The worst time.

Ryan POV

  Man I can't wait to get out of here. I hope Josh isn't blaming himself for what happened because I don't fault him no one bit. That lady Janine on the other hand, is bat shit crazy and delusional. Kidnapping? Really? She's one hell of an actress I'll give her that. Those dumb ass cops ate it all up too. Damn, she fucked up a good ass day too. Josh owed me a rematch in Tekken since he cheated the night before. I let out a low chuckle as I twiddled my thumbs. "Don't think about it too much kid. I doubt you'll get charged." the cop said catching my attention. "Is this a common thing?" I asked as I turned my attention to him. "As far as children kidnapping other children? No it's very rare. Especially around here." he said as I nodded my head. 

  I just want to go home, shower and make it up to Josh since his day was pretty much ruined. Oh and for that Janine lady, I'll pay her back, with interest. "Looks like the recess is over. You ready?" he asked me as I nervously nodded my head. "Welcome back everyone. Please be seated as the jury will read the verdict. Jury?" the judge said as she turned her attention to them. "Yes your honor?" a woman stood up. "What's your verdict?" "We the Jury find the defendant, not guilty." She said which was drowned out by my mother's loud outburst. Everything else that happened afterwards was a blur. Josh, I'm coming. "See I told you, you had nothing to worry about." the cop whispered as I let out a low chuckle. I missed my damn bed. Those hard ass cots gave me a damn ulcer. 

  I walked out to the courtroom and into my mothers death grip. "My baby boy is home!" she yelled. She was honestly cutting off my circulation. "Angie, you're choking the boy. Let him breathe." my father said as she released me. I took a few minutes to catch my breath. "Where's Josh?" I asked them. My father looked confused while my mother didn't seem to have an expression. I noticed he wasn't there when we came back from recess either. "Uh-" "He left." my mom quickly said. That's weird. He was happy as hell to see me earlier so I doubt he would leave without telling me. "Uh that's fine. I'll just call him. Do you have my phone?" I asked her as her expression dropped. She's acting weird. "I'm so sorry honey." she said as she pulled out my phone from her purse. My eyes widen at the sight. Did the phone get ran over by a steam roller or something?

  "I had the same expression when he gave me the phone." my mother said as I looked at her. Damn, I wasn't expecting Janine to have gotten to the phone. It's only so many places Josh could've hid the phone anyway. "Don't worry about it honey. I'll buy you a new one. I see you had your eye on that nice one that comes on TV a lot." my mom said as I looked at her weirdly. "Uh yeah sure." I said. I just want to talk to Josh right now.  "Did Josh say he was coming back or anything?" I asked my parents hopefully. May be he just had to run and do something real quick. "Uh..." my pops said with hands up. "Actually he wanted me to tell you something." my mom said as I diverted my attention to her. "He wanted me to tell you that he won't be coming around you anymore. He actually wanted to tell you that him and the guy he was with were more then friends and that he was actually going to break it off with you when you got released. He decided to put more focus into his relationship. " she said as I felt and heard my heart shatter. 

  "I-" "I'm sorry honey. He was going to wait to see you but couldn't bear to tell you so he left me the message to pass on to you." my mom finished, giving me a look of regret. "Damn." my father muttered as he didn't dare make eye contact with me. That's not true. Josh wouldn't do that, would he? I mean all the time we were together, he never not once mentioned seeing let alone having interest in someone else. Plus when he saw me earlier, it was pretty clear that nothing was coming. I'm guessing Janine must've threatened him. Unfortunately, I have no way of knowing the truth. "Don't sweat it honey. He wasn't worthy of your friendship anyway. Let's go get your new phone and celebrate your release." my mom said as I pretty much had an out-of-body mentality. "Oh and one more thing. We'll be moving again." she said. "Wait, what?!" me and my father said at the same time. 

  Josh POV

  "Hey Josh, Julian wanted to know if you could help him with his homework." Tiana asked knocking on my door. I didn't respond, I only rolled over in my bed and sighed. All I could think about was the fun times I had with Ryan. He really did make me forget about being here and just looking forward to just being happy and peaceful for once. I slowly rose from the bed as I went to the bathroom. "Good you're finally awake." Nasir said as I just looked at him. He held his hands up and walked into the room. Once I handled my business, I did a quick smell check as I wrinkled my nose up in disgust. I made my way back to room to gather my things for the shower. "Could you please help me?" Julian asked me once more. 

