Longest Novel: Fall of The Republic

by morgan kingsley

In 2020, a middle-aged author, living too deeply in the past, decides to write the story of what really happened to him and his friends when he was younger, and as it unfolds, a giant conspiracy starts to show itself. An AU of seasons 1-4 that take place in the United States. Crossover with several other series for one overall universe.

21. The Date

May 1, 2022

When T.K. was finally finished up writing the story of what had happened in that second audio file, he had noticed that there were a couple of parts that were slightly muffled out now, and at this point in time, he was starting to wonder if the quality was now too destroyed to really get it all.

He sent the file to his publisher, and then shook hie head, and despite everything else going on, he was getting more sure that he was never going to be really doing enough to actually make a difference. He was standing up, and he was taking out a cigarette for a few seconds.

When he was done smoking, he looked at Ocho. "So you want me to go to the pyramid, to see if there is something that I can read out of it? Are you sure that there is even going to be anything worth it?" T.K. asked Ocho, as he was grabbing the third audio file, getting ready to get to work on it.

"If you are going to be in the area anyways, then I would appreciate that greatly. I mean, you are way more qualified for this shit than I am, so you really seem like you are the perfect man for it." Ocho said, and T.K. felt that Ocho saying something like this was kind of a bit hard for him to really appreciate.

"Yeah, I guess that I am probably your best bet, even if I feel like that is kind of too scary to really think about." T.K. said, and then he was wondering if something like this was even possible. But he was choosing to not push him longer, so he was heading off.

As T.K. was out of Ocho's house, he was wondering if Ocho was actually going to believe working with this guy or not. Or if he was going to be thinking that T.K. was having a lack of commitment or something like that. Which was kind of annoying him to even consider what that idea was going to even give him.

As he was driving towards the pyramid, he was wondering if Ocho was going to potentially try and reach out to the others. After all, they need as much help as they fucking can get, and T.K. was feeling that if Ocho was actually planning on getting through this, then the two of them really just needed to work together.

And he was also feeling that in all honesty, despite the fact that he didn't want to really admit it, talking to T.K. was probably going to be the worst bet that he was going to have. After all, T.K. was just a aging man who was killing himself slowly with the cigarettes, and a man who nobody trusted at all.

As he was in the forest, he found the nearest clean ish area as he was getting out of the car, and then he took out a flashlight, as he was starting to walk down, waiting to see what he would even be able to find if he was going to be taking things a bit more carefully.

The entire walk down, T.K. was wondering if the pyramid was going to be giving him any answers on what he was going to have to do in order to fight through this monster crisis. After all, the monsters were something that he was really just not at all prepared for in the slightest.

The walk took over an hour, and he was starting to really feel his exhaustion coming down for a bit, as he was wondering what was even going to be there when it was all said and done. And the entire time he was thinking about the next plan, the one thing that was certain in his mind, was that Ocho was never really going to be letting shit like this slide at all.

When he was at a giant clearing, he was looking up, and he was seeing the giant pyramid. He was taking a long and deep breath as he was looking, and he was wondering what in the world he was even going to accomplish by doing this. He figured that just looking inside for several minutes would be the best that he could do here.

As he was inside the pyramid, he was looking around, and he was seeing all the signs that were around, and he was wondering what he was going to be finding. The writings were clearly from the digital world. But Ocho didn't know that, and T.K. was aware that he never told Ocho a single detail about the things he saw.

So the fact that he actually knew that this was digital world stuff, was showing that Ocho had either been investigating on his own the last thirty five or so years, or he was lying to T.K. this entire time, and no matter how he looked at it, this was a rough situation.

As he was starting to write some of the notes down, to see what he was going to find, this was when Ocho was calling out to him. T.K. turned around, and he was seeing that Ocho was kind of looking a bit sad at this whole thing.

"This place really is amazing. Seeing all the different languages that the digital world came up with. In all honesty, I was shocked when I found this. I had a hard time really believing what you were saying was true until I saw this. I feel like I made a big mistake not believing you more." Ocho called out to him, and then T.K. looked at him for a few seconds.

"Yeah, I can see what you are saying about natural formation." T.K. said, and he was rubbing the wall, and he was feeling the cold touch of steel coming to him. "I wonder why the Digimon even came here though." T.K. said, and then shrugged for a few seconds.

"I better get that third audio file written. But when I am done, I will get more down." T.K. said, and then he was taking several pictures for nearly an hour over the pyramid, and several more when outside again, before he went back and worked on the third audio file, hoping the information would be enough to win him some points.

Scene 2: The Return of Memories

I picked Emily up, after talking with my father about how much I was wanting to really make things work out with Emily. And my father seemed to be impressed with seeing how much I was dedicating myself to pulling this whole thing off.

As Emily was in the car, she looked right at me for a few seconds. "So Sheldon, I was wondering when you would be coming along. I always get proven wrong, in the best ways, when I see you coming along and following with our plans." After she was telling me this, I was sighing, and wished she would stop throwing me under the bus like this.

"Honestly Emily, I think you need to be giving me more fucking credit. I made the plans to see you, and of course I am going to be going through with them." I said, and then I was feeling like the fact that I was standing up for myself was showing that I was not really going to be taking in any more shit. I was seeing from the look on Emily's face, that she was not really buying it at all.

"Yeah, I should just let it go. I know that pestering you like this is only going to create a situation where you will hate me more than before after a while." After she was telling me this, I was slowly nodding, I was wondering why in the world I was even having this discussion with her right now.

"But Sheldon, I was wondering if you were willing to help me understand some stuff a bit differently. I wanted to hear you tell me what is happening anyways. With your relationship with Jamie. What your stakes in the events with her even were." Emily said, as we were pulling up at the shop she was wanting to eat at.

I looked at her for a few seconds. The way that she brought this up, in such a careless fashion, was indeed kind of annoying me. I wondered why in the world she was treating the situation like this. But then I looked down, feeling like she deserved more than my anger.

"Yeah, you deserve to know what I am feeling. After all, we are currently dating, and I feel like doing so would be able to give you more context of what I am doing with Jamie." I said, and then I was wondering if talking about Jamie was even going to be making me feel better or not. I saw Jamie looking excited, to hear me talk for once.

"I mean, I feel like you need some help, and I want to do my best to finally help you out for once. But I feel like you need to just give me some context on what the issue was." She said, as I was sitting down, on the other side of the table from her. Thinking more of what she was saying.

"Even if I do need some help, I am not super sure if I deserve something like that. After all, I have never really been the best friend in the world, and I feel like the people who hang out with me deserve better than what I am giving them." I said, and then I was looking at her, and I was seeing that she was not too sure what to even tell me here.

"Well, let me be making that choice for myself, okay? I feel like you need to be letting me decide if I feel like you are worthy of my feelings of concern or not." After she was telling me this, I was looking right at her, and I was seeing from the stern look on her face that she was not wanting to hear the excuses anymore. I looked down on the ground, and I felt like I needed to respect her.

"What am I going to do? Give you my entire fucking autobiography? Sooner or later, I know that you would lose any fucking interest that you have in the subject." After I was telling her this, I shrugged, and I was feeling like the honesty was going to be winning me some points.

"I mean, I feel like you need to give me a chance before you make any opinions like that." She said, and she was both sounding super firm, but also gave off a simple playing tone to this. I was sighing, and I was feeling like girls were going to kill me eventually.

"Yeah, I guess telling people about it a bit wouldn't hurt either. After all, if I just kind of put my past behind me a bit, then perhaps that is what I need to finally make things better." I said, and then I was shrugging and placed my hands together.

"I mean, I kind of see that even if you try to deny it, that you never really are getting over what happened with Jamie, and I feel like you are allowed to feel that way. But if that is the case, then I feel like I deserve the chance to see where you are coming from." Once Emily said this to me, I was sighing, feeling kind of lost on what she was telling me.

"I mean, come on. Give me a chance to know you a bit too. I mean, I feel like you need to give me a chance to know what you are interested in, and I can feel like this can make me feel a bit differently." I said, and then I was looking at her, and I was hoping that what I said was going to make her kind of change her mind here.

"Are you sure that getting to know me is more important than me getting to know you?" She asked me, and then I was staring at her, and I was feeling like she needed to stop that shit right now, before I was going to be losing my fucking patience with her. Deep down inside, I knew I would lose this, so I just sighed in annoyance, figuring I would quell her interest some. "Tell you what: Tell me your story with Jamie, and I will tell you more about me?" She shrugged, feeling that was fair.

…

Memories Part 1: Helping Jamie's Project

I was at Jamie's house the day after I saw her at the sandwich shop, per the promise that I made. And when I was there, I was taking a long and deep breath, and I was wondering if I should just be remaining calm, and not be making things any worse for them.

When I knocked on her door, she opened up right away, and she was growing a smile on her face. She seemed like she was genuinely happy to actually see me here, and I was feeling like I needed to use that fucking leap, and needed to make her not regret the choice.

"It is nice to see you here." She said, and then I was smiling at this, feeling like I was just needed to go along with it. In all honesty, I was feeling like I just needed to get right to work right now. "Anyways, so I was wondering if you want to help me out or anything." After she was telling me this, I was slowly nodding a bit.

Once inside of her house, I was looking around, and she was looking at me. There was a small twinge of regret on her face. I was wondering what the issue here. "So Sheldon, how much do you know about cars?" After she was telling me this, I was really having no idea what I was going to say.

"Not much honestly. I am scared of cars, and the idea of driving just always makes me unsettled." I said, and then I was looking at him, and I was feeling like if I was being honest with him, then he might respect that a bit more.

"Are you scared because of the car accidents?" She asked, and she was adopting a much more serious tone when I asked her this. I was feeling like that was having a large part of that. But there wasn't much reason in telling her this in all honesty.

"Yeah, in some extent. In all honesty though, I think it is the idea of finally going behind the wheel, and doing something new for once, is going to be kind of scary honestly." I was saying, and in all honesty, I really have no idea what I could be doing now.

As I was telling her this, I was feeling like I needed to just leave it alone for a few seconds longer. "It's okay. I just have been interested in this stuff since I have been a young child. My dad has been letting me help at the car shop for a while, and seeing his excitement when I go on and help him has been making this whole thing worth it."

"That does make some sense. Honestly, I can pick up in it now with the clothes you like to wear every day, and the fact that you always seem to be dirty." I said, and then I was shrugging, thinking that if she was doing this stuff so much on her own, that she would be happy to her comments like this.

"Hey, people are allowed to be showing their pride in different ways than one." After she was telling me this, I was holding my hands up, and I was feeling like I just needed to get myself out of this situation as fast as possible. Before she really did get upset at me.

"Alright, yeah you're right. I was just making a casual observation." I said, and then after I was telling her this, Jamie was giving me a 'bullshit' look before shrugging, and feeling like it was best to just drop the subject for the time being.

"So Sheldon, do you have any interests on what you would want to do when you grow older?" After Jamie asked me this, I was laughing at that idea. In all honesty, if she was thinking that I had any fucking thing planned out at all, then she was going to be in for a level of disappointment.

"I mean, I have tried to do some things, but I always felt like they were not really for me. In all honesty, I feel like I might go into retail. I mean, at least it's something where you do not need a resume for." I said, and then after I was telling her this, she was laughing for a second, and I was seeing her looking like she was just finding my idea hilarious.

"But is that something that you really want to do? I mean, most people wouldn't be jumping to something like retail as a profession that they want to do. But I guess that if that is something that you really want to do, then I guess that there is no reason to stop you." After she said that, I was unsure what to tell her.

"Well, what was the thing you were wanting to get some help on?" I asked, and I was feeling like just placing this way from me, and working on the things that were important for her, were going to be something that would make me feel much more comfortable. As I said that, she gave a whimper, as if not wanting to end talking about me so fast.

"Yeah, I did mention that. I guess it would be best to get to work on that." After she was telling me this, I was seeing her looking like she was not nearly as excited for this as she was wanting to say. As we were walking to the garage, I was wondering what I would tell her.

Eventually, when I was at the garage, I was seeing what she was working on. It was a car, and about twenty percent of the way there. "I am working on building a new car. I just want to have something that is there. For myself. And my dad has been giving me some advice on how to work it out. But since you said you have no knowledge of cars, I guess that won't work."

"I mean, you can help teach me." I said, and I was sitting down on a chair, and I was staring at the project, and I was really kind of proud of how much work she had been able to do on it without any help from friends.

"Besides, my dad has been telling me several times that I really do need to learn how to get into driving. He feels that it would be best to have the license, and not need it, than to need it and not have it." I said, and then I looked at her, wondering if she would agree to that idea.

"Yeah, I do see where he is coming from. Your dad seems like he is a nice guy. Must be nice to just have him around, where you are the only person he needs to worry about." After Jamie said that, I was seeing that she was instantly becoming aware of what she was saying, and looked down in shame.

"Sorry Sheldon. I stepped a line over there. I know that this stuff is really important to you. And I know that I shouldn't have said that." After Jamie was saying that, I was seeing from the look on her face, that she was seeming sincere enough.

As I was seeing the look on her face, and I was seeing how much she really seemed like there was regret in there, I decided that I would let it go. "Yeah, and maybe it is time for me to just kind of relax when it comes to this stuff. I mean, it is true that I don't really need to be holding onto shit like this so fucking deeply now." After I was telling her this, I was looking at her, and I was feeling so bad for saying this.

"So Sheldon, I am just kind of curious, and you do not have to tell me if you do not want too, but do you believe what everybody is saying?" She asked, and I tilted my head side ways. I didn't get what she was meaning.

"I heard that there are some rumors that your sister just ran away, and is back in Arkansas now. I mean, I don't know if it is true or not. That was why I was wondering if you believed in it. Considering you live with that every fucking day." After she said that to me, I was slowly nodding for a bit.

"No, that is perfectly fair to ask. Honestly though, I feel like there has to be some level of bullshit to that. After all, there has to be some more conclusive evidence to show that theory. In all honesty, it feels like something that some people have come up with, and hoped that people would buy it, and get off their back." After I was saying this to her, I was seeing her looking like that was the type of answer she was scared of.

"Yeah, I was kind of fearing that you were going to say that. In all honesty, I was feeling that if you did believe in something like that, then there would really be no reason to be so let down by the whole case then." After she was saying this to me, I was slowly nodding. I did understand what she was saying, even if I didn't like it.

"Sheldon, I hope that you know that several people want to help you out, and they feel like you have the right to be expressing your thoughts they way they do. But they also feel like they need to really see where you are coming from." After she was telling me this, I was wondering why she was telling me this in the first place.

"I am just trying to let it go. Even though I don't believe it, there is a small chance it's true. But to be honest with you, I fully believe that she's dead. It's a strange instinct that you get when you are related to somebody." I said, and then I was shrugging for a second.

"I just remember waking up one night, a few years ago, hearing that grinding noise, and I was thinking to myself 'They just killed Riley. I fucking know it.'" I said, and I was looking at her, and I was feeling like that was going to be enough to make her feel better about what I was saying.

"And I have been more certain with each passing day after that, that she is gone. And nothing anybody will tell me otherwise. I have already had my personal funeral for her. Now I just want to find out who did it, and why they fucking did it." I said, and then I was looking at her, wondering what else to tell her.

"Yeah, I guess that makes some sense. I mean, I never had a sibling, so I never had that feeling. But I heard from my parents, that they heard that they have this instinct in their mind. When they know that something happens to their child. Even before they officially get the news. Maybe you were feeling that with Riley?" She asked, and then she shook her head at the statement, as if finding it hilarious.

"Never mind. Forget I even mentioned it. I mean, I still have my project to work on. Maybe I should be focused on something I know for sure." After she was telling me this, I was nodding, not wanting to say it. But she was fucking right.

"Jamie, can you teach me how to drive?" I asked, and then after I told her this, I was looking right at her, and I was seeing that the question was making her actually feel rather excited. "I mean, I feel like if I am going to have to learn sooner or later anyways, it would be best to have it be from somebody who I respect."

"Yeah, I would fucking love that Sheldon. I was hoping that you would ask honestly. But I didn't want to press it if it wasn't for you or anything." After she was telling me this, I was slowly nodding, and I was feeling like she deserved a chance to fucking shine.

"Thank you. I am feeling like when I ask you or something, that it just feels more safe. More natural to do something with you. I just hope that I don't get over my fears here." I said, and then I was looking at her, and I was wondering what else to be saying now

"Don't get too worried though. Once you get in the mindset, it will come normally. Trust me. I will save you from your fears." She said, and then I was seeing her looking like this was the only thing she truly wanted in the world. And I was glad to be giving her a goal to look for.

…

Memories Part 2: The First Step

The next day, I was meeting up with Sam, since I had arranged a meet up with him a few days prior, and I was feeling like I just needed to see how he was doing. I was feeling that it was best to be making sure that no matter what was happening, and no matter how much the driving lessons were going, it was best to never forget what was ahead of me.

When I was at his place, I was seeing from the look on his face that something was kind of shocking to him. I was feeling like I needed to know what Sam was doing. "So Sheldon, why do you seem beyond excited about something right now?" He asked, and I was shrugging at this.

"I have taken some advice, from other friends, and I have been talking with Jamie for quite a bit. She agreed that she would be willing to help me out with driving and stuff. Considering the fact that she is a expert at that stuff." After I was telling him this, I was seeing that Sam was kind of shocked at this.

"In all honesty, I never expected you to tell me that. I thought that you were going to be just sort of wishing that you did that from afar. But hearing you actually do it… Makes me proud in a way." After he was saying this to me, I was seeing him looking like he was trying to decide what to say now.

"Honestly dude, I just decided that I needed to go for it. I needed to just take the time to ask if she was willing to do this, and she agreed. Simple as that. I mean, she has been working on a car right now, and she has been making some great progress with building it." After I said that, I felt like life was finally turning around for the better.

"Well, I feel like you need to do your best to make sure she knows you really respect and appreciate everything that she is doing. As long as you don't forget to let her know that, then I feel like there is no reason to stop this." Sam told me, and I was feeling he didn't need to give me that advice.

"I know that. But I feel like that won't happen unless if we stop talking about the missing cases. I want to do that. It would be amazing to stop. But I feel like she is not going to fucking let me." I said, and then I was sighing, and I felt like there was nothing else to be telling her at all.

"Well, just tell her that you want to know her for who she is, and that she should be doing the same." Sam said, and then I was sighing. Feeling like this was not going to be as easy as he was claiming that it could possibly be.

"And I feel like most of what is me is about this case. I shouldn't be this way. But I am. And it is entirely my fault, because I refused to see the picture that there were more things to this than anything else." I said, and I was feeling like I just needed to see what he was going to be saying to me, to make me feel better.

As we were walking out the house, I was thinking of what to say. "I mean, I want to talk to people about more than my wish to know what happened to Riley. Especially since I feel like everything that I am doing with this is only making things worse, and it seems like people are just over hearing about it.

"And besides, I feel like if I don't do that, then there is nothing to me. And I know from talking with you, and Kevin, that I have made some memories." I said, and then I looked at him, and I was hoping that what I said was true. He was looking at me, and really had no idea what to tell me.

"If we're talking about memories, then you are doing great. I mean, look. You already have something with Jamie, that you can live with forever." After he was telling me this, I was then considering what he was telling me here, and I was feeling like I just needed to take it into account.

The entire time that we were walking, I was thinking about how fucking wrong it sounded. "I mean, I feel scared. The driving lessons scare me shit less. There is no reason to even pretend that is not the truth. The mere thought of it, just kind of makes me feel sick to my stomach." I said, fearing what would happen once I started to drive.

