Disclaimer: Not mines, anything mention by name here isn't mines. Except the OCs.

A/N: I have no excuse for not updating in so long. For anyone still reading, enjoy.


"Ace, tell me this is all a joke right?" Eyeball asked Ace, his eyes never leaving me.

"Does it look like I'm laughing?" Ace replied sarcastically.

"But why him? He hangs out with Boy Scout Lachance!" Vince brought up.

"Cuz he's a fighter." Ace explained. "You saw how he messed up my face. Guy's a slugger, and we could use someone like him on our side."

"Actually," I spoke up for the first time in a while. "I haven't decided yet if I'm joining or not." After I explain, Ace quirked an eyebrow.

"Then why are you here?" Eyeball asked again.

"I just wanted to see how you guys are like." I told him. "I wanted to get a feel on how you guys work."

Ace nodded. "I see, wanting to get your feet wet before taking the dive. I can respect that." Then Ace came over to me. "How about joining us for a game?"

I waved him off, "Nah, it's getting late..."

"Aw, does Bryce have a bedtime?" Vince mocked me in a babyish tone.

"Knock it off Desjardian..." Ace told him sternly. "C'mon, just one game. Here!" He said as he looked over to the two other teens playing pool and snatch one of their cues. "Use this."

"Hey man that's mines!" One of the teens said turning to us.

"C'mon man it's ok." The other teen tried to calm his friend.

"No! I'm sick of Merrill always thinking he can push around whoever he wants, someone gotta stand up to him!"

"Larry it's not worth it!" The other teen hissed. This cause the Cobras to gang up on the kid.

"Looks like this your chance to work your magic again Slugger." Ace said as he patted me on the shoulder.

"No!" I shouted. Not in the mood to get into a bar fight. "Here, you can have this back." I took the pool cue from Ace and handed it back. The Kid Larry took it and return to their game. I could hear the Cobras groan and smack their lips in disappointment.

"You're breaking my balls man." Ace pouted.

"Like I said, it's getting late and I'm getting sleepy. We can talk later.

"Wait!" I heard Ace called out. I turned as he asked the bartender for a piece of paper and something to write with. After being handed the slip of paper and a pencil, I watched Ace scribble something down before heading over and handing it to me. "You got a day off coming?"

"Yeah this Tuesday."

"Good, come to this address and I'll show you how we do things Cobra Style." I nodded and made my exit. "And Bryce!" He called out again. "Next time we play!" He motioned towards the pool table and I nodded.


I looked down at the paper, and then back at the house, and then back at the paper again. Was this the right address? I was at the outskirts of town and I kept looking at the paper Ace had given me. Is this where he lives? The house was pretty worn and run down like no one had lived here in a while. I was ready to leave until I heard the faint sound of a radio playing. I walked a little closer and could hear it was playing from the back. I didn't want to intrude on someone's private property but from the looks of things the owner been gone for years now.

I walked past the side of the house until I could see some worn down cars and a few people hanging around. Spotting the familiar the bleached blond, turns out this was the right place. As I got closer I saw Ace turn and motion for me to come quicker.

"Looks like the Man of the Hour made it." Ace announced.

"So this is where you live?" I asked as I eyed the place.

"Fuck no this ain't my house." Ace said bluntly.

"Yeah his place a better dump then this." One of the teens said and the others started laughing.

"Real funny Brackowicz." Ace told him, "at least my place doesn't flood like the North Sea during raining season." Suddenly the group started laughing harder.

"It was only once!" The kid, Brackowicz, whined.

"Anyway," Ace turned his attention back to me, "Nah we just like to hang here. No one own this place since last year and no one rearin' the tear it down, so it's not like anybody using it right now." I nodded. "Let's get introductions in order. You know Eyeball and Vince?" Both gave half waves or brief nods. "This is Calev Brackowicz, we call him Fuzzy." He motioned to the younger looking brown haired kid. "And this is Jack Mudgett." He motions to the darker haired kid.

"Any reason we letting Anderson here Ace?" Fuzzy asked him.

