Vestervold, Copenhagen. Denmark
February 13, 2009
1700 hours
"For the last time, your parents aren't going to let you go to an Irish pub…or any pub." Skipper said as the boys were headed home after wandering the town.
"I have a foolproof plan." Hans said, puffing his chest and deepening his voice. "I'm just a little person with a big voice."
"More like a little brain and big ego." Skipper laughed. He was hoping Hans was feeling better from whatever funk he'd been in for the past month.
"You won't be laughing when we rule the school tomorrow."
"Why? You suddenly don't believe in cooties?" Skipper's smile faltered when Hans looked at him with a frown. "What? I got a bat in the cave?" He wiped his nose with the inside of his shirt. It was clean.
Hans shook his head. "Oh…nothing. You wouldn't-never mind."
"Aw come on, man! Tell me! Is it a surprise?" Skipper tried to put on an excited act, but a nasty feeling was settling at the bottom of his stomach.
"Something like that." Hans gave an insincere smile.
"Is it dangerous?"
Hans didn't respond. He stopped where he stood, staring upwards at the sky.
"What's going on? Talk to me, buddy." Skipper said, standing next to him.
"Skipper, you wouldn't understand."
"Hans, you're scaring me. Are you planning something dangerous?" Skipper completely dropped the excited act and worry was in his tone.
"Jumping to conclusions again?" Hans smiled wider and looked at Skipper. The moment of eye contact sent a shiver down Skipper's spine. It was a wild sort of smile. A very telling one.
"This time I KNOW you're up to something and I'm gonna find out before you do something stupid."
"Unless you find out after. Here's a bright idea, fake sick and don't come to school tomorrow."
"Not a chance."
"Aw come on, you're always assuming I'm doing something bad."
"Not always, just for the past month. What's wrong with you? What are you planning?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Hans bolted for his house.
"Hans! Wait!" Skipper ran after him, but tripped and sprawled on the concrete.
"Careful there, kid." An elderly lady said from her doorstep.
"I'm fine, thank you." Skipper said, looking at her. When he looked back, Hans was gone.
Once he found the Riber house, he knocked furiously on the door. No one answered. Hans' parents would be in organization meetings right about now along with Skipper's dad. Hans, being an only child, was often left alone and usually came to Skipper's house after school.
Skipper muttered to himself as he dejectedly went home. He kicked pebbles as he went. His mother cheerily asked how his day was and he said it was fine.
"Skipper, you look like you fell again." Sapphire said, taking in her son's dirty and disheveled appearance. "Honey, what's wrong?"
Skipper sighed. "I'm okay, Hans bumped into me when we raced to his house. Hey, Mom…if someone you knew was going to do something wrong, would you try to stop them?"
"What do you mean by 'wrong'?"
Skipper felt uncomfortable now that he had his mom's full attention. He hadn't meant to try to get Hans in trouble.
"It's just…someone at school was acting weird and I'm worried." The boy finally said.
"Do you know why this person is acting weird?"
"No." And it scared him.
"How old is this person?"
"About ten, like me."
"Is this person a girl?"
"No," He wondered where his mom was going to go with that if the answer was yes, but now wasn't the time for that.
"Maybe he's having problems at home. Are you good friends with him?" Sapphire asked.
Skipper thought about it. "I don't know." He left 'anymore' out of the sentence.
"If a person doesn't talk about it, you never know what they're going through. If you weren't close with him, maybe he didn't feel comfortable sharing personal information." Sapphire said. She obviously had been wondering if he was referencing Hans, but Skipper probably threw her off with that answer.
"But what if he does something bad?"
"Like what? Is he going to hurt himself?"
"No? I don't know. Something that's maybe dangerous."
"Is it something you could talk him out of?"
"Maybe."
Sapphire pursed her lips, thinking. "Is there anything an adult like myself can do or say to this boy?"
"No. I can talk to him." His sixteen year old self definitely regretted that. In hindsight, he should have told her.
"If you're sure, honey."
Skipper nodded and went to his room. Rocky came into his room to check on him a while later and tell him dinner was ready. The youngest Sorenson was extremely quiet during dinner. George was still at the meeting with the eldest, Chris. Toby piled down his food and ran off to play games.
