"Dad, either we act like everything is normal or we don't! You don't get to have it both ways!"

Adam followed his son down the stairs, though he knew very well that Connor was trying to escape him. "You can't avoid this conversation."

"Yes, I can!" Connor shouted. "We don't need to have it!"

Adam followed Connor into the kitchen, cornering him against the counter. "Yes, we do. I know it's hard, Connor, but sooner or later –"

"Later." Connor seized onto the word. "I don't need it, Dad. I'm not … I'm like the rest."

"What happens when we get to sooner?" Adam demanded. "Dammit, Connor, what the hell happens when –"

"Maybe I'll get hit by a truck and spare you all of this!" Connor roared at his father. "Since I know it's so hard on you!"

"That's not –" Adam began, torn between anger and heartbreak.

"Whatever, Dad. I'm going to miss the bus." He went to walk around Adam, but his father made sure to stay in his way.

"I'll drive you," he offered, not wanting to leave things this way.

Red-faced with anger, Connor glared at his father. "I'll take the bus."

Using all of his strength, Connor shoved by Adam and into the front hallway. He put his feet into his sneakers, Jelly magically appearing by his feet.

"We're talking about this when I get home!" Adam warned Connor, stomping into the entryway.

"Then I won't come home!"

Connor slammed his front door, thundering down his driveway to catch the school bus. Why would his father think he'd want to talk about that? Any of it? Usually he and Adam willingly followed the same set of unspoken rules: out of sight, out of mind, but even when it's staring you in the face, don't talk about it! It was how he and Adam had survived in the time since Connor's mother's death. Adam couldn't change the rules on him now.

Connor trudged into school, feeling as if he didn't want to be there at all. It was a normal feeling. Connor rarely felt like he wanted to be anywhere. School and home were just different brands of misery. He let himself think, for a moment, of where he would escape to if he could and blue flashed in his mind's eye. He sighed, shaking the taste of hot chocolate from his mouth and trudging through the school doors, resigning himself to his fate.

(-.-)

Jude jumped off the transit bus, heading toward the Centre. He was staring down at his shoes, thinking that they were starting to get too small and that he could see how dirty his socks were through the many holes when someone touched his arm. Jude shied away, his heart leaping into his throat as he thought of all the unsavory people who could be coming after him, knowing who his sister was. He was screaming in his head, even as he swung around to view whoever had touched him.

Connor?

But it was Wednesday.

"Sorry." Connor was frowning. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"I was lost in thought." Jude flicked his gaze over his friend. "Is something wrong?"

"I just couldn't stand the thought of going home." Jude could understand that. "And I wondered if, maybe, you'd want to do something."

"Like what?"

"Anything." Connor shrugged and Jude could see just how badly he wanted to be away from his house. "Wanna just walk?"

Jude nodded and steered Connor in the opposite direction of the Centre. They walked slowly. They had gone the length of a block in silence before Jude asked, "Did something happen at school?"

"No. School was the same as always." Connor hesitated. "I got into a fight with my dad."

"Oh."

"We've had worse fights," Connor said quietly, "but the subject … That was what put me over the edge."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want too," Jude assured Connor. He knew the importance of secrets.

"That's what I like about you," Connor said suddenly. "You don't have expectations of me. I don't feel like I have to be anything in particular around you."

Jude felt himself smile at the words because he felt the same way around Connor. Around Connor, Jude didn't feel any of the labels that other pressed onto him; he didn't feel the weight of the past. He was free to just be himself and it was both freeing and intoxicating.

Jude gently pumped his shoulder against Connor's. "What else are friends for?"

Connor glanced at him. "You know … I don't even know your last name."

"Smith," Jude lied immediately, although, for the first time, the lie made him feel sour and sick. "I'm Jude Smith."

"Mine's Stevens," Connor said, anticipating Jude's question. He took a breath. "Dad wants to send me away."

Jude's first thought was a selfish one: I need him; he can't go. He shoved that thought to the back of his mind, making it disappear completely. He made himself focus on Connor. "What does your mom think?"

"It's just me and Dad."

"Are you going to go?"

"No!"

Connor's response was so passionate that Jude couldn't help but relax. Connor's dad wouldn't make him leave, would he? Not when Connor so clearly wanted to stay.

Connor looked upset, his lips twisted. "Maybe in the summer." He sounded defeated. "But I definitely don't want to go now."

"Do you think you will?"

