Squid's P.O.V

I turned my back and walked into the plane. The last thing I saw was Kandy and my mother hugging. I wished more than anything that I could be there hugging them both. I sat down in my seat and fought back tears. The last thing I needed was to be comforted by Bruce. He had no clue how I was feeling and I did not need him to tell me he did and than make up stuff about when he had been hurt like this. The flight was incredible boring and painfully hard. I had nothing to do other than think about Kandy. I know it isn't healthy but I couldn't stop. She was like a disease that was slowly taking over my brain. There was no room for anything else.

When I got off the plane I was greeted by some familiar faces. The boys of D-tent were back together. Every single one had come to greet me when I got off the plane. This made me feel a little bit better, but I still felt awful. I had only felt pain like this once before, and that was when I had to say goodbye to Kandy back in Green Lake Texas. I hoped I would never have to feel this pain again, but my luck sucks and here I am again feeling like my heart is being physically ripped into a million pieces.

"Squid my man! How have you been?" X-ray was the first to say anything I stuck out my hand for a shake, but he ignored it and pulled me into a hug. The rest of the boys followed suit and hugged me and asked how I was, I replied the same for all of them.

"Fine…"

"What have you been up to?"

"Nothing" Now it was Magnet's turn to talk. He had been silent this whole time and I don't blame him. I was a jerk to him back at camp. He probably didn't have anything to say to me. But he came up with something and tried to make me feel better.

"I know you miss Kandy, but we all do, and I'm sorry you had to leave her. She was awesome." Even though he was trying to make me feel better it didn't. Kandy was still on my mind, but I was hoping the boys could help me get my mind off everything that had happened today. I guess the boys got the hint when I did not answer Magnet and they didn't bring up Kandy until much later.

"Alan, introduce me to your friends." I just glared at him, but when he glared back I finally introduced the guys.

"Bruce, this is X-ray, Armpit, Zigzag, Magnet, Caveman, and Zero, they all went to camp with me."

"Oh, more of the delinquents. Well, I think it is about time that we get going home. Do you boys need rides?"

"No, our parents drove us here."

"Great!" Bruce grabbed my arm and led me away from my friends. "Come on Alan, we need to go. Besides I don't want you hanging out with such bad influences. It is bad enough that you have wasted fourteen years of your life, but you don't need to waste any more." I was pissed, first he took me from my home and now he was taking away everything that made me happy.

"You mean I can't even hang out with my friends?"

"Alan, they are not your friends. They will just end up back in jail and you will end up alone. It is better if you ditch them now. Come on now lets go!" Bruce forced me into a taxi that already had my luggage in it. Once Bruce was in the car it flew down the road until we got to his house.

We go out of the car and I looked around. It was better than a trailer. The house was big and had white shutters. It looked like house out of a magazine. There were flowers and trees all over, and there was winding walk ways that lead to the front door. Bruce obviously had a lot of money, money that was not spent on supporting his family.

"Welcome home Alan."

"This is not my home." I grabbed my luggage and walked in the door. The house was nice and smelled like pork chops. A short and pretty woman walked around the corner. She had an apron on and she hugged me.

"You must be Alan! I'm Jodi, your step-mother. Are you hungry? I made pork chops."

"Uh, I guess."

"I see you too met!" Bruce walked in with the rest of the luggage and kissed Jodi.

"Alan, come with me I will show you where your room is." I have to admit when he said my room I got excited. I have never really had my own space before. I followed hi up two flights of stairs, and through a doorway. My room was huge! There was a queen sized bed against one wall facing a TV, there were multiple dressers and there was a desk with a brand new computer.

"I hope it is to your liking."

"Thanks."

"You are welcome; here I brought up your stuff. Do you need help unpacking?"

"No"

"Ok, it sounds like dinner will be ready in a few minutes. I will see you later than." Bruce walked out of the room. I looked around and saw a phone sitting on one of the dressers. I picked it up and dialed Kandy's number. We talked until I had to go and eat dinner and finish unpacking. There were tears welling up in my eyes now. I brushed them away and went down to the bottom floor. I wandered around until I found the kitchen. Jodi was just putting the food on the table. I looked around and saw Bruce, but then I saw children, three of them! I began to get nervous. I have never been very good with kids. I was an only child and I never really had any idea how to treat them. I sat down at the table and looked around at everyone. There were two boys who were twins and then a little girl who was about six. She got up and walked around the table and sat in my lap and hugged me.

"I did not know I had another brother! Did you know about me?" I shook my head. When she hugged me I was completely thrown off. I never thought Bruce had kids, and if I did know I would have thought they would be spoiled brats. But she was sweet and was being really nice to me.

"Alright Quincy, go back and sit down. It is time for dinner."

"Alright mommy." Quincy jumped up and got off my lap and sat back down at the table.

"Mommy, can I sit next to Alan?" Jodi smiled.

"Sure."

"Max, Joey! Sit up straight it is time for dinner." Bruce winked at me. I did nothing in return. I just looked at my empty plate. As soon as I looked down it was filled with pork chops and other great foods. I had never eaten anything so good. My mom never cooked and my aunt did not make very good food. It was nice to eat a dinner you actually liked. I was the first one done, and I wanted to go and unpack, but Jodi's conversation kept me there.

"So, you were living in Missouri? Is it nice there?"

"It's ok."

"Do you miss everyone there?"

"Yah."

"Did you have a lot of friends?"

"No, but I have my girlfriend and she is my best friend too."

"Ohhh! You have a girlfriend? What is her name?"

"Kelly."

"That is such a pretty name, how long have you been dating?"

"Over a year…almost two." Bruce had managed to keep his mouth shut through out the conversation, but when Kandy came up he had to place his opinion.

"Now Alan, lets be honest, she is not really your girlfriend. She is a criminal, she wears ugly make-up, and she dresses like a whore." I was ready to punch him and tell him off, but Jodi beat me to it.

"Bruce, do not talk about people like that! I am sure she is an amazing girl! I bet you miss her a lot don't you?" Jodi turned to me and smiled and put an arm on my shoulder. "I could never imagine having to leave the person I love like that. Can you call her or e-mail her?"

"Yah, we talk on the phone a lot."

"Well, you feel free to use the phone in your room. You can just use it whenever you want to."

"Thank you."

"Now, I bet that you have a lot of unpacking to do, so if you are finished you can just put your dishes over there and then go and unpack."

"Ok thank you." I cleared my dishes and walked upstairs. At least they aren't all like Bruce! Quincy and Jodi are very nice. I feel bad having to leave them like this. I unpacked but left one bag packed. This is the bag I am going to use when I go and see Kandy. My thoughts turned back to her but they were interrupted by a tug on my shirt. It was Quincy. She came to help me unpack. For a little girl of six she was very impressive. She really helped me. She got everything organized and in the right place within an hour. I thanked her and she said she had to go to bed. She walked out the door, but then turned around and hugged me.

"I'm glad you're my brother Alan!" I watched her leave the room. I was tired too so I took everything off but my boxers and got into my bed, and went to sleep.