I wish you can just apply for a job and know right way that you have it. It would be easier that way. Ugh, I can't get a break…

Anyways, my laptop had a virus, which kept me from updating this story five days ago. Lucky for me, my mom has IT at her job, so they rescued my baby. . I was stuck using my old desktop and it's painfully slow, so I didn't get on it more than once to see how slow it was. Word of wisdom, if something called Windows Pro Safety ever pops up on your screen, its fake (though it looks convincing). It almost fooled me.

Go forth and read on!


Stepping outside of the high school, Spinelli, Vince, Gus, Mikey, and Gus relished in the fact that they survived the entire day. Gus did a bit more than the others, having been pummeled with dodgeball for no apparent reason. A bruise had developed on his cheek where he was continually hit during gym. They breathed a sigh of relief when TJ didn't show up for any of their last period class. Once the school day ended, the vast majority of the student body left the school as fast as their legs (or cars for those who had one or knew someone who had one) would allow. But the five didn't. Rather, they were still trying to come up with a plan, though so far they were coming up empty.

"Today wasn't too bad," Mikey said as they all started to walk home. Gus held back his rebuttal. "Now what?"

"I say we finish coming up with something at one of our houses," Spinelli suggested.

"Good idea. Who's house are we going to?" Gretchen asked.

"Who's ever house it is, I'm going to be late getting there," Vince said, looking at his phone. "My parents just sent me text saying they're both being held up a work. I have to go pick my little sister up from daycare and take her to her tumbling class. It'll be at least an hour before I can meet up with you guys again."

"Then we'll come with you. It'll save us the trouble of catching up on what would've come up with."

"Are you sure about that? My sister can be hard to deal with, especially on Mondays…"

"She's not THAT bad," Spinelli told him. "She's like a little calmer me."

"Sure, yeah she's nice to you. She likes you. She hates me on Mondays, just watch."

~*~TJ's POV~*~

Hmm….I see what Zack meant when he said he only played with the girls.

When school was over I had to go home and get Zack a change of clothes to tumble in. I'm not late to pick him up though. The daycare was close by. I have twenty minutes left until daycare is over with. Until then, I'm stuck waiting in the front with the parents. I'm watching him until then.

The name of this place is "Tater Tot's Daycare." I have to give these people credit. That's a clever name.

He's only playing with girls. I don't know if it's still called playing when he's sitting on the floor and the little girls are messing with his black hair. It doesn't look like it's bothering him, so I guess there's nothing wrong with it. He's laughing. He just doesn't like to play with the boys, and that's fine. So what if he doesn't like to be rough and toss each other around? He's okay, as long as he's having fun.

Still have fifteen minutes. Might as well get some reading done. Let's see…where did I leave off? I think it was chapter 3…

….

What are those guys doing here? Spinelli and the others just walked in. Which one of them has a little brother or sister? Hope Zack isn't friends with them. It's fine if he is, but it makes things less complicated.

…There close enough for me to hear their conversation.

"What's he doing here? It's bad enough I have a permanent bruise from him," Gus whined. That one is his own fault. And it's not just looks that way.

"He's has a little brother. You know that. I babysat him a couple of times," Spinelli said. Hold on, she knew I had a little brother and she didn't bother to tell me in juvie? What the hell? "He's probably here to pick him up."

"TJ! TJ!" Zack ran out of his class and over to him. Is daycare over yet? No, there's ten more minutes. "Look at what I made!" He held up a bracelet with color beads hanging off of it.

"That's nice Zack," I said, picking him up and sitting him in my lap. "Who's it for?"

"I made it for you," He said. He wrapped the bracelet around my wrist and closed it with a knot. "Do you like it?"

"I love it. Now, aren't you supposed to be with the rest of your class?" I asked him. I looked away for a second and saw that other kids were coming out of the class and meeting up with their parents.

"They let us out a 'lil early if our parents are here," He said. "Do you like my hair?" his hair is tied up in four pony tails, or two pairs of pigtails.

"Yeah. Who did it? You didn't leave the house with your hair like this this morning."

"Valarie and her friends did it," He said. He turned and pointed to a little girl who walked away from the class and over to Vince. So he has a little sister. "She's really nice. We got the same tumbling class together."

