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Kim looked at her untouched cake. She hated wasting food...

"i-i guess so..."

She wiped her mouth with a napkin before picking up the math book and standing up. Kim pushed in her chair, then looked at Eli.

"thank you for taking me here.." she couldnt help but smile at Colin.

"and thank you for the food..!"

Colin looked down at the untouched cake shaking his head playfully at the wasted food staring back at Kim before she'd left and nodding to her words of gratitude. He looked around him to see if anyone was watching and in an instant he took a bite of the cake, somehow it was the nicest bite he's had in a while.

The cafe clock kept kicking and Colin worked in anticipation. The words he heard spoken by Kim stuck with him "If she had any idea who killed her parents, it could bring me closer to finding who killed mine.." Colin stared into the distance, his eyes empty as his mind and heart thought of nothing else but justice and the truth.

Eli nodded to Kim with a smile the sincerest he could give, which wasn't much. He picked up the rest of Kim's books and escorted the two outside, having left the exact change on the table. Eli stole a couple of glances at Kim as they walked back to the college. He had found the perfect project to get him through the semester. That something he would focus on to find some sort of purpose. Beneath his awful personality lied the traces of lost innocence. Having the perfect life, Eli had suffered at the hands of his wealthy parents in ways many could never imagine.

All traces of Kimberly's sadness was gone. She smiled brightly, watching the golden sun as it shifted just more than half way acrossed the sky.

In no time school was near done, the last ten minutes of...history.

This class Kim was especially quiet and even more so hard at work. What she had just learned from Eli served her well on the pop quiz.

Eli aced the pop quiz without much effort exhausted. He stretched and stared at the clock above waiting for the bell to ring. As it did he tapped Kim on the shoulder, asking now in a different tone than before, "Hey Kim, what are your plans after school?" He piled his books neatly and put away his pens.

Kimberly glanced up at Eli while closing her history book and notebook.

How am i to explain this...? Her brothers wouldnt let anyone know where they lived.

"i..i have to go straight home from school today..."

She was still awfully nervous of him, but just a little less.

"Heh, Right.. Just remember we don't have to do anything we ourselves in the end don't choose to do. I'll catch you tomorrow then?"

Eli looked into her eyes with a softer stare and could tell the girl was still wary. He waited for a brief moment and turned off to walk to his locker. There was much he had to research and think about. There was a reason he held onto the girls books with careful attention. He'd caught her last name from one of the exercise books. "Chase.." He whispered to himself. The name rang some sort of bell but no memories or information came to thought.

"right..."

She watched him leave for a long time until she realized her brothers were waiting.
Heading the opposite direction, she hurried down the steps, clutching her books tightly.

Today wasnt so bad... Her hand again went for her forehead. Oh man... Now a bruise had formed around the knot. This isnt good.

She held up that hand to sheild her eyes as Kim walked into the sunlight, passing a group of girls. She blocked out their laughter and continued on, headed for the darker parts of town.

Colin looked at the time sighed in relief, another day over though this day was more eventful than any other. "Finally.." He couldn't sit still as hope had crept into his worn mind once again. His investigation into his parents murder had led him to countless dead ends with no tangible evidence turning up with any of the leads he had found remotely close. He hung his apron up and bid goodbye to his manager who just nodded. As he left the building he wandered straight for the beach, he could stare into the waves for hours wondering at what he could've done different while his parents were still alive.

As she entered the house, she also entered a war zone.

Shouts echoed acrossed the empty lot and anything made of glass went flying, shattering on impact. They have gotten into another fight...
After ten years of this behavior, Kimberly was all but used to it. She walked quickly and silently to her attic bedroom, thankfully making it there without notice.

There in her room she studied for hours, headphones jammed into her ears, with no music playing. She did not own a playing device, but they served as good ear plugs.

Eli placed his books in his locker paused for a moment, considering Kim's story. He wasn't one to take a person at their first word. Especially a girl he'd just met no matter how different or intriguing she was. He marched straight for the college library, breaking his usual routine of dropping by the Welling's Tavern.

