Busy, is the word I would describe Jump City. It's 6 in the morning and yet already, a million different senses can already be perceived by the human person, all coming from the road below the little terrace I was standing at. Back at our suburbs, Gar and I always woke up at around 10 AM, 11 if we're stretching it. Indeed, it's like we moved to a different planet, the differences are just so visible and obvious. But that was not what, rather who, I was most surprised about at this point in time.

It was Richard.

This guy is amazing. I awoke to the sound of sizzling, and immediately checked to see who it was. What greeted me was an act that could rival that of professional circus actors and illusionists. Egg are astoundingly being cracked mid-air, with the inside landing ever so smoothly and perfectly in the frying pan, and the shells disregarded to the bin in artistic fashion. Pancakes being flipped 5 at a time, juggled like they were some sort of multi colored balls. Oranges, which I have concluded to be one of the fruits hardest to squeeze juice out of, are being pruned out so easily by this guy's limbs! Indeed, what an amazing sight it was to behold.

"Victor, I see you're awake. I have news-edjdrgrbshhsggrgrgrjshgrg." I couldn't even comprehend what he was saying, I was just engrossed by the fact that he could speak in a calm and civilized manner amidst all the showmanship on display in front of me.

"Victor. Are you listening?" He repeated, curious as to why I haven't replied.

"Wha- yeah I am... maybe... later..."

"Victor." He snapped, stopping his mini circus in the kitchen.

"What?! Awww, come on man, no grand finale?" I asked, disappointed. He realized this and a hint of pink drew on his cheeks.

"You... were watching me cook?"

"Hells to the yeah, man! You should go join Iron Chef or something,dude! That was some next level cooking! How did you learn to do that? Teach me, please!"

"Wha.. oh, uh, my family and I were a member of a circus when I was still a child. Life was hard for a traveling troupe and so I was tasked to cook our own meals. No fancy maids and all that. The one you saw earlier was a product of years of cooking food for 50 circus members, with different appetites and allergies,all in under 30 minutes." He elaborated, his story made the juggling and stuff much more sense.

"Wow, a circus act... and here I thought Garfield and I had the most interesting of childhoods." I replied, scratching my head. He had a confused look, making me want to enlighten him.

"Well, I was-" I began, only to be hindered by his palm, and after a short time check, I watched Richard turn from collected badass, to panicking mother.

"Oh shit! I'm late! Bruce is gonna kill me!" He said, hopping and running from the living room to the bedroom, his clothes changing one article at a time. After about a few seconds of that, he turned to the kitchen and immediately horked down three of his juggled pancakes and a slice of his ninja sliced omelette, all swallowed with a glass of orange juice.

"Victor, I'm going now. There's food in there, uh, well you know that already. Also, don't go and hunt for your things yourselves. I'll do that for you. It's my job after all." He said in succession, hastily heading towards the door.

"Okay, listen, Gar and I thank your kindness, but I think we'll find our bags on our own. We'll leave as soon as we finish breakfast." I said, not trying to abuse this guy's kindness.

"Uh, no, dude. You two are newcomers to the city. Do you two want to get lost again? I do not want on my conscience. Now I'm leaving, and when I get back, you better be here, and hopefully, if we find your belongings today, we'll talk about finding you guys an apartment." He said, before bidding adieu. Gee, there was really no arguing this guy.

It was at about 7:30 when Garfield woke up, complaining about the various car horns that blared outside. I headed in, and told him about Richard's shenanigans in the kitchen, as well as the strict orders he gave us. He was not in shock, though. It would seem the aura of badassery just oozes out of that guy. What Gar wanted to talk about though, was Richard pressing on that we stay here.

"I know where he's coming from. I mean, if I were a cop and couldn't fend off small thugs like that off my city, I'd get pissed too." Gar remarked, heading to the kitchen to check on breakfast. Swiftly, I followed him. I agreed, and decided to not speak of the topic again. I figured, we'd just get breakfast over and find stuff to do around his meek little apartment. As we got plates and utensils to eat off of, and as we got on two stools and begun getting our own desired servings of pancakes, eggs, and some good ole OJ, I felt uneasy. It was quiet! Somebody ought to lighten this place up! Then, at the corner of my brain, a thought occurred. This could be the perfect time to prank the grass stain.

