Chapter 34

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Over the next three weeks Eve cut school eight times. She showed up late, left early. Sometimes Eve left school for one class to smokeor hang out, then go back for the next class. Noone seemed to care, not even teachers or the principal. The teachers just checked off everyone's names without taking attendance. For tests teachers now let the students open their textooks and cheat. They saw little point in teaching the next generation things they would never be able to use. As long as they had records of students showing up and taking tests, they got paid. Eve went to the movies or the arcade when cutting. Sometimes she would shoplift at the mall to try and get a cheap thrill. One time she asked to go tothe ladiesroom, and then just left. She caught a bus to Philadelphia and snuck into Veteran's stadium to see the Phillies play. Perhaps she was acting out to get some attention from her father. It didn't seem to work. Zackhad given her a credit card, but it was often easier to just sneak into places or shoplift. There was a certain thrill in this, but it didn't last long. There was little chance of being arrested by the police for this stuff. The police had limited manpower to deal with crime. Cops sometimes slacked off, took bribes. They had lost the sense of hope they once had towards protecting society. Those who remained loyal had to devote themselves to moreserious crimes. On Friday June 3rd Eve was walking to school. 1143 days until impact. Eve saw some kids spray-painting grafitti on the schoolwall. She asked to borrow a can and join them. Eve had heard an expression lately, that the whole world was now "Slouching towards Bethlehem." Thus Eve spray-painted "Slouching towards Bethlehem" on the wall. It seemed appropriate enough for Armageddon High. Principal Harris parked in the lot and saw these kids vandalizing his school. Harris didn't get angry, didn't even write them up. He just said "Hi" to them and walked away. Even the principal didn't care about vandalism, maybe he even considered it a way to let off some steam. After school Eve went to the mall, shoplifted some lipstick, snuck into the movie theatre. If anyone noticed they didn't seem to care. Eve saw a couple of security guards near the fountain half-working. They would probably breakup a fight if one broke out. But if the store clerks didn't care if she shoplifted, why should the guards. Eve wanted to grab some coins from here, but there were none. Teens had likely looted that area a while ago, and people couldn't afford to waste good coins. Eve went to the clothing store. There was actually a new line of clothes for funerals. People had death on their minds lately. Ironically in a few years people might not even have the resources or time to properly bury their kin. Eve ran into Jack in this store. Four months ago Jack had planned to go to college on a baseball scholarship, play for the U.S. 2036 Olympic team,eventually play for the Phillies. Eve wondered if he really could've made it. Or if ten years from now he would e working at a gas station,talking about his glory days to anyone who would listen.

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Jack: Planning to buy some last clothes.

Eve: Or steal it, whatever.

Jack: Good for you. You'd look good in that.

Eve: Thanks, even if it is a funeral dress.

Jack: I know. World's falling apart, bound to get worse. Maybe ELE's real, maybe not. Either way, things suck. The plan was to make it big, play in the major in seven years. That ain't gonna happen, I can't take it anymore. Me and some friends, we're checking out.

Eve: You mean, suicide?

Jack: Yeah. Tomorrow night. Final party at my house, and we all check out. You don't want to come,you don't have to. If you do, I'll see you tomorrow at 6pm.