"When you go on her driving lessons, learn why she likes it. Just click. And the thing is, do what you do with me. Don't think about what you're saying. Just be the way you are, and everything is going to come together. Trust me when I say that I genuinely think that when you finally let loose, and don't tie yourself down, everything will come together." After he was telling me this, I was then wondering what else I was going to say.

"But what if you're wrong? What is the person I really am is not enough to really make things better." I was asking him, since in all honesty, I was feeling like this was a fear that I needed to at least express the idea that this was the case.

"If that was the case, then I wouldn't be friends with you. Nobody would be friends with you Sheldon. Everybody would hate you. But more people like you than you think. But you keep letting yourself down with these self doubts, and you keep letting what happened to your sister shut yourself off." After he said that, I was taking a deep breath.

"Maybe." I said, and then I was rubbing my fucking eyes. I wanted to really understand what he was going to get out of this. "But you're right. I guess that I can just try and see how things would go if I just let things go, and I was no longer being so fucking clingy onto the past, where nothing could come out of this." I finished, feeling the need to finally let it go.

"Sheldon, just give it a try. Talk with her, and see where it goes. One driving lesson. After all, you were mostly just yourself when you were talking with her, it seems, during the time at the house. I feel like you probably have more of this figured than you think." After he was telling me this, I was sighing, and considered what he had said.

"I will give it a fucking try. I mean, I have already made the arrangement. I am just saying that I don't see the world where this ends on a high note. But there is nothing wrong with this." I was saying, and then with this, I was feeling like I had made my point, and there was no need to continue going at this any longer.

"Just tell me how it went. I am trying to find somebody who I like too. But I feel like you are making way more progress on this than I am, so I am not going to be making a huge deal out of it yet." After Sam was telling me this, I saw him looking exhausted at this.

"Anybody in particular?" I asked, and I was looking at him for a second. I mean, I was wanting to get him to enjoy having somebody at his side. "If you do have somebody, then maybe I can talk with them for a bit, and see if I could get them to lighten up."

"No, not really. I mean, I have just been thinking about the fact that we only have two more years to go until school is over. And when it is, I don't want to feel like I wasted my time here. I feel like going to school, and trying to make the most of it is the most important thing I can do." Sam was saying, and I was really feeling a bit lost at what to say here.

"Yeah, I do feel that way a lot of the time. Although I don't have the easiest way to word it." I said, and then I was shrugging, and I was feeling like I was needing to find something else to be saying now. "Well, good luck with that, and I will do my best to enjoy my time with Jamie."

I was smoking a cigarette after this point, and I was feeling kind of lost here. I was thinking about what it would be like when I finally opened up, and became a better person to Jamie. In all honesty, I was feeling like it was as simple as Sam said, then I just needed to do more to really work for it. I needed to earn it, and not be doing anything that was too fucking dumb. But I just needed to get my courage up, to just put everything at the door, and not care about reputation.

…

Memories Part 3: First Driving Lesson

I was meeting up with Jamie the day after that, and I was remembering what Sam said, about how I just needed to be myself, and I was feeling like no matter what else was happening, it was best to at least try and do that than anything else.

When I was at her house, I was seeing the smile on her face beaming for several seconds, and despite seeing how excited she was seeming here, I was feeling that perhaps what Sam was saying was right. But I felt that despite that feeling of being relieved, I just needed to try and get right to work.

"Hey Sheldon, how are you today?" She asked, and she was smiling for a few seconds. "I was worried that with the way that you talking to me earlier, that you were not going to be showing up the driving lessons again."

"Honestly, I was just more worried that I was not going to ever be good enough for you, and I felt like I had made some really bad mistakes." I said, and then after I said that, I was seeing her walking to the car, and I was feeling that it would be best to just follow her right now.

Once she was in the passenger seat, I then went to the driver seat, and went inside of the car. As I was sitting down, I was shaking my head for a couple of seconds. As I was looking at her, I was feeling utter dread coming in my mind.

"Well, I guess that there's no stopping it now. I mean, I just don't know how to feel right now. The whole thing is just a bit too scary for me to handle." I was saying, and then I was shaking my head, and I decided that I just needed to calm down, and realize what I was doing, and not fucking stop it no matter what.

"Just don't worry about what you are doing, and remember that I am going to be there to help you. You are going to do fucking great." After Jamie told me this, I was sighing, and I felt like I just needed to go along with it.

As I was starting the car, the idea of Jamie being there was more than enough to steal me enough to just do this, and see what could fucking happen. So I was starting to drive for a while, and the entire drive, I was wondering what I was going to even do now.

"Just remember that when you are going, that you just need to not worry about anything else besides the wheel. There is no need to worry about school, or friends, or anything like that. Especially when you are just trying to get to your destination." After Jamie was telling me this, I was trying hard to see what she was saying, even if it was kind hard.

"How do you guys do anything like this, and not have the fear of god in your mind?" I asked, as I was going super slowly, and trying my best to slowly see what she had been saying. "I mean, I hear so many stories about accidents, and people who get killed because of this type of stuff."

"Well, to be honest, as for the fear of god, that is a part of why we take it so fucking seriously. We know that if we do not really get careful about what we are doing, then something could potentially happen. That alone makes everything important to keep safe." After Jamie was telling me this, I was slowly nodding.

"I guess that makes sense." I said, and then reached a stop spot. As I was looking at the road for a second, I was slowly turning right, and I was wondering how I was able to get at least the basic functions down. It was probably from watching my father driving.

"So Jamie, do you feel like you are going to have that car shop be your permanent job? After all, if you seem to enjoy this as much as you do, then that just sort of seems like the natural step up." I said, and I was wanting her to be happy, no matter what it was going to take in order to get there.

"Well, if I am offered a permanent job there from my father, I would be willing to take it. But until then, I feel like I am just needing to impress him with my performance." After Jamie was telling me this, I was sighing, since I wished that she would have been able to give me more.

"Fair enough. I mean, I just know that if I had a real passion for something, that I would be reaching out to it." I was saying, as I was going to a different street, and I was just sort of letting the drive happen naturally for a bit.

"Do you really feel like you would want to just be in the retail position? You know, since you were talking about that earlier? I just feel like there is something more that you can get out of it." After she was telling me this, I was shaking my head for a few seconds, unsure what to tell her at all.

"I mean, I was bringing that up because I feel like it could be something that I could actually put to use. But in all honesty, I feel like I could be doing better. Like I know that if I over looked my emotional bias, Lazarus would be better for me." I said, wondering what Jamie would be saying to this.

"Are you seriously admitting that you are considering working for something like that? I thought that you wanted absolutely nothing to do with them. I mean, they are horrible people." After she was telling me this, I was looking at her, and I knew what she was saying.

"I know that. I was just bringing that up in order to make a fucking point. You know, I feel like that would be a horrible option. But if I was really hurting for a career, I guess that I could do something like this." I was saying, and I was feeling like the driving was kind of making me feel better.

"Okay, you just kind of had me scared there for a second. I was wondering what you were actually going to try and do." After she was telling me this, I was looking at her, wondering why I was even caring as much as I did at that moment.

"I mean, I think that their involvement, if there is anything related to that, is probably a bit over blown. I mean, if they really were involved, then they would have been exposed by this point in time. There is no reason to think that they know all the answers." I said, and I knew right away that what I was saying was bullshit.

"Wow, I never expected to hear you of all people actually admit to that. Kind of is helping me change my perception on this whole thing." After she was telling me this, I was slowly nodding, and I was feeling like I just needed to take that for what it was.

"Well, I mean, I just have to be one hundred percent realistic when I say shit like that. I wish that it wasn't true. But I feel like at this point in time, I can't constantly point to them as the issue here, when I feel like they probably are just a piece of the issue." I was saying, and then I was shrugging for a few seconds at this.

"Okay. I hope that you're right. But yeah, I shouldn't be too worried. I am just focused on the driving, and I am wanting to just enjoy my time. Being scared over little things like this, when I have no idea if it will be even about me, will not help." After she was telling me this, turning to the next road, and not even thinking much about it.

"I wish that I could be as carefree about it as you are. If that was something that I could so, then my life would be a million times better." I said, and I was shrugging for a second. I was pissed at myself, for the way that I treated those around me.

"And just so you know, I wasn't trying to judge you when I asked you about the retail thing. I was just curious, and I was wondering what you were thinking about it." After she said that, I was slowly nodded. I wanted to buy that. But to be honest, I was feeling like I could never be too certain on what she said.

Memories Part 4: Love Song

I was talking to Jeremy for a couple of hours after the driving lesson, where I was trying to decide what I was feeling about most of the shit that was going on here. In all honesty, it scared me to know that I was going to be like deep in this whole thing by now.

"So you think you are getting her to slowly like you now? I think that if you want to really appeal to her, you need to make sure you make some love song." Jeremy was telling me, and then I was slowly nodding at this. Feeling that there was no need to try and bounce away from that.

"Yeah, I mean, if she didn't like me, then I feel like I have a really bad read on people. I will just leave it at that." I said, and then I was shrugging, thinking that something like this would make some sense, since in all honesty, I was never a good reader.

"I mean, I feel like it's obvious that she likes you. Otherwise she wouldn't have accepted your to hang out with her. What I feel like you need to do is make sure that you don't do anything dumb to blow it." Jeremy said, and I was wishing that I could actually buy it. But it was hard for me to.

"Look, I wished that I could understand this. It would make things so much easier if it was that simple. But the truth is that I feel like I have to do something more. Something that really captures it. And I guess that in all honesty, listening to your idea about the love song might not be so bad after all." I said, and then I was thinking of how to further respond.

"Although I do see what Sam is saying about this. The idea that once you kind of let it go, and you speak like yourself, then it becomes easier. I wasn't really scared behind the wheel. I was immersed, and I understood what I was doing." I said, not really having a better way to word it. There was no better way to word it.

"I feel like most people kind of figured that out. That you have kind of been holding yourself back, and that in all honesty, you kind of just need to see yourself for what you are." Jeremy said, and then I was sighing, feeling like I heard this shit way too much to really be bothered by it.

"If I wanted to make this love song, and really make it work, what would I have to do to make really pop it out?" I asked, feeling like I needed advice from Jeremy. He was the one person who understood these minor emotions and dumb as things that I never really fully got.

"Well, I feel like the first step to making it as special as possible is to just not be making any lies with it. If you feel a certain way around her, and that you just can't describe any other way, then write it down. Maybe one of these days, you will have the courage to tell her." Jeremy said, and then I was sighing. It felt like a bunch of bullshit, and I couldn't really describe it any other way.

"Yeah, I guess that I can fucking do that. Although I am going to have to really dig in to make it work out." After I was saying that to him, I was feeling like I could see where he was coming from. And I was just trying to focus.

"Yeah, I know how sudden it might have been to just suddenly come here after barely talking to you for a really long time. I mean, even after all this time, I still am not one hundred percent sure what you feel about certain situations." I told him, and I was wondering why I was even telling him all of this.

"I have never really been the most open person about myself. So I guess that something like this makes a deal of sense." After Jeremy was telling me this, I really had no idea what I was even going to tell him. "I just never really felt like there was anything interesting to me."

"That's not enough of a reason to not be talking about yourself. Look at me, I am probably the least interesting human being alive. But in all honesty, I hardly fucking care. At least you have the musical taste going for you." After I was telling him this, I felt like it was true enough, and I could see the look on his face change.

"But in all honesty, hearing you give me advice about the love song is really going to be great. I am going to get right to work on that. I have no idea why I never considered this before." I said, and I was wondering what the point was here. "You know, I just feel like I have a hard time really letting out my emotions. And when I do, everybody always brings it back to the past." I said, not wanting to say the word.

"To be fair, I feel like I have had a part of that. Always trying to see where you are coming from, and always feeling like that is the answer." Then after he was telling me this, I was feeling like he was kind of giving himself too much shit for the way that I had been acting.

"It's okay dude. There is nothing wrong with you just trying to know things." I said, and then I was feeling like in due time, I would be able to sort of just let some things go, and I was wondering why people like Jeremy even deal with my shit most of the time.

But one thing that I was sure of was that no matter what else I was going to do, I was going to make that fucking song, and I was going to give it to her. And maybe she would appreciate what I was doing. And who knows, she might actually find it great.

…

Scene 5: Jamie's Best Friend

The next day, I was with Jamie again, and she was looking like she was much more excited to be talking with me about various things than anything else. And in all honesty, I was so happy to see her actually wanting to talk to me about anything at all that it hardly mattered to me.

"So I was thinking about introducing you to my best friend, Natalie. She seems to be the only one so far who actually is interested in getting to know you a bit." She said, and she was looking down, as if feeling kind of sad about saying that.

"I will take whatever I can get, so it's all fine." I said, and then I was getting in her car seat, since I was still not really ready for this. As we were driving along, that was when I was seeing Jamie looking like she was thinking about something else.

"Honestly Sheldon, sorry if you were feeling forced to do all that stuff with the driving. I just felt like it was going to be good for you to branch out, and I was just wanting to see what I can do to help you out." After she said that to me, I was sighing, since I wasn't wanting to argue this.

"Look, I do understand that you were just doing your best. And I need to understand that I was going to have to do it sooner or later. So I am not upset at all. I just need some time to get used to it." I said, and I was wondering if it was best to just leave it at that for the time being.

Eventually, she was pulling up at Natalie's house, and then she got out of the car. I was still feeling a bit worried about what was going to happen once I was here. But I knew that this was the best for me, and I needed to just be happier once I was with her.

When Natalie answered the door, she was looking at the two of us, and I was seeing that she was not really looking like she was having much of a opinion on the fact that I was here. "So Sheldon, I heard that you managed to really get Jamie to like you." She said, and then I was slightly unsure of what to say.

"I do try. Honestly, I feel like the best that I can do is just not focus on the bad things anymore." I said, and I was sighing, since in all honesty, anything that I could say would be making the situation not work out as well.

"So Sheldon, what do you enjoy doing the most?" She asked, and then I was sighing, and I was feeling like there was nothing that I could tell her. "Jamie told me that she was helping you learn to drive. How has that been so far?" After she asked me this, I was feeling like she needed to stop telling people these things without my permission.

"Not really something I am sure about yet. I mean, I have enjoyed it for the most part so far. But to be perfectly honest, I feel like the possibility of getting somebody into a wreck is the scariest thing that is on my mind. I don't want to be responsible for somebodys life." I said, and then I looked at Natalie confused on what to say.

"But to be honest, I was wondering more about what you are interested in." I said, and then I looked right at Natalie. I was hoping that telling her that could be able to get her interest in a more diverted mindset. "I mean, Jamie hasn't told me anything about her friend group at all."

"Well, to be fair, I think that is because nobody that hangs out with her wants to be causing a big scene all the time. We are all a friend group that just likes to sort of remain on the down low for a while." Natalie said, and then I was feeling that comment wouldn't really do me good enough.

"But what if I want to know more?" I asked, hoping that I could get her to at least be slightly more interested in this. She was nodding, as she looked right over at Jamie, and I was seeing her looking like she was just kind of willing to let the subject go.

"Well, I guess that one thing that I wouldn't mind telling you is the fact that in all honesty, I am interested in getting into acting. I have been trying to land a job at the theater in the fifth district." Natalie said, and hearing her tell me this was kind of making me wince. Mainly because I knew how things were in this town.

"I hear that the fifth district is the worst one for the women in Wayside to get involved in. You know, unless if they are willing to just sell their souls out." I said, and I was feeling deep regret as soon as I was saying this. Especially since what I said was probably going to be viewed as an attack on them both.

"Perhaps I worded that a bit harshly. What I meant was that in all honesty, I just feel like you need to be safe there. You never know if something is going to happen there." I said, and then after I was telling them this, I was hoping that by saying it this way, they would feel slightly less upset at me here.

"No, I guess that something like this makes sense. That people are going to associate the things that people do in that district as really slimmy. But in all honesty, I haven't seen anything like that here. Like at all." After she said that, I looked at her shocked as hell.

"I hope that what you are saying is true. If they aren't, then I would be really worried about you honestly. But overall, I think it is awesome that you have something that you are so passionate about. Acting. I wonder how my sister would have reacted to that." I said, and then I looked at her for a second.

"Well, I have seen enough movies to feel like I can do something with it. And I hope that if I am lucky, maybe I can land as one of the Bond girls in the future." She said, as I was laughing at that. If that would make her feel better, she was right to have it.

"You know, in all honesty, I still haven't seen that movie. I hardly go to the movies. Maybe like two or three times a year. I just always feel like when I am going, that I am being watched or something." I said, and I was feeling like what I was saying was really fucking dumb, considering the fact nobody would be interested in me.

"Well, I think maybe you should go check it out at least once." After she was telling me this, I was slowly nodding, and then I was wondering what else I could say related to it right now.

"So Natalie, how do you feel about the school year we just finished? I mean, after all, it was a very enduring one. And I feel like after all the debates and the constant lessons, it will be best to just finally relax, and put this all behind me for good." I said, and then I was taking a deep breath, feeling like there was nothing else to say.

"I mean, it was a bit hard to deal with. Considering all the rumors that were going on about certain teachers. I am still hoping that they are false." After she was telling me this, I was slowly nodding. Even if I did not much like Steven Small, I felt like if even half those rumors were true, we were in great trouble.

"Honestly, I feel like most of those are probably false. I mean, if they are not, then I feel like we would be having much bigger issues to deal with. So I am just going to be with holding judgment until I know more." After I was telling Natalie this, I was feeling like there was nothing else to say.

"I am more surprised how somebody can have all these rumors, and then still not let the teacher go. In all honesty, it just really feels like a bad move." After she was telling me this, I was sort of taking a second to think about that.

"I am sure the principal is under the personal policy of innocent until proven guilty." Jamie said, and then she was shrugging for a second as she was saying this. "In all honesty, I feel like it is probably a load of bullshit."

"I mean, our current mayor, Jimmy White gives me way worse vibes than Steven ever did. And it has nothing to do with the fact that he is mayor. I feel like he genuinely is either doing something, or knows of somebody who does." She was telling me, and I was taking a second to just not say anything.

"Jimmy White. I have no idea what to make of that guy. I feel like that guy has a record of doing some amazing things, and then turning it around and doing some god awful shit. And it seems like you can never get a read on his emotions." After I was telling her this, I was feeling like there wasn't much else to say.

"Although since my father claims to get along with him rather well, and they have been working together really good over time, I feel like maybe they are probably going to be fine. My dad will be able to keep him in line." I said, and I was seeing both Natalie and Jamie looking unsure what to tell me here.

"Sorry for bringing him up. Regardless, it really is a pleasure to meet you." I said, looking at Natalie, and I was wondering if she was going to enjoy hearing that. "And I feel like you must be a really cool girl if Jamie is hanging out with you all the time."

At this, I was seeing both Jamie and Natalie looking flattered at this. As if they knew that I was able to play them both, and that they were just glad to be seeing that I was willing to give them the treatment that they deserve.

"Do you guys have any idea what you are going to do this summer? I might take more of those driving lessons, and see what I can do to get better." After I was telling them this, I was seeing both of them looking like they had a great interest in that.

"That would be cool. I was wondering if you were wanting to continue those or not." Jamie was telling me, and then I was seeing her looking like she was just imagining all the situations out with how to make it all work out.

Eventually, I was sitting down, and then I was looking at the cars ahead. For the first time in a while, I went a extended period of time without a cigarette. I was able to just focus on the conversation, and not really get scared over something that I did not need to be scared of.

…

Memories Part 6: The Night Sky

I was meeting up with Jamie after this, and in all honesty, I was scared of what I was going to be doing with her. I was feeling that no matter what was happening, I was not going to be a good enough person for her. But I decided to just leave things alone, and go full force with Sam's advice.

