He stepped off the elevator as white as sheet. His bag was heavy, but he tried to drag it behind. He heard thudding footfalls from the staircase and a shout. Knowing what it might be, he hurried across the lobby, no one stopped him. He turned and caught sight of the stairwell door opening. He knew who it was. Heart leaping with fright, he abandoned his bag and shot out into the dark city. The rain pounded on him and he shivered, but he kept going.

Where he was going, he didn't know. He ran across the street and into the park. The grass was slippery with rain soaked mud. He realized he wasn't wearing a jacket. He heard a shout from behind him, but he ignored it. He kept running.

He knew someone was following, but he was determined to shake him off. The problem was that he didn't know the park. He slipped on the muddy slope. He thought he heard rain hitting water, but he also heard his name behind him.

He gave a start and slipped on the muddy bank and promptly fell into a lake.

His waterlogged clothes and shoes weighed him down and he was scared. He had fallen into the deep end of the lake, but he didn't know how to swim out. His mother had always been afraid of letting him near water.

Surely this was the end; he couldn't breathe as he struggled upward, his clothes becoming tangled, rain pounding the surface of the water as surely as his heart was pounding for life. His lungs screamed for air and he let out a burst of bubbles, accidentally inhaling. He suddenly felt tightness around his chest. He thought it might be death coming to claim him.

Then quite suddenly, he was face down in the mud and grass. The rain had slowed to a steady drip, but he was soaked. Someone pounded his back and then he coughed up what seemed like half the lake. He heard heavy breathing from close by. The person was coughing too. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder, checking for a pulse. The person turned him over.

He realized his eyes were closed because he could not see. He opened his eyes to find Skipper's pale face looking down at him.

"Speak to me, are you alright? Do you know your name? Home town? Do you know where you are?"

"Yes." Andre said hoarsely, surprised that he could talk. "From…Devon…UK…I'm in…New York…United States…"

"What's your name?" Skipper asked.

"I…am…And- Private."

He thought he saw a smile on Skipper's face, but it was too dark to tell. He realized Skipper wasn't wearing shoes or a shirt.

"You do realize clothes weigh you down a bit, right?" Skipper said, holding Andre's shoes. "What were you thinking? You could have died. And before you say it, I do care. I don't want you to die because of me."

"Skipper…"

"Skipper! Andre!" Kowalski's voice called.

"Over here!" Skipper said.

Kowalski found them with a flashlight; he and Rico hurried over.

They pulled Andre to a stand, but he was still tired and weak.

Skipper pulled Andre's arm over his shoulder and held him steady.

Andre still felt dizzy and disoriented, but his feet seemed to know what they were doing as they followed Skipper's lead. He hadn't realized he was cold until someone put a jacket over his body.

"Thanks, Rico." Skipper said.

"So you…don't…hate me?" Andre asked.

"No, we care about you." Kowalski said. "Kenny's told me he's found a best friend in you."

"Some best friend…"

"Private, listen. We were just upset and confused so we took it out on you." Skipper said. "You're a pretty good kid."

A smile appeared on the youngest one's face.

He couldn't quite remember how he got dressed and into bed, but he was sure he heard voices before he succumbed to his tiredness.

"All of this is my fault." Skipper said. "Why didn't I listen to him?"

"It was all of us." Kowalski said.

Rico stared at the blond boy, hoping that he knew Rico didn't blame him.

"We overreacted. I want to have Kenny's account of what happened. But first, this one's going to be tired when he wakes up." Skipper nodded towards Andre.

"What about school? We took down the comment, but many people saw it already." Kowalski said. "They'll tear Rico apart."

"Can I tear Barry apart?"

"Skipper, I think we have to let this run its course."

"After we destroy Barry."

"We need to know Kenny's side of the story."

"Then I can destroy-"

"No. You can talk and/or yell at him though. I wanted to come up quickly; I only had time to tell Barry that what he did was wrong."

Andre woke up to a growling stomach and realized it was morning. He heard voices outside and proceeded to investigate. However, he stood up and immediately fell down. Gravity was harsh and his legs were weak.

