Chapter III: Raymond Oz
***Tuesday September 16: Early Morning***
The three went straight back to the apartments after the previous day's incidents. They didn't talk about what they had heard. Sam, who lived on another floor to the boys, had told them that they would meet at 8:15 sharp the following morning. It had come to such a time, and Alex and Jackson were enjoying their breakfast and listening to one of the many, many stations on the kitchen radio.
"You're sure we didn't have to remember anything today?" Jackson asked.
"Positive," said Alex, "why?"
"I don't know. I just get the feeling that I'm forgetting something."
"Shame. Well I'm sure it was just homework or something."
"It's our second day at a new school, we don't have homework"
"We do," said Alex, over a rather large spoonful of cereal. "Maths."
"Crap, really?"
The doorbell rang. "It's probably Ray. I'll get it." Said Alex, as he got up to answer the door.
It opened to an angry looking Sam, who was thrusting her watch in Alex's face.
"What time do you call this?!" She asked.
"Err, half past. Why?" Alex replied.
"Because we were supposed to meet her at quarter past!" Jackson suddenly remembered. "That's what I had forgotten."
"Correct Jackson, you're of the hook." Sam smiled at Jackson.
"What? It's his fault too!" Alex protested as he grabbed his school bag.
"Chill out dude, we're going to be late." Jackson smirked.
"… What the hell just happened?" Alex asked himself as he locked the door and followed the others to school.
***Morning***
Biology greeted Sam and Jackson at the start of this day, and he used it as a chance to talk to her about what had happened the day before.
"So what do you think?" He asked.
"About what?" Sam looked confused.
"The forgotten frequency!" said Jackson, "What else?"
"Oh! I don't know." Sam said, "I think it was just some guy trying to be funny with a voice changer."
"Then why did you run?"
"I was scared! Yeah, it was a prank, but it was a cruel prank and it freaked me out." she was raising her tone to above a whisper, but still hissing each word, "so I ran."
"Sshhh, don't draw too much attention." Jackson pretended to do some work. "If you're that sure then you won't mind trying again, right? I remembered the frequency just in case."
"C'mon Jackson, you're not gonna drop this are you? It doesn't exist!"
"Alright. Look, I'll give it one more try. If nothing happens, then we can drop it." He felt like he was pleading.
"I'll think about it."
The rest of the day flowed like any other day. With Alex annoying Sam, Jackson getting lost around school and having to ask Sam to help him out, and the three of them talking about the rumours.
***Evening***
Jackson headed to the stars satellite, so that he could test his memory for directions. He ordered a coffee from a small shop with self proclaimed 'charming coffee' and left for the tram station. On his way, he found Alex talking to a senior from the school. The senior was tall and wore glasses. He had noticeably smart attire.
"Hey Alex, what are you doing?" Jackson asked as he walked over to the two.
"Oh, hey dude, this is Ray, the guy that lives in our apartment." Alex said.
"Hi. I'm Jackson Blake, nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you from Alex." Jackson introduced himself.
"Likewise." Ray smiled. He gave off a calm aura that was welcoming if a little sly, "I'm Raymond Oz. You moved back from Japan, right?"
"Yeah."
"I have some advice, move back. This place ain't all fun and games." He looked serious. "The novelty wears off, and it dawns on you. You can't plug your ears and cover your eyes." He stared at Jackson with eyes like something from another world. They pierced his soul.
Jackson stumbled. "What?"
"Hahaha, just kidding. Man, you looked freaked out!" Ray laughed as a childish smile tore across his face.
"Yeah, hah." Jackson chuckled with deliberate sarcasm. "Hilarious."
"Well, I gotta go. You kids have fun. Glad to finally meet you, Jackson." He said as he disappeared around the corner."
The two headed back to the apartments.
"So that's our other roommate?" Jackson asked.
"It is indeed." Alex replied.
"He's.. err.. interesting."
"He's a nice guy." Alex laughed. "He just has a way of not being as funny as it would seem he would like."
"That's one way to describe it" Jackson chuckled. "Listen, what're you doing tomorrow?"
"Same thing we do everyday, pinky. Eat junk food and play video games. Why?"
"Good, you can come with me and Sam and try to check out that forgotten frequency again." Jackson proposed.
"Greaaaat." Alex seemed less enthusiastic. "I'll make sure to bring a book this time."
"Haha, ok. Bring a weapon too."
"A weapon?" Alex asked.
"Yeah. Something to defend yourself with. Just in case."
"Sure. Sure." Alex laughed under his breath as they boarded a tram back to the apartment.
***Wednesday, September 17: Lunchtime***
Jackson ate his lunch on the roof with Sam and Alex. The sun was just as determined as every other day in Falcon City. Cracking skin and boiling tarmac as it shone down on the three teenagers. But the September breeze brought a welcome sigh of relief each time it drifted by, and the residents of Frequency Central were used to this kind of heat.
"So you're really convinced by this forgotten frequency aren't you?" Sam asked.
"No. Not totally. But it's like you said, Alex, you don't belong in Falcon City if you haven't heard of the forgotten frequency." Said Jackson, "I just want to check it out. If it is just a guy playing a prank, then wouldn't it be cool if we figured out who he was and revealed him to the city?"
"That's true." Alex said. "But then why did you make us come armed? All I could find that wouldn't look suspicious was my drum sticks."
"Good luck fending off monsters with those." Jackson laughed. "Well it can't hurt to be prepared. If there is a guy at the other end of that frequency then he'd be facing some kind of backlash by the press if not the police. He may not come quietly."
"I hadn't thought of it like that." Sam admitted. "I have a baseball bat in my locker."
"I brought this, because I could fold it in to my bag." Jackson said, whilst removing a folded music stand from the bottom of his bag.
The bell rang at that moment, warning all students to get to their respective classes.
"Okay, so we'll meet at the Star's Satellite after school?" Said Jackson.
"Sure, I'll be there" Sam replied.
"Me too." Alex added.