Jerking to sit up he stumbled out of his bed and rolled to the side his hand slamming against the dresser. Wincing he groaned taking his hand back and held his hand closer to his chest with a grunt. Sitting up he winced at the aches in his back and his legs. Gulping down breaths, he held his head again.
“Uno… Dos…” he counted and kept going before sitting up slowly and staring at the ceiling. It wasn’t the first time he’d had that dream since that night but as he looked down at his hands he could faintly see the bracelets around them. His geist as she had put it, coming to his aid.
He smiled at the thought but remembered why it appeared in the first place and frowned harder. The monsters that were out there. Living in human skin. He’d heard a ringing in his ears twice since then but it hadn’t lasted long. He didn’t know what it was and wondered if it was because he’d been hit that hard.
The thought of the previous night made him shudder. Of fighting another fire breathing wraith and he flinched away. But immediately he felt guilty. His phone buzzed on the dresser and absently he reached for it. His friends had gotten very active this morning. Checking the time he saw that it was almost noon.
SuperStar: Is this guy really still asleep?
N.E.R.D.: It’s his birthday weekend. He can sleep in.
TheWhite: Well while he’s getting beauty sleep we’re planning where we’re
going out too
N.E.R.D.: Let’s go to a museum.
TheWhite: Or the beach.
SuperStar: I think it’s supposed to rain today.
TheWhite: If we go early enough we can soak it up before the rain
SuperStar: Well he needs to wake up first.
TheWhite: Hey
TheWhite: Dick
TheWhite: Wake
TheWhite: Up
TheWhite: !!!
N.E.R.D.: Why are you all like this
TheWhite: You think that worked?
Rolling his eyes as he finally caught up to the madness and sighed. Sitting up, he pressed himself back against the wall and fought a yawn. Rubbing his eyes he inserted himself into the conversation.
Halfsie: I’m awake.
Halfsie: Jeez.
Halfsie: It’s not even noon yet.
SuperStar: He lives
TheWhite: Praise the lord
N.E.R.D.: Morning Dick
Halfsie: Hi Lily. Thanks for greeting me like a person.
SuperStar: Morning loser.
SuperStar: Where you wanna go?
SuperStar: Museum or Beach
Halfsies: Are those really my only options?
Superstar: Yes
TheWhite: Yes
N.E.R.D.: No pick what you want.
Dick rubbed his eyes and fought another yawn. Rather than answer that he took his phone with him to the bathroom and just sat on the toilet for a few minutes and yawned again. Absently he thought that he was hungry but he was going to probably eat with his friends. So maybe some toast.
Finishing his business, he walked toward the mirror and looked at his wrist. They were normal. Nothing there. But the dream was still there. The memory of the other night as well. Closing his eyes, he tried to focus that desperate feeling from that night when he thought he was going to die.
His wrist tingled suddenly. He closed his hand into a fist but kept concentrating. For a second his wrist glowed and he saw the outline of the bracelet before it faded away and he let out a breath and slumped against the counter top. His body ached angrily at him and he remembered Samantha telling him to not push it during the week.
Glancing down at his phone he wondered what he was going to do because neither of those options felt like anything he actually wanted to do. And Lily said pick what he wanted. Flipping through Twitter he realized a movie came out and he was actually seriously interested in it. So, he swapped to the app.
Halfsie: Why don’t we go see a movie?
Halfsie: There’s a new one out that I want to see
TheWhite: The Rom-com?
SuperStar: No the Sci-Fi one
N.E.R.D.: No no no
N.E.R.D.: It’s Sentai Fire. The American Adaptation of that Japanese show
Halfsie: Lily understands me.
SuperStar: God you’re a nerd
Halfsie: Damn straight
SuperStar: Fine. I’ll sit through the movie
SuperStar: Because I like you
SuperStar: Kinda
TheWhite: Yeah I’ll watch it
N.E.R.D.: I’ll find a time for us.
N.E.R.D.: Our usual threatre?
SuperStar: *Theater
N.E.R.D.: I’ll take that as a yes then.
N.E.R.D.: I’ll let you guy’s know the time
Leaving the bathroom Dick walked down the steps and waved to his uncle who was sitting in their living room in a chair. The TV was on but it was just noise in the background. Dick went straight to the kitchen and got a glass. Filling it with water he chugged the first glass and then sipped on the second one.
