Chapter Eleven.

Shockingly, considering how small the town was the shopping mall in Arizona was rather big. Almost bigger than the one L.A., almost though, because there were no stores larger than the ones that reside in Los Angeles and New York.

Colt, his brother and their friends arrived after a half hour drive- which when you're with good company- hardly seems that long of a drive. The seven boys walked down the crowded parking lot towards the mall talking of this and that, checking their money to make sure they had enough for whatever little items they planned on getting while they were out there.

Colt stuffed his hands into his pockets closing his eyes taking in a deep breath of air. He smiled feeling the breeze combing it's way through his dirty blonde ocean of hair. Colt remembered once long ago an ex-girlfriend had told him that she too was like a bird that just wanted to fly away.

A frown borrowed his happy expression, changing it to a more sorrowful look. 'Yeah, now look where she is, a mental home... Where she really thinks she's flying.' Colts eyes shot opened averting left where someone had placed a hand on his shoulder. It was John.

"You in there?" His real brother asked.

Colt shook his head from the memories and smiled. "Yeah, I was just thinking about something, that's all."

John smiled sincerely, knowing all and too well what kind of thinking Colt was doing. Because there was a time in life when he had been weighed by those very same thoughts as well. Shaking his brothers shoulders, John smiled down at Colt saying. "Hey, today we're here to have fun. Let's just leave all that stuff in the closet for now. Okay bro?"

Colt smiled that charismatic smile of his and nodded. "Yeah... besides I've gotta find a new attire to match the odd fashion you natives wear." Colt grinned playfully seeing the look on his brothers face. "Aahahahaha." He took off running hearing John run after him.

"Hahaha," His brother laughed. "I'll show you odd attire city boy!" He called after him.

......................

Back in California. Jessica is just getting off the phone with someone, when she sees her son walking downstairs from the view at the kitchen sink. "There he is right now, thank you for calling. Bye." She hung up the phone and drew in a breath as Tum Tum approached the kitchen.

"Hey mom, is breakfast ready?" The boy asked, looking as though he were still tired but would wake up at any hour to eat breakfast. Jessica gestured a hand to the phone and sighed. Her head bobbed down then straightened to look at her son. "Michael Andrew Douglas,"

"Uh oh, middle name." Tum was saying taking a seat then reached for the cereal. "Whatever happened I didn't do it." He stated in his favor.

"That was Mrs. Whitelaw, she said her son came home with a black eye from when you punched him at school. Is that true?"

"Weeellll...." Tum tum's face twisted in thought, trying to think up a good excuse for fighting. "I-..."

"And don't even think about lying for a second because I'll know." Jessica crossed her arms giving her youngest son a glare that dared him to go on with his lie.

"Uuuumm, okay." Tum caved in like a fallen cake. "I was fighting but- but I had a good reason to do it." He trailed off quietly hoping he didn't have to say anymore. He admitted to his crime shouldn't that be enough?

"Well...." Said his mother taking a seat at the table as well.

Tum smiles sweetly, hoping not to push the subject but his mother was unwavering. "Well what?" He asked cheekily.

"Tum tum don't get smart with me," Jessica's hands went to her forehead as though she felt a sudden headache brewing. "why were you fighting?"

"Because that stupid jerk Sheven was insulting our family, that's why!" He hadn't meant to shout but his words had come out louder than he'd wanted them to.

Jessica exhaled her breath pressing her hands down on the table to help her to her feet. "Tum tum I would appreciate it next time if you'd just use your words." Her hands mussed up her sons hair then she departed the kitchen.

Tum tum watched her leave and sighed. His head sank between his shoulders and he suddenly felt his appetite- as unbelievable as it was even to him- slipping away. 'Now mom's gonna be sad, I know she is....' The boys fingers fiddled with the place mat on the table in front of him.

'With Rocky back at college and me here alone, it's up to me to keep mom happy while Colt is gone.' A sad expression marred the usually happy boys face. 'Ha.... listen to me talking like he's on vacation or something...' His eyes scrunched in anger and he felt his hand come up smack the cereal box off the table. 'Why can't he just stay here with us!? Why did he have to leave... he was my best friend...!'

Tum tum felt an uncomfortable wrench in his heart; this whole thing wasn't fair. He didn't care if the McRea's were unhappy, they've been unhappy for years! Couldn't they just accept the fact that Colt was fine and well with someone else and leave the matter alone? He's 21 for crying out loud! "Rrrrr." He growled lowly stooping down from the table and he began to scoop up the spilled cereal.

'I hope he's happy though, at least someone should get happiness out of it.' Tum tum gasped seeing another set of hands scooping up the cereal with him. They were delicate feminine hands, they were his mothers. He looked up at her with tears in his eyes.

