───────── · 。ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ─────────

but it's not fair, i've got acetone
for veins, i'm so sensitive, just one
touch and i feel pain...

~ reneé rapp / bruises

───────── · 。ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ─────────

     JOHN B., POPE, AND JJ ALL STOOD THERE IN SHOCK. Kie was glad that Collins hadn't noticed she took a bit too long when running inside her house before grabbing her bike. She'd really gone inside to quickly call John B. and say that they should all just hurry and come down to the restaurant ASAP. He asked why, but she just hung up.

"No way, you're really here!" John B. was the first one to approach Collins. He scooped her up in a tight hug and spun her around before finally putting her down. Pope was next, saying he was really happy to see her again. Only JJ lingered behind, reluctant to approach his old friend.

The boys, well Pope and John B. anyway, had so many questions for Collins, but a glare from Kie let them know that now wasn't the time.

Always one to try and ease the tension, Pope began to talk to Collins about school, something they always loved in common even at just 11 years old. He wasn't at all surprised to find out about her 4.2 GPA, and she was really happy when he mentioned that he was up for a scholarship.

But soon, Collins began to grow a little anxious. As much as she was happy to see her old friends again, she knew they had questions. And she caught the look that Kie sent their way, so she knew why they weren't asking.

What would they think if she finally told them everything? Would they even care? It was 5 years ago that they last saw her, they've definitely moved on from her leaving by now.

"Come help me?"

Collins snapped out of her thoughts and saw John B. sit down next to her. "With what?"

"I just gotta grab something from the van." He got up and motioned for her to follow. She glanced at the others who were all in a conversation with each other, before turning to follow John B.

When they got to his van, he opened the back door and got in, patting the seat next to him.

"What are we grabbing?" Collins looked around the van once she sat inside.

"Nothing really. Just looked like you could use a break from the craziness of... us. So come on, tell old John B. what's up."

She was surprised that all these years later, he could still read her so well. Even back then, when JJ wanted to try something crazy, if Collins was hesitant or seemed nervous, John B. was always the one to pull her aside and say it was okay. And he'd usually offer to sit with her if she didn't want to do whatever it is that they planned.

"It's just... weird being back here. I don't mean it in a bad way, I've really missed you guys. I just didn't know that I'd ever come back here."

"Where'd you go?"

Collins looked down, nervous. "Kie said that you all thought I just ditched you guys. Did you?"

John B. shook his head. "Mostly, no. After what happened to your parents, I remember thinking I can't imagine what you're going through. And so when my dad came and told me one day that he'd asked about you to some police officers and they said they couldn't say much, just that you were sent to live with other relatives, I was happy for you. Even when you didn't reach out I just hoped that you were with some family and that you were happy, doing better. I just didn't disagree with Kie because it seemed easier to just let everyone think what they wanted."

"She told me about your dad, kind of," Collins said softly. "How are you doing?"

John B. thought about the fact that as much as he'd been asked that question, this was the first time he didn't hate it. Most people, adults especially, looked at him with pity and just asked because it was the standard thing to do. But he saw concern in Collins facial expressions, and knew she genuinely wanted to know. "Some days are better than others. I'm just glad I'm still here and didn't get shipped off to—" He stopped, realizing what he just said. "Collins I'm sorry I didn't mean—"

"It's okay," she interrupted him. "I know what you mean. And trust me, I'm glad you're still here too. It's... it's brutal, there."

"What do you mean?"

"I wasn't sent off to live with family. They tried to locate someone but came up empty handed, which I thought they would. I was in the foster system and adopted after a year. The only reason I didn't call or contact you guys was because I basically wasn't allowed to." She then gave him the shortened version of what she'd told Kie.

"Your family now, are they good to you?" That was John B.'s main concern. Hearing about all of the terrible people that Collins had to deal with, he just hoped that her new family was good.

Collins nodded, wiping away a tear that had just fallen. "I'm so lucky. It's crazy because my home now is nothing like what it used to be. I miss mama and papa every day, but I know how fortunate I am to have been adopted. I met kids that had spent over a decade in the system, and they weren't even teenagers yet."

