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.

33. The Final Son (remaster in progress)

Chapter 3: One Girl With Ten Brothers
Episode 1: The Final Son

Scene 1: August 22 2020 1:18 am

My name is Todd Robinson, and I guess that I am going to be taking part in the current day testimony of the things that have been going on in Wayside. And I guess that after everything, it is long over due.

I am twenty years old at the time this took place. I am the oldest of eleven siblings. I guess that this first entry will just be simply me introducing all of us, so you have a idea who we are.

I was probably the most tech savvy person out of all the siblings. Even beyond my age, I always took the time to know about the current phones (and made a personal agreement with my parents that I would buy the first phone for all my siblings once they turned ten), always watched all the current movies and streaming services, youtube videos, and kept on top of all the video games. I had a twitch channel where I streamed every weekday to help my parents earn money while stay at home and watch the younger siblings, and a laptop where i kept on top of current day events.

The second oldest of the eleven was my brother Gabe. At eighteen years old, he was the only one who was still close enough with me in age where I was able to connect with him on a virtually daily basis, although we still got into fights all the time, but more as a affectionate brotherly way.

He was the most politcally interested out of all of us, and to be honest, I had to hold back my annoyance a lot of time when he was talking about that stuff, since I was feeling like this was going to be the main thing that would drive our entire family apart if we were not careful. But to be honest, he was the nicest person in the family, to the point where if he snapped, you know you deserved it.

Next in line was Josiah, the fifteen year old rock star. He was always playing random music, and trying to keep on top of the latest trends. On one hand, it was kind of annoying, on the other hand, it was kind of nice to see his passion.

Like with Gabe, if I placed in enough time and effort, I was able to sort of connect with him, and know how things were going. Probably because he was in tenth grade, and only being out for two years, high school was still relatively fresh.

Seth was eleven years old, and the next one in line. The four year gap between him and Josiah was the largest age gap between any individual birth in our entire line up. And I liked to call him "the oldest of the young ones". In the sense that he was the first one I really couldn't fully connect with anymore, and that once the three of us were out of the house, it was up to him.

That was why I always made sure to help him out with the house, grades, and his comedy acts, to help him be ready for when the time came. As well as the fact that, despite the fact that publicly I would deny it to avoid scrutiny, he was honestly my favorite out of my ten siblings, and the only one who gave me no annoyances.

The next one was Jack. The nine year old sports activist. He always liked to be the best person he could be when it came to those things. Probably because, as he himself says, he isn't great at grades, so he was trying to find something that he would be able to use to give himself some leverage in the acedemic world.

To be honest, if he stuck with it though, he would go far. I mean, when I was his age, I was hardly doing anything besides watching movies night, and consuming hours of data at a time.

Lydia, the only girl in the entire line up, was the next one in the list. At seven years old, she was entering first grade, and to be honest, I was kind of wondering what in the world she was growing to grow up to be like.

To be honest though, and Gabe and I agreed to keep this secret, as well as Josiah who did catch on eventually, but Lydia was adopted. After having five sons in a row, my mother, who was insistent on wanting at least one girl, basically made it fit of it with my dad. So he decided to approach Lars Needlemeyer to make a adoption go through, but he was extremely hush hush it.

It was probably for the best, as right after that, on January 1 2015, Henry, the first of Lydia's five younger brothers was born. And I could tell that he was already taking a slightly different approach to my interest, as he watches a bunch of movies and shows. But all in the horror and creepypasta variety, and while I felt he was too young for this, I decided to just let him do this, since he was having a passion for it.

Dylan was the older of the two three year old twins. He always went with my father when he was doing shit, and I was feeling like he was going to be interested in things like cars and what not, since the very few sentences he did give that were coherent were all about that. To be honest, with the fact that dad brought him to work every other day, I was having a feeling that he was dad's favorite.

Drake was the younger of the two twins. It was always hard to figure out even remotely what type of person he was going to be, since he was always playing with toys, and hardly seemed willing to talk to people, and I felt like he was just trying to keep to himself.

Calvin was the reverse of Seth and Josiah's age gap, as he was just barely a year younger than the two twins. The twins were born on June 30 2017, while Calvin was born on July 2 2018. So as a result of that, developmentally, I could see that he was already virtually on par with them, and would be hanging out with them relatively often.

On the times when all three of them were together, I could see that they were already kind of being a bit of a trio, and to be honest, relative to tehir age, Calvin was already much further developmentally than they were, as he was speaking at virtually the same rate that they were.

The youngest one, Ridge, was actually born the day that I dated this entry, so August 22 2020. Mainly because for this confession, I wanted to go to the earliest possible time with all eleven of us around, and to be honest, strangely enough everything went bad around the time he was born anyways.

So now that I got the long introductions over time, as I was hanging out with Seth, and waiting for the pizza we ordered to show up as a celebration of Ridge being born, I was just laying my legs down.

"Have you been considering the idea of maybe going out on a date soon? You're already twenty and don't have a girlfriend." After he said that, I looked right at him, wondering why he was asking that.

"Can't when I work five days a week to provide money for the house, and have been trying to make my streams as successful as I can." Is aid, and then Seth looked down, and I saw him looking like that was a bit of a downer to hear.

The door bell rang, and I got right up, and opened it, and paid the money. Before the delivery girl went off, I handed Seth the pizzas and called out to her. "Bebe? Is that you?" I asked, and then she turned around, and looked at me, and smiled at the fact that I noticed.

"Hey Todd. It's been a while." She said, now starting to finally calm down. I felt so wrong talking to her, since I hadn't seen her in so fucking long.

"Yeah, how has school been for you?" I asked, hoping that she would be doing well. She was a senior like Gabe, and I had to help her out with most of the school work she had to do before I eventually graduated.

"To be honest, it is utterly miserable. Always dealing with people who only care about sex, and hardly talk about things I am going through. I just never felt any inclination to go through with seeing somebody after a couple months." After Bebe was saying this, I looked down, and I was kind of feeling bad for her right now.

"Well, sorry that you have to deal with that. Ever since I graduated, I have dedicated all my time to twitch, and making roughly forty to sixty dollars a day. You know, since mom and dad needed me to stay at least until Gabe turned eighteen." I said, feeling like that was a rather silly way to be living.

"Isn't his birthday in October?" She asked, and I confirmed. The second, in fact. So I was only required to stay here for roughly another month or so. By then, he would be old enough legally to be for all intents and purposes a guardian for the siblings.

"Hey, if you wanted to meet up and hang out for a while at some point, here's my number." I said, and glanced at Seth, feeling like I would go through with the idea. When I handed her the number, she smiled the largest that I had seen her smile her. I knew right then and there that this was totally fucking worth it.

"Thanks. Talk to you later. Hopefully we can make something work." After she was saying this, I slowly nodded, glad that this was almost completely painless. It almost felt too fucking easy. But I guess that maybe I needed to give myself some credit after all.

"Before you go, sorry about what happened in May." I said, referring to her best friend, who had become of those "labyrinth victims" very late into the month. I was seeing Bebe wincing at that mention. I felt like I might have stepped a line. But I honestly didn't care. I wanted her to understand taht I supported her no matter what.

"Thanks." As she said that, I wished she would give me more. But I knew she was upset, and I fucked up, and I needed to just take the fall.

"Well, I have to get going. Don't want to be late to another order. My boss made it empathically clear that if I am late on another order this week, he was going to have to let me go." She said, and I was feeling like I needed to shut up then, since I didn't want to be taking any risks right now. So she went in the car, and started to drive off.

As Bebe was driving off, the grinding noise went off, and to be honest, I wasn't even remotely surprised. I just took a long and deep breath, and sort of accepted that this was how things were going. I just hoped that when the younger siblings grew older, they would just not pester the subject any further.

---

Scene 2: August 23 2020

The next day, I was meeting up with Carlos and Dan, who were both congratulating me on Ridge's birth, but to be honest, it was sort of just passing my mind, I was having a feeling like Ridge being born was the going to be my motivation to just become as good of a brother as I fucking could.

"Yesterday, I was talking to Bebe, after she was dropping my family some fucking pizza. I asked her on a date, and she was fucking saying yes." I said, and I was seeing both my friends looking just kind of shocked to hear me admit that.

"Oh shit. I knew that she was wanting to ask you out all the fucking time. You could see from the look on her face that she was wanting to do that this whole time." After Carlos was telling me this, I shrugged, and had nothing to say to that.

"Are you going to be showing up to my birthday?" Carlos looked at me, and I shrugged, having no idea what in the world to even fucking tell him in the first place.

"Obviously I was going to go. To be honest, I might need to do something like that, as a excuse to get out of the house." I said, referring to the younger siblings, and the shit related to the streaming.

"Anyways, sorry for everything. I know you were getting annoyed with your parents constantly having kids, and I remember you saying that you felt like they need to focus on the kids that they already have." After he was admitting this to me, I shrugged, not sure what to tell him in the first place.

"Well, I accept the fact that they are going to do whatever the hell they want, and to be honest, I just don't really fucking care anymore." After I admitted this, I was always hoping that they would see things differently now.

"To be honest, I can give my dad a slide. The guy is fucking seventy years old, and he needs to focus on his fucking job right now. And I guess that I do have to admit that my mother is improving over time. But that did not change the fact that she was fucking miserable the first decade or so of my life." I said, and I shrugged, not sure what in the world I would say to argue.

"Well, whatever. Sorry I even fucking asked." After Carlos said that, this was when Dan was changing the subject again. But to be honest, I knew full well what he was going to bring up.

"Do you guys know anything about the grinding noise this time? I was wanting to try and fucking see if somebody knows who went missing." Dan said, and I looked right at him, wondering why in the world he was even bringing that up in the first place.

"No, I have no idea. I try to stay away from that. I bring it up to my dad once every year or two, and he always gets really upset when I bring it up, and tells me to stop focusing on these things. He often tells me that I need to focus on my streams." I said, and I was finding it strange that I lived in a world where my parents were literally telling me to play *more* video games, not less.

"Well, then stop talking with your father about it. I think that maybe you can try and talk to the fucking mayor or something. He might be more interested in this." After Dan said that to me, I was sighing, since in all honesty, I was not really sure if this would be worth it.

"Look, I just don't fucking care. It only goes off every several months, and most of the people that go missing are people that I literally don't know jack shit about." I said, feeling like I just needed to be honest with them as I said this. Dan just looked shocked that I actually admitted that to his face, since he was always interested in this in the first place.

"Honestly, I think the only thing that could make me start to care is if something happened to Lydia or Bebe." I finally felt like being fully honest with them was the best thing that I could fucking do, and I felt like with my ten younger siblings, I really had to just fucking focus on that.

"After all, I have ten younger siblings, and I want to make sure that I am there when they fucking all grow up, especially fucking Ridge, since he was literally just born." I said, feeling like I needed to be there at least until he was able to remember me, which was roughly five.

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense." Dan said, and he was sounding like he was not really buying that shit, but sounded like he was not really in the mood to argue with me at this point. To be honest, I was feeling like nothing else fucking mattered at all anymore.

"Yeah, I went over the line. Sorry for acting like that just now. You deserved fucking better." After Dan admitted this, I was shocked to hear him say that in the first place.

"Don't worry about it. I know that you had no bad intent." I said, feeling like I just needed to be honest with him as I fucking said this. But despite everything else, I was just feeling like I was finally showing the bigger picture.

I was taking a cigarette out, and I was shaking my head, feeling kind of tired of everything that was happening, and I was feeling like if Dan was wanting to learn more, then he could tell me. But for now, that was beyond my fucking obligation.

"So Todd, I am kind of curious, if I did start getting deeper into the investigation, would you be willing to help me out with that?" He asked, and I looked right at him, having no idea what in the world I would even tell him.

"I guess that if you really want to know, I guess that I would. I mean, depends entirely on what actually happened. I will be honest though, that I wouldn't want to." I said, feeling like being honest about this was making partial sense.

"Okay." Dan said, and I was seeing him looking like he was considering something here. I was shaking my head, hoping that this was not going to head down the path that I was fucking dreading.

"Sorry that I brought down the mood. I wasn't trying to be too annoying or anything like this." After Dan was telling me this, I was wondering what he was planning, since clearly he was trying to pull something together, and was trying to pretend like it was normal, when it was anything but.

"You're fine." I said, feeling like I just needed to try and make him feel like I was pressing him. "So Carlos, going back to your party, what are you planning on doing?" I asked, and Carlos shrugged, sounding kind of unsure of what his plan would be.