While Rocky and Brian were chatting with their mother, Skipper's mind was swirling. He had no idea how he was going to stop something so unknown.
Hans was nowhere in sight when Skipper and Rocky entered the school. She noticed her brother looking on edge.
"What's with you?" She asked.
"Rocky…I think you should go home." Oops. He definitely didn't mean to say that.
"Spill it." Rocky demanded, putting her hands on her hips and giving her brother what they called 'the mom look'.
"Aw, you have to-?" Skipper groaned. He sighed. "I need to find Hans right now."
"Why? What did he do?"
"Nothing yet, but he pretty much said he's gonna do something."
"Okay, what can I do?"
Skipper was startled. "Huh? Nothing."
"You're ten years old, what are you going to do?"
"He's my friend and I'm pretty sure I can fix this. It's probably one of those friend fights, they happen all the time."
"A tiff?"
"Sure."
Rocky looked determinedly at him. "I'm helping you. There's something weird about him and I have no idea what was with that weird kiss last week, but I'm willing to forget it if he needs our help."
Skipper shook his head. "I need to face him alone, Rocky. Don't try to stop me."
The morning wore on with no sign of Hans. They heard something the teacher dismissed as a tire blowing. Skipper asked to be excused to the bathroom. He looked around the school, taking care to avoid being spotted by any adults.
He smelled something burning. The scent led him to a dumpster. He wrinkled his nose in disgust and approached it. The lid was shaking.
BOOM!
The entire thing jumped in the air, lid flying off. The dumpster landed in roughly the same place, but garbage went everywhere. Skipper backtracked quickly. The lid had landed several feet away.
"HOLY-"
He looked around, no one was there. Suddenly, the intercom started playing polka music.
"What the deuce?" Skipper muttered. He went to the front office. The people inside were extremely confused and tried to stop it. An adult spotted him and told him to go back to class.
Skipper decided to find Rocky who would be in PE. Seeing her on the field, he waved her over. She looked at him in disbelief.
"You should be in class."
"I'm looking for Hans." Skipper said.
"He's out sick today?"
Skipper shook his head. "He's ditching to do something."
"Again with being as clear as mud." Rocky rolled her eyes. "You're the one ditching right now."
He opened his mouth to respond when a distant shattering sounded, followed by a car alarm. He ran towards the sound before his sister could stop him.
Finally, he saw Hans, wielding a baseball bat. The window of the car in front of him was completely shattered.
"HEY! What are you doing?!"
Hans stopped mid hit. He looked back at Skipper with a grin and a menacing glint in his eye. It scared him just like last night.
"Hans…we can talk about this." Could they? Skipper pushed away the doubt and tried to make himself believable.
Holding the same expression, Hans lowered the bat. Skipper sighed in relief and got closer.
"Okay, here's how I see it. We just make an excuse like you were feeling-HEY!" He ducked as Hans swiped at his head with the bat. "DUDE!"
"I told you not to come." Hans said emotionlessly, still keeping the smile on his face.
Skipper swore as the taller boy advanced on him, gripping the bat.
"Y-you could have killed me." Skipper trembled, his legs wouldn't move.
Hans cocked his head, his smile faltering. He regarded Skipper curiously.
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Skipper bellowed, finally having gathered his courage. He gasped as Hans aimed another swing. Skipper threw himself to the ground with a yelp. "G-get away from me!"
"Aw come on, Skipper. I thought we were friends."
"You think after this, I'd want to be friends with someone like you?!"
Hans didn't look hurt, just curious. A timer suddenly beeped, interrupting any response. Hans looked at his watch and swore loudly. He cast the bat aside and ran.
Skipper scrambled to his feet. He hesitated for a moment, looking back at the bat. No. No, he wouldn't stoop that low. He gave chase.
Hans had reached the main water and gas lines and was attempting to yank the valve off. The pipes groaned, but remained where they were. He swore again and started kicking it. Finally, one of the smaller pipes broke off. He laughed and took out a lighter as he felt air coming out of it.
"STOP IT!" Skipper screamed, distracting Hans. "I don't know why you're doing this and I don't care, just…stop."