"Where do you live now?"

When she mentioned the street name, John B. instantly recognized it since it was the same street Kie lived on. "So, you went full Kook huh?" John B. grinned, trying to lighten the mood.

"Oh yeah," Collins went along with his joke. "Total Kook."

"Well then I'm officially inviting myself to your house for a party. And if the only guest happens to be me, then that's more food for me."

Collins burst out laughing, becoming silent when she looked up and noticed JJ glancing at them. He looked away as soon as they made eye contact. "He hates me."

John B. sighed. "He's... I mean you know him, he's JJ. Still stubborn. But he pretty much had the same idea that Kie had, that you abandoned us. But you can talk to him and tell him, or I can if you want me to, and I know he'll come around."

"I should be the one to tell him. What about Pope, he secretly hate me too?"

"No, he was on my side. More optimistic. Said he bet you'd gotten even smarter than you already were and went off to some crazy genius school."

When she looked up again, Collins noticed JJ quickly look away. "I know we were just kids when I last saw you guys, but I've been gone for a while. If me being here is gonna make JJ that uncomfortable, maybe I should just go h—"

"We just got you back, you're not going anywhere. I mean, okay that came out weird. Not like in a kidnapping way. But don't leave yet. Just give him time."

"Hey! Quit hogging Collins!" They both looked out of the van to see Kie waving them back over.

"I guess we should go re-join the party." John B. shrugged before getting out, waiting for Collins before heading back towards the group.

"Ivy League in your plan?" Pope asked as soon as Collins took a seat next to him.

"If they'll even accept me. I didn't do as well on the PSAT's as I thought I would. Now I need to study ten times as hard for the SAT's."

"What was your score?"

"1130, so barely in the 90th percentiles. But I know I could've done better."

"Dude that's awesome!" Pope held his hand out for a high-five, and Collins happily obliged. "I got 1115. I might need your help studying for the SAT's."

"You mean I need your help. And I'll take all the help I can get."

"Wait do we all have to take it again?" John B. looked at the two.

"The PSAT's are different from the SAT's," Pope explained. "We haven't taken that one yet."

"Yeah, the P stands for Preliminary. And colleges don't really look at your PSAT score, so it's pretty much a practice run for the SAT's. And if you want to get into a highly regarded college, you need to place in the top 90-something percentiles," Collins joined in.

"But you did that, so that's good right?"

"I mean, yeah. 1100 puts you in the top 90%, I only got 15 more points than that, and Collins got 30 more."

Collins nodded. "Yeah I was aiming for something closer to 97%, or even higher. So I have to do way better on the SAT's. That's a little longer though, so you could argue that there's a better chance to rank higher because there are more questions, but that also means that there's a higher chance I'll do worse."

John B. grinned. "You are still a genius. I think you and Pope are definitely ruling the world someday."

"I don't know how you guys do it. I study or do homework for longer than twenty minutes at a time and my brain hurts," Kie laughed.

"I've never really minded studying. Even in class, I love hand writing out my notes and making flash cards for tests."

"See! I told you guys that wasn't lame!" Pope exclaimed.

"No, it still is."

Collins picked up a fry and threw it at John B.'s head, impressed when he leaned back and caught it in his mouth. She looked over at JJ, noting that he hadn't said a word. But she decided to listen to John B. and just give him some time.

She looked at the sky, and only then noticed they'd been talking so long that it was nearly dark. "I should get going, I want to get home before it's completely dark."

"Oh John B. can you give her a ride?" Kie spoke up.

He stood up, getting his keys from his pocket. "Well now I look bad because you asked before I could offer. But let the record show that I was just about to offer Collins a ride home."

"You don't have to, I really don't mind riding my bike."

Instead of a response, John B. walked over to her bike, held the handlebars and started wheeling it towards his van.

"The bus is leaving in one minute! All aboard!"

Collins couldn't help but laugh. "Isn't that what train conductors say?"

"Whoever isn't on board the train in one minute, I'll be leaving you behind at the station!"

