It was now a week since the game and Arwin was satisfied with outcome but all good things have to have a drawback and the drawback to this was his new companion. Jack had been following him around as of late it didn't really faze him so he let him stick around.
School was all but over and at the looks of things so was Jack as he sat slumped back on one of the compound benches. Arwin offered the guy a drink he randomly chose from the vending machine Jack reached out for the drink only for his face to turn sour "Really a peach drink".
"You get what you get and don't complain its simply life" Jack let out a disapproving sigh before gulping down the drink all at once and saying "Actually it isn't bad" Arwin stared at the drink before taking a sip himself and he had to admit that it was actually a good drink he sighed before continuing to say "I'll be going then".
Arwin had began to walk away when he had Jack call out "Hey dude wait" he raced towards him gripping him by the shoulder before saying "There was actually somebody I want you to meet today."
"And who would that be" Arwin spoke with indifference not that he could actually control it but after a week together jack seemed to have gotten used to it Jack's face twisted to a smile as he spoke with enthusiasm in his voice "You'll see once we get there" Arwin felt like going home but at the same time he really didn't have that much to at home "Okay then lead the way"
"Yes, you won't regret this" and with that Jack led Arwin off to this so-called friend of his and truthfully even he felt a bit curious about who they were about to meet Jack usually played the cool guy but today he was too excited "I wonder who this friend will be"
***
Today seemed than usual with a flood of customers pouring in every minute yes it was good for business but not for teenage girl working parttime. The job had already taken most of her after school time and now her shift was made an hour longer "When will this hell end" she gently slapped her cheeks before continuing to say "Composure Naomi composure".
Naomi looked in to the mirror next to her taking time to examine her own face her hazel brown eyes appeared tired and her hair of the same color seemed to be a little out of shape she liked keeping her hair short keeping it just below the ears. It not only made her stylish it also made working here much easier.
She fixed her pins that appeared like two red cherries carefully in her hair as she smiled diligently to her reflection, she stood in a mature and composed manner or at least tried to.
"Hey Naomi the customers aren't going to serve themselves" the croaked female voice called out to her making her shiver she turned to where the voice had come from and answered "Okay boss on my way"
Naomi had scored herself a parttime job far away from any familiar faces apart from her friend no one else knew that she worked at a dinner. So, she could work without worrying about ruining her gently crafted image. She had worked hard to get this image and was not willing to lose it just yet.
She tied her apron around her waist completing the staff uniform that consisted of a red shirt and a black trouser it was not her style but wore it non the less. She sighed and went straight to work, she worked as a waitress taking orders from the customers and delivering their meals to them.
She came to the next table where a group of ragged men sat, she felt nervous but didn't let it show her careful voice resounding in her own ears "May I take your order" the men turned to her with menacing smiles as one of the men said "Come closer and take our order the right way".
Naomi felt disgusted by the man finding it hard to restrain her own bitter words "Sorry, but I don't feel safe around you so either you order or get another waitress" The man's face twisted to a frown as he slammed the table saying "Are you disrespecting us" Naomi shook her head slightly and answered a calm voice "No dear customers, I would never do that in my entire life"
The man's face twisted even more as he tried to reach out for Naomi, she backed up bumping into someone before a croaked voice sounded behind "Hey you bustards you better not be troubling my girl here". Naomi had never been this happy to hear this voice she turned around and saw a woman wearing the same attire as her she seemed to be in her late twenties with black hair tied in a bun.
Her mere presence had an effect as Naomi noticed the man who was aiming for pull back "I wonder why she scares them" she thought as the woman stood Infront of Naomi and turned to her with a motherly look before saying "I think you should and attend to table five". Naomi nodded and turned towards the table where she saw two boys wearing a uniform with a white shirt, a black trouser and a black blazer with a tie to finish it off.
She knew that uniform all too well it was the same uniform she herself wore "I'll get right to it miss Allen" indeed she had never been this happy about receiving an order from Miss Allen maybe today might just go her way after all.
***
Arwin had been led to a diner by Jack who had a wide smile plastered on his face the two boys entered the diner making themselves comfortable at table five. "So where is the friend of yours" Jack's unwavering smile was more pronounced as he spoke with joy in his face "She'll come when she sees us" and soon after a waitress came to take their order.
The waitress was a pretty girl with hazel brown eyes and hair that was cut short with two cherry red pins fixed into her hair. Jack's smile widened even more at the sight of her as the girl herself smiled back even though she seemed to be trying not show it "What can I get you two" her voice was gentle and mature even the way she presented herself looked mature and independent but this all seemed to be a mask just like the one he noticed on Jack.
The two made their order and the girl strolled off only to return later with their orders though the tray had a third order that neither one of them had ordered, the girl placed them on the table as the aroma of fries and burgers met his nostrils among the array of food were three drinks they were all in a rainbow color and from what Arwin could tell Jack couldn't wait to dig in.
The girl took a seat right next to Jack before saying "Hi am Naomi Jack has told me a lot about you, your Arwin right" Arwin nodded slightly and continued to say "And you" Naomi smiled faintly before speaking in that mature tone of hers "Naomi this idiot's childhood friend" she giggled along side Jack who went on to say "Let's eat before my boss catches on"
The three finished their meal and by the time they did Naomi's shift was all but over as the girl spoke displaying the presence of her youthfulness as spoke excitedly "Yesss, my shift is over now I can go have and rest" Jack's voice soon followed as he asked her "Why did you take this job anyway" Naomi turned back to Jack a shocked expression on her face as she said "Wait didn't I tell you".
To which Jack shook his head slightly "nope" Naomi stroked her chin having returned to her childlike persona "hmmm, well guess I'll tell you now there is this really cool dress I want to buy its design is simply fabulous from my stand point so I must have it".
Jack looked taken aback by her answer as he spoke with a disappointed tone "Really a dress you're working this hard for a dress" Naomi seemed offended as she retorted "Its not only the dress I also have other things I want" Jack's face still seemed disappointed as she said "Oh really now"
Naomi's face now seemed pouty but before she could retort Arwin stepped in he had observing their behavior and found no reason to doubt their relationship though he did see something else hidden in the background "Well she is a girl it makes total sense that she's trying to buy clothes and besides aren't you saving for a game console".
Naomi's lips twisted in a smile as she nodded saying "Listen to your friend or you may end up single for life" Jack's face suddenly appeared stunned as he sighed saying "Okay I get it" Naomi patted Jack's head as she spoke in her gentle tone saying "There you'll soon get there"
Naomi stood up and turned back to Jack saying "I'll go change so we can leave" she left the two boys moving to the kitchen with the dirty dishes from their meals and as soon as she left Arwin saw a chance, a chance that came as a question "So you like Naomi".
Jack almost fell back as he struggled to find balance his voice quivering as he spoke "how…..d..d..do you know that". Arwin shrugged as he answered in an indifferent tone "Just a hunch you confirmed with your reaction" Jack looked offended as he fell slumped back in his seat saying "Is it that obvious" to which Arwin answered I'm just good reading people" Jack turned to the ceiling as he asked in gloomy tone "Oh really then can you tell how feels about me".
Arwin shook his head as he let his voice ring through "Not really haven't really gotten a read on her yet" Jack let out a groan making a few people turned to them with concerned gazes. To Arwin he had read her but he wasn't planning to help Jack cheat the matrix.
Naomi came back and with her the three left the diner with Arwin soon realizing his forced friends had now grown to two.
***
A glistening cave with glowing walls that were covered with crystals and deep with in its glowing chambers lied a boy with golden brown hair who stirred opening his eyes to reveal glowing eyes underneath "where am I"