"Bryce here gonna be our newest member." Eyeball told them drawling, causing the two's jaws to drop.

"Ace, are you crazy? He almost flaten your face into the ground!" Jack tried to reason.

"Exactly!" Ace told him, "My Man here's like a caged pitbull ready to break out, and under my guidance, we can make him a force to be reckon with." He then smiled as he put an arm around my shoulder. "With him on our side we'll be unstoppable. No one gonna be messing with The Cobras!" Looking around I could see the others were kinda starting to get behind the idea. "Well let's you comfortable first." Removing his arm off me, the Cobras went back to lean against the cars and, having nothing to do, went to sit up on the hood of one.

Eyeball turned the radio back up and we just sat in silence. I wasn't sure to say or do anything so I just kept to myself, twiddling my thumbs. Eventually I saw Ace pull out a pack of cigarettes out. He took out a stick before tossing it to Vince who toss it to Fuzzy to handed it over to Jack before tossing it to Eyeball. He shook out a stick before handing it over to me. I was shocked but waved it off to let him know I wasn't interested. He shrugged and put it in the back of his pants pocket. I'm gonna take it as a sign he's becoming use to me.

So this is what the Cobras do? Lounge around in the backyard of a abandon house smoking? From my few interactions I thought they do more then just this.

"Wait, do your schools have summer classes? Why aren't y'all at school?" I inquired. Denny told me once the Cobras rarely go to school.

"I only go to school when I feel like it, and today I don't feel like it." Ace explain, a hint of sleepiness in his tone.

"Yeah, and I dropped out back in Tenth Grade." Eyeball pointed out, like it was something to be proud about.

"What's the matter Anderson, Studious Denny rubbing off on ya?" Fuzzy teased.

"Well we're gonna clean that off him." Ace told him lifting his head up before looking at me with half-lidded eyes. "Don't be so uptight Bryce, just relax." He then lowered it down.

Looking around, I could see the others were starting to get ready to take a mid-morning nap. Some leaning against the hood or stretching out in either the front or back seats. Lying against the hood itself, resting the back of my head on the back in my hands. It was a calm morning. There was a soft breeze that made the leafs and grass ruffled and the radio was playing louge music. I was finding it hard to stay awake as I kept blinking in and out before letting sleep finally take over.

"Bryce!"

"Ahhh!" I shouted. I shot up so fast I ended up falling off the hood and landed on my stomach.

"Damn man, we've been tryin' to wake ya up for last five minutes. Didn't think you heard us over all that snoring." Ace commented. I looked up and saw all five Cobras staring down at my.

"Ah Jesus." I whined getting myself up.

"You got a little..." Eyeball trailed as he motioned to the side of his mouth. I wasn't sure at what he was getting at until I notice a warm sensation on my cheek. Then my eyes buldged. Aw shit, was I drooling? I thought to myself before wiping it off.

"What time is it?" I asked as I wiped myself down. And I was sleeping so good too!

"Noon." Ace answered. "C'mon, we're gonna show ya our favorite afternoon past time." He motioned for me to follow them. Straighten myself up, I did as told.

"Anyone ever tell ya you have a cute sleeping face Anderson?" Fuzzy teased as he slapped me on the shoulder. I just rolled my eyes.


"So what our we doing?" I asked as we sat parked in front of the Chambers house, me with Ace as Eyeball had went inside, Vince, Jack, and Fuzzy in another car. I rather not run into Mr. Chambers if I could help it. Wouldn't he be at work... or whatever he does when he's laid off? Suddenly Eyeball came from the front door carrying something in a large bag.

"Got 'em." He said as he dropped the bag into the back and got into the drivers side.

"Then let's hit it boys!" Ace said as Eyeball started the car up and we drove off. I wasn't sure what we were up to until I peaked inside the bag and found... baseball bats?

"Bats? Are gonna play baseball?" I was more of a basketball guy.

"Something like that." Eyeball simply said he shared a smirked with Ace. Not knowing what they're talking about but still intrigued, I said nothing and just looked out the side window. Man I forgot how calm it is when it's the middle of the afternoon, there's barely anyone out right now. I saw we were heading up to the old, dusty baseball field before driving pass it?