Hans ignored him and used the broken pipe to try to stab through the others. Skipper lunged for him, tackling him to the ground. They rolled on the dirt, pulling and smacking at each other.
Hans grunted as he shoved Skipper off, the shorter boy hitting his head on the pipes. Skipper shook his head and gasped. Hans held his lighter to the exposed gas line.
"N-no…"
"You should have listened, Skipper." Hans said calmly.
"Don't. You-you're not yourself. Something's wrong, but we can help you if you just stop for a minute." Skipper tried to reason, getting up slowly. "I won't tackle you again if you just step back and put that thing away."
"And if I say no?"
"As your friend, I'm begging you, don't do it!"
"You said we weren't friends anymore."
"What are you boys doing?!" Their principal's sharp voice reached them. Skipper looked back at him.
BOOM!
Skipper automatically jumped forward, the hot air singeing his neck. He turned to see Hans muttering curses, nursing his red arm. The principal stared, wide eyed, in shock.
Hans glared at Skipper and ran off. Skipper followed without hesitation.
"Boys!"
The principal was ignored. Skipper found Hans crawling through a hole in the fence that certainly hadn't been there yesterday. They were near the dumpsters again, Hans headed to the cafeteria.
"Hans Riber and Skipper Sorenson to the front office, now." The PA said. Skipper gulped. He knew they were in so much trouble, but Hans was already in the building.
There were shouts and screams. Hans had gone to the kitchens and was clearly messing around in there. Bangs and clangs sounded, and oddly, a squealing noise. Skipper was about to enter the kitchen when the door burst open and a pinkish blur ran by him.
"Damn, he was supposed to fly." Hans said. "Welp-" He pushed a button, but nothing happened.
Hans cursed yet again. "They said it would work."
"How? What? WHY?!" Skipper yelled, getting his attention.
"Get out of here, Skipper!" Hans sounded more annoyed than anything else.
At some point the bell had rung and students started gravitating towards the commotion. Rocky had run full speed towards the noise. Despite the teachers trying to keep everything calm and orderly, there were too many bodies moving especially because there was a pig running around.
A cafeteria worker grabbed Hans from behind.
"LET GO OF ME!" He screamed, trying to get free. "I'M BEING ASSAULTED!"
The captive teen was moving so much, the man who had him was having a difficult time keeping him still. In a split second decision when the man's back was turned, Skipper grabbed a chair and swung it.
It hit him with a resounding CRACK which made Skipper cringe and the man fell to the floor, unconscious. Hans laughed and ran. Skipper checked the man's vitals and sighed in relief. Then gave chase yet again.
"Skipper, Hans, stop fighting!" He barely heard his sister, his stomach clenched. He was going to be in so much trouble, but he had to do something. Something he probably-no definitely-should have left to the adults.
He found Hans leaving through the hole again. He headed towards the back parking lot where the teachers usually parked. There were a couple golf carts that the janitors mostly used for picking trash up around the school. Sometimes they'd let a sick or injured student ride on it, Skipper rode it once.
"Stage one, my dear…well, I don't suppose we're friends anymore." Hans shrugged. "Eh, no big. I don't think you were going to go for the plan anyway."
Skipper panted. "W-why?"
"Showing my strategy and skill, that's what." Hans grinned that maniacal smile again. He eyed the approaching crowd. "Developing your skills starts somewhere."
"Really, Hans? At our school? Did you just think you wouldn't get caught?!" Skipper snarled.
"You're complaining after what you just did?" Hans smirked.
"I-that was-it's irrelevant!" Skipper spluttered.
"Ooh, big word, you just learn it?"
"Cut the crap, Hans!"
"Language, Skipper! there are children around." Hans indicated the approaching crowd.
"You literally used worse twenty minutes ago!"
"I love when things spiral out of control."
"It's gone too far!"
"Duh, that's what out of control means."
"I know what it means!"
"Good, then you know it's so rigid. So demeaning. Think about it. What's the difference between 'control your child' and 'control your dog'?"
"What does that-?"
"Nothing. There's no difference. The word control just makes it all the same. We're pawns, Skipper. We're just dogs to them. And you know who's really in control around here? The Prime Minister. Luckily, we're just in time for his daughter's wedding. I'm going to show her she doesn't have to be 'controlled' by anyone. Join me. You and I can be a team again."
