Chapter Text
The Solo Triplets ruled your high school without question, everyone knew it in the way they prowled through the campus, rolled up on their Cadillac brougham, and especially with the way words would rolled from their tongues in a seductive drawl or a threat dripping with venom. Each of them had similar appearance, varying personalities, but all sharing the same defining characteristic; dangerous.
No one messed with them, from the jocks to the campus staff, the triplet’s foreboding presence even reached outside the campus and intimidated the local law enforcement. Your town was generally pretty small, far up north of California, settled in the coldness between forests and decently close to the beach. With the size of your town, population was obviously small, so every bit of person knows of the Solo triplets.
People hated them, but as much as they did, no one ever really did anything about them. People would quietly scorn the boys under their breaths but once in the face of them, they hung their heads lowly and forced on fear tinged smiles. It seemed that their fear kept them from acting upon their hate.
You, however, found it weird. You were never really afraid of the three boys, and when you did, it was for the safety of others and not over your personal well being. They were never a threat to you, as they had said it themselves and proved it by never laying an improper hand on you. They said you interest them, but you felt as if they were obsessed with you.
“Why would we try to ruin a sweet girl like you?” Ben had asked before in that husk tone that made all the girls blank when he used it.
Ben was the middle child, charismatic with a lively personality. He oozed seduction but you thought of him as a total sleazebag because he slept with a lot of girls.
“You’re the only girl that has my heart.” Ben claimed, but you felt as if it were a lie.
You didn't care though. You weren't hung up over them like Ben and his brothers were for you. They were a mere fascination to you, like watching a real pack of wolves hunt through the woods and strike fear in the eyes of other forest creatures.
“Wolves?” Kylo quipped when you explained yourself. “Then what must you be?”
“A deer.” You answered shortly.
Kylo laughed, his voice deep like his brother, yet dark and rich. “You are not a deer.”
You frowned, not knowing if he meant that as you are not graceful or that you are not a fickle prey running away from the predators, the Solo Triplets. Kylo was the most peculiar out of three of the boys; quiet, brooding, and sometimes cold with an unmistakable air of authority that had him undeniably the eldest of the triplets.
“Only by 20 minutes.” Matt grumbled when that fact was brought up.
Oh Matt, the youngest of them, so well mannered, soft spoken, and the sweetest amongst the pack of three. The only difference his appearance held against his identical was the blond, shaggy hair and the glasses perched on his Roman nose. People thought he looked like a dork, but that didn't mean he was any less threatening. Matt, like Kylo, was smart with his words. But unlike the more brooding brother -who was straight to the point- Matt’s threats were always veiled but blood chilling nonetheless.
“I'm good with my words too princess.” Ben cooed and his breath brushed your cheek.
You pushed Ben away, barely looking away from your work. It was after school and you were waiting for your friends while doing homework on the outdoor bleachers. The triplets claimed that they were keeping you company and warmth in the winter breeze, both Ben and Matt sandwiched you while Kylo loomed at your back. Matt was at least helpful and tried to assist you in solving some formulas when Ben wasn't picking for your attention. Kylo, however, was a living distraction himself and didn't really need to say or do anything, his presence was a demand for your focus enough.
“Who has you waiting this long in the cold anyways?” Ben grumbled when you gave a tiny shudder.
“It's not so bad, I haven't been waiting too long and it's not that cold.” You said.
Ben snorted. “Because of us.”
It's true, they were so warm, which was a wonder because they weren't wearing much and it was pretty damn cold. Kylo was sporting a black leather jacket, some random band t-shirt, and distressed black jeans. Ben had his usual denim jacket, plain white t-shirt, and matching denim jeans with a plaid long sleeve crossed over his waist (so extra). Matt wore probably the least, a soft and loose Henley long sleeve and rough cut off pants. And then there you were, bundled up in plush layers of knitted sweaters under a chunky scarf looped over your shoulders.
“Northern California weather is nothing, it has nothing on us.” Matt assured, as if knowing what you were thinking when you gazed at their attire critically and slightly worried.
Ben then leaned into your space and filled your field of vision. “Are you worried about us, my deer?”