"Hey, Gar, how you like that little glass of OJ you're drinking?" I asked, teasingly of course. It was a good thing that the grass stain just awoke, or he wouldn't have drunk at least half the OJ up before answering me.

"Gulp-wha...? It's pretty good, I guess. I mean it's not really that great-" he replied half heartedly, not before he realized the tone of my voice. I can see the transition, from barely awake Garfield, to Admiral Ackbar Garfield. Oh, it was so so good.

"What do you mean, Vic? You better not be playing me, dude-"

"No,no,no, I wasn't! Richard however, may have." I replied, the cliffhanger making him convulse, wanting to puke all the Orange Juice he drank. I waited for a little while, and just stared at him, grinning widely of course. He just stared at me, feeling queasy and sick.

"Dude, tell me! What did Richard do?!" He screamed, no, he begged for it. I think he suffered long enough, and so I obliged.

"Richard totally used his foot to squeeze the OJ out."

His reaction was priceless, his face turned purple, borderline violet. I could see he was in pain, but he was in a fun kind of pain. He got up, hurried for the sink but then, for some reason, thought otherwise and looked for a bathroom instead. I think it might be too bad for the sink to handle. However I knew where the bathroom was, and reached it before he could ever find it. Once he did, however, I was already inside it and locked him out there to deal with his problem.

"NOT COOL, DUDE!" He shouted, albeit weakly. "LET ME IN, DUDE! I DONT LIKE TO PUKE IN THE SINK!" He pleaded, but I was not gonna let him in so easy. I was about to make him do unthinkable stuff when suddenly, an audible knock was heard. It was like the universe lined a perfect prank up for me.

This. Was. Gonna. Be. Good.

"I'll let you in, if you answer the door for me first." I said, again in a teasing manner. I didnt think he was gonna oblige, and so I left him outside for awhile. It was awfully quiet, so I thought he headed for the sink, but then I heard something. Something very bad. The sound of door creaking.

"Good morning, new neighbor! Most joyful of the mornings to y-AAAAAH!"

I immediately unlocked the bathroom door, and bolted to the entrance. What greeted me, was the most horrific of sights.

"Good morning to you too, neighborrrr..." Garfield declared softly, before collapsing at the front door. The deed has been done, his face shows it. I looked over to the outside, and I saw a girl, sitting, shocked at the events that just occurred to her. Poor girl, all she wanted was to greet us a good morning. She was still fazed, and probably pissed at us, more Garfield than me, and so I wanted to make up for it.

"Uh, are you okay... miss?" I asked, hoping to get a reaction out of her. Not garnering one, I asked again. It was at this time that she got up turned to me, and smiled.

"I'm alright, thank you for asking! Is it not quite weird, the greeting rituals of this country, yes?" She asked, curious. "Last night, at the airport, some guys just whistled at me and called me baby... Truly America boasts one of the most diverse cultures ever!"

"Uh... that is... because well... well bec... Uh, whaaaat?!" I stuttered. To describe today as unusual, is an understatement. It took me awhile to get my thoughts back together, and believe me, it was awhile. Even then, this OJ drenched girl did not even leave her sight at me. I just stood there, fazed and shocked on how a simple arrangement of words got me into a state like this. Finally, after a few more minutes of reality assurance, I got back in check and began to talk back.

"I'm sorry about what my friend did, he was just very sick and I pulled a prank on him by locking the bathroom door. It was not his intention to puke on you, and it was all my fault, I'm sorry." I began, feeling guilty about what I did.

"So, unleashing one's breakfast on another person is not a greeting of some kind?" She double checked, and asked again.

"No, I'm afraid it isn't." I replied, now she was really gonna be furious.

"Hmmm... then in that case, I am going to have be the grumpy to you. But, you can do something to make me forgive you!" She declared, crossing her arms but still keeping that wide grin of hers.

"Wha... what is it?" I asked with a growing concern on my head.

"You'll see!" She said, finishing that statement off with a light chuckle. Now I'm really nervous.

"Just a little more!"

"Okay, for the last time, stop saying just a little more, when you mean 15 more flights of stairs!"

"You agreed to do this for me, right? Then you're going to have to carry this box up my room!"

"Ugggh, I know, and I can do a better job with if you will stop screaming!"

