Sorry about last chapter. I just wanted to get a chapter out before the weekend was over. But hopefully this chapter makes up for it! God I hope so, even I was disappointed with the last one…..

Alas, this chapter will make up for it because we step away from the usual and do something new. You'll all see what it is when you start reading. I changed the title of this chapter like five times before settling on this one…

So I'm getting my wisdom teeth taken out. Not like soon or anything, probably in the summer or soon afterwards. That by itself would be fine because getting your wisdom teeth taken out is common, but they have to put me to sleep to do it because of my tongue and that is unsettling for me...D: has anyone ever gone under? If so what's it like? I hear it's like going to sleep but do you dream?

I give credit to Edgar Allen Poe for a poem in this chapter. :) the guy was great.

Go Forth, and read on!

~*~SIX MONTHS AGO~*~

Stepping outside of their temporary school that is the community center a group of five students took in a large breath of fresh air. They, as well as the large group of students behind them looked around cautiously and waited for something to happen. They waited for the sound of exploding fireworks, for the smell of smoke, or even for the slightest sign something was awry. Nothing.

"Do you guys hear that?" Spinelli asked no one in particular.

"Hear what?" Gus asked her. "I don't hear anything."

"Exactly. No more pranks, and no more TJ to pull those pranks."

Without warning, the crown erupted into cheers before running onto the playground with all their fears put at rest. The kids freely played on the equipment outside without any fear that it would come apart, blow up, or dissolve into an unrecognizable mush. Balls were bounced and tossed and thrown around the pavement, the jungle gym was climbed to the very top and the swings were swung on without a nagging feeling that there was something wrong going on. And everyone loved it.

~*~END OF FLASHBACK~*~

Dear Journal,

It's not so unbearable in here once you get used to it. But still, I could use a job to make money. I need to buy things and money isn't going to come out of the air. They should pay us for all the rocks we break and all the dishes we clean in here!

I wonder if there's a way to make money in here…I can't think of anything, but I need to quick; I'm broke.

~*~V~*~

"At this rate I predict your muscle mass for the biceps brachii, serratus anterior, and latissimus dorsi will more than double by this time next year," Specs said.

"Can you say that again in English?" TJ asked him.

"…..keep training like this and you'll be stronger this time next year."

"Oh."

Pushing against the cold cement floor with his hands, TJ completed 25 of 50 push-ups he planned to do. Instead of playing cards with JoJo and Bandit, he and Specs took on a different challenge. TJ was quite frankly getting tired of playing cards every day, and since he didn't want to get beat up by some chump, chose to workout instead. Specs however took the opportunity to do measurements and calculations relating to his workout to keep his brain from rotting. While doing those calculations, Specs made himself useful and sat on TJs back while he trained; he didn't weigh much in the first place, so the added weight help him make more progress than without.

"Although I admire you willingness to train, I feel it is my duty to inform you that extra weight on your back will do more harm than good," Specs told him. "Instead you should just increase how many push-ups you do and decrease the amount of time you give yourself to do them."

"Well then get off my back," TJ said. "You're the one who said this was a good idea."

"Yes, but I only wanted to see if you could do it," Said Specs, getting off his back. "Plus, you've already done 50 push-ups already. You can stop now."

"And stop tryin' to be a fuckin' show-off," JoJo yelled from the table. "Why the hell do you need to do 50 push-ups?"

"Because I don't feel like playing cards all the time," TJ said as he got off of the floor. "What's it to you, JoJo? I'm not distracting you or nothing."

"Whateva," JoJo told him, going back to his game. "Hey, do me favor and get my lighter from the room."

"I wouldn't do it if I wasn't headed there already…" TJ said as he headed for his and JoJo's room. Stretching his arms he figured that he should get his books too; school would be starting in about fifteen minutes and he didn't feel like coming back in the room just for books. But first things first, he wanted something to drink and it was in his room. Turning into the room he and JoJo shared, he was not greeted with the sight of an empty room, but the sight of someone rummaging through his things. Notebooks, textbooks, uniforms, the chips, candy, and soda he bought from the commissary were all scattered on the for as the intruding inmate searched through his things. Not wasting anytime, TJ firmly grabbed the intruder by the collar of his prison jumpsuit and pulled him onto his feet just before landing a punch on his face sending him back onto the floor. The boy tried to leave the room while holding his now bleeding nose, but was sent back to the floor again when TJ gave him a swift uppercut to his chin. Dizzy, the inmate felt himself being lifted onto his feet by his front collar.

