Aaron whispered to Alan.
"Shouldn't he be calling for backup or something?"
"Shh" Alan hushed.
Aaron brushed it off. They followed the officer as he scanned using an ultra bright, ultra wide flashlight.
Alan shivered, cast clouds into the air with each breath. The breaths came fast. He was out of shape. He peered out of the side to see that Aaron was handling the cold quite well. The walk too. Maybe it was all that New York living. Toughed him up.
The cop ahead moved the flashlight in a way where the beam scanned the field in front of them left to right. Right to left. In a way that reminded Alan of a machine. Automated spotlight at a prison or something. Not that he'd ever seen such in real life. Too many video games. Fuck they had grew up on too many video games depicting situations like war and prison. But never had seen it up close.
"You boys should've really never been out here in the first place. There's no reason to be out at the middle school after dark."
"Yes sir," Aaron said just shy of a shout.
Yes sir, Alan thought under his breath. The cop had thought he was a moron for having fell asleep. The police officer didn't even seem to believe that his friend existed. If Aaron hadn't been there to vouch that a Jack indeed did exist and had been hanging out with Alan since earlier in the day... the cop would've not believed Alan at all. Then they probably wouldn't be scanning the fields like this.
There was a thin layer of snow. The snow scrunched underneath their feet. Aaron had sneakers on. The cop and Alan, boots.
The wind sung into Alan's ears. The red lights of cell phone towers pulsed in the distance. He remembered wondering what those were the first time his mom had moved here. He had thought they were some military infrastructure back then. Something very important. Something maybe the aliens would come an destroy one day.
Now here he was. An adult now. What the hell was he doing out here.
The cop turned his head while keeping the flash light pointed out front. "I think we might have to call it a night now, boys. You'll have to just wait for your friend. He might already be home... or wherever you're staying already."
"Shouldn't he be calling for backup or something?"
"Shh" Alan hushed.
Aaron brushed it off. They followed the officer as he scanned using an ultra bright, ultra wide flashlight.
Alan shivered, cast clouds into the air with each breath. The breaths came fast. He was out of shape. He peered out of the side to see that Aaron was handling the cold quite well. The walk too. Maybe it was all that New York living. Toughed him up.
The cop ahead moved the flashlight in a way where the beam scanned the field in front of them left to right. Right to left. In a way that reminded Alan of a machine. Automated spotlight at a prison or something. Not that he'd ever seen such in real life. Too many video games. Fuck they had grew up on too many video games depicting situations like war and prison. But never had seen it up close.
"You boys should've really never been out here in the first place. There's no reason to be out at the middle school after dark."
"Yes sir," Aaron said just shy of a shout.
Yes sir, Alan thought under his breath. The cop had thought he was a moron for having fell asleep. The police officer didn't even seem to believe that his friend existed. If Aaron hadn't been there to vouch that a Jack indeed did exist and had been hanging out with Alan since earlier in the day... the cop would've not believed Alan at all. Then they probably wouldn't be scanning the fields like this.
There was a thin layer of snow. The snow scrunched underneath their feet. Aaron had sneakers on. The cop and Alan, boots.
The wind sung into Alan's ears. The red lights of cell phone towers pulsed in the distance. He remembered wondering what those were the first time his mom had moved here. He had thought they were some military infrastructure back then. Something very important. Something maybe the aliens would come an destroy one day.
Now here he was. An adult now. What the hell was he doing out here.
The cop turned his head while keeping the flash light pointed out front. "I think we might have to call it a night now, boys. You'll have to just wait for your friend. He might already be home... or wherever you're staying already."