Logan grins while racing down the red brick roads leading home.
"Logan, what's the rush ma boy!" calls out an old man in overalls.
Logan grinds to a halt but continues to jog in place.
"Mom's making dinner, then I'm heading to the protest," Logan says hurriedly, "I got to go Old Sam!"
"Oh, how about buying your mom's latest article, it's a hoot!" Old Man Sam exclaims.
Logan stops then turns back and tilts his head then nods.
"Sure, why not," Logan says.
Then shoving his hand in his pocket and drawing out two paper Centis's. Logan offers the cash to the old newspaper man who hastily grabs the paper to count. After thorough confirmation Old Sam hands over a roll of browned paper.
"Thank ya for the business, ma boy," Old Man Sam grins with extra enthusiasm.
"Have a nice day, Old Man," Logan smirks.
Logan starts jogging home.
"Next time be less obvious or you're going to scare away customers, you old geezer!" Logan shouts running around the corner.
"Says the one who used to tip over my stall and run when he was a rug rat," Old Sam grumbles with a grin edged into his wrinkled face.
^^^
Rounding the corner Logan's eyes lit up at the sight of a two-story brick house. Running up to the green door he juggles the paper and his bag. Rummaging for his keys he pops one in the lock only to drop the paper.
"Shoot," Logan says under his breath.
He bends down to pick it up when he notices the tie on the roll broke, freeing the brown pages. There on the front page is an article about tonight's protest. Logan narrows his eyes then picks up the leaflets and starts flipping through as he opens the door. Placing the paper down he kicks off his shoes, then hangs his bag and coat.
Reaching for the paper he continues to peruse the pages as he enters the kitchen. Logan's eyebrows furrow the further he flips. Then when reaching the supernatural section, he unexpectedly finds his target.
'The Figure on the Fountain by Marilee Warth'
Logan slams the article on the counter, eyes narrowing. Pursing his lips he lowers his head and gives a big sigh. Then he runs to the stairs stomping on the way up. After many a bang he comes down in jeans and a green knit sweater.
Running to the door, Logan throws his shoes and coat on and goes to slam the front door but stops and takes a deep breath. Quietly he shuts and locks the door. Logan jumps off the porch, then runs down the street, his hands and teeth clenched.
^^^
Bright orange and red leaves fill the path with vibrant hues. The boisterous voices coming from many teenagers reverberate down the roads. Their bodies drift down the streets like a stream, toward the business district main square.
Their anticipation for the upcoming protest is palpable.
'Hahahahahahaha'
"Jet, can you shut your mouth," Ben says hollowly.
"NOT HAPPENING!" Jet announces, "I finally found a way to pass Geopolitics, haha!"
Ben rolls his eyes and stare at Jet's face with a dead look.
"I finally have the perfect plan! I'll use the pass that I'll get from this protest and use it on the final!" Jet exclaims, "Then I'll go on to ace all my classes, graduate with flying colors, snag a scholarship for Center Backwards for TriSphera. Then I'll land myself a professional career in the NPS (National Player Society). I'll seduce a sexy vixen with money and my perfect bod…"
Ben narrows his eyes as he looks at Jet's face. Adjust his glasses and tilts his head. Finally, he removes his glasses to clean them. When putting them back on he shakes his head.
"So, what do you think?" Jet asks, his eyes sparkling.
"You need to do something about your eyebrows or should I say brow. Your unibrow is taking what little chance you have and making it nil." Ben answers.
Then fishes his phone and earbuds out of his pocket.
'Ahhh'
Jet makes a high-pitched shriek, as he covers his forehead with both hands.
Ben puts in his earbuds, ques up and presses play. He starts to nod his head as the riff begins.
"My house, My wife, my pet iguanaaaa!" Jet cries, grabbing his hair.
'Swoosh'
A body flies past Ben, who raises a brow. Ben pauses the song.
"Iguana?" Logan asks as he tries to catch his breath.
