Times Like These (Smosh FanFic)

[Chapter 6] New Identities

-Cody's POV-

"That is my name," I told him.

He smiled, "No, you're the girl Anthony used to bring back when he'd sneak out! I'm Ian. Anthony's friend.

I stared at him, trying to see if his face rang a bell or his name, but I couldn't put together the pieces. He shook his head, "Never mind. So, my Aunt sent you here?"

"Yeah. I...I was discharged and she said you could help me," I replied uneasily.

He scratched his head, "Well, I don't have an extra...WAIT!" He exclaimed. I took a step back, frightened. "You can sleep in Anthony's room! He's back in that stupid mental facility..."

"You think it's stupid too?" I asked.

He laughed, "I don't really think it's stupid. I mean, I sent Anthony because after his break up with Kalel, things got really bad and..." He went as white as a ghost, "I...I'd rather not talk about it." I nodded my head in understanding, "Well, let me show you around. And afterwards, you can tell me more about yourself over some lunch. Does that sound good?" I shook my head yes. He led me inside and gave me a small tour of the house. Ian's hospitality was overwhelming for me - I mean, I just showed up at his doorstep today and he acted like he was prepared for this day for years.

He opened Anthony's bedroom and fond memories came back. "This is where you can sleep and stuff," He told me, looking down at me with a smile, "Here, let me take your bag," He took the bag out of my hands and the bag broke, sending all my belongings on the floor.

He bent down and began to put all of the stuff back into the bag.

"Uh, can I see that?" I asked, pointing to the necklace he had in his hands. He looked up at me and handed it over. I snatched it from him and tucked it under my shirt.

"I think Anthony has the same necklace," He commented, standing back up and putting my bag on the bed. He turned around and smiled, "Hey, does Taco Bell sound good to you?"

"Taco Bell?" I repeated.

"Yeah, do you not like tacos?"

"Uh...it's not that, it's just...what's Taco Bell?" I asked, blushing from embarrassment of the lack of knowledge I had about the world around me.

"What's Taco Bell?" He chuckled, "Only like the best taco place ever!" He exclaimed, "Oh my god, you have to try their tacos, they're amazing!"

"Okay," I remarked, following him out to his car. I got in the passenger's side while he got in the driver's. We drove to the Taco Bell down the street from him and went through the drive through. We went back to his house and sat down at his table. He handed me my taco before getting his and digging in.

I took a few bites before pushing my taco away from me. He looked up, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I smirked, "I'm just not really that hungry."

He wiped his mouth before inquiring, "So, how'd you get in Brookside Mental Facility?"

I heaved a sigh, "It's kind of a long story, actually..."

While my brother and I were sitting in the yard, waiting for our parents to return from the house that was quickly going up in flames, someone touched my shoulder. I looked up and saw a man wearing a black suit looking down at me. He picked up my brother and me and took us to a black van that was parked in the road. We were shoved in the back of the van and the doors were closed.

When the doors were open again, we were pulled out and brought into this building. We walked down hall after hall, being watched by cameras in every corner. We stopped when we approached this desk, sitting at the end of a hallway.

"These are Parker's kids," The man announced from above us, "Just like Mr. Hecox wanted, ma'am."

The woman sitting at the desk lowered her glasses to the tip of her nose and looked down at us, "Bring them into his office."

The man escorted my brother and me into a dark room, where a man sat at a desk, facing towards the window that showcased a beautiful starry night. He noticed us and turned around in his chair, "Can I help you?"

"These are Parker's kids," The man repeated, "Just like you wanted, Mr. Hecox."

"Good, now, do they know what's going to happen?" Mr. Hecox inquired.

"No sir."

He took in a big breath before leaning over his desk to see us, "Do you know what's going to happen, children?" My brother and I shook our heads no, we were too terrified to say anything, "Okay, then, I'll tell you." He stood up and walked around his desk, sitting in a large, leather chair while the man sat my brother and me on his lap. He wrapped his arms behind us and said, "I'm Mr. Hecox, a good friend of your father's. Now, I'm not going to lie to you, your parents are in danger and most likely will not be there for you any longer. So, I have taken the responsibilty of giving you new homes and new names. Unfortunately, you two will be separated. And you will no longer be Joey Parker and Cody Parker. Understood?" He didn't even give us a chance to answer, he just set us down on the ground and ordered the man to take us to Mrs. Dawson to give us our new identies.

My brother and I were guided to an office, where the woman asked for my brother first. She told him he would go by the name of Joey Graceffa and would be living in Massachusetts with an up-and-coming family, the Graceffas. He was then sent away and I was brought forward. There I was told I'd be Cody Holt from now on and I will be living with the Holts in San Francisco.

"I never saw Mr. Hecox or Mrs. Dawson again," I disclosed to Ian, whose attention was all on me. He was still holding his once-bitten taco in his hands. "The Holts were great, but the visions just kept coming of that dreadful day, and they sent me to Brookside."

"Mr. Hecox is my dad," Ian commented, "My dad was involved."

I shrugged my shoulders, "It could be possible."

He set down his taco, "That's why my Aunt got that job...!"

"What job?"

He leaned forward, "My Aunt used to work for my dad, that's how my mom and dad met, but then she suddenly 'quit' and moved to being a psychologist at Brookside! But now it makes so much sense!"

"I'm still lost."

He shook his head, "Don't worry, Cody." He grinned, "It's nothing. Hey, look, I promise to do everything I can to keep you safe, okay?" I nodded my head, "Now are you going to eat that or what?" He asked, pointing to my barely touched taco. I smiled and slid it towards him. I could tell that this wouldn't be as difficult as I thought.