"I thought we were gonna play baseball?" I asked as the field disappeared into sight.

"We play a different kind of baseball." Ace told him as we swerved into a residental area. "Now get a bat out." He intrusted and I did as told. "Okay, now lean against the window on my side. When you see a mailbox, try to hit it with all your might. The objective is to knock each mailbox that comes your way off it's stand. If you fail to get one off completely, then you give the bat to someone else."

I couldn't believe what I just heard. We're destroying peoples' property?!

"Are you crazy?" I demanded.

"We're coming up on one, hit it!" Ace shouted excitedly.

"I won't do it!"

"Hit it now!" He yelled and yelling, swung the bat and knock the mailbox cleaned off." Dear God, what have I done?

"Atta Boy, now here comes another!" He said. I swung at it and it fell off too, letters fluttering everywhere. And then I hit the next one and the next and the next.

"Wow only a few strikes and already you're playing like a Pro. Knew you were Cobra material." Ace congratulated me. Not gonna lie, it felt a little... nice?

"Probably because he's imagining they're your face." Eyeball joked before laughing.

"Yeah and you better shut it before I take one of these bats and make you uglier then you already are asshole." Ace warn him, Eyeball shutting up completely. I couldn't control myself and laugh too. Ace smirking as he glance at me from the corner of his eye.

I kept hitting boxes until one didn't fall off but remain banged up.

"Aw, looks like you lost. Hand me the bat." Ace told me and I handed it to him. We then went to another row of houses, Ace getting himself ready before taking the swing. I know I shouldn't be enjoying this but I can't help it.

We played for the next few minutes before eventually deciding to cruise around town. It's been a while since I really got to relax and seeing all these sites reminded me of all those 50s movies and TV shows driving montages.

We drove up to a gas station and Eyeball parked the car.

"Gotta fill her up." Eyeball said as he got out. "Need anything guys?"

"Nah I'm good man." Ace told him and I just waved as him dismissively. Eyeball gave a light shrug and went inside.

"So, you having fun Bryce?" Ace asked me as he turned around in the car to look at me.

"Yeah." I admitted despite my better judgement. "You guys ain't so bad when you aren't trying to scare everybody in town."

"It's a food chain thing." Ace explained. "We gotta make it clear to everyone else that we are at the top." I didn't say anything after that for a while before speaking up again.

"So Junior's your dad?" I asked him.

"Yeah, what about it?" He asked back defensively.

"Nothing," I quickly, "It's just... he seems so nice and all, so I'm surprise to find out your father and son." I said before quickly shutting up when I saw Ace glare at me.

"Yeah, well don't fall for it. He may act all nice but he ain't." He explained to me.

"I take it you two don't get along?" I pressed further.

"He was never home. He never told me he loved me. Probably the only times I ever got to see him was when he came home between his trips to the bar with Eyeball's Old Man." He said. Junior and Mr. Chambers were drinking buddies? Small world.

"It's funny." Ace continuted. "When he finally starts paying attention to me, I was already getting my gang together. He threaten to give me a hiding if I don't stop my life of crime. Well maybe if you had been a better father Junior, we wouldn't be having this problem."

Wow, Ace is a victim of neglect? When I thought about it, everything now made sense. He acts out because he wants, on some level, for his dad to actually be a parent to him. For the first time I really got Ace.

I mean, he's still an asshole who threatens people, steals people's cars, and destroys property, but I got him.

We saw Eyeball exiting the gas station before heading for the pump.

"What the fuck took you so long?" Ace demanded.

"New attendant, didn't know how to add anything right. Even I could do that." Eyeball explained.

"Hey Ace?" I asked him as I leaned closer. "Is your real name really Johnny?" Hey, I gotta ask.

Ace looked at me exasperatedly before calming himself down. "Actually it's John but to you and everybody else it's Ace, got it?" He hissed at me and I nodded.

We kept driving, suddenly seeing more kids on the street. I guess summer school was letting out. We kept going until I saw something as we past by an alley.

