Jack hadn't had much to do the rest of the week. Most teachers took pity on the students and didn't want to make them do too much when it was just the start of the school year. It was now the weekend, and he made plans with his friends to go to the park. He wanted to introduce Davey to his other friends since they hadn't met him yet, minus a few who had him in their classes.
After saying that she would pick them up when she was finished at the theater, Medda dropped Jack and Crutchie off at the park earlier than the agreed time to meet up, so they went and set up the snacks and drinks they had on a community table at the park while they waited for the others.
"So, who'd you invite?" Crutchie asked. "Cute boy who hit you in the face with a basketball?"
"Ay, I know that sound in your voice," Jack said. "I'm with Amelia, don't be tryin' to set me up with anyone else."
"He is cute though," Crutchie said, wiggling his eyebrows at Jack.
"Yeah, sure." Jack sighed and checked his phone. It was about fifteen minutes until the other boys were supposed to be there.
"Ay, is that David over there?" Crutchie asked, pointing to a figure on the other side of the park. As Crutchie pointed him out, David noticed them and started walking their direction.
"Must be," Jack said.
"You look a bit overdressed for the occasion," Jack said, noticing David's nicer clothing. "Do you want me to ask one of the boys to bring you a pair of clothes that we won't stress about gettin' dirty?"
"Oh, uh..." Davey paused for a bit. "Yeah, please. I wasn't sure what we were doing here." He blushed. "Sorry."
"It's all good," Crutchie said. "I'm Crutchie. We have English together."
"David," He held out his hand to Crutchie, getting a bit of a confused shake back.
Jack texted the other boys to see if anyone who hadn't left already could bring some shorts and a T-shirt for David. He got a text back from Albert saying he could, with a few of the other guys cracking jokes.
"Albie's bringin' you some clothes," Jack let David know.
"Thank you," David said. "Again, I'm sorry about that."
"It's all good!" Jack said. "Wouldn't want your stuff gettin' messy."
They all waited for the rest of the time for the rest of the boys to get there. In true Albert fashion, he showed up about 15 minutes late, but handed David the extra pair of clothes once he got there.
"Uh, where're the bathrooms here?" David asked.
"I'll walk ya there, they're kinda hidden," Jack said, earning a whistle from a few of the boys.
"Don't get up to any funny business in them bathrooms!" Race shouted, laughing. Jack rolled his eyes and lead David to the bathrooms.
"So where you from?" Jack asked him as they walked.
"Ohio," he said. "Columbus. My dad got a job offer here, though, so we picked up and moved."
"What's it like in Ohio?" Jack asked.
"Less busy, that's for sure." He laughed a bit. "It's really weird here, in Manhattan."
"How so?" Jack asked. "Is it the accent?"
"Well, that too, I guess. But it's just so... Much." He said. "I mean, I lived in the capital of Ohio. But this is a lot for me."
"I guess," Jack said. "I've lived here my whole life, and don't really travel."