Skipper didn't have time to process and respond since the crowd was approaching rapidly. Hans ran to the golf carts. Skipper growled and tried to keep up. Hans started a cart, tossing a second set of keys on the ground.
"Go on. You can't resist a little joyride." Hans goaded. He drove off.
"GET BACK HERE!" Skipper swiped the keys off the asphalt and started a cart. Hans was already on the street being honked at.
SCREEE
Car tires squealed as they swerved him. Skipper ignored the voices yelling at him to stop. His one and only goal was Hans. Nothing else mattered when it should have.
Pedestrians were extremely confused at the noise and sights. They weren't sure what to do when they saw the carts zooming through. Hans seemed to be trying to avoid and hit them at the same time. Skipper just tried to avoid them.
A red light was ahead, but Hans wasn't planning on obeying traffic laws. He already broke several school rules and at least one law.
Screams echoed in Skipper's ears as Hans swerved towards a ramp up to the curb. People jumped out of the way, but objects certainly couldn't.
BANG
SMASH
"My car!" A woman screamed. Luckily, she'd been far enough not to be run down by the ten year old in the cart.
Skipper yelled an apology as he jumped the curb too. He didn't hit the car, but his own vehicle shuddered. He saw a piece of metal from the cart as he passed by. Hans was breaking his own getaway vehicle.
"Hans, you idiot!" The likelihood of Hans hearing that was extremely low, but his rage was building faster than the carts could move.
"Who are those kids?"
"Are they driving golf carts?"
Skipper realized he was slowing down. He smelled burning rubber and realized he had no idea how old the tires were nor how full of gas it was.
"MY FOOT!"
Skipper cringed, seeing the young man Hans had just run over. The man was dressed in a tuxedo, another couple of men in suits were helping him. He realized much later that it was the man that the Prime Minister's daughter was going to marry.
Hans evidentially realized his getaway was terrible and jumped out of it. It careened into the lake in Orstedsparken park. He was on foot now, shoving his way through a crowd of people feeding ducks.
"Hey, watch where you're going!"
Sirens blared behind them and a voice was heard on the loudspeaker.
"Denmark Police, stop what you're doing!"
Skipper punched the brakes and got out. He'd have to pursue Hans on foot…until he realized Hans had shoved over a kid and stole a bike.
"Hey, stop!" The kid complained.
Skipper groaned, but the police were catching up, so he couldn't get back to the cart. Not that it would have lasted much longer anyway. His legs and lungs burned as he ran after Hans.
A loud crashing noise was followed by a cry of despair.
"No! I just finished that sculpture!"
Skipper passed a blocked off area of the park and a man sobbing at chunks of ice. Oh…the wedding was supposed to be at the park.
"I'm borrowing this!" Skipper yelled as he hopped on a pink bike. He heard a little girl's protest, but ignored it.
If Hans was trying to mess with the wedding, he'd probably try to destroy anything important. Skipper thought. The ice sculpture is already gone and the groom to be is injured. Would Hans hurt a twenty-something year old woman who didn't do anything to him? Then, the logical part of his adrenaline fueled enraged brain told him: He already did a whole bunch of stuff I never thought he'd do.
The police had gone the wrong way because Hans took a shortcut and they lost sight of the boys. At least that gave Skipper time to find Hans.
He ran through the list of locations that were in the direction he saw his former friend. A pub like they mentioned last night? No, that didn't make sense for a pre-wedding especially if the people were connected to the leader of the country.
His stomach grumbled and he realized he skipped lunch. Both he and Hans must be running on pure energy. It had to exhaust them eventually, right? Man, what he wouldn't give for party food right now. Especially cake-
"Cake!" With a new surge of energy, Skipper pedaled harder. He was definitely going to feel the pain later.
Screams indicated he may have gotten there too late. A group of people had been picking up the cake. Some were on the ground. Skipper skidded to a stop as he took in the scene. Icing and cake bits were everywhere.
"That wedding cake took me three hours!" A cake covered figure lamented.
"Sir, are you alright?" A man asked one of the men on the ground.
