The next day was spent loping in Robins bed while they occasionally played video games until Robins mom kicked Jack out. Now he was at school. Sitting in Math class and waiting for Mark to walk through the door. Felix had already taken a seat, across the whole room from Jack I may add. Jack noticed that he had a massive black eye and he smiled at the thought but he quickly hissed it away.

"Excuse me Jack?" Mrs. Guen tapped on Jacks desk to try and get his attention.  He whipped his head up and looked right at her.

"Oh yeah?" He asks startled. She laughs and rolls her eyes a little bit.

"Is your friend Mark coming in today. I saw him yesterday and was really beaten up," Jacks narrows his eyes, he was here yesterday?

"He was here yesterday?" He asks aloud this time. She nods her head confused.

"Sure was but I didn't see you. Everything alright you seem jumpy?"

"Umm sorta just its uh nothing," Jack stumbles over his words. Mrs. Guen smiles sympathetically and brushes away a piece of her orange hair.
"Here," she says going back to her desk and retrieving a few papers. She places them on his desk and pushes them toward him. Hesitantly he reaches for them, but then he sees the big black bold words reading, 'Gifted and Talented'. He freezes and looks up at her. "Why don't you go to the media center or someplace and read these. Then get back to me okay? I honestly think you're perfect for this," Then she walks off leaving a confused Jack with papers that say 'Gifted and Talented' at the top. Practically screaming it at him that he was gifted and talented. From her desk Mrs. Guen motions at the door and without a second thought Jack grabs the papers and leaves.

'Congratulations Sean Mcloughlin! You have been selected by the Academic University Scholars of America to attend a talent search in Stanford University'. Jacks body stiffens as his eyes read the first line of the five page paper. Talent search in Stanford. The words roll in Jacks mind as he continues to read.

'We found your teachers submission letter exceptional and found you just the perfect candidate for our six year program. We are excited to hopefully see you with our other twenty, carefully selected, students this summer to begin training to prepare you to explore, and pursue, top jobs in your country' Jack stops and puts the letter down.

Top jobs, six years, Stanford.

Jack intakes a deep breath and covers his mouth as a half choked sob comes out. He could finally leave. He could leave this godforsaken town and run. He could purse a career in government, academics, he could do anything. He could be away from this town and he could be something. Tears press at his eyes that he swallows back. He wouldn't cry.

Standing up of the music room steps he puts his hands above his head and cheers. He was finally going to leave. Jumping up and down he feels like he's flying. Nothing mattered anymore because by summer he would be gone off to fucking California. Sitting back down Jack immediately became eager to know more about his future. He grabbed the pages and flipped to the second one reading the heading, 'What it Takes?' Jack rolls right past that page, if he had to cut of his hand to go, he would. Then he freezes as he sees the last page. '$120,000 to attend'. 120,000 dollars to attend this six year program. Jacks head repeats that large number for a while before he folds up those five pages and stuffs them in his pocket. His stomach suddenly weighing pounds. He didn't have 120,000 dollars. He was going to be staying in this town forever. He was going to be watching his mother grow saggier and saggier by the day. He was going to be working at that liquor store that underage kids stumble into. He was going to be doing nothing forever.

"You have to much of a future"

Jack avoids looks down the hall as he stumbles his way through. At this point everyone has heard about the Felix and his fight. Also at this point the story has been mixed around millions of times. Jack heard someone whisper that Felix was winning but then Jack snapped his arm, which obviously wasn't true. Another said they were fighting because of weed, another that blonde Jack was seen with. But the most popular was that they were fighting because Jack was gay and was protecting his secret. Which I guess you could say was accurate, but not even really then.

Jack decided that his locker was probably the best bet then. Just get his stuff and go. Leave behind this school to go home and almost be killed by his most likely more than furious aunt.

"Hey," a husky voice says from behind him. Jack doesn't even have to turn around to know it's Mark.

