AVAVA

( Author's Note )

VAVAV

The seemingly awaited for chapter five... odd. I thought I posted this, seems it was just sitting waiting to be posted. I'm a Bad Bad Sadi.

AVAVA

( Timmy Turner )

VAVAV

He had been released from the hospital three days before, and he was currently in his room, sitting on the bed, with his back to the headboard, a book in his hand. It had taken him forever to get Vicki to take him to the library. It wasn't like his father was going to jump out from behind any corners and grab him.

His father had went to court, and had been charged with various charges. Child neglect, assault, assault on a minor, Child Endangerment, and Child Abuse... just to name a few. He didn't side with his father. Not at all. However, the amount of charges did seem rather excessive. He didn't know too much about the judicial system in Dimmsdale, so maybe it was really strict.

Either way, he didn't think that his father would be bothering him for a long, long, time. However, Vicki was skittish... and had become even more protective over him, than she had been that first night. He didn't even think that, that could be possible. Anyways, he had finally gotten her to take him to the library, where he was able to pick up some books to read. Which she was shocked, as was Tootie. Neither of them had seen him read before, not for recreation anyways.

Well, he thought to himself, since he had only just taken up the hobby. Ever since his father had turned violent, because it was a safe, quiet, activity that he could do, without attracting attention in his room. Since he was told that reading was like going to a whole new world, in some cases, he decided that's what he wanted to do. He had wanted to be anywhere but home, so it seemed like a good pastime for him. Given his situation, there were times that he would have rather been dead, than have to return home. At least when you where dead, you didn't have to worry about being killed by accident. Never knowing if one day, your own father would take things too far.

"Odd," He said aloud to himself, "It's just odd to think that I am safe at Vicki's house."

How many people in the would could say that? Other than her parents and Tootie. However, he couldn't feel safer.

AVAVA

( Vicki Summers )

VAVAV

"Vicki... Vicki..." She heard her mother's voice, though she didn't answer it. She was too busy looking at various t-shirts, and pants, and shoes, and socks, and other things. She had to get this done today... because tomorrow... "Victoria!"

"I'm kinda..." She turned to look at her mother, who was pushing the cart that she had been tossing things into.

"Breathe..." Vicki took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. "Listen. He's going back to school tomorrow. He's not going over seas for years."

"But..." She sighed. Her mother was right... she was always right, in an annoying kind of way. But she wanted to make sure he had everything that he needed. The clothing that he had packed, the day his father returned early, had gotten stained with blood. And most of his other clothing? It didn't fit, which had been why he hadn't packed them. She just wanted to make sure he had stuff to wear. And, she wanted to make sure, he didn't have to wear pink. She hadn't known that he wore so much pink, because his parents had planned for a girl. Didn't explain why they continued to choose pink for the boy, who was well into his teens.

Alright... so she would admit, there was nothing really wrong with the color pink. Though... only pink shirts... kind of made him a target. It was no wonder bullies targeted Her Twerp.

She looked over at the almost overflowing cart. The annoying reminder that her mother was, once again, right, just peeved her a little.

"Fine... I guess I kinda went a little overboard." It wasn't like she was strained for cash. She had invested her babysitting earnings well, and profited from it.

"Ya think?" Her mother smirked a little. Which caused Vicki to roll her eyes. "So, lets find a couple outfits for him, then we can bring him next time. He might like a chance to finally pick something that isn't pink."

"I didn't get anything pink!" Vicki said defensively.

"No... I know you didn't. I just meant... he might like to pick out his own clothing. You wouldn't like it if he choose everything you'd wear." Her mother made a point. Then again, a hormone fueled teenaged male picking out her clothing, was a lot different than what she was doing. But again... her mother had a point.

"Fine. I know... I know. I'm not myself. I..."

"You're more protective of him, than a dog, over a meaty bone."

"I'm not protective... I'm just... I'm just..." Her mother just stared at her, obviously waiting for some reason... any reason. Sadly, she didn't have a reason... not a good one anyways. "Alright. So I'm protective over him. Someone needs to be."

"Look, Vicki, you don't have to be afraid around me. I know you have feelings for him. I can see it." Her mother laughed, "Your father can see it, because he asked me about it the other day. Maybe it's because we are your family, and we know you the best. And..." Her mother stopped a moment. Vicki didn't know if she was thinking about what to say, or thinking about the shirt in her hand... eventually she put the shirt back on the clothing rack, and looked at her. "And, most people would think horrible things about you. I won't lie about it. He's a teen, and your an adult. But..." Her mother stopped her from arguing. "But... that's because they don't understand. They would see you, an adult, taking advantage of a teen boy. They wouldn't think about the care behind it. Wouldn't think about the feelings that are shared."

"Sharing implies that he feels the same way," Vicki said bitterly, putting back a shirt that she, now, found repulsive, back on a rack, and wondered why she had even tossed it in the cart.

"It's shared, though I think he's more confused about it all than you are, and that's saying something."