You furrowed your brows at the reference and glanced at Kylo over your shoulder. He said nothing but there's a glint of amusement in his eyes. He must have told them, it wouldn't surprise you. They share almost everything amongst each other, even their obsessions for you.
“Let her finish her homework Ben.” The sound of his voice was a little shock, you felt like he didn't talk much compared to his brothers and the sound of it felt like rain in a year long drought. You wanted him to talk more and bask in the baritone richness. “Y/N can't be a good girl for us if you make her fail one little class.”
You shuddered, that time not from the chill of an unsuspected breeze. Kylo seemed to know this as the edge of his lip tilted up in a cheeky manner. You look away and tried to put focus back to your homework but at the corner of your eye a familiar figure is caught. It's your friend Finn, lingering at the corner of the gymnasium in his varsity jacket and duffle bag limp in his hold. He looked reluctant and when all three triplets looked up to notice him, he flinched.
‘Ah.’ You understood, the triplets scared him.
You didn't blame Finn, the boys sent his football team’s quarterback to the hospital after implying your promiscuity last year. Unfortunately, he won't be playing football for a while.
“That’s the friend?” Kylo’s tone was flat and it placed you at the edge of anxiety.
“Yup!” You started to shuffle your things into you bag and tried not to pay attention to how the atmosphere turned dead. “Bye guys!”
Poe suddenly came up behind Finn and you could hear him from where you scrambled on the bleachers, he was chattering excitedly about game plans and practice, not minding Finn’s stiffness. His attention was only sidetracked from sports when he heard you stomping down the metal steps.
“Looky here, the lady of the hour!” Poe cheered with his arms raised up for a hug.
You made a face and jumped up to give him a highfive. You heard laughing behind you and could only guess Ben and Matt. Poe gave a very brief glance in their direction but his smile never wavered in genuinity. Brave soul.
“How was practice?” You asked when the three of you started to walk away.
“Same ol’ thing.” Finn answered respectively. Poe snorted. “Dude, only you can get so hyped up doing runs on gameplans.”
“You didn't wait long, right Y/N?” Poe asked.
You could tell he was worried after seeing the Solo boys huddled around you earlier. It wasn't like it was the first time though.
“It wasn't a long wait.” You huffed.
Finn shuddered, a little exaggerated. “I don't know how you can calmly hang out around them.”
You shrugged. “They’re not so bad.”
The Solo Triplets were bad. You, your friends, everyone knew this. And they always had been, since the moment they grew into their teenage years, most say early pubescent and blamed hormones. Since then, the boys always caused trouble throughout town. It started with petty little acts of typical rowdy kids, egging houses and tipping trash cans. Then they moved onto destroying mailboxes, stealing then vandalism and all out brawls. And somehow, at some point, the local townspeople suspected them for the death of people in the surrounding county, deaths that were solved and proven to have no relation to the young men. The worst you've heard about them was drug dealing but...at least there was no word of guns.
By the time you reached senior year, the boys were so undividedly feared that they were basically untouchable. You hear talk of petitions here and there, people try to rally up support from law enforcement through city council to try and do something about the boys besides give them a reluctant slap on the wrist or throw them in jail for the night at worse. There was always something (or someone) giving them the slip though, and petitions to enact a movement to solve problems dealing with the Solo Triplets disappear.
Sometimes, when they wouldn't leave you alone, you ask them this.
“That would ruin the mystery surrounding us though.” One of the would always reply, sometimes the phrase varying in words. But that was their answer on multiple occasions.
You wondered if the mystery around them also aided in cultivating the fear amongst the townspeople. People were always afraid of what they didn't know.
“You aren't afraid of us.” Kylo had said one other time. “Is it because you think you know us, little fawn?”
It felt mocking, as if after all this time they had insisted on following and hovering over you, talking and laughing about nonsensical things, it only turns out that you didn't really know any of them at all. But, did you really?
You knew Kylo liked tragic literature, critiquing cinematography, and listened to sad chill music just as much as he did the scornful screamo kind. But all of those could be something that his gang of out of town delinquents knew.
Ben loved all old times music, cuddling, old school cars and collecting vintage bomber jackets but who’s to say that the girls he slept with didn't know the same?