"Then you two must be good friends. Speaking of which, we've gotta get going before you're late for that class. Go get your coat, Zack." Nodding, he jumped off my lapped and went to go get his coat. Meanwhile, being as nosey as I am at this moment, I'm listening to the conversation Vince is having with his little sister.

"Where's mom and dad?" She asked him. She was wearing a pair of teal pants and a purple shirt with a picture of a light bulb on the front.

"They couldn't come today, so I'm here," Vince told her. "C'mon, go get your coat." The little girl get out a huff and marched back to get her coat. I don't think she likes him much. Don't worry, kid. It's not your fault…..

I stood out of my seat and put my book back in my bag. I only sat for ten minutes, so I didn't feel like I needed to stretch. I noticed that they were looking at me, but I didn't feed into it by looking back. Hmm…Zack said he and Vince's little sister have the same tumbling class next. If he doesn't have a car I'll have to deal with him on the walk there.

Good thing it's not far from here.

"I got my coat," Zack said, coming over to me now wrapped in his puffy orange coat. "I'm ready now!"

"Hold on," I said kneeling down to his height. I helped him pull his arms through the sleeves. I found his hat and scarf tucked away in the pockets. I know he doesn't want to wear this stuff (never wanted to either), but I'm not risking him getting sick. "There. Now you're ready. Wanna get on my shoulders?"

"Yeah!" He said holding his arms up as wide as he can with his puffy jacket. I picked him up and placed him on my shoulders, keeping my hands on his legs. Now we can go.

I could see before I stepped outside that it was beginning to snow, but not heavily. Just sprinkles. I haven't touched snow in God knows how long. I hope it gets heavier later. I want to make to snowman, have a snowball fight, all that good stuff. I have a lot to make up for. I should take Zack sledding.

"What'd you do today in daycare, Zack?" I asked him.

"I played hide 'n seek, but I lost," Zack said. "I'm not a good hider. Then I played house with Valerie and her friends. I was the daddy. It's hard. Did you know it's hard being the daddy? You gotta pay bills, deal with the dog, and your wife keeps botherin' you after you worked all day. I don't want to be a daddy."

"It's a hard job, but someone has to do it," I said. "But if you don't want to be one then you don't have to."

"Good! It's too hard. I was stressed!" he mumbled, resting his head on top of mine. Kids. "Valerie!" I called behind us. "You going to tumbling class too?"

"Uh-huh. Gonna do cartwheels today!" I heard her call from behind us. Hmm…they're taking the same route as we are. "You missed a lot when you broke your wrist, Zack."

"But I caught up," Zack said. "I know how to do a cartwheel, so ha! TJ can you do a cartwheel?"

"Yep. I learned how to when I was your age, Zack," I told him. "Maybe younger."

"When we get home can I play with Dura?"

"Sure. I'll let her out of the cage so she can get some exercise."

"My brother got a bunny!" He said, turning to look behind us. "Her names Duracell."

"You don't have a bunny," the little girl said. "You're lying. I don't believe you."

"I didn't say I had a bunny! My brother does! And I'm not lying," Zack said. "TJ can you let me down?" I lifted him off of my shoulders and sat him back on the ground. He ran behind me and over to Valerie who was walking a little ahead of the others. Since me and the others are between them, I turned back around and kept walking with them following. "Her names Duracell and she's very fluffy!"

"Is that true mister? Do you have a bunny?" I'm assuming she's asking me. I stopped walking for a couple of seconds and turned around to answer her.

"That's right. I have a bunny," I answered. "Zack's telling the truth."

"I got two bunnies. They're both boys. Their names Ice Cream and Cake. They Mini Lops and like to hop. Do yours like to hop?"

"She loves to hop. But she likes sleeping more."

"My brothers smart 'cause he kept Duracell a secret," Zack said.

"My brother so stupid," She said. "I don't know why. He just so stupid. Not my other brother though. He smart like Einstein. But this one is stupid."

"TJ, where you going?" Zack asked me.

"To your tumbling class," I said, turning around again. The two of them had stopped in front of a building. "Let's go."

