Disclaimer: I do not own anything JTHM related and am not making money off of this, this is just for fun. :D

Dream With Me

Chapter 1 - The other

"Fucking Todd and his shitty fashion sense!"

Frustration overtook Pepito as he shucked off his pajama bottoms and reached for a shirt Todd had left in his room a few years back.

"Can't he ever take all his stuff home?!"

Jerking the worn fabric over his head, Pepito turned to face his reflection in the full length mirror. The grinning face of Tickle-Me-Helmo stared back from the inky fabric stretched tight over his broad chest and shoulders. He should be grateful it wasn't tearing at the seams, after all, it was a shirt from the 'child's section.

"I bet if I wore this they'd still like me." Pepito smirked, "It's vintage!"

His left hand pawed the air for emphasis, "Ok, now…" he turned back to his closet, scanning the missed apparel. "What to wear…."

Eventually he chose a plain black tee over the childish one, followed by straight leg blue jeans. Average yet attractive was his main goal, and it required little effort. As Pepito headed downstairs, socks in hand he thought of the day ahead of him. But his mother's cheery morning voice declared thinking not an option.

"Pepi, sweetheart, how does eggs and toast sound?" Her tone made it clear that this was not a question. He sunk into a chair, bent downward to pull on his socks. Before he had finished a full plate was set down on the placemat in front of him.

"Thanks, mom," he smiled as his mother patted his shoulder.

"It's the big day Pepi! Are you and Todd meeting up to walk to the highschool?"

It was years after the fight that had ended the boy's friendship and he still couldn't think of a way to break it to his mom other than 'Yeah! When the basement freezes over!" Glancing up at her hopeful expression Pepito muttered a weak, 'yeah, mom.' Before shoveling a forkful of egg into his mouth. That was enough talk about Todd for today as far as he was concerned. His mom didn't agree.

"Well, be a dear and remind him that we have a family dinner tomorrow," taking his silent chews as a confirmation, she continued, "in fact if you two boys are free after school, he should come over for cookies! I'm making the dough right now!"

He took his time with the toast, hopefully the chews seemed thoughtful, "Um, I'll ask him, mother."

Pepito crammed the last bite down his throat, "Well, gotta go! Thanks, mom, it was great!"

He practically threw the dishes in the sink before he grabbed his backpack and pulled on his shoes.

"Bye mom!" he called over his shoulder, as he made sure not to slam the door.

Pepito would have to use the walk to school for focusing on the task at hand. Blending with the lower a-crowd as he had all throughout junior high, then slowly gaining rank was the overall objective. But for now he simply had to appear normal and likeable. He had made sure to pack everything, several times, yet he still had the feeling of something vital forgotten. It's my first day of high school, of course I'm nervous. That's what he told himself anyways, it was just butterflies in his stomach. He tried to convince himself it wasn't the same familiar feeling he had been dealing with for years now. He tried to tell himself these things over and over again, but it didn't seem to matter.

"Stupid fucking tee-shirt."

Todd sighed heavily, knowing all too well how close he was to the school. His parents were bickering about the exact rules for turning at a fourway intersection and, as usual, Nny was winning. It was amazing to Todd, just how often they manipulated each other.

Soon silence filled the small car as the squabbled came to an abrupt halt. Nny had seemed restless all morning, twitchy and writhing about.

"SO Todd!" Twisting viciously towards the teenager, Nny flashed his best 'comforting face'. He had been practicing it lately, so of course he wanted to show it off. "High school, now it's time for the real assholes to emerge from their seemingly innocent shells!"

The maniac's grip tightened on the upholstery, thin nails repeatedly digging into the abused fabric, "Are you sure you don't want a-"

Edgar cut in, "He is not taking a weapon to school!"

Nny glared at the driver. Being interrupted wasn't his favorite thing in the world. Instead of provoking another argument, he simply turned in his seat to stare straight out the window.

Todd closed his eyes, trying to relax, for the rest of the drive. Blending, I just need to blend in. A huge high school means new kids and a chance at normal interactions. A broad smile graced Todd's face at the thought of not being ridiculed, having friends to…do whatever normal friends did. Movies, parties, and sporting events he assumed.

The rapid decrease in speed alerted Todd once more. On his left stood the giant building, resembling a rundown southern state prison, only less clean and friendly.

Todd jerked his bag along with him onto the curb, shut the door and peered around at his surroundings. Plenty of teens were already milling about the campus.

Nny proceeded to flail his arms, emphasizing his importance, while dangling his torso out the window. "And remember we got you that cell phone for a reason! If anyone, anyone of those filthy maggots tries to-"

"Ok, Nny, I'm stepping on the accelerator now." Edgar warned from the driver's seat.

"Hey, Squeegee, want me to walk you to class!?" Nny had begun to scramble from the window now, "Yeah, I'll walk you to class!"

"No! Er…daaad…that's fine, I'm fine, really!" Todd glanced at Mr. Edgar, begging him silently.

The comments of his fellow students were steadily gaining volume.

"Ew, he has two dads? This isn't San Francisco!"

"He has to be a fag! He's so thin!"

"Gross!"

Todd prayed to every known deity that Johnny hadn't heard them.

"Remember Squee! One call and I'm here in five minutes!"

Todd waved sheepishly, finally finding his voice, "Drive, Mr. Edgar, drive!!"

And with that the car was speeding towards the road, leaving Todd in a mass of scoffing adolescents.