And Matt, he was basically an open book. He wore his favorite comic heroes or video game characters on graphic tees or irrelevantly raved about astronomy and the doom that awaits space explorers in any of his science classes.
Nothing you knew about them was special. But they constantly tell you that you are. They lavished you with praises of varying subtlety, pried into your personal space bubbles, at some points you felt as if they were courting you.
Wait-
You weren't supposed to be bothered by this. You weren't suppose to think of them other than some alluring fascination, however, here you were hurt that you didn't know anything special about them. You groaned into your hands before smothering your head into the text book under you. You didn't mind the judging looks your peers sent but remembered to keep your whining to a tolerable level in the space of the library.
You couldn't let yourself get involved with the Solo Triplets, not more than you already have. You had an image to keep, grades to hold up, peers to impress, teachers to please and parents to make proud. And that path does not involve the three boys. Success was not at the end of their road. All you saw was darkness, a murky mystery that did not offer sight of a goal or even an end. You wanted something that was for certain and following the path of success gave you that clear image.
“Are you studying?” A deep timbre caressed your ear and sent goosebumps down your arms.
You clasped a hand over your chest and looked to your offender; Kylo. A slightly relieved breath escaped from your lips and you watched him take the seat next at your right.
“Yea, physics exam next week.” You whispered.
Kylo nodded and you tried to return to your papers. It was hard. As you thought before, Kylo was a living distraction and you could feel everyone in passing looking at your table. You were hardly able to focus as the elder triplet rummaged through his backpack and rustled some papers onto the table. Was he going to study with you?
Annoyed with the ongoing rustling of papers, you leaned back in your chair and watched him continue. Without saying anything (as always), Kylo drew out a book from his backpack and slid it your way. Your brows furrowed as your read the title.
“Their Eyes Were Watching God.” You read aloud. Another courting gift? This wasn't the first.
“I thought you’d like it.” Kylo said it as if it’s the least interesting thing in the world, but his actions spoke beyond it.
Kylo knew you well, perhaps more than the other boys. He was observant when it came to you and was quick to note what types of books you leaned towards. Just by this, he bought you books that shifted your limited tastes into a more broaden spectrum and read literatures you never thought to even get into.
“What do you plan on doing after you graduate?” Kylo’s voice brought you back from the depths of your thoughts and you realized you had been staring at the book in your hands.
“College, of course.” You sighed. “Probably a university.”
“To be what?”
Ugh, you hated questions like these.
“I don't know, probably a doctor, my parents just want me to be someone rich and successful.”
Kylo frowned, a look you don't see a lot so you barely managed to hide the shock in your eyes or how your brows raise at the sight.
“You're going to waste your time and efforts chasing a job that your parents are pushing on you?”
You scoffed and tossed the book on the table before crossing your arms at him. “Easy for you to say, you don't listen to anyone for shit, so I can't imagine you listening to your parents.”
“I don't.” Kylo stated in a firm voice and you didn't doubt him. “Parents aren't always right. Sometimes they try to live their life through you, telling you what future to follow because they couldn't follow their own dreams and want to achieve it through their kids.”
"My dream is to be successful. Whatever endgame my parents have in mind shares that.” Kylo scoffed and you glared. “What?”
“Success; is that really what you want?” At this, his earthy brown eyes bore into your own, pried into your soul and pulled at the string that held you together. “These grades, your smiles, the kindness you give to other students and the hands you hold amongst your friends- that'll all lead to success right?” Your papers were forgotten as he drew in close, you can smell mint and cut pine wafting from his towering form. Even sitting like this, you felt small. “But is that what you really want?”
The pulse of your heartbeat was deafening in your ears and all you could hear was his voice. People are looking, you could feel that until his hand raised up and grazed your lower jawline. His heavy hand settled around your nape and thumb pressed against your cheek.
“You know what you want.”
You felt dizzy, from his touch, words, and the heaviness of his eyes. You had no words but your lips still fluttered as if to say something. The only thing that saved you from embarrassment was the rattling echo of the bell. Lunch was over. You try to shake out of the daze yet Kylo still had his hold on you.
“I-” You croaked, broke from his grasp and started to gather your things. “I need to get to class.”
You never ran so fast to get to your Economics Class.