46

"TELL ME WHY!!"

"AINT NOTHIN BUT A HEARTBREAK!!!"

"TEEEEELL ME WHY!!"

"AINT NOTHIN BUT A MIIISTAKE!!!"

Cody, Junior, Jeffy, and surprisingly Penelope were having a jam session in the back of the bus. Suddenly, Cody's next part was cut off by the bus's breaks bring slammed. Everyone hit the seat infront of them with a harsh force.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP WITH THAT BACKDOOR BOY BULLSHIT!!! BABS IS TRYNA DRIVE AND I DONT NEED YOU BRATS SCREAMIN!!!" The bus driver shouted at the top of her most likely black lungs. She glared at Junior's group, before sitting back down and driving again.

"What a buzz kill." Junior grumbled. The bus continued moving down the roads. Junior and his friends continued talking about whatever. It wasn't about the case, but he was fine with that since he worried about it less. The thought of Saturday made something in his chest pang and his heart's bpm go up, which he really didn't enjoy.

The bus stopped in front of Junior's driveway, and he and Jeffy got off of the bus. Cody was going to have his mom drive him there since he needed to drop his school bag off at home.

Bowser was sitting at the dining table talking to Marvin and Rose when the two kids had gotten inside. He was saying something about a lawyer, which Junior wanted to eavesdrop on but he also didn't want to risk his father seeing him, not before his plan went into motion.

He and Jeffy had already set up who they were going to ask. Jeffy was going to ask Tony, Mr Pig, and Woody, while Junior was going to ask Duggie, Shrek, and Toad. Jeffy's silly attitude went along better with Tony, Mr Pig was in the attic with Tony, and Jeffy actually knew who Woody was. Meanwhile, Junior had a good bond with Toad, was on okay terms with Duggie, and decided to take on the chore of asking Shrek.

The boys snuck upstairs and into the living room. They discussed what they had gone over, then split up. Junior stayed downstairs at first, since he was waiting for Cody to come over. 'Maybe I can get Cody to ask Shrek for me?... no, that'd be kinda mean, especially since he's sacrificing his afternoon to help me.' Junior thought.

First stop was Duggie, who was getting ready to play some Call of Duty. Before he put his headset on, Junior sprang up from behind the couch. "Hey Duggie!"

The dinosaur yelped in surprise and fell backwards on the couch. Once he realized it was just Junior, he sat up and dusted himself off. "Whatchu want folk?! You almost scareded the koowade outta me!"

"I wanted to ask you for a favor." Junior started.

"Oh hell nah, you ain't touchin any o' my calla duty stuffs, theys very imported." Duggie grumbled.

"It has nothing to do with that. You heard that Chef PeePee got arrested right?"

"Aw shit, yes I has. They locked up anotha one o' my-" Duggie said, about to say something I can't write without being canceled into the ground.

"Anyways, unless we get enough witnesses, he's gonna go to prison for a long time, and I'll continue to be abused by my dad. You guys were friends, right? Couldn't you testify in favor of him in court?" Junior asked, giving his best puppy-dog eyes.

Duggies eyes widened at the mention of court. "Aw hell nah, that ain't happenin. I ain't goin nowhere near the popo or that daym crouthouse!" He exclaimed. "Sorry kid, but you is on your own wit this one."

"But-" Junior tried to protest, but Duggie already had his headset on and the game loaded up. Junior sighed in defeat, and trudged off.

Fortunately, Jeffy was having slightly better luck. The two animals in the attic were willing to hear him out, having nothing else to do. Jeffy explained it well enough to where it was understandable.

"That poor ginger kid! I will help the chef! Yay!" Tony exclaimed. "What about you, Mr Pig?"

"Well, this chef seems like a very respectable guy, and has done a good deed protecting the child, but I just can't support him. Not after knowing he Has cooked and burnt bacon and other meats made of my kind. I wish you good luck regardless." Mr Pig explained.

"Eh, it's gud. At least we got 1 person on board so far. Junior might have convinced One too." Jeffy said.

Meanwhile with Junior, he had just gotten off of the phone with Toad, who agreed to help out his buddy. His tour was ending that day, and he'd be back in Pensacola by Friday night at the latest. Once he had put his phone back in his pocket, he heard the doorbell ring. He rushed to open it, knowing it was most likely Cody, but much to his dismay, Bowser got to it first.

He watched as Bowser said a few words to the nerdy boy, before shutting the door in his face. Junior snuck past him to go into the kitchen to find Shrek. He knew he would have to do it since Cody wasn't coming inside anymore. He felt his phone buzz and checked the message.

Cody messaged you: Your dad wouldn't let me inside. Good news though, my mom is willing to testify. Have you got anyone else on board yet?

Junebug: I got Toad to help, but Duggie said no. I have yet to ask Shrek, and idk how Jeffy's doing

Junior put his phone away, and went to go to Shreks bathroom, but he luckily saw him already out, searching the fridge for most likely some cheesecake. He sighed, relieved by the fact he didn't have to go into the biohazard that is his bathroom. He approached the ogre and started talking. "Uhm, hello, Mr Shrek?"

The giant green guy looked up from scavenging and made eye contact with the kid. "Oh, hello little one. Do you perhaps know where I could get some cheesecake? It seems we have run out and that chef isn't here to buy any more."

