Author's Note: Augh! I just wrote all these fantastic replies to all your reviews, and I got a text and was distracted and closed out of the fucking window and now its all gone and I am incredibly pissed because I've got half an hour to re-type everything! GAH! People need to not text me when I'm busy, goddammit.
Okay, breath.
You guys are all fantastic. Fantastic, wonderful, my reason for existing (last bits an exaggeration, but you get the gist). CrazyXCrossovers, LOL, yeah, Jimmy is totally a complicated kid, but we would we love him as much if he weren't? InfinitySquadron, that really depends on the adult, I've known plenty of adults who would take a seven year old's words very much to heart, glad you liked it! WhisperMaw, yeah...sorry, I'm on the west coast...I meant to specify that that was pacific time, but I forgot. I think I'll go hang out in that shame closet Avid talks about so much for a little while. About the inner cheek thing, hm...I think I will explain, because he does it *a lot*. Everyone has a nervous tick, something they do when their stress levels are high, and this is Jimmy's. When I picked it out for him, it had a lot to do with the fact he has a tendency (if everyone hasn't noticed yet) to internalize his emotions, bottle them up, and I thought it would be interesting if even his nervous tick were this hidden thing that no one could see. His inner turmoil is literally eating away at him. I hadn't considered the uh...possibility of him being a biter aspect of it, but now that you mention it...I think I might...as for Maggie, I agree, I like her character alright, I loved her character when she was bonding with Jimmy, and it just makes me all the madder at Falling Skies' writers for not seizing on that opportunity to give both their characters more depth. Bastards. Lastly, you're right about the review thing, I personally think its awesome. Another part of it, you guys are all so incredibly insightful, a reader almost has to read your guys' reviews if they want to fully understand the chapters. Well, Greg, it is nice to finally meet you properly. I do admit, calling you 'guest' all the time was a bit awkward. Also, oh my god, I hadn't considered that about Maggie, and my first reaction reading it was kind of, "eh...I don't think so..." but then I really thought about it, and I'm like, that actually would really fit her character well. Give a whole new "poor Maggie" factor to the implications made about Pope's original gang being a bit handsy with her. Thinking on it further, I would really like to see a Maggie/Lourdes pairing, mainly because I think I could tolerate Lourdes if she were in a relationship with Maggie (yup, sorry to all you Lourdes fans, but she annoys the crap out of me...I kind of wish she'd been the one they killed off and not Jimmy, those bastards). It would also nicely tie up the...uh...Lourdes desperately wants a man thing about her character. 2nd Mass Redneck, holy Smokey Bear, man, you have got a lot of siblings. I can understand why you're so much more mature than your age would typically warrant, having to care for so many younguns. Aw...I didn't mean to make that sound like a threat, I would never hold out on updates for you guys, you're all way too awesome for that, so go ahead, talk amongst yourself, I really don't mind. And, seriously, give your lil bro a fist bump for me, he knows what's up. Yeah, 15 year olds can be a pain. Actually, anything between 12 and 23 can be a pain. And yes, Jimmy did have a little sister before the invasion. It was never mentioned in the show, but it was on his character profile page on the website, because writers now expect you to go online to learn about their characters so that they don't have to do any character development in the show. It annoys me, can you tell? Lastly, I love long reviews, longer the better, so no worries about length. What the mac n' cheese, Avid, speaking of length...someone had some things to get off their chest. Why do you insist on making me days so much brighter, you know it will only depress me when they day comes that I will no longer have your reviews to read (meaning, when my story ends...sniffles...)