Why Come Back?

Unexpected..... Newcomer?

          The town is almost empty, excluding a few people. Luke decided to take the townsfolk's absence with stride. Only five people remained to stay home and relax from their busy lives. Where had the people gone? A festival in the next town over.

          Luke grabs his skateboard and starts gliding down the street. The wind whips around him as he gains speed. He laughs as his boring town blurs past him, the grey of the roads guiding him around. Luke finds himself zooming into the shopping center parking lot then into the streets. Suddenly a loud screech of breaks echoes through the town, followed by a loud crash.

          Luke is thrown back off his skateboard. A voice shouts out something, but Luke can't understand. His world is spinning.

          Spider runs over to the skater in a panic.

"Oh shit, not again. I came here to run from murder!" Spider groans loudly, "Guess I'll find a place to hide him...."

          Luke slowly sits up, holding his head.

"Ow...." The world around him is slowly coming back to normal.

".... Damn, that was a head-on collision. How the hell did you survive that?"

          Luke looks at the guy and blinks, remembering what happened.

"I am so sorry! I should have looked before I crossed! I didn't mean to get in the way." Luke rambles. Causing Spider to chuckle.

"I'm just glad you're okay! That was quite the hit. You have an angel with you or something?" Spider offers a hand to him.

"Oh well no, not quite- wait, I know you. You're Spider, that guy from high school." Luke takes it.

"Wait, you remember me? Who are you?" Spider picks him off the ground.

"It's hard to forget a guy with spider legs coming out of his back. You also saved my life, so there is that." Luke smiles and rubs the back of his neck, "I'm Luke Harper. Do six guys in an alleyway ring any bells?" Spider's eyes widen at the memory.

"Healer boy? No way, you still live in this dump?" Spider smiles. He remembered finding out the two were once neighbors after he saved Luke from a group of his old friends. He got some serious injuries from the fight and passed out from blood loss. When he came to, he was in his bed, healed to the point of some faint scars.

          He gave the boy he saved the nickname 'Healer Boy' because who else could have gotten him away from a bloody death.

          Luke waves his hand in front of Spider's face, smiling.

"You still have that staring problem, huh. Those must've been some pretty hard hits to cause damage like that.." Luke chuckles awkwardly.

"Eh, nothing you couldn't fix. Healer Boy." Spider puts his hands in his pockets.

"Guess you still think I'm magic then...." Luke lets out a fake sigh.

"No one else knew where I was. Not to mention, I've watched you break into the school. it would have been easy for you to picklock my front door."

"How about we discuss this over a drink? I work at a bar nearby, and it's the least I could do for the dent in your... moving van. Wait, are you moving back here?"

"Yeah, I got homesick, and I found a good work application here."

" Well, even more of a reason to drink!" Luke exclaims excitedly.

          Spider huffs, knowing Luke changed the subject purposely. "Lead the way, Healer Boy."

          Luke grabs his skateboard and motions Spider to follow. Spider gets in the van and drives after him.

          He grabs the keys to the bar, opening it for Spider.

"I didn't expect you to end up in a place like this. What happened?" Spider looks at Luke, who has stopped in his tracks.

"Things changed over the years. I fell, and I doubt I'll be able to get back up this time." He gives a sad smile to Spider before walking to the bar counter, "So what can I get for you?"

"Whiskey with lime, please," Spider says, trying to figure out what he meant.

"Coming right up!" Luke says as he grabs a glass.

          Spider watches as Luke works on the drink. Suddenly, realization hits, something he didn't see before. That day he was following a trail of blood-stained feathers to the alley.

          His thoughts are interrupted by Luke setting the glass down in front of him.

"Enjoy!" Luke cheerfully chirps.

"Thanks," He smiles and takes a sip, "So you're a bartender?"

"Not quite, I do some bartending, but that isn't my main job." Luke motions to one stage with a pole nailed to it, "I found it pays a little better to diversify my career, so I picked up a few jobs here and there."

"Oh, now that's a shock. Things really have changed." Spider finishes off his drink and sets it down, "So what else did I miss? The prom queen being a billionaire?" Luke laughs.

"Oh please, she couldn't get enough liquor. She's our number one customer."

"Damn, even her cheer team didn't know that. How did you?"

"I may have been a nerd, but I watched. She kept a small flask on her, not to mention her breath smelled of booze every day."

          Spider looks him in the eyes.

          Everything had changed when he left. 

He can't remember why he came back. 

Guess he'll just have to find out.