"Yeah, well, my parents are going to be away, so we don't have to worry about your guys birthday being in a while, and I can just let you have alcohol too." Carlos said, and while I was feeling like this might not have been the best idea, I would just choose to not argue with him at all.

"Well, shit, I guess that if your parents are off doing shit, then we have to go through with drinking constantly." After Dan said this, he was now starting to finally get excited for once, and I was glad that he was not trying to make any annoying plans.

"Should I bring anybody else?" I asked, feeling like I needed to at least suggest the idea, but I was having a feeling they were going to be fucking saying no regardless.

"Probably not. I mean, I don't want to really get into too much trouble. I mean, if my parents find out that I brought you guys over, they would probably be fine..." Carlos said, clearly just trying to hide the fact that he was actually far more scared of this than he was wanting to admit.

I was finding that argument to not really be as good as he was thinking, and I was feeling like everything he was saying was just a utter fucking load of bullshit.

"Well, I will tell you how the date with Bebe goes when it happens. Hopefully everything will be fine enough, and no matter what happens, we can all just laugh it off." I said, not sure what in the world I really thought would happen.

"Oh yeah, I can't wait to hear about how you try so hard to seal the deal, and then something happens that completely fucking ruins it." After Carlos said that to me, I looked at him, and I was actually kind of pissed with him saying that. It felt almost too low of a fucking blow.

"Wow, that's really fucked up. Did you have to say it that way?" I asked, and I was sighing, not really in the mood to deal with this right now.

"Well, I know that since you never really dated people before, it might be kind of hard for you to have a sense of how to approach people. You know, just being honest." He said, and I was shaking my head, not in the mood to hear this.

"Well, I mean, it's just as simple as starting and maintaining a conversation. I do it with you guys every weekend..." I said, and then after that, Dan was standing up, and he was starting to head to the door, which started to get my interest again.

"There's somebody who I said I would talk with, and what not, and I failed to do that. So I will have to leave for now." After he said that, he rubbed his eyes, and seemed kind of annoyed with the fact that he let it slip along this long.

"Well, hopefully it turns out well." I said, not sure what in the world I would even respond with. As Dan was leaving, Carlos closed his eyes, and I was seeing that he looked like he was already regretting what he would say, for some fucking reason.

"He has been talking to Benjamin lately. You know, the guy in our class who had the thirteen year old sister who went missing several years ago. Dan started to get far more interested in the whole case, which is probably why he was being so stern about it earlier." After he said that, I could not believe that I was hearing this. But to be honest, when I knew the truth, I guess it did make some fucking sense.

"Well, hopefully he and Benjamin don't do anything fucking stupid." I said, shrugging, thinking that if I said it this way, my opinion on the matter would be quite clear, and people would know that I did not want to screw around with this anymore.

"Yeah, that is what I am worried about. I'm more worried about Dan than Benjamin, because we both know how that fucking guy reacts to everything going on around him." After he said that, I slowly nodded, not able to argue or play devils advocate.

---

Scene 3: August 24 2020

The next day, before I was having my Monday twitch stream, while I was working on exporting last weeks vods onto the schedule for my youtube channel, I was getting a text from Bebe.

Instantly I was both excited, and also dreaing, what the text was going to be, and I was hoping that my fears were going to be proven to be ridiculous. "Hey Todd, I wanted to just talk for a bit about my family, and see if I could get your opinion on things." After Bebe texted me that, I was shocked to hear that.

"Do you want to do that during the date or at a different day?" I asked, hoping that I would show her that no matter what happened, I was going to be at her side, no matter what, and she had nothing to worry about.

"It might be best to talk about it during the date, so that way I don't lose my chance to get this off my fucking chest." After she sent that, I was slowly nodding, feeling like I needed to agree, at least for her sake.

"Okay. Thanks. I know that was rather abrupt, and probably not what you wanted, but I just have a lot of things on my mind, especially about my two brothers." After Bebe sent that, I shrugged, feeling no reason to be so fucking formal or anything like that.

When the conversation was over, I was looking at the ceiling, feeling like this was going to potentially go down hill real fucking fast, if I was not careful enough. I did not want her to trust me, and then it turns out that I was fucking nothing.

This was almost bothering me more than the shit relating to Dan getting interested in working with Benjamin. Which I was still feeling like was a terrible fucking idea, but I knew that there was no way that I would be able to make that opinion heard.

But feeling like I just needed to know what my friend was truly doing, and see if maybe I could be able to make a difference, I decided to start driving towards Benjamin's place, hoping he would just come clean about the shit that my friends were doing.

So I made it to the gas station, and immediately got inside, and I was seeing Benjamin sitting down on the chair, smoking a cigarette, and reading some article online. Basically stuff that I would expect somebody our age to be into. He looked over at me, and immediately looked down, as if scared of what I was going to be saying.

"Hey dude, I was told by my friend Dan that you guys met up yesterday." He said, and then he was standing up. He placed his hands on the table, and looked like there was a genuine sense of venom in his voice.

"I know you do not want to help me out with looking into this. That's fine. I get it. You have a bunch of younger siblings to take care, and you're making a living on twitch. I respect that. But don't come to me, and tell me that I am making shit up." He said, and I was slowly nodding, feeling like his demeanor was not something I wanted to fuck with.

"Well, if I am being honest, most of the last day or so, I have been thinking about what Dan was telling me, and I want to be sure you guys are staying safe." I said, and I was seeing him looking utterly shocked to hear me say that out of nowhere.

"To be honest, I have just been telling him all the information that has come up. We haven't actually done anything really." He admitted, and I sighed, feeling like Dan being so intereste din this was still a bit confusing.

"Well, do you really think that something is actually happening here? I mean, that was five years ago. I don't want to be a asshole when I say this, but truth be told, you're probably never going to get the truth." I said, and I was actually disgusted with the fact that I said that.

"I believe that there is more than enough to go off of. I just need to find the fucking clincher." After he said that to me, I looked right at him, and I was seeing him really look fucking sternw ith his plan. I was shaking my head, having no idea what I could tell him.

"Look, here's the thing. I might not want to get involved with this, and I think that this can go south really fucking fast. But I do not want you to do anything too stupid." I said, and then I was writing down my fathers number, and handed it to him.

"My father is a private detective, and he has been gathering information for many years on what is happening. I think you should talk to him if you want anything." I said, feeling like this idea was probably the best one that I had for the time being. But I hoped I did not regret it later.

"Your father." Benjamin said, and I could see from the look on his face, that he was at least considering it for a second. He closed his eyes, and in general looked like this idea was not something he wanted to do.

"I mean, I hate to break it to you, but he has been doing this for decades. I think that it might be possible that he is lying to you and your brothers, and just trying to make it seem like he is doing something, but in reality actually fucking isn't." He said, and looked right at me, wondering what I would say in reaction to this.

I was pissed off at him even mentioning that at all. He did not know what that man was doing, and I don't think he could understand how much my father had been settinga side everything, to get what he needed done. And he was being thrown away by Benjamin.

"Look, I understand that it might not seem that way, but he has been pushing rather hard, and I feel like you need to give him a fucking chance." I said, and then after I said that, I just simply felt like Benjamin and I were going to be at odds with each other this whole time, for better or for worse.

"And besides, why in the world is Dan talking to you anyways? I mean, it seems like you guys barely even know each other in the first place." I said, feeling like I just needed to be honest as I said this. Benjamin shrugged, as he was texting my dad.

"I think that he just started to see how fucked up this whole thing really was, and he started to get wise to the fact that the people who work in this town are pieces of shit, and he finally wants to change it. Something I can respect." He said, and then he looked at me, as if wondering what I would say.

"Now Todd, why the fucking hell are you doing this? Everybody has a reason..." He said, and I looked right at him, and felt like I would just be straight up real with him.

"To be honest, I am doing this to make sure that my friend stays safe. I never wanted to get involved in this, but I guess that can't fucking be helped, considering the fact that he probably was going to be doing this anyways." I said, and I was pissed at this admission, knowing that my friend threw everything away for this.

"I guess that you have your own reasons then. I mean, I don't think I need to say how much things could really get much worse if we aren't careful. I mean, every time I try and talk to the principal, I always just get these vibes, that he knows full well what he is doing, but just tries to pretend to be all innocent." He said, and I slowly nodded, rememberin the principal decently well.

"Yeah, well, I think that I have heard enough rumors about the principal where I would not be dumb enough to listen to a damn thing that asshole has to say. But I guess that is just me though." I said, and I shrugged, hoping that he was not going to be pissed at me just being real with him.

"Yeah, so you do see what I am fucking saying. You know full well that something is happening, at least with him, and you are just letting it slide. I mean, I guess that I can sort of see not being too interested, but I don't know, you have a younger sister. I would just feel like you should have more passion to it." He said, and I was shrugging, feeling like he was just trying to pull my fucking leg here.

"Let me fucking tell you right now, it is not that fucking easy. I mean, I feel like the best thing to do in order to keep Lydia safe is to not pursue dangerous shit like this." I said, and I was hoping that maybe I could be able to get him to see where I came from. He shrugged, and simply seemed to have no fucking interest in hearing what I had to say at all.

"I don't know. I guess if I was not having my own personal bias, I would probably see where you were coming from. But I guess that I just can't get over what I fucking know, and the fact that it seems like nobody gives a shit." He said, and I was sighing, feeling like he just needed to move beyond that on his own then.

"I never said I didn't give a shit. I just feel like there are different ways to be going at this than you are fucking saying." I said, and at this point, I was beyond tired of his shit, and I took a cigarette out again, ready to just leave.

"Just fucking contact my god damn dad." I said, and left the station, not in the mood for more.

I was then starting to set up my stream, feeling like I needed to just rebound from the fact that I was already nearly thirty minutes late, and that shit was fucking huge in the grand scheme of things. Especially when half my money was being sent to my parents to help with the siblings.

"Hey guys, sorry for how late I was. I was having something in my personal life to take care of, and I completely fucking lost track of time." I said, as I got right into the session, continuing my progress with getting all 75 achievements in Fallout New Vegas, which I was 41 of the way there, after I finished my first run, which was pro NCR.

"And for those who are coming in here for the first time, every Monday I give a quick run down: But every weekday, I come on here, for anywhere between four and eight hours, and I slowly work through a video game, working on getting every single achievement in that game." I said, feeling like now that I got my weekly explanation done with, I continued my run.

Several hours later, when I was done, I laid down on my bed, and took a cigarette out, and stared at the ceiling, wondering what I was going to do with Benjamin, and feeling like what he was saying might have been true after all, for better or for worse.

---

Scene 4: August 25 2020

The next day, I was taking Seth out school shopping, since he was always the first one I took out every year, which in hindsight I think might have given away my personal preference to the guy, despite the fact that I was trying to hide it.

"So I heard you were going on a date with Bebe soon. Tell me all about it when it's done." After he said that to me, I looked right at him, feeling like this was something that he was probably not going to be nearly as interested in if he knew all the details.

"To be honest Seth, I think you're kind of over estimating how exciting dates are. People always talk about them as the greatest thing in the world when they're just basically a glorfied hang out." I said, feeling like I would just be honest with him.

"But yeah, I'm going there, and I hope that I can get her to see that I would be serious about a relationship." I said, and I saw Seth looking excited to see my difference in opinion here.

"Lit. I always knew you had it in you." Seth said, and I looked right at him, and I was feeling like he was getting way too excited about this. After all, for all I know, it could fail.

"Well, if it doesn't work out well, then I guess that we can all have a nice laugh about it later." I said, feeling like I just needed to try and give Seth a sense of composure, and like I was not even going to be too upset with however things went. Even though deep down inside, I was dreading everything, and was hoping that I was totally wrong.

"But Seth, I am kind of worried that I am going to see her, and then it turns out that I am not really going to be the best person for her. That I might just be a simply bad boyfriend and what not." I said, and Seth was shaking his head, hoping to try and appease me, to make me feel like I had a chance after all.

"Well, you never really know until you try. And besides, I think she will just be happy to have a person at her side, making her feel better about the situation that she is in. After all, you said to me that she wanted to talk to you about her brothers and family." Seth said, as we were wandering around the mall for a bit, and I saw Seth looking like he was just trying to read my face.

"Is there anybody you like?" I asked, and I was feeling like he was kind of getting in that age where love started to bloom, and that as a result, it was fair, within reason, to try and make fun of him for it.