"It's right here," He said, pointing at the door. I read the address and saw that he was right. Must've been too caught up in their conversation to notice. Everyone went in and I followed them. Other little kids were already inside, running around and through the obstacles set around the area where they were supposed to be practicing. Soft padding was placed on the floor where their class was taking place. I helped Zack out of his coat and as soon as he was out of it, he ran and joined the other little kids. I sat down in one of the chairs siting against the wall. Spinelli and the others sat in the chairs across from me.

Okay. Let's go guys. One of you make a move.

I don't bite. Much.

…..

…..They're not saying anything. Okay, this is just sad.

"C'mon, guys. This is getting ridiculous," I said, getting their attention. "One of you have to talk to me."

~*~END TJ's POV~*~

None of them had expected TJ to be the one to start their eventual conversation. They each wanted to pass the task on to someone else other than themselves. But now, under circumstances they had no control over, they were sitting in front of him for the next hour. A minute passed and none of them had answered him, unsure of who it should be.

"O-okay…um..what are you doing here?" Vince asked. Because of his sister being friends with TJ's brother, and her actually talking to him before he did, he felt like the one who should speak up first, though he didn't want to be to one to. "Weren't you sentenced until you turn 21?"

"Yeah, but I'm out on parole," Said TJ. "They needed to make room for new inmates. Why?"

"No reason. It's just a surprise to see you…here," Vince said. "Especially with the reason you were in juvie in the first place."

"That was a bunch of bullshit," TJ mumbled. "Anything else you want to know?"

"You aren't planning to do anything, are you?" Gus asked, nervous. "Because we're all scared."

"Do I look like I'm planning something?" He asked. Everyone stared at him, unsure of what to say.

"…I-is that a trick question?" Gus asked with a nervous smile. TJ sighed.

"I'm not going to do anything. If I did, I would get thrown back in jail, and I'm not gonna let that happen. I just want to finish high school, and get the hell out of this town," He said. "I don't want to be around you guys any more than you want to be around me….but with my little brother being friends with your little sister, Vince, that doesn't look like it's gonna happen." He looked past them to take a glimpse of Zack practicing with the other kids, who were doing cartwheels.

"So…what's with the sunglasses?" Spinelli asked him. "

"That's none of your business. Now if you don't mind, I have a book I would like to read."

"See? He's harmless,"Mikey said after TJ took out his homework and proceeded to ignore them. "Theresa was right."

"That's not what my bruise says," Gus mumbled. "I'm still skeptical. Don't expect me, or anyone else at our school for that matter, to trust him."

"You don't expect everyone to actually believe us when we tell them he's not planning on doing anything, do you?" Spinelli asked him. "They're going to call bullshit on it. I bet that for the rest of the year we're gonna be stuck following him around, making sure he isn't near a set of matches."

"It does make sense though," Gretchen said. "Him not wanting to get in trouble and thrown back in juvie again. If it's as bad as you said it was Spinelli, then perhaps he doesn't want to go back there either. I'm almost willing to give him a second chance just for that reason."

"You're kidding, right?" Vince asked her while watching his sister practice with the other children. "You want us to give him another chance?"

"We don't have to. I'm only saying that it wouldn't hurt to at least talk to him sometime. He can't be completely bad. Spinelli, didn't you say he saved you from being raped by one of the inmates in Duval?"

"That's right. He did," said Spinelli. "He punched the guy and told me to stop being weak. But that's one thing stacked up against everything else. Didn't I tell you guys about the time he came in the room and held a knife to my neck and said that he wanted to know what it felt like to kill someone? That the time he killed that other guy was an 'accident' and killing me would we different because he would do it on purpose? And the time he choked me when I read his journal? Remember that?"

"Oh, yeah."

"But we're not going to get anything done being afraid of him," Mikey said. "What harm could it do?"

"Mikey, you're too forgiving for your own good," Gus said. "I'm not talking to him unless you guys are there with me. I gotta tutor this guy!"

"Gus, stop complaining okay? It's not getting us anywhere." Spinelli snapped at him.

"TJ!" Zack shouted as he ran over and jumped into his arms. TJ looked up from the book he was reading in time to catch him.

"Shouldn't you still be with your class?" TJ asked him.

"Class is over. See?" Zack pointed to the other kids meeting up with their parents. "Can Valarie come over our house and play?"

