'Ragged Little Devils'

Chapter 2-1 - Back Home

Entering Tom's Diner was no new thing for Chase. After all it their his favorite diner when they were teenagers. There were a time where he swore on multiple occasions that he would own this place when he grew older and he came very closely to achieving that goal. It's just when studies get into the way and the drowsiness/fatigue catches up with you, you tend to lose sight of the big picture. Which is why Chase ended up giving away this fine establishment to someone more qualified. Someone who had more time on their hands to look after it. His parents. Yes, that's right his parents own the place and from the looks of it they've been doing a pretty good job. Everything seemed to be in its very best condition from their squeaky clean windows, to the shiny black and white patterned floors, and the crimson red rectangular tables that look extremely decorated with the interior lighting that was stationed above it. When Chase finally reached the front counter and ordered a medium sized Root Beer from the menu he couldn't help but notice that even the personnel looked incredible. They had this kind of MasterChef with Gordon Ramsay thing going on that actually quite intimidated him. So, when he received his soda and payed for it with a nice "thank you" to the employees working front counter, he walked back to the one spot him and his friends were always seated during their teenage years. They would actually come to Tom's Diner and order some burgers and curly fries as they sat at the same seats each and every day. He was actually quite surprised that it was still here. Chase had to admit this place is getting better and better as the years go by. "Good job mom and dad" Chase says to himself as he took a sip of soda. So engrossed in his thoughts about the place, he didn't notice a very familiar face walk in the front door. Garrett smoothly snuck around the diner until he was behind Chase where he continued to scare him causing Chase to choke on the Root Beer that he was drinking and Garrett dying from laughter. "Ugh! I hate when you do that." screamed Chase as he continued to wipe himself off and recompose his breathing. "Come on bro stop choking and give me a hug." Chase hesitantly rose from the seat so he could hug Garrett. It's not his fault actually, they were both known for being pretty big jokers when they met back in 9th grade and constantly pulled pranks on each other. Chase just had to make sure he wasn't trying to mess with him again. They must have been hugging for quite a few seconds because as soon as they were finished that's when Nate and Jay walked in announcing their presence. "Whoa dudes get a room." Jayden suggested which Nate countered off with "Yeah no one wants to see you two publically announce your love for each other" "Shut up and come hug us maggots" Garrett said to them. The four of them all proceeded to exchange smiles and hug each other. Minutes had passed and the boys had already ordered what they wanted from the menu and were in deep conversation. "So, Nate I have to know. How does it feel getting your ass kicked in front of thousands of people?" Garrett questions. "Don't even get me started bro. I swear this job is draining the life out of me." There were a bit of concerned faces coming from Jay and Chase. "Then why don't you quit? That seems like the most logical thing to do for me." "SHUT UP CHASE" Garrett and Jay screamed at him. Nate laughed at his friends and just shrugs off the comment "It pays well but hey look on the bright side it does help me come up with my half of the rent." He finishes as he sips the last of his strawberry milkshake in his cup. Just as he was finished it was Jayden's outburst that shocked him. "I already told you that you didn't need to worry about that." "Just leave it alone, Jay. We've already gone over this and I'm helping because I want to not that I have to." Nate rebuttals. That seemed to have quieted Jayden before Garrett spoke up "Yeah dude if he wants to help he can." "Whatever let's just change the conversation." Jayden closes off. It was a few seconds before Jayden decided to bring up the huge elephant in the room. The person they were really meeting up for. "So what's with this whole Alex thing?" "I don't know and I honestly don't care." Garrett replied bluntly. "He just told us to meet him at 4:30 in his apartment complex." "Five years without hearing a word from Alex." Nate finally says. "I have to admit it sucked but it wasn't all that bad either." The other three silently agreed as they processed the words that were just voiced. Life has been pretty good without Alex. Nate was a stuntman for Hollywood movies, Jayden was an up and coming ballroom dancer, Garrett was a book writer and a boxer I'm training and Chase had a chance of receiving the best art technique from one of the top schools in Brooklyn. It would've been nice to share their success with Alex but everything happens for a reason is the motto they believe in. "So what are we going to do guys? Just act like he's been around these past five years." Chase asks his friends looking for answers. No one looked like they were going to say anything so it was Garrett who spoke up. "Well! We go settle down and socialize with our parents at this gathering that they have no idea we know about then at 4:30 meet Alex in his apartment and just try and hear him out. We at least owe him that." The boys silently exchanged looks and agreed with each other as they left some money on the table for the food they they ordered and left the diner.
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It was half past 2:00 when when the boys all pulled up in their nicely owned vehicles. They risen from their cars and continued to make their way inside but before Nate could even put his hand on the doorknob a strong "WAIT!" from Jayden stopped them right in their tracks. "Our parents have no idea that we know about this little party that they have for us so can you dumbasses just try to at least look surprised." "Whatever maggot I do what I want." Garrett says as he and the other boys pushed past Jay. "Are you guys ready?" Garrett asked with a bit of determination in his voice. The boys all nodded in agreement as Garrett twists open the door and they all walk inside. As soon as they walked in all of their parents jumped out from their hiding places with a gigantic "SURPRISE!!!" that roared throughout the whole house. Such a surprise this party was the boys thought not really phased by it all but they were never going to reveal that. However, what caught there attention was how much their parents actually planned to make this party. There were bright colorful balloons tied by the furnace and on the windows. There were pictures of them when they were little plastered all over the wall. There was a huge blue banner across the room that read "WELCOME HOME BOYS!" and there was a chocolate cake displayed on the counter with sprinkles and dark red icing that spelled out all of their names across the cake. There were smiles all across their faces because believe it or not they were just so happy to be with their families again. They missed them so much over the years and were finally glad to have them in front of them again. "Well say something! Do you guys like it?" Mrs. Cardenas says with the hugest smile on her face. "Wow mom, we love it!" Nate bursts out in tears as he hugs his parents. "I missed you mommy!" Nate sobbed into his parents arms making Garrett, Chase and Jay very uncomfortable and slightly disgusted. "Well don't just stand there there are other parents to hug" said Mr. Lomeli as he stretched out his arms and the rest of the boys joined in on the greetings. Their parents looked like they worked so hard to put this party together and they were kind of feeling guilty that they almost screwed it up. "Damn it Jay was right." Garrett said to himself but he would never let him know that. "Well I know you guys must be hungry so we decided to bring some food over from the diner for you boys to enjoy." Mr. Noble says as he leads them to the dining room table. "Wow dad that looks great. Thank you." Chase says as he hugs him for the second time. There was food everywhere and it looked incredible. Incredible enough to make Garrett burst out in tears. "So this is what heaven looks like?" Garrett says to himself more than anyone else. "Are you crying?" Jayden asked unamused but before he could finish that sentence, Garrett had already sat down and was munching on some nearby burgers that he saw. "I see he's still the same fatass from when we were kids" Chase joked. "Shut up maggot" Garrett shot back with a mouth full of chewed up meat and a plate stacked high with food. "Damn fatass wait for us" Jayden joked as he and the rest of the family found their seats around the table and enjoyed the rest of their time together.