Chapter Seventeen

The walk to the ice cream parlor was kind of uncomfortable for Rocky, Annalisse kept glancing at him from the side of her eyes and it was making him a little shaky. Ever since the thing with that girl Maria, Rocky had a hard letting people look at him for too long without saying anything. But, be that as it may, he glanced down at the younger girl and smiled. "Is this place very far?" He asked to break the ice.

"Hm?" She was thrown off a bit by the question, and shook her head in response. "No, it's right around here. You can see it just now, look," pointing a finger at the building, she lowered it when the cute boys eyes were upon it.

"Oh. It's smaller than I would have guessed."

Fumiko stepped a little forward for attention. "Are the ice cream places very large where you come from, Sam?"

"Yeah, a little bit. People need a lot of it there- what with the hot weather and all." He shrugged.

"Where do you come from?" Anna cleared her throat after that, she felt a tickle in the back that threatened to embarrassingly heighten her words to an almost squeak. She had to control herself, this wasn't like her. Of course, she had never met any boy like this Samuel. He was interesting, she could tell. Like there was more to him, unlike her simple and easy to figure out half brother. 'Fuck.' She cursed herself for using that word on Colt. She said she wasn't going to think of him that way. It would only lead to saying it out loud and that would make her mother upset all over again.

"I come from... Texas." He lied.

Libby pursed her lips a bit. "Texas? Than where's your accent?"

Rocky blushed. "I kinda lost it, I've been living with my Aunt in Vermont for years and it slipped away from me." He laughed sweetly. "Actually, I'm kind of glad it's gone, she used to pick on me all the time about it and call me a 'hick'."

They all drew in an exaggerated breath. "Nno! Who would do say something like that?" They almost chirped simultaneously.

Natasha rolled her eyes. How could her friends be into this guy, when there were boys out there like Jefferson. She smile just thinking about him.

Rocky couldn't believe how easily he had just lied to these girls. Sure, he owed them no explanation, no history of sorts, but still... he had a conscience and it would be eating at him right now had they not made it to their destination.

"Finally!" Tasha beamed. She was so glad to see that they were there. But she was mostly happy to see Jeff there, and hopefully he would let her sit with him and John. "The phones are in the back, see you guys!" She started to dash off, but Fumiko pulled the girl long red ponytail, stopping her in her tracks. "Ow! Fumi', let go!"

"Remember who promised to treat today, Tash'..." The girl stated, letting go of her friend.

"I know, I know. I was just gonna speak to Jefferson a bit."

"Oh here we go." Anna commented under her breath.

"Maybe Sam would like to meet him, I'll bet you don't have many friends yet," the girl smiled at the new boy. "You could probably use some male friends, right?"

Now this is the Tasha that the girls all know and loved- in a sense. Bossy, loud and usually telling people what was on her mind without thinking. Not this new, love starved, man chasing, star gazing girl they see whenever Jefferson is around.

"I'm sure Sam really needs to use the phones, so forget about it." Anna spoke up for him. "Besides, no one wants to be insulted by you about how much they can't compare to my stupid brother." She said through her teeth.

Rocky winced at that, the only people who were allowed to call Colt- stupid, are him and his family. But this did give him an idea. "I actually think that um... Natasha has a good point. I've only met the female kind since I came here and I think I might need some guy friends."

Anna turned pleading eyes on him to just go and save himself the earful from Tasha, but when Rocky began to follow the red haired girl, she knew it was hopeless and followed as well.

John spotted them right away, a warm smile appeared on his face at the sight of his sister and her cheery little crew. "Hey sis'," he greeted.

"Hi John, Jeff." She muttered. Sucking in a breath, Anna quickly blurted out to Rocky. "These are my brothers, John and Jefferson McRae. Guys this is Samuel. There, you met, let's get you to a phone before they're all taken, huh?"

John laughed at his sister, he could tell she liked him because she had never acted this way usually. "Whoa sis, take a breath, let us talk to the new guy for a while."

Annalisse looked despaired. "He really wants to use the phones, not socialize with you two."

"Samuel huh?" Colt spoke, his voice screaming with amusement. "Kind of a geeky name, though- or can we call you Sam."

Rocky could play this game, and he smirked, his eyes showing mischief. "You can call me Sam, Jefferson, or do you prefer Jeff?"

Colt shrugged. "Jeff is fine with me."

Everyone watched this little exchange thinking that the two hated each other off the bat and were about to get into a fight.

"Maybe we should find a table," Libby held out a hand for Rocky to take but he remained where he stood.

"So, Saaaam, where're you from?" Colt couldn't wait to hear this one. He was sure if anyone had asked, Rocky would have made up some sort of cover up story.

"Texas."

"Ooohhh, Texas. The big state. Everything there is biiiig," he looked his true brother up and down. "And yet, you seem kind of- short changed to me. Not to mention you hardly have an accent."

Pushing it Colt, you're reaally pushing it. "Yeah well, I've been living with my Aunt in Vermont for sometime."

"Aaaw, an Aunt in Vermont, look it even rhymes, must be easy for a little country bumpkin like you to remember."

Rocky sneered at his brother, he was always the best at playing this game when it came to insults. And right now, Rocky knew when to back down. "You know what, I really should use the phone, I have to find a place to sleep tonight." He started away.

