I want to go home

“Never heard of them. Maybe I should try listening to them- him? Her? Either way, they sound great.”

“I recommend them, they have good music, but I don’t know what you’re into so I could be wrong.”

“It is? Wow. I wonder if all Riley’s have yellow hair and hate growing up.” he laughed. “My name’s Bo. It’s nice to meet you Riley– that’s my favorite name.”

“Hopefully not all Riley’s are the same because I know for a fact it sucks to be me.” She pulled off a smile for him. “Nice to meet you too, Bo. Is it your favorite name since you knew the person who had it?”

“I think my friend– my old friend Riley used to say something like that; that getting older sucked. But so far, I don’t think it’s so bad.” he commented, clearly too naive to pick up on the girls pessimism as well as the sarcasm. 

“Your Riley definitely felt the same way I did then.” She paused for a moment. “My names Riley too.”

“I don’t mean to alarm you but that stranger danger stuff is all a hoax.” Pongo said obviously joking. “I mean… do I look like some creep who would be any danger?” Maybe he did… after all he was offering free drinks which is an adults version of free candy. All he was missing was the stereotypical beat up van and creepy mustache. “Actually… don’t answer that. And of course I’ll pay. I can’t be the one to offer and not pay for it.”

“What? No... you don’t mean to tell me everything any adult has ever said about stranger danger is a lie do you?” She faked a gasp, going along with the joke until she let a small laugh slip. “I don’t know, maybe you could be. After all, Ted Bundy was known for his charm and looks.” Riley answered anyway, and with that, she stood up from her spot. “Guess you won me over stranger danger. I could never pass up free anything with a good looking guy. Hopefully you don’t pull a Bundy card on me.” Except she wouldn’t really mind if her life would end anyways.

“Well I don’t think twenty four is that old… What’s it like though? What’s being over twenty like? Is it any different than being under twenty?” The girls laugh, oddly enough, made Bo feel somewhat uncomfortable. He could have sworn it sounded familiar while sounding completely foreign and the obvious lack of energy behind it was– worrisome. “Oh. I guess I did! Thanks.”

“I don’t know, it just feels like you are getting older and that’s pretty shitty to feel. I’m only talking for myself obviously. You could turn out a lot better than I did. Live your life without any problems...” Riley said the last comment more to herself than the other person. “Yep, no problem.” she chuckled, finding it amusing how he didn’t catch onto her sarcasm.

“Is eighteen pretty young? Sometimes it feels like I’m too old.” He paused, tempted to comment on the point she made before shrugging as well. “Is it? I mean, I didn’t know… but, yeah, still.”

“Depends on how you look at it. I’m twenty-four so I know I’m getting too old.” She laughed, but with no emotion. “Looks like you learned something new today then. Congrats.”

“It did? I didn’t know hair changed colors when you grow up. I think mine’s still the same as it was when I was in preschool.” He smiled. “You must be pretty smart to know something like that.”

“Well, you look pretty young to me, and you probably didn’t do bad shit to make yourself look half dead all the time.” She shrugged of his words. “It’s just basic knowledge.”

“Oh don’t insult me, miss. I’m the king of good excuses. But I’m afraid I don’ like to repeat myself so yah are just going to have to take my word for it an’ just come out for the night. Unless… yah really were doin’ somethin’ much more important?”

“I don’t know king of good excuses, haven’t you heard of stranger danger? I think I have the right to insult.” She joked some more, letting a smile appear on her lips. Riley wasn’t busy, but she easily wanted to make up an excuse to get out of the situation, to hide away in her room, but she decided against. “You’ll pay for my drink right?”

“Then honestly, it probably wasn’t even worth me saying it.”

“Alright. You don’t have to repeat yourself if you don’t want to.” 

“When are you ever supposed to not try pizza?”

“I don’t know... I’m not really hungry so.”

“I don’t think I’ve heard much of it. Is that the band name or the song title?”

“Band name. They have a nice sound- at least, I think they do.”

“I always thought it was more of a balance of power sort of thing.” Cri-Kee smiled. “If you want though, I can always pretend that I did say something.”

“Balance of power?” Riley raised a brow, wanting a further explanation from the person. “Yeah, let’s go with that.”

“Hm, wasn’t speaking to you, Love.” Calcifer replied. “Just talking in general.” 

“Just to yourself then? I’m not the crazy one, you are, right?” She responded in a joking way. 

“I asked if this seat was taken?” 

“Uh... no, I guess it’s not.” 

“I asked if you are supposed to be in this class room?” 

“I-I don’t know.” Riley looked around the room. “I’m not really sure where I’m suppose to be.”

“Kom igjen! Kom igjen!” Kristoff cheered, leaning in towards the television. “Mål! Ja! Og det er hvordan du vinner et spill.” 

Although she didn’t want to show her own excitement at the goal, Riley muttered a quick yes, figuring that the foreign language spoken next to her was glad it was made as well.

Mushu returned the same amount of confusion, embarrassed by himself before rephrasing the extremely odd thing he had just said. “Paper and pen, galfriend, you got any?”

Taking a few more seconds to give the stranger a questioned face, Riley tilted her head towards the notebook and pen on the table. “You can use that.”