RED PARALLEL

Chapter 21: Outta The School Plan

(Owen)

"So, let's go." Owen grabbed the bag. "Get ready in five. If you can."

"I said, I'm not goiing." Traviz sat back at the sofa, crossing his arms.

"Okay... So you stay here. Seeya." Owen opened the door, waiting for his reaction with the corner of his eye.

"Wait, you're leaving me?"

"Yes. You got a problem with that?"

"Hm, no."

"Fine." Owen opened the door and rattled on. "So watch the house, will you? The neighborhood has been impressively troubled these past months, so make sure you have all the windows and doors well shut. Not that it will protect from burglars, but anyway... If anyone rings the bell or knocks on the door, please do not answer, neither phone calls. You know, marketing companies are a pain in the ass, especially in the morning. If it starts raining, which according to the weather forecast it has ninety-percent of chances, I want you to grab some buckets at the kitchen, two for the corridor and another for my bedroom. So stay alert. And do not leave the house. I don't trust any of those neighbors, and I don't know what I'd do if they started bugging me because they think I'm holding someone hostage, because you clearly don't look like my relative, much less a friend." Owen threw a last glance at Traviz, whose mouth had dropped. "Oh, and I'm stopping at the market on the way back. I agree, eggs and milk is just not enough. So I guess a few vegetables would be good, don't you think? I'll be back after twelve, so if you're really hungry, make a nice omelet. You know where the pans are, anyway. Later!"

"The hell I'm staying here! I'm going with you... Jeez." Traviz immediately began grabbing his epic mess.

Good boy.

"... And hell to the no you're buying green stuff. I need b-soda and real food, so I'm doing the market shit." Traviz shook his head as if someone had just offended him. "Vegetables..."

Both got into the car and Owen started off the engine. Traviz was still vexed.

"... And what, hostage? Where did this crap come from? And what do you mean, I don't look like your friend? So you're telling me that if I was a psycho weirdo like you, people would think 'ah, it's cool, we love psycho weirdos, why don't we just turn ourselves into one of them, too, so we can be all friends?!' Jeez... Hey! Stop laughing!"

The red sign was on and Owen was snickering against the car's window, his left hand covering his eyes.

"Stoooop." Traviz shook Owen's shoulder, annoyed.

Halfway to school, Traviz suddenly jumped at his seat.

"Yo, let's get back."

"Too late, I think. Why?"

"Nate's gonna look for me."

"Troy, if they kicked you out, why would they look for you?"

Apparently that wasn't a good thing to say. Traviz covered his face and slipped through the seat, and Owen had the slight impression that he was about to cry.

"Troy-"

"I ain't going."

Should I tell him?

At the night before, after Traviz had fallen in a deep sleep, Owen sat on his bed, thinking hard.

He wasn't buying the story. Traviz hadn't been kicked out of The Crib, no. He had left by himself. However, it could have happened both things, which was plausible, considering the yells from up the damn building. The scene was easy to picture: Traviz had discussed with someone (probably Nate), and this person would get offended and Traviz would, too (naturally), and then one would say, under the heat of the moment, "Just get the hell outta here!", and then the stupid Traviz would say "You bet I will! Bye, motherfuckers." That's what had happened. Those people were a bunch of noisy wild creatures, so it wouldn't surprise him if the reason for the damn argument was something like "Oh, you be sittin' on ma bed, sucker. Imma kill ya." Ridiculous.