*sings* I call her Lollipop, Lollipop, Oh Lolli Lolli Lolli...

Ronnie nodded in agreement, and smiled because he couldn't form the words in his mouth for some reason. He just wasn't a people person by nature.

Cricket: He nodded, understanding. There was a bit of a silence, except for the swings creaking back and forth.

Zachery tilted his head up to look at the darkening sky, and smiled to himself. "Does anyone else wonder about what's up there?" He asked randomly, not caring if that was a silly question or not.

Cricket and Annaleah in unison: "Aye..." they look at each other, and laugh.

Zachery smiled, and glanced over at Stephanie before he added, "So...what do you think up's there? Little green aliens?" He smiled wider, because he pictured short, funny-looking lime-green men.

Annaleah: "I was thinking something along the lines of angels."

Cricket: "Angels?"

Annaleah: she smiled. "Aye." She squeezed his hand. "My mother used to tell me that every little star up there is a guardian angel, watching from heaven."

Stephanie smiled, that sounded really nice, even though she wasn't a religious person, she respected other people's beliefs. Zachery smiled in agreement, and Ronnie looked like he wanted to say something, but wasn't too sure what. Zachery frowned mentally, his mother wasn't around almost at all, niether was his father. Whenever they came, it was a semi-pleasant visit, depending on their mood. "That's nice." He commented sincerely in a slightly dreamy voice, picturing the good times he had with his mother. She was a kind woman, but sometimes life catched up with her, and the only way she could cope would be indifferent, and defensive.

Cricket: "Mmhmm." He agreed, though he wasn't sure if he believed in heaven. He was afraid to. If it were real, he was sure God wouldn't want him up there.

Annaleah: She sighed in rememberance. She wondered if her mother was up there too, watching down. She could remember cuddling in her lap out in the garden, listening to the crickets chirp as her mother pointed and said, "There, Annaleah. That's where I'll be when the time comes."

Of course, those days had long since faded with time.

Ronnie happily swung back and forth. Both Stephanie and Zachery smiled, glad that even though those bullies had punched him, somehow he was able to keep his chin up after a moment of sadness. Ronnie was just such a shy, sweet kid that was a victim of circumstance. Ronnie thought if there were guardian angels, why didn't they do anything to protect him? To bring his parents home? To stop the fighting between Zachery and Hunter?

Annaleah: her smile faded. "I'm not sure if I believe that or not, though," she said, her voice softer. "My mother's been gone a long time."

Zachery countered softly, his eyes turning concerned and sincere, "That doesn't mean you have to stop believing. I mean, right now, your mother's probably with those guardian angels, and she's looking down on you, smiling."

Annaleah: She smiled at him. "Perhaps," she said. After a moment, she added, "Do you have a mother? Still with you, I mean."

(got to go for aprox 30 mins, dinner!)

(All righty then. Cya later!)
Zachery nodded, "Yeah...but she's not around a lot." Ronnie nodded in agreement, swinging lazily now. Ronnie added in a monotone, unemotional voice, "Dad isn't either."

Cricket: "You're not alone there," he said, almost to himself.

Zachery heard Cricket's comment, but didn't press into it. If Cricket wanted to tell them about it, he would when he was ready, Zachery wasn't going to make it an issue. Except...Ronnie. Ronnie looked at Cricket surprised before returning his gaze to his beat-up sneakers. Stephanie thought about when her parents were around, and how much fun they had before they...died. She felt the tears welling up in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away before any could come out.

Cricket: He'd started, he may as well finish. Habitually, his hand drifted up to trace a scar on the side of his neck, that he'd been careful to hide. "Never knew my mum. Papa never spoke 'bout her. She could be alive, or dead, I'd never know it if we met." He paused. "As for my papa...well, he tried. That's all I can say." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Annaleah look over.

Stephanie felt kind of like a pity-seeker, because at least she got to know her mother, unlike Cricket who didn't know his at all. Zachery took a breath, enjoying the crisp, cold air, but that was unable to cease the negative thoughts in his mind. He couldn't help but think about those words, 'he tried'. He couldn't just couldn't understand it for some reason.

Cricket: he listened to the swings creaking back and forth, suddenly slightly embarassed. He wished he hadn't brought that up. He was one to ignore the bad things in life, and take joy where he could. Now he'd slipped into the bad memories again; he could almost feel the scorching heat of a branding iron like he had seven years ago. He shook his head.

Stephanie glanced over at Cricket, and noticed he was acting a little...off. She bit her bottom lip, wondering what she could do to help, if help was needed. Zachery grabbed her hand, and squeezed it, not knowing what she was thinking about. She glanced up at him, and smiled, still thinking. He sighed, his breath creating a tranparent, small little cloud of air because of how cold it was getting. He asked both Annaleah, and Cricket, "Have you guys found anywhere to spend the night?" He wasn't going to offer them a room at his place, because, well...Hunter, but he could probably find them one if they didn't have one already.

Annaleah: She looked at Cricket first, then Stephanie. "I don't believe so."

oops, she was supposed to look at zachary not steph Haha

Zachery thought for a moment, striking a stereotypical thinking pose before saying, "I think I know somewhere you could stay..." (haha, that's all right, it wouldn't matter anyway, 'cuz the reply would be the same.)

Annaleah: She smiled at them. "That would be lovely, if you don't mind giving us some directions."

Zachery nonchalantly waved his hand, and said, "Nah, I could just show you, that'd be easier." He knew the lady who ran the place, and was on her good side so that would probably make it a little easier to get a room at this time of night.