Chapter 7.
Tuesday.
Rocky went into a state of being that seemed a bit off to the family. He had come downstairs and made them all breakfast to have before they left for the day. He spoke to them whenever he liked rather than when spoken to. And when everyone was done Rocky cleaned both the dishes and the kitchen. Grandpa told his daughter, in private, that the two of them sat down for a talk and things seem to be sorting out for Rocky, he just needs a little more time to process it all. Jessica understood that but when her son hugged her before she left for work, tears fell from her eyes which earned her a laugh from her son followed by another hug before he whispered that everything was gonna be okay.
Later when everyone got home, he helped Tum Tum with his homework, told Colt that his new girlfriend could talk to him and he even helped Jessica make dinner. Sam was amazed wondering if his son was making this sudden recovery because he might have maybe overheard them talking about sending him to therapy, but he didn't bring it up about not needing it so maybe their son is stronger than they gave him credit for.
Wednesday.
Rocky was the complete opposite of himself from yesterday; there was no glowing breakfast of french toast with butter peacan syrup with a side of bacon, instead the family was gifted with a silent Rocky, who seemed to be looking at them all from the side of his eye as if waiting for one of them to say something cruel or strike him. It was very odd. He withdrew from all touches including his siblings and his father, people whom he seemed to be better at getting along with since he came back. Jessica had gone past his room that night and heard whimpering sounds so she guessed that his sudden paranoid behaviour is from a bad dream. What Rocky did for the rest of the day she would have no way of knowing because her father said that it wasn't something he is permitted to share, Rocky has to make that choice.
Sam still thinks that therapy is the right method to all of this and with each passing day Jessica is starting to feel that he's right. Rocky's mood seemed to perk up when the young girl Noelie came by to see him, her son had apparently written a letter to her and instead of writing back she came right over. The two hugged each other fiercely, and spoke forever in sign language making Jessica even more jealous. The only time that she knew what they were speaking about was when Rocky was translating for her as they ate. She said she liked the food, and that the Douglas' are nice people. When Noelie left, so did her son's sudden happiness. There were a lot of other quirks about Rocky that Jessica has begun to notice, like his eyes, they're always so tired in the morning. Then there's the fact that he's been wearing nothing but pajamas everyday, she tried to make him change his clothes but his response was that all of his clothes were at school. Which is why she had to ask Colt to go and get them. He said he'd do it later. Which now leaves them in...
Thursday.
Rocky seemed anxious over something. Like he were waiting for something bad to happen. He read Emily's letter over and over again, checking the time checking the date, he was ready for this. How could he not be!? It's just Emily; the girl who dumped him, the girl who somehow became his first girlfriend even though he had said time and time again that she meant nothing to him romantically. Yeah, this isn't going to be scary at all.
Standing in front of the mirror in his bathroom he's running a brush through his hair. This has to be the first time he's even touched it since he got back. At the hospital some nurses had done it up for him, he allowed this for reasons he didn't know. They did a nice job too, he just wished they hadn't taken it upon their much older than he is selves to compliment him at every turn. Didn't they know how much they were hurting him? Didn't they care about what he'd been through? He doubted it, that's the way the world is, they see nothing but vanity and they feel they must praise it. So then why? Why is he taking the time out this morning to brush his hair? Is it because of Emily? Or maybe he's just beginning to realize that it's becoming uncomfortably tangled without a little grooming. Well, whatever the reason, he twisted it into a braid, which was a strange thing for him to do since he's never once touched a girls hair to know the first thing about styling length. He held Paula's in place while she clipped it but that was about it. But somehow he managed, guessing he had Sin to thank for that. Speaking of which...
I have questions for him. Questions that only he can answer but... I think he may be gone, so then how can I ask him the things I want to ask? Could I call him like Samantha Stevens does Uncle Arthor or Endora from Bewitched? He wonders recalling how the character that Elizabeth Montgomary played used to look up at the ceiling and bellow to anyone that she wished to speak with or see. But then again, that's tv and this is real life, he doesn't think it works that way.
With my luck Sin is gone for good and I'll never have to see or hear from that nut again. And anyway since he hasn't made his presence known since that last time maybe I was finally able to get rid of him. It could happen. Looking into the mirror, he frowns. There's something about his appearance now that's just... too much like HIM. The fact that his smile turned into nothing better than a practiced smirk since he couldn't quite get the real thing, or maybe it's the fact that his sleepy eyes look more like arrogant slits. He couldn't be sure, but whatever it is, he hates it with every fiber of his being.
