2
A city street, New York Area of the former N. America sector, AC196, (4:00PM)
Pursuing a newspaper, a boy in a fedora and flip flops lounged at a table outside a café. He distractedly played with the bandana tied around his neck. He didn't notice the boy who had come to a halt in front of him, the second boy tipped his newsboys had and asked, "How's the headline?"
The seated boy replied without looking up from the paper, "They should let me write them, I don't think they even try anymore."
"Hey!" the second boy pushed the newspaper down, "I'm good- thanks for asking!"
Dumping the paper, the first boy jumped to his feet, "Aye! If it isn't the ace of spades!"
"Come here you sonuvabitch!"
The two boys bear hugged.
The first boy grinned, "How the hell are you?"
The second smirked, "Not so bad that I'd complain out loud."
"Ha, fair enough. Ready for school?"
"As ready as I'll ever be, I heard the fall play is Grease."
The fist boy groaned, "It's not true!"
"Would I lie to you?"
"Last summer you told me it was Annie!"
"I was joshing! Can I be held responsible for you're being an idiot?"
"Yeah yeah yeah"
"Hey we're having our traditional back to school shindig, right?"
"No worries man, of course."
"How sick is our situation?"
"I'm so stoked, we are gonna raise so much hell!"
"We gotta find some fresh meat this year, posse's getting a lil incestuous is all I'm saying."
"Good call, especially with us all living in the same house.
"Just so we're clear: no house-cest, agreed?"
"House-cest?"
"No fucking people who live in the house, too much drama and shit."
"Right! Yeah, I don't need that."
"Jackie-boy, I hate to bail but I gotta catch my train."
"Nah, don't worry about it."
"See you the day after tomorrow for sure."
"You better, or you'll miss registration."
The second boy called, "oh hippie school, here we go again!" and Jack responded with a whoop that earned him several annoyed glares. Jacked opened the paper again with a crack and resumed his reading.