A/N: Hi everyone! Back again! Another AU here. Really hope you guys enjoy it! :)
Don't own anything outside of my idea.
"Farkle, son, we need to talk to you."
Staring, he looked at his dad and the woman beside him. Suddenly he was glad that Lucas was beside him and had come over today. "Okay?"
Sitting back in his seat, Stewart nodded. "Lucas."
He nodded back. "Sir. Do I need to leave?"
Thinking about it, he shook his head. "No. It's okay. This is probably going to affect you, too."
Turning to look at his friend, he wasn't sure what to think now. "What's going on?"
Letting out his breath softly, he gestured for the younger males to sit. They did. "Do you remember your mom's friend, Jessa?"
Thinking back he nodded. "Vaguely."
"Do you remember her daughter, Veronica?"
Nodding, he thought back. "Yeah. We used to play together before they moved away."
"Something has happened, and...well she's going to stay with us for a little while."
His heart fell. That meant his mom's friend had died. "Does mom know?"
He nodded. "She does."
"What happened?"
Clearing his throat, he hesitated. "Well that's where it gets a little sticky." then he turned to the woman. She was shorter, and fit. Her mousy brown hair pulled back in a bun, her eyes, soft. "This is Benita Smith. She's a social worker with the state of Illinois. I'm going to let her explain a few things that you need to understand."
"Okay?"
"Hi, Farkle. What I was explaining to your dad, here, is that Veronica has been through some bad stuff while she's been in Illinois."
"What kind of stuff?"
"She...she's not going to be the same girl that you remember. She was a few months outside of seven when she moved. Like you, she's almost seventeen now. But unlike you, she doesn't have a network of friends. In fact, she doesn't have any friends. I would be surprised if she remembers you at all, so don't be alarmed or discouraged if she doesn't. She's been abused for the last few years by her step father. She doesn't go by Veronica any more, she goes by Rocky, and she will let you know real quick just how she feels about it, should you make that mistake. She's hard. To say she's rough around the edges is a bit of an understatement. New York isn't going to be that big of a difference from Chicago, but being around a tight knit family like yours is going to be a huge adjustment. She hasn't had much for a long time, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if she resists."
Trying to digest everything, he was thoughtful. He remembered when they had been younger. A time that was even before the Halloween party that led him to his ladies. She couldn't have been more than a year older than he was but they'd always had so much fun. They'd grown up together, their moms being closer friends then than they had been in a long while.
"She's going to need a friend."
Taking a deep breath through his nose, he nodded. "I'll remind her who she was." then he looked at his dad. "When will she get here?"
"Well, probably tonight. She's here in New York now, but her case worker had to stop and explain a few things to us first before she showed up."
Standing, Benita nodded. "It was nice talking to you, Mister Minkus. I will make sure we don't show up too late tonight. I'll make sure she's fed as well."
Nodding, he watched as she left out the door. "Are you okay with this, Farkle?"
Looking at his dad, he smiled sadly. "I want to help her." and he looked at his best friend. "Come on. Let's work on our Science homework."
She looked around the apartment, hugging her bag closer to her chest. There were so many nice things in here. She didn't belong here. Her eyes went to the four people standing there in the living room.
"Rocky, this is Stewart, Jennifer and Farkle, who you may not remember, but you used to come over here and play with Farkle, and this is his best friend…" and she stared at him. "I'm sorry, I don't think I caught your name earlier, son."
"Lucas. Lucas Friar, ma'am." he said sticking his hand out.
She noticed his southern drawl and stared at him as he stepped closer to the caseworker.
Farkle noticed his old friend, brace herself as if he was going to attack her at any moment. His heart hurt. Lucas would no sooner hurt a dog as he would a person, much less a girl at that. Clearing his throat, he got her attention softly. "You don't remember me, do you?"
Staring, she didn't answer yes or no.
"She's really quiet sometimes. Give her some time to warm up. She can be a little shy."
Nodding, he smiled at her. "That's okay. Quiet isn't a bad thing."
"Alright, well, I'm going to get out of here, I've got to get back to Chicago." then she turned toward the girl. "Rocky, you're safe here. Okay? These people are really nice, and Jennifer was your mom's best friend when you guys lived here. You may not remember, but she was. I'm also only a phone call away."
Watching after the woman, her breath quickened. Turning, she tried not to seem too apprehensive, but it was hard not to when the door closed behind her. Turning to stare at the people in front of her, she tried to stay impassive but from the look on the one kid's face, she had failed.
"Do you want to sit?" Jennifer said. "Or if you'd like, Farkle can show you the room that will be yours."
She didn't answer as she stared on.
Softening her gaze, she smiled gently. "You've probably had a long day today. Here, sweetheart, why don't you show her, her room."