Leaving the bathroom, he puts on some clothes that his mother bought for him. They're nice form fitting blue jeans and a blue t-shirt. He can deal with his arms showing. But as he went into his brothers room to borrow a long sleeve white shirt from Colt, he knew that he couldn't. Slipping it on, he pulls the t-shirt over it to complete a somewhat fashionable look for himself then he walks downstairs and sits on the couch. He hates this. Being alone. Grandpa went to the store for a few things for dinner leaving Rocky alone for a while to collect his thoughts. He stares lazily at a box of Kleenex on the coffee table. His mother has been crying again. He knows why, but he just can't give her what she wants- not yet, all he can see is the woman who took him right from under her nose, he sees his mistake for thinking he was grown-up enough to shop on his own that day. No. It was both of their faults for what happened to him which meant together they're a bad combination and he won't be ambushed into that false sense of security again.
Said box began to shake due to his longing gaze. "Rrrrr." He used his voice for the first time that day; his teeth bared as he holds onto his aching head. What is it now?! He wonders as he looks around for the source that's giving him this migrane. "Rrrrr. No. Not now." His eyes close bringing darkness all around him but wait! There's something else there, something... A memory, he can feel it like bullets shooting through his brain just grazing him so that he feels the pain but not the memory. "Come on. Come on. What are you trying to tell me?"
"Rocky you're so dumb." Said a familiar voice. "If you're gonna move things you have to focus not just shoot sparatically in its direction."
He jumped out of his thoughts, pain seizing fire. "Sin."
"The one and only." His altered self is dressed just as he is but seems to pull the look off a lot better. Glad to be noticed, he leaves his place on the arm of the couch, walking around the living room as if he's staking the place out for some reason. "What do you plan on doing when that, that Emily gets here, hm? You know she's gonna ask you a bunch of bullshit questions, force you into telling her what happened to you- like girls often do, and then what? You're gonna piss her off with your sour disposition and make her leave. It's all for nothing. Now Robbie, Robbie has something to offer us."
"Don't you mean you?"
"Is that what I mean? Because last time I checked I am you- well, better but, soon you'll be better too and then you and I can live in harmony instead of hiding out from one another."
"Hiding out how?"
"Can you really be so dense? You know what I've been up to; sneaking around in the catacombs of your mind, messing with this and that. You wanted to talk to me so here's your chance." He moves the curtain over to look outside at the reporters who have slowly began to dwendle as the days have gone by finally realizing that they aren't going to sucker Rocky into talking. Watching the news, he had to laugh at the stories they made up about him and the family, they even went as far as to say he's gone from one prison to another because he chooses to not leave the house.
"...I had a dream... I knew you, I spoke with you, played with you. It was like we were old buddies or something... I wanna know how long that went on. I wanna know..." His shoulders drop. "I don't even know what I wanna know anymore. I just want answers, I want all of this to stop."
"Tell you what," he said already in bargening mode. "You let me have a little fun this weekend and I'll tell you everything. But, if you choose to to cover your ears at anytime during... I get to take charge of this body for as long as I like."
"Seems to me your the only one that benefits from that deal." Rocky shakes his head. "If I let you out,"
"I know, I know. No big shocks for mommy or daddy about their precious son."
"Right."
"So fire away."
He has so many questions like, why was Sin around for so long and why is he calling himself that so suddenly when at Maria's he said his name was Rocky. "Okay. In my dream, I just turned eight... I remember that day because I got another ninja turtle and I went to the park to play with it." Sin nods, he knows that he sent him the dream and Rocky took the bait easily. "You were there asking me to play with my abilities with you, we spoke so familiar and I called you Sin. So my question is.. How long have we known each other that I've forgotten about you."
That was an odd question. It actually shocked Sin so hard he didn't have any smart retorts to the question. It made him feel as if maybe Rocky... missed him. Taking a seat on the couch, he sighs. "We met each other when you were seven... You gave me my name and your strength to protect you whenever you froze up in fear. That's all I'm going to tell you."
"But you said you'd answer all of my questions."
"And I decided that I don't want to." He snaps back, regaining his lost composure. "You wouldn't be able to handle it anyway. You're so weak! And pathetic... I feel sick just looking at you." Standing, he starts to fade away. "I will get the life I deserve for all the pain you caused me and there isn't anything you can do about it."
With that said, his evil twin was gone. But he gave him all he needed to know. I named him... which means he came from something bad that happened to me before Maria got me in the dressing room, but what? And why can't I remember where I got that Donatello from? It was a gift... Did Emily give it to me, is that why it mant so much to me that I would freak out over dropping it.
As if on cue, the door bell rang. It's her. She's here.
