Chapter 5: Friends and Rivals
Within a week, Resurgam First Care now had a prank squad running around the halls.
Not long after Vincent, Lucas had met a boy named Alex Wilson. At first they didn't really see eye to eye but then kicked it off after pulling a prank on Gabe. (Alex said he was glad to get revenge on the guy. He didn't go into details and Lucas wasn't going to the first to ask.)
Another boy he had met was one by the name of Dylan Simmons. He didn't talk much but after seeing Lucas' growing prank squad in action he couldn't help but talk to them about filming their stunts with his camera he had brought with him to the hospital. Which he ended up doing and joining in on the fun. "This is going to be one of the best pranking documentaries ever!" he said one day after a round of pranks had been done.
The last of the pranksters Lucas met was Jackie Davidson. Unlike Alex and Dylan he had no hesitation in joining Lucas' games. He was generally bored stiff around the hospital so he was glad to have something to do.
The group now had four boys and a ghost. Lucas was very proud and happy with his group. He didn't really see them as just followers, he saw them more as friends than anything else. When they weren't pulling pranks they spent time together in the pediatric ward just hanging out. They would talk about their interests, their families, or some weird thing they saw in another part of the hospital. Lucas was happy with it all. Sure he didn't have his memories back yet but he didn't care. He had a new family in a sense with his prank squad. He really felt at home at Resurgam.
"Hey, did you hear about Dr. Keller?" Dylan asked during one of their resting periods, fiddling with his camera grinning broadly.
"Hear what?" Alex asked raising an eyebrow. It was no secret he was head over heels for the daughter of the heart surgeon whom didn't exactly see eye to eye with the blonde.
Lucas snickered, this one he knew about given that it was partially his and Jackie's fault.
"No, do share."
Jackie smirked but said nothing.
"Someone snuck into his office last night, used dissolving glue to glue his hands to his paperwork pile."
The boys were quiet for a moment before bursting out laughing though it was a more nervous laugh than anything else. Simon Keller was known for his temper and was rumored to chase people with a chainsaw.
Alex looked around quickly, hands shoved in his hoodie pockets.
"Alright fess up who did it?"
Jackie and Lucas wore broad grins as they raised their hands. Hector chuckled ruffling the redhead's hair.
"That's our Luc." He said fondly, though no one else heard him. Lucas' grin turned into a more genuine smile feeling some pride in that.
"You guys are suicidal." Dylan chuckled.
"I'll document your last moments on Earth as a found footage film."
"Yeah yeah, bet ya a hot chili you can't do worse." Alex challenged.
"Who, when, where, and how?" He took it instantly. Another thing about Dylan that the other boys, even Hector couldn't understand was his obsession with anything that was hot and spicy. If it was hot and promised pain on the tongue he wanted it and downed it with a gusto.
"And how many Scoville Units we talking here?"
"...Uh…?"
"Pepper head, normal speak."
"As in how hot a pepper?"
"..." Alex looked around before bringing out a bag as the other boys minus Dylan gave a gulp.
"The infamous...the dangerous… So hot it could potentially send ya down to the ER."
"The Carolina Reaper!" Jackie gasped as Dylan practically dove for it.
"GIMME!"
"Ah ah ah...You gotta get Keller good, or I'll eat it."
"Alex...That thing could make you as quoted by someone on YouTube, send ya to the ER and make ya see Heaven...You want that?" Lucas asked as Vincent ducked behind him not wanting to watch.
"Does a bear live in the woods!?" Dylan asked as he started to run off.
"Come on, who else is joining me in poking said bear!?"
The rest of the Prank Squad shrugged their shoulders and followed.
Live by the sword, die by the sword as it were..
Or live by the hottest pepper on Earth, die by Simon Keller.
oooooo
After the fiasco the boys had been thoroughly terrified. The prank had involved many things, and somehow involved them dressing up as zombies… waiting until the lights were out to sneak into the surgeon's office and trying and failing to give him the fright of his life.
Instead it had Simon going down the hall after them.
"AAAAAAAHHHH! WE'RE GONNA DIE!"
"GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE BRATS-!"
