There is always that one person that when you meet them, you can't just help but want to know more about them than what meets the eye.

-THEO

Caleb parks' POV

"Best night ever." Jack lands on me, successfully waking me into the worst hangover ever.

I will never drink again.

"How is it possible that I've not gone into the light yet?" I groan and try to block out Jack's hollers.

After the concert, Jack persuaded us to have a couple of drinks to celebrate. Long story short, I have a hazy memory of Jacob doing body shots with someone; I cringe at the thought.

"Speak for yourself, bro." A caveman walks in, dumping Abigail on me, successfully waking me up.

I do a double-take and recognize the caveman as Marci; her long black locks are all frizzy and don't get me started on how her face looks.

"Now that you're awake, you can have her! Wake me up when we're thirty, and Jack finally asks Taryn to marry him." She calls out to us and slams the door to the adjourning room shut. A bit too loud, making the rest of us groan. She's either Pmsing or having a hangover is not a good look for her. I remember not allowing her to drink, so I'll go for the former.

I finally dislodge myself from the human boulders on top of me. The room is littered with beer bottles and a passed-out Jacob at the foot of the bed.

"Whoa! Why wasn't I invited to the drinking spree?" A mischievous smile comes into view as I take in a dressed-up Shawn and a dark-haired brother.

I'd like you all to check out my stunt double. I know what you're thinking; I thought you were into music? He has dark hair, and you're a plain blonde? He looks like a descendant of Jackie Shan, and you resemble a walking Andrew Garfield?

That last question is very much off-topic, but if you must know. Marcel wanted to test if I were a Guave of all trades (Pun intended). So I tried out for a blockbuster which had way too many stunts. I almost lost a limb when we drove off that cliff.

That my friend was how Shane Li came to join my group of friends. Sure he had to dye his hair yellow and wear contacts, given his role, but he was more than that and I came to find a friend in the cunning mixed China man standing before me.

After the movie was aired, I vowed to never act again. I like living, thank you very much. The only downfall about my decision was that Shane had to move to the Bahamas to take on a modelling job that his mom offered him; it was a win-win situation if you ask me.

"Please tell me that the devil's spawn did not just walk in." Jacob groans from the floor.

"You hurt my feelings, Jacob. Jack, You and I were Ed, Edd and Eddie. What changed?" Shane feigned hurt; his usual smile was getting wider by the minute.

"The day you beat me at my own game," Jacob lets out a wolfish grin despite his slightly red-rimmed eyes.

"Speaking of games, you guys won't believe what I did yesterday," Shane says.

"You finally proposed to some Asian chick." Marci walks back out in one of my shirts and black leggings.

"You became a monk, and they kicked you out in two seconds flat." Jack rubs his chin.

"Wrong, Maleficent; I heard you guys were coming back in town, and what kind of friend would I be if I wasn't there to welcome you guys."

"You got your stunt double act together as a way to pick up your nearest conquest. You, my friend, are a true Kingsman." Jacob raises a bottle of water before downing it in one gulp.

"Correctamundo Edd. Unfortunately for me, the chick I wanted was not a fan of yours," He directed at me, "So I got a cold shoulder instead of a bed warmer."

Marci scrunches her face in annoyance, "Can you guys not talk about women like they are prizes to be won in a carnival?"

"Maleficent," Shane tsks, "If you were a boy, I would teach you the ethics of being a good Kingsman."

"See, you had me but lost me the moment you walked in," Marci turned her gaze to me, "Can we check on Mr Rogers before we leave?"

"Sure thing," I reply and get off the bed.

-

The car ride to the bar was filled with the usual digs and dry jokes from the trio who were now reunited; today just keeps getting better and better.

When we get to the eerily empty bar. Jack and Jacob walk in first and make a beeline to a familiar friendly face. Mr Rogers grinned from ear to ear when they greeted him with the usual jokes. Before we could go in, Marci tapped my shoulder and motioned to Abigail.

The hidden message was quite clear. I can't obviously take a six-year-old into a bar, even if it is empty. Shane glances at us and catches on.

"I know a place that could watch her for us," He takes Abigail's hand and guides us towards the building across the street.

We walk into a colourful room; pictures of dogs and kids, hand-drawn turkeys and crayon-painted drawings adorn the walls.

A big semi-circular table stands at the far end of the room with a tall, dark-skinned brunette behind it.

"Welcome to Kid's paradise. How can we help you?" She hasn't glanced up, head bent down to finish the files, that she is currently signing.

"Now, that's not how to greet your big brother, is it?" Shane smirks.

She snaps her head up so fast that I thought she broke her neck. She launches herself over the desk and jumps onto Shane wrapping her legs around his torso. She buried her head into his shoulder and squeezed the life out of him.

