The full moon bloomed in the darkness, glowing the streets in a tinge of yellow.

Walking Tom could see two figures standing before a gate.

Further along the groups stumbles, he managed to get a clearer view of the two.

The person closest was a short girl, excluding the high heels, she probably neared the height of around 5 foot.

She wore a one piece dress that was orange, like a bright road cone.

The dress had no sleeves exposing her hands onward to her shoulders, but the front of the dress reached up covering her collar bone.

When she turned to talk to the other figure Tom saw the back of the dress, that had an opening in the shape of a diamond.

Looking closely at her dark brown skin, Tom additionally notice that she didn't have on a bra.

The bottom half of the dress stopped right above her knees. Tom notice the skirt resembling one of those badminton balls that he used during P.E.

The second person was around the head length taller than the girl. He wore a light blue dress shirt and had his sleeves rolled up.

Getting closer you could notice their resembling features. With a glance, it looked like the second figure was an older man nearing his 30s. Together with his stern face, Tom jumped to the conclusion that it was most likely her dad.

At first from a distance you could see her crossing her arms and tapping her foot along the pathway constantly. When she noticed the group she had a talk with the older figure and started walking to meet the group half way.

Coming closer she squinted her eyes hunching over slightly,"Deano?"

Grinning, He dumped his box in Hugo's hands. Walking closer he answered, "Hey, Happy birthday."

While walking up and giving Deano a big hug, she shouted out as she noticed herself being airborne."Oh my god, Deano!"

After lifting her up in the air for a second, he put her down due to his arms still hurting from the workouts at the park .

Since it was her birthday in motion, Deano felt something off about the commanding atmosphere she showed.

Looking at the rest of the group she tilted her head."You didn't bring twelvies to my party did you?"

Putting on his best attempt of an upset look, Deano answered.

"They're like year eleven, It's all good."

Not believing his words one bit, she started looking over everyone secretly, one by one. After checking Hugo, Tom and Leo she stopped. Frowning she pointed at Sam.

"This is your little brother isn't it, you do know that Nadine's here right?"

Pausing, he looked towards Sam. Seeing him shrug, Deano answered.

"They're fine, they worked that stuff out the other day."

With a doubtful expression she said.

"Really, because she's been crying about Dante all night."

Thinking of no way around it, Deano brought out the bro card. But not before he gave a glare towards Sam

After explaining a long list of times when he had her back or hooked her up with stuff, they ended up being aloud in.

Only under the condition that Sammy didn't do anything to ruin the party or else they would all have to leave.

When they entered through the gateway, Tom could hear the constant thud beat like a ripple guiding him, making him want to get closer, like a moth to light.

Although he had the random urge he managed to withhold it following Deano, who decided that they first needed a good spot. While nobody was near and it was just the group, Deano couldn't help but mention that he tapped the birthday girl. Going into details about the experience he mentioned things that Tom had never heard of. Due to his bad boy persona in his past life Tom got plenty of experience in the subject. However, women didn't do these actions Deano explained.

The things he said sounded like stuff the good Lord never intended for people to do, but the way Deano explained things could intrigue any young teenage boy. Coming to a fence line with a long chair Deano the ring leader finally decided on a spot to place the boxes.

With a hangout spot set, Tom ended up doing the first thing he wanted to do and that was to see if he could find Taliya. First, he searched around his current spot. He could make out familiar figures in the crowd from school, but no Taliya in sight. With no luck Tom decided to head to the garage. Ducking under a clothes line, he carried on in the direction of the thrilling music that he heard when he entered the party.

` Feeling a slight tug towards his shirt he turned around seeing his good friends Sam and Leo. From the loud music he couldn't hear Sam but he managed to tell what he meant by is actions. He had is thumb up mouthing the word 'you all good?' slowly, in response Tom just nodded quickly a few times.

Entering the garage Tom noticed a crowd of people dancing in the middle, although it looked awful in his eyes, the fact that everyone was having a good time was contagious. Not trying to be to obvious he looked around in a shrewd manner.

I can't seem to see her, maybe she didn't end up coming after all and it's just Nadine who is around here. I can't give up that easily though, she could end up in someone else's arms. Oh no, she could be with another guy right now. Well in thought hands came out of nowhere covering his eyes.

While pondering Tom heard an attempted girls voice.

"Guess who."Having no clue who it was he just guessed the person most likely to do this act.

"Leo?"With a familiar slap on his back Tom finally figured out who it was."Hey funny guy!, I didn't know you knew Casey."