"No, I don't have anybody like that. To be honest, every time I think about romance, I think about the fact that nobody really likes me at all, and that I am just going to be a piece of shit boyfriend." Seth said, and I was feeling like I needed to get him to stop that right now.

"You would not be a piece of shit boyfriend. Please don't start with that shit again. It's not good for you to say that." I said, and then I was starting with the composition notebooks, and picked one up for each subject that he was taking, and then the colored pencils for art.

"I think that in all honesty, you just need to find the person that is right for you. And that might be kind of hard, but I think once you look hard enough, you will find the one person you really adore. I believe in you, either way." I said, feeling like I just needed to give him something to be happy with.

"I mean, I guess that there are some people in school that I think are cute." Seth admitted, and that was the type of comment that I wanted to hear. Since him being open about his feelings showed that he did trust me.

"Well, I think that the best thing you can do for yourself, is to go out there, and just try and talk to them. See if they would be willing to be friends. And worst comes to worst, if they are not, then just find somebody else." I said, feeling like what I was saying made perfect sense, but I saw Seth looking unsure.

"Why do you care so much if I do well in school or not? I mean, you have been out of school for several years. I think it might be best for you to just kind of put that behind you." After Seth was telling me this, I looked at him, wondering why he would say that.

I grabbed a few more things on his list, while thinking of a reply he would be happy with. "Because to be honest Seth, I want you and all the other siblings to be truly happy, no matter what that fucking takes. Even if that means I have to get involved in things that sometimes I have no interest in." I said, feeling that being honest was the best bet.

"I guess that makes sense. Now that I think about it, I don't even know why I bothered asking that." Seth said, and I was nodding, glad that he was willing to see that he over stepped the line, and I feel like the question was still fair, to be honest.

"Well, I mean, I think it's important to ask stuff that seem obvious, but I have to think again. So I have nothing against it." I said, feeling like I needed him to feel better about what he was doing.

"I don't even know if that was what I was doing. I just kind of asked a question out of nowhere, and to be honest, I am kind of surprised you were willing to even fucking answer at all." Seth said, and I looked at him, wondering where he would go here.

"Well, I mean, I feel like you deserve to know what is going on in my mind. And besides, I feel like maybe that can help me with the younger siblings. After all, I always had a bad feeling that I was not really the best brother in the world." I said, feeling like I just needed to be honest.

"So you're not mad at me or anything?" Seth asked, and I was shaking my head. There was no way in hell that I would be able to get myself mad at him for asking a good question, even if it was something I did not really enjoy.

We had gathered up the supplies at the mall, and I was looking right at Seth, and I was wanting him to really listen to me here. I felt like he was way too young for the self doubt shit, and I needed him to get out of that. "Look, Seth, you don't need to keep taking shit about yourself like that. You are a good brother, and I enjoy being with you." I said, and I saw Seth looking confused. "Im serious. I really do not want to deal with this again."

"Okay. I'm fucking sorry. I didn't mean to make you so fucking upset." Seth said, clearly on the defense, and I was feeling like maybe I had pushed him too hard on the response. But I was not going to be dealing with Rhett self doubting himself for really no good fucking reason, especially since he was trying his best. But when I was seeing the look on his face change and contort to being one of just being desperate to end the discussion, I was sighing, and felt like my job was done.

We eventually went to Joyful Burger afterwards, where I tried my best to ignore Lars Needlemeyer, since that guy always gave me the creeps, and I was feeling like there was something he was planning, and I was just listening to Seth's attempts of comedy again, and trying to give him advice on what to do going forward.

"So Seth, do you have any idea what you are planning on doing for the school year? I mean, I know that you are probably going to try and get into the comedy again, but are you sure that will work?" I asked, feeling like I needed to try and tip toe around the point.

"Well. I just really want to enjoy my first year in middle school. I know that I am probably not going to win anybodys hearts or anything like that, and that people never really find my stuff funny. But I was told that the worst thing that I can do is just completely fucking give up without even fucking trying.

"Yeah, middle school is kind of the age range when everybody starts becoming their own person, and you kind of leave what your parents say behind for your choices." I said, feeling like I was needing to just give him that relative reality check.

"Well, I know that. But I guess that maybe I am thinking that what mom and dad think are best for me, could be true, and that I am just rejecting this idea, for really no good fucking reason." After Seth was telling me this, I looked right at him, having nothing to say.

"Well, to be honest, I guess I get that. When I was your age, I was afraid of going against dad. After all, the guy was in his early sixties at the time. Literally no matter how old I get, he will have so much more experience than me it's not even funny." I said, and I felt like I should have maybe taken what he said with a bit more seriousness.

"But do you feel like you made the right choice now? Considering the fact that if it weren't for you doing your own thing, you would have never been able to meet up with Bebe, and make your own friends?" Seth asked me, and I really had no idea what to feel here. And I just told him bluntly that answer.

"These are the last couple of years of your childhood, and soon you will be entering high school, where you're not exactly an adult, but you're old enough to where you are expected to be held accountable for all your actions." I felt like telling him this was just going to let him really understand his position.

We finished eating our meal, and I was so fucking happy to see Seth start to get happier again, and I was glad to know that in the end, despite how much he might have been annoyed with how I was acting, I knew that I was doing the right thing. And I got up, and looked right at Seth.

"Well, I have to get to work now. At least my job is something fun, and I can still be with you guys mostly." I said, but thought that I just needed to get the money as fast as I can, especially since I was still only earning an average of five dollars an hour. Which was still something, but not enoug to where I could slip up for even a fucking hour.

When we were done, despite the fact that I wanted to extend the hang out, I knew that I needed to rack in as many hours as I could on twitch to compensate for my shirt day tomorrow. So I went home, and instead of wrapping up at midnight, played until 2:30 in the morning, to really drive it all home. By the end, I was tired as all shit.

---

Scene 5: August 26 2020

After my twitch stream ended that day, which I explained to my audience would end at nine tonight instead of the usual midnight because of a date I was on, I went over to Bebe to pick her up, and I was shocked to see her red dress.

Bebe got in the car, and she was looking right at me. "Going casual, I like that." She said, since the only change I made was having a black vest on, and I was uncomfortable, thinking that it had nothing to do with style and what not. But I decided to pretend.

I started to drive towards her favorite place, which I remembered going to once because we went there at the end of my senior year, when our project was an A. I lowered my window, and took a cigarette out, which Bebe looked like she wanted to ask me why I was doing that in the first place.

"So Bebe, you said that you wanted to talk to me about your brothers? What exactly was on your mind?" I asked, and then Bebe looked down on the table, and she seemed to be kind of lost in thought, as if scared of how I would react.

"Well, as you might remember, I have two brothers. One older and one younger. The issue is that I'm a full ten years apart from either of them, so there was no fucking connection at all, and now that Robbie Dan is already in second grade, and he's not a baby anymore, I realize how out of my league I am with connection with him." Bebe said, and I was feeling like I needed to just listen to her.

"And I am scared that he will be the victim of bullying in school, and that nobody is really going to like him too much at all. I just wish that I wasn't so scared here, but I guess that there is nothing I can do to change it." Bebe said, and she shook her head.

"Well, that is something that everybody has to deal with. And when they grow older, they will be able to overcome this. I mean, he will be able to stand up for himself, and tell people when he feels like they are taking things way too far with him. Besides, since he's already in second grade, if he hasn't been bullied yet, then maybe there is a chance that he won't." I said, and I was looking at Bebe, wondering what she would think of that.

"Yeah, I mean, technically that could be true. But there's still eleven years to go, and I am scared that with each passing one, I will see less and less his need to reach out to me. I don't want to accidentally adopt a pseudo-parent facade." She said, and I was shaking my head, feeling like maybe that would be how things needed to go to make it work.

"Bebe, I doubt that you would become that anyways. But even if you did, then that means that he does trust you more than he trusts your mom and dad, and would that really be so fucking awful? I mean, you have no idea what is going on in his mind, so it's important to keep it all together." I said, and I was seeing Bebe looking like she had no idea what to think.

"Yeah, and then there is my older brother who just barely even fucking stops by anymore, and I keep trying to get him to come back, and talk to us. But it's almost like he hates us." Bebe said, and I was thinking about him. I think in our year of working together back when I was a senior, I saw him one time, and that was because he had to take her home from school.

"Sorry to hear about all that. I wish that I could help you, but I think the fucking reality is that I am not really going to be able to change how your brothers behave, and most of all, how your parents handle such behavior.

"Well, I am just kind of over everything now. I just feel like nothing I will do will make my parents happy. I am trying so fucking hard to do well at this job, and every time it seems like I am making progress, they are happy for a bit, and then just brush it off." Bebe said, and I was wondering what in the world I would even be able to tell her now.

"I guess the biggest issue at the end of the day, is that I just hate the total uncertainty of what is going on in my life now. And I get that this is almost normal for people who leave high school, but shouldn't I be having a plan, even if it is a shitty one?" She asked me, and I was genuinely considering that for a second.

"To be honest, I guess that I do see the point you're trying to make. I mean, I kind of did that with the streams. I was doing them every Wednesday and Saturday for the last semester or so of high school, and when I was seeing that I was getting money on them, I decided to upload them all to YouTube, and my parents noticed, and felt that maybe I should continue doing that, considering the fact that it would help me get money for something I enjoyed doing, while still being in the house while the kids get older." I said, feeling like I just needed to be real as I said that.

"And now that Gabe is old enough to move out soon, I might stay for this school year and just provide another year of coverage for the family, before I finally leave this fucking house." I said, and I knew that this was not a great plan, but it did give me something for two years, which I suppose was better than nothing at all.

"Yeah, I guess that you're probably right. That is why I like talking with people like you. It seems like you actually take what I say seriously, and don't fucking brush me off like I am some fucking idiot or whatever." Bebe said, and I was looking right at her, wondering what to say. I mean, I loved Bebe, but I was feeling like she needed to just be more careful here.

"Bebe, I think if you just talk with your parents, they would be more than happy to lend you a ear. I feel like you aren't realizing that there are people who will be at your side, at all times." I said, including myself, since I truly believed that she need that help much more than anybody else possibly could.

"What would I fucking tell them? That I feel like they need to fucking step up, and stop hiding behind the responsibility of actually being there for Robbie and I? I mean, my oldest brother I can let go, since he's almost thirty. But I'm going to be leaving high school next June, and I'm scared." She said, sighing, and hating the fact that she admitted this.

"Bebe, if you're scared, I can help you. I mean, I really don't have anything better to fucking do, and to be honest, I want to show people that I care for them. And I am tired of just being there while people are hurting and what not, and not doing anything to help." I said, and I smiled as I told her this, wondering what she would say. I was feeling like now that I was making my case, there was no reason to go further down this rabbit hole.

"I am scared of the fact that I might become the next labyrinth victim. Scared that my grades won't be good enough. Scared that I can get fired from my job at the piza shop. I am basically scared all the fucking time, and there is nothing else to show that." She said, and I was slowly nodding, feeling like I just needed to let her be fully honest as she said this.

"And to be honest, I feel like nobody really cares if I am in pain or not anymore. They only really care about the diploma. And they don't seem to care about the fact that when I think about all the things that could happen to Robbie Dan, I get scared out of my mind." She admitted, and I shook my head, not sure what to say.

"Bebe, if you need me to, for your sake, I will try and see if I can make a bond with Robbie Dan. After all, I think that maybe if I work hard enough, then I could get him to open up with me." I said, and I was aware that what I said was a fucking big ass jump, if I ever saw one.

"I can try and talk to him. See what he might say. But knowing him, he will just simply not care. And he will tell me that he wants nothing to do with random people he doesn't know." She said, and I laughed at that, feeling like that was probably the smart choice, but it was a bit random of him.

"I mean, I guess that he's being smart about his choices at least. I mean, I would rather have him do that than just trust people blindly, when they could be having ill intent." I said, feeling like I needed to give him some credit. As I said that, she was shaking her head, and seemed to think that it was still probably not too smart.

"Yeah, I guess when you put it that way, I do sort of see what you are saying. But I mean, I think that there might be more to it than that. But regardless, I guess that I just need to stop worrying about it so much. As long as he knows that I am there for him, and he's happy, who am I to judge?" She asked, and I slowly nodded, glad she was keeping the bright side up.

"But who knows, for all I know, I am way over thinking this, and he will be fine enough, and second grade is going to be great. I need to try and be happy, and optimistic." Bebe was telling me, and I wondered what else we were going to discuss in the first place, since we both made our points.

