THANK YOU to Ally R. Swan for all reviews.
Hello, hello. Updates first.
I haven't finished another story since I updated last. However I have written a few one-shots. One called "The Christmukkah wish that didn't come true" in memory of our dog Jippie when she had to be put down. (It's for the OC). And one called "The devil on the wall" for the saddle club in memory of Cathy Godbold. And at last "You get what you need" because I wanted to write something for red band society.
I also started a new story called "Alone together" which is set in the dumping ground during the lockdown. And it'll be about a competition they have with different parts to come up with something to do.
I hope you all are staying healthy and safe during these hard times. Even though I'm quite sure I'm not the only one that would like to push fast forward until this part of time is over.
Jeremy is portrayed by Christopher Kirby. Just like in Joseph's chapter David is portrayed by KJ Apa. With red hair as in Riverdale.
Archibald "Archie" Jeremiah Able
Jeremy Able sometimes wondered if he hadn't been too old to have a child when he finally did…
He knew specifically he had been too old when he lost his wife Maya and became a single day at the evening their son Archibald was born, now almost four years ago- of Preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia, yes. That's right. Joseph Stubbs had lost their mum in the same way before they got the chance to meet them, they had both grown up with single dads. And they had both gotten to come with their dads to work at universities- on that one, fateful day that was about to turn so bad it just happened that Jeremy and Archibald Able was at Forest Lake University was just there.
Still, if Archcie and Joseph were to ever find out how much alike their stories were it would happen years and years from now…
Although Jereremy and Archie weren't in an office like the Stubbs. They were right out in the hallway and on their way to a classroom on the other side of the school.
If they had only been in that classroom they had been far away from David Blake when he pulled out a gun…
But they were close, they saw him as he pulled up the gun from his pocket, Jeremy was frozen in fear and Archie understood just as little as Joseph had…
BANG!
BANG!
Jeremy finally moved and looked up. He wanted to take Archie…
He already held Archie as a matter of fact. He had lifted Archie up to sit on his shoulders before this day had turned into the most terrible. But Archie hadn't even turned four and light and running should have been easy…
BANG!
It was just that they were at the bottom of the hallway. They couldn't have run without passing the gunman and possibly made matters even for themselves.
BANG!
Jeremy finally flinched and could start moving at the moment David turned towards them…
"Dad?" Archie looked around and at all running, screaming people, bodies on the floor and blood scattered all around. "I.. I don't get it dad… they can't sleep now… What are you doing?"
Archie looked to David who just smirked, he didn't understand…
"No. Dad…"
Archie only knew he felt disappointed at the moment his dad lifted him down from his shoulders and put him to stand on his own two feet…
"Dad?"
Jeremy had felt a gust of worry when he had watched earlier when David had lowered his gun. But he knew, he understood this had only been the beginning.
He did hope he could make something…
He knew he didn't when David raised his gun again.
"Please don't." Jeremy tried to cover his son with his own body. "Please. Do whatever you want with me but don't touch him…"
"Touch him…" The red haired man loaded his gun one more time. "I wouldn't have to touch him. I wouldn't have to touch anyone…"
"Daddy?" Archie tugged his dad's jacket. "Come on. Lets go…."
"That's an annoying kid you have there. There's a teacher here who usually brings his kid with him to work. Maybe they could have been friends…"
"Please." Jeremy tried one more time. "Please do…"
David was in the middle of another pleading sentence when David pulled the trigger. And Jeremy didn't have time to fear even more when a bullet hit his shoulder and then, just as he collapsed another shot rang out…
David had fallen almost right onto Archei with the result that blood had stained all over Archie's shirt. The fact that he was wearing a white shirt didn't exactly make any matters better.
Archie looked to the side and up on David who still stood with his gun raised. Maybe that boy could help him…
"Can you wake my daddy up?"
David only looked to Archie for one more second, then his looked changed slightly and he smirked as if he knew that for the rest of his life, Archie would have nightmares and upon that wanting to vomit and faint every time he saw blood. And as if he knew he'd just made the little boy in front of him an orphan.
David didn't know those things, but without pulling the trigger towards Archie he turned and walked away.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
The young, red- haired man went further and further away from where Archie had fallen onto his knees.
BANG!
Just as Archie thought it was over there was one more BANG.
Maybe he knew it was the last. Maybe he knew that the last had killed another dad, and just like himself, had made a child an orphan.
Archie didn't know. But he could hear voices, he heard shouting….
"Daddy? Come on daddy?"
Archie shook his dad's shoulder one more time, the only result was more red and sticky blood on his hands because Jeremy didn't stir. And Archei was started to get worried. What had this been about? And what did that red- haired guy and the bang's have to do with it all?
"Come on daddy…" Archie shook his dad's shoulder one more time. "Come on. We gotta go to the classroom now…"
Little did Archibald Jeremiah Able, not yet four years old know that he had come with his dad to work one last time…
"Come on daddy. Wake up."
I'm not sure if anyone noticed. But Archie's middle name is Jeremiah and a combination of his parents' Jeremy and Maya.
Random fact
At first I liked this idea of Joseph and Archie's chapters. But now I'm not realloy but I told you all I'd do it so…. Anyway I'll probably make another chapter for Archie and maybe Joseph too in the future too.
And at last I just have one question.
Just one note first- I've been thinking of doing all the characters of TSOTB series 1. Tracy I've already done. But that would make new chapters for Peter, Maxy, Louise, Justine, Adele and Zac and Ryan. If I will I'll put up a poll about what character you want to read about first.
What do you think? Would you like to read new chapters of the earliest characters?