"Yes." The man groaned. He spotted Skipper on the bike.
"Which way did the kid go?" Skipper asked.
BOOM!
That answered that. Skipper cycled away without another word. He heard voices behind him, but blood was pounding in his ears. He wove through alleyways and saw a dumpster overturned and smoking.
"-the heck did he get grenades from?" Skipper muttered. He couldn't get the bike over the bags and he heard sirens the other way, so he climbed over, ditching the bike. He gagged and shuddered at the smell.
Turning the corner after making sure no squad cars were around, he saw a group of very confused women in dresses across the street, talking to someone in a limo. They saw him as he approached and made exclamations of disgust.
Hans didn't appear to have done anything to them. In fact, he was nowhere in sight. The group stood in front of a run down cannery.
"Have you seen a kid my age come out of that alleyway?" He jabbed his thumb behind him.
"Are you responsible for whatever's going on?" A woman asked, stepping out of the limo. She had a very beautiful gown on and sparkly heels. Her hair was impeccable.
Skipper blinked for a moment before remembering the situation. "Go back in your car!" He suddenly said. There was no telling what Hans could do even if he was nowhere in sight.
"Excuse me?" The woman sounded offended at the idea of a ten year old telling her what to do. She put her hands on her hips and looked down at him angrily. "Why is a boy covered in trash telling me what to do? I'm already very stressed with the wedding and now apparently some kids are ruining-wait a moment…" She scowled at him. "Are you-"
CLANK
SPLOOSH
The ladies screamed as water splashed down upon the bride. It might not have been half as bad if there weren't dead fish in there.
Skipper looked up to see Hans with a triumphant smirk, tilting a now dripping barrel. His face turned to surprise and the barrel tipped downward and fell.
It smashed on the sidewalk and splintered. At least no one had been directly under there.
"Oopsie!" Hans called as he disappeared.
Skipper spotted a broken window, likely the one Hans went through, and climbed inside.
It was dark, dusty and stinky. The cannery had been closed for a couple weeks, but the amount of stink was definitely that of several decades. The order to demolish it was probably going to be for after the wedding.
He heard footsteps. Nowhere to hide now. Distant sirens were heard and Skipper knew this was where it was going to end.
He headed to the back where most of the fish slicing was done. The machines looked ominous with their sharp, unmoving blades.
"Well, well, it appears you've finally caught up." Hans said, flicking the lights on.
Skipper was surprised for a second before realizing the cannery's lights weren't as old as the building itself.
"Stinky, moldy, two week old fish." Hans laughed. "Don't worry, I got some fresh ones just for us." He threw a dead fish at Skipper's feet.
"You want to inhale mold while fighting?"
"What harm will it do?"
"A lot, you clearly weren't paying attention in science class. Let's get to the point already."
"And I was just thinking we could bond again." Hans shook his head slowly. "It's a shame you had to ruin my fun. There's one way this ends and two ways to get there. You wanna go down talking or fighting?"
Skipper picked up the fish, keeping Hans in his sight.
"Why today, Hans? Why are we doing this?!"
"Oh, you know me, Mr. Unpredictable."
"More like, Mr. Can't keep his MOUTH SHUT!" Skipper lunged and swatted at him with the fish. Hans jumped out of the way.
"Must your response be violence?" Hans had an excited smile.
"You started with violence!"
"Did I? Did I really?"
"YOU ALMOST TOOK MY HEAD OFF!" Skipper swiped again, this time Hans slipped on a pile of fish heads.
Skipper took advantage and tackled the boy, tossing the fish and punching him in the face. They were fist fighting now. Tears fell from Skipper's eyes, but he didn't know if it was because of the smell or the betrayal.
It wore on like this, both of them punching and rolling again. This time, Hans wasn't pushing Skipper off as easily. There seemed to be no end. The sirens were loud and the police were calling for them to get out, but the boys didn't listen.
Wordlessly, they let go of each other. Both of them groaned and panted, having used a lot of energy running around. They were sweaty, putrid, and beyond exhausted. They painfully picked themselves and the fish up, glaring at each other.
BAM
The main doors crashed open and footsteps ran the building, getting ever closer.