Connor pondered Jude's question but, before he answered, he said something completely unrelated. "You remind me of Ms. Adams. She always asks questions that makes me think of things from Dad's perspective, even when that wasn't her intent."

"Ms. Adams is your guidance counsellor, right?" She was either that or his English teacher; Jude couldn't remember which.

"Uh-huh." Connor dragged his heel along the sidewalk. "I don't think that Dad wants me to go, really. I just think that he thinks I'll be better off if I go and I'm not at home with him."

"Why?"

"Sometimes he listens to himself more than he listens to me." Connor frowned then, and they both paused on the sidewalk as Connor pulled his cell phone out of his jeans pocket. On the screen, Jude could see that it was Connor's father calling. Instead of answering, Connor let the phone ring until it eventually turned into a missed call. Connor turned off the phone. "We're officially on the run."

You have no idea, Jude thought.

They turned off the street and down to one of the lesser populated beaches in the area. They were quiet until they found a spot on the sand to sit. Jude stared out at the ocean, watching the waves. He felt Connor move to sit closer and Jude blurted out, "Jacob."

Connor shuffled a distance away again and Jude turned his head to look at his friend. Connor was staring back at him, something undefinable on his features. He looked almost hurt, as if someone had slapped him across the face.

"My last name," Jude clarified. "I'm actually Jude Jacob."

Oh, Connor thought and he felt something calm inside of him. He didn't know what Jude had been trying to tell him, but as soon as he'd heard the name 'Jacob', Connor had become anxious in a way that he had never felt before.

"Why'd you lie?" Connor asked, concerned now.

"I always do." Jude felt shaken as he realized the weight of what he had done. "I have to. And, if you ever get asked, Connor, you have to –"

"Lie too," Connor finished. "But, Jude?"

"Yeah?"

"You don't have to lie to me."

Jude knew that he did. He had to lie to everyone, otherwise, he could lose Callie; he could be returned to the foster system or worse. Jude also knew something else, something that terrified him. He wouldn't lie to Connor. He didn't want to. Jude wasn't in the habit of trusting people, but it was so easy to place his faith in Connor, because he knew that Connor was worth it. His chest felt heavy as he thought about Connor, about what being around Connor was like, and about how much Jude liked it.

"I know."

Connor drew his knees up to his chest, running his hands over the heated sand. "Also, I'm sorry I hijacked your day."

"I don't mind. I'm not allowed home until after nine tonight."

Connor almost asked about Jude's house. In all honesty, he hadn't been completely sure Jude even had a house. But he held his tongue. It might be rude to inquire. If Jude could refrain from asking about Connor's life, then Connor could offer Jude the same courtesy. Still, one question slipped out. "Does that happen often?"

"Do you run away often?"

"Less than I'd like."

Jude scooped up a handful of sand. "More than I'd like."

Connor dusted his hands off before tucking them behind his head and leaning backward. Jude couldn't help but watch him close his eyes and tilt his face toward the setting sun. Although Jude knew better than to let himself get to this point, although he could hear his own voice assuring Callie 'friend', Jude felt his chest get heavier and felt a pit develop in his stomach. Staring down at Connor's face, Jude fell fully into the realization that he didn't feel friendship.

He felt more.

He immediately wondered if it was just him that felt this way, and his heart sunk as he realized that, of course, he was alone in these elevated feelings.

"Take a picture," Connor said suddenly.

"Huh?"

Connor's eyes popped open. "I said take a picture, you know, it'll last longer."

"I … Whatever." Connor had noticed him staring. What if Connor figured out Jude's new feelings? What if Connor stopped talking to him? Jude was half into a minor frenzy when he realized Connor had closed his eyes again. Whatever was going through Jude's head, Connor was oblivious to it. Jude squeezed his eyes shut for a long moment, trying to make himself oblivious to it as well. He couldn't allow himself to think of Connor and feel everything attached with a crush; he had to think of Connor and think of nothing but friend.

"Did you want to do something?" Connor asked.

"Like what?" Jude was quite content to stay on the beach like this, at least for a few more minutes. He was starting to feel a little bit restless.

"I don't know. We have until nine."

"We do?"

"Well, if you can't go home until nine then I'll stay with you until then. Doing nothing together has to be better than doing nothing alone."