"I don't ever want to see you in my room ever again," TJ told him. "Next time I'll break your face instead of just your nose!"

"Okay, okay! Just let me go!" The inmate held, guarding his face with his hands.

"Scrub," TJ mumbled as he tossed him out of the room. "Get the fuck out of here!" The inmate scrabbled to his feet before running off. Turning back into the room TJ saw the mess that was still there and regretted tossing the intruder out.

"Should've made him clean this up," He said to himself. "Shit…" After being in juvie for six months, there was only one part of it that TJ wasn't used to, and that was cleaning after himself (and sometimes after others as a form of punishment by the guards). The fighting, he was used to. The food, he was used to. The lasting mental impact of being in the white rooms, he was grasping. He was even used to seeing inmates kill themselves, though that slowed down considerably since Suicide September was coming to a close. But having to clean? No; fuck that. But it was still better than being out in the scorching sun breaking rocks.

He usually didn't have to clean because the room wasn't messy (JoJo wouldn't let him make it messy) and he was barely in there for anything else but sleeping and getting dressed. So it wasn't a problem. But then snatchers like the last one had to come out and make his room a mess.

After putting everything where it was supposed to be, TJ grabbed his backpack, JoJo's lighter, and a bottle of soda before heading back out. Being in the room just made him mad for having to clean it.

"Catch," He said, tossing the lighter to JoJo.

"What took you so long?" JoJo asked as he lit the cigarette in his mouth.

"Some snatcher was going through our stuff," TJ said. "Don't worry though; I got him before he took anything."

"He ain't take none of my books did he?"

"I just said I got him before he took anything," TJ told him. "Listen…."

Before the conversation could continue, the bell signaling the time for school rang. Getting in line, TJ put his backpack on and relished in the fact that this school years was almost over. They might only get a two week vacation from school before their next year, but it was something.

~*~U~*~

"And although there is no legitimate reason for the school system to require teaching calculus in high school unless you plan to be an engineer, or have some other job requiring math, they're still going to teach it to you anyways. Your best bet is to become friends with the smart student in class and get them to help you. Now, when it comes to English SparkNotes is your best bet….."

As the teacher gave a lecture about how to make it through high school, TJ went in and out of paying attention. Of course those things were important, but his mind was somewhere else during class.

Next school year he would be in the ninth grade, something he would usually be looking at with a grimace. But at least he still got what could be considered to be a recess; that was a big bonus. Plus, he figured it couldn't be too hard if they hired teachers like Mr. Doctor. The guy always gave lectures about how to make through school along with the normal lesson. And the workload was pretty easy.

Bored, TJ looked around the room at the students; the kid next to him who was always doing LSD in class, the kids across the class selling the LSP along with other drugs, the kids who were actually taking notes or simply paying attention…..Bandit had one ear bud in his ear, JoJo was sitting in the back talking to Specs, and what was he doing? Just sitting around half listening to the teacher.

'Ugh…..when is class over?' TJ thought to himself. Yawning he looked at the clock. Still had thirty minutes to go. He would love to spend those minutes sleeping. Would he even get noticed? The teacher didn't seem to care that some kids were doing drugs in class, so sleeping shouldn't be noticed either. If it did, then he would just join the bandwagon and do the drugs….

TJ folded his arms and laid his head on the desk, closing his eyes. He didn't worry abot waking up when the class was over the bell that rang at the end of the class was definitely loud enough to wake him up.

~*~V~*~

"Come 'ere Freckles, I gotta tell you somethin'."

Immediately after coming back to the dorms, JoJo pulled TJ out of the class and lead him to their room. TJ wanted to go to the commissary to buy candy before it was all sold out (which wouldn't have mattered since he didn't have enough money to buy anything), but his plans were scrapped because of his roommate.

"What is it? All the candy's gonna be gone!" TJ whined as he sat on his bed. "What do you need to tell me that's so important?"

"I'm movin' out tomorrow," JoJo said. "Getting' transferred ova to the dorms for da older inmates. Just lettin' you know before tomorrow."

"Why are you getting transferred over?" TJ asked him.

"Tomorrows my birthday," Said JoJo. "Turnin' 15, so I'm getting transferred. Bandit too; our birthday is on the same day. So it's just gonna be just you 'n Specs until you two get transferred over."

"Oh. Do you know what time?"

"I dunno. Probably before breakfast," JoJo told him. "I suggest you and Specs move into the same room to avoid getting stuck with some scrub…."

"Thanks for the warning," Said TJ.

