Freshmen Don't Speak

Chapter 2 // Abandoned Mall Time!!

I woke up at like 9am.

I cant tell if that's early or late, but Evelyn's text at 6am to the group chat reminding us that the meet-up today has convinced me it's late.

Wait, nevermind.

Tyler's text has convinced me it's somewhat normal.

It reads "why the fuck are you up so early, I thought I woke up super early why why why why why"

I can't believe I woke up at the same time as Tyler.

Tyler.

This is the worst curse of my life.

But at least I know it's probably late?

Nope.

Still bad.

Anyways.

I stop thinking about this, and actually get ready.

I put clothes on, brush my teeth and hair, and that's it.

I'm a simple man.

Now to wait for 12pm.

And it's not 12pm.

Goddammit.

////

Nevermind its 11:30.

Now I should start uhh.

Leaving.

I don't have my license, only a permit, so I decide to bike down there. Biking is really peaceful, I should really do this more often!

Biking is a lot faster than I thought, because when I thought I saw the place and stopped to check my phone.

I was there!

Or it was a lot closer than I first anticipated...

Either or.

Getting off my bike, thank god places like these aren't populated at all anymore, because that means I can get away with leaving my bike unattended.
I roll my bike to the entrance, and set it outside.
The entrance feels kind of daunting, but I walk inside anyways.

And Ally wasn't wrong.

This mall was beautiful. Magnificent in a way. My footsteps echoed, and it felt like they would repeat for centuries to come.
It had a lot of overgrowth, but the plants extended the beauty in a sense. Nobody was here yet except for Evelyn, so I decided to say hi.

"Hey Evelyn" I greet her, walking around the mall, still taking in it's beauty.

"Oh! Hey?" Evelyn says, looking confused, "Despite the echo in here I somehow didn't know you were here," She laughs.

"I guess we should wait for the others," I say looking around to make sure I won't get jumpscared by Keith or something.

"Evelyn, how did we get here before the person who even showed us this place?" I joke "Or better yet, the person whose supposedly 'good at time'?"

...

"You didn't." Someone says behind me, grabbing my shoulders.

"AAAAGH!" I scream, quickly turning around.

I don't think I've screamed that hard in my life, and it's fucking Eliza.

Eliza and Evelyn both break out into laughter.

"You scream just like how Moxie does when I do that!" Eliza jokes "Minus the swears,"

"Oh," I mutter.

"Wait you do this oft-"
"Aaand we're moving on!" Eliza says interrupting me.

"What do you mean 'we're moving on' huh?!" I question

"I mean we're moving on" Eliza said looking away as if she didn't wanna talk about it.

Probably because she didn't

Over time, as it got closer and closer to noon more people arrived.

First it was Ally, then Sam and Moxie, and then Keith.

Then after noon was Tyler. Suprisingly he wasn't too late, but late enough to be considered late.

Eh. Atleast he didn't arrive at 6pm.

That also means that I was early.

Tyler walked up to Ally,

"Does this place have cats?" It questioned.

"Probably, I've seen a few stray ones wander around here," Ally replied.

"YES," Tyler shouted as if he wasn't 17 and one of the oldest people here.

Yeah this is gonna be fun!

As long as Keith doesn't get "anxious" and start smoking weed.