The library was expansive, polished and practically empty. The students that remained were the very studious ones, in the middle of cramming textbook information. Eli walked past the counter and proceeded to the article readers. He knew googling the Chases would be too broad, he needed to narrow it down to local issues. He looked over his should to make sure he was alone. Then without hesitation he looked through the slides, knowing this would be a longshot since Kim hadn't given him an exact time frame. He skimmed as fast as he could starting from a couple of years back from the present. This would be a long night of research but he was determined to get to the bottom of Kim's story.

Home was the last thing Colin thought about after a day's work. He felt at peace along the white sanded beach that scattered it's reach through past the boundaries of Paradise Harbour. The sun was softening and the winds blew slightly against his hair. He spent most of his days in thought and wander as he felt powerless to act to rectify what has happened. The waves carried his worries off to another place, here he thought many thoughts but each thought drifted not long after. He took a few more steps towards the water and felt the chill grip his toes. He almost felt nothing. Without another thought he removed his top and jumped into the waves grunting slightly as he felt the chill rush through his body. It was almost liberating. He dived into another wave and another. He popped his head up for air and shook his head to get the water out of his hair. The town looked so far from where he was, he thought many times of escaping but it was as if the spirit of his parents kept him grounded in town for a reason.

Kim finished her studies and colapsed on her bed, staring at the ceiling. The noise had gotten so loud that not even the headphones could block them out. She listened to them bicker for countless hours more.

After a while it died down, but Kimberly didnt notice. Her ears were ringing. She also failed to realize that Nick had come up to her room. He was always either drunk or hung over. Now he seemed a little of both.

Nick took her forcefully into his arms, rocking her back and forth, whispering things she couldnt understand. From what she had heard, the fight had been about their parents. As always. So it explained Nick's Reaction.

Kim sat like a doll in his lap, emotionless. Yes, she felt herself cry. But there was no emotion. She had run our of sorrow for their loss a while back.

When will this end...?

Eli scratched his head in frustration. The articles he was coming by were getting no where. Having no idea whether he was any closer to putting evidential truth to Kim's story. He sighed leaning back against the hard, wood chair. He was one of the last students in the library and the hour was nearing 10. He was about to pack up his equipment before stumbling upon a striking headline. It was no wonder he missed it, the headline was tucked away below a number of headlines unrelated. "Chase investigation goes cold". It was as she said, speculation on the couple's whereabouts and a timeframe when the couple had gone missing. He didn't find any other information worth noting. Why would he? These papers have been manipulated by his father's hand no doubt. All news within Paradise Harbour goes through the man first, although no one would admit it. He headed home, needing a good rest having spent hours searching through countless papers.

Colin stepped out of the waters and felt the breeze set his skin on ice. The cold helped him forget, but the pale moonlight always reminded him. It was what led him to the very sight. He picked up his shirt now covered in sand and walked slowly back to his home. The beach that night was fairly empty, excluding the odd fitness buff or two that continued their running regime throughout the dark hours. The boy took a few deep breaths as he felt the heat return to him.

He collapsed inside his messy room, clothes everywhere and a ruffled bed sheet. He did not bother to change, it was as if returning home had drained everything left in him. Colin stared up into the roof and sighed, wondering when the pain would end. If existing was worth it to relive the memories over and over without end. "Can this be made right..?" He asked with a faint, shaky voice. Then black was all he saw.

Eli met the new day in his personal study. The privileged youth awoke groggy with a soar back having collapsed due to fatigue on the couch. He stretched and yawned with a rising tone. He shook his head to snap into his senses then looked outside his window witnessing a spectacular sunrise. His study was illuminated in a orange and gold. He walked upstairs towards his room and continued to the balcony. It was rare he enjoyed such a sight. Seeing this moment of beauty made him forget how much he despised his position at home. Yes his parents gave him money and practically all the material goods he could ask for but he only met their shadows. They were always on business trips or visited home on occasion to check up on the boy's performance at school. They instilled enough confidence in their parenting he supposed that they needn't be there for the boy personally.

