A/N: I can only do one this time around... maybe later I can squeeze one more edit but don't expect it. Sorry.
PART THREE
"Come on Jonathan…" Sock trailed after him as they walked. "Please!"
"No," Jonathan said sending a glare over his shoulder.
"Pleeeeeaaasseeeee!" Sock begged.
"Why do you want me to change case workers? I've never even met the guy." Jonathan answered back adjusting the strap of his shoulder bag. It was starting to rip a little but he had to deal with it. He didn't want to buy a new one. He was saving as much as he could for when he turned eighteen.
Another reason why he wouldn't change was because he didn't want anyone else knowing about his life. Sure Providence annoyed him with all the cuddling she sprung out on him but he'll take that to have someone else knowing.
"But if you do you'll get to meet him." Sock bounced in his feet. He appeared to be a morning person much to Jonathan's nerves. The blond teen rubbed his tired eyes forcing them open. He still had no idea why Sock could have so much energy this early in the morning, or why even after close to two months in the system he still had his peppy attitude. "And he's great. He got me here."
"I'm still deciding if that was a good idea," Jonathan mumbled under his breath glancing at the eccentric teen skipping. Reaching the bus stop, Sock started his dance again his skirt swishing back and forth. Jonathan covered his face with his palm embarrassed for him. This went on for a few minutes while Sock hummed his tune, one that Jonathan had yet to discover its name. When Bus 86 finally pulled up, they got in and went to their regular seat, close to the back with Jonathan getting the window seat and Sock sitting next to him yapping about this or that.
When they walked into school, like every other day, they split ways, Sock going to his locker while Jonathan went to his own.
"Oh my God, you're so wrong Lil and I'll prove it." A blonde teen scoffed grabbing Jonathan's arm and pulling him towards a purple haired girl. "You need to decide for us. Tell her she's wrong."
"I'm not wrong," the purple haired teen, Lil, said crossing her arms. "I said 'Gives You Hell' is not from Green Day, Jenna. It's from Good Charlotte."
The blonde huffed rolling her eyes before looking at Jonathan, "You don't seem to be musically challenged, please set the records straight. Tell her it's Green Day."
Jonathan looked bored watching both. "You're both wrong, it's the All-American Rejects."
"Ha! I told you, you were wrong." Jenna said pointing at her friend.
"So were you, Jenna, so I don't think you should be all high and mighty." Lil smugly said.
"Whatever, I proved you wrong." Jenna smirked; Jonathan taking his cue to leave but the girl who grabbed him pulled him back. "Thank you for helping me—."
"—He wasn't helping you Jen. Jeez, get over yourself." Lil huffed crossing her arms and rolling her eyes.
"Whatever Lil," Jenna retorted before turning her charms to him, "I'm Jenna, this is Lil, and you are?"
"Leaving," Jonathan stated untangling himself from the blonde's grasp and disappearing into the crowd. He had a lot of things on his plate to then deal with two girls arguing over music. They didn't even get the right band name without his help. "Preppy girls, I should definitely stay away from them."
It was fine with Jonathan's system, that is if you count Sock sitting with him in their table but Jonathan was use to not being alone for lunch, had almost grown accustomed to Sock's presence, what he didn't expect was that the brown eyed purple haired girl to walk up and sit with them. Nor did Jonathan find amusing that she happened to be Lil. "Hey, I'm Lil."
Sock jumped lightly off his seat happy to meet a new person. "Hi, I'm Sock. This is Jonathan."
Jonathan sent a glare towards the perky teen, reminding himself to ring his neck the next time he got. He took a bite off from his sandwich using it as a way not to talk. Let the two talk if they wanted, he didn't have to be involved in the conversation. He could be the silent observer. It's worked well in the past and he liked it that way.
"You're not much of a talker, huh?" Lil directed it to the moody teen sulking at the corner of the table.
"Ooh don't mind Jonathan, he's shy to new people." Sock waved his hand away grinning. "Tell me more about yourself."
"Wait, your name is Sock?" Lil questioned looking back at the green eyed teen. Her brown eyes clouded in confusion. "Wait, you're not the guy who wears the skirt, right?"