Walking back to the living room he sat on the couch and stared at the TV then turned to stare at his uncle who was hidden behind a newspaper. After several minutes of this, the newspaper was bent forward and Keenan stared at him.
“Can I help you mijo?”
“Nah.”
“Don’t you have friends to hang out with?”
“I will. At some point. Deciding when to see a movie.”
“Lily organizing everything again?”
“That gringa is something special.”
“That she is. You going to shower?”
“At some point,” Dick yawned again and glanced at the TV. The caster was going on about strange reports of disturbances at night and huge scorch marks along certain areas of the city. Unexplained but it was assumed to be the serial arsonist. Dick knew better but the fact that the wratihs were just barely making it on the news was a little startling.
“They call it an arsonist. Probably just kids playing with firecrackers. They’ve been doing this for years. Let the kids be themselves.”
“Like back in your day?” Dick asked throwing a wry glance his way.
“Exactly. Now you going to eat any breakfast?”
“Toast.”
“Well hurry up. Knowing Lily she’ll have found a place by the time you make anything.”
That was a good point. Getting out of the chair he walked into the kitchen getting the bread and going to the toaster. Popping it in he found the peanut butter and leaned against the counter top his arms folded.
His phone buzzed again and he glanced at the chat.
N.E.R.D.: So there’s one at like 12:46 and another closer to 1
TheWhite: The one at 1.
TheWhite: Cause you know these trains aren’t punctual
SuperStar: He has a point
Halfsie: Agreed
N.E.R.D.: 1 it is.
The toast popped behind him and he munch through a corner then spread the peanut butter on the side and took another one. He went through two pieces of bread before going back up to the bathroom brushing his teeth and showering.
Dressed and clean he checked his phone again but there weren’t any new updates. Heading the stairs Keenen hadn’t moved from his chair and Dick waved as he went toward the door. “Heading out.”
He nodded. “Be safe mijo,”
“Will do tio.”
The sun hung in the sky nice and high. He held his hand up to ward off the brightness. Despite the sun the air was heavy with humidity. Gav mentioned rain and if this weather was to believed it probably would end up raining. Good thing they weren’t going to the beach.
Running to the train he stood around for a few minutes before catching one and taking it into the city again. The ride was only a few minutes, maybe ten or so, and this time he was going into the heart of the city itself. Closer to the Northside where things were a little bit more taken care of and looked more picturesque like postcards.
Climbing down from the station he walked towards the park, the main meeting spot in this part of the city. Raising his phone, he quickly dialed up Gav because he knew he would be the closest one to him. The call rang once before Gav picked up with some wind in the phone.
“Hold on friend. I am getting off the train now. I can probably just bee line to you.”
Dick turned around and the train was indeed pulling in now. “Cool. I’ll walk back to the corner. I’ll have my leg out waiting.”
“Did you shave? Otherwise not interested.”
“Come find out,” Hanging up Dick laughed turning about face and back across the street.
Dick leaned against the building scrolling through social media when an out of breath Gav finally came over. He looked at Dick and pouted with disappointed written across his face. Crouching he stared at his legs then looked at him annoyed. “Those legs aren’t even out.”
“I have to lure you somehow. How you doing?”
“Doing alright my friend,” he clapped him on the shoulder. “Glad that homework is the last thing on my mind.”
“Right you are,” Dick agreed. “Where are our women?”
“God knows. Especially Lisa. Don’t know why we didn’t just name her Diva.”
“Because she kept changing it back when we tried.”
“Back when I had admin rights.”
“That was a debacle wasn’t it?”
“Oh the struggles of freshman year try to return to our minds. Learn from the past lest we are doomed to repeat it,” Gav said in a sage like tone. “Now only Lily gets control over anything.”
“That’s one white we can trust.”
“I’m very trust worthy.”
“Until you want something.”
Gav was silent for a moment and then laughed. “You have me there.”
“Exactly. We should probably let them know we’re actually waiting here. Right?”
“Hm. Maybe. Probably,” Gav got his phone out and sent a quick message through their group chat. In that same instance Dick flipped his phone open to a call from Lily.
“What’s up Lily?”
“I found Lisa. Where are you two at?”
“Uhhh,” with a quick glance around he caught sight of the traffic light. “Third and Jefferson. Yes, we were going to let you know. Gav just did it. No, we didn’t just think of it. Why do you have such little faith in us? Okay that’s fair. Just get over here already.”
Hanging up the phone he rolled his eye and Gav laughed. “Massa chastise you?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Mistress. And yes. She did.”
