Chemical Warfare and Enslavement as Conversational Topics
#29 Stride
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"Wait up, Shaq. What's the rush?" Marco said, trying to keep from panting too audibly.
Jake stopped and leaned against a chain-link fence to wait. "X-Files starts in half an hour, and if we don't get there soon Mom will claim the TV and watch cooking shows."
"Yeah, well, just don't forget that we don't all get to be seven feet tall. And I'm carrying about twenty pounds of gym clothes in my bag." He tossed his backpack at Jake, who caught it with a grimace. "Unless you want to take it off my hands."
"Are you sure the fumes won't kill me? I mean, I know you've got a built-in immunity…"
Marco laughed. "Big words from the guy whose gym locker has been known to cause mass hysteria. Remember your tupperware of oatmeal last year? Because I'm sure the janitor does."
"I still don't think Chapman should've given me a detention over that," Jake said, and then with an approving grin from Marco, joked, "only an alien would be that harsh." It felt good to laugh about it. It felt good knowing that they still could.
"Serves you right for bringing oatmeal to school," Marco chided. "Oatmeal as biological warfare, patented by you first. Well, let's not leave Agent Scully waiting."
Jake held the backpack out. "Aren't you going to take this?"
"Nope," he said with a smirk. With a sigh Jake slung it over his shoulder, and destined to lead and destined to follow, they headed to Jake's house.