? Ah, yes, Jimmy blushes. And he has many reasons to blush. And yes, the blushing does sound adorable. I must say, I am really glad you feel such a kinship to Jimmy, because, after all, this story is all about him. Also glad you love the...uh..."blow job" bit. Do I really have room to judge? I wrote the line...remember. Ah, and at least you flirt, me, I'm a cold fish. I stand around and hope my crush notices me. Never does, if you're wondering. Tangents is a great word, and you know I love your tangents. Furthermore, that little 'musical chairs' trick of your is genius, I think I may have to use it one day. Also, I don't know what Ben's expression looked like, to be honest, I couldn't look back at him either. I'm sure it was pretty twisted up in all kinds of pain and it only gets more painful for him, more on that later tho, no spoilers. Your last few insights, saddening as they were, were incredible, by the way. Very interesting take on the harnessed kids, and definitely gives a whole new perspective to Hal's side of the "morning after" incident. Bones are done, and I swear to God, if I never sketch another bone again, it will be too soon! I hate drawing bones...grrr...also, you're a cruel, cruel man. And now I want a pie, a frickin' pie in the sky. How awesome would that be? A huge pie in the sky...sigh...I swear, if I ate as many sweets as I craved, I'd be huge! TyphoonBoom08, I am incredibly flattered to know that I am your first and that you still think the story is great because I was worried when I hadn't heard from you in several chapters. I thought I'd lost a reader, but no, you came back and made me grin real bright and shiny. Thank you for that! ScarlettLynn, loving that you caught on to Jimmy being able to calm Ben bit...one thing no one really mentioned was the whole, Jimmy being more concerned about Ben's emotional welfare after his spat with Hal than their own potentially relationship-shattering kiss scene. Glad you can relate to the whole "momentary, drunken thing, meant nothing" part...except not because well...that usually sucks hardcore. Obviously, I've sort of been there too. I don't lose my inhibitions as much as most when I'm drunk, which makes me a really lame drunk, except everyone apparently loves me drunk, so...yeah, what's up with that. FacePalmer123, I'm glad last chapter was more likable for you. You might not enjoy this one as much...but who knows, maybe you'll surprise me and love it. I'm hope you surprise me. :)
Oi vey, it's almost as long as the frickin' chapter. Note to self for the sequel, write longer chapters.
Phew. My class is almost done, which means i have to concentrate on studying for the finals this weekend (have to memorize all the bones of the body and key parts of them (iliac crest, anyone? Sphenoid...styloid process? Yeah, welcome to my world), be able to not just identify them but fragments of them, memorize about ten hominids and be able to identify them by their skulls and possible fragments of their bones not just from one another but from other primates, as well as, know various details about those hominids (including, time line of existence). Oh, I love my major (no sarcasm, god, I love my major!).
Friday update, read.
XIV.
Franklin stood, one leg propped up on the stool, making a jerking motion with his balled up hand near his crotch and grunting exaggeratedly. The other teens sitting around laughed at his display. Jimmy sat cleaning out his rifle; he peered up curiously, smirking slightly but for the most part ignoring the other boy.
"...and he just kept beating off, you know," Franklin was saying excitedly, eyes misty with the long ago memory he was sharing with the group, "So she's staring at him now, just like standing right in front of him, just gaping, and he's really going at it hardcore now..."
Maggie took a seat beside Jimmy, she'd been working on her own rifle a few chairs down, and he nodded acknowledgment to her. She smiled in return and took the lubricant Jimmy had been using moments before to grease the barrel of his gun. She jutted her chin out in a gesture towards Franklin.
"You're not listening to this shit, are you?" she whispered.
Jimmy shrugged, "I've heard worse things."
"That's not what I mean," she said, then faltered and seemed to decide on a subject change, "How's Ben doing?"
Jimmy lowered his eyes, narrowing his focus on his work. He hadn't seen Ben, not since that "morning after". That was a day and a half ago. He didn't want anyone to think he'd been avoiding Ben, but when he'd skipped several meals, decided a shower could wait another day when he spotted Ben entering the park bathhouse, and spent three hours in a storage closet counting mothballs just because someone had mentioned Ben asked about him, he didn't exactly have a whole lot of evidence to support otherwise.
Maggie nudged Jimmy with her shoulder to get his attention, his prolonged silence probably worrying her.
