I've been waiting to write this chapter! It's finally here!

This chapter was going to be GIGANTIC if I hadn't decided to break it up into two parts. It would've been ever bigger than that 8,000-plus word monster I wrote a while ago. But I promised I wouldn't make another chapter that big and wanted to keep it.

Read on!

Journal,

…..I have nothing to say.

~*~V~*~

"There. That should due for now. But I really think you should get that checked out at a hospital."

Once the thrill of having escape wore off, TJ felt the pain of the gunshot in his arm return. He swore that he could feel it in his bone since it hurt so much. The bleeding went down significantly, but blood was still coming from the wound. Using a pair of tweezers and his ripped piece of his sleeve, TJ took out the bullet in his arm and with help from the others he wrapped up his arm around the bullet hole. It still hurt like hell, but it would due.

"A hospital?" TJ asked. "We just broke out. If I go to hospital they'll call the police and get sent back to juvie. This is just fine for now."

"If you say so," Specs said.

"Anyone know where this train is going?" Bandit asked. "I would like to know where we're headed."

"East." They all turned around to look for where the source of the answer came from. When the moonlight shone through the trailer they were travelling in they saw man sitting in the corner of the trailer. With his tattered clothes and dirty appearance they figured that he was homeless. "This train is headed east. Through Greenville, Franklin, Oxford, cutting through Third Street before heading out of state."

"Franklin? Me and Specs are from Franklin," Bandit said. "How long is it until we reach it?"

"Another five hours," Said the homeless man. "This train takes the long way around the state."

"I dunno about you guys, but im getting off as soon as this train crosses Third Street," TJ said. "I got an itch that can only be put out with revenge for the assholes who put me in Duval. What about you all?"

"Oxford I guess," JoJo said absentmindedly. "I'm tryin' to see my little brother."

"I suppose me and Bandit will get off in Franklin," Specs said.

"We won't reach any of those places for five hours. What do you guys want to do until then?" Asked TJ. "Sleep?"

"Sleep sounds good," bandit said, sitting down against a stack of boxes. "One of us should stay up to make sure none of us misses our stop."

"I'll do it," TJ said, volunteering. "I'm already in too much pain to sleep."

"Here," Bandit said, handing him his headphones and CD players. "This is my favorite album; Homework by Daft Punk. It'll keep you up, promise."

"Thanks." Putting on the headphones, TJ pushed play and watched as the others laid down and began to go to sleep. He sat down across from them and looked outside. It was dark, and the stars were out and shining. If it wasn't for the music TJ knew that he would fall asleep.

'Man….what am I gonna do when I get to Third Street?' He wondered. Getting something to eat was on the top of TJ's list to do. He was starving and he planned to eat anything that was edible when he got his hands on it whenever he got to where he was going. But then that brought up the issue of not getting caught. He and the guys would get to their destinations and by then the fact that they and others had escaped would be all over the news and police would probably be all over the place looking for them and they all stood out like a sore thumb. Their orange jumpers were made to stick out of the crowd, and even if they brought the tops down and wore it like pants with the white t-shirt as a top, they still would be noticeable. They would have to run through woods to stay out of sight.

'Where am I going to stay?' He asked himself. TJ thought that the woods was probably be the best place to hide. Being out in town in the open for everyone to see would draw attention. Even though he looked nothing like his former self with the bleached blonde hair, scar and blind eye, he was still in his orange uniform, and everyone would be on the lookout for that. Or, knowing that he was loose and could possibly be headed back to Third Street, would hide out in their basements and bomb shelters until they were given the all-clear. But he didn't want to take that risk.

Going to his parents was out of the question. He wasn't going to waste time thinking about it.

'Maybe I could go to Prickly's," he thought. 'No, I shouldn't do that. That'll cause him too much trouble. He already visits and answers my phone calls. I'll visit him though. But would he call the police on me?...Maybe. I'll visit anyway. And see what the fuck my parents are up to.'

Stretching, TJ told himself that when the CD that he was listening to was over, he would wake one of the others up to switch shifts. Taking out his gun he removed the ammo from the chamber and put them in a separate pocket. No need for it now, and he was sure he would be able to handle the homeless guy if he decided to go crazy.

~*~V~*~

"Good luck not getting caught. Not that we don't want to you guys again, but we're not trying to go back to Duval." When the train crossed over into Franklin, JoJo and TJ woke up to say goodbye to Bandit and Specs before they left. Although there was only a small chance that they would never get caught, they wanted to make sure that just in case that they said their goodbyes.

"Promise to be careful," JoJo told them. "Don't be stupid and get caught."

"We're not gonna get caught," Bandit said. "We know what we're doing. Freckles, can I get my headphones back before I go?"

"Yeah," TJ said, handing Bandit his headphones and CD player. "It's a good album. A little repetitive, but still good."