"Just a little more!"

"AAAAGH!"

After a few "just a little mores," we have reached the front door of her apartment, I watched her fiddle through three keys, and then as the right key was inserted, door knob turned and swung open, I got inside this unknown girl's room, which looked empty, aside from a single bed in the wide open bedroom and suitcase lying on the living room floor. I put the box down, which seemed to be containing glass containers of some kind.

"If you don't mind, may I ask as to what the box contains?"

"Oh, yes! It is my favorite food here in America! I don't really like the going to the mall to buy it in singles. That is why I bought it, as the salesperson said, in the bulk?"

"So, what is it?" Somehow I was expecting a weird answer, judging from the earlier incident. Indeed, it was true. It was very weird, way weirder than I could've imagined.

"You... you.. like mustard? And you... you... bought it, MUSTARD, in bulk??"

"Yes, is there a problem?"

"Well, no! Not at all... it's just, you know, unusual."

"Why? Have you not tasted the glorious mustard?"

"No, I have. It's just, so uh... refreshing (nice going, Vic) to see someone who makes a condiment a favorite food, that's all. Anyways, I better be going, miss-?"

"Kori. Kori Anders. That is my name." She answered, handing her hand out for me to shake it. I obliged, and gave her my name.

"Hello, Kori. I'm Victor Stone. But you can call me Vic." I said, acting all friendly around this girl. Even if she was drenched in Gar's puke and liked mustard, I must admit she was a very pretty and likeable girl, with long red hair and a body with recognizable curves. Not that I was ogling. Or anything like that.

"Well I best be going, Ms. Anders. It has been a pleasure getting to know you."

"Kori, please. It has been my pleasure as well, Vic." She said, keeping that smile on her face. I headed for the door, and as I heard it close, I felt relieved. Had it been another situation they would've been out of the apartment now. But thankfully this girl was different. She was very different, but in the best way. I walked back to the apartment, and saw that Garfield was already gone from the front door, and that it had been closed. Shit, i thought to myself, he must be awake. Better get ready for the most annoying day of your life, Vic. With one final gulp, I turned the door knob open, and looked for my friend.

"Hey Gar, I'm sorry about locking you out of the bathroom, but don't worry I've already sort our problem out, and everything has been forgotten." I said, looking around the place. He was nowhere to be found. "Gar? Dude, come on. Come out and talk to me man, I said I was sorry." I repeated, this time I was serious. And worried. Where could he be?

"Gar? Grass Stain? Don't be playin with me man, I know when you are." As I said this, I heard a faint knock on the door. Instinctively, I headed for it, and opened the door.

"Hey Gar, I'm sorry for pranking you man, I wouldn't do it-"

"Is this where you live, mongrel?" An unfamiliar face greeted me, holding the person I was looking for by the collar. Gar gave a nod and with that confirmation, the unknown lady threw him by the neck towards me, knocking both of us down by the process.

"Hey! That hurt! I said I was sorry!" My friend protested, clenching his head in pain.

"I know that is why I'm going to give you one last chance, enter my house again while I'm changing clothes and I will behead you." She snapped, her tone indicating she was serious. After speaking her mind to the both of us, a door slam came, and I looked intently at Gar, who was still dazed by our collision.

"Who was that? And what made her do that to you?" I asked, confused.

"This was your fault, you left me collapsed outside the apartment door! When I recovered, I started walking, unknown of my current placement in the apartment. So, when I saw a door, I thought it was ours so I opened it, little did I know it was not the case." He answered, his tone becoming lower as he spoke. He got up after speaking, and I got up as well.

"Sorry bout that." I apologized, I knew I had to, and so I did.

"Nah, its fine, its only been three hours since I got up, and already it has been stressful."

"Yeah..." I begrudgingly replied, only then realizing that we both haven't finished breakfast. I looked at the table, and even if I knew that the food has gone cold, hunger still got the better of me and so my stomach growled.

"You still hungry?" Gar asked, taking notice of the situation.

"Yeah, dude. Wanna have brunch?" I invited, rather jokingly.

"Only if the OJ is off the table. I can't have another barf at the neighbors. Speaking of neighbors, you don't happen to know what became of that friendly girl I unleashed my juice to?"

"Only if you tell me more about your incident with the short one."

"You got it."