Jim blew the defiant curls hanging over his eyes until they left his line of sight. They were obedient for a brief and triumphant moment, mere seconds before they rode the morning wind back into place, just at the edge of vision. He huffed, defeated by the unruly hair that was now covering his view of the smoggy Krymehaven sunrise, only visible through the ragged, stumpy skyline of No-Man’s-Land.

Haircut! 

-I pout, annoyed at what has by now become a daily ritual.

He frowns, his eyebrows scrunching up together. It’s too early for crazy.

Well excuse me! I can’t hardly go about my day without you constantly blowing your hair all over the bloody place.

Go away. He growled.

Get a haircut and I will. 

-I reply, crossing my arms and facing away from him. The bastard.

If I got a haircut my head would just be cold. I’ll wait till winter is over.

If you were worried about your head you should have just got that beanie..

Then I wouldn’t have had money for cigarettes. He huffs.

I turn back to him.

 Yes and how is that worken' out for us no-

The blonde haired girl standing nearby, in her blue hoodie with lightning bolts going down her sleeves, jumps in between us, unknowingly cutting me off, grinning at Jim, blue eyes following the orange shards that cut up the dark green of our irises, as she so often does.

“You’re making faces again, Jimmy.” She giggles. “Alien’s giving you smack talk?” putting on her take of a ‘serious’ tone, while puffing out her cheeks in a ‘serious’ expression.

“Apparently the Freeloader has an issue with my hair.”  He shrugs, pointing his thumb towards his head.

She looks at his hair, critically. “It is getting a bit unruly isn’t it?”

HA! 

-I say, pumping my arm victoriously.

“Come on, Blitz! Don’t agree with It!” Jim groans. “Now it won’t shut up all day.”

Arse.

Blitz smiles, shrugging. “Sorry Jimmy. Guess you’ll just have to deal with it. Look the bus is here.”

Blitz hops happily onto the bus, arms swinging about her sides as she went, with Jim following close behind, head hung in defeat.

As soon as we walked into the center aisle, we were greeted with an unenthusiastic wave from a beautiful Hispanic boy with frosted spiky hair, orange-dotted hazel eyes, and an alluring aura that spilled out across the bus. “Jim, Blitz over here!”

Sitting next to him is another boy, with chocolate skin and long, black hair topped by a Tottenham cap that hung over his face.  Two tight braids stuck out of the cap, with bits of bleached bone tied into them.  He was focusing on slicing up an apple with a pocket knife.

Blitz quickly scooted into the window seat behind the pair as Jim fist bumped the Hispanic kid. “Mornen’ Garrett, Remmie.”

“Hey, hermano. It is nice to see you.” Said Garrett, almost sarcastically.

My nose scrunches up. 

He smells like lube.

Yeah… bit early, innit? He replied with a half-smile.

Doesn’t he get tired?

Remmie smiled, turning toward the back of the bus, a slice of apple hanging off the tip of his knife. “And a fine mornin’ it is,” He said in his strong Cajun accent, cheerfully taking a bite of the apple slice.

“So anything…’special’ waiting for you this morning?” Garrett asked.

Remmie winked at Blitz, who blushed in response.

“No, why?” Jim asked, confused.

My eyes scan back and forth suspiciously.

They’re up to somethen'. Plannen'.

Hush. Jim barks, turning his head towards me. Blitz looked at him curiously, the blush on her face disappearing as soon as her gaze fell on us, wondering what we were saying.

Garrett gave a half smile as Remmie laughed. 

“You’ll see, brother. Promise.” Said Remmie.

“Come on guys...why're you acten’ weird?” Jim asked, finally falling into that safe, comfortable area of careful paranoia that They taught us so well.

Garrett, sensing our tension, let out some of his “aura”.  It had a way of putting everyone at ease.  Jim relaxed a little, despite Garrett reaching for something in his backpack.  He pulled out a brown paper bag and tossed it into Jim’s lap. “Because it is your birthday, you stupid leprechaun.”

Jim started unrolling the top of the bag.  I started to panic, looking at the excited faces of the other children peering closer. 