"If we ever get caught I'll get you your own copy," Bandit told him. "Can't have you listening to mine all the time. No Offence."

"We're going to have to duck, cover and roll," Specs said. "The train isn't going to slow down any time before passing through. There's a ditch a little bit ahead. We could try to land in that."

"Don't break any bones," JoJo said.

"We'll try not to." After the two of them said their goodbyes, JoJo and TJ watched and the other two jumped out of the moving trailer and rolled into a nearby ditch. Just before bandit and Specs were out of sight they waved, letting the other two know that they made it and were okay. Sitting down against a stack of boxes, TJ rubbed his arm where he was shot. The throbbing pain had gone down, but he was also feeling numb over the area. He could still move his arm without a problem, but the wound was still on his mind. But he didn't want to get taken back to Duval by going to the hospital to get treated, though he admitted that sounded dumb.

Looking at his watch, he saw that it was only 1 a.m. It would be another two hours before the train reached Third Street. When he did get there he would have to sleep in the woods or somewhere that no one would find him. He wasn't looking forward to sleeping in the cold, but it was necessary and he knew he would have to grin and bear it.

"Freckles," JoJo said sitting down next to TJ. "You should get off at Oxford with me."

"Why?"

"Just 'cause," He said. "I know tryin' to get off at Third Street, but I think we should get off at the same spot. To watch each other's back. I'll make sure you get to Third Street after we make a few stops. Just a suggestion. You don't have to come with me."

"…you promise I'll get to Third Street?" TJ asked him, skeptically of the offer. JoJo nodded. "Okay. I'll do it. But you better keep your promise."

"I got it," Said JoJo. "It's my turn to stay up, so go to sleep. I'll wake you up."

"Are you sure about that?" TJ asked him. "You seem out of it."

"Yeah I'm good. Just tired from breakin' out." Nodding, TJ laid on his back and looked at the sky. Clouds now covered everything that could be seen, and fog was starting to come down, making it seem colder than it already was. Right after he closed his eyes and started to go to sleep it started to rain, but showed no sign of lightning or thunder.

~*~V~*~

"I think rolling into that ditch did a number on my shoulder…"

Following JoJo into the woods, TJ rubbing his right shoulder in pain. After hitting the ground after rolling into the ditch when getting off the train he felt a shape pain shoot through his shoulder blade and through his arm, but it was quickly going away. Walking through the dense woods proved to be hard, especially in the dark, so TJ tried to stay close behind JoJo so that he wouldn't get lost. But he was questioning whether or not JoJo was already lost.

"You're sure you know where you're going, right?" TJ asked as he moved to avoid getting hit in the face by a low branch. "It's kind of dark out here."

"I know where I'm goin'," JoJo told him. "I used to go through these woods all the time. See that." He stopped walking and pointed to a wooden shed nearby. "That's where me and my little brother used to hangout sometimes. It's beaten up now but it used to be in better in shape. So c'mon. We got a twenty minute walk until we reach town."

"Okay, okay. I believe you," Said TJ. "Twenty minutes, huh?"

"Yep. Twenty minutes," JoJo said. "Up-hill. So it's more like a half-hour."

"Jesus Christ…." TJ mumbled. "Couldn't we have just took the train into town?"

"The train goes around town," Said JoJo as they started to go up the hill. "Doesn't go through. And town is on top of a hill so we would still climb a hill no matter where we got off. And stop makin' me talk and wastin' my breath!"

'Who the hell builds a town on top of a hill this steep?' TJ thought as he forced himself up the hill. 'This is crap.' Climbing up the hill was bad enough, but the rain had turned the dirt into mud, making each and every step a risk for slipping and tumbling down to the bottom of the hill. So he grabbed onto the nearest tree or branch to keep himself steady. It didn't take long for him to lose his breath as well. Hiking into town was exhausting, and TJ thought that talking might've helped the time go by faster, but JoJo was right. Talking only wasted their breath that they need to keep a steady pace.

TJ kept walking under he walked into JoJo and fell to the ground.

"We're here," JoJo said, pointing to the town ahead of them. "See? When you stop your bitchin' things happen faster."

"Uh-huh," TJ said. "Well? Let's go!" JoJo lead the way into town, past a strip mall, buildings, and a school before reaching houses. Before he could ask what they were doing there, TJ was pulled into the bushes by JoJo who told him to keep his mouth shut.

"Why'd you pull me in here?" TJ asked him, angrily. "There are thorns in this bush!"

"I ain't gettin' caught for you!" JoJo snapped. "Just be quiet. We gotta wait until me parents leave to go to work…."

"How long's that gonna be?"

"Few hours."

"A FEW HOURS? JOJO-"

"Shut the fuck up!" JoJo yelled. "Look, what time is it now? 4 a.m.? It'll be about an hour. So just chill. Philosophize or some shit, like you do in your journal."

