author's note: I think I have to give some credit to jmkw for the next chapters. I was thinking of a totally different story before, but this one might actually be better.


Next day. School's over.

Nothing unusual at school.

My print set's packed in a box in my back. I've decided to carry it around. It's not heavy and it might come in handy. Who knows. Especially since there's still one week of the Waiting left.

The locket is stored away safe in my jewellery box. Yes, I have a jewellery box. It's wooden and painted a pastel green. It's got different colored glass gems all over it. Inside it's got lots of little boxes, all laid out with dark blue velvet like cloth. I store there necklaces, rings, hairclips, hair bands and the like. Now there's a special little box for the locket.

Wanna go to the Seven?

Sure.

The Seven is the place to hang out. It's not far from school. A café. Sort of. You can get drinks and snacks there. There's place to sit, some tables, some video games, … And the owner sponsors our little league team. He lets us practice in the back yard. Well, the place where things are delivered and such. It's not big but it's a start. For when we can't practice at school because others are.

The Seven's the place where big things are decided. Even high school kids like hanging out there.

·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-

The only strange thing about the Seven is the Seven Guy. Nobody knows his name. He's never talking to anyone. He just sits at his table in the corner and drinks sodas. Every single day. So he's just called the Seven Guy. He's got long grey brown hair and a beard. And worn out clothes. Like he's homeless or something. But I don't think he is. He doesn't stink. And his clothes are not really dirty. Plus, he seems to have enough money to pay all those sodas.

He's throwing his empty cans into trash without getting up. He's good. Maybe he used to be a pitcher.

I've got an idea. I'm gonna try out my print set on him. He's got gloves on. But is fingertips are sticking out. It should be possible.

Andy? Where you goin'?

I fish out the last can with a pencil and bring it back to where we are.

What's that supposed to be?

The Seven Guy's watching.

Practice.

I take out the print set and dust the can. Like I've seen Nigel do several times. There are some nice prints.

Andy! He's watching!

I know.

So Sheila noticed. I think he's harmless. If he'd something to hide and knew what I was doing he'd tried to stop me. Or he'd wear real glove and not produce so many nice prints for anyone to find.

I lift the prints with the tape. And label them. 'Seven Guy'. Nice pink prints. Maybe I'll run them through the database one day. I know how that works. Nigel showed me. Well, I made him show me.

Maybe I'll start my own print library.

·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-

Next day, after school. We're on our way to the Seven again.

What's that?

There's a squad car in front of the Seven.

What's the police doing there?

Some CSI get out of the shop and drive of.

Something's happened. Let's take a look.

I don't know …

Oh, come on Sheila.

Is that Matty sitting in the squad car? Uh, yeah, I told him to wait here after school and we'd go to the precinct later.

Andy! Fred's gonna take us to dad later!

Fred was one of the uniforms at the precinct. And just now, he's coming out of the Seven.

Hey, Andy. Get into the car, I'll take you with me.

What about Sheila?

She your friend?

Yup.

Wanna ride in a squat, Sheila?

We all get in.

What happened here, Fred?