TEEN AMONGST THORNS

Chapter Four: Tooth’s Warning

Kayden lumbered unto the porch of his home and reached out laboriously, turning the door knob slowly and teasing the door open. He cringed when it made a low squeak. His feet made inaudible taps on the wooden floor as he stepped into the house and shut the door carefully behind him. There was still a dull ache where Tooth had punched him in the face, and his insides still felt like they’d been twisted into knots.

He padded towards the staircase and began to trudge up the stairs, but immediately stopped in his tracks when he saw something move, from the corner of his eye.

He turned and his gaze roved the living room, eventually settling on a human-sized figure lying prone, covered partly with a light shawl.

Kayden exhaled and made his way to the couch where his mom lay asleep.

He slowly crouched down beside her and pulled the blanket up over her shoulders, watching her chest rise and fall as he did so. She’d probably stayed up all night waiting.

He eased himself to his feet and made to walk away when he heard his mother’s voice.

“It’s hours past curfew, Kayden.” “I know.”

“Go to sleep. You’re going to be doing a lot of work tomorrow. I’ll hear the whole story from you tomorrow, too.”

Kayden groaned. “Yeah, right…” Last Saturday of every month was ‘house-fixing day’. He wondered how he was going to do all that lifting and climbing tomorrow without his mum finding out he got injured.

“Good night, mom. Have a good rest.”

***

“I don’t think that wire should go over there.”

The ladder creaked as the blonde seventeen-year-old boy standing on it, craned his neck at his friend.

“Jake. I’ve been repairing stuff in this house since I was ten.” Kayden tilted his head. “A few wires can’t possibly be a pro…”

His statement was interrupted by an ear-splitting crackle. A quick spark flashed from the ceiling, almost blinding Kayden, as he jumped back, toppling from the short ladder. He landed on the floor in a disorderly mess of metal and electrical equipment.

“Oops.” Jake muttered.

“What was that?” Kayden’s mom’s voice rang out from the kitchen.

“N…nothing…” Kayden yelled in reply. He pulled himself to a sitting position and looked up at Jake.

“Umm…I know it’s cruel to say this, but…” Jake clicked his tongue. “I told you so.” “Shut up.” Kayden hissed as Jake helped him get to his feet. “Owwww.”

“Are you alright?” Jake asked, his brows slightly furrowed.

“I’m fine.” Kayden grimaced, holding his sides. They stared at each other for a few seconds, then exploded into howls of laughter.

“That was a craaaazy stunt you did there.”

“I…” Kayden chuckled. “ I think my spine cracked when my butt hit the floor.” Jake replied with an amused whoop.

“You kids can keep laughing your asses off there! Neither of you are having breakfast until Kayden finishes up.”

“Hear that, Kayden? Come on, dude. Get back to work,” Jake prompted, setting up the ladder again.

“You can go over to your house and have whatever you want. There’s even a fancy restaurant across the street.” Kayden rolled his eyes.

“Your mom makes mean sandwiches. You know I can’t survive without’em.”

Kayden chuckled. He ascended the ladder again and continued working, plier in hand. “Umm, by the way, you alright, Jake?”

“What?” Jake asked, absent-mindedly.

“Yesterday. You went off at Tooth. Did you get hurt?” “Nah. Not a scratch.”

“That’s good. Wouldn’t want you getting hurt because of me.”

Jake chuckled. “Don’t be silly. I’m waaay taller, and waaaay stronger than you are. Surely, I could take a few blows if Tooth threw them at me.”

“If?”

“Well, he didn’t exactly…” “Kayden! Someone’s at the door.”

Kayden glanced at Jake. “Okay, mom. Be right there.”

“Stay where you are, mate. I’ll get the door.” Jake loped into the sitting room and approached the front door. He turned the knob. “A splendid morning to you! What brings you…”

He stopped half-way through his speech when his gaze settled on the man on the other side of the door.

“Well, hello there.” Tooth loomed over him, six-foot-four-tall, his arms crossed behind his back.

“What are you doing here?” Jake growled.

“That’s not exactly how you welcome a visitor now, is it, Jake?” “Get out.”

Tooth’s face contorted into a frown. He leaned in to Jake, his nostrils flaring. “I came here to tell your friend somethings, but seeing as he’s not here, I’ll tell it to you instead. Warn your friend not to get involved in business he knows nothing about. Or else someone will get hurt.”

“Are you threatening us?” Jake could feel bile rising in his throat.

“It’s a warning. If you don’t want your friend getting hurt, you had better convey my message. Do you understand?”

Jake clenched his teeth.

“Good.” Tooth grunted. He leaned back and slipped his huge hands into his pocket.

Jake watched him turn around and cross the sidewalk in a few lunges, getting into a Land Rover and speeding off.

He stared into thin air for a moment, then closed the door.

“Who was it?” Kayden came up behind him, a small grin lingering on his face. “Tooth.” Jake breathed.

Kayden’s chest dropped. “What did he say?”

Jake rubbed his palms together, looking Kayden dead in the eye. “He said someone’s going to get hurt if you don’t stopped getting involved in his ‘business’.”

“What business?” Kayden’s breath hitched. “I never even met him before the party!” “Shhh.” Jake gestured towards the kitchen.

Kayden lowered his voice. “You think he’s talking about Lexi?”

“I don’t think so.” Jake shook his head. “He seemed like it was something more serious.” Kayden’s eyebrows raised slowly.

“What?” Jake stared at his friend.

“I…a couple nights ago, I was at the petrol station. I witnessed him beating up a young guy…but I don’t think he saw me…” Kayden swallowed, trying to think. “Then how did he know…”

“Maybe he was referring to something else…” “Jake! Kayden!”

They both startled.

“These sandwiches aren’t going to eat themselves!” “Let’s go before my mum suspects something.” “Wait.” Jake held Kayden back.

“What?”

“He knew my name. Tooth. He called me by my name.”