In return, he pats her head and squeezes her back with the same amount of enthusiasm.

"I know I haven't been around long, but I need to call in a favour," Shane says.

The girl looks at him with narrowed eyes, "Which man wants your head now for having his daughter in your bed?"

"I swear, Char. She came onto me." He gently puts her down, "But the favour is right beside me." He gestures at me.

The girl takes a good look at me before something in her eyes clicks with recognition.

"OH MY GOD! YOU'RE CALEB PARKS!"

"Oi and I'm the Easter bunny running, from Santa for stealing his cookie and the Mrs. all for meself in one night."

A brunette with blonde tips enters the room; having all eyes on her, she grins, "I thought we were calling out things that were plausible." Her grin turns sheepish.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"I see you are still clinging to your aspiration to become the next pirate of the Caribbean." Shane grins at the newcomer to our gathering.

A wicked smile graced her lips, "I don't know what's worse; having the two mischievous Sandels in one room or seeing how your head is still on your shoulders?"

"Once you have stamina like me, you would know how to keep up with the women and the occasional fathers." Shane shrugs nonchalantly.

A small laugh comes out of her, and I must admit. She looks kind of cute with that laugh.

"Anyway, Peyton, Charlie, I have a favour to ask of you guys?" Shane coughs.

"I am not posing as your fake wife."

"Of course, Troy would have my head if the press got a hold of that. I came here so you could help a friend of mine." Shane finally gestures to me.

The girl, I think is named Peyton turns her gaze at me. Her gaze becomes icy as she scrunches her face in irritation.

"Are there any cops around?" She asks through gritted teeth.

"No, why?" Shane shifts his body forward so that he is covering me partially.

"So that no one would hear the.." She never finished her statement because the girl called Charlie held her back.

"I promise I'll make his death quick and slightly painful." She still struggles to free herself from Charlie's grasp.

"Easy girl, a pair of contacts and a wig and you couldn't even recognize me." Shane stalks forward, a familiar glint in his eye.

"That was you?" Peyton asks incredulously.

"Took you long enough," Shane scoffs, "I know I might be a mannerless prick at times," Peyton and Charlie's expression changes, "Okay, all the time. But my friends here are not." He gestures to Shawn and Marci, who have been watching the drama quietly along with me, still trying to comprehend what is going on.

He continues, "We just need you to watch this sweet little angel for a while." He gives Abigail a gentle push forward.

"How much are we talking here?" Peyton calls out after Charlie releases her mid-section slightly.

"Three hundred... only," Shane nudges me to speak up.

"Yes, but I'm going to have to leave my friend here with you guys," I gesture to Shawn. Sure, I have no reason to believe; they would hurt Gail, but I am not taking chances.

"Deal." Both girls answer.

I bend down and plant a small kiss on Abigail's forehead, "Be good."

"Wait," We all turned around to see Peyton's outstretched hand, "Are there any health conditions we should be wary of?"

"As far as you keep her entertained, you should be fine," Shane smirks at them and proceeds to walk out of the store with Marci and me.

Marci, Shane and I leave the shop and head into the bar. Marci is sixteen, and I trust that she would not get into trouble unless given the circumstances.

After a couple of shots, the guys loosen up and continue their banter. Jacob slumps beside me, sporting numerous handprints on his face.

"Note to self, Bahamas chicks are way too good at playing hard to get." He groans.

"Did you conclude that, when the last chick gave your crotch a handshake with her knee instead of a number?" Shane says, taking a sip out of his beer, looking at Jacob with slight amusement and boredom.

"Since you're so cocky, Eddie. Why don't you show me how it's done around here?" Jacob gives him a condescending look.

"If it means I walk out of here half a grand richer, so be it." With one swing, Shane downs his drink and walks up to a curvy woman.

Mind you, the only person I know who can get a girl with a ridiculous amount of cheesy lines is Jacob. All Shane needs to do is turn up the charm and flash that mischievous smile of his and off goes the panties.

Sure enough, after a few minutes, the woman that just happens to be the bet-breaker jumps and straddles Shane while he gropes her. He begins to make his way to the private rooms. He pauses and throws a wink our way. I raise my glass of coke in response as he continues his journey to the unknown.

Jacob hisses from beside me while our temporary Nun, also known as Ed, is busy talking to Marci. Distracting her from the scene around us and himself from the women in the room.

"I believe someone owes me some money." Shane comes back in less than half an hour.

"You picked an easy woman." Jacob snorted.

"Is that so?" Shane rubs his chin as if in deep thought, "I say if I can get at least ten women before the clock strikes four; you not only give me the moolah but also sing my praises in your Spiderman knickers in the middle of the airport when I drop you guys off."

