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Despite his brave front, Jake knows <span class="mu-i">exactly</span> why you’re here tonight… the guy could use a little kindness himself! So, you begin, stuffing your hands into your pockets as you step over a cracked stair, what’s he been up to?
“Aside from all the friendly chats with the police?” Scoffs Jake with a derisive laugh, “Well… I’ve been focusing more on boxing lately. Keeps me active and helps keep my mind off of… <span class="mu-i">other things</span>.”
Has he uh… has he been in contact with-
“Just Bill, mostly–you know, the Treasurer?” Asks Jake as you enter a long hall coated in a grimy, salmon-colored carpet. “I spoke to Mina, but…” His voice falters a bit as the name leaves his lips. “... well, we’ve both got bigger things to worry about now.”
Yea, you nod, you get that… so boxing, ey? You never got around to joining him at the gym…
“No need to apologize–you’ve had a full plate ever since we came back.” Replies Jake with a hint of sympathy in his tone. “Besides, you might have plenty of chances in the future…”
You blink. Meaning?
“Well one of the coaches is close to retiring,” Jake explains as you turn the corner into a new, mustier-smelling hall, “So mine floated the idea of me, well… coming aboard.”
Oh shit, you reply with a smile in your voice, congrats, man!
“Yes, well…” Sighs the redhead, “While I welcome the prospect of a new job like that, it might interfere with my college search…” Jake pauses for a moment to mull over his words. “And to be honest, I’m not quite sure I want to live in <span class="mu-s">ORANGE CLIFFS</span> anymore. It just feels… <span class="mu-i">empty</span> now.”
Well, you shrug, why not just give the gym thing a shot for now? He can always use the time to really think about his next step, right?
“I… hadn’t considered it that way, actually.” The redhead remarks as he turns your way and nods appreciatively! “When you put it like that it doesn’t sound so terrible…”
A lot can happen in a short time, you add, and who knows? Maybe he’ll meet some cool coworkers or something… at least he’ll get paid in the meantime.
“Well we could always use some extra money…” Jake shrugs as you stop in front of a weathered old wooden door with the number ‘<span class="mu-i">88</span>’ etched into a metal plaque next to it. “Ever since the <span class="mu-i">incident</span> mom’s been taking less graveyard shifts at the clinic… it’s been nice having her home, though, don’t get me wrong.”
Sticking a key into the door lock, Jake pauses as some muffled chatter creeps through the wood and into the hall!
“... get ready, Diesel,” Jake jokes as he turns to look at you with weary eyes, “It’s been nothing but chaos for the past few hours…”
Bracing yourself for whatever awaits beyond the door, you give your date’s brother a nod–let’s do it, then!
>CONTD.