"Hey, I was wondering if you were going to be coming by today or not. I was just thinking about how we could be able to pick up where we left off in our project." Jamie said, and I was thinking about how she needed to stop forgetting that I was not really the bets person to be able to help her out with her. But I was feeling like I just needed to be quiet right now.

"I still really feel like I am not the best person to be able to help you out here." I said, and then I was looking right at her, wondering what she was even going to say now. "But I guess that you are not going to fucking hear it." I smiled, and I was feeling like what I was saying was a forced level of amusement. Since in all honesty, I was not really excited for this at all.

"Oh come on. Even if you are not that good at this, I feel like you might be able to help me out. Or at least be able to keep my mind off of things and have a person I can talk with." After she was telling me this, I was sighing, and I felt like I just needed to leave it alone.

"Okay. If you say so, I will see what I can fucking do." I said, and I was feeling like this was just completely fucking forced. In all honesty, it was feeling so wrong to be doing this. But then with that, we were walking to her garage, where I was telling myself to remain silent.

As we were in the garage, I was feeling fucking lost at what I was doing. I was shaking my head, and I was telling myself this woman was worth fighting for. And that I needed to do whatever I could to keep her feeling better about this. It hardly fucking mattered if I got it or not. I needed to do whatever I could to keep her going.

"So Jamie, did Natalie seem to think that I was okay enough? I mean, I was worried that I was not going to be the man that she was thinking I could be." After I was telling her this, I was feeling like bringing her into this might not be the best idea in the world. But I hardly cared at all.

"I mean, I haven't asked her. But she seemed to be thinking that you were decent. You could tell with the way she was getting more calm, and opening up better as time was going on. I think you need to just take things easier. I feel like you are not as alone in this as you might want to keep claiming." After she was telling me this, I was slowly nodding. Not sure if I was exactly in the mood to hear it.

"I never said that I was alone. I was just asking if she was thinking that I was decent. I know that I am not alone. I have you and my friends to hang around with. I just feel like one driving lesson is not going to be enough for me to change the world." I said, and then I looked at her for a second, wondering what to tell her now.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to upset you with what I was saying. I just felt like I needed to let you remember." After she was telling me this, I was sighing, and I was feeling like there was no point in going on at this rate. I just needed to let it go now.

"You didn't upset me. You just don't need to worry about that type of stuff. I know that deep down inside, I do have something going for me." I said, and then with that, I decided that I would leave it alone, and not be pushing the matter any further.

"I just feel like when I am around, I always got to do whatever I can to help you guys out, and have the time of your life." I said, and then after I was telling her this, I was then feeling like there should be no reason to continue going at this further.

"You see, that is one reason why you're a good person. You put people before yourself, and you never fucking mess around with that. I think in the years that you have lived here, there has only been one time where you put yourself first. And that was when your sister went missing." After she was telling me this, I was slowly nodding. Not really wanting to hear it all that much.

As I was looking at her car parts, as she was taking her wrench and out, I was seeing her rubbing her face. I just noticed for the first time how dirty it already was. "I had been working on this for over two hours before you came. It just gets fucking tiring." She said, as she unbuttoned one of the buttons on her shirt.

"Do you ever take breaks?" I asked, and I was just taking the stuff she handed me, and I was just following her instructions, and going super carefully. As I was just scared of what I was going to do if I didn't do things literally to the precise letter

"I do occasionally. I usually take Sundays off. Need to recharge my batteries for at least one day of the week." After she was telling me this, I was feeling like I should just leave her alone about that. After all, it was something that she wanted to be doing on her time off.

"Besides, I feel like I am making some great progress, and I feel like if I stop for prolonged periods of time, then I would lose my interest in it, and then stop doing it all together." As she said that, I slowly nodded, feeling I would leave it alone.

"I mean, as long as you are doing what you want, then I feel like it really doesn't matter what I say. I just wanted to see what was going on here." I said, and then I was feeling like I would leave things alone. "To be honest though, I wish that I had that type of thing that I was wanting to work on for so long. It must be nice to have that level of determination over something simple."

Later that night, we were outside, and at her back yard. By that point, I was not wearing my main shirt anymore, and just the white workers shirt that only covered my chest, and not my arms. It was cold, but I was sweating the whole time, and didn't want to deal with it at all anymore.

Jamie had her glasses back on, and she was looking at my composition. "Wow, you're a lot stronger than I thought you were." She said, and then I was laying down on the grass, tired, and not wanting to deal with anything at all anymore.

As I was laying down, I was looking at the stars. Jamie did as I did, and she was looking like she was thinking a lot about what we were going to be doing now on. "So Sheldon, do you enjoy looking at the stars at night? It seems like you do."

"Yeah. I love it so much. I mean, seeing what could be above. It's beautiful. I mean, hearing about people who are planning on going to space. It makes me wonder how likely something like this is going to be." I said, and I was looking at her, wondering what she thought of that.

"I never thought that you would be the environmentalist." She said, and then I was looking at her, and I was wondering why she was calling me that, when nothing about what I was saying was even remotely sounding like that.

"I never said that I was. I just feel like seeing the night sky, and seeing all it has to offer, is something very important and a nice way to take my mind off of the world." I said, and then I was I was wondering what she was going to be saying to that next. In all honesty, I felt like there was no point in trying to say more.

"Yeah, but if the environment goes bad, then you will eventually lose your chance on seeing the stars. The more that those toxins come along, it will take everything away. At least that's what my mother says." After she was telling me this, I was looking at her for a second shocked and confused.

"If I remember correctly, you were the one who said you wanted to build up a super epic car and shit. So I feel like this is a bit strange honestly." I said, and then I was looking at her, and I was wondering what else to tell her. I just felt like there was nothing else to say.

"Well, I mean, cars are moving along at a fast rate. Twenty years from now, I wouldn't be surprised if we are having flying ones. What I think is important is making sure that everything else you are doing helps out." After she was telling me this, I was really just kind of at a loss.

"Yeah, you seem to have high hopes of the future Jamie. I wish that I was able to look at it the same way. Honestly, I think it will be a miracle if I am even alive twenty years from now." I said, and then I was shaking my head. I hoped that she didn't try to ask a million questions about a casual comment.

"With how medicine is going, I think you need to give yourself more credit. After all, you're not terribly awful to your body. You probably just need to make some minor improvements." After she was telling me this, I was deciding that I would remain silent for the time being, and just not press the matter any further. Because I knew it was going nowhere.

We just decided to spend the next bit of time staring, and thinking about the life we were living. In all honesty, I was just happy to finally have a moment where I was with her. And no work. No fear. Just relaxation and happiness that can drive through us both.

…

Memories Part 7: Jamie Gone

It had been a couple of days since my last hang out with Jamie when I was hearing a call coming to our house. I was sighing, feeling that it was yet another person in my dad campaign trying to get a hold of him. And at this rate, it was getting a bit annoying to deal with these on a constant basis, and at this rate, I had virtually no interest in this at all.

I answered the phone anyways, feeling that my father would be pissed if he did not know when somebody important was calling. As I answered, I was hearing the voice of one of Jamie's friends starting to talk. In all honesty, this was rather strange, but I was telling myself not to think about it any further.

"Sheldon, I was wanting to tell you the news…" She said, and I was aware right away as soon as she said that, that something happened with Jamie. And I was wanting to scream as I was hearing this. But I was telling myself to remain silent, and at least pretend to be reasonable.

"Jamie hadn't been seen all day, and it is believed that she has gone missing too." After Natalie was telling me this, I was sighing, and I was feeling like I just needed to hold in all my fucking effort from screaming at the top of my lungs at this news.

"Yeah, thank you. I will come over right away, if that is fine with you. I feel like we need to talk about this more." I said, and I was feeling like what I was saying was kind of sounding way too forced. And I was feeling that I just needed to tone down my way of going at this.

"Sheldon, I know that you were really into her. And I know that you have been trying to find out what happened with the missing girls. I never really wanted to support this idea. But now more than ever, I will." She said, and I was sighing as soon as she had said that, since I was not sure if that was the best.

I hung up the phone right away, and started to drive on down to her house, and I was feeling like this entire thing was just going to be a giant waste of time. As I was driving to her house, I was starting to be scared out of my mind, and I was feeling like I just needed to keep my calm and composure.

When I was at Natalie's house, I was feeling like nothing I was going to be doing would even fucking make any of this slightly better for her. And I was feeling like none of this made any fucking difference at all.

She answered the door, and I looked at her. I was feeling like nothing I was going to be saying would be making her feel better about this. "Hey Natalie, sorry about this whole thing. I feel like this whole thing is a big mistake. I should have never talked with her."

"Sheldon, that has nothing to do with it. And even then, I feel like you need to see that she was having the time of her life these last several days." Natalie said, and in all honesty, I was trying to pretend like this was something that I was really ready for.

"I mean, I feel like it does. I mean, my father starts running for mayor around the same time that I start to fall in love with your best friend. And I start to get happy. For the first time in six fucking years. And now here I am, reaping the consequences." I said, and then I was holding my hands up, to drive this back to normal.

"Sorry. I know this isn't about me. Yet. But I feel like you do need to know that I am telling the truth. I am going to do whatever in the world is possible to actually bring her back. Simple as that. Even if it means that I end up dying in the process." I said, with this declaration starting to unease me.

"I don't even know what in the world she would have been doing that led to something like this. In all honesty, I feel fucking lost and scared on what could be happening. So I feel like we need to look at literally everything she had been doing." After she was telling me this, I was feeling like this was still related to me at least a little bit.

"I don't know. I mean, all that I know was that she was rather into her work as a car driver." After I was telling her this, I was wondering if her career as a driver was really enough to go off of. It just really fucking didn't seem like it.

Honestly, I was wondering what I was going to do to make this whole thing any different. "In all honesty, I feel like I need to talk to my dad. I mean, I know that he won't have anything. But maybe he has friends. And maybe he can be on the look out."

"Are you sure that your father is really the type of person who is going to care about something like this? After all, he hasn't really come to you about these events before." After she said that to me, I was having no idea what I was going to tell her.

"Regardless of what you guys think of my dad, although I have a hard time seeing the issues here, I feel like he is the person that I can trust the most. He is the closest thing to a fucking answer I have." I said, and then I was sighing, wondering what I was going to say.

"I know that you guys are going to have a hard time seeing that he is doing what he can. But I am going to reach out to him as much as I can." I said, and I was feeling like I just needed to find a way to change the topic into one that is more positive.

"You win. And you're right. He is technically the best bet that we have. Just please make sure that you are going to keep other options open. Doing that is going to make things a lot easier for us." After she said that to me, I was then thinking about what else to say.

"I will be telling my other friends about your desire to help us. I mean, that is what we can get here. I feel like this is going to be the one thing that is going to be able to finally unite our groups together." Natalie said, and the way she said that made me rather unsure of what to feel here.

"Thanks for doing that. I feel like if you do it, they will be far more willing to listen to you than they are to me. After all, everybody feels like it is my fault shit happens." I said, feeling like I was feeling that way too, so there was no reason to feel different.

I was just glad that at least Natalie was seeming to be thinking differently. At least she was willing to give me a chance, and prove myself as trying to help. And I was feeling that as long as she was willing to hear me, that was what was mattering the most.

…

Return To The Present

When I wad done telling her of the memories that I had in my mind, this was when I was looking at Emily. "That is all that I mainly remember. I wished that I could be able to give you more." I said, and then I was sighing, feeling like the fact that I couldn't give her more wasn't going to help her out much.

"Wow, you really are a dedicated person. You really stood at her side, and gave her as much as you possibly could. In all honesty, you should be feeling proud of yourself here." After she was saying that to me, I was looking down, and I was feeling like that was utter bullshit, and I was thinking that we both knew it.

"I mean, I was just doing what I thought was natural. I didn't do it for anybody, or anything else really. I thought that by helping her, she would feel more safe. What a good joke that shit was." I said, and then I was sighing. There was nothing else to say here.

"Yeah, I guess that I should have expected something like this. It seems like you kind of have a good idea on what you are doing for the most part." Emily was telling me, and the moment that she had said that to me, I was wondering what was making her so fucking mad.

"Well, I think we have probably stayed way too long." She said, and then she was looking at the restaurant, and it was to the point where literally nobody was around at all. The only people who were there still were some of the employees who had to stick along, in order to basically do the clean up duty.

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Sorry for going so overly long with that, I just felt more comfortable doing this." I said, and then I was shrugging for a second, and I was feeling that by talking to her, and finally letting the discussion go, she was going to be happy.

I was standing up, and placed the money down, and then I was walking out of the restaurant, and she was following me along. As we were going, I was wondering if she even really wanted to tell me anything else. I was seeing from the look on her face, that she was clearly thinking deeply about something.

Once I was in my car, I was seeing Emily looking like she was thinking about another question in her mind. "So Sheldon, do you even have a clue on what you are going to do now? I mean, we all have something that we have to do, and I think you are going to be looking far more into this than you had been earlier." After she was telling me this, I was sighing, feeling like I was letting her down.

"I think that in all honesty, every time I try to look into something like this, I only make things worse for those around me. It hurts to see, and I feel like I am a horrible human being because of this. And I feel like it might be best to just own up to that fact, and let it go." I said, and I looked right at her for a few seconds.

"I thought that you would have, more than anybody, gone further and further into this shit than anybody. I thought that you were the only one that realized how much this meant." Emily said, and then I was thinking about the fact that she was genuinely trying to throw me under the bus over the fact that I was trying to be a good friend to those around me.

"Honestly, I am just scared for what I am doing. I feel like if I do something too horrible, then I am never going to be able to really forgive myself. It is really what it comes down to. I really respect every single one of you, and I do not want to see any of you hurting." I said, and I was thinking about what I was saying, and wondered what I would do from there.

"I mean, I am working with some friends. Maybe I can find something here. But until then, I have no idea what I am going to tell you. I feel like until then, you need to realize that I am doing what I feel like is right day by day." I said, and then I was not too sure what I was going to say now.

"Are you talking about Dakota and Ashley? I have no idea how long it is going to take for you to realize that they really are not caring nearly as much about that as you claim. They are probably just waiting for you to let the subject go." She said, and I was wondering why she was saying this to me so much.

"I don't know what your issue with them are. I mean, did they do something to you?" I asked, and I was feeling like I just needed to really see what was going on here. She was sighing, and I was feeling like whatever she was upset about, she just needed to tell me.

"No, it's nothing like that. I guess that you could call it a hunch. Just the way that they act, and the way that they always seem to be relatively annoyed when you talk about it. I feel like in all honesty, it is super obvious, but you are too scared to admit to something like this." After she was telling me this, I was taking a deep breath.

"Regardless…" I said, feeling like the discussion about them was going to have to wait for a bit. I was honestly not really in the mood to have this discussion right now. "For now though, I was talking to another person. A younger guy named Todd, who really does seem to know the best." After I said this, I was thinking that Todd really was my best hope.

Eventually, we were at the beach, which I remembered her telling me was her favorite spot when we had a casual project together in school earlier this year. Once at the beach, I was looking towards her, and I was seeing the small smile growing across the face.

"Honestly Sheldon, I am amazed that you actually seemed to remember that this is where I prefer to go when I am wanting to just relax." After Emily said that to me, I was laughing at that, feeling so much happier now that I was seeing how excited she had become from this.

"I never forget what my friends prefer." After I was telling her this, I felt like remembering those things was important when it came to actually having good friendships here. There was no reason to even keep things so uncertain.

"That seems like a line you have said a hundred times already." She said, and then I was looking at her, thinking about that fact. I mean, it wasn't exactly true. But it was close enough to where I was willing to not fight it all that much.

"I mean, I feel like it is just something that I need to assure people. People always think that I am out for myself. But in all honesty, I am just trying to not lose sight of what I have." I said, and then I was sighing, just kind of upset at what I was doing.

"I don't think you need to be assuring people of anything." She said, and then after she said that, we got out of the car, and then I was sitting down on the beach, and I was wondering what I was going to tell her. I was taking out a cigarette, as I was staring at the water.

"I do need to that. I mean, I feel like I needed to let Jamie know that I appreciated all that she was doing for me, and then I failed to do that. I should have just told her that she was one of the few people who were helping me really feel life. I loved her." I said, I was taking another puff as I was considering this.

"I think she knew full well that you were doing your best to make things better. I feel like you need to realize that you are not doing a bad job. Just make sure that you don't really start to lose some sight on what is happening." After Emily said that, I was feeling still unsure of Jamie. I needed to give her more, and I was going to do more.

As I was looking at the beach water, I was wondering what in the world I was even going to be telling her now. But as I was watching, I was feeling like maybe just pure silence was going to be better for us than me always being scared out of my mind what I was actually accomplishing.

"Honestly, I can see why you love the beach so much. It is much more calm than the other shit that is going on in this fucking place." I said, and then I was rubbing my eyes for a few seconds, wondering if that was enough to make it worth it.

"I just come here, and I think about everything that I am doing, and I take the moment to realize how much I really appreciate what I fucking have." After I was hearing her tell me this, I was wondering what I was going to even accomplish at this point in time now. It just all seemed really fucking wrong.

"But do you feel like most of your friends share the same sentiment. I mean, I feel like I still need to take the time to really get to know them." I said, and I was feeling like if I did not do this, then I was not really going to be the man that she deserved.

"I have no idea what to do with them honestly. I mean, I see them seeming kind of willing to do this. But they always seem like they are kind of upset when the idea is brought up to them." Emily said, and then she was shrugging, as if feeling like there was no reason to be taking this whole thing so fucking seriously now.

"Sorry for bringing that up. I just feel like if I don't do something to make things up with them, then I am not really doing what I can. I am not really being the best friend." I said, and I was feeling like if I hung out with them, I was needing to get her to hang out with Dakota and Ashley.

"No, don't fucking worry dude. I just feel like there is some more care that needs to be brought forward before we say anything that is going to be too dangerous." After she was telling me this, I was sort of slowly nodding. I had nothing else to say this point in time.

"So Sheldon, I will talk to them about this. Hopefully they will be willing to see what you are doing. And hopefully neither one of them are thinking that I am pushing this whole thing too much." After she was telling me this, I was just choosing to remain silent, and not keep going at this any further at all.

When I would be with Emily in the future, I needed to find something that I could be able to tell them to make me feel better. And when I would eventually find that common ground, then perhaps the two of us would no longer be worried about things such as how our friends think of the other side.

Scene 3: The Plan After Prom

After my date with Emily was done, I was feeling like I was just needing to head home in order to not make things even worse for me. But to be honest, there was something that was kind of on the back of my mind, and I was feeling like I had no choice but to talk to Todd about what was happening.

So with that, I was feeling like I would just drop by his house for a few seconds, and see what was on his mind, and then see if there was any way in hell that I was going to talk to him about a way to get him to not be doing what he was almost certainly planning on doing. As I was considering this, I was reaching his house, and knocked on the door.

When he answered the door, he was looking right at me, and I was seeing that he was just more super fucking tired in the first place. "So Sheldon, what are you planning on doing here?" After Todd asked me this, I was looking right at him, and I was feeling that I needed to not give him any bullshit lies, and just tell him what was bothering me.

"Todd, in all honesty, I feel like we both know that you are planning on continuing this investigation, and I was hoping that the two of us could be able to actually talk about how you are going to do this." I said, and then I was seeing Todd looking like he was feeling kind of ashamed of the fact that I was catching him like this.

"Yeah, you're right. I was thinking that when this was all said and done, I would continue looking forward into it. Once people have finally started to let me go, and I would be able to have all the time in the world." After Todd was telling me this, I was sighing, feeling like this conclusion was making perfect sense.

"I think that when I am done with Emily and prom night, I will be able to help you out. But I feel like you are going to be needing some real planning if you are going to be making this whole thing work." I said, and then I was sighing for a few seconds.