"Are you alright?" Skipper asked, running into the room.

"Fine…" Andre whispered.

"Kenny's here. Can you come out?"

"Yes…"

Andre leaned on Kenny for support as they went into the main room. Skipper put him on the couch and turned to Kenny who was on the chair.

"I should have known." Kenny was saying. "I didn't see his key fall out and he didn't take it out. Why did I believe him? Why would he do that? Maybe he meant for it to be taken as a prank."

"But he knows what people already think of-"

Kowalski was interrupted by a knock.

Skipper opened the door and groaned. "What do you want?"

Julien peered over. "I want to know if Mort can go in."

"What the heck?"

"You know, it's not a safe place for him. He should be locked up in-"

BOOM!

Skipper slammed the door.

"Ouch."

"I hope that hurt!" Skipper yelled.

"You should know everyone's talking!" Julien yelled through the door.

Skipper opened it and glared at Julien. "What in the name of fried halibut are you talking about?"

"Fried halibut?" Julien laughed.

"Shut up and answer the question."

"Everyone was looking all nervous at breakfast. They're afraid he'll come and kill them."

"They believe the rumors?"

"Oh totally, everyone's talking about it as I said earlier."

Mort peeked into the room and then fled. "Run away!"

"See." Julien said.

"He's Mort."

"Yeah, even the dumbest are afraid."

"So you're afraid?"

"Yup."

"Bye, dummy." Skipper said, shutting the door again. He turned to Rico. "Don't listen to him, no one does."

Rico buried his face in his hands.

"What's going on?" Andre asked after he swallowed. He had been given a muffin and a glass of water from Rico.

"Rico's still getting hate mail. People have found his email and phone number and have been messaging him nonstop." Skipper said. "Kowalski and I have been trying to monitor and set them straight, but they're not stopping. Rico had a phone call from his dad. We explained what happened and he believes us, but his dad's girlfriend is definitely worried and I don't think it's about his safety.."

There was another knock at the door.

"If that's Julien again, I swear I'm going to-" He looked through the peephole. "Oh." He opened the door.

Rikki and Hunter came in, followed by Ramona.

"For the record, I don't believe a word of it." Hunter said automatically. "People seem more concerned with this than the threat of animals in Antarctica. I refuse to believe that someone who spent hours of his time creating lovely posters for a good cause would do such a thing."

Rikki was guided towards Rico and sat down next to him with her arms around him.

"Thanks, sis." Rico mumbled. "Thanks, Hunt'r"

"No problem." Hunter said.

"Barry was just being stupid." Skipper said.

"Barry?" Ramona said. "It was Barry?" she looked to Kenny and Andre who nodded.

Ramona turned around and stomped out.

"I better make sure she doesn't literally strangle him." Hunter said, hurrying after Ramona.

"Where's Rocky?" Skipper asked.

"She and Marlene are trying to squash the rumors." Rikki said. "Marlene believes us by the way."

"I always liked her." Skipper said. "So, who does believe us?"

"As far as I know: Me, Rocky, Marlene, Hunter, Ramona, Nat, Izzy, and two other girls who are Marlene and Nat's roommates. I forgot their names. Everyone else either thinks Rico's psychotic or they don't care for rumor but they're not going to stick up for him."

"Maybe it'll die down; you know that school rumors fade over time." Kowalski said.

Contrary to Kowalski's belief, the rumor didn't die down. It appeared to have spread through the building faster than spilled water.

Ramona had cornered Barry and shouted him down. Barry was being avoided by Kenny and Andre.

People were either angry with Barry or Rico.

It wasn't until Thursday that anyone realized it had escalated so far. At lunch time, Rico sat by himself as Skipper was arguing with students in the cafeteria and Kowalski was talking to counselors about online bullying.

Andre had left to refill his water bottle and in the minutes he was gone, Rico had been cornered by a crowd of people.

"Hey, psycho! Stay away from people!"

"You should be locked up!"

"Murderer!"

"How can you still show your face?!"

"Keep him away from children!"

