#future week 1

Jake and Jamie made their way to the school listening to old school hip-hop the whole way there. Making their way into the gym they noticed that they were early so Jamie started to try and shot around. Jake sat on the bleachers as he watched him. “Hey, daddy!” Jamie yelled waving for him to come over to him. “Coming.” Jake said standing up and walking toward him. Jake slowed his pace and saw that Jamie was looking up at the retired jerseys on the wall and noticed the rusted area where Dan’s use to hang. Sighing in relief he knew Jamie didn’t know that so he was probably just going to ask him about his jersey. “There’s something missing up on the wall. There use to be another one. What was it, daddy?” Jamie asked. Jake sighed leaning down to him because he knew he was going to have to do his best to explain this to him. “It was your Grandpa Dan’s jersey.” Jake confessed softly as he bent down beside him and looked up at the wall. “Grandpa Dan. Why’d they take it down?” Jamie asked looking at him confused. “Because of the bad stuff he did. People decided they didn’t want it up there anymore.” Jake said still staring at the wall because he really wasn’t sure what to say. “You do bad things sometimes daddy and yours is still up there.” Jaime said looking at the wall with him. Jake knew Jamie loved his Grandpa because he had saved him but he didn’t know about all the stuff he had done and he never wanting him to know about it, mostly because he didn’t know how to explain it to a four year old. “Not that bad.” Jake said sighing as he looked over at his son and then saw Q walking through the door. Thank god Jake thought because he knew Jamie was so hung up on him that the questions wouldn’t stop.

“Oh, there he is.” Q shouted from across the gym as he made his way toward them. “I said its J. Scott the boy is hot, where ever he goes homie that’s the spot.” Q rapped as he moved his hands and walked toward Jamie. Jamie laughed at him with a big smile, clearing his throat.”His name is Q. He’s better than you. If the spot is hot then he’s there, too.” Jamie rapped back at him moving his right hand up and down. Jake stood up and laughed as he watched them doing some hand shake. He slowly walked toward them and figured if a four year old could do it so could he. “Yeah, I’m the dad and I’m not so bad, I…” Jake rapped holding a fake microphone to his mouth as he put on his best impression. Seeing the look on Q and Jamie’s face he immediately stopped because it was obvious to him that he was too old to be doing that. Once again he was saved by the bell when Ryder and Caleb walked in so he wouldn’t have to listen to them making fun of him. Noticing the look on Ryder’s face and the nervous look on Caleb’s he scooped Jamie up on his shoulder and carried him over to the bleachers so they could talk to Q. Leaning back on the bleachers he looked over at Jamie who was playing with a basketball. “Heard your birthday is coming up, what you getting me? Jake asked him nodding his head up at him as he tried to distract him. “You’re supposed to get me something, daddy.” Jamie responded to him looking curious. “Oops. I didn’t get you anything.” Jake said joking but put on a serious face. “But it’s my birthday you always get me something, daddy.” Jamie said looking at him pouting. “Boy, I’m joking I got you like ten presents.” Jake said laughing as he shoved Jamie’s shoulder softly. Hearing the conversation between Ryder, Caleb, and Q end he motioned for Jamie to follow them so they could take Q to the hospital and see what was wrong with his hand.

They made their way to the hospital and Jake decided to wait in the waiting room with Jamie and Ryder followed along. Getting in the elevator Jamie kept bugging Ryder about his birthday and asking what he was going to get him. Jake could do nothing but laugh at it because Jamie wasn’t going to give up on the topic anytime soon. The elevator stopped on a floor before theirs and when the doors opened Dan was there waiting to get on.  Jake felt a lump get stuck in his throat as he looked over at Ryder. “Grandpa Dan!” Jamie shouted smiling big at him. “Hey, Jaime” Dan replied as he stepped in the elevator. Jake reached down and grabbed Jamie’s shoulder moving him behind him so that Dan couldn’t get near him. “If you boys want to jump me again now is your chance.” Dan said laughing, leaving Jake to hold on tightly to Jamie and stare at the back of his head. He was thrown off his game he didn’t know what to do other than to protect Jamie from him.”My birthday is coming up, Grandpa Dan.” Jamie said peeking his head out from behind Jake. “I know. I would love to come but I don’t think your dad would let me.” Dan replied looking down at him. Don’t punch him was all Jake kept saying in his mind. Who the hell was he to try and put the thought in Jamie’s head that I was the reason he couldn’t come to his party? I never asked him to do the things he did. He should have thought about that before he pulled the trigger. Hearing the elevator ding he knew that this whole awkward meeting was over. “Bye, Grandpa.” Jamie shouted as Dan walked out. Seeing Dan wave at him with that smile he knew he had to put a stop to this. “Watch Jamie for me.” Jake said as they walked out of the elevator and he walked outside chasing after him. “Hey!” Jake shouted getting his attention as he approached Dan from behind. “We’re not having this.” He said adding to the conversation. “What, son?” Dan asked him trying to look innocent. “You and the fact that you’re following Jamie around.” Jake said as he got mad. “I’ve seen you drive past the house and the school and now you just happen to show up at the hospital.” Jake said as he stood there trying to get his point across. “Jacob, stop. I was in prison for a long time, I was just getting a check up.” Dan said walking slowly toward Jake. All Jake could do was clinch his jaw and step backwards as he shook his head at him. “The truth is I was hoping...” Dan said but Jake quickly cut him off. “Don’t. Don’t hope Dan. There’s no hope for you. Just stay the hell away from my family.” Jake said looking him in his eye so he got the message before turning around and walking away.