"Are you sure that you even want to be involved in this? After all, it seems like you are having a great time with Emily, and I feel like if I get involved in that further, then I would only be making things worse for you guys." After Todd was telling me this, I was unsure of what to tell him at all.

"I do want to help you. I mean, I feel like helping you is probably going to be the only thing that I can do in order to help keep you fucking sane." I said, and then I was laughing at this, as I was taking out a cigarette. As I was smoking it for a few seconds, I was thinking of letting him have one.

"If you want one, I can let you have it." I said, and then I was wondering what Todd was going to say. He simply shrugged, as I was handing him one. And now that we were talking like this, I was feeling like maybe the two of us could work something out for a bit.

"Well, I mean, I know that I said that I was going to get more dedicated to helping out my friends and stuff. But in all honesty, I feel like there is a balance that I need to strike between the two things, and I was hoping that you of all people would be able to help me out." Todd was telling me, and I was feeling like I was finally seeing what everybody was saying when they were trying to call out to me.

"Yeah, I really am seeing what everybody was telling me in you now. I do respect that though. I just wish that you never felt like you needed to be following through with this. This whole thing should have never been your responsibility to begin with, and seeing it laid upon you really just fucking hurts to see." I said, and I was feeling like there was nothing else to even say now.

"In all honesty, I will admit that I didn't really get into this to really help your friendship troubles. I thought that I would be able to commit you to helping me out with finding your friend. But I now see how wrong I was by just looking at it so selfishly. I should have been with you from the start." After I was telling him, I was feeling that the more honest I was with Todd, the more he would respect me.

"I sort of knew that. But hearing you make it official makes me respect you much better than before." Todd said, and hearing him say this to me was making me feel a billion times better. And I was feeling like I just needed to see where he was coming from now.

Scene 4: The Man In The Purple Jacket

On the Monday after prom, when the school year was on their final week, that was when I was walking home from school. But before I got too far out, I heard a voice call out to me. As I heard him calling me, I turned to him, and I was seeing him looking like there was something really bothering him. "Sam, was there something you needed?"

"Yeah, something really fucking important Sheldon. Something way beyond anything that has happened so far." After Sam was telling me this, I was looking right at him, and I was wondering what his plan was here. "Something about Kevin, and I was worried about his safety for a bit."

As I heard him admit this, I was sighing, feeling like I needed to at least try and hear what he was saying out. "I have no idea how much I can help you Sam. Just feel the need to be honest about that." I said, and then I was looking at him, hoping he would be able to let that statement slide. He was looking down, and I was seeing him kind of upset at this.

"That is fine. I just need a person to talk with. But I have a feeling that a man who is friends with my parents is planning on something with Kevin. Something far bigger than anything that I can imagine." After he was telling me this, I was sighing, and felt like I needed to hear him out.

"What does this guy look like?" I asked, and then I was seeing Sam calming down, considering the fact that at least I was willing to give him a chance to talk, which was really all that he was wanting from me, beyond everything else.

"He likes to wear a purple coat. I have seen him wearing the same one every single time that I have seen him. He also had black hair, and he has a really deep voice." After Sam said that to me, I was slowly nodded, and felt like I would give him a chance to tell me all the issues that he was having.

"I think he said his business name was Owikawa. But when you hear the words 'business name' it is pretty obvious that this is not his real name." After Sam was saying that to me, I was slowly nodding at the statement he was saying.

"Do you really feel like I will be able to actually help you out all that much? I mean, I will fucking do my best to give you what I need. But I feel like if this man has everything in his favor, then what he is planning on doing with Kevin is going to be going through, even if we oppose it." After I was telling him this, I was seeing from the look on his face he was not wanting to hear this.

"Great. I should have known that somebody was going to be saying this. Nobody fucking believes me, or cares enough to really check things out when I approach them about this." After Sam was telling me this, I was sighing, since the way he was throwing me under the bus like this was not how I was wanting to hear it.

"Look, I do want to know how I can help you. I feel like it would be absolutely amazing. But the truth is that there is not enough for me to really work with, and I feel like I need to really have a better understanding of what I am getting myself into here." I said, and I was feeling like I just needed to say it as simple as this for his own sake.

"I mean, I just try to talk to other people about this, and all of them, including Kevin, make it very clear that they want nothing to do with hearing it. This is just a waste of time in their eyes, and maybe I am wrong. But I would rather be one hundred percent sure before I did anything else." After Sam said this, I was then sighing.

"Look, you have your own beliefs on what is happening with this town, and I feel like you need to just see where I am coming from. Even if you do not fully agree with me, which I completely and totally understand, I feel like you need to be giving me at least a little bit of hope." He said, and I was feeling like what he was saying was fair enough.

"I guess that when you put it that way, I really do have no right to try and tell you what you should be feeling. Alright, I feel like you have made your case well enough." After he was saying this to me, I was slowly nodding, understanding what he had been saying.

"So Sheldon, are you willing to give it just a single look? That is all that I want. Just one or two looks, and I will leave you alone about this." After Sam asked me this, I was sighing for a few seconds longer, feeling that I just needed to let him have it.

"Yeah, I feel like I should do it. Just one though. I feel like if I look into this too deeply, then both of us are going to be getting involved in something that is none of our business. It is a bit different since your brother is the guy we are talking about. But that is the only reason be should be looking at any of this at all." I said, and then I was seeing Sam had a mixed look on his face.

"Yeah, I know that it is probably nothing, and I think you probably have every right to be thinking this way. But in all honesty, I feel like something like this goes beyond literally everything else we have been doing, and that this is really going to just give me some peace at mind." Sam said to me, and I was feeling like I was totally lost here.

"I know how you feel though. When you have something of a gut feeling in your system, and you feel the need to try and look into it further. That is something that I need to remind myself of before I start judging you too much." After I was telling him this, I was just kind of unsure now.

"I will talk to Kevin about this as soon as I can. I feel like when he talks to me about it, then perhaps a lot more of this will be making some sense. But I guess it is a matter of making him actually see that I am willing to help." I said, and I was wondering if something like this was even possible at all.

"Thank you Sheldon. I know he has no interest in talking to me about it and stuff. Always feels like I am looking too deep into it. But I feel like if he talks to you, he will see that you're just a interested party or some shit like that. Whatever gets people to be willing to listen." After Sam was telling me this, I was slowly nodding, and considered what he was saying.

"I mean, I feel like there is also a very small chance that something like this has a piece in what is going on with labyrinth. So I feel like that alone really makes it work getting into as well. The fact that people insist on not talking about the work he is doing. The fact that people are scared of the mere mention of it, makes sense to me." After Sam was telling me this, I was just kind of unsure what to say.

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I feel like if this random guy is a part of it though, then everybody might be involved though. Although that literally sounds like the type of shit that I would be saying." After I was telling him this, I was slowly thinking about how ridiculous I must have been sounding here.

"You were the one that helped teach me that not everybody is as they seem, and I feel like I need to be grateful for you for that." After he was telling me this, I was looking right at him, and I was feeling that him saying this was flattering, but also a bit worrisome. If he was actually feeling this way, then I felt like he had been living under a rock this whole time.

"I hope that you saw these things on your own right. After all, these are all things I have been forced to learn the hard way." After I was telling him this, I was shrugging, and I was feeling like I just needed to leave him alone for the time being. After all, he was meaning well.

Scene 5: A Concerned Party

I was meeting up with Kevin the next day, feeling that it was time to just see what he had been feeling, and if I could be able to get him to explain some of the stuff that was going on with him. Although it was very clear from the look on his face that he had not had any interest in this at all.

"What are you wanting to talk about?" Kevin asked, and I could tell from the tone of his voice that he was not really wanting to have this conversation. As I was picking this up, I was getting more aware that I just needed to be careful about how I was talking. Just in case if he was able to quickly pick up on what my intentions were or what not.

"I was wanting to make sure that you were doing alright lately. I mean, I knew that you were friends with that Shari girl who went missing, and I was just wanting to mostly make sure that you were doing well." I said, and then I was looking at him, wondering if he was actually going to be buying this or not.

"Yeah, I have been. I mean, I believe that I have been. Some of the things that have been going on is a bit strange to me though. The fact that it seems like Sam has started to show much more concern for me now than he did before." Kevin said, and I was slowly nodding. Trying to pretend I didn't know this.

"Honestly, I think that he is just worried that you are going to be following down the same path as Todd and I. In all fairness, that is something that is perfectly valid to be worried about, and he has every right in the world to be feeling this way." I said, feeling like I just needed him to hear that.

"Well, shouldn't that be my fucking choice though?" Kevin snapped for a second, and then he was looking at me, with a level of anger in his face. I was shocked at the feeling that he was showing. I was looking down, and I was feeling like I just needed to be more careful with how I was talking to him at this point now. Just in case if he was going to be offended here.

"Sorry. I shouldn't be yelling at you. You are just doing your best to show some concern. I mean, after all, I did know Shari, and I was thinking that Todd was on the right idea when he was telling others that he was going to be taking the time to look for her. But now that it seems like that is not happening, I just feel kind of let down by him." After Kevin was telling me this, I was looking at him, totally unsure what I was going to tell him.

"Just talk to Sam, and see what he is feeling, and I am sure that he would be more than willing to really speak what is on his mind. You just need to give him a chance." I said, and then after I was saying this, I was wondering if Kevin would actually fucking get my point.

"Kevin, think of it this way: I am really just a concerned party for your sake. Simple as that. I hardly really care what Sam says in the matter. I want to help you." I said, and then I was taking out a cigarette, and I was hoping that he was going to be seeing that I was actually telling the truth here.

"Concerned party? That sounds a lot like the guy that has been working with mom and dad lately. He says a lot of the same shit." Kevin said, and then I was looking at him, and I as smiling at this. Not because of the fact that the man in the purple jacket felt this way. But because Kevin was admitting to Sam's concerns in a way.

"Are you sure that talking to that guy is going to be for the best?" I asked, feeling like I might as well just try and see what his thoughts on the matter were. I was seeing that Kevin was clearly not looking like he was buying this too much. He probably thought that I was having some ulterior motive here or some shit.

"Honestly, I do believe that he is meaning well. He's a good guy, and he has been helping me with my school work. I think that you need to be giving him more credit." After Kevin was telling me this, I was looking right at him, wondering what to say now.

"Well, I'm not going to pry. That is up to you to decide, and I will see what I can do to get some more information. More so for my own interest than anything else." I said, and I was looking at Kevin, and I was seeing from the look on his face, that he was not looking too happy at the way that I was saying this.

"Thanks for staying out of my case with this. It can be a bit rough when I am dealing with Sam constantly thinking that something is about to happen. It seems like he really has no fucking trust in anybody ever." After Kevin was telling me this, he was seeming like he was kind of annoyed at this.

"Sorry that you feel like Sam is not respecting you enough. That is something that you should be feeling better about." After I was telling him this, I was shrugging, since I was feeling like I just needed to leave things alone for a while.

"I am not going to tell you how to do things. In all honesty, I feel like even if I was your brother, then I shouldn't be. I always have a hard time showing people that I know that they should be independent." I said, and then I was shrugging, and I was feeling like I just needed to stop there, for his own sake.

"I just wish that Sam was able to show me the same respect. I have been really trying to show him some patience when it comes to this. But in all honesty, I feel like he just trying to exert confidence, and trying to act like he is in charge." After Kevin was saying this, we were walking a bit more.

"But there was something else that I was curious about. I was wanting to know more about your friendship with Todd. Is that actually working out as well as you believe that it is?" After he asked me this, I was looking at him, and I was feeling completely unsure where to go from here.

"Honestly, Todd and I have been getting along really well so far. I mean, I feel like there is still some communication issues. But I feel like he is genuinely trying his best to be helping." I said, and then I was shrugging, and I was feeling there was no need to go further.

"In all honesty, if you talk with him the way that I have been, it is clear to me that he really does trust you more than anybody else. I feel like in a super short period of time, you have already gotten him to feel like he is safe." After he was saying this to me, I was looking at him for a seconds.

"He seems to be closer friends with you though. I mean, he hasn't said it obviously, and I never want him to say it since it's none of my business, but it's very obvious that you're his best friend." I said, and then I was looking at him, and growing a smile on my face. I was hoping that he would enjoy something like this.

"That is the impression I have gotten talking to him. And I am glad that he agrees with me." Kevin said, and then with that, I was nodding, and I was feeling like I just needed to leave it at that. He had a good friend, and that was the main thing that really fucking mattered to me.

As we were talking, I was seeing Todd in fact heading right to us. He was looking really excited to be seeing the two of us. And as I was seeing this, I was wondering how long it was going to take for him to see that I was not the man that he thought that I was. But I looked down on the ground, and I told myself to not be so worried about it. The three of us started to walk down the side walks, instantly forgetting about labyrinth, and speaking of summer once again.

As I was wondering how much I was going to be talking to Kevin and Sam about these issues, I was wondering if perhaps I was just needing to let them be making their own choices on how to go with this. And I would only be making things worse for them all with all these discussions.

Scene 6: Easing Paranoia

The next day, with only two days left in the school year, that was when Todd and I were at the baseball field, and I was already thinking about how this was kind of bringing me back to the days when I was talking with Dakota, and he had convinced me into going to prom. Todd was looking right at me, and I was seeing him looking slightly less worried about random things now.

"So Sheldon, I feel like now that the school year is basically over, I was thinking about how much fun it would be for you to see my other friends, besides Kevin. You know, since I feel like you are getting pretty close to being in the friend group now." After he was telling me this, I was honestly super excited to hear him suggest this.

"Are you sure that your friends would even want to be getting involved in something like this? I mean, after all, they might want nothing to do with hanging out with me." I was saying, and I was wondering what else I was even going to be telling them now.

"I mean, I feel like most of them would be interested in doing something like this. They might be finding it a bit strange, but I am sure that in due time, they will be willing to be calm with it. I just feel like we need to do this." After Todd was telling me this, I was sighing, and I figured that I might as well just let him have his moment.

"Yeah, I would be lying too if I said that I wasn't at least slightly interested in knowing what your friends are all like." I said, and then I was smiling at him. I saw Todd looking like he was super happy to be seeing me giving him that answer. And seeing him enjoyed at this was enough to make it worth it.

I was standing up, and I was taking out a cigarette, and started to smoke it. "So Sheldon, are you going to be going back to that forest? I mean, I feel like there is still a level of closure we need." He said and then I was sighing, thinking about what he was saying.

"Yeah, I think that I am going to be heading back there at some point. But I have no idea what I am going to do when I am there. After all, it would seem that most of the places I could check out would kind of be a waste." I said, feeling that I was just having some pity for that girl who was gone.

As I was in the car, I was starting to drive around, and Todd was thinking about something else for a few seconds. "I mean, I feel bad. In all honesty, I feel like we need to constantly be focusing on the labyrinth, and finding out the truth. But at the same time, I am finding myself more and more just desiring a normal friendship. After a while, it seems like I am hardly even caring as much about the whole Shari thing. Like I feel bad, but I can't really think about other things too much." After he was telling me this, I was sighing, and I was understanding what he was trying to say.

"Todd, you have every single right to be wanting to have some friends. You don't have to be doing this investigation. I can take care of you. You have the right to just enjoy your life." I said, and then I was smiling at him for a few seconds.

"I still want to really meet all your friends. I feel like maybe forming some strong memories can give me a stronger desire to find out the truth here. I mean, realistically I can't spend all day every day looking for Shari. I need a break at least like one or two days a week." After he was telling me this, I was laughing for a second.

"You know, that is what weekends are for?" I asked, and I was mainly just saying that to be slightly humorous. It was seeming to kind of work when I was saying this to him. After all, he deserved better than this shit.

"So Sheldon, I feel like there are just some things that don't add up. You know, mostly the stuff about the girls, and what Sam is telling me. I feel like most of the stories that Sam and Kevin had told me just seem to be kind of all over the place." After he was telling me this, I was feeling like I just needed to keep my thoughts together.

"I mean, I feel like they are doing the best that they can. After all, they don't have the time or the patience to be looking into this whole thing nearly as much as we do. And that is perfectly fine." I said, and then I was smiling as I was looking at him. I thought he would enjoy that.

"Yeah, I just feel that Sam especially has some stuff that he would be able to help me out on. But I feel like I am not really giving him enough of a chance to really help me with this." Todd said, and then I was then hearing him sort of going off on a minor tangent, as if I was barely even there.

"I mean, if it is true that somebody took Shari, and then sold her off, or even worse, like killed her, then I am going to do everything to make sure that justice is brought forward. Even if it means that I have to kill him myself." After Todd was saying this, I was parking the car, and I was looking right at him for a few seconds.

"Don't say that dude. You have a life ahead of you. You do not need to throw it away by some crazy idea of justice. At that point, what are you going to get out of it?" I asked, and then I was looking right at Todd, feeling that I needed to get him to tone it down right away.

"But if he did that, then he deserves what is coming to him. At that point, everything that he had done wrong would be more than justifying it." After Todd was telling me this, I was sighing. In all honesty, I was not sure if I was wanting to argue with him, or agree with him.

"Todd, if you want that man dead so badly, then I guess that I can fucking try and see what I can do. But that is something that I do not want you to do. You deserve so much more than having that level of guilt on your hand." I said, and I was holding the steering wheel. Trying to just maintain my breath, and not get upset at what he was saying.

I was seeing that the look on his face was one of barely containing the annoyance on his face. "Seriously Sheldon? Are you seriously thinking that you are going to be the one who can turn things around? We need to be working together." He said, and then slowly nodded at this.

"You know, I just feel like if you do that, then you are throwing away something genuinely great. But dude, I want to help you see that there are alternatives." I said, and I was feeling like I was unable to actually believe it. I was feeling like whatever Todd was saying was going to just go in one ear, and out the other.

"Sheldon, when I heard how little was found when you were doing these investigations, I was furious at you. Furious at the fact that the person that everybody claimed was the biggest fighter on this whole thing was never able to find the answers. It made me lose all hope. Now I am starting to see how something like this can happen." After he was telling me this, I was looking right at him, for a couple of seconds.

"I guess that in all honesty, I never really realized how much fucking shit was actually going on in Wayside, and I guess that I shouldn't have treated you so fucking hardly over something like this." Todd said, and then he was thinking about what else to say.

"I am just scared Sheldon. I am really scared of what is going on. I want to make sure that my friends are doing well. But after what happened with Shari, what is going to happen to Maurecia? Or Dana? Or Jenny? How am I going to be failing them all?" Todd asked, and then he was balling his fist a few seconds.

"Todd, you do not need to be doing this on your own. You know what is happening now, and you are prepared for it. That is the main thing that matters dude. Just fight for what you know fucking matters, and soon enough, you will get the answers you need." I said, and then I smiled at him, hoping that Todd would get it.

"Yeah, but who do I really have? You? Kevin? I never really met most of your other friends, I have nothing now, and in all honesty, I feel like some of my other male friends are kind of idiots. I mean, I like Myron, but I wouldn't trust him to watch his house for a weekend. And you already know how dramatic Stephen can be." Todd said, and then I looked at him, wondering why he was even bringing some of these people up.

"You will find them eventually. Todd, I know you are scared. There is nothing wrong with being scared. In fact, given what is happening, I would be more worried about you if you were not. But the way that you are treating it, and acting like the world is about to end, is not going to be giving you a sense of feeling here." I said, and I was looking at him, hoping he would see what I was saying.

"How do you keep up this hope bullshit? I mean, it makes no sense, and in all honesty, the lies hurt. I feel like I need to know more." After Todd was telling me this, I was seeing him scared of what I was saying.