"I am, see." Sock stood up showing their new guest his trademark purple skirt. She nodded slowly trying to assimilate the information.
"Do either of you like Valhalla Soundbox?" Lil prompted eating her protein bar.
Jonathan's ears perked up, "I do."
"Never heard of it," Sock answered.
Jonathan sighed, "You're unbelievable." And both Lil and Jonathan laughed talking most of lunch about music for once the roles being swapped and Sock stayed quiet since he didn't know any of the bands they were referring.
He didn't know how he got himself into this situation but maybe that's what he gets for listening to Sock. Lil is more intelligent than he originally gave her credit for. She didn't turn out to be a preppy girl. She had good taste in music. Most of her preferred music wasn't main stream but she never talked about them with her friends who seem to follow the crowd. What made him uneasy was that Sock had somehow got him into meeting Lil's friend from a party or something… he couldn't remember.
Initially it was just Jonathan who was going but he quickly convinced Sock to tag along. He did get him into this mess might as well show up too.
"You are going right?" Jonathan asked.
"If you want," Sock shrugged but his eyes betrayed him. He was excited. Sock was hoping Jonathan would ask him to go. Lately he's been feeling left out and this was a wonderful opportunity to spend some time with Jonathan. With Jonathan's work, and school and Lil they haven't had as much time to hang unless you counted tutoring… "Of course I'll go, Jonathan."
Jonathan stood waiting for Sock; he couldn't be late could he? Fidgeting he waited as Lil brought over her friend, another blonde with pigtails. "Jonathan, I'll like you to meet Joane—Jojo—a friend of mine."
"So you're the famous Jonathan Lil's been talking my ear off for weeks?" Jojo said inspecting him up and down.
"Joane!" Lil blushed smacking her arm. "It's not true. She's exaggerating."
Jojo just shrugged not answering back. "So, how did you two meet?"
Jonathan felt uncomfortable. He wasn't the social type, much less meeting other people's friends. He never knew exactly what to say. Where the hell was Sock?
Sock skipped coming right around the bend of the path when he heard Lil introduce her friend, Joane. The color drained from his face when he heard her voice. He knew that voice very well. It was his childhood friend, the one that betrayed him.
He stayed rooted to the spot. He didn't dare move and get discovered. This was his new life; she wasn't supposed to get involved with this one. She couldn't know he was here. Sock turned around and ran off taking self-preservation over his promise to Jonathan.
An agonizing hour, an agonizing hour he had to spend with Jojo. He didn't understand why she was so hostile to him. From what he knew he never even met the girl. And he was really pissed off that Sock didn't show. The little bastard left him there to hang. He practically compromised him to go and he had the nerve to leave him there, alone.
Fuming he stormed to the closest arcade and was greeted to the most infuriating image he's ever had to deal with. So much rage welled up inside him that he was surprise his blood hadn't boiled. There he was, Napoleon, playing the racecar game having the time of his life. And betting from the small crowd he's gathered he's been playing for a while.
The little demon had the nerve to ditch him for the arcades?! He huffed, his cheeks puffing out before he let the air go growling. Jonathan stormed and plucked him from the game. The crowd groaned as Sock lost first place and probably a new best record but right now Jonathan didn't care.
"Whoa, dude why did you do that?" Sock groaned turning his green eyes to the one who plucked him from the game realizing who it was, "Oh…"
"Yes, oh, did you forget about the meeting?" Jonathan growled his breath in sharp pants with the suppressed rage to yell and shake his roommate. And even though Jonathan wanted to continue he took another big breath and released him. "Thanks a lot," he added sarcastically.
Jonathan stormed not waiting around for Sock's poor excuses and left somewhere where no one could find him. Sock stood there watching Jonathan go. He really couldn't explain why he didn't show up without him finding out about his connection to Joane. And Sock was trying his hardest to keep his old life separated from his new one.
He's still mad at me, Sock thought a week later. He didn't think Jonathan would be mad at him for so long. Guess he was a grudge holder. The slamming of the locker proved that when Jonathan saw him and walked the opposite way. Sock stood still watching as the blond teen blended into the crowd. It wasn't much of a change from home life either.