  He gave me the puppy dog face so I really couldn't say no. "OK, OK. Stop with the face. Once I get out the shower, I'll help you." I said as he smiled. "Thank you so much Josh." he said reaching to hug me but I stopped him. "Not a good idea unless you like smelling garbage and onions." I said as he nodded his head and wrinkled his nose. "I didn't want to tell you." he said as I pushed him. The whole shower, my mind was just wandering towards Ryan. I want to see him. I need to see him. I made sure I smelled like soap before stepping back out of the shower. I grabbed my phone and dial Ryan's number. "the number you are trying to reach is no longer in service" the operator said to me before the phone abruptly hung up. "Shit!" I said as I threw my phone down on the bed. I should've known that she'd get him a new number as well. 

  "You OK?" Julian said as he stood by my door. "Yeah I'm fine. Uh, let's get started on this homework." I said as I smiled and walked out of the room. I know I'm wrong for lying but he's too young to understand. I found out that he was having problems with ratios, piece of cake. "OK so if in two minutes, Jared types forty words, what is the ratio?" I asked him. "2:40." he answered. "Would be correct but is that one of your answer choices?" I asked him as he looked down on his paper before shaking his head no. "OK so to figure out the smallest and simplest ration, divide both numbers by the smallest number, which in this case would be?" "Two." he answered. I grabbed a calculator for him to do the math. "So now. What is your ratio?" "1:20" "Good so that means in 1 minute, he types 20 words. In 2 minutes?" "40." "3?" "60". "Good now do that for the rest. If you need me, come get me. You got this." I said as I rubbed his head.

  He didn't come to get me so I'm guessing he got the hang of it. I decided to go to the park. "Hey where are you going?" Janine said as she looked at me. Fuck outta my face bitch. "Aww mad cuz I took you away from your little friend? That's crazy." she said laughing. "Shut up bitch." I said as I walked out the door. I heard a loud bang on the door signaling that she threw something at the door. Ya missed bitch. I found my self walking back to the park and sitting on the swing. " Wanna watch ya boy play?" "Nah. Niggas be ready to fight over the littlest things plus you gonna try to show off cuz I'm there." " Can I at least get some good luck then?" I smiled at the thoughts.  I didn't even notice that I was crying. The breeze from the October air whipped across my face as I started to swing. 

  With each swing, I made sure I went higher than before. When I got high enough, I contemplated on whether or not I should jump. One broken bone won't hurt, of course it'll hurt but nothing more then the pain I already have been enduring these past few years. Right? "I don't want you thinking like that." I heard Ryan's voice say to me. I slowly started to bring my swinging to halt. Once I came to a complete stop, I burst out crying. It just seems like I can never be happy for too long. First my parents, then Lindsey, now this. I also have to be this beacon of hope for the other oprhans. I refuse to let Janine break them. However, I'm the one that's really broken/in the verge of completely breaking. Who's gonna be strong for me? I know I have Troy and Lira but they are busy with their own lives. 

  'Get real Josh, these were the people who held you down since the sandbox, they love you' I thought to myself. I smiled as a wave of reassurance and hope washed over me. I have to keep going, I'm almost free. I wiped my tears away as I walked back to the orphanage. "It's 10, you don't know how to call and let people know your whereabouts?" Janine said as I just looked at her. "With what phone? Idiot. If you really wanted to know, I was at the park." I said as I stood there. "You still could've called. You ungrateful fuck." she said flagging me down. "AGAIN, with what phone. Oh, maybe I could've air dialed you or sent a bird with a message." I said dismissing her and heading upstairs. 

  "You son of a b-" she said as she slapped me. Well, attempted to at least. "Now I let slide once with that shit but I won't let that happen again. You are not nor will ever be my mother so don't you dare think of putting your hands on me. I'm not like these other children and I'll be damned if I let you disrespect me like I'm nothing. Fuck outta my face." I said as I pushed her and walked back upstairs. "Fucker." she said as she threw something but I ducked. She really has me fucked up. "Josh, I'm scared." Tiana said with Julian and a few other children with here. I hugged each and every one of them as they silently cried.

  "Don't worry. I promise I'll take you all far away from this place."

Back like I never left.

Thoughts?

Josh?

Ryan?

Janine?

Ryan's mom?