"Yo stop the car!"

"Huh?" Both of them asked.

"Stop it!" Confused, Eyeball stopped and I jumped out.

"Where the hell are you going?" Ace demanded as I ran to what I saw. As I got closer I saw it was that Leslie guy. It look like he was with the some of his well-dressed friends and that were surrounding someone. Getting a little more closer, I saw it was... a kid?

"Well if it isn't the little Chambers." I heard Leslie said. Wait, that's Chris.

"Come on, I'm just trying to get home." I heard Chris say as he tried to move before some of the well-dressed guys blocked his path.

"This town was so much better before you and your trash family moved here." I heard one of them say.

"Look at him, he's so poor, I bet he's wearing the same clothes cuz that's all he has." Another one said, pointing out Chris's clothes were pretty filthy looking.

"I wouldn't have if you hadn't kick dust on me!" Chris fired back. Gotta respect the kid, he does stand up for himself.

"You better watch your tone or did your mother not teach you any manners?" Leslie sneered. I saw Chris's face turn red and his fist balled. "Since you're trash, why don't we take you out like one?" Lesie asked his cronies and they all nodded. I saw fear wash across younger boy's face as he tried to make a break for it only for them to gang up on him.

"Hey!" I shouted as I ran between them to get to Chris, him being just as surprise to see me as Leslie did.

"Bryce, you're defending this trash?" He asked shocked.

"The only trash I see here is you. Leave him alone, he's just a kid!" I told him as I stood in front of Chris.

"But Bryce, you know he's one of the Chambers right?" Leslie pointed out like I was dumb.

"Yeah, but he's still just a kid. Just because his family ain't the best doesn't mean you should take it out on him!" I countered.

"You're really defending him?" He asked in disblief.

"That's right." Came a new voice. We all turned and saw Ace heading towards us. "You gotta problem with that Leslie?" Ace asked as he stood next to me blocking Chris. Leslie looked between us and then at Chris before going back to me.

"I'm disappointed in you Bryce, choosing to associate with these low-lives." He said shaking his head.

"What are you, his father? Beat it." Ace told him and indeed Leslie called for the others to go. Ace turned to look at Chris. "You owe me one Chambers." He told him pointing a finger at him. "C'mon Bryce." He motion for me to follow. I turned and saw Chris staring at me wide-eyed.

"Uh... see you later man!" I said quickly as I made haste. We reach the car and saw Eyeball was still in the driver's seat, just staring at Chris before shaking his head in disappointment.


We met with Vince, Jack, and Fuzzy at Irby's. It was around five so the place wasn't so pack yet. We were in the middle of a game with Ace playing while I spoke with Eyeball.

"Why didn't you help?" I asked him.

"Huh?"

"Your brother was in trouble, why didn't you come out to help?" Eyeball kept silent. "Chris told me whenever your Dad gets into his moods how you just stand there and do nothing. He's your brother, aren't you suppose to protect him?"

"Listen man, you don't know what goes on in our house. Kid's always running his mouth, trying to get involve in issues that don't concern him. He needs to stop worrying about others and worry about himself." Eyeball explained. When I didn't say anything, he kept talking, "It's not like I don't try to warn him. I say, 'Chris let it go' 'Christopher, you better apologize'. If he wants to be hard-headed, I say let him. You think a few knocks would straight him out." All he could do was shake his head.

Wow, Eyeball really does care. Granted in his own twisted tough love way. but I do believe deep down he does care for his brother. The Chambers have to be most interesting people I've ever seen.

"Hey Eyeball." He turned to look at me. "What's your real name?" His eyes widen at my question. "I mean, if we're gonna be gang members and all, it doesn't hurt to know since I doubt your parents literally named you Eyeball."

He stared at me before puffing. "It's Richard."

"Richard?" Gotta say, I wasn't expecting that.

"Yeah but it's Eyeball, got it." He said, this moment mirroring mines with Ace.

"Got it." I nodded. Ace then called us over saying it was our turn.


I made it back to Sukey's and was just entering my room until a voice spook me.