"And to be honest, I do believe that is the most likely option, and if I am wrong, then I am so fucking sorry for not listening to you earlier." I said, feeling like I would tell her that, and I would just make it seem like there was a level of sympathy that I would just reach out in case.

"And I know your younger sister Lydia is starting this year. I will try and see if I can get Robbie to be willing to talk with her, and that can help both her and Robbie this year." Bebe said, and I slowly nodded, feeling that was fair enough.

"I guess that will work. I will talk to Lydia about that as well. And next time we go on a date, we might be able to just talk about it more." I said, and Bebe was shocked to hear the next time. But then she smiled.

"Yeah, let's so that." She said, and I smiled, feeling like the fact that she saw that this was a sincere discussion made me feel relieved.

I was glad to have this talk with Bebe, as with each moment that we were talking, I saw her looking more relaxed, and less scared. I was feeling like I did something right for once in my fucking life, and I was going to just take that with me while I went home.

---

Scene 6: August 27, 2020

The next day, after my date with Bebe, I was feeling like I needed to try and talk to Gabe, and see what was going on with him. After all, I could tell from the look on his face that he was clearly lost in thought, and looked like he needed somebody there for him.

"Hey Gabe. Was there some help you wanted? You know, with figuring out how to go through your senior year of high school?" I asked, feeling like I just needed to give him the floor. He looked at me, and I was seeing that he was hardly even trying to hide the worry on his face anymore at all.

"No. Not really. I mean, I found out that the person who went missing this most recent time was a classmate of mine. I never really knew her too well. But now I feel regret for not getting to know her. I guess I just find myself wondering what if." Gabe said, and I was slowly nodding at that, feeling like I did get it.

"Oh shit. Well, I feel like the best thing you can maybe do to change that is get to know her friends. See what they were like. And see if there is a way you can be able to help them." I said, and then I was seeing Gabe looking shocked that he was hearing me suggest this.

"You know my popularity at the school is rather low. I mean, I have a couple of friends. But I am no social savant." He said, and I was shrugging, thinking he still needed to take the fucking chance.

"Todd. Let me ask you a question now. Do you seriously believe the shit you constantly preach when you tell people that you think nothing is going on here? I think we both know that is total fucking bullshit." He said, and I looked right at him, feeling like he needed to tread carefully here.

"Are you accusing me of knowing something this whole time, and not doing something?" I asked, feeling like I needed to see if this was where I was fearing it would go. He shook his head, feeling like he would at least let me have that.

"I am accusing you of hiding the way you truly feel here. I really don't believe for a fucking second that you don't actually think something is happening here. I think we both know that is a load of crap. So I am wondering, do you have a idea what that could possibly be?" He asked me, and I was wondering why he was even trying to take this risk here in the first place.

"Well, I guess that I always have been curious to see what is happening here, but I never really outright thought any shit was actually going down. I mean, most of the stories seemed far too out there to be true. But I guess that if people presented proof of it, I would listen." I said, feeling like what I said was a fair middle ground.

"I mean, I guess that I do take what dad said into account. I mean, after all these missing cases, and what not, realistically there is no way that at least some of them weren't just fucking run aways. And I think that is where my opinion is slowly going." I said, feeling like I just needed to be honest with him.

Gabe was walking out of the house, and I followed him, wondering what he was going to be doing now. "Are you suggesting that you believe that dad is the one who is outright lying to us?" I asked, feeling like I needed to try and get in dad's favor by saying this. I never once doubted that he hid stuff. But hiding and lying are different.

"Well, I mean, I feel like after seventy years, he has to know something, and that he is just trying to make sure that we do not know the truth. I think that we need to look at the very real possibility that he is trying to just make things better for us." Gabe said, and I was slowly nodding, feeling like I just needed to at least consider what he had said.

"Let me see if I might be able to talk to dad, and see what I might be able to find. I know that he doesn't like us going down that path. But I think he would rather have me talk with him than anything else." I said, feeling like I just needed to give Gabe something to work with here.

"I guess that I would appreciate it. After all, I am going to be heading back to school soon. And that one woman is going to be gone. And everybody will be sad and care for like a fucking week, and then move on." Gabe said, and I slowly nodding, since in all honesty, I did get his point, and he was right. I just didn't have to fucking like it.

"I will do that. But in return, you need to be there for Bebe during the school year. I do not want her to be left alone, and lost without some friends to help her and what not." I said, feeling like I needed to try and negotiate a bit more with him. Gabe slowly nodded, as if feeling like that was fair enough, given everything.

"Done deal. I mean, it will be a lot easier than it would have been on previous years. Now that I know her in a way, with you and her going out." Gabe said, and I was feeling like now that I made my side of things clear, we could be able to work things out.

"Sorry about your classmate. Even though you said you hardly knew her, as you said, you were hoping to maybe friends one day, and I feel like that is enough to drive home how bad this was." After I said that to him, I was wondering if he was going to fucking listen to what I had just said.

"It's okay. But I guess I will take what you suggested into consideration. You know, the idea of talking to those people myself, and seeing what they might fucking know." Gabe said, and I was feeling like he and I were finally making this work out.

"What are you going to do now?" I asked, kind of scared of his plans. I knew that he was having something on his mind, and I just felt like I needed to do whatever I could to get him to not follow down this path, that I knew would probably be very fucking dangerous.

"To be honest, I think that I am going to just see if maybe some of the rumors were true. Don't worry, I am not going to be running around, trying to find anything out and what not. But I hear so many stories, that I can't help but wonder if at least some of them are real." Gabe said, and I was looking at him, feeling like this was a terrible fucking idea.

"Gabe, I know that you are at a age where I need to let you make your own choices and what not. But I can say with confidence that this is not something you should be heading down the path of. I love you. But I just think this could go really bad." I said, and then I was seeing Gabe looking like he hardly fucking cared at all.

"It will be fine. I doubt that anybody will care what I say or do. If everything else has slid by so far, then I feel like I will be fine." Gabe said, and I was never hearing him so fucking confident in my entire life, I almost started to buy it.

"I would fucking care. I mean, you're my younger brother after all. And even beyond that, there are nine other siblings in this as well. So yeah, a lot of fucking people would actually care." I said, feeling like I just needed to kind of be firm with him, while trying to basically hint that this behavior was not going to work.

"I mean outside the fucking family." Gabe said, shaking his head, feeling annoyed that I was not seeing the point he was making. I shook my head, feeling like there was no point in arguing with him at all. He had made his feelings rather clear, and I was done arguing with him as a result of it.

"You don't know that, and you are just projecting your issues onto other people." After I said that to him, I was feeling like I just needed to kind of make him see that I wasn't going to mess around with this at all.

"You might be right. But if that is the case, then is what I am doing really so fucking awful to begin with?" After Gabe asked me this, I was looking right at him, and I had no idea what I was even going to tell him at all.

"Just start with your original suggestion. You know, the one where you were planning on meeting up with her friends, and getting to know them. I feel like that is good enough for now." I said, and I was just tired, and I was aware that nothing I said would make any fucking difference.

"Okay. You're right. I might just need to do that for now." Besides, they might not appreciate me getting into something that I technically have no stakes in." Gabe said, and I was glad that he was seeing the awareness of what I was telling him this.

"Todd, I wish that I was able to talk with you more about this stuff. You always made me feel so much better when I was able to talk with you. But it seems like there is nothing to get out of that right now." Gabe said, and I was shaking my head, hoping that he didn't genuinely believe what he told me.

"Look, whatever is on your mind, even if I don't agree with it, I can see what I can do. I mean, you can tell me about that new friendship you are making with those people in due time." I said, feeling like I needed to extend the offer.

"I will try and keep that in mind." He said, and then with that, he was heading off, and I was slowly nodding. Feeling like nothing else I would say would even fucking matter anymore. It was all fucking bullshit, and I fucking knew it.

I was feeling like Gabe needed to understand that I cared. And that I was wanting him to remain safe no matter what. But I was seeing from the look on his face that he had already made his choice, and that was something that I felt like I just needed to respect. Even if I fucking hated it with all my heart and soul.

And besides, I was thinking that if he wanted to do this, then he at least did have some motivation to do so, unlike other people. He also had his crush Sabrina from two years ago that went missing as well, and I always felt like he was just trying hard to hide how much that destroyed him deep down.

I think the biggest thing that I was scared about was that he was going to be doing this, and then as a result, he would not be there for the younger siblings as a brother who could resonate with them more than me. Or being there for Bebe when he promised that he would be there for her in the following school year. But I guess that was just all in the past now.

---

Scene 7: August 28 2020

The next day, I was talking with dad about the conversation that Gabe and I had. And to be honest, feeling like I had a great reason for once, was going to give me enough ammunition to go forward with this. "So dad, I just feel like I need to ask you some questions."

He looked at me, as if he was hoping that I was going to be careful with where I was going to be heading with this. "What over?" He asked, and I was feeling like I just needed to take the leap of faith here, and simply not give a shit if I got in trouble.

"I needed to ask you about the missing girls in this town. Gabe told me one of his classmates went missing, and that he was wanting to see if maybe he could find out what was going on here. I don't want to do this, but I feel like I need to see his point here." I said, and I was hardly fucking caring if he didn't like it.

"Are you seriously letting one bad event with Gabe's classmates get in the way of logical thinking? I mean, it is sad that he had to deal with that." My dad said, and I was staring right at him, wondering what was so wrong with him.

"This shit happens all the time. You have been looking into this for fifty seven fucking years. There is no reason for you to be holding off here." I said, feeling like I just needed to stand my god damn ground, and make him see what I was saying.

"Yes, I have, and let me tell you when I fucking say that this is not something you want to be looking into. There is no time for games, since this is something serious that will affect the entire town." After my dad was saying this, I slowly nodded, as if I understood his point, and wanted him to speak more clearly.

"Then tell me why you feel that way? Gabe is going into his senior year of high school, and he told me that he is dreading even fucking going. Because he knows that going there is only going to be bringing him fucking pain." I said, hoping that I would get him to see my point a bit further.

"Because every time I looked in these forests, I don't see shit there. Just a bunch of mile markers, and false leads, and every time I start to finally feel the leads are starting to get me somewhere, I realize that I fell for stupid shit once again. I know what I am dealing with here." He told me, and I tried to understand where he was coming from here.

"Maybe you're not fucking looking hard enough. I mean, I don't know if I really believe in the stories about labyrinth. But some people do." I said, and then before I was able to continue, this was when my dad seemed to finally have enough with my reactions.

"Don't tell me how to fucking do my god damn job. I should be retired right now, and resting. But I am working my ass off every single day to make sure that you kids can live happily. I appreciate what you have done to help with the siblings. But don't get involved in my line of work, and then tell me that I am not doing enough." He said, and I could hear him pissed off for the first time in a long fucking while.

"Well, I want to believe you, but I feel like I have a hard time doing so when you aren't even telling me what is happening. I have offered to help so many fucking times,a nd you refuse to fucking listen to me." I said, feeling like I just needed to be firm with what I was saying for once. I was no longer going to let him walk over me anymore.

"Do you seriously think that monsters are here? That people are going missing because of sacrifices and shit? Are you seriously falling for that shit, and not seeing how insane most of the stuff you say really is?" After he asked me this, I sighed, feeling like I needed to be fair when I heard him tell me this.

"I know it is insane. I mean, I would have never believed labyrinth if I never heard so many people constantly talking about it. I still don't know if I really do. But there are parts that are definably real. Such as the grinding noise. The misisng girls. All this shit is fucking real, and you are ignoring the fucking reality, for no god damn reason." I said, feeling like I just needed to finally just end this nonsense, and get him to see that I had enough.

"The grinding noise is people just create wood for fire. After all, we live in Minnsota." Dad said, and I could tell from his voice, starting to slowly waver, that he was giving me fucking shit. And I was aware that he was just lying to me. I did not appreciate him lying to me, and I felt like I just needed to be honest with him.

"I think we both know that's bullshit. I heard you talking about audio files that one of your friends made in the fucking eighties. You said he found what was going on there." I said, and I was seeing him looking like he was slowly just being backed into a corner, and I was feeling like as much as I hated it, I had no fucking choice.

"Don't you fucking dare bring Sheldon up with me. Your siblings do not need to hear about that yet." He said, and I was hearing the anger in his voice piercing through, and I was able to see that there was no fucking cordialness anymore. I was seeing with how close he had gotten, that he was starting to low key threaten me.

