BeautifulyBlue: Sorry for my pause on "Hello" but I've been having a horrible writers block and I wanted to experiment on another story that popped into my head one day. This is a prequel to Super 8, only by a few months though. I hope you'll enjoy this story as much as I enjoy writing it : ) Please subscribe and review. Thank you so much!

Lillian, Ohio was a small, carefree town. It wasn't considered the south, nor was it up north either. One half was full of religious and elders while another was for the younger, more rebellious citizens. Then the center was a bit of a mix, no one really paid attention to who was who on either side of Lillian nor did anyone really care. For the most part it was crime free, but whenever a crime was committed it always was, unfortunately, a kidnapping.

Children from ages 5-8 were especially victims. It was very heart-rendering, more so 1967-1970, a three year search for a young girl who was stolen right off her own front lawn. Her body was discovered in the middle of a field in June 1970. Teenagers however were more frightened by this than children themselves, however some tried to turn their attention away from crimes…Especially Joe Lamb, who was one to NEVER get involved.

Joe Lamb entered the doors of Lillian Middle School. He turned 14 that August and it was his last year as a middle schooler. Within 9 months, he'd be done with the stupidity of 7th grade couples, 6th grade arrogants, and immature comments and lunch room fights. Even in the smallest town in Ohio was full of assholes and dicks. Joe had faced 7 years of bullying, and figured he'd be facing an 8th year. He tolerated it. Joe had this patience that tolerated anything really. Having to have been 'patient' by waiting for his dad to come home late every night from the police station.

His father was Deputy Jackson Lamb, therefore Joe was the cleanest kid anyone ever knew. He never misbehaved, not wanting to be the kid who disrespected his parents. His mother Elizabeth, he'd especially never disrespect. He loved her more than life itself. Elizabeth took great care of him…she was mainly all Joe had. With his father gone all the time, she was always in his care.

Joe was in the familiar hallways of Lillian Middle, he had a locker change and was scavenging to find it. He pushed through the crowd of tired and unenthusiastic kids with the exception of a group of girls running towards each other and hugging.

"Oh my god! I haven't seen you all summer! How are you-"

"You know this is 8th grade now. We rule the school-"

"That's far out! Have you ever been to the keys down in Florida-"

It was 1978, a year Joe could never forget; he considered becoming an 8th grader the official transition from childhood to teen hood. He had even made a list of accomplishments he could make this year. The first bell rang and he still hadn't found his locker. Students began scattering around the halls, all with yellow schedules in their hands. Joe checked his, he had Pre-Algebra for his first class. His most hated subject but at least he'd be getting it over with. Jackson was excellent at math, but he never had time to help Joe with his homework in previous years.

"Welcome back students, we hope you all had a great summer! The club and activity sign up sheets for this school year are in the cafeteria for Junior Thespians, Creative Writing, the girls soccer team, the boys basket ball team and crime watch. We hope to see you there!" Joe always hated how over energetic school announcements were, he rolled his pencil on his desk, "Reasons to purchase a yearbook this year its better and more creative than ever as Lillian Middle School will be using hard back for the first time in history!"

That got the students excited, but Joe still had his head down observing everyone in class. He knew almost everyone due to his small town. There was only about four or five people he didn't know to well. He was really good with names and faces. Joe could all ready tell he wasn't going to like his teacher, he looked like a very rule-abiding teacher who, if he saw a student drinking water, would give a referal to. The biggest offense in Lillian Middle was probably drinking water in class. It occurred more often than school fights…less than at Lillian High anyway…

"Melissa?"

"Here."

"Amanda?"

"Here."

Roll call also dragged on for Joe, although he tried to keep a presentable look.

"Joseph?"

"Here." he raised his hand.

"Charles?"

…

"Charles Kaznyk?"

There wasn't an answer. Everyone looked at the empty desk, as if 'Charles' was out commiting a murder. Joe didn't mind, he didn't know anyone named Charles anyway.

The teacher scoffed, flipping the list of names, "Absent on the first day,", he mumbled under his breath, "Cary?"

Another no answer.

"Cary Scott?"

