Zane looked at Angel and smiled. "Haha, so you think  that I woul dchange just by working for once in my life? I worked before. My dad had me pulling weeds for neighbors and stuff. I did yard work." He looked at Angel's feet and legs. "You look a little sore... I can feel it.." He placed his hand on her leg and closed his eyes. "And tense.. What are you so worried about." He opened his eyes and gently m*censored*aged her feet. "Least I can do.. I used to do this to Jak ewhen he got beat..."

Jake opened his eyes and sat up slightly. "Ow..." He stood slowly and walked out. "Mr. Angel's father? ow.. Where are you? I need to ask you something.. And i need to get downstairs.." He leaned against the wall and looked at his wounds. They looked like they were healing and they haven't bled.

Angel couldn't help but laugh when he grabbed her feet. She definantly wasn't used to that. She looked at him with large eyes filled with an emotion she couldn't describe. "Yard work isn't the same thing as a job though..." She said quietly, more to herself than Zane. She paused for a moment, thinking about his question. What was she so worried about? "I... I don't really know but I think it's about you..." She said after a moment or so.

~

John woke up from a short nap he had been taking on a small chair next to Jake's bed. There were two teddy bears next to the chair, one dark brown and the other lighter. He walked over to Jake and set a large gla.ss of water on the nightstand. "Yes, Jake?" He asked in a soft tone. "What is it?"

Zane smiled. "What about me? I've done worse than that.. He once almost had me beat Jake... I was terrified when he told me to hit Jake with the pan.. I couldn't do it and cried my eyes out. Father stopped beating Jake because I was traumatized, but he started after Jake ripped the couch with one of the kitchen knives." He gently m*censored*aged her feet and sighed. "This is so much easier.."

Jake smiled. He drank some of the water. "I know it may be a lot to ask right now, but I'm hungry.. I forget to get our bread.." He looked at the bears. "Hmm.. What's the second bear for? Zane would love the dark one anyways.." He smiled. "I can help you cook if i have to.. I can stand if you help me down.."

John couldn't help but smile. "You slept really well so I got two bears: One for Zane, and one for you. They have little hearts on their chests and they each have the word 'brothers' enscribed on them... I thought you would like them..." John smiled nicely at Jake, hoping he would. He paused before continueing," It's okay. My wife will take care of the cooking, it's her favorite thing to do. What would you care to eat?"

Angel looked at Zane's hands, wondering how he could touch feet like that. She never could. They were so... gross. She almost laughed for a moment. "I understand... But I don't want you to go back. Why don't you just stay here?" Angel really didn't want anyone to get beaten or abused anymore. It was against her morales, and everyone elses' in their right minds.

Jake looked at John and smiled softly. "Haha, thank you so much.. I love them.. Zane should love the other one as well.." He picke dup the animals and squeezed them tightly. "They are so soft.. And fuzzy.. And warm.." He smiled. "Anything is fine with me.. My parents just made whatever and put plates in front of us. Whatever was on it, we ate.." He looked at the bears and placed one on the night stand for Zane. He held his in his arms and looekd at the heart and word. He let out a childish smile and giggle. "It's... It's cute.... Thank you." He said still smiling.

Zane smiled. "Alright.. Our parents don't care anyways.. They just tell us to go where we want but make sure to tell them if we were ever comign back.. They didn;t even seem to care." He let go of Angel's feet. " Feel better?" He stood up and washed his hands quickly. He walked back and sat down. "Better?"

((Aw. x3 Jake's so cute right now.))

John couldn't help but be appalled and pleased at one time. First: His parents' were never really parents at all, never caring. Secondly: He loved the bears. "First time I've seen you smile since you were here," John noticed with a grin. "Glad to see you like them... I'm sure Helen (Random wife name) will be done with dinner in about fifteen minutes." John got up, patted the top of Jake's hand, and left him in peace to check on dinner.

Angel looked at Zane with a horrified look on her face. "Wow..." She whispered. "I guess I do have a good life..." Angel laughed when Zane washed his hands, thankful he did. Flip flops always got anyones feet dirty. "Yes, much." She said with a grin. "What about you?"

(night and Jake is just being what the real Jake is like.)

Jake smiled when John put his hand his. "Thank you.. I'm very grateful for these bears.. I've never had one.." Jake laid back down and pulled the blanket up his chest and he had the bear wrapped in his arms. He squeezed it against his body and lossened his hold on it when he began to drift off into sleep. He olaced his head on the bear's head and smiled. He snuggled it and loved how soft it was. He curled up a little and began to drift off.

Zane smiled. "I'm always fine as long as Jake is.. If he's safe, I know i am. If he's happy, he cheers me up. If he's calm and relaxed adn okay, i'm perfectly fine.. Jake is finely asleep upstairs and he is safe. So, i'm fine." He smiled and looked at her. "What's with the horrified look?" He blinked and tilted his head.

(REPOST)

((maybe the characters should meet up soon...))

Sunni smiled looking down at her torn up bare feet covered in black filth from life."yea but i blend in there i dont feel like i can be myself im pretty silent at school people...make fun of me about my wieght"She said it as if it didnt bother her.She felt warm deep down and sighed "i dont feel bad about it besides being shy i do what i want im confident..sorta i just gotta keep my head up no regrets if i felt bad i would regreat not living"She closed her eyes and scooted close to him enough that they where almost touching."im 16 by the way".She sniffed and closed her eyes"oh my last name is Winthrop".

Jace smirked, a shiver travelling down his spine. He ssaid carefully,  "Not many people know...but my real name is Jason. Jason Willowspring." He chuckled. "I perfer Jace though; much better-sounding." He glanced back at her with a guarded ex
pression. "Hrm. I would have thought you were older."

_______

Josh was still in the park, eyes wavering. His head was reeling in countless directions. A warm, numbing feeling washed over him, making him seem peaceful and quiet. He flopped onto the gr*censored*, threading his blood-stained fingers through the emerald strands. Josh's hair stuck to the side of his face that was drenched in blood.

Sunni sat up she looked him in the eyes and cocked her head.Had she said something wrong?"A gush of nervousness pumped through her."is that a......problem?"She felt odd and dumb for telling him.