Bad Boys

t h r e e ~ Yes Always Yes

My eyes continuously scan the area around me, automatically noting where each camera is located and the direction it faces. Bash is a few paces ahead of me, Jax is somewhere behind me and Ryder and Dominic have already wondered into an aisle somewhere. I slip into one on my left, leaving Jax and Bash still in the center strip of the store. I make my way down the aisle, stopping every few paces as if something catches my eye on the way. But I grab nothing not yet. I turn along the end cap, my fingers grabbing a pack of beef jerky for no particular reason. The weight of it in my hoodie pocket slows my steps in an effort to seem more casual.

I continue along at the back of the aisles, keeping up the act of looking for something believable. I come out at the end and make my way to the music, knowing it's the only thing really worth snagging. I scan the albums, my eyes immediately drawn to a couple black and white ones. I grab one and pick it up, only partially for show. I turn it over and scan the song list before placing it back on the shelf. Then I grab another immediately slipping it into my hoodie. I didn't bother to see which one it was. My eyes find a Twenty One Pilots album next and I grab the one next to it, moving my body to the block the camera. I flip it over as my fingers slide the Twenty One Pilots album into my hoodie. I place the one in my hand back on the shelf shifting purposely for the camera to catch the movement. Then I head down the aisle, keeping my back to the camera. I walk along the back for a little before coming out to the open. I make my way back to the front of the store, subtly scanning for the guys. Ryder walks out of an aisle carrying a bag of chips. I nod at him and he waits for me to join him.

"Find anything good?" he asks. I shrug.

"Not really." We both know that's a lie. But he keeps his eyes away from my hoodie pocket as I stuff my hands inside. We continue our walk to the front of the store together and walk straight up to the register. Ryder hands the guy the bag of chips and I find the Bash and Jax together at another line, talking to some girl with a lip ring. She only seems mildly interested. Dominic didn't seem to make it into the main part of the store. He's chatting up the barista in the coffee shop. She twirls her hair and giggles. I look back at the cashier in front of me as he hands Ryder back the chips. He glances at me but doesn't bother to look down at the pocket. Ryder and I start walking out. Bash and Jax leave the lip ring and she doesn't seem to care. Dominic leans away from the barista and grabs the napkin she slides across the counter. Then he too follows us to the door. The minute we step through the door the alarm blares. And then we're gone.

Sprinting like mad men down the street as the male cashier who scanned our chips bursts through the door to yell at us. Our feet pound against the concrete, the rhythm of it a familiar beat. We dodge around a lady with a stroller, who looks shocked to say the least, and man who's too busy on a call to fully register the hooligans racing past him. I can't help but smirk as a group of girls, too worried about their drinks spilling to pay us much more than a glance, jump out of our way.

At this point we're running only for the thrill. Nobody from the store bothered to follow us. Besides we know these streets like the back of our hand. Every hiding place is ingrained in our brains. If we wanted to stop running we could've hid closer to the store.

We turn down the next street running by the police department and courthouse just to spite them. I hoist one of the stolen albums in the air like a victory flag. Next to me Jax blares an air horn. I flinch and in front of us Dominic stumbles to the ground, screaming like a girl. I skid to a stop and slide the album back into my hoodie, as the rest of the guys stop too. Dominic rolls to the side and stands up, brushing himself off. In the spot where he was on the ground sits a girl in a light blue sundress.

"Ow," she mutters. Crap. She runs her fingers through her hair trying to fix it, but gives up quickly like she doesn't really care, then she looks up at us, squinting into the sun. Her eyes land on me and she perks up. I paste a blank expression on my face.