"Well, no... but I know if you help Chef PeePee be proven innocent, then he'll definitely be back here to buy you some." Junior told the ogre.

"But... didn't he kidnap you?" Shrek asked, confused.

"No! That's just a lie my dad made up to cover up the fact that we ran away from him because he's been abusing us for years. If Chef PeePee gets sent to prison, I could be in serious danger... so if you can, please help." Junior explained, Shrek being surprisingly attentive.

"Wow... and you said if he wins the case I'll get more cheesecake... Alright, I will plead his case! It's on Saturday, right?" Shrek told the boy.

"Yep, it is. And thank you! Thank you so much!" Junior said happily. Everything was starting to look up. Even if Chef PeePee doesn't have a lawyer, there's a chance everyone that's defending him will be enough.

"No problem little donkey. Now, I'm going to go see if main donkey can order me some cheesecake." With that the ogre walked away into the dining room. Junior sighed with relief and leaned against the counter to process everything. 3-6 people may not be a lot, but it was good for Junior.

While in his own little world, Junior didn't realize his own father walked into the kitchen, at least not until he was right next to the boy. Junior nearly jumped out of his own skin at the sight of Bowser looking rather unpleased, a visible frown on his face.

"So... you're turning the people in this house against me... eh?" Bowser questioned, raising an eyebrow. "And bribing them with promises of food? How pathetic."

Bowser inched closer to his child, which made Junior scoot away. "I-im only telling them the truth, not some obviously made-up lie." The boy retorted, noticeably nervous. Bowser only laughed.

"Lie or not, the odds are stacked against that dumbass chef." Bowser scoffed. He then looked Junior straight in the eyes. "If you were to keep your mouth shut... your punishment for causing all of this bullshit may be a little bit less... especially since if that bitch doesn't have any help the bill will be less for the lawyer. Mr Goodman is the best lawyer in the town, and probably the whole county. He doesn't stand a chance regardless."

Junior took a short breath. "I hate you..." his words were breathy. He was trying so hard not to crack and crumble. Not to break in front of his worst enemy. He could feel a lump forming in his throat, which he did his best to swallow.

Bowser only chuckled. "Shocker." He put a hand on his son's shoulder and squeezed tight, watching the boy's breathing quicken. Junior shoved it off with all his might, and back up against a nearby wall.

"Marvin and Rose are in the next room over, and I will scream at the top of my lungs if you touch me again." Junior ordered. That threat seemed to change Bowser's tone a little bit. The man rolled his eyes and smiled.

"I'm going to have a lot of fun once this whole thing is blown over..." He mumbled loud enough for Junior to hear, before leaving the room.

Junior hadn't realized it completely, but he was shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. He ran upstairs before he completely broke down, and fell onto Chef PeePee's bed face-first. He wished the police would just believe him for once. He wished at least Jeffy's parents believed them, instead of denying the obvious. He sobbed into the pillow that was on the bed, soaking it quickly with the waterfalls coming from his eyes. He didn't understand why he was like this now. His father had been shooting him looks and saying criptic things before.

It must've been the daunting realization on how truly screwed he was. Bowser had a lawyer, and officers and people close to him who truly believed that he could not do no evil. Meanwhile, all Junior had were some random people who mooched off his father and Marvin, and his friends mom. He wanted to remain positive, but there was only so much he could take until he crumbled under the pressure.

He continued crying the 70% of water in his body onto the cloth of the pillowcase until he heard his phone buzzing. He was getting a call. It was Jeffy. Junior wiped his face mostly dry before answering.

"Hey, where are you? I got the tiger and daddy's cowboy friend to help us. What about you?" Jeffy asked.

"I-I-" Junior tried to say, but his throat was too dry and he was too shaky to say anything audible. He knew Jeffy could tell that he wasn't doing so good. "I'm i-in my room."

Jeffy said okay, and hung up the phone. Within a few minutes, he opened Junior's door and sat next to him on the bottom bunk. Junior sat up, and put his head in his hands, while bringing his knees to his chest. "What happened? Did your bitchass daddy hit you? He better not have."

"He... He didn't. He squeezed my shoulder, but that was it." Junior said. "He did say... that once the case is over... if before that, I don't stop helping Chef PeePee, then bad things will happen..." Junior let out a sob. "I don't Wanna die Jeffy... He wouldn't kill me, would he? He couldn't, right? What am I saying, of course he could. He'd kill me in the most brutal way possible, then make up some bullshit lie. Or he'd get locked up and kill Chef PeePee too."

Jeffy's heart broke more and more and Junior rambled about being killed by his own father. He knew the feeling, and he never wanted to be reminded of it again. His sadness turned to rage, and he shushed Junior. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding before talking. "None of that is gonna happen. Even if Chef PeePee doesn't win, I have my license. I'll get you far away and keep you safe."

"But then he'll tell them you kidnapped me too!" Junior exclaimed.

Jeffy went to deny it, but he stopped himself. Junior had a point. He couldn't do much after, besides keeping Junior safe in the house, and who knows how long that'd work. He had to do something now. "I'll be back. If your daddy comes in here, scream as loud as you can."

Jeffy then left the room, a plan in mind that he knew he had to at least try. It was his last resort.