THUMP
…
The next thing Skipper knew, he was in the back seat of his father's rental car with the windows down to air it out. He blinked, taking in his surroundings. They were still in front of the cannery.
The press was everywhere and onlookers chattered. He saw they were avoiding the car, probably because of the stench, and the car in front of them. Hans's father was next to George Sorenson, both listening to the furious Prime Minister.
"I want those wild boys out of Copenhagen at once!" He saw that Skipper was conscious. "You two are never to return, look at the damage you've done!"
"We understand." Mr. Riber said. He gave a curt nod and headed to the car in front.
"I'll deal with my son." George said. He left the fuming man and curious crowd, waving off questions.
Skipper began talking as soon as his dad was in the car. "Dad, it wasn't my fault! It was Hans-"
"I don't care whose fault it is, you didn't stop yourself." Fury was in every word, though he kept his volume low. "They're giving us two months to get you out of here. Toby and I are allowed to stay for your eldest brother's graduation, but you are to return to New York with Rocky and Brian. Your mother will accompany you."
"But-"
"No buts, I'm very disappointed in you, son."
Skipper felt crushed and cried, but offered no other words. He knew his dad didn't want to hear it.
…
Two months later
April 14
Rocky, Brian, and Toby would swear up and down that their baby brother never got the stink out, but he did…after a couple weeks. He was too depressed to argue with them.
For the past two months, Skipper had been emailed notes from an elementary school student, named Marlene, in Central Park. He was going to be homeschooled by his mother for the rest of the semester when he got home and start up again next school year. He and Hans were on house arrest until the day of departure. He was questioned by police, but they only had his story since Hans refused to say anything.
Currently, Sapphire was being polite but cold to her youngest. She fed and spoke to him, but wouldn't engage in much conversation. George had barely spoken much to Skipper in the past two months, only when he felt he needed to.
Rocky and Toby were trying to ease the tension by making jokes and teasing Skipper. Brian figured with all of this, he wouldn't add to the upset, he didn't really like his middle school that much to be mad at his brother. Skipper might have felt better if Chris wasn't giving him the cold shoulder too.
…
Long Island, NYC
September 2009
Summers weren't typically cold, New York was not an exception, but Skipper would describe this as the coldest summer of his life. Of course, he didn't go into detail or explain that it wasn't actually physically cold.
His mother had gradually warmed back up, reassuring him that she still loved him despite everything. People had done worse. Rocky stopped teasing him as much and Brian acted as friendly as ever by July. Toby wouldn't bring up Denmark, but still gave snide remarks and knowing looks to tease his brother with.
Chris had moved from cold shoulder to generic disappointment and told his brother he was slowly forgiving him. He'd mostly been angry because the incident caused his girlfriend of two years to break up with him. Years later, he'd take it as a sign that he wasn't meant to be with her and was destined to meet Victoria, but this had been his first serious girlfriend.
It was a bit into school and he'd wanted to come home even though the apartments were fine, his family allowed this. He'd never been homesick before, but when he got there he still missed something… or someone.
George entered Skipper's room where the youngest had been staring at a paper with tear filled eyes. The man looked at the paper, a simple 'describe your family' sheet.
"You know we're still your family, right?"
Skipper jumped and blinked, the tears falling. He wiped them off and nodded.
"What's this I hear about you not wanting to go to school anymore? Is Mr. Makyhira's son giving you trouble?"
"No, I don't think he goes to my school." Skipper said weakly.
"Maybe I misheard when he was starting." George sat on the bed. "Since you know our love is unconditional, what's this really about?"
"H-he was like a brother to me." Skipper sniffled, the tears were back. "I know I have three, but he didn't have any, so I was his brother." His voice cracked and he wiped his eyes.
George knew he was talking about Hans.
"There was a lot of chasing, fighting, and explosions. At any point, did you two talk?"
Skipper nodded. "He said he wanted to be a team again…I tried not to get anyone else involved, Dad, I really tried." His voice cracked again.
"Why didn't you come to me? I would have listened to you. No matter how disappointed I am, I still love you and I'm here for you."
"I…it was my fault and I had to end it."
"You're ten. The only thing you had to do was truthfully tell an adult what was happening before it got worse."