Yeah well that's because I don't, Tom thought inwardly.

"My friend's brother knows her they’re pretty close!"Tom said, after a slight pause he continued. "In a way!"

Chuckling Chad gave Tom a vodka bottle.

"My mum and dad knows her parents so me and Casey are childhood friends!"

Due to the music being loud everyone shouted in each others ears and with Chad's saliva trickling in Tom's ear, it wasn't a great experience. So he tried to wrap up the conversation quickly.

"You know where the twins in our form class are!?"

Pointing his arms in the direction of the house Tom notice Chad flexing his muscles while doing the action.

Back outside in the yard. Deano wanted to know about the situation that just about got them no entry into the party.

"What's up with this Luca thing, who's that?"

Contemplating it took awhile for Sam to answer, letting out a sigh he finally decided to tell his brother.

"Nadine's boy, well maybe ex now. He's a member of Quelli spietati."

Hearing this Deano couldn't help but break out into a laugh.

"What a small world, you know if he knows Luca?"

"Yeah probably, who doesn't know him," Sam said.

Looking down the fence line at an empty area Sam continued. "Holdup I gotta take a piss."

Smirking, Deano decided to give Sam a piece of advice. " Always hold the first piss in, or else you'll end up pissing buckets.

Seeing Sam's disbelieving grin, Leo added in also. "Yeah it's true."

"What do you know you don't even drink." Sam refuted back like lightning.

Shrugging his shoulders Leo answered. "Just do."

Not considering the pairs words he strutted off into the empty area.

Entering the house Tom brushed past Nadine, he could tell it was her by the jacket she wore. She didn't notice him, because she looked to focused on making sure her legs were stable and working. Holding and pushing off everything and anything she manage to rickashay and stumble to where she wanted to go. Realizing that Taliya had to be inside Tom entered the house.

When he came inside he heard the music slightly die down. To the right was a kitchen table fully seated with adults, Casey and her dad was apart of the group seated at the end furthest from Tom. It looked like they were all focused on making jokes about the birthday girl. Behind the pair was a opening about the length of two doors heading into what looked like a lounge area. On the left side was a kitchen area, the benches were fulled with cans and bottles laying all around it. Further along that way was a narrow door probably leading off into the hallway.

Avoiding the crowd on the right Tom went towards the door heading into the hall. Finally seeing Taliya he forgot what he was planning to do. She didn't look like her usual bubbly self, she was sitting on the floor leaning on the wall hunched over as she was in serious thought. breaking out of her daze she looked up to Tom giving a slight smile that lacked any of charm or warmness that it would usually give. Seeing a pair of girls come in the hall and wait outside a toilet, she sighed. Pushing herself up from the floor, she then pulled Tom into the bathroom next to the toilet, locking the door close she finally asked.

"Alright we need to talk, what happened between Sam and Dante, you need to tell me?"

Why doesn't anybody know, a whole crowd saw what happened, why wouldn't they just spread the story around. Unless, seeing a large figure that scared, maybe everyone didn't want to know whether it was, or wasn't a secret. Well in thought Tom decided to tell her what she wanted to hear.

Sam wouldn't be to bothered by it hopefully, Tom thought. Just giving her whatever she wanted felt right to him.

After giving her a brief on what happened Tom noticed her worried expression slightly go down. Seeing her about to leave after the conversation Tom couldn't help but ask the question he had been wanting to ask for awhile.

"Hold on, I wanted to know, do you have a boyfriend?"

Hearing this she started avoiding eye contact and shifted her focus towards the floor.

Waiting, it felt like time froze for Tom, his muscles in his stomach started to tense up, he could feel his whole body break into a cold sweat. He felt his heart rate, blood pressure and breath pace all slightly increase, seeing her purse her lips in thought he already knew from Sam that she didn't have a boyfriend, but she still could have one as a thought, rang in the back of his head.

Still focused on the floor she answered. "I don't, and I don't plan on getting a boyfriend anytime soon.

Looking towards Tom she continued.

"Theo, I saw what happened to you on the news, it must of been terrible. I knew it was you straight away, but I wasn't a hundred percent sure. You didn't look pained in anyway of what I would of imagined. With such a trauma I think you should make sure your alright overtime. Right now I'm just trying to look after my sister and do well at school. So, is it okay if we just be friends?"

Before Tom could answer, multiple banging knocks came across the door.

Slightly annoyed the duo said in unison "What!"

On the other side of the door Sam yelled in a distraught tone.

"Theo is that you, hurry we need to go, Someone kidnapped Nadine!"