(GQ #13) Adventures in Spacepunk

6. Angels on Apennine Boulevard

"We're supposed to go a few streets down." Angelo spoke up way after Aiden decided to stop in a random alleyway.

"Galhardo said to search around the area. Ain't this around the area?" True, but Angelo got the feeling that a street made up of nondescript buildings and modest storefronts did not qualify as the shopping district. If it weren't for the crescent moon theming of the laundromat next door, he might've forgotten he was in Lunaria.

"Yeah, but I th-think he wanted us to reach Apennine Boulevard first."

"Oh. Should've said so." Aiden leaned against the wall without a care. Worry must've shown on Angelo's face, because he followed up with, "If you wanna uphold scouts' honor or whatever, you can go by yourself."

"But we're supposed to stay together."

"Then I guess you're stuck here."

Since then, Angelo stayed put next to the alleyway's entrance. Aiden mentioned something about it looking too suspicious if both of them stood inside. He also wanted a lookout in case a cop showed up. None did. What would they even arrest him for, pacing around? Softly drumming on the recycling bins?

Whatever he did back there, at least he had something to do. No new messages entered the group chat since Angelo thanked Roxie for picking out spacepunk names for him and Aiden, Jello and Killa, respectively. All he had to keep busy was fighting with himself over whether he should talk with her more. He lost. Somehow.

If only Roxie were here to hold his hand again. Or Leon. Both? What if they smiled at him, hugged him, and called him their friend who they'd cherish forever? What if they meant it? He knew he shouldn't get so carried away, but he kept scrolling through pictures of them, dreaming the impossible. If he had even a fraction of this, he'd...!

"How long's it been?" Aiden poked his head out of the alley, making Angelo's heart jump. His body did too, which was dangerous in platform wheelies. He almost dropped Leon's phone!

"S-Since we left? 40 minutes-ish."

"You tell everyone we made it?"

"Not yet, sorry. I-I didn't want to look suspicious by saying it too early, but I probably should now." Angelo began typing a message about how they went to Apennine Boulevard but decided to search elsewhere. He'd have to break the habit of lying over text some other time.

"Good. I don't want Galhardo on our backs." Aiden almost left, then doubled back upon seeing his screen. "That's too many details." He held out a hand. "Here, let me–"

"No!" Angelo clutched his brother's phone for dear life. "S-Sorry. No, thank you. I need to keep this phone safe."

"Chill," Aiden held his hands up, "it's not like I was gonna throw it away." That stung coming from the person who gave Angelo the idea to do the same. "Just write somethin' like 'we made it.' That's it. Don't mention a street or anything."

"Okay?" Angelo did as told. He didn't have the guts to ask follow up questions. Lucky for him, this got Aiden to go back to whatever he was doing.

'Emil already beat you to the punch, hehe >w<' Roxie's text confused him at first. 'Unless you are... the Leon imposter??? ',: /c'

That hit a little too close to home. 'Sorry I'm Angelo! I'll make it clear from now on! (>_<;)7'

'Nooo, your lack of comma makes it sound like you're apologizing for being you TT^TT' No comment. More importantly, she typed a crying face, and he needed to atone for causing that.

'I'm sorry (I am also Angelo)'

'you don't gotta remind us every time you text lol.' Jun entered the conversation.