Chapter 2, Bad Company

Chicago Heights, Illinois

Sadly, Christopher's old Mazda is in much better condition than the Buick, which has spent the last month stalled in the driveway, as it's coolant system has given out and it can no longer handle anything over sixty degree heat. A fact that Christopher has no trouble bringing up. Repeatedly. They make good time in the Mazda though and they're cruising through the outskirts of the city, rolling past the 'Now leaving town, please visit us again' sign stuck in the dust at the side of the road, before David bothers to ask:

"We're not getting the others?"

"Other what?" Christopher responds, not looking away from the road. If David wants to question his choice of companion, let him. But Christopher certainly won't make it easy.

"Jalil? April?" David presses.

"Oh, those others," Christopher drags, as if just realizing who he is talking about. "Nah."

"Why not?"

Christopher glances over at this question and grins.

"'Cause I only wanted to torture you."

"Right," David accepts. Though he knows Christopher well enough to not take this answer at face value. "I thought this was a group thing. The four of us." Christopher remains quiet for a moment. Runs a hand through his wind blown hair and holds on at the ends for just an extra second so he can feel the tug on his scalp.

"You ever wonder when that happened?" he asks. "When the four of us became a group?" David shrugs. It wasn't something he devoted a lot, or any, thought to.

"No."

"You think that would have happened anyway?" Christopher asks. It isn't a question that requires a whole lot of thought either, even from Christopher. The four of them were at opposite ends of the spectrum and still are. Popular drama girl, smart guy, class clown, and the loner. David doesn't hesitate to respond.

"No. No way. What's it even matter?"

Christopher shrugs and shifts his grip on the wheel, right hand for left and sticks his arm out the window to catch the wind in his fingers.

"It doesn't."

David sinks into the worn fabric of the passenger seat and crosses his arms, realizing that he had no idea what a psycho Christopher could be. He used to attribute it to the alcohol, but here the guy is, stone cold sober, and spouting off nonsensical crap. If he survives this trip and anyone asks him, David decides he will tell them he was forced into coming along against his will. And while saying that Christopher was able to subdue and kidnap him would be bad, admitting that he went willingly would be even worse.

"What's this about?" he presses Christopher, who remains quiet for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought, trying to put into words an answer he can't even clarify in his mind.

"They wouldn't get it," Christopher finally says over the drone of the engine. David stares at him for a moment, trying to catch up with the random subject changes and figure out what the guy is talking about. "April and Jalil," Christopher explains, noticing David's confusion. "April," he pauses. "She likes this life too much, she's happy." He waits for David to nod and is somewhat surprised by the calm understanding on the other boy's face. "And Jalil," Christopher continues, taking a deep breath of highway air and grinning like he knows the punch line to the joke. "He's just too damn smart."

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A/N: For the record, this is not and will not be slash. It just i'nt. This chapter was kind of short, but important in the big scheme of things. Jalil is just too damn smart isn't he? Reading over that again, I suddenly feel like writing some really bad 'Jalil is so smart' jokes. Like the 'Yo Momma' jokes. Yo Momma's so fat when it says all you can eat, it still ain't enough! Well, Jalil's so smart, he ai'nt even in this fic! ...groan... Yea, that was bad. -hi