'Time went by fast,' TJ thought. "Sorry Zack, but I don't think she can't come over today. Maybe another day, like Saturday. Did you learn anything today?"

"I learned how to do a handstand!" He said as TJ helped him put on his coat. "Kept falling at first but know how to know! I'm gonna show you and momma and daddy when we get home."

"Good. I can't wait to see." Once Zack had his jacket on, TJ took his hand and walked over to where Vince was helping his little sister. "You doing anything on Saturday?"

"Uh….no," Vince said. "Why?"

"Bring your little sister over my house on Saturday. These two want to play."

"I should bring my bunnies over to play with your bunny too!" Valarie said to Zack. "Can I, Vince?"
"We'll see, Valarie. Saturday, right?" Vince asked him.

"Saturday, at 11. Don't be late," TJ said as he and Zack left. It had stopped snowing earlier, and the snow hadn't stuck to the ground, making the sidewalk wet and making a few shallow puddles that jumped in and splashed as they walked.

~*~TJ's POV~*~

"You know 'bout girls, right TJ?" Zack asked me.

"A little bit," I said. I don't know how much I know. I spend the majority of my time surrounded by other guys, except for that one month. I like to think that spending one month with the girls taught me something about them, but I doubt it.

"They're confusing," He said.

"Why do you say that?" I asked him. Why is this any concern of his? He's three years old.

"'Cause they are. Do you know why they're confusing?"

"Nope."

"Me neither. TJ, can you keep a secret?" Zack asked.

"Sure. What is it?"

"There's this girl at daycare that I really like." He said. What's a three year old doing having a crush on someone? Okay, just hear him out. He's only three. These things come and go. I'll just help him through it. "She's smart and pretty and really good at tag!"

"And what's her name?" He came back over and walked next to me.

"…..Valarie..," he said shyly. Ah. Makes sense. It's sweet though. His first crush. "You're not gonna tell anyone, right?"

"Of course not. I promised, and I keep my promises. But if you like her, then why do you think girls are confusing?"

"Because they are!" He shouted. "We have cookies at snack time and I try to give her one of mine but she tells me to keep it, but when I don't she asked why didn't I try to give her one! It's crazy! She can't make up her mind! We do this every week! Why can't she just take the cookie?"

"I don't know Zack. Girls are like that sometimes."

"Girls are complicated."

"Yes, they are."

"I think they should stop being complicated. Boy's aren't complicated. You ask give us a cookie, and we'll take it. Girls aren't like that at all. It makes everything harder. You know what I think, TJ?"

"What?"

"I think girls are gonna take over the world 'cause boys do anything to get their attention. It's a trap! They're doing it on PURPOSE!" This is coming from a three year old. I think he's been watching too much TV.

"Then what about Valarie? Wouldn't that be a trap?"

"…no, she's different," He said quietly. "What I gotta do to make her my girlfriend?"

"Well Zack, she has to want to be your girlfriend. You have to be nice to her."

"I am nice to her! She's my best friend!"

"Okay, then be even nicer. You could draw her picture, or make her a necklace. Things she likes, you know?"

"No I don't. But I'll try. I just want her to like me back," He said sadly.

"Don't worry Zack. She's already your friend, so she must like you a little bit. And if she doesn't like you, you can still be friends, and that's better than not. Okay?"

""Kay. Thanks!" He said as we came home. As soon as we came inside, he ran upstairs. "I'm gonna draw her a picture!" He said as he ran.

Nice kid. A little too young to have these issues, but it's nothing big. Kids have crushes….

I grabbed the mail before closing the door and searched through it. I don't know why. I came here last Friday. Why would anyone write me a letter?

Wait…this one's for me. And this one…and this one.

I set the rest down on the kitchen table and read the names on the envelope. The first one was from someone named Thelonious Carder. Do I know anyone with that name…?

That's Specs name. His real name. Who's next? This one if from Jojoba Johansson. JoJo. That goes without saying. Then this last one from William Lin is from Bandit. I feel so behind. And I didn't write to them yet.

Now I know what I'm going to be doing from the rest of the night.


I want a Twitter account, but I don't know what I would even do with it. I feel like I would only get on it when I'm watching old cartoons and I feel like saying little stuff as I watch and no one wants to hear that…

Please Review!