A huge thank you to all that have reviewed so far either on here or on livejournal :D Here's another chapter! Sorry for the wait xD

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Sunset Ave.

Chapter Seven

Saying Goodbye

'…How could you? After all this time. Well, I'm not surprised. It's not like you're new at this!'

'Calm down, Irene, please.'

'Don't you tell me to calm down…'

Percy woke to the sound of arguing and he didn't move, still caught in the slumber of sleep.

'…Was she good? Was she better than me?'

'Irene, just shut up and listen to me…'

With a groan, Percy pulled himself from between his sheets. In the kitchen, Irene was going around, flinging items into a holdall. 'Don't you tell me to shut up,' she spat, turning on him; her hair was flyaway and her eyes were rimmed red with tears. She grabbed a bowl from the cupboard at her side and flung it at him. It smashed at his feet and Henry danced back. 'I hate you,' she screamed. 'I'm leaving and don't you dare expect me back. Percy!' she yelled in the direction of the stairs.

'You're not taking my son,' Henry growled, stepping forward. Irene snapped her back shut and pushed past him, almost colliding with Odessa as she passed. A moment later, the front door slammed shut and the house was left in silence.

Henry rubbed his jaw and turned. Percy was stood in the doorway, still in his nightclothes. 'Percy…' he began. His son turned and walked back up the stairs.

--

Billy lay stretched out in the grass, gazing up at the apple trees above him. 'Think she'll come back?' he asked, turning his head to Percy, who was sat with his knees up to his chest, beside him. Percy shrugged.

'I don't know. She always leaves. Just a matter of time, I guess.' It went silent, the only noise being the slight breeze and the twittering of the birds in the nests.

'What yer thinkin' of?' Billy asked after a moment, sitting up and picking blades of grass between his fingers.

'Just stuff,' Percy shrugged, before climbing to his feet. 'C'mon.'

'Yeah, I'm starving,' Billy grinned, stretching and straightening up also. He slugged Percy in the air. 'Race yer!' He took off. Percy gave a soft groan and followed.

The two found themselves in town, Billy having won the race, heading towards the local store. 'Take whatever yer want,' Billy whispered as they entered. Percy gave him a look.

'Steal?'

'Why not? Not gone all chicken on me, have yer?' he asked as they strolled leisurely down one aisle. Percy frowned, before picking up a Hershey chocolate bar. Then, he stuffed it in the pocket of his trousers.

'Hey, you!'

Percy froze as the shopkeeper came towards him. 'Put that back!' Percy gaped for a moment, before Billy charged out of nowhere, bashing the shopkeeper aside and grabbing Percy's wrist. He all but yanked him from the shop, the two racing off down the street.

Billy gave a whoop of laughter, hopping in the air. 'Yer gotta be quicker than that, Purty,' he grinned. He tugged a bottle of cider from his overalls and a packet of cigarettes from his top pocket. 'Yer caused a good distraction though,' he winked as they slowed to a stop. Percy huffed, panting heavily before tearing open the Hershey bar. He snapped it in half and handed Billy a share.

Billy stuffed it all in his mouth. They got to Percy's house; Henry's car wasn't in the drive, but Odessa was in the kitchen washing up. They said nothing to her as she passed, though she averted her gaze and said, 'afternoon, Mister Wetmore. Mister Wharton,' and went back to doing the dishes. Percy led the way upstairs, Billy bounding into the bedroom first. He put the cider on the side and the cigarettes on the windowsill and then turned to watch Percy carefully, as if working out what he was going to do. Percy watched as Billy tugged off his overalls; left in just a t-shirt and his boxers. Percy came forward, getting on his knees in front of Wharton, placing his hands on the older boy's knees before shifting to kiss his inner thigh.

Leaning up, Percy let Billy give him a rough kiss, as his hand trailed up his thigh to press against his boxers.

Wharton gave a small moan, shutting his eyes and grinning. When he opened them again, they were dark and hungry. Percy shifted forward, pausing for a moment, before tugging at the band of his boxers. Suddenly, Wharton jerked up and pushed him away.

'What?' Percy frowned.

'There's a nigga watchin us,' Wharton replied and the two looked at the doorway where Odessa stood, wide-eyed. She was holding a pile of clothes in her hand, but she dropped them and backed off.

'I'm sorry, Mister Wetmore,' he said in her deep accent; it quivered slightly. Percy jumped to his feet, face red with a hot flush.

