I’d finally finished moving all my stuff out of my room at 3am in the morning. All by myself as well. Everyone had gone to bed, apart from my room's occupants since I kept walking in and out. Well deserved though since they stole it. Like just don’t get injured in the first place and you wouldn’t need to take my room. 

“Aurielle, Aston, don’t break any of my windows because this room situation is only temporary. Alright? Alright.” I patted them both on the head. Aurie scoffed and Aston looked back down at his book. The Great Gatsby. Big nerd vibes coming from him. 

I stalked downstairs to my temporary room and sighed. I figured since it was so late I’d stay up the rest of the night reading, yet I desperately needed sleep. Books it was, since insomnia was only temporary for me. Before I could even reach my shelf though, there was a knock on my door. Annoying timing considering it was so late at night and I was just about to practise being an insomniac.

“What is it, Austin?” I decided it would be my best friend considering the time of night. 

“M-Mav?” He stuttered, tears flowing freely down his face. “Where’s… Where is Aurie?”

“In my room. Just come in here if you need, Aston is also in there. My room, I mean.” I explained, stepping out of the way so Austin could walk in. He brushed past me to walk back to the stairs. I reckon sleep might be needed now because I couldn’t tell if that was a dream or not. 

________________________________________________________

My knife sunk into the skin of my last target for the night. I’d have to clean so much now though. My clothes, hair, face and knives were soaked in blood. We had a formal dinner tonight though, so knife cleaning would have to wait until after dinner. 

My suit for tonight was one of those fancy designer brands. Dior I think. I stared at the tie in disgust. I didn’t know how to tie one of these, despite going to many of these fancy dinner parties Zomji hosted. After around five tutorials however, I managed to tie the tie. I reckon I could’ve just asked Aston and he’d be able to do it.

“Maverick? You ready? The car’s here to pick us up.” Aurie called from the bottom of the steps. 

“Yeah, give me a sec.” I replied, putting my feet into dress shoes that were too big for me. I clambered down the steps, not bothering to do up the laces. “Let’s go.” 

“Alrighty.” Aurielle nodded. I followed my teammate out the door, into the black Range Rover that was waiting for us. Everyone was there, Geronimo in the driver’s seat so we got to the event with the most safety. I know as a fact both of the van Husen siblings had crashed in a car park. I was there both times when it happened. 

“Let’s go, Ger.” Austin muttered from beside him in the front seat. I gave a thumbs up from the back and we began moving. 

________________________________________________________

Dinner was like a gala, but I now had the chance of being those special V.I.P guests now. So many new faces spun around me, coming up to shake my hand and hug me. They were all awkward though. Feeling like hugging a rock. I didn’t hug back, just stood there. 

“Maverick, let’s go. The founders are beginning to dine.” Geronimo grabbed onto my shoulder and pulled me towards the table with a sense of weird urgency.

“Alright.” I smiled. I hadn’t met the founders. Otherwise known as the van Husen siblings' parents. Aurielle and Austin were seated either side of their parents, a plate of bread in front of them. 

“Mister and Missus van Husen, may I introduce you to our incredibly skilled team of assassins?” My boss asked, inclining his head slightly to acknowledge them. 

“Mhm. Go ahead.” Aurielle gestured with her hand like a shooing motion. 

“I was asking your parents, not you.” 

“I’m their kid. I’m sure it’s fine if I respond, boss.” She snickered and took a bite of bread. I swear her mother smirked but hid it with her wine glass. 

“Go ahead, just make it quick, please.” Her mother smiled whilst setting down her wine glass. 

“Alright. This is Aston Williams, Maverick Kennedy,” I waved at them before pouring myself some champagne, “Yuka Sato and Giselle Silva. I’m sure you know your own kids, correct?” 

“Yes, we do. Now, if you’d cut down on the talking a bit because I haven’t eaten all day.” Aurielle looked exactly like her mother with her jet black hair and green eyes. Austin looked like his father as well, matching blonde hair. Aurielle and her mother also shared the same nerve and audaciousness and humour. 

My teammates looked down at their empty plates, their entreé bread already gone. Waiters appeared from apparently nowhere because a bowl of soup was on my plate. I looked to my best friend who was in a conversation with his father. I used the soup spoon to sip up the soup, crossing my fingers that I wouldn’t spill any on my suit.

I didn’t. I figured I could just tuck a napkin into my shirt collar and be done with it. It was tomato soup so I ended up not eating it anyways. Everyone was now engaged in conversation and I’d also found someone to chat with. Aston. 

“Why do you and Aurielle always fight?” I asked, our conversation on a seemingly friendly level now. 

“Something from highschool.” He said flatly. Sensitive topic I suppose. 

“How many more courses are there gonna be and what set of cutlery do I use now?” I used this question to get more information and strike up another conversation. 

“I think four more courses? And work your way inwards with the cutlery.” He pointed to the outer cutlery and dragged his hand inwards on his set to show what he meant. 

The next course barely made it out before gunshots rang out.