Jude grinned and faced out to the waves again, thinking about how, a few months ago, he never could have imagined someone like Connor walking into his life. He didn't think he'd ever be allowed someone like Connor. He'd spent the last few years of his life almost completely alone, always running and looking over his shoulder for the next monster. Never had Jude fantasized that he could let himself have someone he could open up to and rely on. Now that Connor was here, now that Jude knew what having a friend (because that word was all Jude would let himself focus on), Jude couldn't imagine not having Connor around.

Jude felt the restless feeling come over him again, and he began to pull off his socks and shoes. Connor sat up when he noticed what Jude was doing and watched his friend roll his pant legs up toward his knees.

"I don't feel like sitting still," Jude explained.

Connor kicked off his own sneakers and pulled off his socks, shoving them inside of his shoes. As he pulled up his own pant legs, the heel of his hand brushed the painful, itchy rash that had taken up residence on the inside of his calf. It was an ugly thing and Connor brought his ankles together to hide it from himself. He didn't think that Jude had noticed it either. He climbed to his feet, shoes in hand, and he and Jude walked down to the water.

Jude walked into the waves, feeling them swell up to the middle of his calf. He took a moment to revel in the feeling of moving sand beneath his toes before he turned and began to walk down the beach, Connor at his side in the shallower water.

"My school's on a beach," Connor mentioned idly.

"And you said there was nothing good about school." Jude laughed and took a deep breath of the salty air. "I love the beach."

"I stay inside most of the time," Connor admitted.

Jude used the inside of his foot to splash water over Connor's lower legs. "Do you intentionally shelter yourself?"

"I'm with you," Connor said jokingly, "so clearly I know how to walk on the wild side."

Jude looked at Connor out of the eye. "What happened to not stereotyping me?"

"Maybe I'm not stereotyping. Maybe I really do think you're dangerous."

Jude laughed. "You wouldn't say that if –" he stepped himself. He wouldn't lie to Connor about anything but Callie. She was the one secret he'd take to the grave "– if you actually knew dangerous people."

"Maybe I'm not sheltered. Maybe you just don't know any real sheltered people."

Jude rolled his eyes. "You just said you don't even go outside!"

Connor shook his head, having no other reply, as Jude's stomach rumbled loudly.

"Are you hungry?" Connor asked.

Jude shook his head, not because it wasn't true but because he couldn't let Connor buy him anything. He felt guilty enough for their twice weekly treats, and he knew that if he told Connor he was starving (he hadn't actually had a chance to eat anything today) then he would end up being bought dinner.

Connor studied his friend's face and Jude took the opportunity to look at his eyes. Finally, Connor said, "Well, I am. Are you coming with me?"

"Where do you want to go?" Jude asked, following Connor away from the waves and up the beach.

"Wherever you want to."

As they paused to pull their socks and shoes back on, Jude said, "As long as it's not burgers and fries, I don't care where we go."

"How do you feel about Chinese food?"

"Sure," Jude agreed.

They walked back up to the street, Connor steering them to a bus stop. They got onto a crowded bus, shuffling between the packed bodies to find a space where they could stand together. The bus lurched and Connor fell forward. Quickly, Jude reached out and grabbed Connor's waist to help keep him upright. He could smell the scent of salt clinging to Connor's shirt, along with the musk of Connor's deodorant, as Connor fell against his shoulder.

"Sorry," Connor apologized, righting himself and planting his feet.

"It's okay," Jude said, the scent of Connor staining his nose.

Friend.

(-.-)

"You didn't have to come with me."

"Yeah, I did."

"It's just so far out of your way."

"You look like you could use the company."

Connor nodded at Jude's words and sunk further into the bus seat. It was nine-forty and Jude and Connor had finally decided that it might be time for the both of them to head home. Connor had looked so apprehensive at the thought of going back to his house that Jude offered to accompany him on his bus ride back. It was the least he could do for the boy who had stayed with him for the past several hours; who had bought him dinner and ice-cream; and who hadn't complained once, not even via a disgruntled expression, when all Jude had wanted to do was pace up and down the length of the beach.

"Thanks."

"Thanks for sticking around all day."

Connor looked at Jude, though his friend wasn't looking back. Still, he smiled. When the last bell of the day had rung at school, all Connor had known was that he didn't want to go home. He'd sat outside the building until the only people left were the teachers. It was then that he remembered Jude telling him that he was at the Centre every day. The moment Connor realized he knew where to find Jude, he had been on his feet and heading for the transit bus that would take him to his friend.

"I had fun." But that was all about to change. Connor reached up and pulled the wire to let the bus driver know he needed to stop.

