Soul Search

Peaceful Afternoon

It's a joke see, the title is sarcastic. My afternoon this time was anything but peaceful. In fact this just adds to my saga of being the crutch for everyone to cry on, even though I was really bad at comforting people. Anyway, in fair Verona where we lay out scene, I was hanging out with Alex, we were getting ice cream. We figured we kinda owed it each other after our small fight.

"Okay, so truth or dare." He started as we walked down a street.

"Truth." I decided, heaven knows what Alex would come up with for a dare.

"Would you rather eat a grasshopper live, or take over Julia's part in the play?"

"Are you kidding?" I laughed. "I'd gladly play Juliet."

"Yeah you'd probably slay." He agreed. "Now you go."

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Do you like anyone?"

Alex gaped at me. "Micah, that's so unoriginal."

I shrugged. "I'm am not creative on the spot."

Alex's face twisted up in embarrassment. "Well, since you asked...I do actually."

I gasped. "Alexander!"

He laughed nervously. "Don't you use this as blackmail, Halabi."

"Who is it?" I asked.

He cackled. "Not part of the question!"

"Oh, just wait till my next turn." I smirked.

"Ha ha." He laughed sarcastically. "Alright, truth or..."

He trailed off suddenly, looking ahead. There was a bridge a head of us. There was a guy leaning against the chain link fence. He breathed out a puff of smoke and suddenly I recognized him.

"Is that Arthur?" Alex asked.

"I think so." I agreed.

We stood there awkwardly in silence for a bit. I thought about the look he had given me a few days ago. It made me feel uncomfortable and I didn't really want to approach him.

"Come on, let's go say hi." Alex insisted.

Well I couldn't say no now. Alex called out to him and waved. Arthur looked startled and dropped the cigarette he was smoking.

"I didn't know you smoked?" Alex continued, somewhat hesitantly.

Arthur scowled and crushed it into the cement. "I don't, I don't know what you're talking about."

Oh boy, he was in a mood. He glared at me darkly from under his hood. I blinked uncertainly, wondering if he would try and beat me up.

Alex was less determined but still on board. "Oh, okay. Uh...so what's up? I've never seen you out and about before, do you come here often?"

Arthur scowled. "Nothing's up. Life is boring."

I wondered briefly why Alex was trying. I wouldn't have even approached him.

Alex shrugged, unbearably innocently. "I mean, sure it's not one hundred percent twenty four-seven, but life's not all bad, right Micah?"