The Great War

II

I walk down the street reading Lilium's text over to see if I'm at the right place as I look up from my phone. I spot both of my friends, huh. Lilium only told me it'd be me and her. 

Deciding to scare them, I run up behind Theo and jump on his back, hooking my arms around his neck loosely to keep from falling. "Sup losers,"

Lilium stares at me like she just saw a ghost while clutching her chest, "Holy shit you scared me."

I grin and laugh laying my chin on Theo's head and smile, "Did I scare you too?"

He softly shakes his head 'no' and I whine, "Dammit I wanted to scare you more than her." He chuckles and grabs under my knees to keep me from slipping off his back. 

Turns out Theo was invited the whole time and me being me didn't catch onto that in Lilium's message. Which is both embarrassing and a little funny. 

Lilium and Theo were the strangest pairing for a friendship I'd come across in high-school and that says a lot. She was preppy wavy haired, blue eyed, pretty clothed girl. Theo dressed in usually all black, sometimes wore too many rings, liked to pair sweatpants with shirts that didn't go with it, he looked tired and quite frankly like a serial killer—dark eyes, rarely smiled, glared at you a lot.

They were polar opposites in every way, personality, hobbies, taste, clothes, even social status. Lilium was quite popular—she'll deny it, though—everyone liked her or wanted to be her. Sometimes I don't even think they like each other; I've never seen them hug let alone like hang out without me.

We had fun goofing off though, I usually had to persuade Theo into doing shit. He'd usually only ever skip school alone—never really did anything super troubling. That changed when me and Elias got him to trash a classroom one time in 8th grade.

I slide off his back and link arms with him, Theo might as well be celibate, I swear sometimes I don't think he likes anyone. Sometimes I wonder if he's an alien sent here to study the ways of hormonal teenagers and the angst following the stigma of them.

He disappears like he's going to his master to give all the information he's collected—obviously that's not real, he'd much sooner die than follow rules.

𖤐

After the mall Lilium went home—unfortunately, even with all the begging and puppy eyes sent her way—Theo decided to stay with me since he had nothing else to do, he did have work early in the morning though. I walked while swinging my arms back and forth.

Theo walked behind me with his hands in his pockets, "How far is your house?"

I look behind me and smile, "Not far just seems like it is."

He nodded and walked closer to me. Confused on why he got closer, I look forward and see a guy staring straight at me while he leaned against a wall, a half-smoked cigarette between his yellowing teeth as his eyes followed us.

I look down to avoid looking at the said man. Theo grabbed my arm lightly bringing me closer to him while keeping his hold on my arm he leant down slightly, "Is it just me or do you feel like we're being watched?"

I look up at Theo with furrowed brows. Can he not see the guy? "I'm sure we're fine, Theo. He's probably just curious why we're out this late."

He nodded and let my arm go before his head snapped to me again. "He— what? Who's he?" We both stop walking and look at each other. Me staring at him like he's gone mental and him staring at me like I'm the one that's gone mental. 

"The guy? Back there the one looking straight at us." I explain lazily pointing behind Theo. He looks behind us at where the man was, but he wasn't there anymore.

"There's no one there. Dude, you need sleep, let's go." He jokes with a nervous edge as he grabs my hand and pulls me along with him, there's maybe like a centimeter between us as he speedwalks down the sidewalk—I look behind us with furrowed brows.

𖤐

I unlock my house door; it makes a satisfying 'click' noise when it opens. I toss my bag down on the counter and turn back to Theo. He's been here multiple times so he's not as awkward when here anymore, which is good cause the first time he wouldn't look or touch anything and he'd just stand where I was unsure on what to do.

 I smile at him and point at the TV, "Movie marathon?" I ask, showing my happiness when he nods a small smile on his face. Mom wouldn't be home till the wee hours of the morning,

"Yes! Horror or Romance or Comedy?" I ask, walking over to my TV, turning it on via remote.

"Comedy Thriller?" He asks plopping down on the couch behind me as I stand up straight in front of the TV nodding while silently looking over my streaming apps.

𖤐

We had decided on 'Spree'. It had one of my favorite actors in it. Of course, playing the main character, Kurt. It was a funny but gruesome movie. Perfect combination.

I stretch my arms up and yawn, once I retract my arms, I grab the remote putting on a normal comedy. Once the minute ad stopped playing and the actual movie began, I scooted into Theo's side getting comfortable.

"We should do something tomorrow." I mumble, hugging my hands to my chest and against his side.

"Sure. Like what?" 

I glance up at him and shrug, "Go to the mall again? Maybe this time we'll actually buy shit. Plus, you could use a wardrobe change. This is just not it." I joked waving my hand up and down his outfit once.

"Hey! I have perfectly good taste in clothes."

I stare at him straight faced, "Yeah... for an old homeless man."

He laughed and shoved me away by my head, "Shut up and watch the movie loser."

I pout and lay back setting my legs across his as we focused on the movie instead of teasing one another.