Thank you so much for the reviews on the last chapter! This one is a little shorter than what i would have liked, but it don't matter! I also want to add a little note that I'll be changing Jessie's husband's name from Walter to Patrick. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

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Sunset Ave.

Chapter Two

Better man

Sunday came faster than Percy expected; he stood on the path outside the church, watching as Henry drove off. He heard arguing behind him and he turned, shielding his eyes against the sun as he watched Billy kick the back of a younger boy's legs.

'I'll tell momma,' Rob complained, dashing forward as Wharton tried to kick him again.

'Kiss my ass,' he replied, noticing Percy watching. His broke out in a grin. 'Hey, it's Purty,' he called. Rob stopped to look.

'Jus' some boy,' he shrugged. 'Not purty at all.' He disappeared inside as Billy walked across the brown grass towards him. Percy stayed still, eyes narrowed slightly.

'Miss me?' he laughed, cocking his head to one side.

'Not really,' Percy replied, before walking past him and towards the church.

'Oi, oi, hey! Wait,' Billy called, jogging after him and grabbing his arm. 'We don't need to go in theres.' Percy frowned, shaking Billy off.

'What do you mean?'

'Well, who needs to learn about Bomba? Got any money?' Percy nodded, uneasy at the way Billy was looking at him. 'C'mon, then, Purty,' he said and began to walk in the opposite direction. Percy paused for a moment. Would anyone know if they didn't turn up?

And, heaving a sigh, he followed. He didn't know why he followed; it was the same strange reason about why he'd kept looking at Billy last Sunday. It just couldn't help himself. The two entered a shop, the man behind the counter watching them with careful eyes. Billy went around, picking up two chocolate bars and a can of soda.

'Pay for em,' he demanded, pushing Percy forward. He did as asked, before the two left the shop. Billy walked off and Percy hurried to catch up.

'Where are we goin?' he asked. Billy didn't answer, but didn't stop walking until they were a little out of town. They clambered up a hill, finding a good place to sit in the morning sun.

Billy leaned back on his elbows, before fishing a bottle from inside his overalls. He pulled out a bottle of whiskey, an almost proud look on his face.

'Where'd you get that?' Percy frowned. 'I dint pay for that.'

'Life would be shit if you had to pay for everythink,' Billy replied.

'Did you steal that?'

'You catch on fast,' Billy laughed, unscrewing the top and offering it. 'Well, you goan take some?'

Percy paused, before reaching out and taking it. Taking a drink, he cringed and spluttered. Wharton laughed; a deep, hearty laugh and took the bottle back, shaking his head. Then, he drank it like water, still chuckling. 'What if you'd gotten caught?' Percy asked, once he'd recovered.

'I'd blame you,' Billy smirked, screwing the top back on and grabbing a chocolate bar. Percy flashed him an angry look and glanced away.

'My father says you lot are bad n' that I should stay away.'

'Do yer dad wanna suck my dick?' Billy asked, looking across at him.

'Why do you do things like that?' Percy asked after a moment.

'Like what?'

'Like… you tried to grab me yesterday. And now you be tellin that you want my father to…' he trailed off.

Billy shrugged. 'I jus' do.'

'It's sinful.'

'Tell that to God,' Billy laughed. 'He probably be doin Moses now. And his animals.' Percy muttered something under his breath that sounded like a plea for forgiveness.

'You shouldn't talk about the Lord like that,' he said. 'An it's Noah who had the animals.' Billy just shook his head, finishing the chocolate bar and getting his whiskey out again. He began to sing loudly, a made up tune that made no real sense, but was obscene all the same.

'And he had a big pecker!

Big, big, big!

And he sang out loud!

And I have a big pecker!

Big, big, big!

And I sing out loud!

And she had a big pecker!

Big, big, big!

And she sang out loud!'

Billy the Kid laughed; knocked back his head and laughed and Percy shook his head. Some things were best left unquestioned.

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'Did you have a good day at church?' Irene asked when Percy came through the door. He nodded. 'Well, you go wash your hands,' she said, her and Henry sat at the table, Odessa serving up food. The bathroom was only through the corridor and he left the door open. He could hear his parents talking clearly from where he stood, cleaning his hands.

