Gilbert sighed, coming to a stop at the park he'd hang out a lot at after him and his dad fought. It wasn't a big park so most of the kids kinda avoided going to the other one. Which was nice because Gilbert didn't want to be messed with. Gilbert sighed, still feeling anger leftover as he sat down at a nearby bench. There weren't many people which was to be expected but a few runners and people walking their dog would walk by from time to time. Ensuring nobody was around, Gilbert sighed, holding his head. The sound of footsteps didn't really bother him as it's normal for people to walk by.
"Hey kiddo something wrong?" And unfamiliar male voice asked. Gilbert jumped up, looking surprised someone had acknowledged him. There was a sighed beside him as the person had apparently sat down by him. Gilbert tensed, moving to the edge of the bench reaching around in his jacket pocket.
"Hey don't worry i don't bite." The man chuckled.
"Hmpf. What brings you over here." Gilbert huffed.
"A kid sitting alone looking rather down. Guess i am just a bit nosy." The man said with a shrug.
"Too nosy for your own good obviously." Gilbert huffed defensively.
"Just wanna see if i can help kiddo." The man sighed.
"Hmpf. Never know with people now. Hell there's a guy running around right now picking kids off the street." Gilbert grumbled.
"Yeah as i've heard. Not really safe to be alone." The man sighed. "Kind of a shitty place we live in huh."
"I'd do anything to get away from it." Gilbert sighed, closing his eyes leaning back.
"I feel ya man. It'd be nice to be somewhere that's not a dog eat dog kinda world." The man sighed.
"Hmpf. You won't lecture me, hopefully." Gilbert huffed, pulling cigarettes out.
"Nah." The man said simply. Gilbert shrugged, pulling one out and lighting it.
"You that stressed to resort to cigarettes kid?" The man chuckled.
"Let's just say i have big expectations to live up to." Gilbert huffed. "Plus i'm too clear-headed for anything else."
"I see. Gotta be pretty stressful to have to live up to em huh. Never got that feeling." The man said. "Ah well i guess it's better than some others."
"Technically i'm expected to be a doctor. Or something within that range." Gilbert shrugged.
"Fun i guess." The man said with a shrug. Gilbert sighed, taking another breath.
"Name's Jack by the way." The man said.
"Cool." Gilbert grumbled.
"Figured you'd at least want to know my name other than talking to a stranger." Jack chuckled.
"I met you in a park a couple of minutes ago. Not much of a bonding experience." Gilbert grumbled.
"Well just from sitting down and talking with you kiddo. I've learned that you got parents with high expectations and you don't think you can live up to em. And your old enough to buy cigarettes or ya stole em. You're a thinker by the way you see this world. But you still got some hope by wanting to be somewhere different." Jack said.
"I'm mentally sound. At least i think i am." Gilbert chuckled.
"Eh sometimes you can't tell if ya got a problem or not. Sometimes we overlook the symptoms." Jack shrugged.
"Oh really. And what have you got to say about me, Stranger M.D." Gilbert chuckled.
"Oh i'm no M.D. just good at reading people." Jack chuckled.
"Hm. You're good at it then." Gilbert shrugged, going back to looking forward.
"It's a talent Gilbert." Jack said simply. Gilbert looked surprised, looking quickly to see if his wallet was out.
"Hm? What's wrong?" Jack said calmly.
"... Nothing." Gilbert said, sitting a bit tensely finishing the cigarette. "Got paranoid i might have left my wallet."
"Oh hey here i think you dropped this on your way here i stumbled across it when i was walking here." Jack said pulling Gilbert's School I.D. out of a pocket handing it to Gilbert. Gilbert gave a suspicious look taking it slowly looking for any sudden movements. Jack didn't seem to make any movements just calmly sitting there. Gilbert took the I.D. before standing up quickly putting out the cigarette with his shoe starting to leave.
"So where you planing to go huh?" Jack said standing up. "It's not safe wondering the streets alone."
"I've got some stuff i need to do. Private stuff." Gilbert said tensely.
"Okay i can understand that. But hey isn't almost lunch time, i was planning on stopping to get something to eat before heading home you seem nice enough kiddo want to come along?" Jack offered.
"... I guess." Gilbert said awkwardly.
"Awesome been a while since i could enjoy some company." Jack said happily. "Any place in particular you wanna go to?"
"Uh anywhere's cool." Gilbert shrugged.
"I'm thinking burgers how about you?" Jack said.
"Uh… k." Gilbert shrugged, following after Jack.
"Your a pretty cool kid ya know." Jack said calmly walking through the park.
"E-eh oi, i never said we were buddy-buddy." Gilbert said, his face red.
"Nor did i i'm just saying." Jack chuckled.
"I- i can be. When i choose to." Gilbert huffed.
"Understandable in a world like this." Jack said with a shrug as he came up to a rather nice looking sleek black car with a yellow stripe on it. Gilbert scoffed, starting to walk past it.
"Hmph. Nobody knows not to go around in a car like that around here." Gilbert huffed.
"It's mine i just had to grab my wallet we can walk to the place but i need money to pay." Jack chuckled unlocking the car.
"And my respect for you has gone down the drain." Gilbert chuckled, leaning on the car. "You're not very street savy are ya…"
"Oh come on kid, like hey get in my car doesn't sound a bit well kidnappish." Jack laughed. "Eh i'd kill anyone who put a dent in my car."
"Speaking of which what's this on the bumper?" Gilbert chuckled.
"Hm? Did someone dare to harm my car?" Jack growled his happy tone gone.
"Looks like it. They cracked your light." Gilbert commented.
"Son of a Taint!" Jack hissed. "Eh i've had worse i'll take her to a repair shop when i get the chance."
"I'm dicking with you your car is fine." Gilbert laughed.
"Better be or else i'd hunt down the fucker and make em pay." Jack huffed before locking the car again.
"That's $10 for the swear jar." Gilbert chuckled.
Jack huffed. "Sorry kid but i'm traveling around with this money no one's getting it." Jack huffed.
"Yeah you're totally traveling in a car like that." Gilbert chuckled.
"Only car i got k." Jack sighed.
"Hmm. You're a brave man, going around in that car." Gilbert said, starting to go down the street.
"I suppose. But i needed to get away from work for a bit." Jack said with a shrug.
"So you just up and went on a road trip." Gilbert raised an eyebrow.
"Yep." Jack said simply. Gilbert gave a suspicious look as he turned to an alley to take a shortcut. Jack following behind him calmly.
"Hi kitty. What'cha up to?" Gilbert said as a small black cat came up to him.
"Pretty kitty." Jack said simply.
"Oh yeah. This is Snowball. I don't care if he's not white, i named him" Gilbert said, picking up the cat petting it.
"Cool." Jack said calmly and early close. Gilbert was distracted with the cat, petting it around the ears lovingly. Jack quickly wrapped an arm around Gilbert putting him in a headlock.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing!" Gilbert coughed, too startled to run.
"Shush." Jack said softly pushing a cloth in Gilbert's face.
Gilbert struggled, kicking trying to scream.
"Wouldya pipe down kid." Jack hissed. Gilbert turned his head away.
"Help-!" Gilbert loudly screamed.
"No you don't" Jack hissed tightening the headlock and pushing the cloth back to Gilberts face. Gilbert slowed as he breathed.
"There we go."Jack huffed. Gilbert twitched weakly still fighting.
"Just give into it kid." Jack sighed. Gilbert tried to fight before falling limp.
"Come on kiddo." Jack huffed before moving the cloth away from Gilbert's face and holding Gilbert up with his now free arm and slinging one of Gilbert's over his shoulder. "Let's get ya in the car."
