playdead

Chapter Twelve

Chase bobbed his head down the street. He had his Sony Walkman in his pocket, his headphones blaring Wham!'s song "The Edge of Heaven."

Chase's entire life was music. He wanted a musician gig so badly, he'd cut off a limb for it. He could play Mary Had a Little Lamb on guitar, was too broke to afford a piano or keyboard, but nonetheless he would somehow strike talent one day.

Back home, his auntie would be waiting for him to walk through that cheep (and fake) mahogany door. His house smelled of ginger and perfume, which he loved. Chase loved his life.

There was a tap on Chase's shoulder.

He turned, and saw a kid, same height, big nose. Blonde hair, no doubt possibly dyed. He wore denim pants and a black leather coat, with a red shirt.

Chase put his headphones on his shoulders and said, "Aye? What'dya need?"

"Uh. Nothing, really. I was thinking, I outta start making friends at this school and..." He said.

"Of course, dawg! Me and you, we'll become like two peas in a pod!" Chase said, dreamily, wrapping his arm around the guy's shoulders.

"Right..." He said, nudging the arm off of him. "Anyway, my name's Oliver."

"Ollie, I'll call you Ollie." Chase said. "Anyway Ollie, I was gonna head down to 7-11 right now, to get some snacks. Wanna come?"

"As long as I don't pay, you got my full attention...uh...your name?" Oliver asked.

"Chase the wise, my good man." Chase said.

Chase and Oliver walked and talked for a some time, until they reached a street. Not a busy street, mind you. But as far as the eye could see (not really) were stores and businesses. Trees and parks were everywhere. Cars rode along the streets, passing and stopping at hanging traffic lights. Red and orange and brown leaves leaped off the trees and landed in the street. A soft and cold gust of wind blew them wherever they wanted.

"Ahh...That fresh, and cool Nevada fall smell makes this place feel gorgeous!" Chase exclaimed.

"How can a smell make a place feel gorgeous?" Oliver asked.

"Oh please, Ollie. Ya don't know shit about nature! Steve Irwin is my hero!" Chase said.

Chase and Oliver walked across the intersection and walked down Kietzke. Henry Orr. Avenue would be wear the snacks await.

"By the way, you got money right?" Oliver asked.

"'Course, my bro. I got like...150 in my pocket." Oliver said.

"150?! Jesus Chase, this isn't a five star restaurant!" Oliver said.

"It's not that much Ollie, shush." Chase said, and both of them chuckled.

Oliver and Chase walked across yet another road and reached the 7-11. They walked through the parking lot and stepped over those yellow things for cars.

"What are those called?" Chase asked.

"I dunno. It stops cars or something?" Oliver questioned.

They both entered, and looked around.

"We're on a strict diet of snackies today, Ollie. Welcome to the playground." Chase said.

"Hmm...decisions..." Oliver said.

"Decisions indeed...this is like that one scene in Indiana Jones." Chase said.

"I've never watched that before." Oliver said. Chase sighed.

Four more people came into the 7-11. They murmured amongst themselves.

"I might as well get a bag of chips." Chase said, grabbing Hot Cheetos. Oliver grabbed a soda and Oreos.

"Chase?" Someone said.

"Wha..." Chase looked around. He couldn't spot whoever said that.

"Dude. Behind you." Oliver said.

Chase looked behind him. There were four kids. One black, three white, one girl.
It was Simon, Henry, and two other guys.

"Oh jeez. What's up Si?" Chase said. Simon was hunched over like he was going to vomit. Another was soaking wet and shivering. "You two look horrible."

"He was roughed up right now." A girl with them said, pointing to Simon. "Then, those dickheads Patrick and Cameron threw him into a river." The girl said, pointing to the soaking wet guy. The girl had surprisingly short hair.

"I'm good. I've been tellin' them I'm fine." Simon argued.

"Oh? So you wouldn't mind standing straight then, huh?" Henry said.

"Shut up Henry." Simon said.

"His back is all crooked as hell. It's gon' take weeks before he ever walked normally." A dude said.

"What?!" Simon almost shouted.

"Sorry...kidding Simon." He said.

"How in gods name are you so calm about this?" Oliver asked.

"I dunno. We came here for first aid. Since, I got some cuts and shit." Simon said.

"Well. I'll gather some." Chase said.

"How caring! See, this is what teamwork is." A dude said.

"Teddy, shut up. I'll make you scream in that damn forest again." A girl said.

"Hah! That was you?" Simon asked.

"No! I...I was just...panicky. You don't know it was me, Breezy!" Teddy argued.

"Okay, okay. Calm down." Breezy said, chuckling.

Chase gathered all medical supplies he could find. He also grabbed snacks.

Chase went up to the counter and put the stuff out.

The rest of the group followed him slowly, trying not to drop Simon's weak body.

"That'll be 56 dollars and...3 cents." The cashier said.
Chase paid it and put the supplies in a bag.

"Right gang. I've got some gauze, scissors, bandaids, shaving cream, lighters, and snacks." Chase said, rustling through the bag as he and the rest walked out.