A new chapter!
(See, I told you I was back)

This chapter is really short, just over 1k words, but it's one I wanted to get in here.
(I completely went off script on this one, ignoring my outline, but I really needed some more Davey in here.)

So, enjoy!

~TH~

David sat beside Katherine in the history classroom. Today was the beginning of the projects. Their group still had until Tuesday, but they would have to work outside of class.

If David was being honest, he was worried. It wasn't even about the project. Jack had shown up yesterday, but had barely said anything. They hoped he would be less withdrawn today.

Jack sat down beside them, offering a small smile. "I, uh, I brought my painting. It's in the theatre."

"Good! We can go look after class." Katherine had been… weird around Jack lately. She had been smiling more and even with the whole blowup last week, she seemed happy to have him around. And she really had been worried on Monday. David suspected that she might have a crush on him, which was… odd. Jack didn't really seem her type.

The teacher cleared her throat and Jack jumped slightly, hissing when his back hit the chair. Katherine didn't seem to notice. David tried to ignore it.

~N~

Jack led them to the theatre. He kept his head down and hood up, not making any eye contact.

"Oh, hey baby!" Jack flinched as they entered the theatre before dropping his hood and smiling at the middle aged women in front of them.

"Hey Ms Medda. I was just gonna show them my project. I was keeping it in the back with the paint."

"Not a problem, hunny, just don't be late to class." She nodded to David and Katherine.

Katherine offered a small wave while David simply nodded in return.

The back room was small and covered in paint. There was a large sheet painted with what looked like a landscape of the old west.

"Uh, this is it." Jack pulled out the canvas. It was even better than the picture he had shown them.

"It's wonderful Jack!" Katherine exclaimed.

He shrugged, "It's okay, I guess."

"Jack!" She exclaimed lightly bumping him on the arm, then moving closer to the canvas.

David watched Jack. He seemed frozen in place, his eyes were closed and his breathing wasn't quite right. After a moment he seemed to shake it off, noticing that David was watching him, he attempted to smile before looking away.

Katherine continued talking and Jack seemed to be trying to follow along, not buying her kind words. David didn't know what to think. He'd started noticing things. He hadn't even meant to, but something wasn't right. Something was wrong and he was afraid to think about what it was.

~N~

David looked out the car window, his mind churning with worrisome thoughts. He glanced at his dad in the driver's was glad that Les was staying with a friend. He didn't know if he could handle that much energy right now. And he couldn't talk to his dad if his little brother was there.

"Dad, what, what do you do when you think someone might be in trouble?"

"Well," he responded, not seeming the least but put off. "It depends on what kind of trouble. Do you think they've committed a crime, or are they failing one of their classes,"

"I think someone might be hurting him." There he had said it.

Mayer nodded slowly, "Okay, do you have any evidence?"

"Well, I mean not really, it's just, there's little things, a lot of them I never thought much of, but after this week I'm just not sure." He offered a small shrug.

"Are you thinking anything specific is happening?"

"I don't, I don't know. I mean," he didn't want to think about it, "I mean we watched this one video in class about looking for the signs of, of, sex trafficing, and a lot of the things fit. I mean, I don't know. It's just, I'm worried about him."

"That's a serious statement, David." He paused, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, "Why don't you tell me what's been going on and I'll see if I can help."

He started slowly, then in a rush of words he was telling him everything. "It's just, there's this guy in my class, I don't know him very well, but we were put in a project together. And at first he was just really annoying, not seeming to take anything serious and not wanting to talk to the teachers, but I honestly think he's afraid of them. He hates the police," David looked at his dad but he didn't seem phased, "and at first I just though, y'know, he probably has done some stupid things or just hates them because that's progressive or whatever, but it's not just police and not just teachers, it's like he's afraid of everyone. He gets all tense when people touch him and his stuff. He wears the same clothes every day and no matter how cold he is he always wears a sweatshirt, only a sweatshirt. I found out that he wore makeup, which I didn't think much of at the time, but then he got a black eye, which still didn't seem like a big deal. Then he missed most of this week. When he came back it looked even worse, and even the makeup couldn't hide a bruise on his nose. He said he was sick, but he didn't look sick, he looked hurt, just in pain. And… and I don't know, but something not right. On Monday one of his friends came over and asked if we knew where he was. The friend looked worried, almost panicked and it took him hours to answer anyone. I just, I don't know what to do."

David took a breath. He wasn't sure if his thoughts had come out coherent or not, but there were just so many little things surrounding Jack Kelly. So many things that didn't make sense.

His dad looked thoughtful, "I can see why you would be concerned. Have you told anyone else about this?"

"No, I don't want to cause trouble or anything. I just, I don't know what to do."

Mayer nodded, "I understand." He glanced at his son, "I do need to know, are you talking to me as your dad or as an officer?"

David thought for a moment, "Dad. For now at least."

"Then my advice would be to just keep an eye out. Talk to him if you can. If you can't, just see if anything else happens. If you ever want me to officially get involved, just tell me and I will."

David nodded. "Okay, I, I will."

~TH~

I am not related to a policeman so I don't know how conversations like this actually go down.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Some of you may have noticed I used the 92sies name for David's dad, Mayer. It was just easier that way. It's never mentioned in Livsies but there in the original.

Let me know what you thought!
Just a heads up, the next couple chapters are going to be rough. I will be posting triggers at the top of the chapter, so be on a lookout for that.

I finished season 1 of Tangled the Series and loved it so much! Between Varian and Euguene, it's just so good.

Anyway...

Please let me know what you thought!

Oh! And I started a YouTube channel...
I don't have a name other than Jamie Dawn yet, but the title of the first video is "If Hamilton Was a Sitcom: And Peggy!"
Please check it out if it interests you!

Stay safe and Gosh bless,
Jamie