"How do you know what's in my journal?"

"I get bored," JoJo said with a guilty smile. "Just relax; go to sleep or whatever."

"I'm not going to sleep if it's only going to be for an hour," TJ said, laying down in his stomach.

"Then I guess you watching grass grow."

Staring at the ground in boredom, TJ arranged and arranged rocks to keep himself occupied. At this rate he estimated that he would be in Third Street sometime after the sun rose, if at all. As long as he got there, that was all that mattered. He didn't plan to stay though. Staying in one place was risky for him and JoJo, and they were fugitives now that they broke out of juvie. He couldn't stay in Third Street or anywhere for long than a day or two. While thinking about the near future, TJ found himself falling asleep while waiting for JoJo to go and do what he was here for. He didn't sleep long, because when he woke up and saw that JoJo wasn't with him, he looked out of the bush to see JoJo approaching their hiding spot with a ladder.

"Did you see your little brother?" TJ asked him.

"No," JoJo said. "C'mon, let's go."

"What do you mean 'no'?" He asked. "He's not in there?"

"No."

"So where is he?"

"I don't know!" Yelled JoJo. "Stop askin' me questions! Now c'mon! We gotta get some new clothes. And help me carry this ladder. It's heavy…" Reluctantly TJ helped JoJo carry the ladder after brushing off a few thorns from his uniform. The ladder was heavier than he expected it to be, but he blamed that on being tired from short naps and having to move fast right after those naps. Together the two inmates walked through the town carrying the ladder until they reached the strip mall at the edge of town. Reaching one of the stores, the boys placed the ladder against the wall and used it to climb onto the roof. They saw a door leading into the store they were on top of.

"I suggest that you change clothes," JoJo said as he walked away into the isles of clothes. "You look like a fugitive."

"No, really? I didn't notice," Said TJ. "I don't even know what size I am…and it's dark! How the fuck…" Walking through the isle, he looked for something that seemed like it would fit him. Soon the problem became not to find something that fits, but something he liked. Frustrated, he grabbed a random pair of ants, shirt and quickly put them on, abandoning his orange uniform.

"Freckles, we gotta go!" JoJo yelled as he ran past TJ. "We're gonna miss the bus to Third Street."

"There's a bus heading towards Third Street?" TJ asked running after him.

"Yeah and if you don't hurry up we're gonna miss it!" The two of them made their way outside and saw a bus approaching the mall. The two of them ran to the bus stop just in time as the bus stopped in front of them. Not suspecting anything was awry, the bus driver let them get on after JoJo paid the far for the both of them.

"Where'd you get the money?" TJ asked after they sat down.

"Don't worry about all that," JoJo said, catching his breath. "Just worry about your clothes."

"What's wrong with my clothes?" Looking down, Tj finaly got see what he was wearing. A pair of blue jeans with holes ripped at the knees, and a black shirt with a comic book styled 'BAM' written in red. "There's nothing wrong with it. What about your clothes? Tripp pants? Really JoJo?"

"Don't judge me."

~*~V~*~

"Okay, so where are we goin'?"

"To a friend of mine."

"The fuck? The point of breaking out is to NOT get caught. Are you crazy?"

An hour of bus travel passed and the two boys made it to Third Street. The sun was rising, and the two of them were stretching from the long night they had been through. JoJo yawned as he followed TJ walking down the sidewalk. With their new clothes the two of them were a lot less worried about being spotted; TJ because of his hair being a completely different color, and JoJo because he wasn't from around there.

"Don't worry, he won't tell," TJ assured him. "I hope. But we gotta make a stop at my house first," He said stopping and facing the house they we in front of: his. "I need to know something. Stay here."

"You're the boss," Said JoJo, taking out his pack of cigarettes. Walking toward the garage, TJ looked for the ladder that always sat outside against the house. Finding it he set it against the house right under the window where his bedroom was. Reaching the top, he peeked through his window expecting everything inside to either be the same as the day he left or cleaned.

Instead, the room looked completely different. With a fresh coat of baby blue paint, clean carpet, and new furniture, it looked nothing like his room. What caught it attention was the white crib sitting in the corner and the toddler standing up inside of it shaking the raddle in his hands.

Speechless, TJ climbed down the ladder and returned to JoJo on the sidewalk.

"What happened?" JoJo asked.

"Nothing," TJ told him. "Everything's just perfect. Just fucking perfect!" Marching down the sidewalk in ager, he kicked anything that was in his path to show the world how angry he was. "Things couldn't get more perfect than they are now!"

'I can't believe they replaced me! They replaced me! I bet they couldn't wait to replace me when I was gone!" He raged inside his head. "I bet they have a perfect family now! A mom, a dad, a daughter and son! Of course they have a son in juvie, but they just pretend he doesn't exist, because they don't want to claim that little bastard! He's just a burden we'd rather not think about! And if we don't have to take care of him then who cares! To hell with him!'

