Peyton nodded. "Yeah! His name is Puck! And now I know him!"

Miss Becka face palmed.

Jason walked over to Miss Becka. He simply put a hand to her shoulder and she stared at him before seeming to just relax, as if that's all she'd needed.

Puck watched, a little confused

"Ma'am, we mean no harm. Apologies for ... frightening you." Jason said in a calm and soft tone.

The woman seemed a bit confused on how he understood how to speak to her, but she nodded. "Okay... But please, just... don't cause any trouble."

Peyton cheered.

Of course Jason would know how to speak to her. He had been here how many years?

Seventeen, he'd spent more time there than at foster homes.

Jason nodded.

Miss Becka walked off and let them be.

Peyton bounced around Puck joyfully.

Wow. Puck watched Peyton jump around

Peyton was smiling happily. "Friends! I have friends and we can play and talk and draw and sing and dance!" He squealed in delight.

Jason now seemed like a much sadder version of his past self.

Maybe because reality had come crashing down on him.

"Okay. Why not?"

That's exactly why.

"Yay!" Peyton cheered, grabbing Puck's hand and pulling him along as he ran off to the back yard. His touch was so real, the place was so real that there literally were no more grass or trees. Full color and everything.

Yikes.


Puck stumbled along behind