I remember when I was really little probably six or seven Mom used to say, 'the worst is usually not the worst. Cupcake.' I didn't know what she meant by that. Hell, I still don't. Glancing up at the sky, I really didn't mean to say I hated my own parents a few minutes before they died. I really didn't. I wish I could turn back time and tell them I loved them or do something to prove that I am worth it.
It's too quiet; Soda is on his third cigarette. I honestly hate admitting this, but he's worried; Soda hardly ever smokes more than one a day. He only smokes when he's scared or worried about something. Soda usually never smokes he's afraid it would hurt his athletic physique. He plays football, soccer, and basketball.
The sky is becoming darker; Kenny has already slipped; probably frightened by the appearance of cops. Can you really blame the guy? I know I can't cos he's so used to cops doing terrible things to his family. A cop shot his mom. No one can ever recover from something like that, not even our brave Kenny. I begin to wonder if Kenny is someplace nice or in an alleyway wishing he was warm. He slipped when he heard federal agents were coming to take Soda and me to NCIS.
I suddenly wonder what its going to be like being an orphan like Kenny; it might not be all that bad. Who am I kidding? I don't have anyone in the world. Well I have Cal, Dennis, Kenny, and Soda. I guess I should feel lucky, but I don't for anything besides numbness and confusion. We also have people from the 'gang' as Mom called it. Soda's friend since the first grade; Mattie all he cares about is getting into trouble. That's probably why he and Soda are such great friends. The toughest and meanest guy in our gang is Cappy. He thinks of Kenny as his little brother, and Cappy isn't the caring type.
An NCIS Agent with grayish-white hair comes up to Soda his blue-gray eyes are assertive and colder than ice. His eyes are like melting ice, they look hard but soft in a sad way. He must've had something bad happen to him. Kenny, says I read people better than anyone. Almost everyone I know thinks I dream to often and don't use my head. I can't help it. A very pretty lady who looks Israeli gives Soda a disapproving look. He's smoking again, he reminds me of a chimney sometimes, but they don't know he's worried.
"You are not allowed to smoke" a pretty lady with dark brown hair said sternly to Soda who looks up and smiles his fake smile.
"Says who?" Soda asked his eyes don't even twinkle. I watch the scene hoping I don't cry, this lady sounds a lot like Mom.
"The law" the pretty lady said sounding annoyed, she studies his face and sees the tears stained on his cheeks. I see the guilt seep into her eyes. She starts to feel bad, but notices he has a pack in his pocket.
"Gee, what a shame" Soda said flicking the remains of the dull cigarette. He's only sarcastic when he's scared.
"You're what fourteen? You shouldn't be smoking" the man with dark brown hair said softly, giving him a smile Soda doesn't say anything for a few seconds.
"Try fifteen" Soda remarked, he just turned fifteen last week and whenever people call him fourteen. He gets a little annoyed; I get pissed when people call me eleven.
"Fifteen. It's against the rules for you to smoke" the man with grayish-white hair said, in a tone that clearly isn't to be messed with. Too bad he doesn't know Soda.
"I'm not good at following rules" Soda smirked at her his crazy smile, showing her the pack of them.
"Give me that" the pretty lady snapped at him, taking it from his hand and stuffing it into his pocket. Wow, nobody ever yells at Soda, he looks up startled and then furious.
"What the hell? That's mine. Dennis gave me em.' Who do you think you are?" Soda questioned angrily, nobody is usually that forward with Soda. I almost smile.
"NCIS Agent Gibbs; these are agents, DiNozzo, McGee and David. We're here to solve your parents case" Gibbs said wryly, Soda nods and looks up at the older man.
"Oh…I'm Soda and he's Johnny. Sorry bout' the smokes" Soda blurted out he's keeping his burned up hand away from them.
"Never apologize, sign of weakness" Gibbs advised, Soda almost smiles at his rule but remembers his parents are dead.
"I take it back then" Soda said watching an older man zip up Dad's body in a black body bag, his face sags. I try to have a look too, but Agent DiNozzo blocks my view, I glare up at him. He shrugs at me and smiles.
"Uhh, Johnny, I'll be right back" Soda said giving me a comforting smile and a playful nudge. I don't smile, instead I look across the street and at Ruthie she's staring right back at me.
"Promise" I asked sounding serious, keeping my eyes on hers.
"I promise, bud" Soda whispered, getting up and going into another part of the yard to talk with Agent Gibbs.
