Jase woke up late the next morning. On the way to school, he saw a small gathering forming outside of the mayor's office. The people within the mob held picket signs like pitchforks as a unanimous chant emerged from the crowd.
"Abandon the Atlatl!"
Jase couldn't help but wonder why this group was so opposed to him. He seemed like a good enough person. After all, he was risking his life to help others. Yet, despite his admirable goal, the crowd still rejected his deeds.
'What did Atlatl do? Do people just hate vigilantes? Will these same people hate me?'
Jase continued his walk, trapped in the rabbithole of indecision. Each thought fought its way to the forefront of his mind as he engaged in an internal debate with himself.
Maybe he could prove that vigilantes aren't bad. If they saw his good deeds, surely they would realize what was at stake. He stepped into the school and prepared for his monotonous day to pass.
As he went through his classes, each teacher's words went in one ear and out the other. Jase daydreamed and pondered the hero's life further.
As Jase finished up school, he went to meet Hal in their usual spot. As soon as Hal saw Jase, he motioned him to the side.
"Dude, you have to see this!" Hal excitedly exclaimed. He dropped his backpack and began rummaging through its pockets, pulling out the occasional loose item.
"Can't find a comic book? That's a first." Jase said after a few seconds with a smirk.
"It's not a comic, way cooler." Jase raised an eyebrow as Hal pulled out his lunchbox and dropped it to his side.
"I just put my phone in my backpack before P.E, and the second I look away, it's gone."
Jase heard the sound of steps approaching behind him. While Hal remained fixated on the contents of his backpack, Jase turned around.
"Hey y'all"
"Hi Lilly!" Jase said excitedly.
"Aha! Got it!" Hal looked up where Jase was previously standing.
To his dismay, Jase had moved on from the topic and didn't seem to be paying him any attention. Hal disappointedly slid his phone into his back pocket and leaned around Jase's legs to look at the stranger wearing a pair of ripped jeans and a baggy hoodie adorned with the school's raptor mascot on the chest.
"Hello…" Hal said, slightly bitter at the girl's presence.
"OH! Ummm Lilly this is my best friend Hal, and Hal this is Lilly!" Jase said hurriedly.
"Hi Hal!"
"Nice to meet you," said Hal, unenthused.
"What're y'all up to? School's been out awhile now." Lilly inquired.
"We usually meet up here to walk home together," Jase replied. "Hal was gonna show me something on his phone."
Jase turned from Lilly to face Hal. "You find it?"
"Nope. I'll text you later," Hal lied.
"Aw, that's alright," Lilly said. "That reminds me, though. I don't like havin' to search the school every day to talk to ya for a few. Can I get your number?"
"Sure!" Jase opened his phone and passed it to Lilly. "It should have my number up. Just send me a message so I know it's you."
"Of course," Lilly said as she began typing in Jase's number. "Say, while I have you here, have y'all seen that Atlatl fella and the other one….. Uhhh, say what's his name again?....."
Jase finished Lilly's thought "Height!"
"Ahh yeah that's it. Height. Have ya seen them two?"
The two boys both nodded to confirm they had in fact seen the two heroes.
"Well, which do you like more?" Lilly's question was met with silence. The boys exchanged glances, each unsure what to say.
Jase broke the tension. "Height, easily. Do you know how much I'd love to use those grappling hooks?"
Hal chimed in. "Yeah, but at least Atlatl's out and about stopping crime. Besides, he has such a cool weapon!"
"Sure it's cool, but is it effective?"
"Does effectiveness matter when Atlatl has no competition?"
"Lilly, what do you think?" said the boys in unison as they turned to stare at her.
Lilly looked at each of the boys. They both watched her with competitive anticipation. After a moment of debating, she looked up and smiled.
"I think they're both great!"
"But you have to have a favorite, right?" probed Jase.
"Not really, they're both-"
"Cmon," Hal interjected. "If you had to pick one, which one would it be?" The two leaned closer for an answer.
"You guys seem heated over this," Lilly said, taking a step back. "I'll let you two settle it." The boys held their gazes, dead set on receiving an answer. The staring contest held for a few moments before Lilly broke. She let out a quiet "Atlatl."
"No way!" said Jase, shocked with disbelief.
"See,I told you Atlatl is better!" Hal eyed Jase with a smug grin.
Lilly tensed up. "I never said one was better, I just said which was my-" Her voice was quickly drowned out.
"HOW CAN YOU LIKE A GUY WITH A STICK MORE THAN ONE WITH GRAPPLING HOOKS?!"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN A STICK? HE THROWS DARTS!!!" Hal exclaimed.
The two boys glared at each other competitively as Lilly anxiously looked at them. Suddenly, the two burst into laughter and began to apologize to Lilly.
"Ahahaha, sorry Lilly, don't worry, we're just joking around," said Hal.
"Yeah it's no biggie, though you're totally wrong on who's cooler," Jase pitched in with a playful smile.
Lilly's nervousness began to leave her as she let out a small chuckle.
"I ain't gonna lie, y'all had me a little worried, are you guys usually like this?" she asked.
They both went silent for a moment. Jase thought back to how he and his friend had been toward each other lately.
'Things have been a little tense I suppose.'
Jase looked at his friend with a grin and said, "Yeah we are".
Hal's smile became wider as he looked toward his friend in appreciation.
"This guy can be a real pain in my ass," said Hal to Lilly with a serious look.
Lilly chuckled as Jase gave a light kick to the back of Hal's leg, causing Hal to show a pained expression as he let out a light groan. Hal quickly held his leg and glared at Jase.
"Ah shit, I'm sorry man!! Are you okay?" exclaimed Jase.
'What happened to him?'
Hal's expression relaxed as he brushed off Jase's worry.
"Nah you're good, I just managed to bang up the back of my leg a little, not too long ago."
Lilly, who had been watching the two's shenanigans, suddenly asked Hal, "What happened to get your leg all screwed up?"
"Nothing much, just a little tumble out of my bed is all," replied Hal.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know. That's my bad," Jase hurried to say.
"I'm serious, man. You're all good," Hal said, grasping onto Jase's shoulder with a devious smile as he gave a hefty slap to Jase's back.
SLAP!
Jase's back scrunched together as he let out a small yelp in pain, causing Hal and Lilly to double over in laughter. Jase glared at the two as a thought popped into his mind.
"Oh yeah, what are you doing after school so late Lilly? Do you not take the bus?"
Jase and Hal hadn't taken the bus much due to how close their homes were to the school.
'Given how her poor cat ends up in the alleyway so often, it might not be too far away.'
"Actually I-" Lilly was once again cut off as her phone began to ring.
Lilly pulled out her phone as she hurriedly handed back Jase's. She hadn't really been able to find the opportunity to give it back up until then. She gave the boys a wave as she bid them farewell.
"Sorry boys, I gotta get going, Jase my number's in there," she said as she began to jog away, "Y'all are fun I'll see ya on Monday!"
Hal leaned towards Jase while watching Lilly run off, "Since when did you talk to women?"
Jase side-eyed Hal and responded, "Since when could you breathe around them?"