It sounded like a nice idea, being whoever he wanted. But, TJ knew it wasn't that simple. Maybe for someone like Travis who had no one else to answer to. But, as long as his parents were Bud and Elaine Hammond, as long as they were there, TJ would have their expectations to live up to, even here where no one recognized them. Once a Hammond, always a Hammond. Some things couldn't be changed by any amount of magic or science fiction.
Sighing, TJ, took the pack from his pocket and tapped another cigarette out. At this rate, using the small stash of blow he'd had on him when their hotel turned into a shopping mall sparingly until he could find another supply, he was going to start out-smoking his mother on her worst days. He didn't light it just yet, however, merely toyed with it between his fingers.
He'd tried to be nice at the start and only gotten judgement and assumptions in return. Trusting it would be any different now was unlikely and even that was judged by a man who admitted to knowing nothing of TJ's life or family. God, he hated this life sometimes.
Decision made, he shrugged and smiled as if it didn't matter and wasn't a big deal. "Yeah, it's okay. It's all an adjustment, right?"
Now he lit the cigarette and took a deep drag, blowing it out before letting the cigarette dangling carelessly between his lips. "One thing I'd want someone to know? Appearances really are deceiving. You don't get to where my family is by being unobservant. Letting someone else carry the gun doesn't neutralize the other dangers out there."