The only change was that Sock was now working at a movie-video store organizing shelves. Guess being left alone by your parents was finally paying off. Watching so many movies gave Sock his passion for slasher movies. And he knew most movies based on their titles alone so he was good with where movies belonged. In fact he wasn't even planning on looking for a job at that store. He just wanted a good movie now that his roommate wasn't talking to him.
In his search for one he found some that were misplaced. Thinking that at home there was that silent anger from Jonathan he wasted some time organizing the shelves. He even got a customer confused when he said he wasn't an employee but managed to send him in the right direction. Management finally sought him out asking why he was doing this. Having no better reply than that they were disorganized they asked him if he wanted to work here part-time.
Sock has never said yes so fast in his life.
Walking back from work Sock brushed his bangs away from his face his world coming to a standstill when he saw Joane across the street. Worse was that she seen him too, "Napoleon!"
Sock cursed under his breath his eyes widening in panic. He franticly looking around for an escape as she made her way over toward him, against better judgment he ran into traffic crossing the street and taking off in a run to avoid this encounter. No, no, no. She can't come back into my life. Not now, not after what she did.
"Napoleon," she shouted his name in hot pursuit of Sock. His hat popping in and out of the crowd as a beckon to her. Joane pushed her muscles onward making sure she didn't slow down her pace to Napoleon's. After close to four months since his seventeen's birthday she hadn't heard a word from him. She was going to get a hold on him and demand answers.
"Run… run… don't slow down." He gasped in between breaths encouraging himself not to give up. He had to lose Joane because he wasn't going back home like he originally thought. He ran around the corner and into another horrifying sight.
###
Jonathan walked around downtown going down Bakers Drive onto 18th Street and almost got knocked over by Jojo. Jojo? He watched her run growling out the name Napoleon. Well he thought she said Napoleon. Since he only knew one Napoleon, with curiosity, he walked in that direction. He got to 19th street where there was a bad car crash. There were five cars in a tangle metal mess and what looked like blood spilled onto the street.
A gruesome scene to see, there looked to be two bodies nearby and he had to turn his head away. A rush of emotions swelled up inside as Jonathan pictured this scene being the same like his mother's. He almost walked away when he heard Jojo's voice again. "Napoleon, you can't run away from me. Napoleon… Napoleon! Damn it, this isn't funny."
He glanced in her direction, anything to avoid the scene. Sock's stiff posture was the first thing Jonathan realized and he didn't know what happened next because suddenly he was by his side, "Sock?"
His green eyes looked straight ahead. His face loss of color. Jojo looked pissed but even she noticed something was wrong with him.
"Sock, are you okay?" he asked waving his hand in front of his face but it had no effect on Sock's overall reaction.
Sock was in shock; his eyes were on the scene. Even if Jonathan was mad at him this preceded everything, getting in front he shook him but no matter what he or Jojo did they couldn't shake him from his trance.
"I don't get it. He loves movies with gore, he shouldn't be this surprise." Jojo complained shaking him more.
"That was all fake stuff," Jonathan protested. "This is real. I think he's in shock. We need to move him, now." Tugging his arm he wouldn't budge and had to pick him up. Jonathan carried Sock over his shoulder with Jojo trailing behind them.
A street away, Jonathan placed him down on the bench nudging and shaking him gently. It took a few minutes to animate him back into the real world.
"Jonathan," Sock whispered his voice trembling, his body shaking. He slid closer grabbing the other teen's forearms in desperation clinging himself back to reality. Trying to forget about the horror he saw on the road.
"I'm here," Jonathan reassured him knowing the other teen needed it. And Jonathan knew he made the right choice when Sock flung himself wrapping his arms around his neck crying.
Joane looked at both teens but knew right now was not the time. Saying goodbye to Jonathan she reluctantly left knowing that she'll be closer to finding Sock next time. Jonathan was the key.
###
Although not crying, Sock stayed quiet as they went back home holding onto Jonathan's hoodie his body slightly trembling. When they got home, Sock went to take a shower and got back into the room staying quiet. Jonathan never seen Sock quiet for so long that he got worried. "Are you okay?" Sock just nodded still not speaking. "Are you sure?"
