An orange suit, rubber slippers, and a number tag. These were the only possessions left in the sponge's life as of current. He's in a jail cell. Alone thank God but still not alone enough. The halls echo of drunks, delinquents, and the occasional mental case. He keeps his eyes closed and pretends he's as a different place. Somewhere way far and more perfect than here. He sure hopes Sandy can forgive him. Can still love him. Can still understand him.

He rang her up half an hour ago.

"You're fucking WHERE?" she hollered

"Jail babe jail" SpongeBob sputtered out, defeatedly.

"I really messed up and I need you…I need you to bail me out before nightfall"

"Spongebob…I- I'm still processing that you're in jail I mean…What did you do? Did you get caught in possession? Please tell me that's all…"

"Sandy I-"

"Five minutes" barked an officer nearby

Spongebob waved him off and double gripped the phone

"...Spongebob you're scaring me…I-I don't what to do I…"

"Sandy please listen carefully. I have to go soon but please just come tonight. Can you promise me?"

"I guess Spongebob…I'm just really confused…"

"Please babe I will pay you back every nickel, but I CAN'T be here, ok?"

The sound of phone static spoke for a few seconds before Sandy replied

"I'll be there"

"Thank you Sandy I lo-"

He was met with static once more.

He hung up the phone and looked at the guard who then walked Spongebob back to the cell.

And that's where he's at now. Picturing a happy place.

He doesn't how long he was sitting on the floor. Half an hour? Two hours?

Either way he didn't get up. He didn't open his eyes. He was sitting with his knees tucked to his chest and arms wrapped on tight. However.

"Hey kid"

Maybe he was talking to someone else

"You…yellow one. Hey!"

Spongebob slowly peeled his eyes back and glanced up. Sure enough an oversized sea bass was staring at him. Wait a minute

"Bubble Bass?"

Bubble Bass rose from the bed he was sitting on and came to the bars. Spongebob followed his lead

"Yes, how did you…Oh I remember now…"

Bubble Bass gave a hefty laugh which kind of embarrassed SpongeBob given their history.

"Well, well, well, if it ain't Spongebob the fry cook or should I say Spongebob the fry CROOK"

This corny joke gave Bubble Bass another laughs before continuing

"What are you in here for Spongeboob?"

Spongebobs mouth twitched and chose his words carefully

"Lots of things. Mainly burglary and assault"

Bubble bass chuckled again

"Wow Spongeboob It was only a matter of time before you got DESPERATE to make some real serious cash"

"It wasn't like that"

"Oh really? Tell me then Spongeboob what was it like?"

"It was..you know…I mean I guess some money was involved but I was…angry..he had it coming..shit I don't know"

Spongebob slid to the floor and looked at the ground hoping to hide his shame

"I really fucked up. I was trying to make my life better you know? Get revenge, make some money, SOMETHING that could get me out of this hole I've dug for myself. But I guess I just made it worse…"

He looked up to see a stone-faced Bubble Bass. A rare and unfamiliar sight and it frightened him.

"Spongebob"

"What?"

"Want to know what I did?"

"What?"

This put a smile on the obese man's face

"I broke a man's shins over an ounce of weed"

"What? Why?"

"He didn't pay. Held one of my guys at gunpoint and ran off. Fucking idiot, he had no idea who he as messing with"

"Jesus"

"Yeeep but I won't be in here very long"

"Whys that?"

"A guy took the fall for me. He owed us big but that's another story."

"Then what are you actually being charged with?"

"Simple possession. Under 20 grams too"

"Wow"

"Ya a slap on the wrist. I should be back on the streets by this time tomorrow. At least there's free food and shelter here"

Spongebob nodded and looked away. He had this strange feeling inside of him and almost made his heart jump out of his throat. He felt like he had honestly gone mad but couldn't stop himself

"Bubble Bass"

"What?"

"What exactly do you do?"

This peaked Bubble Bass's interest as he raised an eye in curiosity

"I'm sure you can take a guess as to what…"

"I figured; you don't have to say"

Spongebob continued

"I want in"

"Oh?"

"You heard it here first"

"What exactly do you bring to the table?"

"I have a large friend network, I'm very discreet... I can make you and your guys a lot of 'serious cash' in my part of town"

"I see…you are well aware that weed is not the only thing we deal here…in fact it's pretty little league if you catch my drift. We are in it to make actual serious cash"

"I'm catching it alright"

Bubble Bass's face relaxed and slid his arms down the bars

"I'll tell you what. Either I or one of my guys will come to the Krusty Krab soon and we can have a chat if you like"

"Sounds good"

"Good. Now that you are in the know you're liable for any slip ups, ok? Snitches get stitches but I'm sure you've heard that before…"

"My lips are sealed"

"It's done then"

With that, Bubble Bass sunk back into the shadows of his dingy cell. This left Spongebob alone in his thoughts again. He really is in for it now. He sure hoped Sandy would come soon enough.

Another half hour passed until a guard came and opened the cell door.

"Squarepants, you've made bail"

Delighted, Spongebob hopped up and gladly allowed himself to be cuffed. Finally, he won't have to be here anymore.

After paperwork and changing back onto his clothes, the guard uncuffed him and sent him through the security door.

"Please don't come back"

Spongebob looked straight ahead to see Sandy rising up from blue felted chair. Her face said more than anything else that night. It pained him.

"Hi babe"

"Hi, Spongebob"