Jessica reached out for her son pulling him into a hug. "I'm sure he misses us baby," She planted a kiss on the top of his head and rubbed his arms. "And who knows, maybe someday we'll see your brother again."

Tum tum really didn't think so, but if his mother had hope in her heart as under as she had appeared to everyone, who knows maybe he would see him again.

Later that morning. "This place is pretty big," Colt complimented as they walked around the complex a little more. "Where're we gonna head first?" He looked to his friends who all seemed to have no plan of buying anything, they mostly were just there to cruise the mall chicks.

"How 'bout women's undies.." Said Ishmail receiving looks from each of his friends. "What? Womeeeen maan.... they flock for underwear, and they're looking for guys like us to come and inspect them-- you know," He jutted his elbow into Colt's side. "Make 'em feel sexy."

Colt nodded sarcastically. "Oh yeah, they love it." He joked. "And it's even better because I've always wanted to remember the sting of a slap hard enough to break skin."

John and the others began to laugh but Ishmail merely shrugged and found his way into the shop. Colt shrugged and turned to his right. "I warned him." And about thirty seconds after Ishmail had entered the shop, they all heard a loud slapping sound from a hand making contact with someone's cheek.

Their friend came flying from the shop with a huge goofy grin plastered to his face, and a large red mark on his cheek. Ishmail hunched over catching his breath before he straightened up saying with a pointed finger at his cheek. "Well worth it."

The seven boys laughed letting it die down as they continued through the mall. Colt could see why they were so set on meeting girls. Arizona actually had a lot of cuties ones running around, and they seemed to be particularly at the mall today.

Three girls waved at them as they passed by on the way to which ever shop they were headed to. Manuelo and Eric turned on their heals following the three waving girls to where they were going and they lost Ishmail ages ago on the second floor. Leaving just Colt and John, Peter and Josh walking in a box set through the Arizona mall.

"Mom wanted me to get sneakers first and buy clothes with whatever I have left." Colt explained as he headed for the men's foot locker in the distance. Peter glanced down at his own sneakers wondering if it were time for him to buy a new pair as well. Nah, they were fine.

John swayed to the side seeing a girl up ahead. It was someone he knew from school so he decided to go talk to her. "I'll catch up with you guys later okay."

"See ya, John." Colt waved a hand then wandered into the shoe store. The three boys went straight for the section with their shoes sizes and browsed the styles and colors. 'Hm. Nothing really brand named here.' Colt noticed, picking up a pair he's wanted to get for a while. The price was a lot lower than in L.A. so he decided to get them and be done with it.

'Better make sure they fit first.' Glancing around with his eyes he located a bench and walked over to sitting down. Slipping his foot out of his sneaker he tried on the new pair. They fit like a glove but you never know until they're laced up and you're walking in them.

Peter took a seat beside Colt holding a pair of sneakers as well. "Good choice," He complimented. Glancing further back into the boy looked for his brother. Colt followed his eyes and saw the Josh with one of the salesman talking and laughing. It seemed rude but he had to know.

"So Peter... you're brother, right?" Colt began.

"Yeah?" The boy turned his gaze on him.

"Is heeee...." He inquired, waving a hand out in the air, flat out rocking back and forth.

Peter knew what he was getting at but he just shrugged. "I have no idea. Does that bother you though?" He didn't really care for the answer, it was just something he had to say.

"Mm, well yeah." Colt replied honestly. "It sorta does... But not so much that I'd hound him for it."

Peter cocked an eyebrow and shrugged. "Good. But I assure you, my brother doesn't swing that way."

"Okay, okay." Colt held up a hand in defense. "I'm sorry I said anything."

Joshua came back up to them, holding a box in his hands. "We ready to go?" He asked looking at their guarded faces. "What's with you two?" He kicked his brothers foot telling him to scoot over and make room for him. Peter popped up a second then came back down a little further apart from the bench.

"I think I'll get these ones." Colt muttered to himself standing up. Josh watched Colt with a raised eyebrow asking. "What's with him?"

"Who cares, I'm gonna find John." Standing Peter left the store in a hurry. Josh shrugged it off and waited for Colt to finish paying for his purchase. When the dirty blonde returned to where they had been seated he noticed that Peter was gone.

"Where'd your brother go?" He asked, hoping that Peter wasn't pissed at him. What was the harm in asking a question? All he had to say was yes or no.

"Don't know, something about finding John." Josh stood waving a hand. "Where to now?" The other twin asked.

"I have to get clothes, than we can go." The two of them walked out of the store unaware of what had been going on while they were still inside.

"Move it!" A guy shouted shoving his hand into Colt's chest.

"What the fuck?" He muttered.

