The Spectrumverse

Issue #9

Sitting in the living room on the couch, Billy waited patiently. Wearing his dark blue blazer over his grey shirt, he appeared ready for the party. Tapping his hand on his leg, Billy took out his phone and looked at the time. It read ten to six. Luckily, Freddie wasn’t running late, but it wasn’t Freddie he was worried about. After texting Flo a few hours ago, she hadn’t even replied. Putting away his phone, Billy got up and began pacing from one end of the room to the other. It was the only way to alleviate his discontent. Within a few seconds and without warning, the doorbell rang. Leaving the living room, Billy went into the main corridor and opened the front door.

Standing on the other side, he saw Flo. He was speechless. She wore light blue jeans and a pair of black heels. Over her head, she had a black beret and a black vest top, allowing a silver pendant to just about cover her cleavage. A small clutch purse was propped under her arm. Over this was a light green coat.

“Wow,” Billy spoke while holding back his surprise.

“What?” Flo asked. Billy shook his head

‘Oh, just, I’ve never seen you looking so…so…,”

‘Feminine?’

“I was going to say party-like.”

“That’s not even a word.”

“You look nice Flo.”

She smiled at Billy before looking at end of the street.

“You mentioned in your text that Freddie already had a way for us to get to the party. How exactly did he manage that?”

Billy didn’t know what to say exactly. He wasn’t too sure how he’d get them there either. From out of nowhere came a compact red car. As it stopped outside Billy’s house, the side door opened. Freddie emerged from the front passenger side and waved to both Billy and Flo.

“Come on you guys,” Freddie called out to his friends, “we’re gonna be late.”

Both Billy and Flo walked toward the car. Noticing the appearance of his female friend, Freddie never expected such a fashion change. He couldn’t help but watch as she walked toward the car.

Billy went around the side of the car and patted Freddie on the shoulder before whispering, “Close your mouth. Your tongue’s just about to roll out.” Going to the back door of the car, Billy pulled the door open and got inside.

The inside of the car seemed clean and there was a lingering smell of mint. As Flo got in on the other side, Billy saw the driver. He wore a dark red polo shirt and a pair of cargo shorts. He looked at Billy via the rearview mirror and nodded at him. Billy nodded back. This awkward silence compelled Billy to ask questions.

“So,” Billy said cautiously, “how do you know Freddie?”

The driver’s face sank; he tried to think of a way to explain his familiarity with Freddie. All eyes were on him, the tension was rising. After a long drawn out silence, Freddie decided to break the silence

“I sell him weed. That’s how we know each other.”  The driver slapped Freddie on the forearm.

“What the hell Freddie?! We had a deal!” Seth, the driver, said.

“Oh, relax will you. I told you, Billy and Flo are cool.” Flo leaned in-between the two front seats.

“Freddie, you sell weed?”

“No,” Freddie corrected, “I sell weed to Seth here. I sell oregano and rosemary in rolling papers to his yuppie friends. Twenty-five dollars a ‘joint’. They eat it up.”

“And you had the nerve to ask me for ten bucks two days ago,” Billy huffed.

“I don’t do it all the time. Besides, I paid you back yesterday.”

Seth, the reluctant driver, carefully pressed the accelerator pedal with his foot and the car drove onwards. In the distance, the sun was starting to set. The sunlight turned the clouds a shade of Tuscan red. He watched as the car drove out from Washington Way and traveled down the route to the destination. As the car went onto Haverford Road, the vehicle began traveling northward and would soon reach the city center.

Billy was confused as to why Seth was taking this way. Just as he was about to ask, Seth went off the first turn that lead further west. A junction leading to an overhead bridge allowed the car to go west with ease. Freddie looked out the window and rested his arm on the door. Flo leaned into Billy, one issue lingered in her mind.

“Did you know Freddie deals weed?” she asked quietly. Billy leaned toward Flo.

“He smokes it. He doesn’t sell it.”

“He just said he did.”

“To one person, that doesn’t make him a drug dealer.”

“And where does he get it from?”

‘‘Some Libertarian who lives in Gregson Park.”

“That trailer park outside the city?”

“Freddie took me there to meet him. He’s not too bad.”

“You went to smoke weed with a drug dealer?” Freddie looked at the back seat via the rear-view mirror

“Flo, I can hear you. Also, he isn’t a drug dealer. He sells it as medical m*******a. If it makes you feel any better, he wears a white coat while he sells it. Makes you feel like you’re buying it from an actual doctor.”

“Oh, that must be so reassuring,” Flo said sarcastically.

Silence once again regained its rightful place as it filled the car. As everyone stopped talking, Freddie was tempted to turn the radio on. He turned to Seth. He noticed the small cross around his neck which he tried to hide by tucking it under his shirt. Freddie then looked out through the windscreen and watched as they went further west.

Out here, far from the city center, things seemed so different. It was quieter, almost like they weren’t in a city at all. Just passing a sign that read “Gaia’s Vale” showed a greener side of Haverford City. Surrounded by vast acres of Greenland, this section of the city remained untouched by developers. Scattered few and far between were cafés. Freddie then saw something. It caught his attention. Leaning forward, he focused on it intensely.

“Something wrong?” Billy asked his best friend.

Freddie didn’t listen. Just as the car came close enough, he saw it. To the right side of the road stood a decrepit, abandoned building. It hasn’t been open for years. Freddie snapped his fingers before resting his elbow on the car door.