'Do you think we should talk to 'im about it?' Irene asked. 'Why would he not go to church?'

'Maybe it was jus' one time,' Henry replied. 'We'll see Mr. Darkfield calls us again if he doesn't turn up.'

So, people did know if they were missing from church. Percy sighed, staring into the mirror. His hair was a little more wild than usual, so he combed it back. In his head, he could still hear Wharton singing the big pecker song and he shook his head as if trying to shake it out.

'Come on, Percy, before it gets cold,' Irene called.

'Comin!' he shouted back, turning the tap off, drying his hands and leaving the bathroom. From what Billy had been saying, they wouldn't be going to the church next Sunday either. Apparently, there was a place he just had to see.

Percy could only guess what it was.

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The surprise place happened to be an abandoned park out of town. It was hidden in the woods that formed near the Sheriff's Station; there was a swing, made by rope and wood and a small stream that weaved its way through the dirty, leaf scattered ground.

Billy lay on his stomach, tearing up the new green grass that was poking up between the damp, brown leaves.

Percy sat beside him, cross legged, a bottle of R.C. Cola at his side. A small ladybird ran over his fingers, which he had lifted in front of his face to inspect it. It had three black spots on each side of its fiery red helmet and every now and then it would stop to rub its back legs together, as if cleaning.

They were undisturbed for most of the morning, just enjoying the peace, though that was later broken. Billy heard the voices first. He sat up, the front of his overalls dirty and frowned.

'What is it?' Percy asked, but Billy shushed him. That's when the three boys burst into the clearing, faltering when they saw them. Percy forgot about his ladybird, when the two got to their feet. He recognized the boys from the town; one of the Sheriff's son, Lewis Billets. At either side of him stood Colin and Nicholas. They were a year or so older than Percy or Billy.

'Hey, it looks like Percy has a friend,' Lewis smiled, sauntering forward. 'What it be like, to know that someone likes you?' he mocked.

Percy felt himself redden and he looked at the floor.

'Hey, Lew, it's one of them Wharton boys,' Nicholas said, pointing at Billy.

'I druther have no friends than a Wharton as a friend,' Colin laughed. Wharton himself stepped forward.

'You sayin you have a problem?' he asked, a smile twitching his lips.

'How's your momma?' Lewis asked. 'I seen her at night, comin down ar street like there's somethin there for her.'

'I heard she'll do anythin for money,' added Colin. Billy stepped forward and Percy reached out to grab his arm.

'Don't,' he warned, knowing there'd be trouble from the Sheriff if he did, but Wharton merely shook him off.

'They sayin my mom is a whore,' he said, before turning back to Lewis. 'Well, c'mon then, big boy,' he said, jumping from one to the other as he came forward. Lewis backed off a little.

'Do you know who I am? Who my father is?' He paused, eyes narrowing. 'At least I know who my dad is.'

Billy reached out to grab his collar, yanking him close and drawing his fist back. 'I know who my daddy is,' he replied, smiling. 'He's a gimcrack.'

He punched Lewis in the jaw, letting him go. Lewis staggered back with a cry and as Billy started forward again, the three boys fled along the dirt path and away. 'That fuckin hurt,' Wharton muttered, looking down at his fist. His knuckles were a little grazed, droplets of blood forming on the surface.

'I told you not to,' muttered Percy. 'The Sheriff-' Billy looked up with a laugh.

'He badmouthed you. He started it.'

'He badmouthed your mom,' Percy told him. Billy shrugged.

'He's right; she is a whore.' He turned, walking back to Percy.

'Why'd you stick up for me?' he frowned. Billy stared at him for a moment, as if it was the dumbest question in the world.

'You're my friend, aint yer?'

'We aint even known each other that long,' Percy replied. 'How can we be friends?' Billy laughed at this.

'No one runs from church to be with someone they doesn't like, does they?' he replied, the grin still on his lips.

And it was at that moment the two actually found someone they could rely on, someone they could trust, someone who could help them.

They found each other.

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What y'all think? Review and let me know :D