They both laughed and moved toward the wall of the building behind them and sat down to ease their legs. Leaning back Dick stared at the sky and while Gav leaned against him shoulder to shoulder. It took about ten minutes but the girls finally found the pair of them.
“The two of you are a pain,” Lisa said hands on her hips.
Stiffly standing Gav raised his hand to reply but Lily held up her own and shook her head. “You two can do your thing on the bus ride over. Come on. Let’s not be late.”
They took the bus halfway across town sitting in the back mostly. There were a few stops along the way, one of the passengers got into an argument with the bus driver before being kicked off at the very next stop. Ten minutes later their group along with half of the bus got off. The theater was only a few feet away and they walked back in.
“Oh cool. We beat the crowd,” Dick said checking the time.
“The early group is normally around at noon. So just barely dodged them.” Lisa said and then handed him some bills. “You’re on ticket duty. Get us good seats.”
Dick did the same and motioned toward the snack counter. “Me and Lisa will handle food.” He extended his hand and Lily and Gav traded him some cash. He didn’t have to ask what they wanted because this song and dance was old hat.
She cocked her eyebrow at him. “Why am I helping?”
“Because I only have so many hands. I’ll cover it just help me carry.”
“Can I have twizzlers?” she asked.
“If you help without complaining. And salt the popcorn.”
She flexed her hand and fingers with a wry smirk. “The magic touch. Carfully honed over many years.”
“Please stop,” Gav interjected holding his hand up. “I don’t need to process that imagery.”
“I think all of us would like to not process that imagery,” Lily said.
“Both of yours,” Dick added glancing between the two of them. “Let’s meet in the middle.”
The pair of them went to the line, third down. Gen glanced his way and said, “So I’ve been thinking.”
“Always a great start.”
“Hush and listen,” she held her finger up. “I’ve picked up a new series. I think it was called Ashling’s Journey. And it’s awesome but I rarely have time to sit down and watch it. So what are you doing tomorrow?”
“Nothing fun. Because you know, homework exists.”
She waved her hand and smirked. “Wrong. You’re coming to my place and binge this show.”
“Lisa are you asking me on a date?”
“Don’t be gross. Plus mom’s cooking and she wants you to help her.”
“I am a great assistant, aren’t I?”
She nodded. “You learn fast and take orders well. It’s why I’ve kept you around for so long.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re a great time keeper when I need to run faster. Anyway tomorrow. Sometime after noon. Meet at my place. And of course you get to have dinner.”
“I’ll talk to my tio but odds are I’ll be there. Just gotta actually wake up.” He stifled a yawn and then motioned toward the counter. “But yeah, I can never deny a good show.”
Dick did all the talking and tried to ignore Lisa but she pouted until he gave in and got her her sweets. She tried to push him for a large but settled on a small or nothing. At the end of it all they got two medium popcorns, a pop, two waters, and an icee.
They walked it over to the condiment setup and met with Lily and Gav who were waiting with their tickets. Gav took a water and popcorn, Gen took the other water and had her own little bag of twizzlers, and Lily sipped on her ice content. Dick went to pick up the last popcorn bucket and his drink but winced before touching the food.
His ears rang and he gripped the counter top tightly. He could feel his heart racing and felt heat on his face. Shutting his eyes tightly he tuned it out but it continued to ring a consistent trill in his mind. He counted internally making it as far as five before the ringing started to go away.
When he looked up all three of them were looking at him concern clear on their faces. “You okay Dick?” Lily asked coming closer and meeting his eyes.
He stared at her for a moment and then nodded slowly letting out a breath. “Sorry about that. Just had a really bad head ache for a moment. Didn’t really eat. I’m okay.”
“Maybe we should get you a hot dog or something,” Gav suggested.
“I’ll be okay with popcorn. Besides. You’re treating us to lunch afterwards.”
“Uh, I didn’t agree to this.”
“It’s okay. The kindness in your heart speaks for you,” Dick grinned and winked. Gav’s face turned slightly red but he glared at him regardless.
“Sometimes I feel you take advantage of me because of my looks.” He said whipping his head into the other direction.
“Keep telling yourself that gayboy,” Lisa said with an eyeroll.
They laughed together and showed off their tickets to the attendant before going to their theater and finding seats. The ringing had gone away entirely and Dick let out a soft breath. Only a few more days and Samantha would help him get this under control.
The Harlequin Library 