“We’re on the right track,” Freddie replied.

Passing the building, Billy glanced at the driver once again. There was something about this stranger that generated a sense of familiarity. Unsure of exactly how he knew this young man, Billy remained silent. Fear of promoting mistaken identity and the likelihood of social humiliation motivated him not to say anything.

Instead, he remained silent and went to take out his phone. Tapping on the screen, he opened his f*******: app. Just as he opened the app, the phone vibrated as he received a notification. Pressing the flag button, a list of notifications sprung open. It showed Billy had been added to a group by Freddie with a bizarre-sounding name.

“Freddie,” Billy said as he lowered his mobile, “what’s ‘The Gathering?’”

“Say what?” Freddie replied.

“The Gathering. This event you’ve added me to.”

Flo felt a buzz coming from her phone. Taking it out of her pocket, she looked at the screen.

“Hmm. I’ve got the same notification. Seems I’ve been added to ‘The Gathering’ too.”

“It's like a guest list but via f*******:,” Freddie said looking in the backseats.

“There’s like eight-hundred people on the going section. I thought you said Brooklynn and her friends were organizing this thing?” Billy said quickly scrolling through the invite.

“I heard it was some guys at Rollingford who were organizing it,” Seth chimed in. Freddie took out his phone and looked through the list of people attending the event.

“Oh, wow, there are a lot of people going. This is gonna be an awesome night.”

“Well, just remember, once I take you there, we’re even.”

“Oh, just chill money-bags. Your all-powerful father won’t know anything. By this time tomorrow, Councilman Barnhart won’t suspect a thing.”

Within seconds, Billy was able to put the whole thing together. That sense of familiarity to the driver, he realized who he was.

“Your father,” Billy exclaimed, “he’s on the City Council. That’s why I recognize you!”

“He’s a stuck-up prick. Surprised he’s still in office,” Flo said crossing her arms.

“I stay out of that s**t,” Seth sighed.

“So, Freddie,” Billy added, “what were the directions you were given?” Freddie leaned back in his chair and looked at Billy through the rear-view mirror

“Oh. Just go to Rusty’s Coffee and drive straight on until you come to the warehouse.”

“What kind of warehouse is kept in the middle of nowhere beyond the city limits?”

“I’m not the planning department Billy. The only reason this reserve exists is because of hippies like Flo campaigning for this kinda stuff.”

Bitterly looking at Freddie, Flo stated, “My mother campaigned for the reserve.”

“Like mother, like daughter,” the front seat passenger mumbled in a sly tone of voice.

Further and further west they went. The countryside started to change. At a certain point, the reserve ended, and they were now in the unregulated, untouched wildlife of New England. Either side of the road was encompassed by thick woodland. Trees were tall and had thick trunks indicating their age and how long they had been there. The mighty oaks remained where they stood, unchanged by the city encroaching in their backyard.

As the car zoomed past them, they were hard to count, and it would be pointless to try. Billy enjoyed the view. Rarely did he have the chance to leave the city limits. In the distance came a clearing and further away stood a large building. It was around two stories tall. The exterior was mostly composed of brick painted light grey with black trim. The roof was flat with just a low standing barrier around the edge. Outside were several cars parked along with a minivan. He could even see a small number of people outside, gathered in small groups.

“This seems strange,” Billy shared with a cautious voice.

“Relax, you’re with the F-bomb. Nothing bad is going to happen,” Freddie said looking back to his friend.

“I hope not so long as I make it back before my parents come home tomorrow. ‘’That’s what matters.”

The road led directly to the warehouse. As the car pulled up through the parking lot gates, Billy looked at the vacant security booth by the entrance. It looked brand new as not a sign of decay or neglect on any part of it. Even the lights inside the booth still worked. The barrier at the car park entrance was open. allowing the car to drive through with ease. Finding a parking space proved too easy, Seth went to the first spot he could see. Once he pulled into an empty lot, he waited and let his passengers out of the car. Freddie and Flo were the first ones out. Billy waited for a few moments. He looked to Seth as if he were waiting for him to join them. Instead, Seth turned to Billy.

“I’m not going with you guys. I’ve got stuff to do. Have a good time though.” Billy pointed toward Seth in a friendly manner

“Thanks to the ride.”

Stepping out of the car, Billy walked around it until he met up with Freddie. As the trio looked onwards, they saw the huge building and the crowds of people outside and around the warehouse. Billy could see modified cars, beer kegs, and speakers playing loud music. He’d been to parties before, but nothing like this. Everything he saw so far made his stomach tighten in worry. Turning to Freddie, he saw nothing but excitement in his eyes.

Flo remained skeptical but didn’t display any sign of concern like he did. Billy wasn’t sure if he should say something or not. Freddie then looked right at him, as if he could see straight through his facade of excitement. Seeing the worry on Billy’s face, Freddie simply smiled. That familiar expression had been seen many a time brought some comfort in this uncertain time.

“You ready?” Freddie asked his best friend.

Seth reversed his car and drove off. This was officially the point of no return. Billy’s throat went dry. Unable to speak, he simply smiled back. Freddie walked forwards and led the way. Flo and Billy followed behind him. They walked through the groups of people in the parking lot. Some were friendly, others seemed intimidating. Gangs of people were clustered around flashy cars as they played loud hip-hop music. Staying close to Flo, Billy kept his eyes open. This didn’t feel safe and had no sense of security like a house party. From the f*******: event, he saw that hundreds of people were coming.