I do a spit take when I hear this. I would have been damned not to have seen this coming.

"And if you don't..."

I'd spare you guys knowing what Jacob put as his wager, but just so you know, a very interesting show awaits us when we reach the airport.

Then my phone signalled that I had gotten a text, and I needed no techno-geek to tell me who it was from.

Boy, I believe you've had fun; the jet is waiting at the airport. Get my baby girl and get your ass on that plane right now.

"Guys, Marcel says it's time to head home," I announce to the group and get a few whines in return.

"Is it the head up here or the head down there that we are using?" Jacob slurs, clearly drunk. His idea of not having no control over his actions when he upholds Shane's wager.

"Marci, be a dear and get the guys to the limo outside. I'll get Gail from across the street," I say.

"Hold on, son. My daughters are there too." Mr Rogers says as he rounds the counter, and we walk out of the bar together.

"It's good to see you guys after all these years. Man, I missed watching Shane and Jacob make up some really entertaining bets." He says as we cross the street.

"Likewise sir, you don't look a day over sixty."

"I see Taryn has rubbed off on you. Where is she, by the way?" He chuckles at my statement as we walk into Kid's Paradise.

"Her mom died, so she had to fly black home."

"Daddy!" Three little girls with red hair came barreling down a flight of stairs and jumped into Mr Rogers' hands once we walked in. But it wasn't enough, so they all toppled onto the floor.

The sight was warming my heart, and my thoughts went to how good the feeling of a father would be.

"Sorry, sir, I tried to hold them down." Peyton comes down the stairs with a sleeping Abigail clinging to her asleep as if her life depends on it.

"No worries." Mr Rogers says as he gets up with his giggling daughters, "Thank you, Peyton, send my regards to Charlie. Goodnight." He leaves with a knowing smile on his face.

She lets out a breath and hands Abigail over to me, "Here you are. I got the transfer, so the deal is complete."

As she says this, a tired-looking Shawn comes down the stairs and walks out the transparent door.

"What got him so tired?" I resort to making small talk.

I know she is a complete stranger. And I know nothing remotely about her, but she just intrigues me.

I mean, there is always that one person that when you meet them, you can't just help but want to know more about them than what meets the eye.

"Three little redheads." She grins. She moves towards the counter before coming back towards me.

"Charlie wanted an autograph, but she left, so if you don't mind," She holds up a pen with a picture of my first album.

"Sure, no problem," I say and take the pen and sign. When I give it back to her; our fingers brush. And no people; that illusion that electric sparks fly didn't happen, if anything she looked uncomfortable with being this close to me.

She shuffled away and put the signed picture by the table. She is clearly not a fan especially judging from how she acted earlier. "So till the next millennium?"

"Meaning?" I scrunch up my brows in confusion.

"I mean, you will not see me ever again. The chances are in the next millennium."

Ouch, that hurt. I still offered a laugh. Still, with a wistful smile, I give my gratitude for watching Gail and walked out of the store.

-

"Gather around, munchkins." Shane grabs our attention as we form a huddle in the middle of an airport.

Jacob has just finished his performance; he's barely near the state of sober, so he has no idea about the number of cameras being pointed in his direction.

"Remember to always stick together, chaps. The cul-de-sac would be proud of all our accomplishments, May the force be with you." He gestures to Jack and Jacob.

"Hey, blue skywalker, don't I get a hug?" Marci says.

Shane pulls her into a bone-crushing hug and whispers into her ears. He pecks her and Abigail on their cheeks.

"And to my favourite bro," He directs at me, "Be happy. It's all I can ever wish for you."

He pats my shoulder with a once-in-a-lifetime sincere smile which adorns his face.

He will always be my brother when they call for our jet to depart. I fight the tears that well up in my eyes. I have no idea when I will meet this guy again, but I hope it's real soon.

Everyone heads into the boarding hall; I was the last to enter. Shane flicks his head up and slips a pair of sunglasses onto his face. He gives me one last look before going into the crowd.

-

"Mind telling me when you decided to be the next model for the thinker?" Marci readjusts her seat so that she is slightly reclined onto it.

Everyone else is supposed to be sleeping apart from me, or so I thought. We are safely tucked in the private jet, which is several feet in the air.

I sighed, "It's just weird."

Her face morphs into confusion, and I'm sure she is as lost as a puppy.

"The girl at the store..."

"What about her?"

"She seemed intriguing."

"Right, Caleb, can you promise me something?" She looks at me dubiously. "If you ever find that happiness, promise that no matter what, you will still be my big brother."

I felt my face soften, "Of course. I'll get right on it when I talk with Nate."

She hides her face in her palms, "I hate you."

"Love you too, sis. Love you too."