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Chapter Three-Hundred-Seventy-Five




The phone rang at Kevin’s house and Elenore’s whole body tensed up as she sat at the table munching on her chicken nuggets from Mc Donalds. They had just got back from shopping at the mall and Kevin got her Mc Donalds for lunch on the way back. Kevin started to head for the phone when Elenore threw fearful looks at her Grandmother.


“Uh, Kevin why don’t you let me get it? You just sit right back down and enjoy your lunch with Ellie,” Ann suggested and before Kevin could go any further, Ann ran on over to the phone and picked it up.


“Hello?” she asked into the phone while smiling at her son with such innocence that Kevin scowled and turned and headed back to the table.


“Oh Brian, hey. Whats going on?” Suddenly not that interested in being on the phone anymore after hearing that its just Brian, Kevin sat down at the table and began to pick up his cheeseburger.


“You’ve LOST Dakota and Josh?” Ann asked incredulously, causing Kevin to drop it on his cheeseburger wrapper again and look at her with a raised eyebrow. “How do you lose a four and six year old with all of those security guards and cameras around?” Elenore suddenly looking perplexed listened carefully to her Grandmother waiting to see if she’ll hear Brian’s answer through her. Her daddy wouldn’t have anything to do with this would he? He promised her that he wouldn’t harm her friends. “All right…I’ll ask her and we’ll be there shortly,” Ann reassured. “I’m sure they are around there somewhere. Bye…” and she hung up and turned to look at everybody.


“They lost Dakota and Josh?” Jerald was the first to question.


“Well…technically…” Ann began.


“What do you mean technically? That’s not a good enough answer for a family who is dealing with someone like Sean,” Kevin insisted worriedly.


“Dakota started a riot with Sarah’s little friends, Josh came to her rescue when it began to be too much for her, and in order to keep her from getting into trouble he’s whisked her off somewhere in the orphanage and now they can’t find them anywhere.”


“With all of those cameras?” Jerald asked incredulously as he watched his niece’s mouth drop in shock and disbelief was written all over her face.


“Kota?” she asked quietly, speaking more to herself then anything. “My Kota?”


“They’ve somehow disappeared from the radar of all cameras…it’s Nick’s daughter is it really that hard to believe? But anyway, that brings me to my next question,” Ann answered her son’s question before turning her attention on Elenore who looked guarded all of the sudden. “Brian told me to ask you if you might have any idea of where they would go?”


“Umm…” Elenore began, and she rolled her eyes upward so she was gazing up at the ceiling and she made a face like she were thinking real hard about her question. After a few short seconds, she looked back at her Grandmother looking her directly in the eye unblinking. “Nopes, not a clue…sorry.”


“Ellie,” Kevin began, and she turned her attention on him in curiosity.


“If you know where Dakota and Josh are at sweetheart you know how important it is for you to tell us.”


“Yeah honey, remember what happened the last time you kept a secret from us?” Jerald added, leaning against the table and looking at her directly in her eyes ready to catch her in a lie. Elenore gulped as she battled the inner demons inside her. She remembers exactly what happened. Her daddy kidnapped Ashley because she didn’t tell anybody that he was there at the party. And then before that she, Sarah, and Kota were nearly molested by Lou Pearlman. No matter what anybody says she still strongly believes that both incidents were her fault. She swore to herself that from now on she would do the right thing. But on the other hand, it is her duty as a best friend to keep this secret – and she knows that they are safe this time. Lou Pearlman is in jail and she knows for a fact that her daddy doesn’t know about the ‘sewers’. Trevor on the other hand might be a different story, but what business would Dakota and Josh have in the ‘sewers’ now that Trevor isn’t around for them to spy on? He’s probably forgotten all about those ‘sewers’. And besides, he isn’t after her friends because he promised her.


“Ellie,” Jerald pleaded when she didn’t answer him.


