Just Sh*t: A New York City Story

Chapter 21: Cellmates and Sales Tactics

The boys never saw Bryan again after he left their apartment, and life resumed its usual rhythm. They often joked about him, recalling the absurdity of his stay and how quickly he had turned into a nuisance.

One day, as they strolled through Times Square, they were greeted by an unexpected sight: a massive billboard featuring Bryan's face, now sporting a flashy suit and an overly confident grin. The tagline read, "Success Awaits: Join Bryan's Dropshipping Empire!"

Alex pointed at the billboard, disbelief washing over him. "Is that... Bryan? No way!"

Judah laughed, shaking his head in amazement. "Look at him! He's living the dream, apparently."

Their laughter turned into incredulity as they read more of the ad, filled with buzzwords and promises of wealth, urging viewers to join his "revolutionary" dropshipping business.

Jamie couldn't help but scoff. "I can't believe this guy! He went from couch potato to self-made millionaire overnight?"

"And all we got was a mess to clean up," Jackson added, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What a scam artist."

Curiosity piqued, they decided to look him up on social media later. What they found was a chaotic blend of motivational quotes, flashy lifestyle posts, and an overwhelming amount of promotional material that felt more like a circus than a legitimate business. His feed was filled with absurd videos and dubious success stories.

Ryan raised an eyebrow, half-amused. "You have to hand it to him—he really did take over New York, in a way."

Judah shrugged, still skeptical. "Yeah, but I still don't think we missed out on much. I'll take our lives over whatever he's selling."

As they walked away from the billboard, the boys felt a strange mixture of amusement and disbelief. They had known Bryan as a lazy bum who mooched off their kindness, but now he was a symbol of success—albeit in the most questionable fashion. They couldn't help but laugh at the irony of it all, realizing that sometimes, the world was just too absurd to make sense of.

Eventually, the boys found themselves catching up on the local news one afternoon when a familiar name flashed across the screen: Bryan. He had been brought down by the IRS for money laundering to Hong Kong and was facing 25 years in jail. The news segment was accompanied by a lighthearted story about a cat that had learned to skateboard, creating a bizarre juxtaposition that only added to the absurdity of it all.

Alex snickered, shaking his head. "I can't believe it! After all that talk about being a millionaire, he ends up in prison."

Judah chuckled, picturing the scene. "At least he didn't get away with it. Can you imagine him in a jumpsuit trying to sell his 'secrets to success' behind bars?"

The boys laughed, but as the humor settled in, they noticed Ryan sitting quietly in the corner, a frown etched on his face. It was clear the news hit him harder than it did the others.

Jackson lowered his voice, glancing at Ryan. "Hey, should we check on him? He seemed pretty close to Bryan."

The boys exchanged glances, realizing that while they were amused by Bryan's downfall, Ryan was feeling a sense of loss for a friendship that had ultimately turned sour.

Later that evening, they made a point to offer Ryan some support.

"Hey, man, if you want to talk about it, we're here for you. We know Bryan wasn't the best guy, but it's okay to feel upset about this," Alex said gently.

Ryan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, it's just... I thought he could've done better. I didn't expect him to end up like this. It's a bit disheartening."

Judah nodded, sympathetic. "It is, but remember how he was when he stayed with us? It's hard to see someone with potential make such bad choices."

Ryan appreciated their concern, even if he didn't fully express it. As the conversation drifted to lighter topics, the boys tried to ease his mind.

However, when Ryan wasn't around, Judah, Jackson, and Alex couldn't help but crack jokes about Bryan's latest misadventure.

"I wonder if he's offering drop shipping tips in prison now," Judah mused. "'How to build your empire from a cell!'"

"Yeah, with a new motivational slogan: 'Success starts with a cellmate!'" Jackson added, bursting into laughter.

Their laughter echoed through the apartment, a mix of genuine amusement and a coping mechanism for Ryan's visible distress. It was a strange contrast, feeling both empathy for their friend and humor in the absurdity of Bryan's fall from grace. Despite the situation, they found solace in their friendship, knowing they could navigate the ups and downs together.