When Crickets Cry...

Gabriel sighed.
Just because Zac didnt love him didnt mean he didnt love his momma.

Zac covered his face with his hands as he sunk to the floor, just outside of Gabriel's room, tears streaming down his pale cheeks.
"Momma? Momma whats wrong?" Vikki frowned, kneeling beside him.

Colbie was behind her, she sat down and hugged her momma.
"Is it cuz Gabe is dying?"

"That too, babies. But..."
"Momma talk to us... we love you." Vikki rubbed her momma's hair.
"You two are sweet." Zac sighed, giving them a teary smile.

Colbie frowned, looking at her momma with a sigh.
"Momma....We love you." She cooed sweetly.

"I love you too honey. And all your brothers." He hugged them both, kissing their cheeks.

Colbie nodded and kissed her mother's cheek.
"Is Gabriel being mean?"

"He isn't trying to be. He just upset me." Zac sighed, rubbing at his eyes.

Colbie sighed.
"Want me to get daddy?"
Her father took care of everything.

"No baby..." He didn't want to bother Quincy with this. It would lead to questions about why he cringed when someone said Gabriel's name... questions he wasn't ready to answer.

She nodded.
"And where is Riley?" She hadnt seen him.

"He's in his room isn't he?" Zac frowned, stood and peeked in the room. Riley wasn't there. He looked in every room before yelling for Quincy.

Quincy got up, tiredly going up the stairs and finding Zac.
"What is it baby?"

"Riley's gone..." Zac said worriedly. Riley always seemed happy... no way he had tried to run away.

Quincy double checked all the rooms and scratched his head.
Where in the hell?

"He's the only one who seems happy 24/7... why would he run off?" Zac frowned deeply.
"I'll call his cell if you want." Vikki shrugged.

Quincy nodded to her.
"I know he didnt run away....Not Riley..."

Zac nodded.
"Its not like him."
Vikki locked herself in her room and called her brother.
"Riley damnit, did you fall asleep? I know you lose track of time but momma and daddy noticed you're gone." She said into the phone.
They all knew about Riley and Lance except for the adults.

Riley sighed.
"Sorry, I was cuddling. Ill be home later, tell em I went out to get a Twinkie."

"You're an idiot." Vikki rolled her eyes. "Fien. But that ain't gonna cover you for more than a half hour. So hurry home." She hugn up.

He groaned, placing a sweet kiss on Lance's lips before tucking him in and crawling back out the window, sure to lock it.

"He... went to get a twinkie." Vikki rolled her eyes as she covered for her brother to their parents.
But Zac wasn't stupid. He had played this game. Sneaking out at night to see your crush...

And Quincy had been the one he was playing with.
"And is this Twinkie a boy or a girl?"

Zac chuckled.
Vikki acted confused.
"I didn't know twinkies had a gender." She giggled.

"C'mon, white or black frosting." He raised a brow to her, poking Zac. "And how old is this Twinkie."