'If you tell anyone...' he trailed off, threatening and she nodded, shook her head and stepped away. Percy came forward and slammed the door in her face, before hitting it with his fist. 'Fuck,' he hissed. Billy chuckled and Percy turned to see h had his cock in his hand, giving the base a squeeze.

Percy shook his head. He was scared and felt sick, his chest tight. 'Get out,' he said to Billy. 'Get out!'

Wharton's grin dropped and he got to his feet. 'What?'

'I said get out!'

'Fuck you,' Billy growled, grabbing his overalls and yanking them on. He grabbed his cider and cigarettes, shoving past him to the door. He flung it open, but turned back to Percy. 'Jessie had her baby. Called him Teddy.' He walked out, stomping down the stairs. Percy listened for the slam of the door, before sinking onto the bed and staring down at his shaking hands.

Fuck.

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Henry Wetmore collared Percy the next morning and when he looked into the angry face of his father's, his stomach jerked unpleasantly and he thought this is it…

'Mr Burton told me you've been stealing!' his father growled and Percy let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. So, Odessa hadn't said anything.

'I don't care,' he said, shrugging himself out of his father's grip and looking up at him.

'You will care, boy. You think I want a thief as a son?'

'You think I want a liar and a cheat for a father?' Percy snapped back. Henry stared down at him.

'I don't know where this attitude has come from, young man, but I suggest it stops now.'

'Leave me alone,' Percy hissed, attempting to walk off. Henry yanked him back, shoving him towards the stairs.

'Get to your room!'

'No,' Percy spat, pushing Henry aside as he ran outside. He ignored the yells of Henry behind him as he took off down the street. He sowed a couple of blocks away, angrily wiping the tears from his cheeks.

'Percy?'

He glanced up to see Mr Darkfield knelt by his flower bed, but he stood up and brushed off his hands, 'Are you okay, boy?' he asked. Percy sniffed and attempted to reply, but another sob escaped instead. Mr Darkfield came forward. 'Come on, Percy. A cup of tea will do you fine.'

Percy followed his teacher into the house; it was big and unlike his. 'I've not see you around church lately,' he said, entering the kitchen. He moved to the stove and began to boil a pan of water. He grabbed two mugs from the side and set to work preparing the cups. Then, he turned back to face the boy sat at the table. 'Percy?' he prompted.

'Been busy,' he mumbled, staring at his hands.

'I hear you've been hanging out with that Wharton kid,' Darkfield replied. 'I hope he's not been too much of a bad influence. You're one of my star students. Is he the reason you're here?'

'No,' Percy scowled. 'Shut up about him. I don't wanna tlak about that,' he said, rubbing his eyes and giving a sniff. Darkfield studied him for a moment.

'Why you crying?'

Percy hesitated, biting his lip. 'My mom left yesterday. Pa was sleeping with another woman. And I stole a candy bar from the store and I haven't gone to confess my sins. I'm a bad person and I'm going to hell.'

To his surprise, Darkfield gave a laugh as he poured the now boiled water into the mugs. 'You think you're going to hell because of a candy bar?' he asked, stirring the tea before moving to the table. He set Percy's in front of him, before taking the chair opposite.

'If you don't confess your sins, you go to hell,' Percy replied miserably.

'Percy, if God put everyone who stole a candy bar in hell, then there'd be so little in heaven. What about a small child? His mother sets the pushchair that little bit too close to the sweet section and that toddler grabs a handful and stuffs it under his blanket? You think God will send him to hell?'

'He'd be too young to know better,' Percy finally, cupping the hot mug between his hands and ignoring the pain. 'But, I know better. And I chose not to go to church and confess.'

'And that's where the learning process kicks in,' Darkfield replied. 'You regret this, yes?'

'Yeah,' Percy said, looking up.

'God gave mankind the right to freewill. Which means choice and learning. Man learns from their mistakes and makes sure they don't repeat it in the future.'

'What about bad people?' Percy asked. 'People that don't seem to learn and do the same again and again.'

Darkfield gave a sigh, pausing for a moment before continuing. 'I guess it depends on the degree of 'bad'. It's always said that God prefers humans over his own Angels. No one knows why, but the Angels have no choice. They have no freewill and cannot protest. They are there to serve God and that they do. Humans have a choice on whether or not they want to believe in God. They have a choice on what they choose to be moral and immoral. Some people, say rapists and murderers; they are the ones that go to hell. They have no self-regard, or care about anyone else, unless they regret what they've done come Judgement Day. Then, there may be a chance for them.'

'What about people who are still young, but have sinned?' Percy asked.

'There is still a chance for them, Percy. And you have to help them see the light.'

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