𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵

'Back In Time.(Valentine's Day Special)'

The Incident: Book 7, Part 1.

22 years ago...

February 14th, 2003.

Setting: In A High School, where it was morning and kids were bustling about and heading to their classes.

No one's POV/3rd Person:

Enzo was heading down to his locker, ready for the day as he went to go grab his stuff he needed, but he got greeted with a quick slap on the back. He turned around to see who it was, it was The one and only Al Ramirez. "Yo, Enzo. How you doing today?" Al chirped, a wide idiotic grin on his face. Enzo Only turned back to his locker. Al Rolled his eyes and wet his lips. "Come On, seriously man, don't do me like that! I'm just tryna strike somethin up wit' you!" Al chuckled, putting an arm on Enzo's Shoulder. Enzo firmly and slowly pushed him away. "Me, Mason And Benny gonna be waiting for you outside." Al Says. Enzo glares at him. "You do know That Benjamin doesn't like to be called 'Benny', Right? Especially not coming from you. He'll even prefer his last name, 'Rudo' Before that." Enzo says. Al smirks. "And Who's gonna stop me," Al Says, poking Enzo in the chest. "You?" he added, a smug grin on his face. He was always stupid and pushy like that, unfortunately. "And He hasn't done anything to stop me from calling him Benny anyway, so he can't hate the nickname that much." Al Says. "And Besides, it makes him sound much more friendlier. 'Benny' Instead of 'Benjamin'?" Al adds happily and teasingly. Enzo rolls his eyes and scoffs. "Sure, Ramirez. Like He needs 'friendliness' added to his life." Enzo Mumbled. Al Sighs, before just grabbing his arm and leading him away from the public hallway. Confusion and slight annoyance on his face,he asks skeptically. "The hell are you doing?" Enzo asks. Al shrugs. "We're skipping Class, brother, we're gonna get loose. Maybe have a smoke. Cause You're too uptight, and I don't want to go to math." Al Says confidently. Enzo raises a brow. "Just us two?" Enzo says, and Al Stops in his tracks and chuckles. "No, idiot. We're grabbing Mason and Benjamin too." Al says. "Do we even know their classes?" Enzo questions, getting even more confused by the second. "Well, does it matter? We have nothing but time." Al says as they walk down the now empty hallway as class was in session for other classes. "If We get caught, You're taking the blame. Like I mean all of it." Enzo says. Al just shrugs and chuckles. "You can count on me with not getting caught, but I'll happily take the bullet for us if we do. Now let's go!" Al chirped.

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Half An Hour Later, Enzo, Mason, Al And Benjamin roaming the streets.

"And tell me why you think this is a good idea?" Benjamin Says in annoyance as Al brought them to a store specifically dedicated to valentine's day. Al shrugged. "Cause It's fun. And I Know you have an Eye on a special someone.." Al winked playfully. Mason Only crossed his arms in boredom, watching the exchange. Enzo Raised a brow. "Is Someone going to explain to me or what?" Enzo says. Al chuckles. "It's valentine's day, dweeb. And We all know that It's tradition to ask someone out. So... With a box of chocolates and a bouquet of flowers, you're ready to take on the world of women." Al smirks, gesturing to the Valentine's Day shop. "This Really necessary?" Mason says, seeming to dread this. Al scoffed and rolled his eyes. "You're just too sensitive with this kind of stuff because you're forever traumatized about the time Jessica Rejected you in the most brutal way last year, which was-" Al says But Mason went wide eyed and gave him a 'don't go there' Look. Al only laughed. Benjamin seemed slightly amused as a small smirk appeared on his face as he looked from Al to The flustered Mason and then Back to Al again. "Now I'm Hooked. What happened with Mason And Jessica?" Benjamin says, fighting the continuously growing urge to laugh. "Some pretty damn embarrassing things. So let's see—" Al smirks, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he pulls out a hand to list the least pleasant Things (At Least For Mason) On one hand. "She Splashed her glass of water on Him as She was less than impressed with how the date was going, Well– it was going fine but we all know he has no charm or experience for the ladies. He must've said something that' pretty offensive in a womans' book. Who knows. And he Embarrassed himself so many times it's almost sad." Al laughs, bumping Masons' Shoulder with his elbow in a judgemental/joking way. Mason grew frustrated and embarrassed. "Come On, Al, Man–" Mason says in a desperate attempt to get him to shut up. But to no avail, Al ends up laughing even more. Enzo, who was leaning against a wall, senses the situation and speaks up. "You know what, just listen to him. This isn't cool." Enzo says To Al Who's smile fades ever so slightly. Benjamin Just looks At Enzo, then at Al again to see his reaction. "You're always trying to Rain   all over someone's parade, Enzo. Lighten up." Al says. Enzo sighs. Benjamin rolls his eyes and looks around. "We should just get this over with, do whatever we came here for and leave. We're here for what, pull some girls? This is stupid." Benjamin says. "Right!" Al's chipper demeanor returned. "Alright boys, let's get this rodeo started." Al says as they head into the Valentines' day shop.