“All right you know what? We’ll try it this way,” Kevin began becoming serious. “If you know where Dakota and Josh are I need you to tell me right now. Lie to me Ellie and I promise you that you will be grounded to your room.” Elenore thought about his for a moment. Only if she lies to him? She can get around lying to him if she puts her mind to it. She thought about this really hard for a couple of moments, and then returned her attention back on him and looked at him seriously so he would have no reason to believe that she is lying.


“You’ll grounds me if I lie to you daddy?” she double-checked.

“That’s right.”


“Fine, then I wont’s answer your question at all. They’re my best friends you should knows me well enough to know that you won’t gets me to say a word. I’m not a rat.” Kevin opened his mouth to argue and Elenore reached out and gently placed her finger over his lips to silence him causing him to raise his eyebrow at her. “I will tells you however, that they’re some place safe.”


“How can it possibly be safe Elenore Richardson when there aren’t any cameras where they are at to keep watch on them?” Kevin demanded, forcing himself with every strength he has in him not to get frustrated with her.


“Cause Sean can’ts get to them there an’ because Nicky can’ts either.” Kevin stared at her in silence for a long moment with narrowed eyes.


“Elenore Edna Reena Irene Elaina Richardson, you tell me where they are at right now!”


“No!”


“Then go to your room!” Kevin snapped, and Elenore threw her chicken nugget down and pushed her chair back to follow his order when Jerald spoke up.


“What’s the point in that Kevin? You won’t get any answers out of her if she is up there.”


“The point is that if I have to look at her any longer I will lose my patience!”


“Well she can’t go up into her room anyway Kev, I already told Brian that we would all go down to the Orphanage and help them look for the kids.”


“You and Jer can go, I will stay here with Ellie.”


“No you won’t because we really need your help, obviously.” Kevin scowled.


“Yeah I bet you do,” he muttered.


“What was that?” Ann asked calmly and Kevin sighed.


“Nothing mama, nothing at all” he told her innocently and he got up and went to go find his shoes. Ann shook her head and turned her attention on Jerald who was quite amused at the moment. It was almost like watching Brian with Jackie at the moment.


“Why don’t you take Ellie upstairs to her room to put her shoes on? And maybe have a little Uncle and Niece heart to heart?” Jerald nodded, kissed his mother on the cheek, and then gathered Elenore up in his arms before taking her upstairs. While they were all off getting ready, Ann began to pack Ellie’s lunch into her happy meal bag so she could eat it in the car on the way.



~*~*~*~*~



Josh sat quietly up in the air vents leaning against the wall and gazing down at Dakota who has her head rested comfortably against his chest, her arms wrapped around him, and she is sleeping soundly. After he got her bloody nose cleaned up he brought her further into the vents to a place that he felt was the most safest and got comfortable before making her comfortable and ordering her to take a nap. She of course put up a fight about it but it wasn’t as bad as it usually is since she was overly exhausted anyway.


He stared down at his sleeping belle in silence as he gently ran his fingers through her soft hair and he thought about their little adventure that they were currently in. He isn’t stupid enough to believe that this is really going to keep her from getting into trouble, he knows he is only delaying it. But at least he is buying themselves sometime to think of something that will keep her out of trouble. Hopefully Sarah is doing a good job at doing her part. Dakota will never be allowed to deny that Sarah loves her after this situation, he won’t let her.


As Josh sat there silently contemplating their situation, Dakota opened her eyes after napping for thirty minutes and she gazed up at him causing her eyes to meet with his and she smiled dreamily. Is this what Daddy means when he is always going on about how good it feels to wake up next to Ashley? Who knows…all she knows is, she would be more then happy to wake up looking into his eyes all the time, that’s for sure.


“See?” he asked gently. “I told you that you wouldn’t have any nightmares.” Dakota sat up some and looked around and she smiled some at the sudden memory of where they are at and why.


“So how long do you plan on hiding me here, Batman? Huh?”


“For however long it takes, that’s how long.”


“My daddy an’ Ashee are planning on going to Jersey tomorrow night.”


“Then I guess he better get over his anger and reconsider fast, huh?” Josh asked with a smirk and Dakota giggled. She reached over then, grabbed at his mask, and pulled it off and he raised his eyebrow.