Don’t open it! Are you stupid?

At least I’m real. He smiled as he looked inside. He pulled out a piece of green wool. “It’s a beanie!” He grinned happily. “Thanks Gar.”

“Not a problem.” He replied, wearing that same half smile as he fist bumped Jim yet again.

And now I have the hat, the hair, and the cigarettes, maken' me one hundred percent right.

The cigarettes have been gone for three days.

-I reply, looking at my nails smugly.

...Fuck off.

“Complete surprise this was! I forgot I had a birthday.” Jim said, returning his attention to his friends.

I think they’re maken' it up. I don’t remember us haven' a birthday till these nutjobs started followen' us around.

“We figured you would. You ain’t the brightest bulb in the box.” Remmie said, through a devilish grin. “Right predictable too.”

“You never remember.” Blitz smiled, sweetly.

Jim fit the cheap thing over his hair cheerfully, ignoring the curls sticking out and hanging over his eyes. “I was thinken’ 'bout getten’ this.”

“You and that demon spent half an hour debating over it, and a pack of smokes. It was pretty hard to miss. I was going to get whichever you did not.” Garrett stated.

“You was doin’ that thing with ya eyebrows” Remmie jabbed playfully.

“Thoughtful.” Jim smiled. “So what ‘bout you?” He asked, turning to Remmie.

“Oh of course, Jim.” Remmie said, hitting his forehead with the palm of his hand, feigning forgetfulness, “I plan on giving you my eternal loyalty and undying brotherhood.”

Jim laughed and held up his left hand, showing off a large jagged scar going across the palm. “Sorry, Remmie, that’s what ya got me last year.”

I’m still surprised we didn’t get tetanus.

Remmie looked at the matching scar on his left hand as if noticing it for the first time. “ ‘Spose I did! This’ll have to do then.”

Remmie snapped his fingers and green smoke sparked from the tips. He quickly waved his hand through the cloud, as if grabbing it. He mumbled something into his closed hand and then held out a silver ring bearing the image of a grinning skull in a top hat, between his index and thumb. “Bit of voodoo for a happy birthday.” Remmie congratulated himself as he flicked the ring towards Jim, who struggled to catch it in the air before Blitz grabbed it, handing it over with a sweet smile.

Not this weird bullshit again.

“What did you do?” Garrett asked, eyeing Remmie with suspicion.

“Just a little parlour trick. Nothing fancy. Don’t worry.” Remmie assured.

“What’s it do?” Jim asked, putting it on his left middle finger, admiring it.

You ask that AFTER you put it on?

“ ‘Sides fittin’ you perfectly?” Remmie chuckled, amused with himself. “Keep ya from gettin' killed ifin' it works right, just once, I ain’t too good yet.”

“Thanks Remmie!”

“You’re mighty welcome.”

Hold up... 

-I say, eyeing the thing suspiciously.

Blitz looked at Remmie with similar suspicion. “ ‘If’ it works right? What if it didn’t?”

Remmie shrugged dismissively. “His hand would’ve already fell off.”

WHAT?!

“Are you insane?” Garrett asked, scooting away quickly.

Remmie was casually munching on an apple slice and twirling around his pocketknife.

“I just told ya, It’d already’ve happened ifin' it was goin' t-”

Blitz grabbed Remmie by the shirt and pulled him to her, nose to nose. “Not. Again.”

Jim grabbed Blitz’ shoulder. “I’m fine. Come on, let him go.”

“Right...” She whispered. “Sorry, Remmie.”

“Don’t worry, darlin'.” He said, calmly smoothing out his shirt.

These FREAKS are gonna get us killed if we stick around.  We need to get away from this city.

“No harm given, none taken.” Remmie continued, popping the last apple slice into his mouth.

Watch the girl.  She’s the biggest problem.  If you get too close, she’ll hurt us, just like Them.

Kindly fuck off.  ‘Least till we get home.  Think of it as my birthday present.

Time passed.  I passed it quietly.

“Thanks.” Jim muttered to himself as he followed his friends off the bus.