#goodbois

“When you said you wanted to hang out, this isn’t quite what I was expecting,” Dwight said nervously, but continued to follow his friend into the woods. Jake had asked Dwight if he wanted to spend some time with him. Jake liked solitary, but he needed human interaction sometimes.

He met Dwight during one of those times. It had been nearly a year since he’d spoken to - or seen - anyone. It was starting to get to him. He made sure his stuff was safe, even going as far as setting a few traps, and ventured into the city. He’d planned to have his life on the edges of the woods, never going back to civilization. But he’d run out of food, clean clothes, and medical equipment. He grew up in a wealthy family and made sure to bring enough cash to last him a while.

He ended up going to the grocery store. He earned a few weird glances in his direction. He smelled and looked… different. Not entirely awful, but different. He just shrugged it off and continued to look for supplies. While he was looking for some food, he felt someone bump into him.

“Oh! Sorry, excuse me,” Came a soft voice behind him. He turned around to meet the other man’s gaze. He was wearing a button up shirt and a tie, looking frantic. Poor kid, Jake thought to himself.

“It’s okay.” Jake turned back to the aisle, returning to his own thoughts.

“Actually, could you help me?” The man asked, Jake facing him once more. Dwight pointed to the top of the aisle. “I can’t reach that box. Can you grab it for me?”

Jake nodded, having to stand on his tippy-toes to reach the box. He looked at the box. He didn’t recognize the company. He had been away for a while, so he figured he just didn’t know this brand. There was only once there… How long had this guy been searching? Jake handed it to the shorter man.

He smiled, taking it. “Thank you!”

“Sure.” He paused for a moment. “Why that brand? I’ve never heard of it.”

The man chuckled. “Neither have I. My boss asked me to grab it.”

“Your boss?”

“Yeah. He always sends me out to get stuff. Lots of time, it’s stuff I’ve never even heard of!”

“Sounds like he’s trying to get rid of you.” Jake said truthfully. Jake didn’t really have a filter, so he hoped this man didn’t mind it too much.

His face fell. “You really think that…?”

“Well… yeah? I guess?”

“Huh. I guess you’re right.” He looked sad.

Fuck, should’ve kept my mouth shut.

“Hey, what’s your name?” Jake asked the man.

“Dwight. Dwight Fairfield.”

“I’m Jake Park. Listen, I’m sorry about your boss. You seem like a nice enough guy.” Jake said awkwardly. He wasn’t very good at this. “So, um… Wanna hang out? Next week, same time? I can meet you back here.”

“Really? Sure!” Dwight said, a little too excited. “Do you want my number?”

Jake chuckled. “No, I don’t have a phone. Just meet me here next week, okay?”

Maybe it was stupid, but Dwight trusted the man. He’d been honest enough to tell him the truth about his boss, right? “Okay!”

And so that’s how the two of them ended up here. In the woods. Dwight would’ve worn something else if he’d known this is what would be happening. He wore nearly the same thing when they first met. The tie was a different color, and the pants were bluer.

“You’re free to leave anytime, Dwight,” Jake responded. He would understand. Most people weren’t suited for this life. Growing up, he didn’t think he would ever live like this. But people change. They grow and they learn.

“No thanks! Not sure I’d be able to find my way out, anyways,” He laughed, Jake chuckling with him.

“That’s why I’m here. I’m gonna help you.” Jake continued to walk further and further until he figured it was a good enough spot. “Okay, here’s good.”

“Good for what?”

“Dwight, remember when I told you I didn’t have a phone?”

“Yeah?”

“I also don’t have a house. I live here,” Jake motioned to the woods. “Not here, but near the outskirts.”

“Wow! That must be hard, I imagine,” Dwight said, impressed.

“It was at first. But you learn things. Like... “ Jake looked around, trying to find an example. “Do you know what time it is?”

“Huh? Sure it’s-”

Jake grabbed Dwight’s wrist, covering the watch he had almost looked at. “Not like that, Dwight. Without technology.”

Dwight shook his head. “I have no clue.”

Jake stood next to Dwight, then put his two hands together. One directly on top of the other. He raised the highest finger to the bottom of the sun. “You can use your hands to tell the time. See my two hands? It takes two to reach the horizon. That means two hours until sunset.

“So… it’s 4?”

“Yeah. See, you’re getting it!” Jake smiled at him. Dwight nervously smiled back. Jake slung the backpack off of him, sitting on the floor.

“What are you doing?” Dwight asked. He still wasn’t completely sure Jake was gonna murder him.

Jake pulled out the pieces of a tent. “We’re gonna pitch a tent.”

“Oh man…”

“Don’t worry, man. I got an easy one.” Jake set down the materials. “First step! Lay the tent down flat.”

Dwight looked at him like he was crazy. “Me?”

“Yes, Dwight! You’ve got it.”

Dwight nodded, getting to work. He pulled the fabric until it was in a rectangle. “Like that?”

“Not quite. Flip it the other way so the tent isn’t upside down,” Jake chuckled.

Dwight’s face went red. “O-oh…”

“Don’t be embarrassed. This is your first time, huh?”

“Yeah.” Dwight fixed the fabric.

“Okay, step two; use the pole and prop up the front of the tent.”

Dwight grabbed a pole. “This one?” When Jake nodded, Dwight put it into the hole, then stabbed it into the ground.

“Great. Now, use that string and tie it to the pole. Then, tie the other end to a hook, then stomp it into the ground.”

Dwight did that. “There!”

Jake nodded. “Stomp down on that hook a little more. Don’t want that flying away, right?”

Dwight used all his strength and kicked it until he couldn’t see it in the ground. Jake continued helping him with instructions. Dwight had some trouble, the poles kept falling down, but Jake was patient. “It’s okay, you’ve got it.” He kept saying, reassuring Dwight.

Once the tent was pitched, Jake patted Dwight on the back. “Look at that! All by yourself, too, man.”

Dwight grinned. “That was frustrating.”

Jake laughed. “Trust me, I know.”

The sun had begun to set. “Jake, I have work tomorrow.”

Jake had reality hit him. “Oh, right. You have work. I forgot.” Jake smiled. “C’mon. I’ll lead you back.”

“Thanks. And thank you for teaching me that stuff.”

“Anytime. You ever wanna learn some more, you come find me. I live on the outskirts. Just come find me, okay?”

Dwight grinned. “Yeah! I’ll be sure to do that!”

He meant it, too. Jake was one of the first people to actually treat him like a human. He had just met the guy and he was already his best friend. It was kind of sad, but Dwight didn’t care. He was just happy to have a friend.