Chapter Text
Being in juvie gave Wayne a lot of time to think, he thinks back to his hearing. The judge was an older woman, with a hard voice, but kind eyes. She had shown pity for Wayne, and had listened to his lawyer. He was a meek man names Howard, who had gotten Wayne less time than he had originally thought he'd get.
The man had fought the defense for Wayne being a misunderstood troubled teen, also running the defense that everything in the Ocala police station was all fight or flight, that if Wayne hadn’t fought Reggie that he would have died, and then who would have saved the innocent young Delilah. He’d laughed at that, the idea of Del being like that, just like the picture of her they had used in the papers. But he knew that wasn’t Del, she was fierce and strong and he loved her for those traits. But his defense had worked, earning Wayne only six months in a juvenile facility.
The judge told him, as she read the verdict, that she truly believed in all the testimonies. Of all the people, her fathers nurse, Sergeant Geller, Principle Cole, and of course Orlando, all of them had written letters to plead for leniency. She told Wayne “I believe that you are a good young man, and that you can turn your life around. Take this time away to think about your life, and the one you want to live once you're free.”
She’d given him six months away, his lawyer had told him that as long as he kept his head down he’d be out on time, or even early. Sometimes it also depended on how many kids were in, sometimes the facilities became overcrowded leading to certain kids being let out early, and of course it depended on the crime you committed. Now Wayne has been in for two horrible long months. He listened to the advice of Howard and kept his head low, stayed away from everyone and stayed silent. The only person he enjoyed talking to was Dustin, only 17, he was in for beating his step father within an inch of his life.
Wayne had truly met him two weeks in, Wayne had been eating his dinner on his own when some others came over to him. They'd tried to ruffle him, and he just sat there completely ignoring them, this happened for two weeks until one day Dustin started sitting with him. He mostly liked Dustin for the fact he had been in the facility for a year before Wayne, and was sentenced to be there until he was 18, then to be considered an adult in the eyes of the law. So Dustin was able to show him more of the ropes, the do's, the don'ts.
He’d told Wayne what happened one afternoon, about how his step dad was touching his sister, who was 13, that their mother knew. And Dustin wasn't about to let his sister suffer their mothers selfishness so he took matters into his own hands and beat him. “Do you ever regret it?” Wayne had asked him, Dustin didn’t even wait one second before responding with a laugh saying back “If I could do it again the only thing I would change is finishing that piece of shit off”.
Wayne respected Dustin for that, for protecting his sister. Something he couldn’t say for his own brother who he hadn't heard from since that thanksgiving. He liked being friends with him; others were less likely to mess with him. Dustin was big, 6’ 2 with dirty blonde hair and stocky, but he was nice and that was when started considering Dustin as a friend. His sister came to visit sometimes with their father, on those days he was his happiest, he’d told Wayne once that his sister was the only person he truly loved.
He could be mean when he wanted to, but everyone had to be. Weakness here was dangerous, could make you a target. But Dustin was just a good person, or at least Wayne thought so, and also offered his extra food to him and other newcomers. He looked after new kids the most, those who were smaller and unable to defend themselves against the other, meaner kids.
He took Wayne under his wing, Wayne was comfortable with him and they even talked about his life now. Finally getting movement back in his arm though was definitely nice though, having just recently been able to take the sling off his arm and was just left with the cast over his arm. Juvie was more than anything boring, he read a lot of books, he likes to think that Del would be proud of him. He reads to fill the time, and also because he hopes that once he gets out he and Del can read together, maybe even start a book club if she wants or whatever.
He’d do that for her, and also because he discovers he enjoys reading. He’s read the Hobbit, even Lord of the Rings too. He doesn’t enjoy the classes, for him they are easy enough. It’s not like real highschool, everything is evened out to be easy to understand for all the kids, which all range in age. He breezes by. He shockingly thrives in English, he credits it to Del. He started reading more to feel closer to her through the stories, the teacher says his writing has promise. That he should keep working on it, he writes adventures. Even taking bits from their own adventure as inspiration, not that he’d tell anyone that.
His name is Sean. He’s a middle aged man, a short man who's a little pudgy. He’s covered in tattoos that go up and down his arms, tell’s Wayne about his life. How he’d been a lot like us kids, lost and troubled. Wayne likes him, likes talking to him about new books to read, he always enjoys his recommendations. His next novel is the Three Musketeers, Wayne’s never heard of it but that's normal at this point. He’s discovering so many new things here.
Of course fights still happen but he just takes the hits. He doesn't fight back because he knows if he does they might keep him here longer, away from Del longer. He’s generally covered in bruises and some scrapes but he’s so used to it, his life before was just like this except before he usually started the fights.
Orlando writes sometimes too, the letters were more common in the first month, but have tampered down recently. He still hears from him once every week, which is enough for Wayne. He tells Wayne he sees Del and that she’s well, which helps put him at ease, but not enough. He could be lying just to not worry Wayne. But he chooses to believe his only friend. What other choice does he have?
He’s been in for 3 months when he hears his name called for visitation. He stiffens and suddenly feels anxious. His palms are sweating by the time he lines up next to the others, could it be Orlando, could it be Del? No, it couldn’t be, her father would never allow that. He hasn’t heard from Del at all, and he gets it. Howard had told him that Del’s father was trying for a restraining order, and that it didn’t matter if Del wanted it or not, her dad could do that. Doesn’t stop him from praying that it could be her, he’d be so happy he thinks he’d cry if she walked through those doors.
Although he can’t even begin to imagine what he’d say to her. Would a simple ‘hey’ and head nod be too little? Would she laugh at him? He'd be okay with that though, as long as he was able to hear her laugh. He remembers her laugh, bright and brilliant. Making her eye’s shine, he remembers how after the hospital, with their kiss, how much he got to see her smile and laugh. How warm she felt laying against him laying in the back of cars as they hitch hiked after losing the bike. He’d let her drool over him everyday if she wanted, but really he’d let Del do anything to him.
He fiddles with her necklace as he waits in the visitor room, running his thumb over the gold lettering as the guards start letting people in. He sees in live action as parents come in and welcome their children, some of the kid’s start to cry, some full on sob into their families arms. And some of them are cold to their visitors, Wayne is so intrigued by the others and their visitors he doesn’t pay any attention to who his own is, his visitor clears their throat and when Wayne whips his head around to see who it is he’s immediately struck with shock so cold it feels like a bucket of ice water being dumped on him.
Facing him is his brother, Matthew.
Del would totally have been better.