Code 47 to BREV Force Cracko

Chapter 20

Brad had gotten home early. He remembered he'd was supposed to V-TEL Jonathan the night before. He didn't have to be at work for a while and decided to finally tell him about his experience with Patti.

When the V-TEL first made the connection, Brad couldn't believe his eyes. He initially figured that he somehow had gotten a wrong number. "Jon, is that you? What the hell did you do to yourself?"

"Well, who the hell did you expect?" Jon barked. He unwrapped a candy.

Brad had never heard Jonathan speak to anyone in that tone but that wasn't the only drastic change. The picture of Jonathan's room showing on the screen was enough to cause shock to anyone who really knew him.

Jon was normally a compulsive neat freak and extremely conservative in his tastes but the look of everything around him was clutter: books thrown around on the floor, clothes that looked like they'd been shredded and the most troubling sight of all; posters from the "dead and demon collection." Even Jonathan's personal appearance had drastically changed: no glasses, hair slicked with mousse, fashionable shirt and designer jeans. He also had what looked like real gold chains hanging from his neck which Brad knew his friend couldn't afford.

"Hey, Dude! If you don't connect with this new me, just disconnect!"

"Ease up man, I didn't say I didn't like it," Brad stammered, "it's just really far out for you and especially since I just saw you yesterday!"

"Oh, so you think you're the only one who can look sharp. Well, things are really changing for me and they are gonna pop real quick! What's-a-matter Brad baby, afraid I'll give you a run for your money, with the girls or, are 'ya just protecting your sister from big, bad me?" Jon reached down and grabbed another candy.

"My sister? Where the hell did that come from? Look bro' there are too many girls in this town for me to have 'em all anyway and as for Evie, you know better than anyone, she still mooning over Eddy."

"Well, maybe I can change that –besides, you know she already confides in me...like with the modeling...so, any objections pal?"

"Uh, no!" Brad hesitated for a moment. "What you do is up to you and Evie."

"You're damn right, so just stay outta my way," Jon stuffed some more candy in his mouth.

Frustrated Brad fired back, "Jon, what the hell is going on with you? You sound like some macho idiot with an ego that's outta this world?"

"Hey jealous, are you? Well, get used to the competition. No more Mr. Nerdy! Nobody ever looked twice at the old Jonathan. From now on, I'm gonna make a statement."

"And this is the statement you wanna make? I liked you the way you were and guess what dude, so does Evie. I'm not so sure she's gonna go for this 'new you' crap!"

"Well, we'll see about that! Listen man, I'm kinda busy lining up dates for the Friday night rally. Hey, maybe I can make Evie! Anyway, I need to go, so can we make it fast...why'd 'ya call?"

"Oh, uh, nothing much. I just wanted to tell you about this really hot girl I met in cyberspace and...."

"Come on, Brad," Jon interrupted. "You're putting me on, right? Is that the best you can do these days... a cyber-broad?"

"Yeah, I guess it is.... Catch you tomorrow," Brad said abruptly.

Jonathan didn't even say good-bye. He just disconnected. "Nerd! I'll show Brad and everyone." He voice activated to connect with the next girl he was inviting to the rally and then reached down into the bag beside his computer; got another candy and popped it into his mouth. The taste was like nothing he'd ever encountered. He rolled the morsel on his tongue and sat back enjoying the sensations surging through his body. "What a rush!" Jonathan was sorry he had only grabbed enough candy to stuff his pockets. He made a mental note to somehow find out where that Sheila broad, from his English Lit class, had gotten these.

Brad sat staring at the screen, suddenly realizing he was going to be late for work. Grabbing his C-TEL from his dresser he bolted out the front door to his car. Fighting the rush hour traffic, he had plenty of time to reflect on his strange conversation with Jonathan. What the hell could have changed him like that and so fast, I just saw him yesterday and he was fine? Brad tried to recreate the events of his last contact with Jonathan. I remember he was fine in school and looked like himself, so what.... Brad tried to remember seeing Jonathan after that but he was so pre-occupied with Patti, he couldn't recall. What could've happened to him?