"Don't provoke him, he'll kill you!"

"You horrible monster!"

Andre gasped; he dropped his water bottle and ran. He started pushing his way through the crowd when the first boy punched Rico.

"Stop it!" Andre yelled as another punch landed.

Rico didn't fight back. He was pushed down and simply stared up into the crowd.

Andre managed to slip to the center just as someone kicked Rico in the side.

"STOP IT!" Andre screamed, putting himself in between the boy and Rico. "You leave him alone!"

"Or what? You going to tell on me, sixth grader? You're a baby, a mere child. Get out of here while Rico hasn't murdered you."

"He's not a murderer." Andre said. "That was a rumor started by someone who hacked into his account."

"Get out of the way so I can beat him up." The boy had obviously not listened to Andre.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

Andre ducked as a punch was thrown at him.

"Stop." Rico growled, having gotten to his feet.

"It's up!" Someone screamed.

"Rico's a HE not an IT." Andre yelled. He didn't notice another punch headed his way until Rico pushed him away and took the blow.

He fell backwards and his head hit the table.

"Rico!" Andre gasped.

There was a thump and a grunt and Skipper was there, holding the other boy's foot which had been heading for Andre.

Andre hurried towards Rico. "HELP!" He yelled.

Everyone turned to see a familiar red substance running down Andre's hand as he held Rico's head.

Someone screamed and the security team was there. The crowd scattered except for the boy who had kicked Rico. Skipper had a firm grip on the boy.

"No, I won't leave him!" Andre said when Kowalski had run out to find them.

A few moments passed until a wailing siren was heard.

"Ambulance." Skipper said, putting a hand on Andre's shoulder.

Andre cried into Skipper's shoulder as the ambulance took Rico.

Andre cleaned the blood off his hands and agreed to speak with the principal. Needless to say, he was not happy. He made an announcement to the school to say that he was upset at the actions of the students and that the person who'd actually beat up Rico was expelled.

"This was wrong." He said. "I am completely disappointed in all of those who picked on this poor boy. I have been told that this started from a simple comment on Facebook early Saturday afternoon. Someone had managed to gain access to the boy's profile and put this comment online and he was immediately called out by others. This rumor, I hear, has also taken to the streets. That was completely uncalled for. Did you really want to hurt this boy that badly? Did one tiny comment really have to spurn this much violence hatred even though he and his friends have told you it was a lie? It's called cyber-bullying. Somehow there are texts, emails, phone calls and any other electronic means of communications as well as people themselves who are commenting at threatening this boy. Some people can't ignore these comments; it gets to them and tears them apart. I urge you not to focus on rumor, don't laugh at his expense. He's a human being just like you."

Rico had returned to the apartments a few days later. He had ten stitches on his head and was ordered to stay in his room until he felt well enough to return to school. His dad had contacted him, advising him not to get hurt because the hospital bill was a bit expensive. Although Rico knew his dad was trying to be funny, it was true as well.

Rikki explained to the other three how she and Rico wanted to come to New York so badly, they set up a lemonade stand to raise money when they were ten, but it didn't work because they set it up in winter.

Rico decided to work at with his dad at the local auto shop when he was eleven so he could make money. The only part he didn't like was not being able to hold the welding equipment. He hoped he could because he loved the sparks. He had been allowed to hold a chainsaw for five seconds, but not turn it on. As he got older, he finally was able to use the welding tool under careful watch and managed to fix something and nearly set his clothes on fire, by accident of course.

Rikki and her friend set up another lemonade stand which made more money in the spring and summer, plus there were cookies offered which drew in the sweet teeth of children.

Rikki had turned down the initial offer of getting all the money and finally agreed on her friend getting ten percent of the earnings, even though she did more work and it made Rikki guilty. A couple other friends who had helped with the lemonade stand said that she just had to get them all awesome souvenirs and send them pictures.

Four years later with Rikki's lemonade stand and Rico and Rex working as hard as they could, they had finally managed to make enough money to go to New York.