“Heeey…”


“Batgirl says its time for Joshy to lets her see his face,” She insisted. “You’ve been wearing that mask for a week.”


So?”


“So even Batman takes off his mask once in awhile, Joshy.” When Dakota stuck her lower lip out in a pout Josh scowled.


“Now why do you have to go and do something like that?”


“Cause I caaan,” She told him, moving closer to him still pouting and Josh groaned.


“Fine! But only for a little bit.” She watched as he attached his mask to his belt loop and she grinned in satisfaction before silently gazing at the boy she’s been crushing on for as long as she can remember.


“Hey Kevin, come to help us out?” they suddenly heard Marcus ask.


“Yup…any luck yet?” they heard the familiar voice down below. Josh and Dakota exchanged curious glances and then quietly crawled a little ways down the air vent until they reached the one just above the lobby and they glanced through it.


“No not yet,” Marcus sighed as Kevin, Jerald, and Ann made it through security and a scowling Elenore was currently being checked thoroughly. They always check her just a tiny bit more then the others considering her history.


“We aren’t having much luck either,” Kevin replied grumpily when Elenore finally passed the inspection and Kevin gathered her in his arms.


“Yeah, well, to be honest I wasn’t really counting on it” Marcus chuckled. “Anyone who really believes that Ellie would ever rat out her friends truly doesn’t know her.”


“Yes, well, as good as her loyalty is, its earned her a five minute time out” Kevin informed while walking over to one of the chairs that people who come in looking to adopt sit in to wait on Brooke. He sat her down in the chair and he narrowed his eyes at her as she glowered up at him.


“Don’t you move. You are going to sit there until I come back for you and believe me I’ll know if you disobey me,” he informed her while indicating toward security.


“Fine,” Elenore told him moodily and he gave her one last warning glance before turning around and walking off. She watched as Jerald and Ann followed and then glanced over at security. To her surprise, there was Q leaning against the table with his chin cradled in his hand and he was gazing at her fixedly. She held his gaze just as intently and she arched her eyebrow at him challengingly. He watched her unblinkingly for a moment, and then Marcus spoke up.


“Yo, Q.”


“Yo, Marcus” Q replied still not removing his eyes from Elenore.


“I have to use the restroom, and since you and Lan are the only two here right now you are going to have to help him with this couple who just pulled in.”


“Can’t it wait? I’m watching little Miss Houdini over there.”


“I’ve been waiting an hour man. Just keep one eye on her it’ll be fine.”


“You can’t just keep one eye on her Marcus where have you been? You have to like, keep four eyes on her.”


“Is it really such a crime if she runs off? If you ask me, Kev has been too hard on her lately anyway. Someone has to give the kid a break, it might as well be us.”


“She might accidentally lead us to her friends though.”


“All the more reason to let her slip away,” Marcus whispered. “Don’t let her slip away from your sight…just let her think that you are.”


“Oh…”


“Got it?”


“Mhm.”


“Good, now I’m going” Marcus replied before moving out of the security booth that they’ve created for themselves and he walked off toward the restrooms leaving Q no choice but to turn and help Laney with the people just opened the door and walked in. Elenore noticed that as he did this though he kept one eye on her and she sighed and brought her feet up into the chair before hugging her legs to her chest. She sat there for three whole minutes in silence watching security talk to the couple until suddenly she heard something from above her head. She looked up to see that Josh had opened the air vent from above her and was gazing down at her with a grin. She smiled up at him amusedly.


“What are you doing?” She whispered. “Are you crazy? Q will see you.”


“He’s not paying attention, I made sure.”


“He’s pretending not to pay attention, idiot.”


“No he’s not.”


“Well I’m not letting you pull me up there, someone is bound to sees it.”


“Fine then…make a run for it to the kitchen, there’s a vent in the pantry in there.”


“Isn’t it lunch time?”


“Yes, so you will have to be sneaky.”


“Josh!” Elenore whispered irritably.


“Just do it!” Josh snapped right back. “I know you know how. An’ grab us some chicken sandwiches and chips on your way up will you?” Elenore scowled.