"And I don't need you decieving me, and treating me like I'm a fucking two year old baby. I am trying to work with you, and you are not giving me a fucking chance to do so." I said, feeling like I needed to try and get him to see that this was not a fucking joke.

"If you want to work with me, then continue what you have been god damn doing. Work on those streams of yours, and work on helpin your fucking siblings out. That is what you should be doing if you truly want to fucking help me out." My dad was telling me, and I was shaking my head, feeling like his way of going at this was way too careless.

"Dad, are you holding something back? Is this related to Lydia's adoption all those years ago?" I asked, feeling like I just needed to confront him about that. As I said that, he looked at me, and I saw him looking like he was furious that I was bringing that up in the first place. But I saw from the way that he was reacting that I got him cornered.

"Don't fucking bring that up in this house. If you want to talk about that of all fucking things, then come to me at my office. But this is not the time, or the place. I adopted her because I had no choice." Todd said, and I was looking at him, feeling like he was bullshitting me.

"I am going to bring it up if I feel like it is a part of why you are being so fucking distant with me. After all, if that is the case, then perhaps that is why." I said, and I was seeing my dad looking like he was just furious at the fact that this was the card I pulled on him of all the fucking things.

"Look, that might have something to do with it. And I am not even going to pretend otherwise. But that is as far as I will go with that information. If you even fucking try and ask more about that, I will have no choice but to take extreme measures on this." After my dad told me this, I was looking right at him, and I was seeing that he was rather serious. I slowly nodded, and I was scared of what he was meaning.

"Dad..." I said, and I was starting to slowly feel the sadness seeping through again. Despite everything that was happening, I could not be angry at him forever. I wanted to love him, and I was going to do my best to see where I could be able to fucking help him out." I said, feeling like I just needed to be more gentle with him here.

"The fact of the matter is that even I don't want you to be looking into this stuff, because you are more of a father figure to most of these siblings than I am. I an seventy years old. I am old and worn down. I need you to see that this isn't personal though." He said, and I was shaking my head, feeling like even if what he was sayingw as true, he just needed to be more open with me when we talked, and I would be fine with this.

"Why did you even have us so fucking late in the first place?" I asked, not even resenting him for it. But I was feeling like he needed to take a level of credibility for his actions. You know, since they were his choice, and I was feeling like he just needed to stop playing the victim on his own thing.

"Because I was scared when I was younger. Scared that if I had a child, I would be like my friends father." Todd said, and I was realizing instantly he was talking about Sheldon. I wanted to know what he was meaning though. Since that so many fucking years ago.

"What did Sheldon's dad fucking do?" I asked, feeling like I just needed him to finally open up with me, and I needed to see if he was willing to trust me.

"He knew that his daughter years before the official story was leaked. But he hid it from his son, and the town, to further his career. All because of his connections with the event." He said, and I was looking right at him, wondering what the hell he was talking about here.

"What happened when the truth was revealed?" I asked, feeling like I just needed to see what happened. My dad shook his head, feeling like he needed to drop the subject right then and there, for my own sake.

"Just focus on your relationship with fucking Bebe and what not. Stop asking questions, and getting in my fucking way. Let me do my god damn fucking job. And then maybe when the kids are older, I might be able to talk to you more comfortably." He said, and I was shaking my head. But I could tell from his reaction and demeanor he hated the way I acted.

I was then watching him leave, and I was so fucking mad. I wanted to help my fucking brother. He needed confirmation, and I needed to feel like I was finally being useful. All of these things weren't fucking happening. And it was because my dad was being a dick.

But not wanting to piss him off any further, I went right to my room, and I started my stream, feeling like I just needed to do what I did best: Earning pocket change for my family in the grand scheme of things, and help them have a fucking meal or two when the pay checks started to come in.

---

Scene 8: August 29 2020 8:30 pm

When I was at Carlos's house, Dan and I were already getting some of the beer that he was able to buy due to it being his twenty first birthday. "Guys, I never thought that we would be reaching this milestone. It honestly feels somewhat surreal." He said, and I was laughing, thinking that he might have been giving it too much thought.

"So Todd, is it true that you were able to land yourself a fucking date with Bebe? I never thought that anything was going to come from that. To be honest, I thought that this would remain a silly crush between you two." He said, as I was going to be quick on the defense of trying to deny it.

"Yeah, I did." I said, deflecting the whole crush thing, since I wanted to try and pretend like that was a fucking overlook, and I was wanting to at least make it appear to be cool and such with him.

"By the way, and I hope this doesn't bother you, but I invited her over, so you guys could be able to talk to her." I said, and I was seeing both Carlos and Dan looking like this whole idea was going to be a complete fucking waste.

"What the fucking hell? How in the world do you think she is going to be able to hide the fucking alcohol breath?" After Carlos asked this, I looked at him, thinking he was being a hypocrite since Dan and I were underage as well.

"You know what I mean. With you guys, I can at least make the excuse that you're super close anyways, so no harm. But she's a fucking senior at high school." He said, and I was shaking my head, having no interest in dealing with this at all. If he was going to do this, then it would be a waste of time.

Before we were able to debate it too long, that was when Bebe was pulling up at the drive way, and while she seemed relatively neutral on Dan and Carlos, she really did look excited to see me, and I was smiling back at her.

"Hey guys, how are you?" She asked, and then she looked at Carlos and looked like she was actually genuinely happy to be seeing him for some reason. "Well, I hope that you are having a great birthday."

"Well, yeah, I mean, I was just talking to them about how this is the start of the big life." He said, and then he was holding a drink out. "Do you want one?"

I was kind of shocked at how fast he had been turning around on the subject, but Bebe shook her head anyways. "Probably not to be honest. I have to go to work, so I really should not be getting drunk." She said, and then she shook her head.

"Well, don't say that I didn't fucking offer you." Carlos said, and then he sighed. "Well, are you excited to be starting your final year in that fucking hell hole soon? I know I was excited as hell to finally graduate." He said, and I slowly nodded, remembering how he would never fucking shut up about that.

"Well, it can give me more time to work, and be able to have some money ready for Robbie Dan." She said, and then she looked at me, referencing the conversation that we had earlier. Both Carlos and Dan looked confused at this.

"Do you have a brother or something?" Dan asked, feeling like he would try and just make the conversation at least still mostly pleasant. Bebe sighed, almost as if she regretted even having this question in the first place.

"Yeah, Robbie Dan. Only eight years old. And a older one as well, but he is long out of the house, and only comes over to see us like once every year. To be honest, I have no idea what that man is doing all the time." She said, and then Dan remembered some thing.

"I do remember the older brother vaguely. Something about how he had been working with the mayor and Lars Needlemeyer get a really important job." After Dan said that, he shook his head at this. "To be honest, I notice a lot of young men get that job offer. But if he's still working for them, wouldn't he be going on like eight or nine years now?"

"Nearly ten. He got the offer about two months after his eighteenth birthday, and I remembered that for the rest of his time in high school he would be going out for several hours every Wednesday night, and built up enough money to where he was able to leave the house the summer following graduation." Bebe said, clearly expressing confusion at it all.

"Strange. But I guess that you do not want to be talking about that right now." After Dan said that, I was sighing, and I was feeling like when I can see the look on Bebe's face, clearly be one of discomfort, made me feel like I needed to change the topic.

"Yeah, it is a sour subject. But I guess that you know a bit of my family life. And why I need to just graduate, and pick up as many hours as I fucking can." As she said that, she looked at the bottle of bud light that was still out for her if she changed her mind. She closed her eyes, and grabbed it.

"Yeah, I knew that you had it in you. Can't hold back on having a good time." After Carlos said that, he was having a total shit eating grin on his face, and I was feeling like this might be a terrible idea after all.

"Want to go out to the pool at back?" Dan asked, and Bebe was looking much more excited about that. I smiled, and I was feeling like I would at least show it to her.

I got up, and placed my nearly empty can down, and I was patting Bebe on the shoulders. "I'll show it to you." I said, and Bebe was looking relatively confused as we were walking to the back of the house, as Dan and Carolos were getting up as well, before Carlos could get too far into his bong.

Once at the pool, I was seeing that Bebe was getting a look on her face. "I should dive in there." She said, referring to the diving board. She was taking her phone out, while still continuing to take sips of her drink. I did not think that this was a good idea, but I was choosing to not say anything about it at all.

She then jumped right into the pool, still in her work uniform, and Carlos got a real shit eating grin on his face, probably thinking that this was going to turn out to be some real fucking comedy gold.

Carlos then threw his bottle to the ground, which didn't break it, but did cause all remaining contents to fall out, and he jumped as well. I looked at Dan, and while I was feeling a little bit hazy, I was feeling like I would take part in this whole thing.

I placed my phone down, and on the outside table, before I jumped into the pool as well, feeling like I needed to have the time of my fucking life. At this rate, Dan felt like he probably had to do it, since he was the only one who hadn't done it.

As Dan finally went with the bait, and went in as well, the four of us screwed around for a bit, and had the time of our fucking lives. I was feeling like I would be able to be on top of the fucking world if I just kept this up for a while.

"Sorry that I haven't been seeing you as much lately. I guess that I just caught up in relationship issues." After Carlos said this, I was looking at him, and I was confused by what he was talking about. I hardly noticed that he was doing something like this in the first place. Maybe that just proves his point, that he was so caught up in this that I never noticed this.

"Who are you even seeing?" Bebe asked, as she flung water at me, and I was looking at her, as if thinking that she just needed to fucking stop for two fucking seconds, and actually let me talk with the guy.

"Leobah." He said, and I was kind of shocked at that, since I hardly remember them talking at all during school. I wonder if they started to just really connect at his job, which was the car dealer shop.

"What the fucking hell? I never thought that you would end up dating her? How long?" I asked, and I was seeing Carlos kind of upset for what had been happening. I knew that we were finally going to have a subject that I could be able to pester him endlessly on, and to be honest, it was going to be a lot of fun.

"About two months now. I was working on her car, and she was saying that she was thinking about all the missed chances, and we decided to give it a date, and see how it would go." After he said that to me, I was flinging the water back at Bebe, as a way of revenge for the way that she had messed with me.

"Oh wow. That's cool." Dan said, and he sounded like he was trying to just make the subject as relatively pleasant as possible. And we just screwed around in the pool for another twenty minutes before we went back front and continued drinking and smoking.

"Feels so good to be able to leagally smoke weed now. No longer have to worry about what people are going to be saying or anything." After Carlos said this, I was feeling like this might not be a good thing, but as long as he was happy, and he wasn't making a big deal out of it, I felt like I would let it go.

When another couple of hours has past, that was when I was starting to head home, although Carlos did let me sneak in a couple of cans of beer for later. Before I was fully able to leave though, that was when Bebe was walking up to me, and then she was shrugging.

"Sorry about the whole conversation with your older brother working with Lars. I didn't mean to bring up any bad subject. I hope that you can forgive me." I said, trying to just deflect the whole thing, and make it at least slightly less bad now.

"It's okay. I just wish that I knew what he had been doing. To be honest, in that sense, I am the same as you guys." After Bebe said that, I sighed, and wondered what in the world I would say.

"If you don't mind, what is his name?" I asked, feeling like I would look into this, for my own personal sake. She shook her head, sounding kind of upset that I was bringing up such superflous details.

"Ronald." She said, and then with that, she shook her head, slightly tired, and having no interest in talking about her brother. "See you later. Maybe Wednesday." She said, and then she started to drive off, and I was sighing, feeling like I really messed up.

---

Scene 9: August 30 2020

The next day, I went back to the gas station that Benjamin was working at. For some reason, I was convinced that I just needed to see how he was doing. I was feeling like if I was going to be as supportive of my friends as I claimed, then I just needed to do this.

When Benjamin saw that it was me, I was seeing him looking like he was clearly annoyed at the fact that I was coming here. Probably thinking that I was only going to be trying to create controversy or some shit. I was feeling like I just needed to calm him down a bit.

"What are you wanting to fucking talk about?" He asked, mildy annoyed, and I was feeling like I just needed to be as careful as possible with what I would tell him.

"I want to see how you have been handling things. I also wnat to make sure that my friend Dan stays safe. With all the shit he wants to do with you." I said, and I was seeing him looking like he was just mildly annoyed with me mentioning my friends here.

"To be honest, I have been trying to get Dan to get away from this subject. I feel like he might be looking too deeply into something that is not his fucking business." After Benjamin said this to me, I was slowly nodding. Fully in agreement with what he said. I wished that I would say the same.