Students looked at each other as Joe just looked down at his book bag, wondering which binder to use for the class.

"No show." he muttered, "Alright students! First day, we'll start off by introducing ourselves."

Joe didn't care for meeting people who could get themselves in trouble, even if they got out of trouble in the end. And as long as he could remember the names, he wouldn't be getting involved with 'Charles Kaznyk' or 'Cary Scott'.

Within 15 minutes of class, Joe was having a bathroom pass signed. He preferred going during class, less people, no line. He wandered the empty halls of the 8th grade building. Not too familiar with the upstairs area. The boys bathroom was full of girls home phone numbers and other profanity on the stalls.

He exited with his agenda (which was also his pass) in his hand when he could hear aggravated shouting break the silence.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'D DO THAT!"

"SHUT UP! Jesus!"

Joe didn't want to go near the sound, but somehow his feet were carrying him slowly towards that direction. It was coming from around the corner at the end of the hall. He kept silent, maybe they'd go the opposite way, but he could hear stomping and grunting.

"Why would you be so stupid?"

They were both boys. Joe slowly dragged himself over to the end of the hall and looked around,

"Calm down! It's not that bad!"

Joe saw two boys about his age,

"Not that bad? NOT THAT BAD?"

Joe watched as an overweight, auburn haired young boy pinned a blond, and rather scrawny boy into the lockers. He was stunned by the his strength.

"You think that ALMOST BLOWING OUR ASSES OFF BEHIND THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT ISN'T THAT BAD?" The overweight boy screamed into the blonds face, he was trying to keep from cowering, "YOU THINK THE FACT THAT TRYING TO USE TWO TONS OF EXPLOSIVES ON THE SCHOOL BUILDING ISN'T THAT BAD? ARE YOU TRYING TO GET US KILLED?"

Joe's heart pounded, speechless at the kid's lungs, he didn't understand what the hell was even going on.

The blond tried to push him away but alas, he didn't match to the auburn haired boy, "Do you want to become a terrorist Cary…? DO YOU?" the blond nodded and shivered as Joe started to back away, "I'm trying to protect you Cary." he let go of the blond, shaking and breathing, Joe felt bad for the poor kid, "I want to protect you and THIS IS THE THANKS I GET?"

The blond remained by the lockers, arms folded as the auburn haired boy walked towards Joe, the two came eye-to-eye as Joe hoped wouldn't occur. The boy seemed embarrassed as he took a step back looking away, the blond was still shaking in the background.

"Uh…"

"Um…" The two 'greeted'.

The boy spoke, "I'm so sorry you had to uh…see that." he blushed.

Joe hesitated to speak, "Its uh…fine." He was still paying more attention to the cowering blond,

"We just…had a…blow out, as you saw." he threw in a nervous laugh. "Everyone had one right?"

Joe 'laughed' "Yeah."

"Uh, my names Charles."

"Shit" "I'm Joe. Joe Lamb."

Charles walked away, most likely to Joe's math class, as 'Cary' should be as well, which Joe assumed to be the shaking blond. He couldn't leave him standing there, he slowly walked up behind the blond, who was much shorter up close.

"Um…are you ok?"

The blond didn't respond. He put a hand on his shoulder, "Hey." The blond turned around, he had a full set of braces and crawling out from underneath his blue eyes, the distinctive wet streaks of tears,

"What?" he asked coldly.

Joe backed away, actually intimidated by the 5 foot tall crying blond. "Are you ok?"

He violently shoved away a tear, "Yeah. Just…stupidness."

Joe stood next to him with his mouth open, "Is there anything I can do?"

Cary looked at him, his eyes glassy with a look of anger and pity at the same time, "You can not mention this for one thing." he replied, wiping his tears with his sleeves.

"I wont." The blond looked up at him, still glassy eyed, "I'm Joe…we have math together."

"Terrific." He sarcastically remarked walking passed him, Joe wasn't hurt at all, in fact, he was eager to know him,

"What's your name?" he called.

"Cary." he answered, walking into the boys restroom.

What Joe had planned was polar opposite than from five minutes earlier, he now wanted to be completely, and utterly involved with Charles and Cary.