"So, JJ Junior, I've noticed you've got different clothes on. What's up with that?"
"Mom put my clothes that are the same as yours into storage. She said she didn't like them. I was mad, but then she took me to the mall to buy some new stuff, and it made me feel better. Actually, it made me feel great - the kids at school said I was "hype," but some of them started to not like me anymore, especially when mom changed my name to Connor. A lot of kids were mad that they couldn't compare me to you anymore. But mom said that that was point; to not be like you."
"Wait, your name is Connor now?"
"Yessir."
"What is her problem?" JJ started to rage again, directing the conversation towards Mikey now. "She knows I'm still trying to see him, and yet she stills does shit like this!"
Mikey wasn't paying attention, however. He was looking out the window, having this distant stare and was gripping the edge of the seat tightly. JJ didn't know what he was doing, but he shook his head and let the situation go for the sake of Connor being in the backseat and having to hear him swear. Connor didn't seem to really care though; he was tracing the seats with his hands and staring at them intently.
"Where are we going again?" Mikey asked, barely audible, as he continued to look out the window.
"The city." JJ said the next part quieter so Connor didn't hear. "It'll be easier to avoid the police there. We can wait until things blow over, and then bring Connor back home afterwards."
Mikey nodded, but he looked stressed and uncertain. JJ payed him no mind and continued to drive.
"Connor," JJ said. "When we get there, do you want to go the thrift store?"
"Yessir!"
"That's good. We'll be there in just a handful of minutes. In the meantime, keep doing whatever you were doing."
"I was pretending that there were two invisible pirates fighting really hard to win over the other seat. One of them died, but they were actually secretly alive, and he's going to get revenge in two minutes!"
"That's cool."
Suddenly, Connor reached over and started tapping Mikey's shoulder continuously.
"Turtle," He said. "Turtle, turtle, turtle, turtle, turtle-"
"Hm?" Mikey still had this distant stare, like he was really deep in thought. Stressed about something, clearly.
"Want to see the pirates?" Connor asked. "I can give you a secret invisible potion that can make you see them. Then they'll stop fighting and make up with each other, because you're popular from YouTube and you can tell them to do whatever you want!"
"Sure, that sounds nice."
Mikey locked in and went along with Connor's little story. Meanwhile, JJ kept looking in the rearview mirror to see if any police cars were on his trail.
"Once we're in the city, nobody will be able to find me." He thought. "Try as you will, Tom, but you and your dumbfuck lackies won't see me in jail again, unless it's over my dead body."
-
The city was especially crowded today. It actually wasn't suprising; it was around that time of year. Despite it being chilly, JJ beared through it with just his hoodie. Connor had one on too, but unfortunately, Mikey had to suffer it without any clothes at all.
"That's crazy," Connor said as they started walking down the sidewalk. "That you never wear clothes in public. Don't police arrest you for doing that?"
"Do they?" Mikey suddenly felt self-conscious, and side-eyed everyone as they passed him on the street, as if expecting them to turn him in to the cops at any second.
Thankfully, JJ didn't see or hear any signs of police just yet. But still, he wanted to be less out in the open. As they continued to walk, JJ tried to find the thrift store, but something else interested Connor before he could.
"Can we get donuts? Donuts sound really good! Plus, the sign says they're really cheap, so you only have to spend a little bit of money."
"But look at that line. It goes completely out of the building, so we should come back later, when the line is shorter. But I will buy you a donut eventually, okay?"
"Okay." Connor didn't complain one bit, thankfully. JJ kept walking, but Connor stayed behind, and dragged Mikey back so he did too. Out of the corner of his eye, JJ saw Connor deviously pointing to the donut shop and rubbing his hands together. Mikey copied him, and they started creeping towards it while JJ was distracted. At least, so they thought.
"Guys-" JJ caught them right in the act, and they both froze at this realization. "I said later. You're literally not even sneaky-"
"I totally am!" Connor defended himself. "I'm so sneaky that I could be a ninja!"
"Whatever you say, goofball."
"Did you just call me goofy? I'll use my ninja skills on you right now just for that!"
Connor threw a random stick at his leg, but it didn't even remotely affect him. After realizating this defeat, Connor dramatically slugged across the ground while Mikey walked with him.
"You know what? Just any store will do. I need to do anything to stay out of sight from these cops, when they show up-"
"No way!" Connor suddenly exclaimed. "It's a magic guy! Can we go watch him? Please, pleeeeeease?"
"Who?" JJ asked, and he pointed left.
There was a late aged man with some sort of hat, and he was talking to multiple people while handing out cookies. More and more people started to gather at the sight of him having snacks.
"I... don't think that's a magic guy, Connor."
"But he has a hat!"
"That's just a regular hat, though."
"Plus, he has cookies and he's giving them to people! Can I please get one? Pretty pretty pretty please with the biggest cherry in the entire world on top?"
"Sure, I guess. But I'm telling you now, don't get your hopes up."
"Yessir!"
Connor bolted over to the scene, and Mikey was instantly on his tail, as expected - cookies were one of his favorite foods. JJ started after them, and soon he was within hearing range of whatever this old person was raving on about.
"I promise, it will be very interesting. I worked so very hard on it, you know..."
Once he saw Connor, he instantly offered him a cookie. "Youngun, where are your parents? It's not too safe to be out here by yourself."
"I'm not," He pointed behind him. "My dad is with me, and this turtle guy that's also his friend and my friend too. He's just a reeeeeeeally slow walker."
The old man looked up and noticed JJ, and then, his expression hardened upon recognizing him.
In that moment, JJ stopped in his tracks. After Connor tugged the old person's shirt to ask him something, he got rid of his look and denied him kindly of another cookie. Meanwhile, JJ stared at him suspiciously.
Something was definitely up with this guy.