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In The Shop...

"This is honestly making me sick, who Makes a whole entire holiday based off of love?" Mason Says, looking around the shop that was filled with heart teddy bears, box chocolates, flower bouquets, heart balloons in disgust. And Al Sighs jokingly. "There Goes The Broken-hearted boy again.." Al smirked to himself. "I'ma go down this Aisle, Regroup at the front of the store, Yeah?" Benjamin says, Gesturing to the aisle on the left. Mason only gave a nod and awkward thumbs up Al Replied with a chipper 'Yep Yep' And Enzo only responded with a 'Sounds good to me.'

. . .

Mason wasn't doing too good. He had gone up to the cashier at the front of the store, a girl who looked just about their age. Maybe could've even gone to the same school as them. Mason had stared in confusion, feeling like he could've sworn he'd seen her before, after she finally makes eye contact with him, she raises a brow slightly, curiosity on her face. "Can I help you?" She says. Mason flinches as he was snapped out of his deep train of thought.He stutters a Little. "U-Uh, Oh, Yeah! totally- Do you know how to shop for a valentine? Stupid question, Sorry- I know but-" He says, stumbling over his words, before he could even finish, she sighed. "I Get it. Anyway, I'd recommend something simple, really. Like an um, just go for a teddy bear and a box of chocolates, maybe flowers or something.. That'll work wonders." Lovers, crushes, and whatnot will prefer something simple." The cashier shrugs. Mason nods. "Thanks Ma'am." Mason says, As soon as she was going to speak, that's when Al, Enzo And Benjamin were regrouping where he was, with a different variety of things they had picked out. Al wiggles his brows, Scanning the situation. "Found yourself a girl?" Al Smirks. Mason sighs in annoyance. Benjamin just puts his items on the conveyor belt, as they all paid for their stuff one by one eventually. As they walked out... Enzo nudges Benjamin with his elbow. "Hey. That girl look familiar to you?" Enzo says. Benjamin looks at him. "Sorta, why?" Benjamin says. Enzo looks at Al And Mason Who were ahead of them already, walking in the direction of their houses. "That might be Tess from School." Enzo murmured. Benjamin Raises a brow. "You Got a crush on her or something?" Benjamin smirks, but there was something in his eyes that was there, that he couldn't put his finger on.. worry, maybe? Enzo shrugs, sighing as he nervously averted his gaze. "Sort of." Enzo says. Benjamin's shoulders dropped. "Oh." "Why?" "No Reason." As Benjamin brushed off his question, Enzo seemed suspicious but went with it.

Later that night, Enzo went home and went to bed. Something lingered on his mind, he knew Benjamin and him weren't the best of friends, and their relationship wasn't exactly a walk in the park. But he had a feeling... that this would go far more than childhood acquaintances.. This would lead up to something more big. But how Benjamin had quickly avoided his question.. It made him wonder if Benjamin had something For tess, too. And that he had said the wrong thing to Benjamin. But all he was able to do in this situation.. Is wait. And see how this will play out. Whatever this is, he knew this was only the beginning.

To Be continued.

Word Count: 1513