"I'll be fine Jonathan," he answered his voice flat devoid of his usual peppiness. It was eerie to him. It just wasn't Sock. "I just need to sleep."
Still worried he let Sock climb the steps up to his bed. Jonathan, after taking a quick shower, reluctantly lied down in his bed and attempted to sleep tossing and turning. His concern for Sock interfering from sleeping peacefully. His anger long gone.
Beyond all the worry from yesterday, Sock woke up to be the same eccentric teen he's been for close to the last four months. Jonathan couldn't understand how he seemed to flip one day to the other. He thought he'll have to be careful of Sock but he was back to his bubbly self. Almost like yesterday's horror didn't happened.
Back at school Jonathan kept an eye on Sock still worried that at any moment he'll relapse. Keeping all his attention at the hat wearing teen he didn't notice Lil next to him. "Hey," she smiled.
Startled his blue eyes met hers, "Oh, hey."
"Sock entertaining you?" Lil glanced at the other teen.
He smiled a little, "You could say that." Stealing a quick glance to make sure he was still okay he turned his focus to Lil. "What brings you here?"
"Oh just inviting you to a house party this Saturday." Lil shrugged her eyes twinkling with mischief, "It's at Brenda O'Neal's place. Big house on Maple Lane, you can't miss it. Party starts at nine. Think you can make it?"
He thought it over, it starts before the end of his shift at work but he could show up later if he wanted… though he didn't like parties it's the first he's been invited to. "I don't know Lil…"
"Bring Sock if you want," Lil said quickly before covering herself, "…Or anyone else. It doesn't matter."
"I'll think about it," Jonathan said glancing back at Sock. Maybe it'll be a good idea to go, to distract Sock. Jonathan groaned internally hating himself for what he was going to do next. "Sure we'll go."
"You will!" Lil smiled gleefully, "That's great; I'll see you then." He already regretted his decision. Looking back at the teen, Jonathan thought, Sock better be grateful for this.
Mephistopheles showed up half an hour before Jonathan planned to be back so they could head over to the party together. Jonathan wasn't taking any chances with Sock thinking he might ditch again. He agreed because of him and he'll be damn if he went there alone again.
"Hello Sock, how's my favorite foster kid doing?" Mephistopheles said the minute Sock opened the door. He must've been sure Sock was going to answer because he started talking just as the door opened.
"I-uh, I'm okay," Sock nervously replied. He still hadn't gotten Jonathan to agree to switch case workers. Mephistopheles read his face knowing as well.
"So, still haven't gotten him on my side yet?"
"No, but I'm trying. Its not so easy," Sock pouted looking like a perturbed ten year-old. "He's stubborn and won't listen."
Mephistopheles didn't think it was going to be an easy win. Providence had loyal foster cases. Made doing this a pain in the ass for him but he wasn't willing to quit quite so soon. "Then make him listen."
"I'm trying!" Sock huffed sounding like a whiny kid too.
"You going somewhere?" he asked looking up and down at Sock. Sock decided to dress a little fancier wearing a blue dress shirt instead of a T-shirt and a gray knit sweater instead of his usual brown sweater vest. He was going to wear fancier pants but decided wearing his purple skirt over his jeans was more party appropriate.
"Yes, I'm going to a party." Sock grinned.
"Alone?" he asked.
"Nope, Jonathan invited me."
"Ah, Jonathan, I see." His case worker grinned mischief in the air. "Well at the party try to use your charms to get him to agree will you?"
Sock looked at him confused not getting what he meant just thinking to persuade him more, "Okay!"
Mephistopheles laughed at Sock's innocence. "Guess I'll hear more details about this party later. See ya kid. And remember; try to use all your charms tonight."
"Uhhh… okay?" he agreed still confused as the man in the maroon suit disappeared. Sock went back up to his room waiting for Jonathan to arrive from work.
END OF PART THREE
A/N: Do tell me if I miss any typos. I would greatly appreciate it.
Also, look I brought Jojo back and she found Sock ;) what kind of drama will she bring into the story. Til next time
PS: If I haven't mention this already its gonna be 8 parts. Okay? Okay.