The Spectrumverse

Issue #2

A Shadow cast over the two.

They looked to see who it was. Approaching them was a young woman. She wore a black polo neck, pleated miniskirt, and black Converse shoes. Around her neck dangled a silver necklace of a raised fist within a Venus symbol. Over her eyes were thick framed retro glasses. Her golden hair is tied back in a ponytail. Over her shoulder is her light green backpack.

She carried two books close to her chest with her arms crossed.

“Hey Flo,” Freddie spoke bitterly before continuing to pack his bag.

She looked in the locker and saw the poster. Flo looked at it with mild disgust. Freddie didn’t care much, nor did he fear her disapproval. Once his bag was full, Freddie mustered all his strength to pull the top zip shut. Once it was closed, Freddie flung the rucksack over his back. He then stood up straight and went to stand beside Billy. Now, both were facing Flo.

“Have you been enjoying your last few hours at school?” Flo asked Billy.

“Oh yeah. Mostly been chilling. I offered Billy a joint. No big deal,” Freddie interjected. Flo glanced at Freddie with cold annoyance.

The moment she turned back to Billy, she relaxed and appeared calmer. “Sorry about him,” Billy commented. “And don’t worry. I haven’t been smoking any joints.”

“Should hope not.”

“Thought you feminists loved legalized drugs and all that?”

Freddie scoffed “I do. I don’t like people wasting their life using them.” “Isn’t that the whole reason people want to legalize them?”

“Anyway,” Billy interrupted, “what is everyone doing for spring break?”

Freddie slammed his locker closed. Once he flung the rucksack over his shoulders, the three walked down the corridor. Strolling among the other students, they weren’t so concerned with others around them. Freddie followed behind Billy and Flo. Remaining silent, he wasn’t always a fan of her and the topics she would discuss.

“I’m being considered for a job at Trope Pictures. The movie place two blocks from here.”

“Have you decided on having your full name on your name badge or just Flo?”

Freddie pushed between them and jokingly said, “I’d love to see that on a badge. Florence Reykjavík, glorified popcorn dispenser and ticket checker.”

Billy pushed his best friend back “Sorry about him.”

“Don’t be,” Flo replied with a grin. Just as the three got halfway down the corridor, Flo stopped and turned toward Billy. “I was meant to ask. Did you hear back from the museum yet?”

Billy stopped right in his tracks. This jolly moment between friends was starting to develop an awkward atmosphere. Billy didn’t want to tell anyone else regarding the letter, he found it embarrassing and shameful. Freddie briefly glanced at Billy and once again stepped in between Billy and Flo.

“He still hasn’t heard back. You know how slow the mail is.”

Freddie looked at Billy and patted his best friend on the shoulder. Billy was grateful for what his friend just did. Without speaking, Billy showed his thanks by nodding toward Freddie.

“Move out the way, Captain Lesbian!”

From out of nowhere, a brutish thug wearing a poorly kept leather jacket barged past Florence. In haste, he knocked the backpack-off of her shoulder. Her bag burst open, and everything fell out onto the floor. Florence quickly brushed off Walter’s comments.

She knelt and gathered what had been dropped. Billy balled his fists, his blood boiled as he couldn’t stand how Walter treated others with such disrespect. He couldn’t accept such an attitude. Chasing after Walter, Billy hears Freddie call out to him. 

“Billy just let it go…”

He chased after Walter, dodging the dozens of students walking about in different directions. With such determination, Billy wanted only one thing from Walter. Once he caught up with the thug, Billy threw himself directly into Walter’s path. The bully game to a complete stop. He was startled but not surprised by Billy’s attitude.

“You never knew when to back off, do ya Kingston?” Billy didn’t flinch or retreat. He stood tall, entrenched in his position, and wouldn’t relent. Raising his hand, Billy pointed at Walter and dug his fingertip straight into the gritty jacket Walter wore.

“You need to apologize to Flo. Billy justly demanded, “What you did was out of line.”

Students who were clustered around the two stopped what they were doing and watched. This brief encounter was about to boil over into a stand-off. One was taller and had a stubborn attitude.