"Wow, that's amazing." Andre said. He had listened to Rikki's story while they were in Rico's room Monday night.

Rico was lying in bed with a bandage around his head.

"Yup, I only wish I got to work with power tools." Rikki said.

"That would be terrifying considering you don't even know where to switch it on." Skipper said.

"Why doesn't Rico talk?" Andre asked.

"Vocal problems when he was a kid, he also shoved a quarter in his mouth." Rikki said.

Rico blushed and mumbled something.

"He thought it was a chocolate coin." Skipper said. "But you decided to swallow it whole?"

Rico grinned. "Yup."

"You are insane." Kowalski said.

"Rico, I'm sorry." Kenny said. "I should-"

"No." Rico said. "Not you…not your fault…"

"Really?"

"Yup."

Kenny smiled. "I don't deserve that, but thanks."

There was a ding on Kowalski's computer. He went to investigate and a second later they heard "Good golly!"

"What happened?" Skipper asked.

"More rumor."

Kowalski brought his computer in. "It's the chat rooms, they're having a huge argument."

Skipper looked at the comments and immediately covered Kenny and Andre's eyes. "How could they be saying that?"

"I don't know, but look."

DeBarrynator: I NEVER SAID THAT!

Buffdude: Scram, we're talking about that psycho!

Cakerules: So it's true, he does drugs?

Kingcooldude: He looks all gross

Cakerules: That's because he's drinking.

DeBarrynator: NO HE'S NOT! STOP IT!

Mfredi: It's your fault.

DeBarrynator: PLEASE STOP, I DIDN'T MEAN TO

Mfredi: Yeah, you did. Otherwise you wouldn't have done it.

DeBarrynator: I was stupid.

Danishcool: Now everyone knows you're a rat and he's PSYCHO!

DeBarrynator: STOP IT!

Buffdude: Is that all you can say?

Cakerules: You're pathetic.

Kingcooldude: The psycho started a fight on Thursday.

Buffdude: Yup, he's nasty and violent.

Cakerules: That's what you get from a psychotic *

Mfredi: I hope he dies

Bananaman: *

Blondbaker: There are kids here, stop using that language.

Andre had gotten his laptop and was facing the rest of the room while sitting on Skipper's chair.

Bananaman: Stuff it, we saw you running away you crybaby.

Buffdude: What, you think the psycho's going to save you?

Bananaman: He'd just kill you

Petey D: Stop it now. This is a chat room and you shall not offend anybody here.

Buffdude: Who are you?

Petey D: That is none of your concern. What is the concern is you are now harassing two students online and offline.

Cakerules: Why's that any of your business?

Captain: Listen to that guy and leave my friend alone.

Cakerules: So you're friends with the psycho?

Petey D: Stop this. He is a fellow student; did you not hear the principal? I did. Leave these boys alone.

DeBarrynator: And I never said he did drugs.

Blondbaker: Who's moderating this thing?

Smartymarty: Okay, I opened this chat to talk about senior year. I go on the phone with Grandma for twenty minutes and this happens? That's not crackalackin'.

Blondbaker: Thank you.

Moderator has closed chat.

Rikki looked ready to smack someone, Rico was staring blankly at the ceiling, Kenny was shaking his head, Andre was staring at his computer in horror, and Skipper and Kowalski were exchanging looks.

They stayed that way until there was a small knock on the door.

Andre looked at Skipper as if to ask if they should even bother answering it. Skipper nodded.

Andre closed his laptop and put it on the chair before going to the door.

He saw that a note had been slipped under the door. He picked it up before opening the door. He braced himself for a tirade of questions, but he opened the door to a silent person.

He looked blankly at the boy. "What are you doing here?"

He didn't receive an answer. "I asked what you were doing here." Andre repeated.

"I don't know." Barry answered.

Skipper came to see who was at the door and turned red with anger.

"Haven't you done enough?"

"I never said anything else." Barry said. "I didn't even know it sent."

"What the heck are you talking about?"