Benjamin was taking a photo out, and he was showing it to me. "My fucking sister right there." He said, pointing to the girl with the massive smile and glasses. "Everybody tells me she is dead, but I want to believe differently."

"But are you wanting to believe she is alive, or are you actually really thinking it? I mean, if you just wanted her to be alive, then that means that you are esentially admitting that there is a chance she's not." I said, feeling like I just needed to be honest with him here. He looked at me, having a straight set of daggers for me.

"I don't fucking know. I mean, I want to believe that she is. But at the same time, I feel like any chance of that is getting less and less by the year. Even I can fucking read the situation, and I can see that I am shooting for something big." He said, hoping that this confirmation would be enough to make me feel better.

"Benjamin, what do you think I should do if something happens to my sister Lydia?" I asked, feeling like I just needed him to be honest with me. As I said this, I saw him looking shocked to hear me asking him this important question.

"If that happens, then just fucking be there for your sister. Do what I wasn't able to do. Maybe by doing so, you might be able to make things better for her." After Benjamin told me this, I was shaking my head, feeling like I needed something better.

"I mean, I have tried to talk to her about these things before, but it always seems like she thinks that my way of talking to her about it is just massively over thinking it. And she might be right." I said, and I was shaking my head, thinking there was no reason to hold back at all.

"Then don't bring that shit up to her. Keep her out of that shit. She deserves better anyways. People don't deserve to be dragged in through shit that their older siblings are getting involved in." After he said that to me, I shook my head at this.

"I mean, it is not as clear cut as you think dude. If I try to deflect the whole thing, she will then in turn be wondering why I am holding back on telling her shit. She is going to be keeping me at the back of her fucking thumb." I said, hoping to get the point across to him here.

"And to be honest, with my oldest brother Gabe, his crush Sabrina went missing years ago, and he was trying to find out what happened to her. But it turned out to all lead to a bunch of dead fucking ends. Nothing fucking happened." I said, angry at my admission here. The fact that I did fail Gabe, even if I hated to say so.

"Oh yeah. I vaguely remember that. Sorry that he had to go through that. I bet that much have been rough for him." He said, and I was seeing him looking like he was only mildly invested in what he was saying. I was feeling like he needed to show more interest here.

"To be honest, I tried to help him out, and to help his grief process. But the fact of the matter is that I don't really think he fucking cares all that much anymore. It feels like any time I try to talk to him, he just brushes me off. Almost like he is embarassed to admit that this whole thing happened in the first place." I said, hating the fact that I had to say this.

"I just don't see how any of this happened in the first place. After all, this has been going on for decades, and nobody seems to give a shit at all." After Benjamin said this, he just simply shook hsi head at the this whole thing.

"Well, I think the fact of the matter is that people are just getting bought off to hide their shit. Maybe some political dispute or some shit. I don't fucking know dude. I wish that I fucking knew." I said, and I shook my head, as I was taking a cigarette out, and looked at him for a few seconds.

"Benjamin, what do you fucking think?" I asked, feeling like I needed to just give him the chance to make my point. "I just wish that I knew what was going on here. That way my brothers can finally rest easily."

"I don't know. I mean, your brothers are your responsibility. Not mine. I shouldn't be forced to worry about what is going on with them." Benjamin said, and I was furious with that answer. It was just reeking of indifference, and that shit pissed me off.

"Forget that I fucking asked. I'm clearly not going to get a answer there. But do you have any other clues on what happened with your sister?" I asked, feeling like I just needed to try and get the subject back at hand.

"No, I don't. That is why I just started working here. To take my mind off things." Benjamin said, and I slowly nodded. Hating how much this made sense.

"So you feel like getting past reality, and putting that behind you forever is going to be the best move? I guess that I can sort of see why you might feel that way." I said, unsure of what else I was even going to tell him.

"I mean, I feel like after a point, she would have wanted me to move on anyways. I mean, and if I don't, then I feel like I might be letting her down." Benjamin said, and I was shaking my head, feeling like I just needed to shut up here.

"Sorry that you feel that way. I mean, in all honesty, I feel like that is the thing that scares me. Never knowing what my sister would feel if certain things happen. I feel like I could screw her over at times. But I also feel like I just need to be more careful here.

"And to be honest, I think that is why I am willing to let your friend help me out if he wants to. Knowing that somebody here actually gives a shit about about what is going on... Makes me feel like there is a chance that I can find myself happier by the end." I felt like when this was all done, I just needed to finally offer him something that I wasn't really prepared for.

"Just make sure you don't be getting my friend killed because of some fucking desire for revenge. If you do, then I don't know if I would ever be able to forgive you." I said, and I was feeling like I just needed to be honest with him as I said this.

"So you're giving me some responsibility here?" He asked, and I was shrugging, feeling like when he put it this way, I could see what he was trying to say. But I sighed, feeling like I would just try and be honest, and nice with him.

"I mean, when it comes to keeping my friend safe, and I know you are the best bet to do so, then hell yeah I am going to be giving you responsibility. I would be a fucking idiot if I did not." I said, feeling like I just needed to be one hundred percent real with him.

"If that is the case, I promise with everything that I fucking have, that I will make sure your friend stays safe. That is the least that I can fucking do." He was telling me, and I was seeing how sincere he seemed, and I was finally feeling like there was no way I could be upset at him forever.

"I mean, I don't know much about the guy, or anything he likes to do in his free time. But there is no way in hell that I am going to be doing anything that would be purposely setting him up for failure." After he was telling me this, I was sighing. I hoped he was telling the truth. I needed him to be. For my own fucking sake.

"That is fine. I mean, I think that he will probably get over this in due time. And then we can both laugh this off, as if it had never happened." I said, and I was hoping that what I said was genuinely true. Because if it wasn't, and something was on the verge of happening, then there was nothing that I could do to change it.

"Just make sure that none of your family learn what you are doing here. I do not want to be the one that is responsible for their shit." He said, and I was hearing from the way he was talking, that he was clearly pissed, and did not want to be playing around here at all.

"I never wanted them to be part of this anyways. They always try and find a way to make it about them, and to be honest, it can be a bit hard to handle." I said, feeling like I just needed to be honest with him as I said this.

I was smoking a cigarette, feeling like I was finally able to make some peace with what was going on. It was all wrong, and I felt like if I didn't plan things out carefully, then we would both regret this. But I hardly even knew if I cared anymore.

"Sorry we weren't friends in high school. Maybe I should have been different. And then maybe things would be different than they are now." I said, feeling like I just needed to try and make things different with him. After all, I had no idea how much pain and turmoil he had been in for the last five years.

I was walking out of the gas station, with a new level of respect, and patience for the man. I felt like I just needed to give him a fucking chance. After all, he was just simply trying to do the best he could in his life. And that was something that I could respect.

---

Scene 10: August 31, 2020

The next day, Bebe was bringing Robbie over to my house. Probably as a way to introduce him to Lydia, and get him to see the man she had been going out with. As I saw Robbie there, he was looking like he was rather uncomfortable with this whole thing.

"This is my younger brother Robbie Dan. I felt like you deserved to meet him at least once or twice. Especially, with his second grade year starting up rather soon." Bebe said, and I looked at Robbie, wondering what I needed to say now.

"To be honest, I have no idea if I belong here at all. I am just kind of in this for the fucking ride." After Robbie Dan admitted this, I was shaking my head, feeling like I needed to try and make him feel at least somewhat different here.

"Don't worry about it too much. I have ten siblings, and I am sure that one of them will like you enough." I said, although I was trying to hide the fact that in my mind, I was wanting to be sure he wasn't going to pull any shit. I was having a terrible feeling that something was going on with him.

"I heard that you have a sister named Lydia. Who is going into first grade soon?" Robbie said, and I was kind of shocked that this was where he was going with this. I looked right at Bebe, wondering what if she had said something to him.

"I mentioned her like one time." Bebe admitted, and I was shrugging. Not really in the mood to argue, or to be a asshole over something so fucking small like this. It was really no big deal anyways.

"Don't worry about it. But yeah, I do have a sister. And since she is going to first grade soon, I guess that I will admit I am scared that things will go poorly for her." I said, feeling like I would just be honest about my fears. I was then wondering what I could even do to change it.

"Why do you think that?" Robbie asked, and I shook my head. In all honesty, I was probably over-thinking things anyways, and I just needed to relax. After all, Lydia was always telling me that she never worried about what people were thinking of her anyways.

"To be honest, I have no idea. I think that I am just letting fear get to me. Or maybe the fact that she is the only female of eleven siblings, and that is a quirk of its own. So I fear that people will make fun of her over that." I said, feeling like I just needed to be honest.

"So you think that people are going to be making fun of her because she's a girl?" Robbie asked, and I was hearing him rather confused. As if he was just trying to decide what he was wanting to say here. I sighed, aware that what I was saying was ridiculous.

"I know it's dumb. Okay. I don't even deny that it is. But I think that something could happen. And I feel like maybe I could trust you to help me out with that." I said, and Robbie looked at me, confused at how he would be able to fucking do that.

"I was hoping that when you go to school with her next year, that you will just stay at her side. Make sure she does fine, and doesn't get into any fights or anything. Make sure that nobody makes fun of her." I said, and I was aware that what I was saying was ridiculous. There was no way he could do this. But I just needed to fucking try.

"There is no way that I fucking can do that. She doesn't even know the first thing about me, and I'm a guy, which means that people are already going to make rumors about it." After Robbie told me this, I sighed as he brought this up.

"People in school can often times be utter fucking assholes. You will get used to that real fucking fast dude. Just ignore them." I said, and I was seeing Robbie looking like he was wildly conflicted with this whole thing. Almost like he was just trying to decide if he was even wanting to do this at all.

"If you fucking say so. But I think that something like that might not be as easy as you expect." After Robbie was telling me this, I wondered what Bebe would say to this. Before I had to wonder too long, she got right into this.

"Look guys, let's just forget all about this. I think we are all kind of on edge right now. Nothing wrong with that. But that is only going to make things worse for us." Bebe said, and I was wishing that I had had the same level of calmness that she fucking did.

"But Robbie, I will admit that I think it might be a good idea. After all, you didn't have many friends in first grade, and I think that you just need to try and reach out more." She said, and then Robbie was shaking his head. As if hating the fact that she was bringing this into it now.

"Now even my fucking sister supports this idea?" After Robbie asked me this, I was seeing him looking like he was just unable to fucking believe that he was hearing this. Then he sighed, feeling no need to argue.

"Okay. I guess that I can give it a fucking try. Doesn't change the fact that I think it is a horrible idea." After he asked me this, I was shaking my head, not sure what in the world he would have even said.

"But if this fails, then don't say I didn't fucking warn you." He said, and then I was shaking my head. Knowing Lydia, I did not think that this was going to fucking fail, no matter what.

"Okay. Fair enough. Now that we are all on the same page, I will just move on. As if I never mentioned that at all." I said, and then Robbie was looking at me, and I was seeing him looking like he was kind of pissed at the way that I was suddenly changing subjects like this.

"And I really am sorry that I asked you this. I would have never asked if I didn't feel like it was utterly fucking important." I said, feeling like I just needed to try and make him feel at least slightly different here. But I knew it would not work.

"Can I just go inside, and see what I can find here?" Robbie asked, seeming to have no clear interest in this subject anymore. I sighed, feeling like maybe I needed to give him some fucking credit here.

I nodded, feeling like I just needed to let him have what he fucking wanted. Robbie walked inside, and I was feeling like his lack of interest in going through with this plan could really make for a bunch of mistakes later. But then I looked right at Bebe, feeling like I needed to apologize to her as well.

"Do you feel like you made the right choice asking Robbie to do that?" Bebe asked me, and I could hear from the tone of her voice that she was not too sure. I was sighing, feeling like maybe I should have been more careful. But at the same time, there was no way in hell that I could have done things differently. At least for myself.

"I want to keep my fucking sister well. So I felt like I really had no fucking choice. But I guess that maybe we will see if my plans go as well as I think." I said, and I shook my head, hating the fact that I had to force Robbie into this whole thing. He did deserve better. And I was ruining this chance for him.

"I mean, I think the choice makes sense, and I get why you fucking did it. But I think that Robbie might be a bit upset with this. I could tell from the way he was talking, that he seemed rather unsure of the plan." She said, and I was hearing her sounding like there was a twinge of regret in her voice.

"Well, I think once he knows her enough, he will see that my request was right." I said, hoping that I was going to be able to get her to see what I was saying. She just simply looked like she was trying her best to fully buy what I was saying. But just had no idea.