"Because in all honesty, I already have people who act like I am the biggest idiot in the world. Nobody really trusts me all that much. So because of that, there is no real need to be so worried about who I have with me or not. The fact that I even have the people that I do makes me feel better." I said, and then I was smiling at him for a few seconds.

"So you basically take what everybody else says about you, and you just kind of laugh it off? I wish that I had that level of courage." After he was telling me this, I was sighing, and I was feeling like there was nothing that I would be able to tell him at all.

"Yeah, I guess that you can say it that way. I mean, people always just take everything for a joke, especially when they do not realize how serious things can possibly be." I said, and then I was shrugging at the way that I was saying this.

"I am going to talk to Sam for a bit. He said that he wanted me to check something out for a bit, and I feel like that is something that I should be doing on my own." I said, and then I was looking at him, and I was hoping that saying this wouldn't be bothering him too much.

As I was saying this to him, I was seeing him looking like he was kind of having a hard time really buying what I was saying. I was wondering if he was thinking that I was just trying to make an excuse to not be doing something important.

"Yeah, whatever. Just make sure that you don't do anything too dangerous. I don't want to be the one leading your fucking funeral." After he was telling me this, I was laughing at what he was saying. In all honesty, what he was saying was what I was worried about with him too.

"I promise that I won't. I don't want to be making things worse than they already are. But I feel like since I had made a promise to Sam, that I feel like I need to give him this." I said, and then I was shrugging for several seconds, and I was wondering if Todd even really cared.

"Well, see you later. Next time, I think I will show you to one of my friends. I'm thinking maybe Dana or Maurecia." After he said that, he was getting out of my car, and he slammed on the door. I was wondering how much I really made him upset by doing all of this.

I was smoking a cigarette after this. Wondering what in the world I was even going to be telling Todd. He was needing to get a fucking grip on his life. Things were getting too hard for me to keep together, and I felt like maybe I just needed to see what the issue was.

In all honesty, I was feeling that whatever Todd was fearing, he had every right to be feeling this way. I needed to give him something to hope for. No matter how hard something like this really was, and I was thinking I needed to do something about this.

Scene 8: The Blue Haired Girl

I was meeting up with Todd the next day, and I was feeling that since tomorrow was the final day of school, I might introduce him to my friends then. As I was talking to him, he was turning right to me, and he was getting a smile on his face for a few seconds. I was wondering what his plan was here.

"Hey Sheldon, I got one of my friends to agree to meet up with me. Maurecia. So we should probably be heading right out, and see what we can do here." After Todd was telling me this, I was sighing, since I was feeling like there was no point in arguing.

"Yeah, that seems like it would be a good idea. Gets us something else to be focusing on." I said, and then I was sighing, and I was wondering what I was going to be doing here. As we were walking along, I was feeling like I needed to try and talk to him a bit better.

"So Sheldon, sorry if you feel like I am kind of forcing this with my friends. I just feel like it would be a good idea to talk with them, and really get to know them." After he was telling me this, I was sighing, since I was feeling like he was just taking this way too seriously.

"Honestly dude, it's perfectly fine here. I mean, I feel like it would be good for us to do something like this. After all, you never really know what some of your friends would be feeling here. And for all I know, they might actually be pretty cool with getting to work with us." I said, and then I was looking right at him, and I was wondering what I was even going to be saying.

"I just worry that I might be kind of forcing this whole thing, and I am worried that if I put too much into this, then I might be kind of pissing you off too much." After he was telling me this, I was sighing, and I was feeling like I just needed to remain silent for a bit.

We were at the skating park, and I was looking over, and I was trying to see who we were going to be meeting up with. After all, it had looked like nobody was even there in the first place. I looked at Todd, as if feeling like this was not really going to be worth it.

"I guess that she is going to be here late. Seems natural for her. Always fucking does this shit." Todd said, and then he sat down on the bench for a few seconds. "Honestly, in the entire school year, I don't think she has ever shown up on time even once. To any classes, or events, or hang outs."

"That is going to really bite her in the ass when she gets a job." I said, and then I was looking at him, and then Todd was laughing a bit. As if feeling like he was already well aware of what I was saying, and was just kind of unsure of what in the world he was going to be saying now.

"Yeah. I feel like people need to take their things seriously. You never get anywhere in life if you don't work for it." Todd said, and then he was shaking his head. "I don't really mean to flex, but I have done every single assignment, on time, and I still find the time to hang out with my friends. That is because when I am in class, I just get into serious mode. To the point where there never needs to be any homework."

"I can guarantee you that when I find a job, I will be doing everything to make sure that I am a valuable member, and that when I have children, every single one of them will understand that you can have a great time and fun while still being responsible." Todd was saying, and I was feeling like he needed to calm down.

"It's okay Todd. Everybody has their own paths. Although I would be lying if I said that I haven't at least considered picking up a twenty hour job. You know, just getting some money. After all, I already have a lot of friends, and my father has told me that getting a job would be helping me move on from the missing girls." I said, feeling like such a idea was probably true.

"Yeah, I can see how something like that would seem like a appealing idea. But I think that you need to make the choice for yourself. If you feel like you aren't ready for a job until you are done with high school, then go ahead and wait. After all, it's one more year." After Todd was telling me this, I looked at him for a few seconds.

"I wish it was that simple. But the truth is that I don't want to be throwing my life away. Especially for something that I know that I am not going to be changing. I feel like I just need to be realistic when I say that." I said, and then I was wondering what I was even going to tell him. It just disgusted me to admit this.

Before we were able to talk any longer, that was when Maurecia was showing up, and she was smiling as she was looking at the two of us. But mainly Todd, who I could tell right away was somebody she really liked.

"Hey Maurecia." Todd said, and he was clearly sounding like he was not really wanting to deal with her gushing over him tonight. But as he was looking at her, he was just looking like he was kind of wondering what to be telling her here.

"So are you Sheldon?" She asked, and then she looked at me. I nodded, and I was slowly shrugging, and I was upset at what she was saying. "Have you been making sure that Todd doesn't do anything stupid?" After she asked me this, I was laughing at that, since I was feeling like I was not going to really be giving her what she was wanting to hear.

"Honestly Maurecia, I think that trouble is in our genes." I said, and then I was smiling, as I was looking at her. As I said that, I was seeing that Maurecia was looking like she was kind of upset at this. "Honestly, Todd has been really hard working at making sure that nothing too crazy happens here." I was feeling like I just needed to vouch for him.

"That sounds exactly like something Todd would say when he is trying to be funny." After she was telling me this, I was then looking at her for a few seconds. "So Todd, are you excited for summer break to start? I am so over school now."

"Seriously Maurecia? How can you be over it already? You got straight F's for the fourth term in a row." Todd said, and he was sounding like he was trying his best to hide his annoyance. "Didn't you say that you're best grade was like a 22 percent?"

"Fourth term in a row, for the seventh year in a row. Don't forget that part." Maurecia said, and then she was sitting down. "My older brothers tell me that I need to take it more seriously. Being the youngest and only girl of four children, people expect me to be the gleaming star. But I told him that I only need to just get D's, and everything would be fine." She said, and I was feeling like she was a broken cause, just by what she was saying here.

"And besides, given the town that we live in, it will only be a matter of time before it won't even matter. I mean, look at Shari anyways. What is the point of even trying?" She said, and was getting a lot more serious as she was saying this. As she said that, I was sighing, and I was feeling super bad as she was saying this to me.

"I mean, when you put it that way, I guess that I can sort of see what you are saying now." I said, and then I was looking at her, and I was feeling totally let down at what I was saying. I felt like I needed to not really act any differently about it.

"Maurecia, I am doing everything that I can to bring her back home. I am not going to be letting something like this slide. There is no way in hell that I would be letting something like this go." After Todd was telling Maurecia this, he was looking right at her, and I was seeing that he was looking desperate as all hell here.

"I mean, there is only so much that a genius like you can be able to do." Maurecia said, and I was hearing her sounding like she was just really kind of let down as she was telling Todd this. As if feeling like the fact that Todd wasn't able to give her any real level of hope was a sign that maybe she was kind of letting go on this.

"So Sheldon, do you really feel like you would be able to get Todd to find out the truth here?" After she asked me this, I was looking right at her, and I was feeling like what she was telling me was sad as all hell, and I didn't know what to say.

"I mean, I think the main thing Todd needs right now is just to make sure that there are people who believe him. But I feel like I can only really give him the promise that I will fucking try my best." I said, and then I was shrugging. "But Maurecia, do you really even believe in the idea of doing this investigation, or whatever?"

"I mainly support it because I know that this is something that he really wants to do. And that alone is enough for me to want to do this." After she was telling me this, I was seeing that almost all joy that she had when she showed up was gone out the window.

"Maurecia, sorry for bringing it up. We shouldn't be talking about this. I should be taking some time to really get to know you better. Are there any main interests that you have?" I asked, feeling it was better to back dial.

"I usually skate down her with my best friend every Friday after school. But she actually uses a skateboard, whereas I use these rollerskates." After she was telling me this, she was pointing to her feet, and smiled for a short second.

"Well, I feel like you can make a profession out of it if you try hard enough." I said, feeling like I might as well give her some hope here. After all, with how much of complete failure she was academically, that might be for the best.

"Thank you Sheldon. That sounds really nice to hear." She said, and she was sort of getting a new look of hope in her eyes, and I was wondering what else I was even going to be telling her at all. She was seeming really happy from knowing this.

"I mean, everybody has their calling, and something that they are good at. Even if nobody else sees the value of it doesn't mean that it doesn't have it's own merit." I said, and then I was shrugging, and I was feeling like I just needed to drop the subject a bit.

"Thanks for saying that you would hang out with me in summer more. I really appreciate it." After she was telling him this, I was seeing Todd looking down on the ground, and I was seeing that he was genuinely sad at something, and I was wondering what it was.

"Honestly, I feel like you deserve better than the completely shitty way that I have acted. I mean, I know that you like me, and I was just a bit overwhelmed by it. But I feel like I could be handling this whole thing a lot better." After Todd was telling her this, he was smiling, and he was seeming genuinely excited for the change going forward.

"I wish I was a better friend too. I mean, I let my love for you get too in the way of everything else." After she was telling Todd this, I was seeing Todd looking like he was actually blown away at the fact that she was admitting this. Probably thought he would never hear it.

"It was a lot to take in. But I feel like maybe I should be there for you guys more. I mean, Sheldon was telling me he was thinking about getting a job. And if he can work and look into this stuff, then I can be friends and look into this." After Todd was telling her this, I was seeing her looking like she was willing to take the promise that Todd was making seriously.

"I will hold you to it." She said, and gave him a slight hug, and Todd was looking like even though this was slightly annoying to him, he was willing to let it go. Then with that, she let him go physically, and smiled for a few seconds. I was glad to be seeing these two friends get along. It was something that was truly a sight.

I was feeling like when I saw that, I needed to go on and talk to Dakota and Ashley again. It was time for me to get to work on making sure that I didn't lose sight on what was most important to me, which was being the best friend that I could possibly be.

Scene 9: The Friend Group

When the summer was starting, that was when I was meeting up with Dakota and Ashley again. I convinced them to let Todd come along, since I had felt that they were supposed to meet him sooner or later anyways, so I might as well let them have it right now. Although neither one of them were too sure about the incentive.

When Todd was there, Dakota was looking at him for a bit. "I expected you to be a bit taller, for somebody who is going into the eighth grade." After Dakota said that to Todd, I was seeing that Todd was not looking super happy about that snarky comment.

"Hey, I am growing into it. I hope that I will get there eventually." After Todd said that, I was seeing him looking down for a second. Then Dakota sighed, as if feeling like he was now needing to find a way to back peddle, which he clearly thought was more trouble than it was worth.

"Hey, it's not that important. Look at Sheldon right here. Like five and a half feet, but most people are more willing to over look this and see him for his more important traits." Dakota was telling him, and I was feeling like they both needed to calm down with these comments. I didn't really enjoy having my height being brought up constantly.

"I thought you would have a larger friend group? I mean, I see you hanging around with Harold and Jeremy and stuff. I feel like if you wanted a more full friend group, you would invite them." Todd said, and then I was sighing for a second.

"Well, I figured that since you already met them once, that you still needed to meet up with them here. Besides, Harold and Dakota have a hard time getting along." After I was telling him this, I saw Todd looking like he was kind of interested in hearing more about that.

"Why do you not get along with Harold?" Todd asked, as Dakota was giving me some daggers for a second. I was feeling like it would be best for Todd to just know this stuff right away. So I was wondering what the issue even was in the first place.

"Well, it's because I dated him for a bit. And since I'm dating Dakota now, he still kind of has a worried complex that I might be coming back to him." Ashley said, and then I was seeing Dakota looking like he was feeling like bringing it down to this was a pain.

"I mean, that is not all of it." Dakota said, and I was taking a second to think about that wording. It was the first time where he was acknowledging that this was at least part of the truth. Dakota then looked at Todd again. "Besides, why are you helping Sheldon with this in the first place? Did he convince you of something for a second?"

"I am technically the one helping him. It is his friend who went missing after all. And I just feel like there is something that I can finally contribute." I said, and I was shrugging, not really sure what in the world I was going to be saying.

"Hey Sheldon, sorry for how I acted a couple of days ago anyways. I should have really been better to you. I know you are doing the best that you can. And I hope that maybe we can get along better. I will help you look more into this case. Especially for his sake." He said, and looked at Todd for a bit.

"Yeah, that would be nice. But I was thinking about maybe going out and getting a job at some point, since I feel like I need to do something better with my fucking life." I said, and then I was shrugging, thinking about the fact that saying this could actually make them feel better.

"What are you planning on doing for the summer?" After Ashley asked Todd this, I instantly saw Todd grow upset. I wondered why Todd was upset at her even asking him a simple fucking question. But then he sighed, not having much to say here.

"I am going to try and find a good balance between finding Shar, and hanging out with my friends." Todd said, and then I was feeling like both Dakota and Ashley were probably going to be treating this situation like it was a massive hassle to deal with.

"Shari? I feel like I heard that name somewhere. Never met her though." Ashley stood up, and then I was feeling like Todd was taking a second to think about this. I was wondering if he was actually going to try and ask her about some information. But then he was shaking his head, as if feeling like it was best not to bother.

"Yeah, she is the person that I promised her parents I would find. But in all honesty, I feel like I can't do this without Todd. I feel like I need to just step the fucking hell up and do this." I said, and then Dakota was standing up, and he was holding his hands out, looking like he was just wanting this to back peddle quite a bit.

"Can we slow down a bit? I mean, I feel like you can't really be talking about finding her if you know nothing about anything you are doing. I mean, what have you been able to figure out about her, or her friends." After Dakota said this, I was sighing for a second.

"Todd has been introducing me to his friends. He was telling me about the time when Shari was training in karate or something like that." I said, and then I took out a cigarette. And then Todd was raising his hand, as if feeling like he had something that he needed to say, as way to help me out.

"And he has been doing rather well with my friends. They all seem to be getting along with him. But the point is that in all honesty, we just need to make sure that things don't go wrong." Todd said, and he was clearly sounding like he was just trying to convince himself more than he was trying to convince us.

"Look, I understand that I have not been doing all that great in finding her, and bringing her home. I can see that. But in all honesty, I feel like I am just missing one or two details. Big details, but it's almost there." Todd said, and then I was sighing for a bit.

"And Harold has been telling him that he needs to focus on friends more, and just having the best summer that he can. I can sort of agree with that, to be honest. But I feel like it goes both ways." After I was saying that to Dakota, I was wondering hat in the world I was going to say here.

"Yeah, I think I might have to side with Harold on this one. I mean, we already got one friend who is way too into this stuff. I don't really think we need to have another one." Dakota was telling me, and I was thinking that if Dakota was actually on Harold's side on this, then I felt like we needed to work on this more.

"I thought that you guys would support me on this. I was thinking that I was doing something right. But I guess that if people are saying that this is not the way it is meant to be, then I guess that I can let it go." I said, and then I was feeling like I just needed to let it go, for my own sake.

"Guys, give him a break. I mean, he is trying to be a good friend to his group. Is that really something to get upset at him over?" Ashley asked, and then I was looking at them, and then I was seeing Todd shaking his head. He was clearly looking like he was getting just over this, and wanted nothing to do with this at all.

"No, don't bother. They're right. I mean, why would a short, skinny, guy like me be able to find anything. And besides, they might be right. It has been like two or three weeks since it has happened, and I haven't found shit. Maybe I was wrong to even think that I can do this." Todd said, and then he was shaking his head for a few seconds, as if kind of tired of it all.

"I really shouldn't even bother. Every time I do this, it just gets worse and worse. I mean, at least when I just stay home, and do things on my own, nothing goes wrong." Todd was saying, and I was feeling like this whole meet up just went down hill super fucking quickly. To the point where it felt like a waste of time.

"Just don't worry about it. I made a lot of mistakes lately, and I feel like I should just leave this to the officers." After Todd was saying this, he was walking off, and then I was starting to stand up. As I was standing up, Todd was already most of the way away. I looked over at Dakota and Ashley, and saw them shake their head.

As I was looking at them, I was wondering what their issue was. "Look, he really is trying his best guys. I think that he needs to be given more fucking time." I said, and then I was sighing, since I felt like everything that I was saying was just kind of going to be a gateway to hear them make excuses.

"Look, we're just trying to make sure he doesn't do anything too stupid. After all, you never know what guys like that are capable of doing. And besides, I was saying that he needs to be given a chance." After Ashley was telling me this, I was sighing for a short second.

"Yeah, whatever. I am not going to be dealing with this right now." I said, and then I was sighing, and I was then sitting down again. "I'll talk to him about it tomorrow. I feel like maybe I can sort something out with him if we talk for a bit. He just needs somebody at his side."

As I was saying this, I was feeling like I was just needing to at least think about what Emily was saying. In all honesty, I felt like she was wrong. But I did sort of see where she was coming from with their assumptions if this was the case.

Scene 10: The Green Garden Church

The next day, I was with Todd, and we were walking towards Wayside school, mainly to see if there was something Todd could pick up from the locker room that he had left behind. I was feeling like this was going to be a bad idea. But in all honesty, I didn't want to be saying anything to piss him off here.

"Todd, are you sure that this can't just fucking wait until the school year starts again? What if you end up finding something there that you should have never seen?" I asked, and I was unsure why I was even caring at all what he was going to be saying. After all, it was just a visit.

"Then I guess that this happens. There is no reason to fucking stop it once it happens." After Todd was saying this to me, he was shrugging, as if feeling like there was no reason to keep this discussion up any longer. I looked down, and deiced to just remain silent for a bit.

"Sorry if my friends were being a bit harsh earlier. I was feeling even at the moment, that they were really stepping out of line. But I didn't want to be pushing them any further than I have been." I said, and I was feeling like this excuse was absolutely terrible, and that he deserved better.

"No Sheldon, they were right, and I think it was a giant mistake to even pretend that it wasn't. I just feel like when I was finally seeing that somebody I knew was affected by this, I thought that I would be able to be a good guy and change things." After Todd said that, I was feeling that it would be best to just not argue at all.

"True or not, they could have used more tact when going at you with this. That is something that isn't worth denying." I said, and then I was looking at him, wondering if he was actually going to deny what I was saying. As we were at the school entrance, I was remaining a bit silent.

"I don't know. I mean, I just feel like your friends do have it well. They were probably just wanting to make sure that I don't do anything too fucking dangerous. But here I am, just denying them the chance to have a normal and peaceful life. I think going forward, I should just leave this to you." Todd said, and as he was getting ready to go inside, I was seeing a familiar car driving by once more.