"I know. I should have told Mom so she could call his parents." Skipper mumbled. "Do you maybe know where they ended up going?"
George shook his head. "I haven't spoken to them since that day. Mrs. Riber stayed home while I only saw Mr. Riber around a few times. It seems the organization did a good job of keeping us busy in different places. They left three weeks after the incident. I suppose it was easier moving a family of three than seven."
"Do you think I'll ever see him again?" There was a hint of hope.
"If you do-"
"It won't happen again." Skipper said. "Unless I'm protecting myself, I won't fight him. A-and I'll go to someone if I think he's up to something." He felt slightly shaky. "I promise."
"Good. Do you need a hug?" Skipper broke down and George drew him into a hug.
…
Two and a half years later
Rocky and Brian had ditched him…well, he wasn't surprised, they were teenagers after all and he was still technically twelve. He chatted with Marlene as they waited for the new kid, Kowalski, to get his schedule from the front office.
His brother, Kenny, had been dropped off at the elementary school not too far from there. Skipper and Kowalski had gotten up a little earlier…ok a lot earlier. Maybe that's why the other two Sorensons decided not to accompany or wait for them.
"Interesting name, I'm new here too."
The familiar voice made Skipper's heart drop. Marlene noticed the body language immediately as well as Skipper's wide eyes and pale face. She mustered a smile and waved.
"Kowalski, over here!" She called.
Shaking, Skipper turned around. He didn't notice Kowalski's nervous, but defensive body language. Marlene did and tried to give Kowalski a comforting and friendly look.
"Well, well…" It appears you've finally caught up. "It's been a while."
Skipper started breathing hard, his fists clenched. Kowalski plastered on a fake grin, casually observing his surroundings. If Skipper had seen signs better, he'd have realized Kowalski was looking for a way out- (Yeah, I know it isn't my fault! Can I finish?)
"Is this your friend?" Hans asked.
"Hello there!" Marlene said in an overeager tone. "I'm Marlene! I just met Kowalski yesterday, he's rooming with my friend here, do you know Skipper?"
"You could say that." Hans said with a smile.
"We'll be late for class." Skipper snapped. He grabbed Kowalski's arm and pulled him. At first, he was met with a yelp and resistance, but Kowalski realized he wasn't being hurt…other than the tightness of the shorter boy's grip which loosened after they got to class.
"P-pretty sure we're seven minutes early…" Marlene said after she caught her breath.
She'd run after them because Kowalski seemed scared. The taller boy told them that he'd just been nervous about a new school and new people in the big city and he hadn't really known what to expect.
He let his dad know as soon as possible. George was surprised and tried to ask around the organization for information. They just told him that the Riber family decided to quit, would keep it a secret, and their whereabouts were unknown. They couldn't trace a phone number or address. George just let it go because it was their lives, why bother them again?
Hans was in some of his classes and sometimes partnered in projects. They were unnaturally polite to each other during school hours and Hans always seemed to want to have friendly chats, but Skipper could never get that image out of his head. The one where Hans stood over him with the bat after already taking a swing.
He couldn't get Denmark out of his head. And now here Hans was, being creepily friendly…too much like that day. He couldn't get Hans out of his head no matter how hard he tried. Now that he was in front of him, forgetting was impossible.
Forgiving was nonexistent.
His presence reopened the wound between them and it never healed. It was just a rift of anger and pain that he would just have to live with. A rift that looked at him at least once every single day and whose voice he heard. The voice had always brought him back to that day. The smell, the sights, the sounds, the fear.
He thought about that day a lot. He'd always tried to plan what to say if he ever saw Hans again. He anticipated the reactions down to the facial expressions. Skipper thought he knew everything about his former friend except what changed him. He predicted a lot of Hans that ended up true.
Except
He never expected regret.
A/N: I hope this was alright for a bit on something we've only heard small parts of. I did a basic search of a couple locations. I made up the school and cannery. In the show, it seemed like Skipper was the only one busted while Hans was found out later.
I've been posting often because I decided I wanted this to be the tenth anniversary chapter. That's right, February 4th, 2013 is when this started and it continues. I've got a lot more things written and on its way.
