Chapter Thirty-Five – Teens and Preteens

JT was in the spare room of the Brady house listening to his Saliva CD when there was a knock at the door.  Pulling off the headphones as he paused the CD he answered, "Yeah, come in."

Belle entered the room.  "Can we talk for a sec?"

"Sure," he moved to sit up on the bed as Belle sat down on the end of it.   "So what's up?"

"I wanted to talk to you about what happened yesterday with your parents."

"What about it?"  He asked curiosity peeked.

"Well, I want to know how you'd feel about moving in with our father?  Is it something you'd like to consider?"

"I didn't know it was something I could consider.  But, I've thought about it, I just didn't really consider it an actual option for me."

Belle nodded as she reached for his hand to get his attention, "Let's say that it is an option for you to consider.  I mean you have to honestly ask yourself if you think staying with Bo and Hope is right for you.  Whatever, you think is just going to be between the two of us, I won't tell anyone what you say.  So there's like no pressure here when I ask you if want to move in with my parents.  I know I can't help wondering if maybe a change of scenery would be good for you, not permanently or anything but for a little while."

"So you think it's something I could really do," he paused thinking.

"While I don't think Dad brought up moving out at the best time.  I don't fault his reasoning.  It makes sense to me and I think the change of scenery could do wonders for you.  But, I'm not trying to tell you to just decide to move out or not consider it at all.  Because, for one it's going to be a decision you need to make on your own and denying that right for you to do what's best for yourself, is a mistake.  So just think about it, if not for yourself than for me."

"Sure."  As Belle stood to leave JT called her back.  "Hey can I barrow your car for a while?"

"Of course, you know the keys are in the kitchen.  Be careful though, it's raining and don't forget your cell phone."  She said as she headed out of the room down the hall.

"Yes, Mom," JT replied jokingly.

"I heard that."

"You were supposed to."

~*~*~*~*~*~@~*~*~*~*~*~

An hour later JT found himself at his brother's house.  After he parked the car in the driveway he got out and headed to the front door.  He'd driven around Salem for a while trying to figure out what he wanted to do, whether moving in with his father was something he really wanted.  He was seriously considering it but decided that maybe he should get a second opinion; someone who knew the situation well but would reserve their opinion and tell him what could be for the best.  And the only person he knew that could be really objective was Brady so that brought him here, to the Black house.  He knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer. 

Seconds later, the door opened and there Conrad stood.  "Hey Conman, what's up?  Where's your Dad?"  He asked as he moved past his nephew into the house. 

"Uh, Hi JT it's nice to see you, too."  Conrad grumbled as he shut the door and locked it.  Pulling on his baggy jeans he followed his Uncle and sat down.  "So what are you doing here?  I thought vandals were supposed to be under house arrest."

"Funny," JT replied dryly.

"I try.  But seriously, what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to your Dad is he around?"

"Nope, he had to go check on some new estate in Chicago.  He's supposed to back later though.  I have to interview him for a project.  Do you want me to tell him that you came by?"

"No, I'll just wait for him here."  JT plopped onto the couch.  "So what are you doing today? Hack into any new computer systems, lately?"

"Ha, ha, I'm still not allowed to use the computer when Mom or Dad aren't home.  Actually, I'm waiting on Jarod to get here so we can start our project.  You know the family history one."

"Oh yeah, I remember that one.  It's the one where you're supposed to find out information on parents and grandparents right?"

"Yeah that's the one."  The doorbell sounded once so Conrad rose to go get the door.  When he answered the door outside stood Jarod with an umbrella and his backpack over his shoulder.  "Hey, K-man come on in.  Who was that in the car?"

"My cousin Will, he offered to drop me off since Mom was going shopping with Aunt Sami."  Jarod replied as he entered the living room to see JT sitting on the couch.  "Hey JT what's up?"

"Nothing much, I didn't know Sami was in town."

"Yeah, they came in this morning with Uncle Lucas for some meeting.  And my mother and Aunt Sami are going shopping.  Needless to say, that's really not my sort of thing."  He dropped his book bag on the floor in front of him.  "So when do you want to go get started?"

"Later, did you tell your parents about that thing at school?"  Conrad asked he moved to sit down by his uncle on the couch.

"No and I'm not going to either, I can handle it."

"Jarod, there's no reason you shouldn't tell your parents. I mean dude, they can help."

"Look, I told you I can handle it and I can so just let it go."

JT listened as the two kids bantered back and forth.  He had no idea what they were talking about but it seemed more interesting to his current problems so he figured he'd add his two cents.  "What are you two talking about that you," he pointed to Jarod. "Won't tell your parents about.  Are you in trouble or something?" 

After giving Jarod a look of annoyance when he didn't respond, Conrad answered for him.  "It's the kids at school, they're picking on him."

"Conrad,"

"What? They are." Conrad replied.

JT held up his hand for silence.  "Okay, hold up, why are they bugging you?  The Conman, I can understand but you, I don't get. You've only been in school for like three months last year and we're barely into the school year now so what's the prob?"

Jarod sighed running his hand through his thick blonde hair.  "Basically it has to do with the fact that last year I just the new kid, Jarod Amodeo living with the Kiriakis family.  But, this year, I'm Jarod Kiriakis, Philip Kiriakis' son and Victor Kiriakis' grandson.  I'm different because of that now so they bug me."
           

"I get it, they're jealous right?"

"Yeah, that's pretty much it." Conrad added.

"Okay, then why not tell your parents and let them do something about it?"  Conrad and Jarod exchanged an exasperated look with one another.

"Besides, the fact that I can handle it on my own.  I don't see how telling my parents will improve anything.  I mean, as far as I can tell it will only make things worse, me punkin' out and running to my parents uh no thanks.  And that's the last thing I need."

