Hey guys! Thanks to my reviewers and people who favorite/follow! I know this ship isn't all that popular, but I love it Soososososo much! If you have any questions, be sure to ask! I'm sorry I haven't updated in a long time! I had a book review due so I was typing a paper for nine hours during my weekend, instead of writing fanfic. I have been neglecting my duties as a fanfic author, so be free to slap my face, if you want to (mentally and through cyberspace of course). And I am not alone in freaking out about next season coming out in a month! I am freaking out and SO excited at the same time!

Wan never thought he could have run faster in his life; his traction-less shoes made him slip and slide around the corners, and he was suddenly glad that Mr. Carolina was as slow as a turtle, even if he was powerful. It was the telephone he worried about...He slowed as he approached the doors, they would know then that he was trouble, if they didn't know already. He sucked in his breath and pushed open his doors, striding toward freedom outside, acting completely normal, when the clerk picked up a ringing telephone. Wan bolted out just in time for the clerk to shout to the policemen in the fan-filled room.

He sprinted to Jay patiently waiting. His friend gave him a reproachable look at his present state and at the sight of a couple of officers running after them. "What did you-"

"Come on!" Wan pulled on his arm roughly, dragging him through the grass. He knew now, that they wouldn't get away. Jay was hindering their progress.

"Go back, like this never happened, Jay. I was going to leave either way." Jay's eyebrows raised worriedly until Wan shoved him. "GO! Don't you want to keep your job, a roof over your head? You hear me? Go back, you didn't do anything!" Jay shook his head, his eyes unmistakably shining before running and disappearing

"Stop!" Wan heard a man shout and the click of a gun. He smirked and turned around, putting his hands up to his head.

Wan's head was down, his unkempt hair hanging in his face as he bent forward, elbows on his knees. Mr. Shoe and Leo were discussing his situation, asking him if he was involved with an accomplice. To hear Shoe's voice again made him want to puke, especially, since he kept offering that Wan just come back to the house and all would be forgotten. It seemed Leo Carolina would give in to it as well, but Wan knew the real cause. Shoe and his sons would make his life a living hell if he went back.

"If he needs community service, we'll be able to help," Mr. Shoe suggested. Wan groaned inwardly, praying that it wouldn't be the case.

"He might be going in for a more serious crime, he did steal from you." Wan glanced at the stack of bills they had emptied out of his pockets after searching him for a weapon. Seeing their reactions-Leo, of betrayal, and Shoe, with triumph, made him realize that revenge only hurt the one enacting it. He blocked out the sound of their discussions, knowing that they would never listen to the suggestions of the thief, especially when the victim was the richest man in town.

Sometime later, Wan didn't even know how fast time had passed, Leo turned, "Well?" They both stared at him, expecting him to speak.

"What?"

"See, he is too stupid to be granted that college scholarship! Why didn't you consult me about it when you offered it to him?"

"I..I-I" Leo stumbled and wiped his glistening brow. "I figured Wan would tell you...I thought he already had-"

"You idiot! If I didn't know better, I would have-" You would have taken it away, Wan thought. Mr. Shoe stopped just in time to control his temper, before sighing and shaking his head. "let's just say...there would be consequences." Wan recognized the look Mr. Shoe gave Mr. Carolina. For Wan, it confirmed a sound punishment, physically or emotionally, in the nearby future.

"So what are we going to do with the boy?" Leo asked. "I'm sorry, but it would be unwise to pardon him from this." Mr. Shoe sighed loudly in response.

"If he doesn't come back, I don't want him anywhere near me, whatsoever. I don't want to see his face, and I don't want him to get that scholarship." Wan's eyes squeezed shut in mental pain. There was no where to go if he didn't get that scholarship, he couldn't escape that town. That's what you get, stupid. You don't go on heists and expect to get awarded if you get caught! He mentally kicked himself for his actions that day.

"Alright, Mr. Shoe. I'll make sure Wan has a job somewhere-"

"I'm pretty sure there are some open jobs just waiting for him on the West Side," Shoe commented, and Wan finally understood. His boss would either break him if he went back to live at the Mansion, or he would banish him to the other side of the river for life there to humiliate him. Either way, the slimy rich man won.

Unless Wan didn't let it happen. He could finish high school, perhaps and find somewhere cheap to live. It wasn't like he hadn't gone without food before. He could deal with hunger.

"We'll see," Leo forced a smile, his deep voice somehow cracking.

"Well," Mr. Shoe grabbed the stolen money off of the desk and his suitcase on the floor next to him. "I thank you for catching the thief," Shoe glanced at Wan pointedly. "and I must leave to attend to my work. Have a good day, Sheriff." He gave Wan a smirk at turning to the door, one that Leo could not see. He decided to scowl back at him. "It is a pity we have to part this way, Wan. You were so promising." Wan just laughed bitterly and shook his head.

"Goodbye, Mr. Shoe." The air seemed incredibly lighter when he left and both remaining males sighed involuntarily. There was still tension though, Wan had to admit. He had let Leo down, had lied and taken advantage of him, and he wondered how the older man would respond now that they were alone for the first time. He was only regretful about stealing the money from his boss because he got caught. He had almost exploited this kind, old, ignorant man just because he could, and that was what he was more guilty about.

Finally, after along silence, Mr. Carolina sighed as he sat down and reprimanded, "You're getting off lucky, Wan. You didn't need all that money you were requiring of me. I don't even know if an education is what you really want anymore, or ever did want."

"It is, Leo! I did it to get away from Mr. Shoe, that's all," Wan hung his head, ashamed, and pathetically added, "I'm sorry I broke the law, and lied to you."

"From now on, boy, you will call me Mr. Carolina. We have no ties anymore. If you come around here. If I see you on the streets anywhere on the East Side, I will arrest you." The words came slowly and deep, but Wan's world seemed to be falling fast. The coldness in the Mr. Carolina's voice was piercing his conscience, and he wanted to run off and hide into the crumbling west side of the city, to escape from the consequences.

"I understand," Wan's voice shook with emotion as he pleaded, "I will follow the rules, but can you please give me the amount of that scholarship? I have nothing. I've spent it all on Howie and Jay."

The sheriff's face softened and peered at him for a moment or two. "I will give you 500, Wan. For our history. But I can't rat you out if you get in trouble on the other side. I've pulled too many strings this time. I could be sending you to a juvenile prison."

"Thank you sir," Wan cried. Unchecked, he stood abruptly and shook Leo's hand graciously, even though he was being ripped from safe shelter and people he had grown close to.

It was a long walk, Wan discovered, and he felt everyone was staring at him as he shuffled down the last hill of East Colby. He strode across the bridge quickly, remembering the night just a few days ago when he had accompanied the gang leader, who everyone called "The Captain" in code. Ironic, he laughed at himself. Now, he was living here, never allowed to cross the bridge again, and in some ways, he was fine with that.

Change was coming.