Rocky wasn't sure how it happened, one minute he was there answering the door and oh how the camera's clicked and filmed away at the site of that, next thing he knew he was asking her if she wanted a drink or maybe something to eat. But she refused it all. Her eyes, her big blue eyes just bore into him, melted him, making him want to hide away and stay safe from her questioning gaze. The two of them sat on the couch, speaking quietly to one another, mostly Emily talking while Rocky asked her questions within the conversation.
What is she majoring in at college? What has she been doing since her family moved? Does she have a job? Good friends?
Her answers were sweet and very much like her youthful self. Math, to the first question. She's been settling down, getting her life together, thinking about him and his family, to the second question. Burger King, to the third question; she's assistant manager and finally, yes she has very good friends. Emily says everyone in the in the neighborhood is just wonderful and they've had sleep overs and make-over parties, she's even got a good roommate at college.
Rocky answered the questions truthfully as well. He's majoring in Science of the mind, he and his family have been good since the Heart family moved away; but he's missed her from time to time. He no longer goes to work but he did have a job at the local bookstore and as for good friends, yes, he's made quite a few.
After the Q and A session they sat quietly watching t.v. unsure of what to say to one another anymore. Emily wanted to ask him about what happened, only knowing what the news people had told the public but she didn't want to be rude and force it out of him. Rocky wanted to ask her what she thought of it all. That she was right about Maria and if she expected an apology since he didn't listen to her. Looking her over, she had changed in some ways. Her hair is shorter, wavey; he likes it. But her round face remains the same, her figure changed just a bit but she is still curvy just as he remembered her. Since her hair is pulled into a ponytail, he could see blue diamond earrings shining in the semi sunny room.
"I'll have to remember to buy you earrings as a Christmas present." He points to her ears.
Shooting a glance sideways as though she can see them as well, she laughs and places her hands up. "One of my independant changes." She explained. "I thought it was major for me without going to over the top." Laughing uncomfortably, she reaches out to brush his bangs. "But look at you, I didn't know you were growing your hair out."
"I didn't know either, it just sort of happened while I was..." he trailed off. Shaking his head at the fog in the air, he looks at her between the eyes to avoid her direct gaze because he knew his mind would try jumping into hers without his consent and he didn't want to know what she really thought of him, it would hurt too much. Luckily she wasn't thinking about anything when they stopped talking, she just hummed a song.
"It's a good look for you though... You look like, a little kitten with those eyes of yours."
"My eyes?"
"Yeah," she smiles sweetly. "I've always thought they had a cat-like quality to them, I'm actually kind of jealous sometimes because you know, it's a girls job to be pretty not a mans."
That was a punch in the face. Rocky could guess that that was when the two of them attached themselves to each other, heading upstairs without much thought to it, stripping themselves of their clothes and sneakers. Rocky's kisses were gentle at first, sweet with hesitance but the less clothes he had on the more force he put behind it, like he were trying to make himself like it as there was an almost desperation to it. Emily was just trying to keep up with him, grabbing a hold of his shoulders in hopes to keep him back a bit, this was all going to fast! She had never had intentions of coming over for this, she wanted to make sure her childhood friend was alright, hang out with him and maybe give him a little kiss goodbye not be straddled underneath his assalt.
Come on! Come on! He barks at himself. Get excited! Give me something!He ground his hips into her forcing the heat between them to get a reaction from his lower region but it doesn't seem to be working.
It seemed to be working for her though but something was wrong, she knew it. Catching her breath, she taps her childhood friend on the shoulder. "Rocky wait."
"No, it has to work." He argued with himself.
Panting from the lightheaded actions of it all, she tries to push him away again. "Rocky we don't have to do this."
Scrunching his hands to fist a hunk of the pillow so that he doesn't grip her, he growls in frustration. "Yes we do! We have to! I know this will work... it has to!" Opening his tightly closed eyes, he glares at her looking her up and down as if trying to see something. "Roll over." He commanded.
"What?"
"Roll over! Are you deaf?! It won't work with me looking at you," he looked down at the bed. "This is wrong... this is all wrong. I know you, I like you this is supposed to work. He can't be right, he can't be."
"Who can't be?"
"Him! Sin! Stupid! He said that I'm... But I'm not, you have to believe me!" He pounds his fist to his chest. "I'm a boy! And this is what boys do with girls they like but I can't seem to get it to work..." much to the girls relief, he moves off of her to sit at the edge of the bed. "It's supposed to work."
"What is? Rocky you're scaring me."
"I can't get hard... I'm sorry... it's not you, it's me."
"...Rocky, I don't even wanna do that with you so it's fine but... what are you talking about whose telling you things?"
"Just leave, please." He's defeated to the point of hiding his face in his hands.