"Okay, okay I get that but if it gets really bad just tell your parents believe me when I say they'll know what to do."

"Sure, but I'm not even sure it's going to get worse because they really aren't talking about my parents anymore, just something about a bet."  He shrugged carelessly.

JT sighed and moved to sit back on the couch.  "Ahh, the bet, I can't believe they're even using that."

"What? You know what they're talking about?"  Jarod asked and JT nodded.

"Yeah, of course, Conrad knows too, right?"  Conrad shook his head.  "You don't know — that's weird.  I thought for sure you knew about it.  But, if you want to know I can tell you."

"So tell us."

"Okay, you have to remember I wasn't born when this happened so all my information is second hand."  He paused, "are you sure you've never seen a picture of your mom when she was young?"  He asked Jarod, who again shook his head.  "You really need to see some pictures then because believe me when I tell you she really has changed."

"JT are you ever going to get to the point?"  Conrad questioned impatiently.    

"So-o as I was saying, before you so rudely interrupted me," Conrad rolled his eyes.  "Basically your mom was like a geek at Salem High when she first came here.  She dressed in all black with some fugly black glasses to complete this whole the Goth look.  And your Dad, being the all-around jock, popular with the girls and all was the BMOC," at Conrad and Jarod's look of confusion he explained.  "Big Man on Campus — I have really got to stop hanging around middle school kids—,"

"JT," both Jarod and Conrad called out in exasperation.

"ANYWAY, they were your basic polar opposites and didn't really get along. So to make a long story short," Jarod snorted.  "Cute, K-man do you want to hear this or not?"

"Yes, so to make a long story short…"

"My brother and Uncle Philly made this bet that whoever lost in this video game tournament would have to take your mother to this Last Blast Dance they had every year at school.  Your Dad lost and ending up taking your mother and the rest as they say is history.  I can't believe you never heard about this from your parents.  Eh, all in all it wasn't that bad although, the funniest thing happened to your Dad at the dance—"

"You're saying my parents didn't even like each other when they were younger?" Jarod asked incredulously.

"I don't know but I assume there was some sort of attraction between then and now, otherwise I sincerely doubt they would be together now.  Besides, you know what they say, opposites attract.  They went to another dance the next year together and so that proves they actually liked each other.  Although, I think something did happened at that dance but, I can't remember what. But, if you want to find out without asking your parents I know a surefire way to do it."

"How?" Jarod asked wanting to find out what exactly his parents had been like as teens and maybe just maybe become a little more prepared for what was going on at school.

"Well you and Conman have that family studies project right?"   Both boys nodded.  "Just ask your grandparents under the guise of trying to get info for the project.  They always know the best dish on your parents, believe me."

"And you're sure this will work?"  Jarod asked hesitantly.

"Have I ever led you wrong before?"            Conrad and Jarod pierced him with a sardonic look before answering yes simultaneously.  "Okay so once or twice.  But, I'm positive this time and think of it this way, it'll give you a bonus to be prepared for whatever the other kids bug you about at school."

"That sounds good, so who will you ask?" Conrad added curious to see who Jarod thought would give him to most information.

"Grandma Nancy, of course.  I can't believe you even had to ask.  I'm supposed to her with something later this week anyway."

"Is this apart of your probation from this summer's activities?" JT asked mockingly.

"No, it's not.  I volunteered to help this time."  At both Conrad and JT's look of disbelief he explained, "she's entering some sort of dessert contest and she's been experimenting with different types of receipts for chocolate cakes and stuff so I figured that if I offered to help her out that she would let me be her tester."

"Dude, I so want in you have to let me come with.  Your grandmother is the best cook."

"I'll ask her when I see her later.  But, I'm sure she'll say yes after all the more testers the better."

"Alright," Conrad said as he highfived Jarod.

"Hey JT do you want to come too?"

"Nah, I think I'm going to be busy this week considering that I'm grounded again.  But, um don't forget about me next time.  Hey Conman tell your Dad I dropped by, alright."  JT said as he got up from the couch and left the room heading out of the house.

Jarod and Conrad watched him leave.  "So what's up with your uncle he seemed off today or something."

Conrad shrugged.  "I don't know.  It probably has something to do with the fact that he got suspended yesterday."

"No kidding?"

"Yup, my Dad was really bugging about it yesterday.  It's either that or girl trouble."  To that both Jarod and Conrad laughed.  "Like he could ever get a girl to be interested in him."

"I know he's like completely weird.  Remember the beach party last summer when he kept trying to make moves Casey and she kept shooting him down for Isaac."
           

"Yeah, man that was classic.  Oh by the way, did you see the game last night?"

"Of course, it was awesome especially with Mark Johnson (fake name) made that,"

"Touch down with two minutes left — man that was,"

"Sweet!"  Both Jarod and Conrad finished together forgetting all about the purpose of their meeting together to talk over their project for school.

~*~*~*~*~*~@~*~*~*~*~*~

When JT left Brady's house he had intended to go back to Shawn's but when the turn off came up for that street he just kept straight and somehow ending up at make out point.  There he sat in the car with his Saliva CD playing as he thought over the last couple of days.  A lot of things had come to head for him, he been suspended and was possibly on his way out of the house he'd lived in all his life.  At first when John had announced that he wanted JT to move in with him and Marlena at the penthouse he'd been so shocked he automatically ruled it out.  But, the more he thought about it the more he liked the idea of moving out of the house.  The more he thought about it the more it felt right to him, like something he had to do.  "Moving out has definite possibilities.   Who am I kidding, moving in with my Dad would be a train wreck waiting to happen.  But, moving into my own place, now that sounds like something I could definitely get into."

Please tell me what you think.