"Hey," he says back as he grabs his bag and swings it over his shoulder. Mark eyes it cautiously.

"Wanna go for a smoke?" He asks hesitatingly. Jack shakes his head.

"Nah heading home. Don't feel too hot," Truthfully that wasn't a lie, Jack felt like he was going to be and die in this town, not living at all.

"Okay well you need an escort," Mark says smiling slightly.

"No not really," Jack says as he begins to walk away. Mark jogs to catch up to him.

"That wasn't an offer," Jack rolls his eyes and they walk side by side down the hall. People whisper, and people stare but no one dares to say a word. Jack cast a sideways glance at Mark and grins lightly.

"You've been changing the bandages pretty boy," He says softly to which Marks face alights with pride.

"Of course I have," he says, his chest puffing out like a proud mama bird. Jack laughs and draws his head down, staring at the floor. They look dirty, scuff marks everywhere. Shouldn't use bleach on this one but definitely use a tennis ball to scrub away the scuff marks, Jacks mind instinctively thinks.

"So you want to get something to eat. I didn't have breakfast," Mark suggest to which Jack turns up his head, grinning widely.

"Yeah definitely,"

"Best food in town," Jack says motioning to the ugly, fake, Hollywood stylized, sign on the restaurant. "Well at least when you have the munchies it is," Jack adds on a moment later. Mark chuckles and they walk through the doors of the restaurant, finding themselves at a corner booth toward the back.

"Is it good food?" Mark asks looking at the checkered tables, red booths and 80's wallpaper. Jack almost responds before the waitress comes over and interrupts them both.

"Hi I'm Haddy and I'll be taking your orders today," she looks up at them finally and her face breaks out into a grin. "Oh hi Jack how are you?" It was one of the girls he had a threesome with in a pick up on New Years last year. Honesty he never knew her name before this moment.

"I'm doing okay. How about yourself?" Jack could honestly care less. She grins and runs a hand through her puffy pixie cut.

"Oh you know just making a few odds and ends around," she laughs. Jack forces a grin and looks over at Mark who looks pretty uncomfortable.

"Oh this is Mark. He's a good friend of mine," she sticks out her hand and shakes it.

"Nice to meet you Mark," Mark looks even more uncomfortable now causing Jack to stifle a laugh. "Why don't I take you guy's orders?" She looks kindly at Jack waiting for his meal choice.

"We'll take a double order of cheese fries with a bubblegum milkshake for him and a fruity pebble milkshake for me," Jack says as Mark becomes increasingly more confused. Haddy flashes a grin and a wink before sashaying off.

"Not letting me order for myself eh?" Mark asks as he cocks an eyebrow. Jack grins and leans back in the red booth.

"Aw hell no. Not in this restaurant at least. This is by far the best thing on here," Jack grins. Mark chuckles and then silence. Not the silence that comes after a awkward comment or angry words but the calming silence. The silence unneeded to be filled with words. Jack slowly cast his eyes upward at Mark who was looking out the window, seemingly fascinated by the grundy surroundings. Jacks lips upturn in a smile as he watches him. He seems so collected and wonderful. Suddenly Jack had the overwhelming urge to know every detail about him.

"I want to know," Jack blurts out unexpectedly, quickly muffling his mouth to prevent more words. Mark slowly turns his head and raises an eyebrow.

"Want to know what?" He asks his voice almost a tease.

"Everything," Jack breaths out, he can't seem to stop himself as he goes on, "I want to know your story which I know seems crazy and weird as fuck but you are like so brooding and mysterious and like confusing and-" Mark cuts him off with a slight grin splaying across his cheeks.

"Okay dork I guess I'll share but its gonna cost ya'," Mark sits back smugly and Jack shakes his head in agreence, embrassed by his rambling.

"What's its gonna cost me?" Jack says shaking that off and trying to regain a cocky composure.

"Oh thats a secret,"

"What? Unfair," Jack whines to which Mark rolls his eyes.