When I realized that Harold was the driver, I was feeling so much better, knowing that I wasn't going to have to deal with his father, who I was always feeling like was just kind of in it for his own good. Much more than anybody else that I had ever met in my entire life.

The car started to get a lot slower when he must have saw us. He slowly parked a few feet away from us. "Oh god, another one of your friends who are going to do nothing besides shit talk me, and act like I am the biggest idiot who has ever lived." After Todd said that, he was looking right at me, and I was feeling like I just needed to be silent for a few seconds.

"Hey, give him a chance. I doubt he will be acting like that." I said, and then I was shaking my head at this thought, as I was taking out another cigarette. I started to take another couple of steps closer to the car. Todd looked loke he didn't really want to do this, but that he was willing to just let it go. So with that, he started to walk behind me, ready to just get this over with.

When Harold was looking at Todd, I was seeing that Todd was looking like he was just kind of wanting to get this over with, and not deal with Harold trying to talk down on him. "So Todd, how have things been?" After he asked this, Todd looked up at him slightly annoyed.

"I have been doing alright. I was going to be picking up something from the school. I have been thinking a lot about what everybody says, and I feel like maybe it would be best to just follow through with what you guys are saying." Todd said, and then Harold was looking at me, as if wanting to know if this was true.

"Sorry to bother you guys. Clearly you guys are much more interested in something else." After Harold was saying this, I was sighing, and I felt like I needed to try and get him to open up a little bit.

"Hey, I was wondering if you were still planning on having that end of the school year party?" I asked, and then he looked at me for a couple of seconds, as if shocked that I even remembered that in the first place. I was shrugging, feeling like I had the right to ask him.

"Yeah, I am. Just a little bit later than I was hoping for earlier. Have to work on some things with my dad, and I feel like he wouldn't really be too excited if I rejected him once again." After he was telling me this, I was taking a second to think about what he was saying.

"But yeah, probably some time next week, I can be able to do one." After Harold was telling me this, I was seeing him looking like he was getting much more excited than before. I was wondering if this was something he really was wanting to do now.

"Was there anything you were planning on doing today?" I asked, and I was looking at Todd, who was looking like he was more just kind of curious what my plan was here. As if feeling like I was on some plan, and I just needed to be out with it.

"No, not really. I was thinking about checking a couple of things out. But I feel like it wouldn't really be worth the time and all that." Harold said, and then Todd was tilting his head sideways for a second, wondering what the issue was in the first place.

"Where exactly were you planning on going?" Todd asked, and then Harold looked at him, looking more shocked at the fact that Todd was willing to even ask him anything like this to begin with.

"I was planning on checking out the church. You know, the one where the older mall was before it was destroyed? I'm not really a religious type. But I feel like it would be worth checking out." Harold said, and I was shocked to hear him say anything like that at all.

"I never thought that you would be interested in the church." I said, and then shrugged, feeling like maybe I needed to give him more credit than I had. But in all honesty, the whole thing just seemed so fucking bizarre that I couldn't really wrap my mind around it.

"Well, I mean, I never thought much of it. But maybe giving it a chance wouldn't be so fucking bad." After Harold told me this, he was looking right at Todd, and I was seeing him looking like he was more willing to just reserve judgment on things until he saw more of it.

"Have you ever gone to one?" Harold asked Todd, and then Todd was shaking his head. This was one that I was not so shocked by. Considering the fact that Todd never once seemed to be showing any interest in the religious arts whatsoever.

"The church just always gave me the wrong vibes. People who claim that they have the moral high ground when in all honesty they are probably doing half the shit they tell people not to do, behind closed doors and all." After he was telling me this, I was wondering where he got that feeling from.

"Well, in either case, I feel like I still need to give it a try. You guys can come along if you want." After he was telling me this, I was sighing, feeling like there was no reason to try and stop this. After all, I was feeling that this could help give Todd at least something new that he could be able to see beyond what he already knew.

"Yeah, I will go. If you don't want to go Todd, I can't blame you. Especially since you seem have your mind made up on the matter. But if you do come, then I feel like it would be pretty interesting." I said to Todd, hoping that saying that would give him something to look at.

"No, I guess that I can always see if things are different here. Besides, I feel like if my parents already saw me here right now, they would be questioning everything way too much." After he was telling me this, I was sighing, and I was feeling like there was nothing to say here.

"Alright." Harold said, and he was looking like he was unable to believe that he was agreeing to something like this. But he was deciding to just go along with this. "Just don't try to make a scene out of this. Or else I feel like people are going to be coming at us, and wondering what is wrong with us."

As we were going to his car, I was wondering what the general public would think of this set up. I was wondering if they would be finding this a bit stupid. Or if they were hardly even going to be seeing what I was saying now.

After a few minutes, we were at the church, and when I was there, I was seeing Harold looking like he was already starting to feel like perhaps doing this was going to be leading to some issues. Then with that, he got out of the car after muttering "I have to do this" under his breath.

Once inside of the church, I was seeing Harold looking around, at the very nice lay out. Where everything seemed to be rather well organized, and I was even seeing a couple of people looking in the area as well.

I was looking over, and I was seeing that the Mrs. Carbunkle was there, and a red haired thirteen year old or so boy. He looked like he was kind of scared of being at the church for some reason. Although I could not understand why he would really be feeling this way.

Harold was sitting down on one of the chairs. Todd and I joined him, feeling that getting in the way was the biggest thing we did not want to do. As we were sitting down, we were seeing one of the speech givers looking at us, and I was seeing from the look on his face he wanted to see what we were planning on doing here.

"Seems like your attempts to be under cover really did not last long at all." After Todd was saying that to Harold, I was seeing that Harold was really looking like he was not in the mood to be hearing anything like this at all.

"Yeah, I noticed. That was one of the main things I was scared of. Was that people were going to see who I was right away, and want to talk to me non stop." Harold said, and he was sounding like he was kind of annoyed at this whole thing.

Before too long, that was when the guy was right in front of us. I was looking over at Harold, and I was wondering what I was even going to be saying now. "What are you guys doing here? Were you wanting to talk to somebody today?" He asked, and then I was looking at Harold, and I was wondering what he was thinking here.

"Yeah, I was wanting to ask you some questions. You see, I have been recently getting unsure of what to believe here anymore. And I feel like people are just expecting a lot out of me, with my father being a rich businessman. But in all honesty, I am not sure if I want to continue the business when I take over." Harold said, and then the guy looked at us before at Harold again.

"In all honesty, it just feels like I need to be really careful on what I am doing here. Because it could all just turn out to be a giant mess." Harold said, as I was seeing Todd looking like he was kind of unsure of how to take what he was hearing. As if feeling like maybe he was judging Harold a bit wrong now.

"Well, one of the things you can do is probably approach your father about the concerns that you are having, Mr. Wilson, and perhaps over time, he will be willing to give you advice. You have a unique distinction many people your age don't have. Which is a plan on your future." After the pastor said that, Harold was looking down for a second.

"But what if that is something that I don't really want? What if I want to actually have a life that I am not set on? I mean, I never took a business class in school, and I never really understood my place." Harold said, and then he looking like he was vaguely aware of how selfish he was sounding.

"Yeah, I shouldn't be saying stupid stuff like this. I guess that in the end, I am just sort of feeling lost, and wish that I had a clear path. I mean, at least with school, you have something to work at. Five days a week, every week, for twelve years. And things make sense, as unpleasant as it might be. But now that it is in my last year here, I just feel unsure of how to get something else." Harold said, and then the pastor was sighing for a bit.

"This is a sentiment that almost everybody that age feels. And as a result, those first two to three years after graduation just feel like you are roaming around, and having no real purpose. It is only once you get a job you enjoy, or start pursuing a degree you love that it changes. Many people let loose." The pastor said, and then Harold was feeling like this was not what he was wanting to hear.

"Honestly, this isn't really the type of thing that makes me better. Because in a way, it almost encourages people to be lazy, and to be making a ton of mistakes. And when people just start saying shit like this, it makes me feel like I have no right to ever feel a certain way." After he said that to the pastor, I was seeing the pastor looking like he was a bit worried here.

"You will see soon enough that nobody is upset at you for doing certain things. If you feel lost, talk with your father about it. Earn his trust by working with him. And you have friends with you to make things different." After he said that, I just looked down for a couple of seconds.

Harold looked like he was not really buying any of this, and was probably feeling that nobody really cared what he was thinking, and that as a result, he might as well just not even bother talking at all. Because people were always going to defuse everything, and it will all be thrown away.

Scene 11: The Book Geek

Todd was asking that I come with him to the Wayside library. At first I thought this was going to be a waste of time, before he confirmed that it was to meet one of his friends, so I would be able to get to know more of them. A sentiment I thought was mostly nice.

"Why do you have your friends working at the library right now? I mean, they probably want to be doing other things with their summer." I said, and I was mostly just trying to be amusing by this. Todd was looking at me, and he was looking kind of upset.

"Well, if you knew this one, you would know that she doesn't seem to think that studying and fun aren't really the same thing. She goes around and reads this type of stuff all the fucking time." After he was saying this to me, I was sighing, and felt like that was fair enough.

"I guess that I will hold my judgment until I actually meet them." I said, and then simply shrugged as I was saying this, since in all honesty, I was feeling like whatever I was going to do with this girl, it was going to be hard to pretend to be interested.

We were at the library, I was taking a second to think about what I would do when I would be seeing this person. I was thinking that at the very least, they seemed to have their shit much better off than Maurecia ever did.

We went inside, and I was telling myself that no matter how much this was seeming like a terrible fucking idea, I just needed to keep these thoughts to myself. And I was feeling that despite the fact that the whole Dakota and Ashley hang out didn't turn out well, that I needed to give this my best chance.

I was seeing that Todd was already heading to one of the tables. I decided to just keep this to myself, and I sat down next to him, as Todd was clearing his throat, and I was seeing that the girl who was currently reading seemed to be kind of annoyed.

"You don't have to be so in my face when you say that you want to hang out." She said, and then she was looking at me for a couple of seconds. "Hello. I'm assuming your Todd's friend from the high school. My name is Dana."

As she was saying this, I was thinking about how forward she was, which was something that was making me feel both better and worse. I was feeling like I just needed to get right to the talk, and not think about the fact that I was talking with a more sophisticated person.

"Well, yeah, I have been hanging out with Todd lately. We have been trying to work something out, although not to the greatest of successes, I will admit." I said, and I was shrugging, feeling like the honesty was the only thing I could have going for me now.

"I was the one that introduced him to there being monsters here. I thought that he should know about them." After she was telling me this, I was laughing about this for a second. I was feeling like I just needed to know if she believed them.

"How much do you actually believe in this whole monster thing? I mean, the whole thing makes no fucking sense." I said, and then I was looking at her. She was looking down, and I was seeing that she was looking kind of upset with me here.

"I believe in almost all the stories about them. I mean, if you look at everything people say, it would be really hard not to believe in them. And in all honesty, it almost makes too much sense." Dana said, and she was sounding like she was almost too embarrassed to admit to such a thing.

"Well, I mean if you are going to say that, then doesn't that also mean that you admit that many of them are also false, and that there is no reason to actually buy into every single one of them." I said, and I was looking right at her, wondering if she was going to admit to this one.

"I never said that some of them weren't real. All that I was saying is that I believe that most of them are real, and that we should be looking at them more seriously." After she said that to me, she sighed, as if thinking that what she was saying was making a lot of sense.

"I guess that I just have a hard time really understanding why these things always seem to come up. I wished that I knew what people were even considering to be actual evidence anyways." I said, and then I was shrugging, feeling like what I was saying was making a fair deal of sense.

I was then shaking my head, and I was feeling like I needed to stop kidding myself. I knew what I had seen when I was younger, and what the forest was like. I knew that everything that I had seen that day was not just me imagining things, and were actually the culmination of me buying into stories, and then seeing them.

"Yeah, who am I kidding? I know that I saw one several years ago, when I was in the forest hanging out with some of my friends. I know what I fucking saw. Even if I have a hard time really wanting to admit to it right now." I said, and then I was shrugging at this. Feeling that the pure honesty was something that I needed to be giving.

"It was the scariest day of my entire life. Even worse than the one time when I was forced to talk to the police officers about what I saw with Riley. Or that the same god damn day Riley went missing, I think I saw another one." I said, thinking about all the memories that were starting to flood back to me.

"So if you saw one of them, then what did you do about it? Did you try to fight it? Or did you feel like it was a lost cause." Dana asked, and I was wondering why in the world she was turning this into a fucking laugh out loud conversation.

"I ran away like a screaming child. I knew that there was no way in hell I was going to win that fight, so what the hell was the point in trying to change anything at all." I said, feeling so embarrassed to be admitting to something like this out loud.

"God, saying that out loud, to you, when you hardly even know me, is so fucking embarrassing. But honestly, I was not going to fight a monster that I knew would fucking kill me." I said, and then I was shrugging, feeling like I just needed to keep a honest perspective here.

"I mean, I remember when I first told Todd about the monsters, and he was seeming to be just as unsure as you are. He always kept telling me that something like this was just not going to happen." Dana was saying, and I looked at her for a second.

"Yeah, it was because the whole thing sounded fucking ridiculous, and I think even you admit that on the surface level, the whole thing does sounds really fucking dumb." After Todd was telling her this, I was seeing that there was a much more defensive look on his face than anything else.

"Why does everybody who just moves into Wayside instantly think that this whole thing is bullshit? I wasn't the one who made these?" She said, and then I was sighing, feeling like I just needed to try and say something to calm her down a little bit. To not get her to freak out at a library.

"Look, it's okay. It's fucking ridiculous that this happened. But you are not to blame. And since I saw them with my own two eyes, I know more than ever that they are real." I said, and I was feeling like admitting to this fact was only going to be making things worse.

"I mean, I already have so many things I am terrified of, and no way to change it. In all honesty, if you know more things about these monsters than we did, then I feel like you would be more than capable of helping." I said, and then I was looking at Dana for a bit, unsure of what to say.

"Wow, that is one strange way to make me feel better. Makes me feel like I can do something of use after all." After she was telling me this, I was smiling at her, since I was feeling like this was all that I had needed.

"At least your friends are far less confrontational than mine are." I said, more towards Todd, since the way that most of my friends were referring to him were really making me feel unsettled, and I had felt like I had made some real big mistakes here. And I was thinking about how his other friends were going to be.

Scene 13: The Ambitious Prodigy

A day after this, Todd was showing me to another one of his friends, this time a guy named Myron. He was a little bit overweight, but since he was still thirteen, I was having a feeling he was going to be able to grow out of it over time.

"This guy is rather interested in politics, and getting to know how the city is running. He tries every year to be the president of our grade level." After Todd was telling me this, I was looking at Myron, feeling that I could be able to see what was going on with him.

"Have you ever won any of the grades?" I asked, feeling that maybe this would be able to get me to see what I was going to expect from him. After all, I never really had much interest in the grade elections every year. Although I did consider running in junior year.

"No, I got close last time though. But my friend Dana did win it this time, and I have been helping her out getting ready for the eighth grade." Myron was saying to me, and I was feeling like I just needed to try and make him understand that politics was not really something he should be getting involved in at all.

"Honestly, politics is a dangerous business. I should know. My father ran for it, and despite sweeping the race for mayor, he is still having people fucking hate him." I said, and then I was feeling like I was going to be finally making things worse for both of us.

"But that is city level politics. Politics among our grade is only like with a hundred and twenty people." After he was telling me this, I was feeling like the fact that Myron was looking this far ahead was wonderful. But it was also getting me worried that he was not going to be ready for what he really needed to do.

"I just feel like you need to maybe think about why you are wanting to do this before you actually go ahead and do it." After I was telling him this, I was feeling like I was needing to remember that this was his choice, and he needed to make the choice for his own.

"Wow, you are sounding just like Todd. Seems like you guys just get off on being kill joys." After he was telling me this, I was looking at him for a few seconds. I was thinking that maybe there was a small level of truth to this, even if I had a hard time stating this.

"Yeah, maybe that is really none of my fucking business. I guess that I am just more curious why you are so interested in something like this anyways, given the fact that you're not even in high school yet. You know, when elections and the class actually matter." After I said that, I was seeing Myron thinking about this for a second.

"Well, it is because my father is involved with some of the employees of the company." After Myron was saying this, I was sighing, and I was well aware of which company he was talking about. I was wondering why he was caring what his father was doing.

"Honestly, I just feel like even if I don't get everything that he is saying, I want to understand his perspective, and I want to make him see that I care about what he is doing." Myron said, and then I was seeing him looking like he was scared about what he was doing.

"So you are basically doing this just because you want to make your father like you." After Todd was saying this to me, I was seeing him looking like there was a twinge of regret on what he was saying. I wondered if he was wanting to get at Myron for that, or if he was just trying to make a point.

"I mean, a part of that is true. I will admit. But the truth is that I feel like if I can get him to see that I am trying to be more open with him, then I will feel like the main goal is fulfilled. But I feel like even beyond that, the more that I do this, there is something in this for mw." After he was telling me this, I was seeing him looking a bit unsure of what to say now.

"Look, if you do really have something you want to do, then I will be willing to see what your point is. Mainly due to the fact that I feel like there is no reason to say no. I just feel like in all honesty, there needs to be more care that is brought to the subject." I said, and then I was looking right at him, wondering what I was going to say now.

"I mean, you and Todd are trying to be doing some ridiculously dangerous stuff in your own free time. At least what I am doing is mostly harmless. Just trying to win a election. Besides, I only have like four more chances after this." After Myron said this, I saw him looking like he was kind of feeling bad about that.

As I was standing up, and walking away from Todd and Myron, I as heading to the door. I was feeling like when I was going to be alone, I would have more time to really process what in the hell I was actually doing at this point.

"So you said that your father was a member of the company? Was there a way that you were thinking you would be able to help me here?" I asked, and then I looked at him, and I was wondering what in the world I was even going to be telling me. "I was wondering if there was small chance I would be able to help him talk to me about some things."

"What in the world do you really think you would get from talking to my father? He barely even talks to me about the stuff he is doing with the company. For all I know he would be completely useless with these things." After he was telling me this, I was slowly nodding, feeling like this was fair enough.

"I do get what you are saying. But I feel like as somebody who is frankly older and more experienced, I feel like in all honesty, I can be able to hear what he knows. After all, he probably has at least heard of some things that are going on here." I said, and then I was looking at him for a second, wondering if he would buy my shit.

"I just feel like no matter how much these things might sound like they are not important, they really are. I mean, I can look at my own father, and I can see that he probably knows a greater deal about the missing people than I do. And that he is hiding the truth. Although I am not sure if it is just a way of making me safe, or whatever." I finished, feeling slightly better here.

"Sheldon, in all honesty, I feel like he will not accept your offers, and I feel like trying to get him to speak like this is only going to be making things worse for us." After Myron was telling me this, I was feeling like there was really no point in arguing anymore.

"You were talking about how much you were wanting to make a difference Myron. That was one of the main things that we had talked about earlier. And I believe that if you try hard enough, you can be able to work it out. I just feel like you need to believe in yourself." After Todd was telling Myron this, I was seeing Myron looking quite unsure of what to say from that.

"I mean, I did technically say that. I really do want to make a difference. But I am scared of how I am going to make this difference. And I feel like I need to be more careful here before I do something that I know that I am going to be regretting." After he was saying this to me, I was wondering what I was even going to tell Myron.

"You aren't going to make the difference you want to make if you are not confident in yourself. You need to be more sure of what you are doing if you are going to be going out there, and changing the world. I mean, I feel like you can do it." Todd said, and then he was taking a slow second.

"In all honesty, you have more drive than virtually anybody that we went to school with. Even if your attempts failed all the time, you really do have the desire. And I feel like if you can have that, as well as the confidence to continue doing what you believe is right, then you can pull this whole thing off." Todd was telling Myron, and I was wondering what to say now.