“Fine, but if I gets in trouble I’m gonna find my way in there somehows an’ hurt you,” she threatened. Josh rolled his eyes, shut the air vent, and Elenore darted her eyes toward Q nervously. She saw that he was done explaining their procedure to them and was now holding a clipboard that the couple was currently signing. She waited until he was bending down to get the fingerprints ink and then sprung up from her chair and made a mad dash for the Cafeteria. When she managed to make it there without being seen, she paused right outside the door and took a deep breath. When she had a plan thoroughly thought out, she opened up the door slowly and slipped in carefully.


She glanced over at the table that her family usually sits at and saw them all sitting around eating lunch and Kevin, her uncle, and Grandmother all standing there with their backs turned and they were talking. Thankful that the cafeteria is a lot busier then usual today, she carefully padded her way toward the little counter that the kids get their food on. She grabbed a plate and since the counter is bigger then she is, she was well hidden behind it. She reached up and grabbed two of what she knew was chicken sandwiches, before grabbing the tongs and getting enough toppings for two. After doing this she grabbed two packages of Mayo, and two cans of Dr Pepper. When she had everything that she knew her friends would want and need, she walked to the end of the counter and peered around it at the danger zone.


When she knew she was still safe and no one knew she was there, she hurried to the kitchen with stealth, walking behind other kids or objects when she could. As she was carefully making her way to the door she was weaving her way through the isles of tables and rowdy kids when suddenly she saw Meagan coming toward her. With her back turned she was talking animatedly to the rest of Nick’s fan club who remained at their table and not really paying much attention to where she was going. She also noticed Mackenzie – the very same girl who had helped Josh spill milk and food on Dakota awhile back walking the opposite way with a tray of food in her hands. She wasn’t around for that catastrophe but she did hear all about it and has loathed Mackenzie ever since.


Smirking to herself, and not being able to pass up the opportunity, she slipped underneath a table still remaining careful not to be seen and she waited for the girls to get closer to each other. When they were just inches apart, she reached her foot out in front of Mackenzie’s foot causing everything to happen at once. Mackenzie cried out in surprise as she went flying forward into Meagan and her tray and milk carton went flying into the air. Meagan fell forward onto her stomach with Mackenzie on top of her and the next thing they both knew it, both the tray and the milk landed right on top of them.


“Oh…My…God! Meagan I am so sorry!” Mackenzie insisted as she scrambled away from her.


“I can’t believe you just did that!” Meagan shrieked and she got to her feet. “Ugh!” she groaned as she looked down at her clothes and saw that ketchup was all over it and milk was in her hair. She looked at Mackenzie disgusted.


“Meg really I didn’t mean to, I swear! Something tripped me.”


“Ugh! You little brat!” she exclaimed, before grabbing up someone’s mustard package and squirting it all over Mackenzie. Mackenzie shrieked in horror and then grabbed someone’s pudding bowl and launched it at her causing chocolate pudding to spill out all over her.


“FOOD FIGHT!” another child shrieked and threw their pudding at the person next to them and the next thing they knew it an entire war broke out. Grownups were now getting to their feet and trying to stop the catastrophe and there were kids and food flying everywhere. Satisfied with the distraction she created, Elenore darted out from under the table and headed toward the kitchen now avoiding flying food. When she reached it safely she ran to the pantry, threw the door open and ran inside it before closing it behind her. She looked up at the air vent just on time to see Dakota open it.


“Oh…my…god! Ellie that was brilliant!”


“You saw it?”


“Course we did, there’s a vent to every room silly” Dakota informed and Elenore beamed as Josh reached down and grabbed the plate of chicken sandwiches. He handed it to Dakota and then reached down for Ellie’s hands. Ellie reached up and allowed him to take them, and he lifted her up into the vent and into his lap.


“It was pretty great wasn’t it?” she bragged, feeling highly amused with herself.


“Well, yeah! You just took out two bullies in one! I hope Marcus got that on camera because I would really like to replay that over, and over, and over…”


“Well I did it all with you on my mind, my friend. It was all for you.”