"Yeah. I mean, he is at that age where he has a hard time making friends with somebody. Especially if they have no real common interests. I think that is something you probably already knew though." Bebe told me, and I shook my head. I was hating the fact that she was proving to probably be right. But I was choosing to not make an issue out of it.

"Yeah. Who knows. Maybe I should introduce the two of them together, and then by the time school starts, as a result, they already worked together. That might be a good idea." I said, feeling like I just needed to suggest everything that I possibly could. For her own fucking sake.

"And I will see what I can get from Robbie. Maybe he will have a real reason why he feels like they might not get along. After all, there might be something genuinely tangible in there." After she was telling me this, I shook my head. I truly had no idea if this would work. But I was willing to give her the benefit of a doubt.

"Thanks Bebe. For always being patient with the shit that I do all the fucking time. It makes me feel better knowing that sometimes people aren't going to be complete fucking assholes for no reason." I said, and I was feeling like I just needed to show her my appreciation whenever I fucking could.

"I wish that we had just been in the same grade. If we had been, then perhaps the two of us could have been able to connect even better. Maybe we could have even been dating back then." She said, and I was feeling like this might not be as likely as she feels. After all, if we had been friends earlier, there would have been a lot of tension between the two of us a lot earlier than before.

"I'm not sure. I also have a feeling that maybe us not knowing each other well until then, and you just having an innocent crush, might have helped." I said, and I was finding it strange that I was saying this. Since we had only been dating a week or so.

I saw Bebe, and I could tell from the look on her face that she did not seem one hundred percent sure she bought it. But that she was willing to let it go for the time being, for my own sake. Which was all I fucking needed for tonight.

When Bebe and Robbie were leaving, I was seeing the way that Robbie looked at me, like he was despising the whole way this was set up. I was feeling like maybe I might have made a mistake after all. But I shook my head, feeling like I just needed to stop over thinking this so much. And I was feeling like this worked, for both of them, then Lydia and Robbie would be able to have a strong friendship going into the next year. Which was all I wanted.

---

Scene 11: September 1 2020

The next day, before I started my twitch stream, I headed on right toward Benjamin, and I was feeling like there was more to this that I had not seen yet, and I felt like it was time for me to try and get some fucking closure here. Before too long, I was getting a text from Bebe, which I was finding odd since I hadn't said anything to her that indicate that I needed help at all.

"Hey Todd, I was wondering if you were doing anything? You haven't responded to me lately, and I guess that I'm just worried about you is all." She said, and I was sighing. Wondering why in the world this was even becoming an issue, to begin with. But I shook my head, choosing to remain silent.

"I am going to try and help Benjamin with his sister right now. You know, just see if I can be of any fucking help." I said, and I was hardly feeling like what I would say would matter. "I mean, I know that this is what Lydia would have wanted me to do when the time came." I said, and I hoped she would enjoy the fact that I was doing something like this to begin with.

"Todd, I never thought that you wanted to do that..." The text sent, and I was able to read that in my voice. But I shook my head, as I got up, and headed inside. I walked inside, and I was seeing Benjamin looking like he was less annoyed than usual when he was seeing me. And now much more kind of confused about what my bigger game was going to be.

"Benjamin, I was wanting to try and help you further. Do you know if maybe we can find something related to the mile markers?" I asked, hoping that by telling him this, he would take my statement seriously. He looked shocked at my suggestion, and I saw his smile.

"The mile markers? I never tried to look into those? I mean, there is one that is like half a mile away." He said, and I looked at him, wondering what the hell he was doing then. This was fucking huge, and I would make him go with me. I took a cigarette out, ready to talk to him.

"Then maybe we should just go and check it out." I said, feeling like I would just try and make it seem like I knew what I was doing, and that I could get him to see that I was a team player.

"If you don't want to leave before your day is done, then let me check it out, and I will come right back." I said, and then he was looking right at me, clearly looking confused at the fact that I was suddenly trying so hard to make this work. But then he slowly nodded, and wrote down where it was. I smiled, and then left the station.

I walked right to the mile marker, since it was only a half mile away. When I was there, I was seeing a picture of the person who had went missing that day. It was a few pictures of somebody held behind a plastic cover, which was placed in the tree that had a large portion of it cut out for it. To keep it from getting wet. As I looked at it, I was seeing how much older the picture was, the newest one had a '2008' on it.

If I was to guess, the person in the pictures was probably sixteen or so. Maybe seventeen or eighteen on a outside chance. With the picture of her hugging her mother before prom. I was taking a picture of it. Feeling like if for nothing else, this was a solid confirmation.

I was looking at the number on top, and was reading that it was something like "586" or something like that. It was a ridiculously high number, and was finally showing to me that people were not even remotely trying to hide it at all. Then with that, I was looking down on the ground, trying to hide my anger at this.

But as I was looking, I saw that there was a small part of the ground that had been uncovered. Probably due to children screwing around, and trying to see what they would find. So I got on my legs, wondering what I was even going to find. I started to slightly brush things off, hoping that my assumptions were going to be wrong.

After I was digging up a bit, I eventually found myself hitting something. It was rather hard, and I was not quite picking up on what it was right away. But when I was starting to have a idea what it might be, I was shaking my head. Hoping that I was going to be proven wrong. Feeling like if I wasn't, then I was going to never be able to move on from my disgust.

But I was feeling like maybe I was wrong, so I decided to call dad, feeling like I needed to see what he would tell me. "Hey dad, I need you to fucking tell me something." I said in the call, and I was not going to let him play around. He needed to own up to what he knew.

"What the fucking hell are you talking about Todd?" He asked, and I was hearing the stone cold ness in his voice tricking through. "I am working on some important case right now, so you better have a good fucking reason."

"I found one of the mile markers, next to the fucking gas station. There is something buried near the tree there. I have a horrible feeling what it is. Why have you guys not found the truth yet?" I asked, hoping that I would get him to shut up, and stop making some bullshit on what was happening.

"How did you know to look there?" My dad asked, and the moment he said that, I was feeling a fucking piercing despair. Knowing that he was indeed aware of what was going on, and he wasn't even fucking trying to hide it at all anymore. "You need to just stop this charade right now, and leave me alone. I already went there before."

"Don't be a fucking idiot. It is right next to the gas station, and it can be seen at the side of the road. Anybody walking or driving by would know it." I said, and I was feeling if I could make him accountable, then I would feel like I knew what I was doing.

"Well, she needed to have a clear memorial. After all, when you're the high school sweat heart who is supposed to change the town, and then you're gone one way, then things need to be different." After my dad said this to me, I wondered if he was the one who had set this whole thing up. And if he was, I wondered why he would do this anyways.

"Did you have something to do with this?" I asked, never having more anger and hate when I was talking to somebody than I did at this moment. If my father was involved, or at least aware that she was here this whole time, then I was never going to be able to get that out of my fucking mind.

"No, I did not. I just simply had to look into it, and I simply realized how amazing she was. And I know that if we went to school together, I would have gone out with her." He said, and I was rather confused by this. Thinking it kind of came out of nowhere.

"Dad, is that her fucking body buried down there? Do you know what happened to her this whole time, and you are refusing to fucking admit it?" I asked, feeling like I just needed to see if I could get him to own up to what was happening. But I knew that what I was saying would not have any impact on him.

"I will not want to go into that Todd. I think you are pushing your luck too much here. And there is only so much that I can fucking do to cover your bullshit if it gets too far." He said, and I was shocked that he was saying this with a level of hatred that I never expected from my father of all people. Especially since I never heard him act like this before.

"But you are going to have to explain this to the public if I go there, and unbury a body. What are you going to fucking say to save your fucking ass this time?" I asked, feeling like I needed to try and piss him off here. I needed to get him to see that I was not screwing around at all.

"Do not do this Todd. I am your fucking father, and I have a right to put my fucking foot down, and tell you when you are pressing things way too fucking far." He was saying, and I shook my head, not wanting to hear what he was wanting to tell me anymore. I wished that he would stop treating me like I was fucking two or something.

"Legally you do not have agency over me anymore. I am twenty years old, and therefore I have the right to make my own choices." I said, hoping that by telling him this, he would back off, and stop pretending like he was my boss or anything like that.

"Todd, think of your younger brothers and Lydia before you do something like this. They deserve to know that you are staying safe." He was telling me, and as soon as he said this, I was shaking my head, unable to believe what he said.

"You're supposed to do your stream anyways. That is your job. So do your god damn job." He said, and I was wondering if my father knew that he was having very little agency as he said this. But at the same time, I was feeling like I pushed my luck well enough to not want to test it any further.

My dad then hung up on me. I was looking down at the ground, feeling like I needed to confirm if my theories were true or not. I was having a horrible feeling of what I had stumbled across, and I was feeling like I just needed to show people that I was not going crazy at all.

When I was done, before I headed home, I sent Benjamin the details of everything that I found, in perfect detail. Hoping that this information would make him feel like he would be able to trust me for once. And I felt that if he trusted me, then everything that I could have ever wanted was playing out perfectly.

This whole thing was fucking disgusting to me. I was feeling like if my theory was correct, then the people involved with this were not even fucking trying to hide what they were doing anymore. And that was blowing me away to a galactic proportion. And it was showing me how much the people in Wayside knew they would get away with everything they ever wanted.

When I went home, and realized I was a couple of hours late to my stream, and therefore meant I needed to stream later in the evening to make up for it, I decided I would text Bebe before I started. "The two of us are doing well. To be honest, I just feel like if I continue to help him, then there might be a level of closure for both of us." I said, feeling like I just needed to let her see that this was not something I would allow to screw us over.

---

Scene 15 - September 5 2020 6:00 pm

I was meeting up with Bebe after her eleven to five thirty shift was done, and then I was seeing her looking like she was wanting to ask me something. Even though I was not sure how in the world I was going to be able to actually help her out here.

"I want you to meet Robbie Dan. I was telling him that I think that it would be best for you guys to try and get to know each other." After she was telling me this, I rolled my eyes, feeling like this idea was fucking ridiculous.

"If you think this is for the best." I said, and shook my head, feeling like this wouldn't turn out as well as she was thinking. But deep down inside, I was already feeling like something like this would just be a miserable fucking failure.

"I do. And to be honest, I just want to forget about what we discussed last week." Bebe said, and I knew she was referring to the incident when her older brother got brought up. I sighed in mild annoyance, not really wanting to deal with her beating that fucking bush down any longer.

I drove to her house at a decently fast pace, since in all honesty, I did not want her to be making me the bad guy here, and I felt like she just simply didn't understand the fact that I was trying to just get to know her side of the story.

Once there, I was already seeing Robbie Dan waiting outside, and I can totally see from the look on his face that he wanted nothing to do with this. In a way, I kind of felt bad for him.

"Hey, I heard that my sister thinks your like the coolest guy the world has ever seen." Robbie was saying, and I looked right at Bebe, wondering what the problem was. Since it was totally feeling like he was phoning that in a massive extreme.

"I would not go that far." I said, and looked right at Bebe. "Truth be told, she was wanting me to meet you, and see if we could maybe get along or whatever." I said, and then I shook my head at this. Feeling like the whole fucking idea was ridiculous.

"Why is it that guys have a really bad tendency to try and always be modest about everything? It honestly is too much to fucking handle" After Bebe was telling me this, I sighed, since I felt like nothing I could say would make her think any different at all.

"Regardless, how have you been enjoying the school year so far?" I asked, and Robbie Dan looked so upset that I was bringing that up, when he was trying to just put that behind him for the time being.

"It sucks. Everybody still acts like I'm a fucking baby." Robbie said, and I was laughing as he said this. I mean, technically as a second grade student, he wasn't totally at the bottom of the totem poll.

"Well, I do have something that I could get your help with, if you are willing to take the offer." After I said that to him, Robbie looked like he was mildly confused at what the fucking hell I was trying to indicate.

"Well, my younger sister is in the first grade, so a year younger than you. I think that she would do well if she had a guy who had just a little bit more experience at her side." I said, and I was seeing Robbie looking like he was thinking this idea would go really fucking bad, really fucking quickly.

"Are you sure that you are going to want that? People are going to endlessly make fun of her, and say that she is being treated like a little princess." After Robbie said that to me, I was sighing, feeling like he was just trying to make this sound even worse than it was.