"Had fun today?" I jumped and flick the switch.

"Denny?" I said in disbelief. There he was, but what he doing here at this time of night? "It's practically ten man."

"Yeah," he replied nodding from my bed before getting up. "I know you had a day off today." I nodded, not sure what he was getting at. "Were you enjoying yourself?"

"Y-Yeah," I said, "It was exciting."

"Ace's pretty good at that." When he said that, my legs felt so weak I almost thought I was gonna fall down.

"You know?" I asked and he nodded. "How?"

"News travels pretty fast." Denny explained. "So are you and Ace... friends now?"

"Well, not so much frieeeends but he did offer me a spot in his gang..." When I said that, Denny's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates.

"You're not actually considering are you?" He asked, though it was less of a question and more of a demand.

"Yes? No? Maybe, I don't know man!" I yelled. Denny turned around, resting a hand on his forehead before turing back to me.

"Bryce, what are you doing? You got two well-paying jobs, your own place, don't throw it all away, you're too good for this!" Denny tried to reason to me.

"But that's the thing, I'm not. I'm not good!" I fired back. Denny looked at me baffled.

"What are you talking about? You're a good person. You help out Teddy Duchamp, you turned down Leslie's offer, you stood up to Ace-"

"But only after I started up shit with him!" I pointed out, "All these happen because I couldn't control my anger. I'm a terrible person." I explained to him. "I start fights, I've been lying to you, lying to everybody."

This left Denny puzzled. "What are you talking about?" Shit! I guess my emotions got the better of me. But now that it was out in the open, I started to wonder, should I tell him? I mean, at this point, I have nothing to loose.

"I haven't been completely honest with you." I told him as Denny still continued to look puzzled. "My name is Bryce Anderson and I am from Chicago, Illinois, but I didn't run away from home, I actually came here..." I paused, I guess for dramatic effect, "From the future."

Denny just stared at me before breaking out in laughter. "Sorry Bryce, but you're a little too late for it to be April First."

"No man I'm serious. Here." I reach into my pants pocket, took out my wallet, grabbed my ID card and handed it to him. He looked it over, no doubt having no idea what I meant until I saw his brow furrow.

"Bryce I think you need to get your ID card recheck, it says here you were born in 1998?"

"That's not a typo."

Denny still looked confused so I decided it was now or never. I went to my dresser and took out my cellphone. I know in time travel stories you aren't suppose to show people from the past future technology, but right now, fuck it. The way I see it, just me being here is altering history as it it.

"What's that?" He asked.

"It's called a Cellular Phone. In my time, we use these to communicate with each other instead your bulky landlines." I then pressed the power up and Denny looked amazes as it lit up before the phone jingled played. I then click on my menu button and then went to pictures. After loading, I click on a document and started scrolling through them. They were mostly from my last family vacation to Orlando. I watched as Denny's eyes widen before he snatch the phone from me, touching the screen as he flicked back and forth from the pictures. "Denny?"

"Wow, it's not everyday you meet a time traveler. I thought that only happen in H.G. Wells novels." He said as he fell down on my bed.

"So you believe me?" I asked, feeling a lump appearing in my throat.

"I knew there was something off about your running away story, but yeah this is bigger then what I originally thought."

"So you do believe me?" I asked again. Denny shook his head and chuckled before looking back at me, giving a warm smile.

"Yes Bryce, I believe you." I felt a huge weight off my shoulders.

"But Denny, Denny you can't tell anyone. Not any of your teammates, not Jane, not your parents, not even Gordie!"

"I'll take it to my grave." He swore, lifting one hand and placing the other over his heart. I then did something I haven't done in a while: I leapt and gave Denny a huge hug. I ended up knocking him down on the bed as well as the wind out of him. He coughed but return the hug and patted me on the back. Let me tell ya, tears were streaming from my eyes. Finally Denny knew, but that raised another question...

What am I gonna do now?


A/N: And there you have it, we are officially in endgame terriority now. There are four chapters left after this. Will Bryce find a way back home? Read and find out!