"Hearing that from you actually is really nice to say. I never thought that you were actually going to be doing this." After Myron said that to Todd, I was seeing him taking a deep gulp, and I was seeing him looking like he was getting a bit more sure of himself.

"Alright Sheldon. I guess that I can see what you and Todd are saying. I guess I can see how in the world I can make a difference here. But if this fails, then I am blaming your ass." Myron said, with a more steeled tone, as if believing in himself.

"Trust me when I say that if this all turns out the way that I expect, then everything is going to be great. I feel like you just need to see what we are doing before you fully buy it." I said, and I was feeling confident in myself as I was telling him this.

"Damn Todd, how did you end up getting involved with a guy like this in the first place? It just seems so random to be hearing him coming here, and sort of calling all the shots." After Myron was telling Todd this, I was seeing Todd looking like he was not wanting to have this conversation again.

"Oh my god dude, I feel like we have had this discussion before. I was doing this because I wanted to help find Shari. But I feel like there is way more to all of this than finding Shari." Todd was saying, and I was seeing Myron looking like he was wanting to know more about this new walk in.

"I mean, everything Dana is saying must come together. Not just the monsters, but the fact that Sheldon himself admitted he saw some. And while I can't confirm I seen any, I feel like there are some that I might have heard." Todd said, and he was balling his fist in a excited fashion.

"In all honesty, I feel like even if we are not fully cracking the code yet, we got somewhere, and that alone is enough for me to be thrilled at the progress Sheldon and I are making." As I was seeing Todd get excited, I was wondering what I was even going to be telling him.

"Well, I think that I can speak for this entire team when I say that I think we all want to help you with this investigation. I feel like we all have something to offer to the table." Myron said, and he was sounding super sure of himself for the first time in our entire talk.

As I was done talking with Myron, I was feeling what was happening now was all forms of true. It was feeling great to finally know that I was with people who were actually aware of what they had been doing. And just knowing that they were actually buying what I said was only making things better for us all.

Scene 14: The Blonde Daredevil

Todd was bringing me down to the skate park, and I was wondering what the point of this was in the first place. I was feeling that this was going to be a waste of time, to be coming back here once again. I was feeling that if this was to talk with Maurecia again, it was going to just simply be a ploy to get her to take her studies seriously.

"So what are we going to be doing here in the first place?" I asked, and I was feeling like there have to have been something new to come out of this. As Todd was looking at me, I was seeing that he was looking sort of shocked here.

"I think I was probably telling you about how she had a friend who also skates here. I was just planning on showing her to you, and that would be all of them. You will have met everybody in the friend group at least once, and we can work from there." After Todd was telling me this, I was feeling like he needed more.

"Okay. Now that the meet and greets are done, do you have any idea on what we are actually going to be doing after this? I mean, it seems like your friends all seem to have a little piece of the puzzle. But it's not quite all there yet." I said, and then I was looking at him, wondering what he would say here.

Once at the skating park, I was seeing Todd looking down at the ground for a couple of seconds, as if trying to decide what he was wanting to say here. "I feel like it's great that you're still making a plan and all that. But I feel like you need to be careful with her. I don't really feel like she would enjoy it if she just became a part of a conspiracy." Todd said, and then I looked at him for a second.

"After all, her mother became a victim to the missing cases, and as a result has been raised by her father since October. I mean, I see her father starting to warm up and be less aggressive towards her by the month, but you can tell that both are greatly affected." After Todd said that to me, I was slowly nodding.

"Fair enough. Keep her out of this shit. I guess that I can see where the issue would come. I just hope that she doesn't bring it up with me." I said, and I was feeling like that was a nice way of looking at it. Todd was seeming kind of lost in thought here.

"I care about her too much to see her in this level of pain. She deserves so much better than what she got. And I feel like nothing that I can do will change these things." Todd was saying to me, and I was feeling like I just needed to be more careful here.

"So Todd, when I see her, what do you think I should do? Just pretend like everything is normal?" I asked, and even just saying it felt right. I kind of knew right then and there that this was exactly what I was meant to be doing.

"Just make her feel like you are there to be her friend, and nothing else." After he was telling me this, I was slowly nodding for a couple of seconds. But then as we were talking about it more, and I was taking out my cigarette, and watching the other teenagers skate around, I was seeing her walk up.

She was wearing mostly white, and had a helmet on her face, sort of like how Maurecia did. She was looking like she was trying her best to just hide the sadness in her face. I was feeling relatively bad for her, and I was feeling like I just needed to be careful with what I was doing here.

"Hey Todd. Heard that you wanted to see me. Was there something you wanted to discuss?" She asked, and then Todd was looking at her for a couple of seconds, and I was seeing that he was looking like there was some deep regret in this all.

"No, I just wanted you to meet my friend Sheldon. Since you were the only one in the friend group who had not met him at least once yet, and I was feeling like it would be time to rectify that." After he was telling her this, she looked right at him for a second.

"Oh, so he is the trouble maker who has been getting us all tied up and confused." Jenny said, and I was looking at her for a second, wondering why I was even having this discussion with her like this in the first place. I was just trying to be helping her out, and this was the way that she was treating me.

"Look, I know that I don't really have the best reputation here. And there is nothing that I can fucking do about that. But I feel like this reaction is a bit over the top, and doesn't really have a point." I said, and then I was taking a second to just consider what I was saying.

"God, I was just trying to be funny. You guys always act like every comment ever made about you guys is like the end of the fucking world." After Jenny was saying this to me, I was looking at her, and I was wondering why she was trying so hard to be having a fun moment such as this.

"Regardless, I am glad that we are in summer break now. It just feels like it is one big fucking conspiracy to be getting so wrapped up in silly shit such as this. And I feel like now that things are starting to kind of let up between my father and I, that things will finally get better for once." After she was telling me this, I was feeling that no matter what, I needed to let her have her happiness.

"Sorry to hear about what happened. Todd gave me a basic version of the situation. I know how it is like. To have a mother that you lose." I said, and then Jenny was looking at me, and I was seeing her looking like she was not appreciating the wording of what I had said, for some reason.

"I mean, we don't know for sure if she is gone. She is just missing. I feel like there is a good chance that she will be able to come back. I just need to give her some time." After she was telling me this, I was taking a second to think about it.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to upset you with the way that I said it." I said, and I was mentally laughing in discomfort a bit. After all, this was literally the way that I heard myself word it all these times. I swear people were going to be finding my way of going at this obnoxious.

"Regardless, I was curious about how you enjoyed the school year. I mean, surely there must have been some good stuff that came out of it." I said, and looked at her. I was hoping that she would confirm what I was saying.

"Yeah, I got to be friends with Todd, and I got to hang out here every Friday after the school week is done. And when I was hanging out with Maurecia all these times, I was almost starting to forget about how bad things were. At certain points." Jenny said, and I was wondering what to say to that.

"Is it true that your father is the mayor of Wayside?" She asked me, and I was feeling like the fact that everybody was always bringing that back to me was kind of starting to lose its luster. And I was wondering why in the world I would I thought anything different could happen.

"Yeah. He won the election last year. But in all honesty, I feel like it is best for me to try and separate myself from my father. After all, he is doing his own work, and I am doing my own. I feel like if I try to constantly use him as a reference point, then people might be looking at me as cheating." I said, and then I was laughing at that for a second.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to bring up a sore subject. I was just trying to see what you knew." She was telling me, and I was slowly nodding, hoping that she was not going to be turning anything else into a discussion of what I needed to do simply because my father was mayor.

"It's okay. I always hear people talking about it, and I always hear everybody have a different opinion on the matter. But I feel like I just need to not think about what he is doing. After all, he seems to prefer it when I don't worry myself in his work." I said, feeling like that was a bad way of looking at it.

"But yeah, your other friends are all really interesting. Myron with his obsession with class president, Dana and her monster theories, Maurecia and her crush on Todd, then Stephen with his obsession with being out at night, and Joy with her lack of trust in most new people she meets. It must be rough being friends with them all." I said, and I was mostly trying to be funny about this stuff.

"Well, with Joy, she is a extremely tough cookie to crack. And I think that once you finally get her to open up, she will try to deny it, and act like she never really wanted to get involved." Jenny said, and then she was grabbing her skate board for a second, and got a much more excited look.

"I want to show you how it is all done." After she said that to me, she went to the ring, and she was starting to just go at it. She was clearly not at all worried about how she looked to the general audience member. And I was able to see that she was just having the time of her life. Which was all that I really wanted.

"She is really proud of herself when she goes there. In all honesty, every time I see her just going ta it, I wonder to myself if she ever has any fear of what people are going to say." Todd was saying, and I was looking right at him for a second.

"I mean, at least she has something that she is interested in, and she really enjoys. I wish that I was able to find something as easy as she had. If I had, then most of this could have been avoided." Todd said, and he sounded like there was some regret here.

"Do you feel like she will be able to fully heal in due time?" After I asked him this, I was feeling like that was a dumb question. I mean, I still think of my mom at least once every other week or so, and what things could have been. But at least it wasn't a daily basis thing anymore.

"Maybe in a couple of years, she will. But for now, I really feel like something like this just isn't possible. Although in all honesty, I kind of wish that it was." After he was telling me this, I was slowly nodding, feeling like such a thing was making perfect sense to say.

"Yeah, that does make some sense. I was just curious what you thought on the matter. I mean, I know how it is like with my mom and all that. Thinking that you are starting to let go. But then certain other ideas come back to mind, and you feel like you are doing something wrong." I said, and I was wondering why I was being so open with him here.

"Honestly, I just wish that when she wants to open up, she would just come to me about what needs to be done." After Todd was telling me this, I was sighing, and I looked right at Jenny, and the entire time I was watching her, I was taken away by the way she was doing this.

Eventually, she did finish up, and she was coming up to us, and I was seeing the sweat coming down her face, as she had worked herself from the constant skating. I was smiling as I looked at her, and saw that if for nothing else, at least she was determined to be doing this.

"That can be a tough bit of exercise. But I enjoy doing it nonetheless. And I feel like when I do it, it just becomes the most thrilling thing in the world." She said, and then held both her hands out, and took off the helmet, as she waved her head around for a second. I was seeing Todd get a red flash on his face for a second as he saw this.

"Well, as long as it is something you love doing, that is really the only thing that truly matters. You just need to find something that makes you feel better." I said, and then I was looking at her, wondering what to even say now.

Jenny sat down on her board, and she was placing her head on Todd's arm, which was kind of shocking to me. I was wondering if they were dating, or if they were just showing friendship in a really affectionate way. In either case, I was ready for what was to come now.

Scene 15: A Moment of Repentance

Todd and I were meeting up with Dakota, per the latters request, the next day, and I was wondering what in the world I was even going to be doing with him. In all honesty, I was feeling like whatever Dakota was going to try and say, he just needed to fucking tell me more.

When we were in front of him, I was seeing him instantly look incredibly down, and he was looking at Todd. "Hey dude, sorry for the way that I was acting around you earlier. I know deep down inside you deserved better than the way I was talking." After he was saying this to Todd, I saw him looking like he was regretting this.

"Thank you. I mean, I don't want to admit it, but I was pretty let down by it all, and it was making me feel like I was really going to be having people out against me. Hearing you apologize… Gives me some hope." After Todd said that, I saw him calming down for a bit.

"I mean, I guess that I was just scared of what you would do if I was going to just jump right to supporting you. I mean, after all, with the way things happened with Sheldon, I was just a bit scared was all." He was telling Todd, and I was not sure I was buying this.

"Just make sure that you stay as safe as long as possible. I can't really go too deep into the 'as safe as possible' as I am sure we both know that this isn't fucking happening." After Dakota was telling Todd this, I was seeing him looking like he was just trying to be happy about what he was saying.

"I don't know how I will be able to do this. But I feel like for the sake of my friends, I need to agree to this. After all, for all I know, they are going to somehow think I am the only man who can help them." Todd said, and shook his head when he said that.

"This seems like a bitter resolution. I think I just wanted to make sure you had a chance to be happier, while also staying sure that you didn't hurt yourself the way Sheldon did." Dakota said, and I was wondering why Dakota said this.

"Are you worried that I am going to actually find something? I mean, as much as I want to think that I can, I have a feeling that I am shit out of luck here. You probably would be better off looking at Sheldon, and making sure he stays safe." After he was telling me this, I was slowly nodding for a bit.

"But Dakota, what makes you so scared of even talking about such a thing? I mean, I get not wanting to be involved with the whole thing. That makes perfect sense. But I would assume most people at least handle the mention of it." After he was telling Dakota this, I was seeing Dakota look a bit unsure of what to say now.

"I am scared because I have a girlfriend who I love very much, and a best friend who has been hurt by this for his entire time in Wayside. With his sister, and his biggest crush, and then his first girlfriend. I just want to make sure I protect those who I care for." After he was telling Todd this, I saw Todd looking like he was getting much less confident in what he was saying.

"When you put it that way, I guess that does make some sense. I wish that I knew what to say to that more. But I just have a hard time really working what I feel in a fully constructive way." After Todd was saying this, I saw him looking kind of lost for thought here.

"Todd, when you find a woman you care about, you will see how much it can really turn everybody into having a strong emotion here. I have one with Ashley, and even Sheldon has one with the women he knew. We just perceive it differently. I share his goals. But the way he is doing it is what I disagree with. I just don't believe in labyrinth myths." After Dakota said this, he was shrugging for a second.

"I think that was a part of the reason Sheldon's dad did so well when he was running for mayor. He knew what the people wanted, because he knew what he wanted. And when he was able to give people a promise that it is finally going to end, everybody believed in. And I still do, for now." After Dakota said that, I was giving him a small dagger for a second.

"The guy means well, and I think you need to give him a chance." I said, trying to maintain my cool, and not be giving off the fact that I was not liking it when he was always throwing my dad under the bus for everything ever.

"I never said that I wasn't going to give him a chance. Regardless, so Todd, like I said earlier, I am sorry for the way that I acted. I still mostly agree with the point of what I was saying. But I need to get better at how I word things." Dakota said, and then he was remaining silent for a second after that.

"To be honest, I feel like when I see people and the way they feel about this town, I always do just want to do my best to help out. I feel it in my bones. Like it is the right thing to do. To just go out there, and actually do what I can to make things right." Todd said, and then with that, neither one of us continued.

"But do you actually believe in these crazy ass stories? About monsters, and labyrinths? I mean, I have kind of come around to monsters, but there has to be more to how these people are going missing than we want to admit." After Dakota said that, I was seeing that he was just wanting to be pragmatic.

"It doesn't fucking matter if I believe in them or not. If there is even a small chance that these things are true, and that these are behind the people who go missing, then we have to finally put things aside, and fucking work to see what we can get." After Todd said this in a relatively firm stance, I decided to remain silent.

As I was wondering where this was going to be going now, I was wondering what in the world I would even do to change where we were going from this point forward. It seemed like we were all at a loss on what to do, and that was something that I felt like was getting to both of us.

I was looking at both of them, and then taking a cigarette out, and smiled. "Regardless, I feel like whatever we think, we need to just learn to realize that unless we really work together, then nothing else fucking matters. We all have different reasons, but there is no reason to get so uptight over details." I said, feeling like what I was saying was making me come off as smart.

"Yeah, I guess that's technically right. I will talk to Ashley, and let her know that I apologized." After Dakota said that, he remained silent, and decided to just leave it at that, for both of our sakes, while I was seeing Todd looking like he was not sure if he was buying it yet.

Scene 16: Being Careful

After I was done talking to Dakota, Todd and I decided to meet with Ashley that day, and I was feeling that whatever the two of us were feeling, we were both well aware of the fact that she was going to be far easier to talk with than Dakota had been. So I felt like we were more or less able to handle this well.

"That honestly went a lot better than I was expecting it to. I did not think Dakota would actually want to open up with me at all." He said, and then after he said that, I was seeing him looking like he was feeling much better about what was going on.

"I mean, I do understand where Dakota is coming from, to some degree. But in all honesty, I feel like his way of going at it was probably a bit too harsh. He probably knew that I was meaning well. But it was nice to hear him admit that." He said, and then with that, he decided to remain silent for a second.

"I think you just need to see that the guy is hard to get along with new people. That is something you learn extremely quickly with the guy, and you just sort of learn to let it go." After I was telling him this, I was smiling at him for a second.

Eventually, we were at her door, and she answered. She looked extremely tired for a bit, and probably wasn't really wanting us to be here right now. "What are you doing here tonight?" She asked, and I was hearing the muffled tone of her voice. And I was laughing at this, thinking about the fact that I had woken her up, and the fact that in all honesty, I was feeling slightly bad.

"I was wanting to talk to you, and let you know Dakota and I have sort of cleared everything up, and he was showing some interest in seeing us actually pull through at the end. It honestly felt so nice to hear that." Todd said, as I was seeing him finally really looking like he was able to be open.

"Yeah, I think Dakota mentioned to me that he was planning on talking to you guys about that. It feels nice to know that he was actually going through with what he said. But to be honest, you didn't need to do something like that. I am sure that in due time, he would have let it go." Ashley said, and then Todd was slowly shaking his head.

"Honestly, I have no interest in hearing those excuses. Being a bad conversationalist is being a bad conversationalist no matter how you look at it. He was being really rude. He apologized though, so I can't hold him back." After Todd said that, I was wondering what I was even going to be saying here. It seemed like nothing we would tell him would get him to tone it down.

"Regardless, it's done now, and it would be best to just leave it alone. After all, I can't find out the truth if I am being too bitter to work." Todd said, and then he smiled as he was looking at Ashley, hoping that statement would have her view him as mature.

"Besides, in all honesty, I think it just made me bitter because I know that this is something that Sam would be acting like earlier. He didn't really like me at first. And only started to kind of come around me when he saw that I was being a good friend with Kevin." Todd said, and then he was remaining more silent after that.

Finally, he spoke up again. "Did you ever get along with Sam all that well yourself? If you did, then what is one way that I can be able to change it?" After he asked Ashley this, I was seeing her looking like she was kind of shocked to be hearing him bring that up, for no real good reason.

"Yeah, he is a decent guy. But he always gave me the vibes that he didn't like talking with people. He just never seemed to be that type of person." She told Todd, and then remained silent after this for a second. "Although in all honesty, I feel like you need to just sort of get on his good side a bit."

As Todd was thinking about that for a second, he was glancing at Ashley for another moment and then took a deep breath. "Do you know anything about a man who wears a black coat? I heard Sam going on and on about how he feels like that man is behind some really evil plan on Kevin." After Todd said that, he was shaking his head at this, feeling like just saying it was absolutely silly.

"No, I never heard about him talking about that. But I think I have seen somebody like that once. I think I saw in in the fourth district or something like that. I can't remember. But it was like well over a year ago, and I was hardly even caring." Ashley said, and then she was shaking her head at that.

"Although I will admit, when I saw him the first time, I did get a uneasy feeling. Like he was planning on doing something beyond dangerous. Something basically evil. As silly as that might sound." Ashley said this, as Todd was taking a deep breath.

"God damn it. I was hoping to hear somebody say that was bullshit. But knowing that Sam isn't completely fucking bullshitting people is the worst thing that I can fucking hear." After he was telling me this, I was seeing him look like he was honestly not wanting to hear this.

Eventually, I was feeling like I needed to say something to comfort him. "Look, you don't have to be getting involved in this at all. This is something related to Sam and his brother. Nothing to do with you." I told Todd, hoping that I would get him to see that this wasn't his fight.