After coming across the article last night, he question his parent's very involvement and whether it was right for him to keep promoting the family name and his position. "It will all be mine when they bite the dust... but what exactly will I be getting, what sort of dirty business have you been hiding Dad and what's mom's part in all of this?..." Eli breathed in the morning air slowly and straightened himself up in the mirror. One look of determination changed everything and it was like nothing had happened the day before. He smiled at himself and thought mentally, "It's too soon to doubt, no one can know a thing has changed, they'll only use it against you Eli.. stay strong. You're all you have boy...and Kim, do it for her." Eli stepped into the shower and turned the hot knob all the way, the water was scolding but he revelled in this intense heat. In minutes he looked like a million bucks once again, dressed to impress and to take on another day at the college.

Kimberly awoke to silence.

She sat up and blinked afew times to adjust her eyes. Yawning, she tiptoed down half of the steps and peered around the quiet house. Thats unusual....

Still feeling dead asleep, Kim jumped into a freezing shower to wake herself up. Heh, mother said it always worked.

Now awake and cold, Kim dug around until she found her extra uniform. Thses things were expencive; she could only buy two. Next Kim stood infront of the mirror dragging a brush through her messy hair, then tying it in a sloppy bun, all the while eating a golden apple. Yum!

When all was done she almost ran out the door before realizing she had woken up an hour early. Sighing, Kimberly sat on the couch. She was greeted by icy silence.

Colin opened his eyes and stretched his arms out easing the tension. He could see the sun's rays seeping through the tattered curtains. It was another day, this one different from the last. He slept better than most nights as for once, they weren't in his dreams. Peace was what he felt as he walked into the shower. As he felt the cool water run down his back he shut his eyes and breathed out. He drenched himself for a while to rid of the sea salts that lingered from the night before. His mind slowed down as the water continued to flow from the shower head.

He eventually stepped out and dressed for another day at the cafe. He whore a simple white tea and some faded jeans to go with it. He made enough money to make ends meet but never concerned himself with his appearance. He dressed simply enough to look civil, his hair style a natural bed head but it worked for him funnily enough. After readying himself, Colin stepped out to meet the cool morning air. He liked the mornings before the town itself awoke. He returned to the beach and watched the sun hanging over the glistening waters hoping he'd find something to bring him closer to the closure he's been seeking for years.

It was in this quiet where Kim really realized how much destruction her brothers had created.

She got up, grabbing a broom, and began to clean the dark house. Glass was everywhere. Chairs were broken, curtains ripped off the windows. She sighed. We dont have the money for them to be doing this....!

After finishing the kitchen and half of the livingroom, Kimberly stopped short. Oh God..
She fell to her knees, tears sprung to her eyes.

How could they..even in the blindness of rage..!

kim cradled the black frame in her arms, dusting of the glass. Smiling up at her was herself and her family. All of them. Her six brothers and her. Mother and father. They were all smiling, a sunny day in the distance. Kim dropped the broom and headed up to her room, holding the frame tight.

Colin had taken the scenic route to the cafe via the beach. He removed his shoes and walked along the cool sands barefoot. He took care to avoid the treading on the sharp shells and stone. A calm gust of sea scented air blew passed him as he arrived at his designation. He was caught however by surprise as he approached the door.

"Closed..?" The sign read and he could see no lights on inside. Colin double checked his phone for any missed calls or messages but none. It seemed like all of a sudden his day freed up. Colin took a closer look through the scratched and murky glass but truly saw no sign of anyone. He peaked around the parking lot and also saw no sign of his boss's car.

He walked away from the cafe confused, unsure of what to do with his spare time. Students began walking past him giving him the usual glares, particularly the snobby senior girls from the morning before. He returned their stares and looked past them blankly, wondering if he'd manage to bump into Kim before the day's end. He did have time now after all.