AVAVA

( Timmy Turner )

VAVAV

Today's the day, he thought to himself, as he shouldered his backpack with a wince, and went out the the bus stop. His chest was still sore, so was most of his body. And five days... wasn't enough time for all of his bruises to heal. His face still had bruise marks, from knuckles. And his neck... it still had hand, and finger shaped bruises, that were starting to yellow. There was no way to hide this.

Tootie had offered to try covering it up with make-up, but he had reservations about that. Not that he thought that it would make him a sissy or anything. Just... He didn't want Tootie to get whimsical and start trying to give him a complete make-over. You know, the kind of things that. A female friend might think is more funny, than you would think it would be.

"So... you ready?" Tootie asked, stepping up beside him. He wasn't ready, he didn't want to face any of these people. People that no doubt knew what had happened. Word traveled fast in the suburbs, and when that news revolved around a father going to jail, and his son being ambulanced to the hospital? It would spread like fire, in a paper factory.

"Do I have a choice?" He knew he didn't, at least not yet. Vicki fought for him to do home schooling over the computer, but... the schools said it would take a few weeks to get things ready for it... so until then, he was stuck.

"Nope." his friend patted him on the back softly, before giving him a half hug. "But, you got me. Here comes the bus."

He watched as the bus arrived, stopping in front of him and Tootie. He swallowed as the doors opened, then started to ascend the steps, after a nudge from his friend.

Eyes were on him.

He could almost feel them on him.

He knew they were looking at his face, and his neck. Some of their gazes wandered over his entire being as he continued on to an empty seat, near the back. Maybe they were trying to imagine what other bruises lie beneath. He didn't know... he didn't care. He just wanted them to stop looking at him. Did they continue to watch him as he passed? Turning their heads, as if he was some sideshow freak? He didn't know, and didn't want to turn around while walking to find out.

When he made it to his seat, he didn't even look up at the rest of the, unnaturally quiet bus, his gaze just remained on the back of the seat in front of him. Even as Tootie sat next to him.

AVAVA

Timmy would have liked to say that getting on the bus was the hardest part of his day. He would have really liked to. But it wasn't. It seemed that even all the teachers knew about the incident between him and his father. Everyone of them, had pulled him aside, to tell him that if he needed to go to the nurse, or talk to the guidance councilor, that he just needed to ask.

Even Francis had attempted to be nice to him.

Yes.

His, oddly gray colored tormentor, had tried being nice. In the end, he just ended up walking away from Timmy, without a beating. Maybe the being nice thing was just a weird for him, than it was for Timmy witnessing it. He wasn't an invalid! There was nothing wrong with him damn it!

He didn't need a damned councilor!

He didn't need these people's pity!

"Timmy?" He turned to face the person who had called him, as he was carrying his lunch tray to a table, that he and Tootie normally sat at.

It was Trixie.

Odd though.

Trixie, never, never remembered his name.

"I was wondering, if you and your friend wanted to come and sit..." She started.

No...

Hell no!

"No, I don't. I don't want to sit with you. I don't want your pity!" He could feel his face heating up, his right leg started to shake,
"I'm not a damned invalid. So my dad beat the shit out of me!" His voice was raise, everyone in the lunch room was looking at him now. Tootie had made it to his side, trying to pull him away from the other raven haired girl. Though he struggled. "Doesn't change who I am! Fuck this!"

He pulled his arm out of Tootie's grasp, and stormed out the lunchroom. He dropped his lunch tray somewhere between the lunchroom, and the main doors to the school. He didn't know where. One moment he had the tray, and the next he didn't. He took a few deep breaths, once out of the building. Once he was back in the fresh air. He still felt like he was going to explode.

He pulled out his cell, and dialed the number the cab company that he always used when he would do the shopping for his father. Arranged for a cab to pick him up. He wasn't going to stay here and be treated like he was some fragile... fragile... something! He didn't even know, he was just so angry at all these people... wanting to treat him different.

"Timmy! There you are! What are you doing?" Tootie had caught up with him. "Come on, we can go back, and finish out lunch. Mrs Myers said we could." Mrs Myers was the vice-principal.

"I'm leaving." He said flatly. "I'm... I'm going... I don't know where. But I'm leaving."

"Wha... wait... why? Because of everyone acting weird? It'll pass. It will." He watched as the cab pulled up. Then opened the door to get in... "Wait... uh... geez, I'm going too!"

"Where to, Tim?" Timmy looked up as he sat down, it was one of the regular cabbies that usually picked him up from his house. "Usual place?"

"Yes... no... a couple houses down." He liked this guy. Never once did he ask about the bruises. Never once did he show pity.

"Gotcha... You gonna get in Miss? If so, ya need to get in."

"Oh... Sorry." Tootie mumbled as she got into the cab and closed the door.

"Same place?"

"Yep. Thanks again Frankie." Timmy looked out the window.

"For what? Picking up a kid, from school when I'm not supposta? Bah, I'm always happy to help you Tim. I figure, you have your reasons."