"Uh-huh. No problem," JoJo sighed. "Now come on, Specs got somethin' to show us."

~*~U~*~

"That better be what I think it is," Bandit said while looking at one of the many beakers and tubes resting on the table. Most of the beakers were filled with sort of colorful fluid with tubes connecting them together, but only one beakers was filling up from the tubes dripping fluid into it. TJ, JoJo, and Bandit looked at to the beakers in awe, while Specs was making sure everything was working.

"That depends," Specs said. "What do you think it is?"

"That's why we're asking you," JoJo told him. "Hurry up; some of us have to pack our shit."

"Is this for some science project that we were supposed to do and I didn't know about?" TJ asked. "'Cause that's what it looks like to me."

"No it's not that. I decided to make something we all can enjoy," Specs said to them. "I made desoxyephedrine." The blank look on everyone's face told Specs that they didn't understand a work he had said. "It's methamphetamine. You know, meth? Crystal? Speed? I made it so we could sell it and make money because we're all broke."

"Fuck that, I wanna use it myself," Bandit said grabbing the beaker. "Let's light it up!"

"No!," Said Specs as he snatched back the beaker and handing it to TJ. "It's gotta settle before you can do anything with it! But I guess there's enough to sell AND use ourselves, though it won't be done until tonight. Freckles, put the beaker back where it was and make sure Bandit doesn't take it. Using it now won't work."

Sitting the beaker back down at the table TJ sat on the bench as the other continued their conversation. After six months he had completely spent all 100 dollars he had and didn't have a penny to his name. He needed to find a way to make money and fast if he wanted to eat anything decent. Unfortunately there wasn't any way to make money besides selling drugs and he wasn't planning on doing that until he was 16.

"To hell with it," TJ mumbled to himself. "It's juvie; who gives a damn?"

"That's the spirit, Freckles," JoJo said over hearing him. "Just stay wit us and you'll have money, a'ight?"

"Mmm-hmm," TJ said. "Right. So we're trying it out tonight to make sure it's good right?"

"Yeah, to celebrate too," JoJo told him. "Before me and Bandit move. So don't plan to do nothin' tonight."

"Like I ever have anything to do," Said TJ.

~*~V~*~

"So when you get yours, make sure you stick the needle goes into your arm right above the elbow."

Holding the beaker while Specs held a lighter underneath, TJ waited along with the other's in his and JoJo's room for the white hardened mixture of chemicals to melt. They all held a needle in their hands that there taken from the nurse's office by Bandit who snuck out of the dorms to get it. It was thirty minutes before lockdown and they wanted to save it before bed. TJ was reasonably nervous about the situation. He didn't know what it was going to happen when he tried it; he only smoked a couple of times, and thought it would be something like that, but then why would they need other drugs if it made you feel the same? Was it stronger? Or did it make you feel completely different? But he wasn't going to back out like a chump; he had to make sure it was good enough to sell.

"I think it's ready," TJ said, not wanting to hold on to the hot beaker anymore. "Can we use it now?"

"Yes, I think it's ready," Specs said. "Okay, everyone give me your needle so I can make sure there aren't any air bubbles…."

"What happens if their air bubbles?" Bandit asked as he handed over his needle.

"Your heart can stop," Specs said flicking a needle. "It has to be a lot, but I just want to make sure you all don't die. At least because of me. Okay here." Specs handed everyone their now filled needles and kept one for himself. "The rest is to sell if it's good. Have fun." He said leaving the room along with Bandit to go to his own room.

Looking at the needle, TJ felt the nervousness that he had suppressed ealier come back.

"You ain't nervous, are ya Freckles?" JoJo said as he jumped onto his bed.

"No," TJ told him. "I'm not nervous! What do I look like, a chump?"

"Just sayin'," Said JoJo. "'cause you was shakin' a minute ago."

"That was nothing," He said. "It's just my first time…..have you ever done it before?"

"Yeah," JoJo said. "Stop worryin' Freckles, you'll be a'ight. You want me to shoot you up?"

"…..yeah, I think I'll miss if I do it," TJ said handing over his needle. "I don't wanna mess up."

"I don't blame ya," JoJo said as he stuck the needle in his roommates arm. "Just relax; shit's about ta happen. I'm done. Now lay down before you lose ya mind." Rubbing the spot where he was injected, TJ laid down in his own bed. Now he certainly couldn't back out now. He felt his heart start to race, but didn't know if that was because of the drug or his nerves.