Don't get him started Ben mouths.
Then clearing his throat, interrupting Jet.
"Are you, ok?" Ben asks Logan.
Jet closes his mouth looking at Logan, then holds his hand up to Logan's forehead.
Ben rolls his eyes.
Logan presses out a grin and swats away Jet's hand.
"It's all good," Logan says.
"Or it will be," he mutters.
Ben nods. Jet tilts his head, but Ben elbows him. Ben pulls out his phone.
"Want to hear Freezes's new song?" Ben asks.
"What?!" Logan and Jet exclaim.
"How'd you get your hands on it so quickly?" Logan asks.
Jet nods in tandem.
Ben grinning evilly lowers his glasses and wags his eyebrows.
"Let's just say I have," Ben lowers his voice, "Connections."
"I have Connections," Jet mimicked.
"So I guess you're not so intere….," Ben drags out.
Logan swats Jet.
"Ignore him," Logan pleads.
Ben raises a brow and ques up the song this time he disconnects from his earbuds and starts the song over. They start walking down the road as the sun travels farther to the North, lighting up the leaves with its warm rays.
^^^
'Smack'
"Hey," says a girl brown curls, "Why did you hit me, Maranda!"
Playing with her blond curls Maranda's sapphire eyes glare up beneath upturned lashes.
"Don't stare at Logan with those googoo eyes, Meg," she bites out.
Meg rolls her eyes.
Tap Tap
Meg and Maranda start and stand from their squat.
A finger points past them to a gaggle of girls across the street.
Several girls start whispering and pointing at Meg and Maranda.
Meg and Maranda's faces start turning red.
"Look ahead and try to draw less attention to yourselves," says a red head in a brown sweater.
"Don't scare us like that Sidney," Meg says.
"Says the two weirdos peaking at a boy from an alley," Sidney retorts.
"We didn't," Meg says.
"We didn't," Maranda says.
Sidney sighs.
"I know you both like him but until he shows interest or choses a girlfriend you gotta keep your cool," Sidney says.
"But, Sidney…" Meg says holding the lace hem of her sweater.
"Don't, Sidney me," the red head says.
"Oh, don't cry no no you mascara is gonna run." Sidney whispers, grabbing a tissue handing it to Meg.
Meg grabs the tissue, rustles through her bag, then pulls out a small mirror, and starts to blot her eyes.
Tug Tug
Sidney swivels.
"Oh not you to Miranda," Sidney sighs.
^^^
Logan, Jet, and Ben make their way through security collecting the activity pamphlet along the way.
Jet starts kissing the pamphlet, muttering about his sweet wife, and baby iguana.
Logan and Ben start moving away from Jet wanting no ownership of their friendship.
The large square filled with people and booths, circling around a large fountain with a three sectioned shield by the statue of a large man with a beard.
Large posters held by each booth fundraising for specific animal protection rights.
Logan and Ben explore the stalls with vigor as they collected a myriad of snacks.
"Wait for me!" Jet yells pushing through the crowd.
"You done serenading your ticket to the future" Ben asks with a straight face.
Logan struggles not to turn the corners of his mouth, turning around with his shoulders shaking.
"You wouldn't understand, at least you have a fiancé. All I've got going for me is luck and muscle," Jet wines.
"Its not so bad I'm still single," Logan says patting Jet's shoulder.
Jet glares at Logan.
"I don't wanna hear that from the school prince. You practically have girls throwing themselves at you," Jet mutters.
"Sorry didn't catch that," Logan asks eye filled with questions.
"Leave the poor boy alone, he's pure, unlike you," Ben jabs.
The sky starts to darken as the street and fountain lights brighten.
Thunk.
The lights flash then disappear the square descends into inky darkness.
"What's going on"
"This wasn't in the pamphlet"
Screams.
Flash.
A light flashes to the fountain.
There atop the three piece shield sits a gentleman in a Nobel's garment with a violin.