"What Hal said the other day," Maggie told him, "Don't let that keep you away from Ben."
Jimmy nodded numbly, trembling fingers fumbling his rifle pieces back into place. If only Maggie knew the half of it.
"Hey Jimmy," Franklin called, "A few of us are going to toss a frisbee. Want to come?"
Jimmy glanced at Maggie, intent on pretending she was more interested in her rifle at the moment. He secured the last piece of his own rifle into place and hefted its weight in his hands, making a show of examining its sight for accuracy to hide that he was scanning the area the other teens were heading in for any signs of Ben. It wasn't that he thought anyone would know what he was doing, but he felt like Maggie might suspect, and that thought unnerved him.
"Yeah, sure," Jimmy answered Franklin casually, lowering his weapon. He stood and slung the rifle over his shoulder, falling into step with the older boy.
"Since you been patrolling with the razorback, I never see you anymore. I'm hurt, Jimmy, really," Franklin teased.
Jimmy rolled his eyes, ignoring the sharp jolt that shocked through him at the careless slur.
"How are things going with that freak, anyways? Is it weird? Is he weird?" Franklin asked.
Jimmy jerked to a halt. He had to bite down hard on his tongue to stop himself from launching into a verbal assault on the other boy. His head felt far too hot for comfort.
"Shit," he seethed, after a few seconds, letting all his heat burn out in that one word before grumbling excuse, "I forgot. Weaver wanted me to...uh...help Dr. Glass with something. Moving stuff, I think."
Franklin furrowed his brow, unimpressed but he shrugged and said something about 'next time', continuing after the other teens. Jimmy watched the older boy retreat for a while, then shouldered his rifle and turned back in towards camp. He didn't return Maggie's questioning gaze as he hastened by towards the mess tent.
They were serving hamburgers for lunch; one of the scouting groups had found frozen ground beef in the back of a grocery store in a nearby ghost town up north. The find had been like Christmas for the 2nd Mass.
It was in the mess tent that Jimmy sighted Hal. He hadn't exactly been avoiding the eldest Mason son, but considering outside of Jimmy the few other people that didn't act as though they were merely tolerating Ben's presence was his family, Hal sort of ended up avoided out of brotherly association.
Jimmy watched the older boy a moment, frozen on the outskirts of the crowded tent. Hal was setting his youngest brother, Matt, up at a table with some food next to Uncle Scott, the kindly older gentleman that taught the 2nd Mass children in lieu of the proper education they'd been robbed of by the alien invasion. When Matt looked amply secure, happily munching down his burger, Hal slipped from the tent.
Maggie's advice moments ago came flitting back to Jimmy then, don't let that keep you from Ben, and his heart fluttered in his chest. Hal's words had affected Jimmy, he couldn't lie to himself about that, but he couldn't help wondering if his foolish actions were keeping Hal from Ben.
Jimmy strode off in the same direction Hal had left. He found the older boy sitting around one of the pick-up trucks with Dai and Anthony, they were talking in hushed whispers, Jimmy assumed about the missing Mason patriarch. Jimmy knew Hal had been tossing around ideas to rescue his father, most of them were just grandiose bullshitting but on rare occasion, when he thought he'd come up with something concrete, he'd meet with a few of the fighters he trusted most, like Dai and Anthony, and hash out details with them. For the most part, those fighters usually talked Hal out of the plan, pointing out glaring flaws like the fact they had no clue where to even begin in finding Professor Mason.
The three young men stopped in their talks when Jimmy approached, and Hal was the only one not to look directly at the younger boy. Jimmy halted several paces back from them, swallowing hard, then clearing his throat.
"Uh...Hal...can I talk to you?" he asked, wincing at the waver in his words. His legs felt like jelly. He worried Hal might attack him, yell, or worse, say 'no'.
Hal darted a glance up at Jimmy, then fixed his eyes on a spot in the distance. He nodded stiffly. Dai and Anthony exchanged a look, silently agreeing to make themselves scarce and wandered far enough off that they were out of hearing range but close enough to keep an eye on the interaction between the two conversing boys.