'Probably just my nerves,' TJ thought. 'I wonder when it's going to wo-…oh…I think I feel it…..damn…..' Warmth shot though his entire body and jolted up his spine. Closing his eyes he took deep breaths to try and calm himself down, but had an overwhelming feeling of euphoria. The bland grey color of the bed frame, the dull white of the paint on the wall, the blue of his uniform, and the dark blue of his blanket were the most vivid and exciting colors he had ever seen, and simply looking at them make him feel like he won the lottery. He smiled ear to ear and couldn't explain why. But that didn't matter.

'I never felt this good before in my LIFE!' Jumping out of bed, TJ looked around for something to do. He felt like he could do absolutely anything and do it fast enough to do it again.

"FRECKLES!" Turning around TJ saw an excitable JoJo standing behind him with his sunglasses now sitting crocked on his face. "Do you hear that Freckles?" JoJo hissed.

"Hear what?" JoJo wrapped and arm around his shoulders and whispered in his ear.

"The winds of change." JoJo told him. Before the two of them knew it they were falling back on TJ's bed laughing as hard as their lungs would allow them too.

~*~V~*~

Rubbing his eyes, TJ winced at the sun shining through his window. Last night was a blur, but he did remember the meth and JoJo putting the needle in his arm. It felt good too. Really good. Really, really good. Stretching, he noticed that he couldn't stretch as far as he normally could. Looking at see why he saw that JoJo was taking up the other half of his bed. With a swift kick JoJo was on the floor but woke up from the impact.

"What the fuck?" JoJo said as he picked himself off of the floor. "Why you gotta kick people?"

"You have your own bed," TJ told him. "This one's mine. Yours is up there."

"Yeah whatever," JoJo mumbled as he pulled his box from under the bed. "Ya lucky I gotta pack or I'd kick your ass."

"Sure you would," TJ said into his pillow as he watched JoJo pack the few things he had. The cabinet held most of JoJo's books, which were a lot more than TJ thought he had. "Jesus how many books do you need? You probably read them all…."

"I need books," JoJo said. "Just 'cause I'm used to it here doesn't mean I don't like to escape sometimes. You should try it."

"No thanks," TJ said as the door was unlocked from the outside. "Think I'll go talk to the guys and see what they experienced last night." Leaving the room, TJ left his roommate to his packing. He spotted Specs at their table but Bandit wasn't anywhere in sight. Then he remembered that Bandit was leaving too.

"So how was it?" Specs asked him as he approached.

"That was the greatest thing ever!" TJ said as threw his arms into the air. "I wanna do it again but I know I shouldn't."

"Glad you feel that way, but you can't have any more, at least not yet," Specs told him. "The batch I made last night is kind of addictive after the high is over. Though that goes away in a few hours based off how Bandit was acting. The guy nearly choked me for not giving him more, but I went away. Using it more than once in 24 hours will probably make you an addict…..just give it a few days and I'll make more. Besides, I made it to make money. You think we should share a room when those guys move out?"

"Yeah," TJ said. "I'll move into your room since it's on the ground floor."

"Freckles!" They turned around to see JoJo and Bandit each holding a box and being lead out by a guard. We're out! I left somethin' for you on your bed."

'What would he leave me?' TJ thought has he headed up to his room. His bed was already messy, but he noticed the book sitting on his pillow. Picking it up he turned it over and read the title.

"The Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe," He read. "He's crazy if he thinks I'm actually going to read this," he said as he flipped through the pages. He stopped on one page that was ear marked by JoJo and looked over the words and slowly began to read without noticing. "What's so good about Edgar Allan Poe anyways….."

From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were - I have not seen
As others saw - I could not bring
My passions from a common spring -
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow - I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone -
And all I lov'd - I lov'd alone -
Then - in my childhood - in the dawn
Of a most stormy life - was drawn
From ev'ry depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still -
From the torrent, or the fountain -
From the red cliff of the mountain -
From the sun that 'round me roll'd
In its autumn tint of gold -
From the lightning in the sky
As it pass'd me flying by -
From the thunder, and the storm -
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view –

RandallXSpinelli: Yeah, unless I wanted him to die he had to learn how to fight and stop being such a sucker. :P

Donna Nnov: I can definitely say that we will be seeing Veronica again in the future, just not in the next few chapters. :P It would come sooner but…..life likes to get in the way when it comes to updating …but don't worry, it'll come one day. In the next arch of the story, promise. Besides, it's kind of a sausage fest in there so I'm gonna have some mercy on all the boys.

Please Review!