Together, Jude and Connor disembarked, thanking the driver as they went. They stood on the sidewalk in the cool night air and Jude glanced around, drinking in what would probably be his one glimpse into Connors world: a simple street, with houses that weren't show home material but that were definitely well cared for; a street for families … a street that was a far cry from Jude's.

"Umm, if you go down the street, take a left, and then cross the street, you'll see the transit stop that'll take you to the Centre," Connor explained. "I can walk and wait with you."

"You need to go home sometime."

Connor stared toward his dad's car, parked in their driveway a few houses down. It was not going to be a happy homecoming.

"So do I," Jude added.

Connor thought that they both looked a little unhappy at the prospect. Connor shuffled a little closer to Jude, so that they could stay in the happy bubble they'd been in the past several hours, just the two of them. "One more thing before you go?"

"Yeah?" Jude said.

"Halloween weekend, my dad has to go out of town. He wanted me to ask a friend from school to stay with me. Would you want to?"

To Connor's bewilderment, Jude frowned.

"Why don't you actually ask a friend from school?"

"'Cause I don't have any," Connor said honestly. "You're my only friend."

"Oh."

"I'm glad you're my friend," Connor said quickly, so that Jude wouldn't think Connor only wanted to see him because Jude was the only person who would talk to him. "Even if I had other friends, you'd be my best friend."

"Really?"

Connor nodded. There was no one like Jude. "So, Halloween weekend? I don't know if there's someone you need to ask …"

"There is," Jude said, wondering what Callie would say when he asked to say the night at a friend's house. "It shouldn't be a problem though."

"Okay!" Connor fixed his gaze on his dad's car again. "I guess I should go bite the bullet."

Instead of moving, though, he stayed right where he was, and stared at Jude, as if the boy could offer him a reason to stay with him longer. Jude didn't have one though, and could only nod his agreement.

"Are you sure you don't need me to walk you to your door?" Jude teased. "I hear this is a dangerous neighbourhood."

"I'm tough," Connor assured him.

"Goodnight, Connor."

"Night, Jude."

Connor stayed on the sidewalk, watching Jude until he turned the corner and was out of sight. Then Connor went to his house and let himself in as quietly as he could manage, although he knew Adam would magically appear in just a few moments. Connor took off his shoes, settled his bag on the floor, and picked up Jelly for protection. She rubbed her face against the side of his and kneaded her claws into his shoulders. Connor reached his hand up and readjusted her paws.

"You know you're not allowed to do that," he scolded her and her ears flicked at the sound of his voice.

When Connor looked up from the cat, Adam was standing just a few feet away from him.

"You know you're supposed to come home right after school." Adam crossed his arms over his chest and set his stubble covered jaw. "Where the hell have you been?"

"Nowhere."

"Tell me where you've been!"

"Why!?" Connor shouted. "It's not like you care."

"Hold on just a second –"

"You don't care!" Connor cried. "When Mom was still alive, you were gone all the time, and then you went on this massive father of the year kick after she died because you felt so guilty! This protective act has nothing to do with me and everything to do with you! That's why you want to shove me away, so you can live your life and not have all the responsibility that comes with a kid like me!"

"Number one – no, don't you dare move, Connor Stevens! You are going to stand there and listen! Yes, your mother and I had some problems while she was still alive. After her death I did change and I do feel horribly over the way that she died but those two things are not related in the way that you think. I know I wasn't a good enough father for you then and I damn well know I'm not a good enough father for you now but all that I do, I do for you. I'm not trying to shove you away. I don't sit around and dream of a life without you! Connor, I'd rather have you – all of the fighting and all of the responsibility – than have any other child or no child at all."

"I don't believe it," Connor said and he held Jelly tighter. The aging feline didn't mind. She had lived through his toddler's tantrums; an extra squeeze was nothing. "You're only saying it –"

"Because it's true," Adam interrupted.

Connor laid his cheek against the top of Jelly's head, unable to explain to his father everything that he was feeling inside, especially as Adam did not want to hear any of it.

"Now, tell me where you were."

"I wasn't getting into trouble. I just … walked around by myself."

"Where?" Adam asked. "I drove all over looking for you."

'Nowhere. I'm going to bed now."

"We're talking," Adam reminded him, standing in Connor's way.

"I'm tired," Connor whined. "I just don't want to do this anymore!"

Adam reached for Connor, looking ill as the double meaning of Connor's words sinking in. Connor ducked under Adam's arm, heading for the stairs that would take him to his room.