"A cop said there were three kids here. Care to explain" Gibbs said looking at me for a few short seconds.
"He lied; it's only me and Johnny" Soda lied, Kenny can't get taken away. He's only a baby; they can't take someone who doesn't wanna be taken in the first place.
"Kid, listen, you really don't want to lie to me" Gibbs threatened, Soda swallows hard. This guy is so damn irritating why does he give a shit about their lives so much? Oh right its his job.
"I ain't lying. The cop did" Soda said refusing to give up Ken. The boy is like a little brother and he's Johnny's best friend in the entire world. Johnny doesn't make many friends. He only has around three other than the gang.
"A cop lied?" Gibbs questioned giving the teenager a look to tell the god damn truth already. Soda runs his hand through his dampened and sweaty gold hair.
Soda looked down at the rust stained grass with utter disgust. "Everyone does once in awhile" that statement doesn't seem to satisfy Gibbs very much.
"You and Johnny are coming to NCIS to be questioned" Gibbs said seeing Soda look at the dimming sky and nod sadly.
"Then what?" Soda asked he turns away from me. He knows I can read lips, my deaf friend Micah taught me before he moved to Louisiana.
My grayish-green eyes are focused on their car. I am not very big on talking to anyone, besides people I trust. I trusted my parents; I trusted them not to die and leave me and Soda forever.
"Johnny right?" Tony asked looking a little concerned, I nod feeling tired and confused by all of this.
"How did you get that cut?" Ziva asked looking concerned, shifting from foot to foot nervously, I feel heat arise in my cheeks.
"Fight. He had a knife" her eyes flash showing her concern "you shoulda seen the other guy. He had ta, go to the hospital" I lied; I am getting so good at lying I don't feel guilty after. Sometimes.
"I see" Ziva said smiling at me, I turn bright red. She knows I am lying, damn this isn't fair. She's a cop and I'm just a kid, she's used to stuff like this.
"I always get into fights. Soda doesn't, perfect" I said, technically that's a lie, but Soda doesn't usually get into that much trouble. I do, there's the difference between us. He doesn't get caught and I uhh do.
"Is that so?" Ziva asked raising an eyebrow at me. I nod enthusiastically, while I run my fingers through my light brown almost red hair.
"Yah, he'll get adopted" I whispered, meekly. Who'd ever want a trouble-making twelve year old with an attitude?
"Do you think you won't?" Ziva couldn't help but ask; this boy looks adorable and sounds sweet.
"Yeah" The corners of my mouth twitch nervously. I begin to hope that Soda will get back soon.
"Why?" Ziva asked trying to sound casual, why does she keep asking me questions that I really don't wanna answer?
"Cos" I said my sneakers are shivering in the spring night. I should've worn a better sweatshirt today; all I'm wearing is my blue and black flannel. Soda has on brown jacket that looks so cool.
"Because why?" Tony asked, I flick my hair out of my eyes trying to remain calm and don't give in that easily.
"Just cos" I said softly, feeling close to tears. They don't press on, knowing too well that if they make me cry or something it would look so sad. I hate being young. I ain't a kid anyway, Soda doesn't think I'm a kid.
"What will happen to you if you don't get adopted?" Ziva asked mentally pulling me away from my thoughts.
"I'll probably run away like…" I stop speaking and look at the dirt encrusted in my ratty sneakers "I'm really tired" I lied, changing the topic. I can't talk about Kenny to some fed, they'll find him and place him in a home. Like his foster home now, they beat the shit out of kids. Beat em' senseless as Kenny says.
"Like who?" she pressed on, I shake my head and pretend to plaster a pretend confused look onto my slightly tanned face. They don't buy it, I can just tell. Instead they give me a look to tell the truth.
"Nobody" I answered quickly and my voice cracks too. Damn it, damn it. I hate lying, but I am really good at it. Everything thinks its because I read so much.
"Johnny, you really need to tell us the…" she began; I flash Soda a pleading look. Soda being Soda jumps right in. He'll always be there to help me out of a problem.
He sits back down beside me and smiles warmly. "Johnny, we're going to stay at NCIS for awhile" he said in his kind voice.
"Don't wanna go" I said shaking my head, the tears are at the walls of my eyes. Soda sighs at me, and runs his fingers through his blonde hair his eyes look grim.
"We have no choice, Johnny" Soda said sadly, his blonde hair is damp and his cheeks are stained with tears.