"About the other night," Jimmy began, and he could see the darkness gather in Hal's expression, but clenched his fists and continued on unabated, "It was my fault. My idea." Jimmy ducked his head down in a manner he knew made him look weak and squeezed his shut, "Ben didn't even really want to...I practically forced him. So don't be mad at Ben...be mad at me."
Hal didn't respond for a long time. Jimmy dared a peek up at the boy, keeping his face lowered and peering at him through loose strands of shaggy brown hair falling across his features. Hal's expression was hard, his jaw tense and eyes haunted in a way that instantly made Jimmy think of Ben. Jimmy's heart thundered in his chest. A small, strange sound, like a whimper or squeak, escaped his throat. He chewed his inner cheek until the blood spilled out.
"I'm sorry," Jimmy whispered, "I'm so sorry. I didn't even think about Matt and I never would have...if I...I really am sorry, Hal." He dropped his eyes again, his entire body tense and trembling. He had to fight the next words out of his mouth and once he had, it seemed, they sliced his heart clean in half, "I'll ask Weaver to take me off patrols with Ben."
Hal shifted, the ruffle of his clothing marking his movement.
"You don't need to do that," he said. His words were terse, but sincere.
"You don't want me hanging out with Ben," Jimmy pointed out.
There was a long drawn out silence. It felt as though the air around them dropped twenty degrees in temperature and that the distance between them had spread from a few feet to worlds apart.
"You heard that?" Hal mumbled question.
Jimmy didn't say anything. He didn't need to, Hal already knew the answer. Another rustle of clothing, and then the weight of a large hand fell on Jimmy's shoulder. Jimmy startled, looking up at Hal in surprise. Hal was still glaring at that nothing in the distance.
"You're a good kid," Hal admitted.
Jimmy pursed his lips and dropped his gaze once again. He felt like a charlatan. A wolf parading in sheep's clothing.
"And you're Ben's only friend," Hal noted, his eyes finally falling to Jimmy, and then quietly he said, "Ben would never forgive me if I were the reason he lost you."
Hal snorted softly, glared in the distance once more.
"If that happened, I think he would hate me more than he already does, and usually I wouldn't think that were possible," Hal mused aloud.
Jimmy frowned, hastily protesting, "Ben doesn't hate you."
Hal dropped his hand from Jimmy's shoulder and walked back towards the truck, absently running a hand through his hair. Jimmy was suddenly struck with the notion that he was an intruder on a very intimate scene.
"You know what's funny?" Hal said, his tone suddenly light and slightly bemused. He glanced back at Jimmy and Jimmy shrugged response, a little whip-lashed by the sudden shift in their conversation, "That thing you said, about the other night being your idea. You know, Ben said the same exact thing. That it was his idea and that you didn't really want to do it." He gave Jimmy an appraising once over, as though suddenly he were seeing the younger boy cast in a completely new light, "And I don't really know who to believe."
Jimmy considered the comment. Then he nodded shortly, a small smile hiding in the corner of his mouth, and turned to leave.
Quick Last Note: Okay...I know, I know, no Ben. I'm sorry. You guys are going to be so sad these next couple chapters because of the lack of Ben, but they are necessary to progress the story, trust me, and its totally made up for when we see him again. I think I feel worse for Ben in these next couple parts than Jimmy, just thinking about what he's going through, breaks my heart. Also, yeah, Franklin's a douche. Expect more awkward "WTF, did not need to see that..." from him.
I have to go to work. I may be late...okay, I am running late as I write this...blech. Stupid job.
Do I even need to say it? Reviews are like candy for my soul. And if you've been reading my A/N's, well, then you've got a pretty good idea of what that really means.
K, see you guys Monday. Fingers crossed that this story will be done by then and the sequel started! I've already got several scenes for the sequel laid out in my head...including the opening chapter, just got to start writing the damn thing.