"EAT ALEX FIRST! I'M TOO PRETTY TO DIE!"
"GO TO HECK DAVIDSON!"
"MOMMY!"
"TUCK AND ROLL VINCENT!"
They wound up seeking refuge in various rooms, closets, wherever seemed to be an appropriate shelter. Lucas sighed being cramped up against the wall of a Janitor's closet, Jackie and Dylan in it with him.
"Was it worth it?" He had to ask.
They both heard a crunching noise as Dylan ate his prize.
"Dude, really!?"
"So worth it."
… Okay, that was awesome but TERRIFYING!
They wound up staying like that for roughly an hour until the all clear was given.
"I am NEVER piling into a closet with you lot again."
"Worth it." said the others as Alex brought a hand to his face.
The following day, it was a relatively quiet day… for the most part. No one felt up to going on a pranking spree early in the day until it could be confirmed Simon was NOT lurking around the corner somewhere with a chainsaw.
"Ugh… I'm so bored!" Lucas sighed, hanging upside down over the side of his bed.
"You could stretcher surf." Hector suggested.
"... Hmm… Well… We haven't irritated Maria in awhile." A smirk slowly grew on the redhead's face.
"... Let's do it."
Sneaking out of the room, the boy and the ghost made their way to the old ward… Or started to when rounding the corner Lucas bumped into someone.
"AH!"
"Hey!"
Lucas looked up to see a boy around his age with fluffy green hair and caramel brown eyes.
Wait… He looks just like…
"Ah sorry.." The boy said grinning sheepishly. "Guess I wasn't watching where I was going."
Lucas looked him over raising an eyebrow as he seemed to size him up.
"S'alright… Name's Lucas.."
"Joshua!"
Hm… I wonder…
"Say… you like playing pranks?" He asked a mischievous grin on his face.
"Eh… More of a puzzle guy." Joshua replied with a bit of a shrug.
"Pity… Cause you're like missing out on the best thing here.." Lucas faked a sigh as he went to walk around him.
"Wait… what kind of pranks?"
"... Ever ride a stretcher like a surfboard?"
"... Who would do something stupid like that?"
Lucas' ego died a little when he heard that.
"It is NOT stupid! I'll prove it!"
Joshua didn't seem to impressed when they did obtain a pair of stretchers and positioned them.
"This seems like a bad idea… I mean what if we get caught?" He asked keeping crouched on his stretcher not trusting his balance at the moment.
Lucas scoffed standing fully on his. "That's like asking what if the lights go out. Relax, not like we're gonna get caught…"
Oh we're gonna get caught, but that's the fun of it!
"Alright… HERE WE GO!"
They shoved off as the stretchers took off down the hall. "Whoa!" Joshua held on trying to keep from flying right off.
Lucas laughed cheering a little. "THIS IS AWESOME!"
"YOU'RE INSANE!" Joshua yelled.
"That's what they all say!" Lucas glanced away from looking ahead to smirk at the younger boy.
"Lucas!" Hector grabbed his shoulder. "WALL!"
"Wall-!?"
CRASH!
The boys got flung right off the stretchers due to their weight shifting, landing on the floor. "Ow!"
"Oof!" They were quiet for a sec catching their breath.
"That… was awesome!" Lucas laughed after a moment.
"That… was crazy!" Joshua exclaimed sitting up.
"We're lucky no one caught us."
"Would've just been par for the course kid." The redhead replied with a smirk as he got to his feet dusting off his clothes. "Now you've just been to the Lucas School of Hard Knocks."
"Hard head is more like it."
They locked eyes as a silent challenge was spoken.
A challenge of:
Bet you can't out do me.
Joshua smirked, giving a cocky look at Lucas.
Oh he's giving me THAT look...Well I'll show him.
"What's the wager?" Lucas asked.
"The daily special in the cafeteria… Bet you three jello cups you can't stomach it and keep a straight face."
"You're on, Shrimp."
That day… a rivalry was born between Joshua Cunningham and Lucas Jameson.
A rivalry Lucas was sure to last as long as he knew the kid. At that same time though… Something else was about to begin.