"Be patient Jackaboy its not too bad," He flashes a dazzling grin filled with a menacing twist. Jack throws up his hands in defeat and sits back to get comfortable.

"Hit me," Mark leans forward and begins to speak.

"Grew up in a tiny town in Ohio. A sorta farm like area but not exactly. I had both parents but was a only child. Which it never bothered me much considering I had the neighbor kid, Ethan," Jacks head tilts up in a sparkled curiosity at the name Ethan. Mark easily takes notice, "Yeah the boy in the painting. Anyway, I didn't have lots of friends at school. I didn't need any, I had Ethan. It was a pretty okay life. I mean my parents fought. A lot, and by a lot, I mean a lot. My dad wanted out, couldn't stand the way anything was but he kept in it for me. Did everything for me. I actually sorta wished they got a divorce. All that fighting... slowly was killing me you know?" Jack doesn't shake his head at all. He didn't know. His parents loved with a love more than love itself.

"My Dad talked about how he couldn't do it anymore. Every car ride we talked about her, almost felt bad but at the same time I hated her because she was really selfish or maybe that was just the way I saw her but... I don't know. He would always talk about how he wanted to run off and run away. Hated this life wished he wasn't here-,"

"What about you?" Jack asks tilting his head. Mark chuckles bitterly and Jack can see his eyes cloud over.

"I was a after thought, the 'oh but you Mark are a blessing' the 'besides you Mark' kinda thing. Believed it until I got to about middle school. That's when everything changed. My mom and dad were pry fighting at their peak and I was sad everyday. Wanted to kill myself but then again I didn't. I just didn't want to exist as if I poofed off the plant I would be okay with that. I actually tried one night, really bad night, to commit suicide, but Ethan dragged me back to the surface. He made me throw up the pills that I now look back on and know wouldn't have killed me and hindsight twenty twenty he pry knew that at the time but made me vomit anyway. He was a good guy and a even better friend. I mean he helped me after that. Made sure I got better and I really did. I really did..." Mark fades off and looks down at the table. Jacks chest is tight and he feels like puking. He's felt like that but he's never been dragged up, almost feels guilty after thinking that. Marks been through hell and back.

"I feel for you," The moment it comes from his mouth he wants to take it back but Mark looks up with a half smile worn across his features.

"You know what, I never tell people that story and when I do I always get the sympathy voice of 'I'm so sorry that must have been so hard', or those fucking puppy dog eyes. Hate those things... a lot," Mark says at the ending of his sentence beginning to grin a little. Jack laughs and agrees.

"Oh my god yes they just get that stupid sympathy voice and its so dumb. Like every human has a default fake voice of 'sorry hun'," Jack makes a face at the end that has both of them doubled over in laughter. Marks howling as Jack purses his lips and makes the stupidest voice. They are both laughing so hard they don't notice Haddy with the food, awkwardly standing there. She clears her throat which has them both immediately turn there heads and look.

"I've got the cheese fries and shakes," she mumbles as she places it down and quickly walks off. Jack rolls his eyes at her childish antics and grabs three fries, shoving them into his mouth.

"Mmm these are good sober," Across the table Mark rolls his eyes and grabs for a milkshake to which Jack quickly takes his. He sucks down at least a quarter by the time Mark has his to his lips. "God this is fucking delicious,"

"Yeah probably better than bubble gum," Mark says stirring his up.

"Just try it pretty boy," Jack snorts as he grabs for more fries. Mark, starring straight at Jack, takes a sip, pulls back and immediately grins.

"Why is this so fucking amazing?" He goes back in for more and Jack can't help but smile.

"Right?" Marks eyes alight as he keeps drinking it down. "You put in a little whiskey and I swear it's perfect," Mark leans over the table and hits Jack in the arm.

"You alcoholic," Marks eyebrows raise and he swallows quickly, "Which leads me into my question," Jack leans forward ready for anything. "How'd you end up here?" His blood runs cold.

Anything but that.