. "I still think that it would be best to have an interrogation before we dispose of him. Just to answer some of our questions. Who knows, they might send another person like him once more or just kill us."
Connor let out a contemplative hum, his head resting on his hand. "Then we use something that Andrew has. Certainty. We could lure him into some isolated place, long enough to ask questions and should things go wrong we could just kill him, that is if we can." Kevin found the idea fitting while Jason was a bit hesitant. Claire let out a sigh as they began to refine the idea of getting Andrew alone. "How sure are you that he won't turn you down?"
Kevin asked, a brow raised. "I can urge him and if it doesn't work then we could get Brittany to do it." Connor butt in, his tone stern. "I wouldn't think that involving Brittany in something like this is the best idea, after all she's too unreliable at the moment. She might even outright give us away to Andrew." After some back and forth, they finally came on a plan they were all fine with.
"Just hope that this actually works, because if it doesn't then we're all dead meat after this." Kevin's words sending a shiver down Jason's spine. "Give me a day or two to look at any deviations that could happen and I'll tell you when we strike."Connor's voice dipped. "Never once had I thought that I would be planning a murder in my career but here we are." The rest shortly after bid their goodbyes, their faces grim.