"Yeah. I think I was way too hard on him. Maybe I should try to talk to him again." Peter sighed.
"I'd leave him be." Micky said.
"You weren't too hard on him. Maybe it'll help."
"I hope so Michael. I hope so." Peter said softly.
"Me too." Micky added.
They heard a knock on the door.
"I'll get it." Mike said.
He opened the door and sighed.
"RENT!" Mr.Babbit barked.
"Can you come back later? Now is not a good time." Mike explained.
"It's never a good time! Rent!"
"You're all heart." Micky said sarcastically.
The three handed him some money.
"Hey! Where's the other kid?" Mr.Babbit demanded.
"Leave him alone! He's going through a rough time right now." Mike said firmly.
"What's the matter with him?"
"Don't worry about it. He'll be okay." Micky said.
"We hope." Peter thought.
"Do you want me to talk to him?" Mr.Babbit asked.
"I think he's suffered a enough." Micky grinned.
Mike bit his lip to keep from laughing.
"Very funny! I need his rent money now where is he?!"
"Oh here." Mike groaned. He handed him some more money.
"You're paying his rent?"
"I told you he's going through a rough time. I don't mind." Mike said with a small smile.
"You're an odd duck Nesmith."
With that Mr.Babbit left.
"I'm telling you. That man is all heart." Micky said.
"Well we're out of milk. I say we go to the store." Mike suggested.
"You guys go. I'm going to stay here. I'm going to try and talk to him again." Peter said sounding worried.
"Pete. Just leave him be." Mike said squeezing Peter's shoulder.
"He's-"
"I know. But you can't force him into talking. Who knows. Maybe what you said to him earlier helped."
"Come on." Micky said softly.
Sighing Peter followed.
Sometime later the three entered the pad.
"Hey fellas." a soft voice greeted them.
"Davy." Micky said in surprise.
Micky took a good look at Davy. He looked alittle better. His stumble was gone. His hair was shiny and clean. He also had on clean clothes.
"I'm sorry." Davy said in a quiet and soft voice.
The three sat the bags down and walked by Davy.
"It's okay." Micky said squeezing his shoulder.
Davy didn't yank away this time.
"I'm just...I'm sick of losing people you know. My parents. I had to say goodbye to all my friends and relatives when I moved here. Some of whom I haven't spoken to since I left." he sighed.
"So you pushed us away, before we had a chance to leave you." Peter said softly.
"Sounds stupid doesn't it?" Davy asked.
"No. But we're not going anywhere. We're here anytime you need us." Mike said patting his back.
Davy nodded.
"Would you like a hug?" Micky asked softly.
"Sure." Davy replied feeling a little strange.
Micky pulled him into a warm hug. Strange feelings were replaced by sad ones. Davy no longer had the strength to fight back the tears he had been fighting back for three weeks. He just let them roll down his cheeks.
They heard another pound on the door.
"Yes?" Mike asked in a annoyed voice.
"You left me ten dollars short!"
"I keep telling you now is not a good time!" Mike exclaimed angerly.
"You're this close of getting kicked out! I...why is he crying?" Mr.Babbit asked slightly softening his tone.
"It's-"
"Hey. I was just kidding. I made him cry didn't I?"
"Yes, you did you big bully." Micky said shooting him alook.
Mike bit his lip to keep from laughing.
"Um you know what. Just forget about the ten. It's okay. I'm...sorry." Mr.Babbit said nervously.
"You're what?" Mike asked in shock.
"Sorry. Please stop crying. I'll uh see you next month."
He quickly left.
"I didn't think he could run that fast!" Micky laughed as he gently let go of Davy.
Peter handed him some tissues.
"Thanks." Davy said quietly.
"I'm sorry Davy." Peter said softly.
"Sorry for what?" Davy asked sounding confused.
"For yelling at you earlier. I mean-"
"It's okay. I mean you were right Pete. I just can't believe he's gone. I don't even have a picture of him or anything. I don't want to forget him."
Peter slipped an arm acrossed Davy's shoulders. "I don't think you will."
"I wish I could help you there shot-gun but I can't." Mike added.
"Well we better put this stuff away and start lunch." Micky said.
The four stood up when a sudden wave of dizzyness hit Davy. He felt so dizzy he had to sit down.
"Davy?" Peter asked sounding concerned. "When was the last time you ate?"
"I can't remember." Davy admitted.
"Well you're going to eat something." Mike said firmly.
"Can I fix it?" Peter asked with a grin.
"Sure. Just please don't let it be your cream of root beer soup again." Davy said resting his head in his hands. Micky laughed. Finally things were getting back to normal.
"Mac and cheese?" Peter asked.
Davy nodded. The four ate their lunch.
"Well you do look better." Peter said to Davy.
"He smells alot better too!" Micky laughed.
Davy also laughed. "I don't think I smelled that bad!"
Mike took his plate up to the sink. He noticed Davy rubbing his forehead.
"Still dizzy?" he asked.
"Alittle bit. My head really hurts." Davy sighed.
"Why don't you go take a nap?" Micky suggested.
"What about the dishes? I'm suppose to help dry."
"Don't worry about it. Go take a nap." Mike said.
"Night fellas." Davy waved.
Peter grinned at the idea that popped in his head.
"Hey Mike. Can I have the keys?"
"They're on top of the tv."
"I'll be right back." Peter grinned.