"Well, I think that if it gets to that point, then I will go down there myself. But I just kind of hope that having a guy at her side will make things better. And besides, you said that you didn't want to be treated like a child right now. So I am giving you the fucking chance to prove to me that you are not." I said, and then I was seeing Robbie looking like he was already regretting everything he said.

"Okay. I think that you are having way too much confidence in how this whole thing is going to work. But I feel like if you are giving me a chance to prove myself, I have no choice but to do it." After Robbie told me this, I shook my head, and I was wondering if this was going to be a terrible idea.

"Thanks Robbie. And if you do that, then on the weekends, I will be wiling to help with your homework. How does that sound?" I asked, feeling like since I was wanting him to do something for me, I was needing to do something for him in return. It was truly only fair, in the long run.

"Cool. I guess that I can go with that. After all, these school papers are complicated as all fuck." After Robbie said that, I rolled my eyes, feeling like if he was thinking this was hard, then he was never going to fucking understand how much worse it would get.

"Well, just prepare yourself for how much worse this could really fucking get. Because if this is already hard for you, oh my god, it is going to become fucking torture later on." After I told him this, I was seeing Robbie looking like what I said was fucking horrible.

"So Todd, do you think I should be doing more hours on the weekends? I mean, they only have me listed at six hours on those days so far. I think I should try to do full shifts on those days." She said, and I was shaking my head as she said that to me.

"That is entirely up to you. But you do need to remember that you need worry about your credits as well. Would be no point in getting all that money if you end up failing your classes." I said, feeling like I just needed to give her the harsh reality of what I felt here.

"I don't fucking care about credits. That stuff is a load of fucking garbage anyways, and I think we both fucking know it." Bebe said, and I was sighing, feeling like her way of looking at this was going to be a rather bad way of looking at things.

"Well, if you guys are done needing me out here, I might need to just go back. I am freezing my fucking balls off, and I need to just relax again." After Robbie Dan was syaing this, he was looking like he hardly fucking cared at all what was happening as he left.

"Sorry that I haven't been seeing you as much lately. I should have just tried to talk with you more when I fucking needed to." Bebe tried to tell Robbie, but I was seeing from the look on his face, that he was seeming to not really be in the mood to hear what she said. Probably thinking that she was lying to him.

"What do you want to do now Bebe? Maybe go and talk to your boss about those hours you were planning on picking up?" I asked, and then Bebe was looking at me, and I saw her looking kind of upset at this whole thing. Thinking that she was just being talked down upon, to try and do amage control and what not.

"Yeah, I guess that we can fucking do that. I hope we don't fucking regret this." Bebe responded, as we headed to her car, and I was wondering why she was so upset with me and Robbie. To be honest, I was kind of feeling like she had done this to herself, and she was going to have to accept the effects of this.

As I started to drive towards the pizza place, I was starting to feel like I needed to try and make Bebe feel better after what she was having to deal with with Robbie. I felt like she was just going to start really feeling down the fucking rug, and I wanted to make her feel better now.

Eventually, once at the pizza shop, I left the car, and Bebe was shaking her head as she was leaving as well. I was kind of over her negative mindset, and I was feeling like she was only making things much worse for herself because of this. But I was choosing to keep this thought to myself.

Bebe's boss, a guy probably in his mid thirties, looked over when we walked in. "Surprised that you would be coming in when you are off already." After the boss said this, Bebe was sighing, and I was seeing the fatigued look on her face, and I was feeling like her plan was going to fucking suck.

"Well, I was hoping that I could be able to talk to you about the idea of picking up more hours at the job. You know, maybe doing full shifts on weekends, and working till closing on the weekdays, to help give me more money for when I graduate." She said, and I was sitting down, not really wanting to be part of this discussion. I knew this was going to fail, and I wasn't going to be a part of it.

"Are you sure that is what you want? I mean, you're on your final year of school. Shouldn't you be going out, and trying to have some fun with your friends." He said, and placed his cigarette down, wondering how Bebe was going to be challenging what he said.

"Well, I guess I do see your case. I mean, you usually give me Wednesdays and Thursdays off, and I suppose that has to count for something." Bebe said, and I was feeling like she was trying to take care of her brother too much at this rate.

"Look, I don't feel right throwing away your time off right away. So how about this, I keep the hours that I schedule you the same, and then if you don't have plans with your friends or whatever that day, then go ahead and fucking extend your hours and what not." After he said that, Bebe was thinking about it.

"I guess that I can handle that. I might not be super happy about the whole set up, but I realize that you're just trying to look out for me." She said, and then after that, she was looking right at me, as if wondering what I would be thinking to this idea.

"And I do appreciate the fact that you tried to check up on me anyways. That is really kind of you." After he said that, I was seeing Bebe looking like she was still not sure what to fucking feel here. But choose to not argue at all.

As we left the shop, I was seeing Bebe looking like she was already feeling so much better about what was going on. As if feeling like her boss coming around to this idea was what she had really needed to pull this whole thing off.

---

Scene 36: September 26 2020 (Final)

Before too long, when it was a day off of my streams, Benjamin and I went through with looking at the mile marker that was placed near the gas station. Neither one of us caring if we were going to get in trouble anymore. This was something that both of us knew we needed to do if we needed to work together. I brought a shovel, and Benjamin had a camera that he brought over.

We both knew that this needed to be done. But for some reason, neither one of us took the courage to do so until it was finally time where we both knew that it was time to be placing our foot down on the matter. When we were near the mile marker, I looked at Benjamin one final time, and I felt liek I just needed to really get to know what was on his mind. "Benjamin, I really fucking hope to god that neither of us end up regretting this bullshit." I said, feeling like I just needed to try and ham it all up a bit.

"Well, if for nothing else, at least it will be giving us closure on one thing." Benjamin said, and I knew that this was probably not even going to go the way that he was expecting. But I was feeling that if he was genuinely trying to look at this in a more positive matter, then I was needing to just go along with it for his sake, and hope that he was not going to regret this choice.

We ended up digging for like ten minutes or so until I finally reached the bottom, and I could clearly see that there was something down there. Looking at Benjamin clearly gave away what he was fearing he had seen. "We need to be one hundred percent sure before we do anything." I said, feeling like I just needed to be firm with my judgment.

When we were finishing digging up, we found a decomposed female head down there. I picked it up, full well knowing that this was exactly the same person from the picture. There was literally no fucking reason for it to not be her. I looked right at Benjamin, wondering what he was going to say here.

"This is exactly what happened in that story from the sixties. That one Sheldon guy found his older sisters head at the side of the road, and thatw as the only reason there was confirmation of her death." After Benjamin said this, he looked at me, as if wondering what I was wanting to fucking do.

"Do whatever you fucking want, but I'm calling the fucking cops, and I am getting them over here right now." Benjamin said, and he was already taking his phone out. By that point, I was aware that there was no changing his mind. I looked down at the hole, and I was feeling like whenever dad was here, he needed to just own up to what he fucking saw.

I took my phone out, and texted Bebe right away. I needed her to see that this was not a fucking joke, and she needed to hear every single word of what I was saying. "Bebe, Benjamin and I found a dead body near one of the mile markers." I sent the text, hoping that she was going to take it seriously.

"Yeah, the head was buried under the tree about half a mile away from the gas station in town. You guys need to get her immediately if you want to consider yourself law enforcers." Benjamin said, and I was hearing with how furious he was, that this was not something that he was going to be playing lightly at all.

I was walking a few steps away, so that if Bebe wanted to talk to me without anything, we could do that. She texted back right after. "Oh my fucking god, are you fucking serious man? I can help you out with that." She said, and I was confused by this, and for a brief moment, I mind was running to something else entirely.

"What about your shift at work? Don't you need to finish that first?" I asked, and then I was looking at Benjamin who put the phone away, and he was rubbing his hair. He was scared. More scared than I had ever seen somebody in my entire life. I was hoping that I would make him feel better. But I knew that was impossible.

"I actually got fired about twenty minutes before you texted me. For coming in late too many times with school and what not. Doesn't matter anymore." She sent in the text, and despite the moment, I did feel bad for her. After all, she was really wanting to pull through for Robbie Dan. And this was clearly never going to be the case.

"I will want to see you later. But let me take care of helping Benjamin out." I sent, feeling like as long as I was keeping at least the illusion of me getting the job done, then everything was going to be fine. So with that, I placed my phone in the pocket, and started to head towards Benjamin, to see how he had been doing.

"So Benjamin, are they going to be coming over?" I asked, hoping that I would get him to cheer up a bit. To be honest, as much as I hated to admit it, I wanted nothing to do with this. Mainly because I did not want my dad to come here, and think that I was part of this. When I was just mainly helping the man out and everything.

"They said fifteen minutes." Benjamin said, as he sat down, and took a cigarette out, and he was looking like he was wanting to find something to say. "I just hope that maybe my sister isn't going to be found like this." He said, and pointed down, and I shook my head, hoping that I would be able to find something to say to make him feel better.

"I think we both know she won't. I mean, this was almost fifteen years ago. Your sister has only been five." I said, trying to make him feel better. But I could see from the look on his face that he was not buying a word of what he was saying. And I knew that from this fact, that I just needed to fucking give up.

"That doesn't mean jack shit Todd. It might decrease the chances of something happening, sure. But that doesn't make things any fucking different. At least two people have been confirmed dead like this, and nobody is doing anything about it." He was saying, and I was hearing from the tone of his voice that he was absolutely holding his anger back.

"Benjamin. We are on the same side. I am just trying to provide you a nicer view point. We do not need to be upset with each other." I said, hoping that I would get him to just stop being like this. And I was thinking that maybe we had both been over thinking this.

The police showed up, and I was seeing the officer looking like they were in a bunch of trouble and got caught or something. The look did kind of intrique me. But I knew it was probably just me over thinking things, and I decided to not say much, and just focus on the current situation.

I think that Benjamin was just clearly broken. Clearly aware of how much more likely it was than he wanted to pretend that it was his sister who was gone, and he was just now sort of accepting that reality for what it was. And I was feeling bad for the guy. He had hopes, and now they were dashed.

"Just make sure you just be there for Lydia. Make genuine memories with her. Nothing like fake bullshit, and nothing that is just clearly you tyring to appease her. Really stay by her side, and do whatever she wants you to do." He was telling me, and I could not believe he was genuinely feeling like he needed to tell me this after everything that happened.

"I fucking am dude. Or trying at least. But she is being rather hard on me, and I feel like this is probably a sign that she is having a hard time trusting me and what not." I said, feeling like I just needed to be honest with him as I said this. But Benjamin was looking at me, and I was seeing that even if he was trying to hide it, he was clearly having his doubts, which was pissing me off, and made me feel like he needed to give me a fucking chance here.

"I will try and keep my doubts to myself. But to be honest, I said the same thing befoee my sister went missing. And now I find myself wondering what it would be like if I had that one weekend with her, or if I just listened to her stupid boy shit." He said, and I was shaking my head, not sure what in the world I would even fucking tell him now.

The officers were walking up to us, and I was seeing that they were clearly looking like they had wanted to break everything down with us. "Look, thank you for telling us about this. I have no idea why you decided to dig this up in the first place. But we will do everything we can to bring the girl to justice." The man said, and I slowly nodded at this bullshit.

"Can I be able to talk to my god damn dad about this when he comes here?" I asked him, feeling like I needed to press taht subject down as hard as I could. He was sighing, and I saw that this was clearly not the question that he was wanting me to ask him. He slowly nodded.

"But probably not on this grounds, where people can fucking see us. I think that you would be better off just making sure that you guys stay away from this." After he said that to me, I was slowly nodding, feeling like if that was truly whatever he wanted, then I would go along with it. Since I did not want to burn bridges here.

"I just happened to be in the area, and the ground around it was a lot less covered than normal. So I thought that there was something suspicious about that. I was in no way trying to make things worse for you guys." I said, feeling like if I was saying this, then I would be able to get him to let it go for the time.

"How quickly do you think you guys will be able to get the answers?" Benjamin asked, and I was wondering what angle he was playing here. I saw the officer just look at him, mildly annoyed, that this was where things were going. He sighed, and shook his head. Not wanting to handle this.

"We don't know yet. First we will need to confirm that the body is really who we suspect it to be. And if not, then we will have to figure out what happened to begin with, and if it is, then why." He said, feeling like the answer made fair amount of sense.

When my dad was showing up on his car, and saw Benjamin and I, there was a clear look of both annoyance, and happiness, to see that we were safe. As I saw this, I was feeling like maybe I was too hard on him, and that I just needed to give him more credit than I had.