"Even if that is partially true, I want to help my friends from literal danger as much as I can if something like that is a issue. After what happened with Shari, I am not taking the fucking risks dude. And seeing what happened to Shari, and how much it is hurting the other members of my friend group, make this all worth it." After Todd said that, I looked over at Ashley, and I was wondering what I would even be able to say.

"And who knows, I feel like he is the one that I need to be looking for. He obviously understands the fact that people are desperate for a answer, and at this rate, if it is going to be for his own good, he will do whatever it takes to manipulate others into following him." Todd was saying, and I was feeling completely lost here.

"Okay, look, I am not saying that I am looking at this in your way, or agreeing with you… But if what you are saying is true, then I guess I will have to just stay at your side. I would rather be doing that than letting you get into this fucking insanity. Just make sure that I don't eventually regret this." I said, and then I was looking at him, wondering what to say.

"That is all that I fucking need in all honesty. I just feel like there is something about that man that I need to be careful for. Call it a false alarm or whatever. I don't frankly fucking care. I am going to just make sure that I am going to find out what is happening to my friend." Todd said to me, and then as he was going off, after a few steps, Ashley called out to him.

"Todd, if you are going to be doing this, then do your other friends know what you are planning to do? I mean, they can be able to help you out if you fucking approach them." She said, and then I was seeing Todd looking at her, and I was seeing her looking slightly scared of what to tell me here.

"I have talked with Kevin about my worries. But he doesn't really want to fucking hear it. He seems to think that I am lying to him, and that I am just over reacting. You have no idea how much it sucks to have a person you really trust just basically tell you that they want to hear nothing of your concerns." After Todd said that, he was seeming to kind of have a little bit of anger in his voice.

"And when I try to reach out to Sam, he obviously thinks that I am probably the worst option for how this could turn out. As if feeling like what I am going to be doing is only going to be making things worse for him or whatever." Todd said, and I was seeing him looking like he was kind of lost of hope.

"Don't worry about what Sam thinks. Worry about what you think. And do what you feel like is important. I mean, I feel like Sam just has a hard way of showing people that he cares about them, and as a result, comes off as being quite a bit harsher than he means." Ashley said, and I was seeing Todd looking like he had no interest.

"Well, I just thought that given everything, Sam and I would have been able to combine forces, and do something that actually fucking matters. After all, this is his younger brother we are talking about here. No matter if he gets it or not, we need to work together." Todd said, and then he was remaining silent for a second.

"I will talk with him again. I will see what he wants to discuss with this situation. I am sure if we work hard enough, I can get him to agree with something." After I was saying this to him, I was then seeing Todd starting to walk back towards us, as his anger and fear was starting to calm down a little bit more.

"So Ashley, what do you feel about everything? I mean, I still haven't really gotten to learn what your opinion on the matter is." After he said that to me, I was seeing him looking like he was kind of feeling sorry for what he was doing.

"Honestly, I have no real thoughts on the matter. I am just sort of waiting for things to happen, and see how it turns out. If I were a betting person though, I feel like we will never figure out the truth at least in our life time." She said, feeling the need to be honest more than anything.

"What are you interested in? I mean, I feel like I need to know you better." Todd said, and he was starting to play with his lower shirt a bit. As if feeling like he needed to get the courage to just speak up, and not be scared of what people were saying.

"Honestly, I don't have much. I never really went out and did much. I guess that in all honesty, I let a small fear of what was going on in this town get to me. Always feeling like something was coming up, and making sure that I didn't fall down that path." After Ashley said that, she remained silent.

"You never once had something that you are at least slightly interested in doing? Even as a small hobby or something? I feel like you got to find something out there that you can be interested in." Todd was saying, and he was looking like what he was saying was making perfect sense.

"I guess that it just never really seemed to be very important to me. That I could just do whatever I needed, when I was ready." After she was telling Todd this, the three of us were getting into more mundane conversations that didn't much matter.

Scene 17: History Waiting

Early the next day, Todd convinced me to meet up with Dana once again. I was too sure that I was wanting to do this. But I was not wanting to anger her quite yet, and in all honesty, I was feeling like she probably had at least some good reason to want to reach out to me. So there was no reason to be rude about it.

Once at the library, Dana was looking like she was utterly excited about something, and just needed to tell us what was going on in her mind right away. "So guys, I think we should be going to the forest, and check some stuff out there." After she was telling us this, I saw her looking like she was wanting to blow up with excitement.

"Alright. I mean, I guess that there is nothing wrong with going in there for the eighteenth time." Todd was saying, and he was sounding like he was kind of upset at this idea. But we were walking along, and I was at least mostly over what we had seen in the forest the last time.

As we were walking along, I was seeing that Dana had kind of realized that Todd was not being fully himself, and I was seeing her looking like she was kind of feeling bad for what happened. "Hey Todd, was there something that was bothering you?" She asked Todd, and then that was when Todd was feeling like being honest was all that mattered right now.

"Sheldon and I went in there several days ago, and we saw some things related to one of the missing people there. We both thought that we could be able to find something that would be able to genuinely help us. Such as the entrance to one of the mines. But we failed." Todd said, and then he was remaining silent after that.

As we were at the forest, I was seeing Dana looking like she was kind of thinking of a way to talk to Todd and make him feel better. But once she was realizing that something like this was not going to really be helping, she was looking like she was willing to just drop it.

"Well what we are doing is far different from any shit like that. I am not going to force you into those things. Just fucking help me out with looking for monsters, and we can see what we can find." After she was telling me this, I was taking a second to remain silent, and not say any further.

"Let's just go inside, and do our job." Todd said, and I was feeling like this guy was being way too stiff for no fucking reason. He was acting like what we were doing was going to be a giant waste of time for some reason.

As we were going along, I was then feeling like I needed to just ask Dana something. "So what made you interested in even getting involved in the monster hunt anyways? In all honesty, there is no reason to be so into this if you have no real stake." I said, and then Dana was laughing for a bit.

"It's mostly about the thrill of it. Knowing that something is happening there, and knowing that we can get something out of this. I just feel like we need to know what we can learn if we just get out of our comfort zone a little." Dana said, and then Todd was sighing at this next part.

"Did you learn this from a source, or are you just doing a random investigation?" Todd asked her and I was seeing that he was clearly not that interested in learning about the other small details at all. Dana looked at him, with a slight pouty face.

"Well, I just felt like I would take a look around, and since I know that you guys talk about this shit all the time, I was feeling that maybe I could be able to get you to help me out. But if you have no interest, I guess that I can just do this on my own." Dana said, as we were starting to walk through the path.

When we eventually were walking past the tree house, I was looking there for a second. I was feeling like I still needed to check some things out. But then I shook my head, feeling that I just needed to not be worried about this at all.

"Never mind. I already been there a hundred times. There is nothing that I am going to learn." I said, and then started to follow them once again, with them both looking glad that they didn't have to go in there again.

"Is there anything related to monsters in there in the first place?" She asked me, and then I was shaking my head. There was no way in hell that anything in that tree house was going to be connected to fucking monsters or whatever.

"I feel like the connection with monsters, if there is any, is going to be loose at best. I think you are going to be shit out of luck if you believe that we are going to be that lucky." After I told her this, I was feeling like what I was saying might have been a bit rough. But it was just the truth, and I wasn't scared to say it.

"I know they exist. You said it yourself. So why are you so against trying to learn more about them?" After she asked me this, I was sighing, since she clearly did not understand what I was saying. Not exactly putting words in my mouth, but just not getting my words.

"I never denied that they existed. I just feel like you probably have better things you can do than go for them. But that is not my choice, and I am a fool to pretend that they are." I said, and I was feeling like there was nothing else that I could even say here.

We eventually were at the waterfall again, and I was seeing Dana looking like there was something else on her mind. "Honestly, I feel like something is going on here. Something that is being hidden. But I feel like nobody will be listening to me when I say that." After Dana said that, I was looking right at her.

"I mean, I get that everybody loves this place, and that it is like the one area in town that people like to go to. But I feel like you guys need to be way more careful here." After she was telling me this, I was looking right at her, and I was wondering what in the world I was even going to say.

"I mean, even if that is true, which I don't oppose the idea of this, I feel like without any real evidence, there is no reason to go down there." I said, and then I was looking around, and Dana was calling out to me for a second.

"Have you ever thought that the biggest issue of not finding the people you care about is that you are not really going out there, and taking any real risks? I mean, I feel like certainly there is something you can find there." After Dana asked me this, I looked at her, wondering what I would accomplish here.

"I have been going out there and doing what I believe is best. But I feel like chasing after things when we have nothing to lose is not going to really make much of a difference." After I was telling her this, I was feeling like there was nothing else that I could even say now.

I was feeling like maybe I had been a bit hard on her though. "Dana, I just feel like there are already way too many things that are going on for me to actually be sure of what I am doing now." After I was telling her this, I was kind of taking a second to not really say more.

"But yeah, you're right. I know that something is going on here. I just feel it in my bones. But I have no other way to say it." I said, and then I was shrugging, and I felt like there was no need to be saying anything else. In all honesty, it was just kind of all hard for me to admit.

"I mean, this is where I found Christen's scarf, and I realized how much was being left behind for this place. I guess that maybe that is enough to make your point." I said, not wanting to talk about Christen unless if I fucking had to. I loved her too much for this.

Scene 18: Todd's Room

I was meeting up with Todd, and I was helping him clean up his room for a bit. "I could have swore that I had something with all of my friends earlier. I can't fucking remember it though. It just pisses me off, knowing that I might have lost the one thing that I had with Shari related to it." After he was telling me this, I was moving some stuff, trying to just not think too much about it.

"Are you sure that you are going to even find anything in there though? I mean, you might have left it at school or something. Just saying that it's possible." I said, and then Todd was remaining silent at that idea. As if he was thinking that this could be the worst way it could all end.

"I couldn't have fucking done that. If I did, then the janitor is required to throw it all away when the year ends. And then it will be gone." After Todd said that to me, I was sighing, feeling like I just needed to try and understand what he was even planning on accomplishing by doing this in the first place.

"So what exactly are you planning to find?" I asked, and then he looked at me, and when I was seeing the look on his face, he was looking like he was full of regret. I was feeling like there was nothing that I could say that would make the matter better.

"Just a picture. And in all honesty, I feel like I need to try and find anything that can help bring me back into the mood for really looking into this." Todd said, and then I was looking right at him, wondering what his goal was here.

"What about the promises that you were making to never really look into this anymore? I mean, that was what Harold told you he wanted you to do. I thought that you were planning on actually doing it." I said, and then Todd was shaking his head at that.

Eventually, he was pulling something out from his binder, and when he was seeing it, there was a huge smile on his face, and I was glad to be seeing that for once in his life, he was actually glad at how things were turning around.

"The picture of my friend group on the last Friday before school ended. We knew that since school was going to end in a couple of weeks, that we needed to just take one. We were planning to take another at the last day. Guess that's not happening though." He said, and then he showed me the photo, and I was starting to grow a faint smile.

The picture was having Kevin in the center with a shit eating grin. Todd was right next to him, looking like he was satisfied, but not quite smiling. Maurecia and Jenny were right behind them with smiles across their faces. Stephen was looking like he was actually dressed normal, and was right on Jenny's side. Dana was next to Todd on the left side, and looked like she was proud of something. Myron was having one thumb up as he was next to Maurecia. And even Joy, despite being next to Todd of all the people, looked like she was willing to at least pretend to be excited. And Shari was right next to Myron, looking slightly less tired.

"I had to take some time and effort to be able to convince Joy to be in the photo. She was never really into that stuff. But I am glad that I did. Although it is crazy that this is the last time that we really had a normal life." Todd said, and I laughed at him.

"You should take better care of it if you are that worried about it." After I said that to him, I was sighing, and I was feeling like I had over stepped a line as I was telling him this. Todd was slightly nodding as he was hearing me say that.

"No kidding." He said, and then placed the photo on his coffee table next to his bed. As he was staring at it for a second, there was a look of both somberness, and a mild happiness on it. He clearly knew that this event was never happening again. So he must have been happy to just have it in the first place.

"In all honesty though, looking at this just gives me a feeling of uncertainty. Uncertainty at what the world is going to be like. I guess that it was important that I learned this lesson in life earlier. That way I wasn't thrown to the side by it all." Todd said, and then he remained silent for a second after that, as I was considering the point he was trying to say.

Scene ?: The Gas Station Files

A couple of days later, I was at the front entrance of a gas station. I was feeling like this was going to have to be my own choice, and I was just hoping beyond everything else in the world, that my father would be able to be proud of the choice that I was making. Getting a job out there, and actually doing something good for once in my life.

But I was shaking my head, telling myself to stop thinking so much about this, and that the best thing to do is at least try and see what I could do to convince this guy to give me a chance. So with that, I walked inside of the gas station.

Once I was inside the gas station, I was seeing that the attendant was shocked to see me here in the first place. "Haven't had any customers all day. Surprised to see you here." After he was telling me this, I was shrugging, thinking that if this was the case, then that was only going to make things easier for me.

"Yeah, I was wondering if maybe I could be able to put in a job application." I said, hoping that saying that could get him to at least be somewhat interested in what I was doing. The guy looked like my question was just more shocking than anything else.

"Yeah, I suppose that you can, if you want to. But it would be really boring for you, since nobody really comes here. So I don't understand why you would want to do that." After he was telling this, I was shrugging, not really caring all that much right now.

"Honestly, that is perfectly fine. I am just trying to do something with my summer. And in all honesty, I feel like this is something that my dad would prefer from me." I said, and I was hoping that he didn't just instantly pick up on the fact that my father was the mayor.

"Okay, I just felt like I would try to warn you, since in all honesty, this type of job is not the most glamorous at all." After he was telling me this, I was nodding, hoping that by talking with him here, I could get this to work along faster.

"But yeah, I guess that I can have something that would be good for somebody your age." After he said that to me, he was sighing for a second, and I was seeing that he was looking like there was still a small part of him that really did not want to be doing this at all.

"I think something like a 4 to 8 on Mondays through Fridays will be fine. After all, once you go back to school, you can't have that just get in the way of things. But yeah, you can have your weekends still. I do have another two or three people who come in here." After he was telling me this, I was slowly nodding.

"Yeah, I feel like this is what I really need for myself. I have been thinking about the things I have let the paranoia always get to me, with the missing girls and stuff. I always get myself so riled up on these things and I feel like that is really getting to me more than anything else." I said, and then I was feeling like I was just rambling to a guy who didn't care.

"Well, I mean, I have no idea what to think about that stuff. What I do know is that getting all caught up in some of that stuff is just on par with being a giant conspiracy theory guy, and will only make things worse. I feel like you would be better just taking things the easy way through." The shop owner said, and then he was remaining silent for a couple of seconds longer.

"Truth be told, I think most of the things going on here would be better if we just let it go. I know that almost everybody here, myself included, had somebody they really care about go missing. But at the same time, dwelling on it is only going to make things worse for all those involved." After he was telling me this, I was sort of thinking about what he was saying.

"I feel like that would be nice and all, if it weren't for the fact that everybody expects big fucking things from me, and I have no idea if I will be able to fulfill them." I said, and then felt like I would come clean now and get it over with.

"After all, my father is the mayor. And he made a major promise to all those people who voted for him. Considering the fact that he virtually swept everything, it's clear the people don't to deal with it." After I was saying this, I was then thinking for a bit.

"I share his goals, and I feel like I need to help him with his goals. But I just don't want to be doing this right now." I said, and then after I admitted to being a strong supporter of the guy, I was wondering if that was a good idea.

"Don't let politics get in the way of anything. You are too young for that shit. Not even old enough to vote at all." After he was saying that to me, I was shaking my head, no feeling like that was a good way to look at it, since I was still there for my dad.

"I feel like that is not good enough. It doesn't matter how old or how young I am, I made a promise to help my father, and as far as I am concerned, he is the only one planning on doing something here." I said, and then I was standing up, and then I was taking a second to think more.

"See you next Monday. Don't forget about me. We can talk about this more then." I said, and then after I said that to him, I was sighing, and he was taking a deep breath, already probably thinking about how much he was going to regret this.

I was wondering why I even brought politics into this. It was none of his business. I mean, I was thinking that bringing it up might have made him respect me more. Or at least be glad that there was a level of transparency there. But I felt like maybe I had forced it.

But as I was driving home, I was just glad to finally have something that I could say was lined up for me. Something that I used as a life line in case something happened to me or dad. And I was hoping that by the time that I graduated, I would be here still here, and he would respect me more.

Although I was wondering how things would have been if it had turned out that this man was one of the very few people who did not vote for my father, and therefore probably felt like I was just sort of bragging. Because no matter how big of a landslide it was, I knew that several thousand people still picked the other guy.

Although to be honest, I was wondering what my father would be saying when he had found that I was actually doing this. He would either be respecting this position, or probably be thinking that I was just trying to get his approval or some shit like that. But either case, I was feeling like it was going to be something that I could be proud of.

And it was kind of interesting, although upsetting, to see people who were willing to admit that they were not all that interested in learning the truth anymore. It just felt like this was something nobody was caring about anymore. And the fact that I was slowly seeing that was really kind of having a hard time processing through with me too well.

But the biggest thing I was worried about was if I was going to be heading there, and then over time realize that I was some fucking dead beat, who wouldn't be able to handle the responsibility. Who was just simply screwing around, and not doing what I should. If that was the case, then I would be wondering what else I should have done.

But one thing that I was getting more sure of was that I was feeling like for once, I was actually doing something more important than myself. I was feeling like maybe I would be able to look at myself several months from now, and say I made the right choice.

Eventually, I was at my house, and I was taking out a cigarette, and I was feeling like having a small smoke was going to relieve myself before things got too much worse. And in all honesty, I was thinking that once it started, things would turn up.

Scene ?: Quick Ending

Sheldon was sitting down, feeling like there was nothing else to say at the moment. He was looking at his therapist, who was looking shocked to be seeing that he was ending it so relatively short compared to the first two sessions.

Sheldon: Shit, I can't really seem to remember the next part very well. This is always the part of the story where things just kind of get blurry. Trying to even remember what was happening in the first place.

Therapist: I never expected you to say such a thing, considering how much of a great memory you have shown during these three sessions so far. So what do you think you need to do?

Sheldon: I guess that it might be best to just call it quits for tonight. That way I can be able to think of where my story picks up here. I am really sorry for that. I thought that I would have been able to give you more. But it is hard for me.

Therapist: Alright. Yeah, I guess that's fine. I will let you go. Just make sure that the next time you come, you don't get totally lost here. I feel like there is more that we need to cover, and not a whole lot of progress is being made.

Sheldon: Yeah, I mean, I feel like this is just a sign of what is to be coming. After all, from what I remember, it gets a lot worse from here on forward, and it is hard for me to really keep a smile up.

Therapist: A fucking smile dude? You never show one ever. I think that you need to be smiling more. But whatever, you can say whatever the fucking hell you want. I guess that when we're talking about you, happiness shows up different.

Sheldon: I wonder how long it is going to be taking you to see that I really made a bunch of horrible mistakes. I mean, even if I was a younger guy when I did all of these things, that doesn't change the fact that I made some really horrible choices.

Therapist: I mean, I feel like the biggest thing you did wrong was not properly communicate with people you were close with. I feel like you should have been talking to them much more than you did. But I guess that's not really my business.

Sheldon: What I did was the right thing at the moment. I thought that I was really doing my best to be helping those around me. I see what I did wrong now. But at the time, it was the best course of action.

Therapist: That is probably the nicest thing you have said about yourself. I guess that you did have some more respect for yourself than you are wanting to admit. See you next time. Thanks for the talk.

Sheldon was getting up after he thanked his therapist for the session, and told her that he was going to be doing whatever he could to give her more a better session next time. After all, he didn't really feel like he made his point enough.