"Ya'll come back now, ya hear!" Colt called after him.

Rocky turned with a wave to them, showing no harm was done and that he could take a little teasing. The second the new boy was out of sight, Anna pinched her brother on the chest. "You goon, you could have made Sam upset."

"Oooh, I knew it." John began to tease. "You like this guy." He laughed seeing his sisters face turn red. "Oh my God, my little sister has her first crush." John placed a feathered hand to his heart and sighed lovingly.

Colt laughed, imitating his brothers actions, then he rest he head on his shoulder and they sighed again. "It's a beautiful thing."

Annalisse glared so hard at them she thought her eyes might fall from her head. "Shove it." And with that, she walked away, her friends not far behind shooting the two boys the same glare for picking on their friend.

Rocky used the phone and called around for cheap hotels, after that he made plans to find a ATM machine and get some money. Or maybe... Heading away from the phone, he shot a glance back to where his brother was and gave a gesture to him to meet him in the rest room.

Colt noticed this and excused himself. "Order me a cone, uuuum, Fudge Ripple, okay Johnny boy." He patted his brothers arm.

"Well, someone's in a good mood." He mentioned.

"Hey, I've got something to hold over our sisters head. I'm having the best day of my life." He flashed a gorgeous smile that would usual melt a girls face off, but John merely laughed.

When Colt dashed off, he tried to not to be so suspicious about heading into the bathroom until he made it to the door. Once inside, he closed it and turned the lock over. Looking around with his eyes, he skimmed the bathroom and saw no one. "Rocky?"

"Are you alone?" A voice came from the stalls.

"If I weren't I would have said Sam, bonehead."

"Touché." Opening the door, he was slammed into instantly by his brothers embrace. "I take it you missed me."

"Only a whole lot," he backed off. "Look at you, you look... sickly." He laughed.

"Yeah well, we miss you too. " He nudged his brother playfully. "That's the reason for my looking so sickly... And you look... pudgy as always."

"Aaa, eat dirt."

There were several minutes of silence. Neither boy knowing what to say. Colt decided to break the ice with an obvious question.

"So, what are you doing here?"

"I came to get you." Rocky looked at his feet. "It's tearing our family apart not having you there... I miss your loud mouth ranting, your better than the world attitude... I miss you- we all do."

"...Yeah, I kinda got that from Tum's letter." He walked over to the sink and looked at his self in the mirror. "How's Mom?"

"Bad, I won't lie to you bro... she's not doing so good. But as the weeks go by, she seems to be getting better."

"Good."

"She still thinks you're gonna walk into the front door."

"I know, I keep thinking I'm gonna wake up in my old room."

Rocky walked over to his brother and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Look, I'm gonna find a way to bring you back home. This isn't fair on anyone... especially you."

"Why me?" Colt narrowed his eyes. "I'm the one who started all this... and now... God now, I don't know what to do."

"Hey," he held his brother at arms length. "You'll get through this. I promise, and by the end of this month, you'll be back home with us."

Colt sighed. "I hope so."

They were silent again.

"So, you have a sister. What's that like?"

Colt shrugged. "It's alright, I think she kinda hates how much attention I'm getting from her best friend... what was it- Natasha."

"The red head?"

"Yeah."

This time Rocky shrugged. "She's all right. Go for it."

"Are you crazy? That girl is insane. I only agreed to go out with her so she'd quit stalking me everywhere." He ran a hand through his hair. "It makes me look bad."

Rocky scoffed. "I'm sure the other girls don't notice any other of your fans clinging to your arms, they'll keep calling."

"And what about you, with Anna?"

"I'm not interested, you know that... Besides, I'm using her to get some info. I think maybe she knows something," he bit his lip.

"Oh yeah? Like what?" He couldn't help but look hopeful.

"I can't be sure but, I think she may know more to the kidnapping story than Mrs. McRae lets on."

"Well, whatever it is find out about it and quick." He looked at the door. "I have to get out of here, someone might suspect something."

"Okay," he watched his brother head to the door. "Colt."

"Yeah?"

"...It's good to see you again."

He smiled. "You too, Tex'." He winked at his brother than walked out.

Rocky waited a moment than walked out as well. To his surprise, the boy John had sat down with his sister and her friends as well did Colt. Thinking he could leave, he heads for the door when he hears a voice call to him.

"Hey Sam, why don't you come and sit down with us." John had a friendly smile on his face, and he waved the new boy over.

"Ummm." He hesitated but reluctantly came over. "Alright, but only for a while. I have to go get some money for a hotel and something to eat."

"How much do you need?" Colt mentally smacked his self for speaking too quickly without thinking. If they heard something like that there was a chance that they could figure out who Rocky was, he shouldn't be over friendly. "Maybe we could help you out, new kid." He saved himself.

"Nah, I couldn't take your money. I barely know any of you."

"Than at least take a warm meal from us," John was saying. "You can come to our house for dinner, I'm sure Mom wouldn't mind." He looked at the Colt than to his sister. "And I'm sure someone would really love it if you came."

Rocky blushed and Colt laughed.

"Shut up John." But the girl looked up at Sam anyway with a blush and smile. "Would you like to come to our house for dinner?"

"Yeah, it sounds great." Rocky offered her his best 'hoo haa' smile, and she ate it up.