~Flashback~

Dave and Specs were at their lockers, gathering the books they would need that night for homework, and getting ready to go home for the day, when Itey walked up behind them.

"Mush, call me later." He called over his shoulder before addressing the boys in front of him.

"Hey guys, are you ready for tomorrow?" He asked, grinning like a maniac.

Dave looked at Specs and Specs shrugged.

"What..." Dave started. But before he could ask, their attention was drawn to two figures racing down the hall.

"SNITCH!" Kid Blink yelled, running top speed after the brunette. "Give me my backpack back before I kill you!"

"You'll have to catch me first." Snitch called back, weaving through the crowds of students who were roaming the hallways and eventually disappearing around the corner.

"When I do catch you, your gonna regret it!" Blink yelled as he picked up speed, and crashed strait into Jack as he was coming around the corner, effectively knocking him off of his feet. "Sorry Jack!" He called over his shoulder as he regained his balance and continued his pursuit of the errant thief.

Jack got up off of the floor, and dusted himself off before heading over to where the three boys were still congregated.

"As I was saying," Dave said as Jack joined them, "What is tomorrow?" Itey and Jack looked at him, shocked.

"You mean you don't remember!?" Jack asked, sounding amazed that anyone could forget such a thing.

"Remember what?" Specs asked. Itey turned his attention to him.

"You mean you don't remember either?" He asked sounding dismayed.

"Remember what?!" Both boys said, getting fed up with this merry-go-round of a conversation.

"The Oath." Jack said reverently.

"What oath?" Specs asked, now more confused than ever.

"God, you two really don't remember do you? Tomorrow is the day we fulfill the Skip Day Oath." Itey said, as Jack nodded his head in agreement.

Sudden realization dawned on Dave's face.

"Jack, that was five years ago!"

"No shit," Jack said, "That's why it's tomorrow."

"We were only kids when we took that oath." Specs said.

"Which is why it has such a lame name." Itey put in.

"Do you honestly expect us to go through with this?" Dave asked

"Of course!" Itey exclaimed.

"Dave, we took a blood oath, we can't break that sacred promise can we?" Jack asked.

"Ketchup." Dave stated.

"Huh?"

"We took a ketchup oath because we were all to afraid to draw blood." Dave said.

"Not all of us were scared." Jack pointed out, "And anyway, it doesn't matter that it wasn't real blood, it still means the same thing. It was symbolic man!"

"Jack, I have a math test tomorrow." Dave protested.

"All the more reason!" Jack said, growing more excited.

"I don't know." Dave hesitated.

"Dave, do you really want to be the only guy who didn't do it?" Jack asked. Dave looked pleadingly at Specs for support.

Specs just shrugged.

"What the Hell," He said nonchalantly, "I'm in."

Dave sighed.

"All right fine, but if we get caught I swear to God...."

"We won't get caught." Itey promised, cutting off whatever idle threat Dave was about to insert.

"So what's the plan?" Specs queried.

"We're all going to leave our houses like we're going to school, then we can cut back and go to Skittery's house. His Mom's working, but we have to make sure not to get there before eight o'clock so his little sister doesn't see any of us when she heads for the middle school." Itey answered.

"Okay, I'll be there." Dave said as he walked down the hall.

"Me too." Specs added as he headed in the other direction.

Jack and Itey gave each other high fives. Now everyone was coming, and tomorrow was going to be a blast.

Specs pushed the front doors open and stepped out of the school and into the bright spring sunlight. He slowly began the long walk home, wishing for the millionth time that he had enough money for a car.

About a block away from the school, a car he recognized pulled up next to him. Spot rolled down the window.

"Hey Specs, want a lift?" He offered.

"Sure." Specs said gratefully, tossing his backpack into the back seat and climbing in after it, carefully avoiding the empty soda bottles and fast food wrappers occupying the small space. "What's up Race?" He greeted the boy who was currently occupying most of the front seat with himself, his bag, and his skateboard.

"Nothing much." Race replied offhandedly as he frantically punched the buttons on his gameboy.

"So, are you guys coming tomorrow?" Specs asked as they sped down the road at a speed which was most likely illegal.

"Of course!" Race exclaimed, obviously beating whatever level he was on, because he took the time to look up as he said it.

"I can't believe the only people who forgot were me and Dave." He groused.

"I didn't have a chance to forget," Spot said, looking pointedly at Race. "It's the only thing he's been talking about for a week now."

"It's not everyday you get to skip school!" Race defended himself.

"Race, you skip school like once a month." Spot pointed out.

"Well, it's not everyday you get to skip school with a purpose." Race amended, sticking his tongue out, before going back to his video game.

Spot brought the car to a halt with a satisfying screech in front of Specs' house moments later.

"Jesus! Give a guy some warning before you do that." Race cried as he caught himself on the dashboard.

"What do you think seatbelts are for dumb ass." Spot stated casually as Race glared at him.

"I don't see you wearing one." Race grumbled.

"That's because I know when I'm gonna stop." Spot shot back.

"See you guys tomorrow." Specs said, getting out of the car, and completely ignoring their bickering.

"Yeah see ya Specs." Spot said distractedly as he drove off still arguing.

Specs rolled his eyes, walked into the house, and threw his bookbag into the corner.

"At least I don't have to do my homework." He said to himself as he walked into the living room and grabbed the portable phone.

He quickly went upstairs, avoiding his father in the kitchen, and when he came to his room at the end of the hall, he locked the door behind him, kicked his shoes off, settled down on his bed, and dialed the number from memory. It rang six times before anyone picked up.

"Hello?" Came the high pitched voice on the other end of the line.

"Bobby, is Dutchy there?" Specs asked.

"Just a sec." He heard Bobby slam the phone down on the table, then he cringed and held the phone away from his ear as the kid yelled, "DUTCHY! One of your idiot friends is on the phone!" A moment later there was the distinct sound of someone getting smacked upside the head.

"Hello." Dutchy said picking up the receiver.

"Hey Dutch, it's me." Specs said.

"Hi Specs, sorry I missed you after school, but I had to come straight home to babysit." Dutchy said with distaste.

"Good luck."

Dutchy laughed.

"Thanks, I need it. I swear to God the kid needs Ridlin or something. He never stops moving."

"Maybe an elephant tranquilizer would be more effective." Specs joked.

"You think they sell those around here?" Dutchy asked seriously.

"You might be able to find one on Ebay." Specs said helpfully. Both boys started laughing.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your call?" Dutchy asked once his giggles had died down.

"I wanted to make sure you were gonna be at Skittery's tomorrow."

"Sure I am! I wouldn't miss it for all the penguins in Antarctica." Dutchy proclaimed. "Your coming right?" He asked.

"Yup." Specs agreed.

"Great, that's everyone!" Dutchy said excitedly.

"I can't believe that everyone is willing to do this after five years." Specs said.

"What can I say, we're honorable." Dutchy replied. "Oh Man! Specs I gotta go, I think my brother found the power drill." He said quickly, hanging up before Specs even had a chance to say goodbye.

Specs laid back on his bed, and stared up at the ceiling. He was starting to get excited about tomorrow too. It would be the first time in five years that all eleven of them had spent more than an hour together all at once. His mind began to drift, back to the day they had taken the Oath, five long years ago.

A/N[2]: Well, what do you think? It starts off a little slow, but it gets better I promise. Please review! Reviews make me happy. : ) I'll get the next chapter up soon, I hope. : )

~Ink