"And that pretty much ends our tour."
John and Jimmy, once again, were sitting on the table in the check-in room. They had spent the last hour touring the building, learning about computers and avoiding Joshua at all cost.
"So now what?" Jimmy asked brushing his hair out of his eyes.
"I collect my money and we go home." John said.
"Why do you need extra cash anyway?" Jimmy asked, examining his hands.
"None of your business."
"Calm the fuck down! It was just a question." Jimmy said as he put his hands up to surrender.
John laughed getting up and motioning Jimmy to follow him.
"Let's get out of here."
The two walked down the hallway and into the bright lobby. Tons of people were leaving for the day but as they left, new people came to take their place. John and Jimmy squeezed through the crowd until they reached the door which they pushed open.
The air was cold but the sun was still shining. John walked to the curb with Jimmy right behind him.
"Where's your car?" John asked.
"Right there across the street." Jimmy pointed to a black beat up toyota parked under a tree on the other side of the street.
"Me too." John stated gesturing to a small red car several cars away from Jimmy's. Silence filled the air.
"Awkward." Jimmy sang.
John rolled his eyes. "Might as well walk together to the cross walk."
John began to walk down the street but stopped as he heard an outburst of laughter from behind him. He turned to see Jimmy laughing so hard, water was forming around his eyes.
"What?" John asked.
Jimmy tried to take a deep breath but broke out into laughter once again.
John didn't know why, but the fact that Jimmy was laughing at him made him feel embarrassed. He had never really cared if people laughed at him, even in high school. He had just ignored everyone who found him laughable. But Jimmy's laughter tore right through his skin. He could feel a sort of stinging in his eyes.
"The crosswalk? Really? Our cars are right across the street! The crosswalk is all the way down the street!" Jimmy had finally gained control and was smiling with amusement.
"And why is that so funny?" John demanded.
"Just a thought that came across my mind that was funny." Jimmy said.
"Which was..." John continued.
"You've ever been high?"
"What the fuck? Where did that come from?" John asked.
"Just answer my question."
John thought about it then sighed giving in. "Yes I have."
"Did you drink alcohol before you were of age?"
"Yes."
Jimmy smiled. "Have you ever J-walked?"
Johnny faked a little laugh. "J-walked? Pshhh! Oh course!" but with one look at Jimmy's face, John's smile disappeared.
"Fine! Dammit! I've never J-walked!"
John turned from Jimmy and braced himself for the laughter but it never came.
"Well there's always a time to try new things." Jimmy said smiling. John followed him onto the curb. They looked both ways and then, without any warning, Jimmy pushed him into the open street. John began to panic, his breathing gaining speed until he thought it would explode. But he continued walking. It wasn't until he reach the curb on the other side that his heart began to relax. John looked back across the street. For being a main road, it was small but it might as well been the Great Wall of China for John.
"Hey, you alright?" Jimmy asked as he noticed John's face turn white.
"Yeah." John took a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Jimmy sensed he might have pushed too hard but didn't say anything.
"It's just..." John took a deep breath. "My sister used to walk across the street from the apartment complex to school. Then one day, she took a shortcut which involved J-walking and a car took her out. It happen when I was 14 but I never J-walked for that reason."
"I didn't know." Jimmy said.
"I know you didn't."
Silence fell between the two of them. Jimmy shifted his weight, not knowing whether to leave or stay.
"But." John said, breaking the silence. "It was pretty bad ass! I felt like Jesus!"
Jimmy laughed lightly as the terrible simile but only enough so that he would not hurt the already emotionally weak John. John laughed a little too and looked down at his watch.
"I better go. I've gotta go pick up my pay check from the bank before it closes."
Jimmy nodded. "I'd better get going too."
They parted, walking opposite ways towards their cars. Jimmy grabbed the handle of his car door but stopped to turn and yell, "Hey!"
John looked up from his car door. "Yeah."
"Thanks for the help, Jesus."
John smiled and nodded as if to say it was no problem. They both got into their cars and drove their own ways.
John headed downtown to stop at the nearest 7-11 to buy a beer before heading home.
'Jesus.' John thought still chuckling at the name Jimmy had called him. As the cashier returned his change, John stopped as an idea popped into his head.
'Im the son of rage and love. The Jesus of Suburbia.'
I know. It was a bit short and might have been out of place and stupid. Im sufffering from a bit of writers block. Please comment and suggest some things if you have an idea on how this should end, cause I dont.