“Should we wake him up?” Star asked, looking at Cadence.

“I am awake…” J said quietly. “I have been…”

“Are you… Okay?” Star questioned, sitting beside him.

J shook his head no, “I don’t want to go to school… I hated it the last time…” He said, “Please don’t make me go.”

“You don’t have too if you don’t want to.” Star said as he hugged him, “What were you dreaming about?”

“My first friend… Tibbers…” J responded quietly, “I miss him…”

“Tell me about him.” Star asked, crossing his legs as he shifted himself to face J.

“He… he was my best friend he understood everything about me… he knew every secret I had and I knew everyone he had… he was with me forever before…” J began until he covered his face and started crying. “They took him from me! They… they killed him…”

“What?!” Cadence said.

J nodded, “They killed him… they said it was fun… I hated them for it… I miss Tibbers… I miss my teddy bear…” He said as fresh tears slid down his face. “What… what they did to me I could take… but… they… they took my best friend from me…” J started sobbing.

“That’s horrible…” Cadence said, somewhat relieved.

“Who took him?” Star asked.

“Bullies… one… one of them was named Tim…” J said. He started shaking a little. “I could… I could take… getting my nose broken… then… having… my face shoved onto a burning metal slide… But… I… I lost my bestest friend that day…” J said as he quietly sobbed.

“Don’t worry J, they can’t hurt you anymore. You can stay here with me and Cadence. Is that alright?” Star asked.

J nodded, “I’m… I’m not scared of them… D… Dad took care of them…” He said quietly, “They… they deserved it too.”

Star looked nervously at Cadence before turning back to J, “What did Dad do?” Star asked.

“He… he promised… me that… they wouldn’t see the sun rise again…” J said quietly. “My… my Dad always keeps his promises… If… if his magic couldn’t do it then… Stryker could…”

“Who’s Stryker?” Star asked.

“My Dad’s werewolf spirit.” J said.

There was a long pause as Star and Cadence stared at each other. “Well hey… Let’s not think about that anymore. Did you want something to drink?” Star asked.

“No… I want Tibbers.” J stated.

“Tibbers isn’t here J…” Cadence said.

J slid off the couch, “Where… is he?” He asked looking up at Cadence.

“I… Don’t know honey.” Cadence said meekly.

“B… but… I…” J stammered out. He looked down and closed his eyes, “I…” He pushed past Cadence and ran into the kitchen.

“You check on him… I think I know what to do to help.” Star said before running upstairs.

“J…” Cadence said, rushing after him, “It’ll be okay… Just come back and sit down please?”

“No! Don’t lie to me!” J responded.

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“It’s just going to be the same! No one wants me around!” He said sadly, “No one does!”

“How can you say that?” Cadence said, placing a hand to her chest, “We’re ALL here for you J…”

“I can say it because it’s true!” J said back, “I’m not someone you want here… I… I shouldn’t have even stayed… I’ll just ruin everything…”

“Ruin everything? How so?” She questioned.

“J… just go away…” J said quietly, “All of my friends before are gone… I don’t want anymore… I don’t want to lose anymore…”

“You… Don’t want to be my friend?” Scootaloo said, entering the kitchen.

“I don’t want to lose anymore friends…” J responded. “J... just go…”

Scootaloo stared at him, sitting down, “No.” She said.

J looked down at the ground, “Please… I… I want to be alone…” He said quietly. His voice cracked a little.

“Alright… But we’re here if you need us.” Cadence said, putting a hand on Scootaloo’s shoulder and moving back to the living room.

“But…” Scootaloo said.

“Let’s give him his space.” Cadence said, leading her to where Star was waiting.

J looked at Scootaloo and his eyes pleaded with her to stay.

Scootaloo jerked away from Cadence’s hand, running back to J and sitting next to him, “I’m staying.” She declared, crossing her arms.

J smiled weakly. “Th…” He started before he looked back at the ground.

“Anytime.” Scoots said before hugging him.

-------------------------------

“You don’t mind if I sleep with you tonight do you?” Scootaloo asked.

“Um…” J mumbled.

“Good.” She said, scooting closer and wrapping her arms around him

J’s face flushed a little. He lightly grabbed her and laid his head down in front of hers. J’s eyes darted between hers and her mouth which was right in front of his own.

“So… Feeling any better?” Scootaloo asked, putting a quick kiss on his lips.

J nodded, “I’m… I’m sorry that I almost said I didn’t want to be your friend…” He said a little sadly.

“That’s fine. I knew you didn’t mean it… Did you?” She asked, making a sad face.

“No… I didn’t…” J said quietly as he hugged her closer.

“Good…” She said, resting her head on J’s chest.

“T… tomorrow are you going to be going too?” J asked as he looked down at Scootaloo. His lower lip quivered a bit.

“Yeah… I have to.” She said.

“If… if you’re going… then I will too…” He said as he gently ran a hand through her hair. “I… I just want to be beside you…”

“That’s good… Then nothing bad will happen… Since you’ll be there to keep me safe.” She said, closing her eyes.

He smiled a little and planted a light kiss on her forehead.

She looked up and pushed her lips closer to his. They kissed a little before she laid her head down on his chest again.

J fell asleep with a smile on his face.

Scootaloo shifted around lightly before falling asleep in the same way.