I'm Just Septic-Eyed

Chapter 5: A Bad Time

A/N: Over 100 reads already! Thank you all so much!

It was a beautiful day outside. Or at least, from what Sean could hear. The birds were singing, Mark was going off on a tangent, everything was going great. The two didn't have any class until later that evening and that was the one they had together. So they decided to take a walk into town to pass the time. There weren't many people on the streets but every once in a while a car would pass or someone would give Sean a glance before politely stepping aside. It was quite pleasant. 

"We should get a turtle," Mark's voice was laced with excitement. "Or a tortoise. Something like that. It'd be great to have a pet." Mark thought fondly at that possibility.

Sean laughed a bit. Mark could sure rush into things. "What would you even name it? Where would it go? We live in an apartment, Mark." Sean felt someone brush by him. He didn't think twice about it. "I'm not sure we'd have enough money to buy all the necessary things."

Mark whined, "But I wanna. Can we at least look at some? It would make me really happy if we could. Please, Jack? Please, please, please, please?" Sean sighed but a smiled played on his lips. Mark continued eagerly. "C'mon. I know you wanna. You can't resist my charm."

Sean chuckled and admitted defeat. "Fine, we can look at tortoises."

Mark made a happy little squeal and practically dragged Sean to the local pet store. When the two walked in Mark was like a young child. He nearly screamed when he saw the puppies and he continued to wander the store aimlessly just looking at all the little critters. Sean let his friend walk around, he on the other hand, just stayed at the front by the puppies. Mark would call out something every once in a while and Sean would make an appropriate response.

The puppies jumped and pawed at the glass. Sean heard their little whimpers for attention and walked over to them. "Hey little buddies," he greeted them. He stuck his hand into their pen and he felt some tongues and even a paw or two. He chuckled. "I can't exactly see you guys, but I assume you're adorable."

"They are."

Sean jumped and turned toward the voice. It was a female's voice. Sean noticed she had a slight accent. She laughed a bit and apologized, "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you like that. I'm Marzia, by the way. I work here part time. I noticed you and your friend walk in. Were you interested in a pet? Some toys? Anything like that?"

"Oh, uh, no we were just -"

"Yes!" Sean heard Mark run up to them. "I was interested in a tortoise."

Before Marzia could speak Sean did first, "Mark, we're not getting -"

"But I found one. He's so small and cute. Can't we just get him? Please, Jack?" Mark grabbed onto Sean's arm. "Please, I want him - he's so small! You know I can't resist small things. I'll do anything. I have to have him."

Sean heard Marzia giggle quietly. He felt himself flush. "I-I don't know. There's still the matter of where to put him. Our apartment can barely fit us, how will we have a pet? And then there's still the fact of how we can afford anything he'll need."

Marzia took this as an opportunity to speak. "If you guys are looking for a job there's an offer here. It pays just enough to get by and you'll get a slight discount on the tank and everything you'll need to keep your tortoise." Sean could tell Mark was trying to keep in his excitement. "The owner is very nice and your job is almost guaranteed. She takes a liking to college students around here. She knows how hard it can be."

"You wouldn't mind, would you Jack?" Mark almost pleaded. It was like he was begging for it to be okay with Sean. Sean let out a lighthearted sigh and said it was okay. Mark let go of Sean's arm and did a little dance.

"Alright, I'll get you the application," Marzia laughed. Her footsteps went off somewhere and then she returned, Sean assumed with the application. "You can just fill this out and we'll let you know when to come in for an interview."

Sean smiled. "I'll wait for you outside, Mark." He heard Mark give a distracted response. He shook his head in amusement and walked outside. He leaned against the wall of the building and sighed. Mark was too much sometimes. It wasn't a bad thing, but it could be a little stressful from time to time.

In order to pass the time Sean decided to listen to some music. It was about one of the only things he could do to pass time. Mark wouldn't be there long, anyway. Sean just started his music when he heard a noise come from the alley way by the store. As soon as sound emanated from the ear buds Sean paused it. He pushed himself off the wall and edged toward the alley.

There was a part of him that told him that this was definitely a bad idea, yet the other part of him was stupid enough to be taken by curiosity. "I'm gonna regret this, aren't I?" Sean mumbled under his breath. Yet he continued forward.

In the small alley Sean smacked his white cane into a dumpster. He jumped back a bit at the echoing boom but then the smell made a connection to his brain. He listened intently for any other life hanging around. There wasn't a sound. "Hey, Jack," a voice greeted a bit too friendly. Sean knew he heard that voice before. He tried his best to remember, but it didn't come to him. It was a bit rough but not unpleasant.

Sean must have stood there dumbfounded. In the split second that he heard feet slide against gravel something crashed into his face, making him fall back. He fell on his rear and everything else happened too fast for the rest of his senses to comprehend. There was warm blood, the smell of iron and garbage, something scraping on the ground, and then feet pounding away. All the while Sean just sat there in pain and confusion.

The door to the pet store opened.