"GODAMMIT!" He shouted, kicking a nearby trashcan down the street.

"You gonna draw attention to yourself if don't be quiet," JoJo warned.

"Sorry," TJ said. "I'm just so mad right now! I just…I just wanna light something on fire! I can't believe they did that…."

"I don't mean to draw attention away from what's pissing you off, but are we there yet?" JoJo asked him. "We've stopped after you kicked the trashcan." Looking up from the ground, TJ looked at the house he and JoJo were standing in front of. Now that the sun was risen and there was enough light to see everything, he recognized the house instantly.

"Yeah, we're here," TJ said, walking towards the front door. "C'mon. We can get something to eat. I'm starving." Ringing the doorbell, the boys waited for the door to open. When no one came to open the door, TJ pushed the doorbell again. This time, the door opened seconds later and TJ was faced with a very irate looking Prickly.

"Detweiler," The former principal said, barely keeping his anger down. "What do you think you're doing breaking out of Duval?"

"You know about that, huh?" TJ asked.

"Of course I do! It's all over the news! People aren't going to work and parents aren't little their kids go to school because of it! People around here are locking their doors and windows because they're expecting you to come around here!"

"Oh. Well the only house I want to go inside of is yours,' Said TJ. "So can we come in?"

"We? You bought others?"

"Just JoJo," He said, point to JoJo standing next to him. "He's harmless, and we're only staying for an hour tops."

"I'd be harboring a fugitive."

"I don't think anyone know we're here," Said TJ. "And we only want to get something to eat. Please?"

'Please?' JoJo thought. 'Punk.'

"…alright," Prickly said, letting them come in. "I'm going to hate myself for doing this."

"What's the worst that can happen?" TJ asked him and he and JoJo rushed to the kitchen and started looking for food.

"I get arrested for letting you in my house," Prickly said.

"We won't be here that long, promise," TJ told him. "We just wanna eat." He and JoJo rummaged through the refrigerator, putting leftovers on plates and heating them p in the microwaves as they munched violently on fruit as they waited. It might've been cold, but it was the best food the two of them tasted in what seemed to be forever.

"So are you going to tell me exactly why you chose to break out?" Prickly asked his former student. "I would like to know since my fridge is getting cleaned out by the two of you."

"Just 'cause," TJ said, chewing on an apple. "We were bored. And I promise a friend of mine that he would get to see someone. I owed him one. I owe him a lot more, too."

"Detweiler, you know you're going to get caught eventually, and when you do you're going to get in trouble. Why don't you just put an end to all this and turn yourself in?"

"No way!" TJ protested with a mouth full of spaghetti. "It took me weeks to plan that break out and all night to get here! And you want me to throw it away like it's nothing? I'd rather keep running and get caught than turn myself in!"

"If you don't turn yourself in, you're going to be behind bars much longer than you're supposed to," Prickly warned him. "You can get in serious trouble for doing this! Just cut your losses and let me call the police."

"I hate it in there," TJ said. "I'd rather live on the lamb for the rest of my life than go back there!"

"I think he's right," JoJo calmly said after swallowing a bite of cake. "Let's just cut our losses Freckles. They're gonna find us. Rather go out with dignity than like a sucker. The others are probably caught already anyways."

"…alright, fine. I'll turn myself in," TJ said with a huff. "How do you do that?"

"I have my ways," said the former principal. "But I'll be merciful and let you finish eating."

"Thanks, sir."

After eating for thirty minutes straight and eating just about everything in Prickly's fridge, TJ said it was okay for him to call the police to come and get him. TJ didn't want to go back; the idea sent shivers up his spine. But he knew that he would get caught sooner or later and couldn't run forever. And when he did get caught, his sentence would get extended to the point where he would be questioning whether or not it was worth it. It was like JoJo said, he'd rather go out with dignity than like a sucker. He knew from the beginning that it would probably end like this, and was ready when the police came, surrounded the house, and brought him and JoJo out in handcuffs.

As he was lead by the officers to a police car he saw that the whole neighborhood had come out to see what was going on. Luckily, it was no one he recognized. He and JoJo were put into separate cars as a precaution and they started their journey back to Duval, where the others were waiting for him.

So I didn't know when I named this chapter and the last one that there was a song with the same name by a group called the Gorillaz (pretty nice group too, the song, not so much).

Donna Nnov: I think you should write that story, even though it sounds a lot like mine in areas. I just wanna know what would happen So bad and it sounds like it would be awesome. Just my opinion. And Googly :P Somewhere I heard 'googly specs' and it sounded so funny to me that I just had to add that somewhere in the story.

Reviews are highly appreciated!