A/N: Hey, this is my first Fallout story, hope you guys enjoy!
"Here Mick, he gave it up pretty easily." I spoke quietly but firmly, just like I always did.
I dropped the bag of caps onto the counter in front of me, then turned my head upwards to face a grinning Mick.
"Easily, huh? That doesn't sound like Carter, Ryan." He responded, leaning onto the counter with his arms crossed.
"Well. I had to persuade him a little bit." I shrugged and straightened up my posture. He knew what I meant when I said 'persuade'.
"Well. Good enough for me, thanks kid." He reached for the bag, tipping it upside down and letting the caps fall to the counter.
I anxiously waited for him to finish counting them. This could finally be the day.
"25.. 26...27.." Mick counted to himself, sorting the caps.
I tapped my fingers on the counter, getting a bit impatient although I'd never say anything out loud.
"Alright, here's your cut kid. Don't spend it all in one place, alright?" Mick finally looked up, opening his extending his arm. "It's 87 caps."
87? Eighty seven? Holy crap, by the skin of my teeth I had enough. I quickly grabbed the caps and stuffed them into the secure pocket on my coat. I zipped it up and smiled.
"I certainly won't Mick. I'll see you around." I responded, almost bursting with excitement.
I exited the store quickly being ambushed by my best friend Daniel.
"So.. what's the news man.. Do you have enough? Tell me already, dude! Don't make me wait." He responded in his regular higher pitched voice.
"You're goddamn right I have enough!" I responded for a second before pretty much jumping into him.
"Holy christ, you serious? Goddamn dude! You really have enough!" He yelled before quickly turning on his heel and starting to walk, as I followed him side by side. "Let's go man, to the gate, you have enough caps. New Vegas here you come! What're you gonna do when you first get there? Find a lady? Go Gambling? Go check out the Lucky 38? Get drunk? So many options!"
"Calm down dude… first things first I have to get to the gate. Jeez." I responded, laughing internally at his over excitement.
If I was a normal teenager, I'd be going to say goodbye to my family right now. But my mom and dad.. They left me a few years ago. They were being kicked out of freeside. I can't remember what for. I was only about 12 then. It was 6 years ago. I was allowed to stay or go with them. I wanted to go.. But I couldn't. If you wanted to survive in the wasteland, kids were a no-go almost all the time. I never fully forgave them.. Though the survivor in me understood why they did what they did.
We walked silently towards the gate, the bright lights of New Vegas came into our view.
"I can't believe you finally did it man." Daniel replied, running a hand through his dirt filled blonde hair.
"Me neither." I smiled and saw the gate and the security bots appear in the near distance.
"This is it man." Daniel said, his voice quieting down a bit.
"Hey.. don't get too upset man, once you're in, the bots keep track of you and you never have to pay again. So I can come in and out, I'll bring you a souvenir or something." I grinned at him and arrived at the gate
"STOP. Please submit to a credit check or present your passport." A sharp and firm robotic voice demanded.
"Here you go." I responded, trying to keep my nerves in check. The bot took my caps and quickly scanned them all.
"Congratulations, you have passed the credit check. Proceed when you wish."
"Hey.. I'm gonna head on outta' here. Good luck man, don't forget us losers out here in freeside. Maybe one day I'll save up some caps and meet you out there." Daniel tried to smile, although I could see him fighting back tears. We had been best friends for years, and this was it. I was moving on and he was stuck here.
"Hey.. this ain't the end man. I'll see ya' again." I said and we quickly hugged, probably for the first time in years. Probably since my parents left.
"Don't let me hold you back, Ryan. Good luck, dude!" He grinned at me and started to back away.
"Thanks, I muttered to myself before turning back towards the big intimidating gate.
I started to walk towards it before I turned back to look at Freeside one last time. This was my whole life up to this point. Just the first chapter of a big book.
As I made it to the gate, a robot spoke in the same monotone voice as every other bot in the wasteland.
"Welcome to New Vegas, enjoy your stay."