"Connor!"

"Any of it!" Connor shouted and then he stepped into his room, slamming the door behind him.

Downstairs, Connor heard Adam's wordless cry of anger. He ignored his father and sunk down on his bed, Jelly leaping from his hold. She made it as far as the mattress before she laid down again, curling heavily against his thigh.

"Sorry I yelled in your ear," he said to her, running his hands over her head. Talking to Jellybean like she was a playmate versus a pet was something he'd always done, since he'd treated her like a playmate as a child. And, before Ms. Adams, Jelly had been the only person that he could turn to with all of his thoughts, even back when he had real friends, not just peers who felt bad for him.

"He makes me so mad sometimes but it's not his fa – yes, it is, sometimes. I guess it's mostly my fault." He let out his own frustrated cry and flopped down on his bed. "I miss Mom."

He wrapped his hand in the soft fur of Jellybean's side and then he sat up. "I need to shower before I sleep."

As he prepared to leave his room, Adam Stevens snuck back down the stairs, his heart breaking over his son's confession.

(-.-)

When Jude let himself into the apartment, Callie was getting dressed. She wasn't wearing her usual ensemble of tight jeans and long-sleeved tops, but instead had on one of the outfits she wore on her date nights with Nic. Jude was repulsed by his sister wearing such revealing clothes, but they weren't the worst outfits that Callie had to don, and that fact scared him more.

"Oh, good," Callie said when she spotted him. "I was hoping you'd make it home before I left."

Jude leant against the bathroom doorframe while Callie squinted at her reflection in the dingy mirror, carefully applying eyeliner.

"How was the Centre?"

"Fine. How was your … meeting?"

"Classified," Callie said sternly. She put her eyeliner down and faced her little brother. "Although, I did tell Nic I'd like to know in advance if he was sending me on a trip."

"What did he say?"

"That I'd be leaving on the twenty-sixth or the twenty-seventh for two weeks."

"To go where?"

"Nowhere that you need to worry about." She gave Jude a pat on the head as she swept by him. "We'll start trying to stock food now so you'll have to leave the apartment as little as possible while you're alone."

Jude opened his mouth and before he could speak, Callie said, "You'll still be going to the Centre. You need to keep up with the tutors."

Jude hadn't even been going to mention the Centre; he'd been going to ask Callie about going to Connor's house on Halloween weekend. Then he'd realized – what would be the point? The request would either bring out Callie's protective side or her crazy side (or worse: both at the same time) and it would also give her the opportunity to say 'no'. He might as well keep living by the rules that what his sister couldn't figure out about him, wouldn't hurt her.

"Whatever you say, Cal."

"You're up to something," Callie accused without even turning around to face him.

Jude sighed at the accusation and followed her into their bedroom. Indignantly, he cried, "I am not!"

Callie pulled on the beat up black jacket Jude had stolen for her last Christmas. "We'll talk about it later."

"Sure," Jude said, although he doubted that they would. Callie had bigger things to worry about.

Jude followed her across the apartment to the front door and locked it behind her. It wasn't all that late, but Jude wasn't in the habit of staying up late, as there wasn't really anything to do at night. Although, honestly, he'd fallen into the habit after they had lost electricity in the attic for several weeks and he and Callie literally couldn't do anything at night because they couldn't see, even by the light of the few candles that Jude had shoplifted.

He returned to the bedroom, shutting the squeaky door tightly. It was both for extra protection and so that it would wake him up when Callie arrived home. He always liked to know that she had made it back. He crawled to the side of the dirty mattress that was against the wall, because Callie couldn't stand the feeling of being trapped between the wall and her brother. He readjusted the comforter that Callie kept as a boundary between their two sides and then he flipped onto his side, bringing the second comforter over his body and then curling his knees up toward his chest. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. And, though he knew that it was impossible that there be any other scent but the apartment's dusty dampness hanging in the air, Jude would swear that he could smell the ocean.

So, on tumblr I'm: we are all of legend now (with dashes between every word). If you want to find my replies to anon reviews, add backslash tagged backslash anon dash replies. If you want to see anything I post about The Island Of Misfit Toys, go to my tumblr URL and add backslash tagged backslash the dash island dash of dash misfit dash toys. Punctuation is spelled out due to Fanfiction's restrictions. If you're having any trouble accessing the tumblr content please send me a pm and I can format it for you in a different way.

~TLL~