...

SIGHING TO HERSELF, KENNA ran a hand through her curly hair as she waited on the steps leading up to her house for the Mitchells. They were going to drive her to the airport, and Kenna really wasn't looking forward to it. Yes, she was thankful for the fantastic trip. Her mother would have some peace and it was a free, not to mention educational, trip.

Kenna was wearing a red t-shirt underneath a blue, green black and purple plaid shirt with a pair of jeans. Kenna knew it would be hot in Isla Nublar, so she had a pair of shorts in her bag to change into when they arrived. Amongst that, she had a duffel bag with clothes and other things that would last her for a week.

A week with Zach Mitchell. Girls at school would probably kill to be in her place, but Kenna really couldn't resent this week less. Glancing down at her old, worn out black and white Converse high tops, Kenna frowned. You're doing this for Gray. She reminded herself. Gray. Intelligent, resourceful Gray, who is always kind and probably never said anything when the Mitchells began going through whatever it is they're going through.

Soon, an SUV pulled up outside her house and Kenna sighed, taking in a deep breath before pausing her music and walking over to the car. "KENNA!" Gray exclaimed, sprinting out of the car and hugging her. Kenna stumbled and laughed, hugging the young pre-teen back.

"Hello, Kenna." Scott Mitchell greeted the girl and she smiled, returning the salutation. He helped her put her bags in the trunk of her car before Gray pulled Kenna into the car. Luckily for everyone, Gray jumped in the seat between Kenna and Zach, who was staring aimlessly out the window.

"Zach, aren't you going to greet our guest?" Karen asked sternly, before smiling at Kenna. "Hey hon; don't worry about him, he just broke up with his girlfriend." There was an irritated tone in Karen's voice, underneath all the teasing.

Zach looked over at Kenna and his eyes widened as he pulled off his headphones. "Kenna." He breathed out, but Kenna wouldn't even meet his eyes. Zach's eyes searched her face, trying to take everything in. He had watched Kenna from afar, but it had been a long time since they were that close.

"Thank you for coming to pick me up." Kenna thanked the Mitchells, who all smiled in return, purposefully ignoring Zach.

"How's school coming along?" Karen asked, and both Gray and Kenna perked up at the mention of it. Zach seemed immediately put off by the subject.

"Well, I'm still deciding between two colleges," Kenna admitted, trying not to sound arrogant. "They both accepted me early so... yeah."

"Which schools?" Gray asked eagerly, his hands gripping her forearm lightly, a sign of affection. He was smiling widely, his blonde tousled hair covering his eyes a little, making him look adorable.

"Harvard and Yale," Kenna said quietly, and immediately everyone told her how fantastic it was all at once. "Yeah, it's pretty great." She agreed. "I've got early admission so I'm considering it."

"But then you'd be leaving a year early," Gray recalled sadly.

"I'm still thinking about it," Kenna admitted, and Gray started a conversation with his mother. The whole time, Zach had been staring at Kenna.

➳ ➳ ➳

Christmas music chimed in the airport, but nobody seemed to be in a Christmassy mood. The Mitchells were saying goodbye to their sons, and Kenna attempted to stay out of it. She used to feel like the Mitchells were family to her, but things had been distant. Now, Kenna just felt awkward. Karen went over the plane ticket with Gray, who was paying close attention.

"Everything right on there?" Karen inquired. Gray scanned the paper before nodding his head obediently. "I'm so jealous." She teased, smiling at her son. "You're gonna have so much fun." Karen insisted, but her general demeanour seemed quite forced and unreal. "I love you," she told her youngest son.

"I love you too," Gray promised. Karen hugged Gray tightly, lingering for longer than usual. Kenna suspected this wasn't just because she was going to miss him. Something was strange. Gray looked over at his dad behind Karen's back, and he forced a smile.

"Okay. Right." Karen mumbled before breaking away from Gray. "All right, um, let's give these to your brother, okay?" she turned around and held the tickets out to Zach. Kenna rolled her eyes as she realised he wasn't paying any attention; he had the hood of his sweater over his head and his headphones blaring out music so he couldn't hear anything.

"Can you hold these, please?" Karen asked kindly. Scott, realising his wife's distress, caught his attention.

"Zach!" he said loudly.

"Can you hold these? Honey, I need you to take care of these." Karen finally got Zach's attention and the accepted the tickets

Finally, Zach notices and accepted them apathetically. "Yeah." He muttered.

"Hey." Scott snapped slightly.

"All right." Karen began, sounding just as awkward as Kenna felt.

"Listen to your mother," Scott ordered to his eldest son, sending him a look mixed between stern and pleading.

The conversations between Scott and Karen were strained and awkward. It was then that Kenna recognised the actions from when her parents got a divorce. Oh no. Kenna thought. Not to Zach and Gray. Not to Gray.

"Take care of your brother, answer your phone." Karen listed, and she could see Zach already getting bored. "I'm serious." She said sternly. "It's the green button. When you see my name, push it, okay?" Zach nodded absently. "Kenna, take care of my boys? Make sure they don't kill each other."

Kenna laughed, reaching over to hug Karen. "No promises. Sometimes I overestimate the number of Zach's brain cells." Karen, Gray and Scott laughed, thinking Kenna was making a simple joke. But only Zach and Kenna knew she was joking, but didn't mean it kindly.

"And remember, if something chases you..." Karen paused for dramatic attack and pulled a false terrified expression. "Run." Gray smiled along with Kenna, and Karen looked apologetic at her terrible joke. "Come on."

"Yeah, funny," Zach said sarcastically, although he too had to crack a small smile. "Come on, let's go." He ushered Gray along to the plane. Kenna rolled her eyes and held out her hand for Gray, knowing he was an excited and nervous ball of energy. Gray took Kenna's hand gratefully and they walked to the plane.

"I miss you already!" Karen called out, earning some looks from others. Embarrassed, Zach replied with a simple 'Yep' before they walked through the little lines the people at airports outline for you. Gray waved enthusiastically at his parents as Kenna took the tickets from Zach, checking them because she certainly didn't trust him.

➳ ➳ ➳

"You've changed," Zach spoke to Kenna, making her wince.

"Have I?" she asked quietly. Gray had his eyes closed and was probably trying to sleep, Kenna noted. But in reality, Gray was listening in on their conversation. "Well, I did have paint and alcohol dumped onto a dress that was worth more than four months of my rent, and had you laugh with everyone else as you conceitedly filmed the entire evening." Zach's eyes fell to his lap in guilt, but Kenna was relentless. "You may have gained popularity points that night. But I lost the only thing I didn't have to work for harder than everyone else. A friend. And you took that away from me."

"Why won't you talk to me?" Zach blurted out suddenly. "Why won't you just tell me what I can do to fix this?"

"Talking to you doesn't bring any benefits." Kenna snapped, plugging her earphones into her phone. "Besides, I have bigger things on my mind to think about than your rise in the social hierarchy, you know." And with that, she put her earphones and carefully stroked Gray's unruly hair to soothe him.

It didn't work.