Nodding, he smiled. Taking a tentative step closer, he held his hand out. "Come on." and he waited until she took a step. It was hard not to see her trembling. She followed him slowly into the bedroom.
It was huge in comparison to her old room, which only further made her feel out of place. There was a nicely made bed on the far wall and a dresser beside what she assumed was a closet door. Beside the bed was a small table with a white cloth over it and a small touch lamp.
"Um...when you need, the bathroom is right here and don't hesitate to ask if you need anything. My room is right next to the bathroom and mom and dad's is at the end of the hall. They have their own bathroom, so we can share this one."
She kept her eyes on the two younger male's standing there, seemingly waiting for an answer.
Trying to break the awkward silence, he smiled once more and nodded. "Well, I'll leave the door open and let you get settled. Let me know if you need anything. It is nice to see you again. Even if you don't remember."
Making his way to his room with his friend in tow, he sat on the bed.
"You alright, man?"
"She looks at me like I'm a stranger."
"Well, maybe you are, to her." Lucas tried to rationalize. "I know I am."
"Maybe." he muttered. "I don't like it. We used to be inseparable. What has she gone through that she doesn't remember me? Worse yet, what has she gone through that she's afraid of everything?"
"The woman did say she was abused by her step father."
"Yeah, but...how abused was she, that she doesn't remember…" and he shook his head. "I don't know."
When Jennifer peeked in on her right before she laid down, she was curled into a ball on the bed, asleep on top of the covers, holding her bag to her chest for dear life, just as she had been when she walked through the front door. Not able to help herself, she made her way through the entry way, pulled the small afghan folded on the bottom of the bed and covered her with it. "I'm glad you're here, Rocky." and she made her way back to her own bed, lucky she had a husband who was understanding enough in her need to check on the younger girl.
Opening the bedroom door, she smiled at him.
"How is she?" he murmured softly as she made her way to their bathroom inside the bedroom, to get changed.
"She's ... cautious." she answered. Getting changed quickly, she climbed into the sheets as he held the blanket out of her way so she could lay down.
"She'll adjust." and he kissed the top of her head.
Relaxing into his arms, she let out a deep breath. "I hope so."
Not making a move as she'd heard the woman walk through the door, she held her breath. It was impossible not to cry when she covered her up and whispered what she did. She almost wished she could remember this family.
But so much had happened since then. She vaguely remembered New York, but it was so long ago. So long. Way before Lake Michigan. Way before Steve. Way before her life went to hell in a handbasket.
Closing her eyes, she fell asleep after a few minutes, surprisingly taken back to a time that she thought time forgot.
She was six years old. "Come on, Farkie! Let's go! We're going to be late!"
They were going to go see Flubber at the twenty-five cent theater next door to their apartment complex. They had seen it a dozen times already this summer, but she just loved the movie.
Laughing, he grabbed his long sleeve tee, since it was always cold in the theater. "Bye, mom!"
"Bye, honey!" he heard her call out to him.
It was that afternoon when they got home that her mom had dropped the bomb on her. They were moving.
She screamed at her mom that she would never forgive her for making that decision without her. Suddenly she was hugging her best friend for the last time. Tears were flowing down her face as her mom told her it was time to go.
"No. Mama, please! It's not fair. I don't wanna go!"
He'd heard her crying when he went to the bathroom. He was stepping up to her when her eyes flew open.
She gasped in breath and backed herself up against the headboard.
"Rocky wait, it's just me. Look." and he touched the bedside light on.
In an instinct reaction, she reached out and grabbed her backpack, pulling it to her chest.
"I...I wasn't going to take anything of yours. I heard you crying."
Untrusting eyes stared back at him.
"I don't want to hurt you. Once upon a time, you knew that."
Staring at him, and unsure of why she was even entertaining the thought, though already knowing the answer, she scooted back a bit, sitting straighter as he started to leave. "Did...did I used to call you Farkie?"
Her voice came out so small sounding. Stopping, he was unable to control the smile that lit up his face. He nodded. "Yeah."
"You...you used to call me…"
"Vee Vee." he answered quietly for her, as she was clearly having a hard time remembering.
Staring at him, she didn't know what else to say.
Taking the cue, he lightly waved and made his way back to the door. "G'night, Rocky. I'm sorry your mom passed away but I'm glad you're here."
Not answering, she stared at him, as his shadow disappeared down the hallway. Laying back, she wondered why in the world he stopped, but a small part of her wanted to remember. Benita had told her she would be starting at a new school.
She wasn't ready to start at a new school. She didn't make friends easily and yeah, school was always easy for her, had been. But when you have no one to connect with, it gets lonely. She wasn't ready for this.
Please review! Can't wait to see if you guys like it or not.