"Kenny yanked me out of the chair. I was going to press backspace, but he pulled me so hard I pressed enter." Barry said. "You've got to believe me. I never would have sent it. I-"

"What's he doing here?" Kowalski asked as he entered, followed by Kenny.

"Kenny, do you remember where my hands were when you pulled me?" Barry asked.

"Yeah, writing untrue things about Rico." Kenny said.

"But I didn't press enter. I was going to press backspace when you interrupted me. You made me hit enter. I didn't know it until later when everyone started talking."

"WHAT?!" Kenny and Kowalski shouted.

"You're lying." Kenny said. "I know you are."

"No I'm not; I honestly wouldn't have sent it." Barry said.

"To be fair, you can't expect us to trust you." Kowalski said. "You've had valuable information all this time and you didn't come to us. Did you even explain to Ramona when she yelled at you?"

"No, she was too busy yelling." Barry said. "Honestly, if I wanted Rico to kill me, I'd let him know."

"If this was true, you'd tell Rico." Skipper said.

Barry hesitantly went to Rico's room. He explained what he just told the others and waited.

Rico didn't respond.

"We'll think about this." Kowalski said. "If we decide you're telling the truth, we'll let you know."

"Though it'll be a while before we could trust you again." Andre said.

"If we think you're telling the truth." Skipper added. "Even if you accidentally pushed the button, you still wrote the message."

Barry was about to leave when Andre stopped him. "Did you put this note under our door?" he asked.

"No." Barry said before leaving.

After Rikki and Kenny had left, Andre showed the note to Skipper.

"Meet me on Friday night at 8:00pm in Central Park. Just you four. I'll be wearing the same clothes you saw me in. JB."

"What does that mean?" Kowalski asked.

"I have no idea, but this writing is familiar." Skipper said.

"Yeah, same here. I felt like he wrote to me once." Andre said.

"How can that be possible?" Kowalski asked.

"I don't know." Skipper said.

Rico decided to go to school on Wednesday. He was determined to stay out of fights and simply sat in a classroom or in the gym with Skipper.

Barry was rarely seen over the next few days except for school. Allie and Ramona started hanging around with Kenny as Andre was helping Rico.

Kowalski and Skipper were trying as hard as they could not to punch out the next people to insult Rico. The noise had died down after the principal's warning, but people still avoided Rico. Julien was becoming insufferable as he kept mocking Rico to the point where he got a black eye from Nat who was quickly given a detention. She said it was a detention well deserved for giving Julien a taste of his stupidity.

Friday afternoon came quickly and the boys were preparing to meet whoever JB was. They had tried to salvage some humor by joking that JB could stand for James Bond, Jack Black, Jonas Brothers, or jelly beans.

"Alright, let's go meet James Bond. Oh, by the way," Skipper said. "What's your name again?"

Andre smiled. "Private. Just call me Private."

"And you're good with that?"

"Yup. Andre was in the past. Private's going to be a whole new person. I think I'll start telling everyone this weekend."

Skipper grinned back. "Welcome to New York, Private."

Rico and Kowalski cheered.

A/N: Now I can start calling him Private, yay! And does Barry deserve to be forgiven? Is he telling the truth? WHO are they meeting? The next chapter will tell.

On a more serious note, cyberbullying and any other sort of bullying is wrong. I felt compelled to say that as this chapter addressed it. I'm sorry for any uncomfortable feelings that may have occurred. Also, I don't like swearing so that's why I put the star things (I don't know what they're really called.)

So don't bully others because it's not cool.

Skipper: Yeah!

Kowalski: Nobody was harmed in the making of this chapter

Julien: AH! Paper cut!

Kowalski: Except him.

Nat: BRING ON THE DRAMA!

Julien: Hello, babe.

Nat: …moron.

Skipper: Harassment of any kind is also uncool. And so is a bunch of other things. What IS cool is staying calm and watching the Penguins of Madagascar.

Julien: Eh, never heard of it.

Kowalski: I will not react. I will not react-

Private: Until next chapter…

Rico: 3…2…1…Bye-bye KABOOM!

Kowalski: and there goes my lunch…

Skipper: And we're out!