"Heeelp!" A girl cried out, she sounded as though she had been shouting for a while.

"He's got my purse!" The girl pointed to a man that was rushing through the crowd of people, who were doing nothing to stop him. Not even so much as tripping the guy.

Colt watched the mans trail and pressed the box of sneakers into Joshua's chest. "Hold this." He commanded.

"Wait, what are you gonna do?"

Colt said nothing as he dashed after the guy. The mans cheeks were puffing and his chest was strained as he ran as fast as he could through the shopping mall. Colt wasn't too fair behind using his great speed to his advantage.

Somewhere in the mall, Jamie and Jeremy walk in. The young boys mother is looking from left to right for any trace of her son. Jeremy rolls his eyes, casting his vision to the second floor. 'Hey there's Jeff!' He smiled. Remembering what his sister said the boy pointed his finger in the opposite direction saying, "Hey look, there's Jeff and John."

The woman craned her neck asking, "Where?"

"Over there." He continued to point. "Come on let's go say, hi." He grabbed his mothers hand and ran off in the other direction of what ever it was his brother was doing.

Back on the second level. Colt saw a bench up ahead, and as he dashed by he hopped up onto it then lunged himself on top of the purse snatcher knocking the man to the floor. The purse slipped out of his hands, gliding across the floor. John stooped down and picked it up, keeping an eye on his brother incase he needed help.

The purse snatcher kicked Colt off of his back, rolled over onto his back then stood up. Colt got to his feet as well, breaking into his ninja stance. The two of them glared at each other a moment as if they were in a staring contest and the first one to move would surely beat the other person to a pulp.

The purse snatcher, laughed when he noticed the way Colt was standing, and like most people who haven't got a clue the man extended his arms into the air raising his right leg as though he were a crane.

Colt smirked, shaking his head. 'The ooold Karate Kid, insult.' He laughed slightly, saying. "Alright, but you asked for it." Colt charged at the man and the purse snatcher readied himself for the kick that he prayed would work. Hey it was on tv, right?

Just as Colt reached the man- like on tv- he jumped, kicking the leg that was on the floor holding his balance outward at Colt, who merely dodged it as he grabbed the leg that was still suspended in mid-air during the kick, waiting to land.

Then, going under the mans body, he held his grip on the leg bringing it with him as he ended up behind the man, who is know holding his groin while his legs were split apart leaving him on the floor howling in pain.

"I've seen it pal try to be more original and maybe I won't make it hurt so much." Colt laughed.

The small crowd that was beginning to form began to laugh at the mans attempts but their words were silenced when the purse snatcher pulled himself off the floor whipping a knife from his pocket. Colt's smile only broadened as he said, "That's better." He returned to his battle stance strengthening his leg position.

John had seen enough, an unarmed man- sure, but there was no way his brother stood a chance against a weapon. Making his way through the crowd, the concerned brother stood behind Colt whispering into his ear. "Jeff' you don't have to do this, I'll get a cop." He put a hand on his shoulder. "It's too dangerous."

"It's alright John," Colt replied, never taking his gaze from the man. "you just stand back and watch the master."

This time it was the purse snatcher who made the first move, as he rushed the distance towards Colt, who stood their waiting for the attacker. Just as the man thrust the knife at him, Colt swung hid leg out kicking the man in the stomach causing him to bend over, he then grabbed the arm holding the knife in both of his hands.

John tensed watching the picture unfold, he though for sure Colt would be injured but what he saw next nearly made his eyes jump out of his head. Colt rolled over the attackers back, while still holding the mans arm and when Colt's feet hit the floor he flung the man over his shoulder sending him against the wall of a store. "Uuugh!" He grunted in pain as he passed out.

"Yay!" The crowd cheered clapping their hands together. Colt smiled and waved a thank you to them, but not too much of a thank you. He didn't wanna forget the sign of the flowers now did he. But still, the tiny cheers were nice. "That was awesome!" John said.

"That was nothing," Colt's body jumped slightly feeling arms come around his shoulders as someone picked him up. John seemed to be laughing so it couldn't have been anyone bad.

"Our little karate kid." Said Ishmail, letting Colt know who it was. After putting his friend down the group of people parted letting a woman come through, she was escorting an officer with her pointing at the man against the wall.

"That's the guy officer, right there." She said.

While the cop arrested the purse thief, the woman sought out Colt, throwing her arms around him for a hug. "Thank you, young man. I don't know how to repay you."

"Aaaw," Colt blushed. "it was nothing I just....." He moved out of the hug, his gaze went through the crowd falling on his mother. Her mouth was agape and her eyes were huge in her head as she stared bewildered.

'Uh oh.' He thought, feeling the pride of victory sink into him.