The others all got up and followed him, and Collins noticed that again, JJ lingered behind for a few seconds before following everyone.

"You guys know our girl here went full Kook?" John B. commented once they were on the road. Collins had taken the passenger seat, at John B.'s insistence, Kie and Pope were next to each other and JJ had taken it upon himself to sit by himself.

"Oh shut up," Kie defended the girl that she'd already begun to think of as her friend again. "If she went full Kook she wouldn't be hanging out with you losers."

"Hey if we're losers then isn't Collins one too?" Pope spoke up, earning a slap on the head.

"That's it. Unless your name is Collins, you're not allowed to say another word."

"But—" John B. started to say something, but a glare from Kie shut him up.

"Can you drop me off first?" JJ finally spoke up after another minute of silence.

Collins tried to keep her glance at him subtle, but Pope and Kie both leaned over in their seats to get a look at the blonde boy. Even John B. turned to look at him a couple of times.

"Come on man we're just gonna—"

"I got shit to do. If you don't wanna take me home first that's fine but at least pull over so I can walk."

John B. sighed, turning to mouth "sorry" to Collins, but leaning back slightly so that JJ couldn't see. He knew his friend was serious about walking the rest of the way, so he gave in, agreeing to drop him off first.

Collins tried to understand why he was so angry with her, she really did. Yes, she left without saying goodbye. But she was still a kid, no cell phone, no way to contact anyone. And she hated to keep repeating it to herself but her parents had died. Died.

Even if she didn't see him after that night the police banged on her door, he'd definitely heard about it considering that Kie, Pope, and John B. all found out from their parents.

They were all only 11 years old. Sure, kids can be cruel. But did he honestly think she'd just ditch them all for no reason and then show up out of the blue expecting complete forgiveness?

As soon as Kie had shown up at her door, Collins knew it was only a matter of time before she would see the boys. And once she heard John B. call her name back at The Wreck, she mentally told herself that she'd do whatever it took to earn back their friendship.

But her friends were a lot more understanding than she'd anticipated. Well, all except 1. Kie and John B. knew pretty much the full story now, and instantly they'd realized that Collins didn't leave them by choice.

Pope didn't even know yet, but he'd already made up his mind that whatever reason that had taken Collins away from them, what mattered now was that she was back, and she genuinely seemed to be doing good.

When JJ finally hopped out of the van, not even bothering to turn around and say goodbye before rushing to get inside, it was silent. There was a lot of unspoken tension, and no one quite new how to deal with it.

"So..."

"If no one else wants to say it, I will. JJ hates me."

"No..."

"He doesn't haaaaate you..."

"Who's JJ? I only know the people in this van."

Collins groaned, but she had a smile on her face. "I really do appreciate you guys, but it's okay to say it if you're mad at me too. I get it. It's been half a decade but I left and didn't even say goodbye."

"But that's because you didn't get to, right?"

"Yeah, but I—"

"Then we have no reason to be mad at you. We were just kids, and kids are dramatic. I'd like to think that those of us remaining in the van have outgrown that, well I have anyway, but JJ... I mean... he's JJ. And you know, we know now about all of the foster stuff. So that's even more of a reason to not be mad at you. Once you explain everything to him, I'm sure he'll come around."

"Here here!"

Pope nodded, agreeing with everything that Kie said. He was confused when she mentioned all of the foster stuff, but decided to keep quiet, figuring Collins would tell him when she was ready.

Not long after that somewhat awkward conversation, they entered Figure 8 and Collins began directing John B. to her house. When they finally pulled up, both he and Pope gawked at the sight of the mansion in front of them.

"Do you guys want to come in? No one's home right now but I know my mom and dad would love to meet you guys and—" She stopped mid-sentence, bursting out laughing as Pope and John B. scrambled to get out of the van.

"Umm hell yeah we want to come in!"

"John B.," Pope stood next to his friend and put an arm around his shoulder. "After this I'm gonna need you to take me home so I can pack my things. I'm definitely moving in."

───────── · 。ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ─────────