The other was shorter but wasn't afraid of his challenge. This confrontation between two students with opposing beliefs steadily intensified and everyone was watching. Both stood toe to toe. Neither showed signs of backing off. A crowd suddenly gathered. Within moments, this confrontation ended abruptly when Walter let out a sigh of annoyance. He looked back and saw Flo and Freddie watching from a distance.

“I’m sorry,” he uttered bluntly and devoid of emotion.

Turning back to Billy, he waited with his arms open and sarcastically added,

“Are we done here, officer?”

Billy was still angry at Walter. Yet, he knew this was the best he would receive from the thick-headed thug. Begrudgingly, Billy stepped aside and allowed Walter to continue onward.

The crowd that had gathered quickly dispersed and the other students slipped back into their own business. Billy stood alone in a sea of faces. From the crowd emerged Freddie and Flo.

Drawing closer, she shoved Billy’s shoulder. He flinched but didn’t fall over. She hadn’t pushed him with enough force to do so.

“What were you thinking?” Flo questioned with anger and concern. “He needs to know he can’t treat people like that,” Billy replied as he straightens his shirt.

“He could have hit you...or worse.” “He wasn’t going to do anything. Walter is one suspension away from being expelled.”

“You know what he’s like. He wouldn’t give a second thought to beat you down. You remember what he did to Jack Colter?”

Freddie carefully got between the two, put his arms around them both, and calmingly disarmed the possible argument.

“Forget about it. Tell you what we should talk about, have you heard the news?”

Billy attention shifted. “What news?” “Word is Brooklyn Van Barris is throwing a party. You guys wanna go?”

“Brooklyn Van Barris? The girl you once called, ‘the b***h-in-chief of the b***h brigade’?”

Flo looked at Freddie with disappointment and just a fraction of understanding a fitting title. 

Glancing at Flo, Freddie said, “Tearing down other women, Gloria Steinem wouldn’t approve.”

“So, you have been listening…”

“It's impossible to ignore you. So much so your nickname is ‘The Never-Ending Story’. As whenever you talk it’s a never-ending-story.”

Billy pulled away from Freddie. “Where’s the party anyhow?”

Freddie scratched his head, “Not sure. Got a friend, he knows someone who knows where it’s happening.”

“Surprised you can make friends,” Flo added with humorous spite.

Freddie turned to her and said, “You’d be surprised. Sometimes you can make friends when you’re not spouting hot wind every ten seconds.”

“Hot wind?” “Exactly. Hot wind.” “When have I ever spouted hot wind at you?”

Freddie raised his hands to his eyes and mimicked glasses. “Freddie, you shouldn’t make jokes about Marie Curie! Freddie don’t buy me a cooking apron for my birthday, it’s offensive! Freddie, don’t draw boobs on pictures of the First Lady!”

“Anyway,” Billy interrupted, “I have some stuff I need to take care of. I’ll see you guys in a while.” Freddie and Flo both focused on their friend.

Freddie remained in character, “But, Billy, you’ll miss the bra burning festival.”

Billy grew tired of Freddie’s terrible impression of Florence. Billy slapped Freddie’s right hand away from his face, causing him to break character and return to his normal self. Freddie just laughed while Flo wasn’t as amused by the whole display.

“Where are you going anyway?” Freddie asked in his normal voice. Billy didn’t make eye contact  “Just something important I have to do.”

Freddie didn’t read too much into Billy’s demeanour “Fair enough. See you later. I’ll send you the deets to the party via Facebook.”

Billy and Freddie bumped fists in an immature manner. Billy simply nodded toward Flo as his form of goodbye to her. She nodded back. Billy walked away from both Freddie and Flo. From their point of view, he vanished into the sea of faces. Heading down the corridor, he strolled between groups of students clustered about the corridor. All of them focused on their own personal issues between friends. He wasn’t too interested; most of it was trivial to him. Approaching the main doors to the school, Billy pushed through them and emerged onto the front grounds.

A narrow path to the main road divided the campus grounds; much of it was flat grass like a huge front lawn. Outside, most sat by themselves. Only a small group were throwing a football around. Some were taking in the glorious sunshine. Others were doodling away on a notepad or something.