"Rocky, you're upset, I don't think I should leave you alone."
"I'm always alone Emily. I'm always gonna be alone."
Emily had gone just as quickly as she had came once she spoke with and visited the Douglas' for a bit she said her goodbye's, sad eyes turned on Rocky.
Friday.
Colt was beginning to think this was a bad idea as he sits outside waiting for Gretchen to show up. He planned on walking her home- well, to his home since Jessica said she could come over for dinner. Hn. If she only knew the real reason her son was bringing the girl over, she'd be sick. Colt is feeling a little sick his self. He didn't want to put his brother out like some freak show but this girl is really pretty and he just wants one date with her plus he asked said brother and he said he didn't care. But, there is the thing about him saying that when he was having a good day, after that he was moody- especially after his visit with Emily, the girl seemed like she couldn't wait to get out of there. He wondered if maybe they had a fight or something? No shock there, no matter how old a problem is the wound can still be pierced letting the deep cut feel the sting of cool air once again.
"I am ready to go." Gretch said as she walks from the school spotting her date for tonight. Colt planned to take her to a movie after dinner. Girls these days don't do the whole sit in a car and get mauled thing anymore. Gretchen looks beautiful today, her short hair tied back into a ponytail of curls; her curvy body dressed in a white linon dress with little pink flowers all over it. "I have brought a book for Rocky to read. He likes to do this, yes, I heard it on the news."
Must be because of that picture of him reading in the window. Colt doesn't why his brother lets the media take pictures of him like that, doesn't he know he's feeding into these people sickness for news. It can't be helped, and he can't say anything because talking to Rocky is impossible. He just knows he'll say or do the wrong thing. "We'd better get going, I'd rather you meet my brother before my parents get home."
"Why?" She looks over her shoulder when Colt places a hand to the small of her back, giving her a light lead toward his car. The two climbed in and he started it up heading home when the break released.
Tum tum sits in the living room, doing his homework knowing that Rocky is watching him over his shoulder to make sure he's doing it right. It's little things like that that let Tum know his brother is in there somewhere and he smiles from that.
That's right! Thinks Tum recalling what he'd seen a few days ago; Rocky flipping the remote. Rocky moved in attention at the sound of his brothers mental voice. When should I ask him about it? Or maybe I should talk to Colt first, see what he thinks.
I wonder what he's talking about? Thinks the older male. Looking up when he feels his first brothers aura, the front door opens and in walks Colt with his girlfriend... what was her name again?
"Remember what I said, don't touch him." Whispers Colt, taking Gretchen's jacket.
"I will not." Walking over to the couch, she takes a seat with no regard of the poor younger boy sitting on the floor where her legs have landed. "I am so honored to meet with you." Her accent lacing every word.
"...Um... Thanks."
"You are very handsome, I have seen your picture on the flyers and then on the news but they do you no justice!" She declared.
Rocky opened his mouth to tell this girl to shut up, but decided to shake it off. Last thing he wanted to do was get his brother mad at him for being rude to his latest screw. Hn. Dinner with the family. Colt's never liked anyone that much so obviously the only reason he asked Mom if she could join us for dinner is because this girl wanted to meet me as the only way she would date him. So sad. Colt deserves better. He started when the girl took his hand patting it between her own, sorrowful look in her eyes.
"It must have been terrible for you in there. I heard that they found pictures tapes to the bedroom wall, upstairs."
"Really." Says Colt not knowing about that. He tries not to pay attention to the news, especially if they're just gonna lie. Calling their home a prison, Rocky is free to come and go if he likes his brother just chooses not to.
"Oh yes! They said they found burnt out camera's and things here and there. It was released... Wednesday I believe- maybe Tuesday."
"Good for them." Says Rocky in a blasse manner. "Too bad Maria isn't alive still, since my abled body isn't proof enough that she did something to me and the others. All that lovely evidence would put her away for another what... twenty years before she gets out and does something to someone else again." Everyone cocked a brow at that. "Never mind. What do you want from me? The story of my life? A romantic moment with the boy who is worth abducting?"
"Eeeh, no... I just wanted to meet you- ask if you're ok."
Rocky nodded slowly. "Yes. I'm fine. So if the show is over, I'm gonna go watch tv upstairs."
"Oh! That reminds me, I brought you a book. It should help you."
Taking the heavy book from the girls he looks over the cover. "Tainted Love? I wasn't in love with her." He tosses the offered book onto the couch. "She won't last Colt, learn how to pick 'em." With that he left upstairs.
Tum tum had to stare after his brother from that. No matter how bad things got he would never be that rude to someone. Something's up with him and he's gonna find out what that is.
