"Oh yeah and quess what... I've insulted the very leader of Ronia... Spat on his face actually, so I really don't care" said Kevin before leading Nate away from the... What was that word? Bozo.

Ian sat in the passenger side and just nodded, trying to piece together who was family or related to people. "So you and Justin are cousins? and you and Johnny are brothers?"

Justin said, "Peter and I are cousins. Johnny is my older brother and Miley is my younger sister. We have a sister named Susan, who is younger than Johnny but older than me. She hates us three and hates Peter. She was really cruel towards him last summer."
~~~~~~~~
Jen was helping her mom plant flowers, when she noticed Nate and Kevin. Wiping the dirt off her knees, she rushed to them. "Hey Nate, Hey Kevin." She gave them a teasing grin. "Think you can help me get out of doing gardening?"

"Oh.....does your sister, Susan, still live with you? Or has she moved away?" Ian asked curious

Kevin clanced at Jen's mom "No such luck" he said with a smile "You mom looks like she needs your help" he said with a smile.

Justin laughed at the long story of his family. "Suasn moved away first to marry a guy from Sweeden. That didn't happen but she stayed away and went to Yale. Oh and Johnny and I don't live with Miley and our parents. I live with my wife and Johnny lives by himself."

Peter put in. "And I don't live with my parents. I live with one of my friends. and his parents."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jen playfully snapped her fingers. "Shucks." She grinned. "So what trouble are you two getting into?"

"Why Peter?" Ian asked, he knew he was asking too many questions but they were his 'friends' and he wanted to know about them.

"Actually we are not getting into any" said Nate with a smile "Just taking a walk around town... Talking"

Justin whistled, knowing that was a loaded question Peter would probably not want to answer. He looked back to see his little cousin squirming a little in his seat. His heart nearly stopped when Peter's eyes darkened. He asked, "Do you want to tell him?"

Peter took in a deep breath, unsure of how much information he wanted to tell someone he only met recently. "I got addicted to my prescription medicine and I brought pills to school and got suspended. My parents didn't really like me ever since I became a Christian. So, Justin had me move in with Johnny. Then, I was trying to protect a friend from a fight and got hit in the head with a brick. So, I am now living with that friend." He breathed deeply as he let all that out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jen smiled, "It sure is nice out. I can only imagine you were talking about us crazy civillians," she siad, with a twinkle in her eye.

"You bet it" said Nate with a smile "Yep" added Kevin.

Ian made a face "Sorry Peter you didn't have to answer that if you didnt' want to. I didn't mean to offend anyone " he got out of the car "Thanks for the ride I have to be going now" he said

They both wondered why. Ian trotted off as a police car past their's.

Jen laughed. "I see I see. Justin has grown his hair out a little. Let's see what else...Peter is considering trying out for football I really hope he knows what he's doing. I just would hate to see him get paralyzed or miss out on basketball, which he prefers. Justin and Maralyn will have a baby girl and have their nursery ready. Johnny insults Peter, then starts whining about how everybody hates him...I guess he was joking and the rest of us didn't see it that way. Justin tried to tell him that nobody hates him, and we all love him but he ran out the gym like a mad man. Peter made a soccer friend. Stacey and Ally are back to going after Peter and are going after Zach as well. Really nothing compared to fighting battles in the trenches of Ronia."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Ian got out of the car, Peter asked Justin if he wanted to come inside Nate's house. Just remebering what he did earlier in the school year made him feel weak, but he wasn't about to admit that to anyone but God and Justin. Justin got out the car first, opening the door for him. As soon as Peter got out, he gave his cousin a quick hug. "I'm sorry, Justin."
Justin rubbed his back. "It's okay, Pete."

For the last six years Ian had tried to avviod the authorities and at any cost. He knew that any one of them would be sure to recoginize him which wouldn't be good. When he was 18 he and a 'Friend' had stolen a necklace from a jewelry store on Tekin Boulavard. The thing is, his supposed friend had let him take all the blame for it. Ian had managed to avoid, being caught, but to this day he still had the necklace. After the cop's car had rolled on past he came rushing back to their Car "Help" was the one thing he said, adressing Justin

Kevin nodded at Nate then said to Jen "Listen Jen, we know why Johnny has been acting weird. He's been to Ronia and seen what we've seen... No he comes back to... This... And see's most of our problems are pretty petty compared to whats happeni ng over there"

Justin wondered why he had waited until the cops were gone to come back. "What's wrong?" He kind of knew, because of his past with the law. It was clear Ian was in soem sort fo trouble.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jen swallowed. It all made sense now. "Well, could you talk to him for the rest of us?"