"I wanna stay home" I pleaded scratching the back of my head, Soda swallows hard.
"Johnny, we have to go. We have no choice" Soda repeated stroking my knee. I want to cry so badly. I just wanna swear and cuss, and say dirty words as Mom called them. She would've spanked me if I did, but I can't help what comes out of my mouth.
"Please, Soda, please" I begged, his ears turn bright red. For a few seconds I feel sorry for Soda.
Soda said softly, "Johnnycake, please. Please" I don't notice the looks shared by the federal agents. I don't really care. He smooths out my light brown hair.
"Do we hafta go Sodapop?" I asked in a sad little pathetic voice. Soda sits down beside me and puts an arm around me.
"Yah, we hafta go" he whispered softly, I look up at the sky wondering why the hell life is so hard? I guess if life was easy then more people would be nicer.
"I wanna stay home, Pepsi" I whispered, this time Soda doesn't say anything for a very long time. Pepsi-Cola is Mom and Dad's nickname for Soda. He has tears shining in his wild blue eyes.
My mouth feels as dry as the Sahara. "Johnny …do, this for me okay?" he begged in a sad pathetic little voice. I get up from the chair with a jelly like feeling in my legs.
"Okay…but, Soda, when can we go home?" I asked following the agents out of the hospital, Soda stops in his tracks.
"Not for a long time Johnny" Soda said wiping the tears away with his hand and holding his head up confidently. He looks like he's trying to be strong for both of us. He always is the one who knows when to be strong, but now he looks like a little kid who is crumbling like a cookie.
"How long?" I asked to no one in particular. Soda glances up at the sky and back at our house. Suddenly I realize I shouldn't be whining about this crap. He's aching too.
"When our investigation is over, you'll go to get your things" Gibbs answered seeing two little boys look close to tears isn't something he likes seeing.
"Oh, okay" I said curtly sounding a little hurt. Agent Gibbs gives me one of those sad looks that Kenny receives too often.
"Everything's going to be okay. I promise" Soda promised half-heartedly. It's an empty promise, but at least it means he'll always protect me and be my big brother.
"Soda, I didn't mean it…I didn't" I blurted looking into his reckless blue eyes; he touches my hand and gives me one of those sad smiles.
"I know, Johnnycake. I know" Soda said sounding so understanding and caring, yet so strained. I begin to wonder if my parents know I loved them. Did they know that I didn't mean it?
"McGee, escort the kids into the car" Gibbs ordered to his younger agent, who reluctantly does as he's told.
"Call the kin in line" Gibbs ordered to McGee, who places the boys in the car; takes the keys out, locks the doors. Soda nudges me to read their lips.
"There isn't any, Boss" Tim said feeling like this is the Zack case all over again. Only with teenagers and two parents who aren't kidnapped. The kids defidently know more than they're letting on.
"Social Services then" Gibbs decided turning back to work, talking to Ducky about their bodies.
"What do you think Johnny didn't mean?" Ziva asked curiously, the boys are obviously hiding something.
"I don't know the boys seem troubled" Tony said shrugging his shoulders. The older boy reminds him of Gibbs and the younger one looks so confused and sad.
"I think there are many secrets hidden between all of them" Ziva said at last, I look back at all three of them standing in front of my house.
"I'm sure glad you two are here. DiNozzo, David, drive them to NCIS. McGee, witness statements" "Gibbs said seeing Tony and Ziva shrug at one another then quickly do as they're told. Snap-snap of the camera. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Agent David watching me from the rear view mirror. She has pity written all over her face. My voice is caught and I gasp a weird shortened gasp like they do in the movies. Only mine sounds more real. Soda sees my facial expression and starts stroking my light brown hair softly.
"Shh, Shh. Everything's going to be okay, Johnnycake. I promise" Soda whispered placing a comforting arm over my shoulder and rocking me back and forth like Mom does. I mean used to. Large crocodile tears roll down my cheeks. I can't stop them. My parents are...are. Dead and I didn't even tell them I loved them. I really do love them. The tears are coming faster and faster. They just keep coming and coming with Sodapop stroking my hair and trying to get me to calm down. I'm hiccuping and trembling, but then I remember crying makes you look weak. Wiping the tears from my cheeks I hold my head up high and ignore the pained looks Soda is giving me. Instead, I look at the back of Agent DiNozzo's head and hope this is all just a fucked up dream.