nothing feels real;;

"Hey, I went quiet as well." Ryan replied softly, genuinely apologetic— because he was always genuine, as he pulled out of the parking lot, his usual music playing softly in the speakers. He’d learnt a while back to always turn his music way down before getting out of the car, otherwise he jumped out of his skin when he came back to it. "People get busy, Ar… Summer wasn’t really a vacation for me and you had a whole new school to adjust to. We can definitely start hanging out again." In fact, he was resolute in seeing him at least once a week from here on out. Ryan had never been very popular. He had friends, but no one he really saw outside of class. Armin had been the exception, and he missed him. “I think about you a lot, too.”

The music faintly playing is so familiar, it's comforting. He and Ryan have always had similar taste in music aside from a few differences, it's one of the reasons they meshed so well, "I'm glad to hear that." Genuinely so, "I just don't want you to think I meant for this to happen, you mean a lot to me." And the feelings mean more than he's letting on, but for good reason, he'll keep it secret. It's unrequited, and he's accepted that. Even if it hurts, "Also I hope you know that also means I full intend to steal your french fries today."

"I want to pay for you!" Ryan insisted, smiling big over his shoulder at Armin, before pausing long enough for him to catch up. He grinned then, when Armin caught sight of his car— his pride and joy these days— and nodded along with him. "Yeah, I think he was kind of mad— he didn’t expect me to work so hard, or at least, he didn’t think I’d save about ninety percent of my paychecks." The lights flashed as he unlocked the car, sleek and modern and a steely blue color. It still faintly smelled of New Car as he slid into the driver’s seat, tossing his bag onto the back seat. "Oh, it’s good, you know. I don’t really have a choice but to get A’s, so I’m doing well… I’m glad you are too, Armin."

"You might have to fight me, then." With a laugh, he climbs into the very sleek car. Taking it in, a lot may have changed, but it's nice that they're able to pick up where they've left off-- the way they're both talking, it's nice, "...I'm really sorry for getting distant for a while. It was so wrong of me." Not that there's much he can do to change it, "I'd like it of we could pick up where we left off. I miss when you would sleep over, and I miss spending time with you because." Truth be told, he still doesn't have friends, and it's, "...It's pretty lonely at that school. I think about you a lot." In more ways than one.

"— Hey, don’t worry about it. My shout, okay? I got my allowance today anyway." Ryan said rather triumphantly as he pulled his keys out, curling them into his palm as he slung his bag over his shoulder and started the trudge over to the student parking lot. He knew, very loosely, that Armin didn’t eat a lot. One of the key things their friendship had revolved around was sitting in fast food joints and the diner, eating everything in front of them. "So, um… What’s your new school like?"

"No-- no you used to always pay for me! I promise I can spare it!" Well and truly, he nods running alongside Ryan, "Wow, so I guess your dad really did match your dollars for that car." Armin nudges him playfully, gives a light chuckle, "You got it! You used to stare at that silly print out photo of this thing since we were 14." Which only reminds him, "I can't wait until I can start driving." But he digresses, "It's nice-- I mean, public school is public school, but unlike the catholic school, they offer AP classes, so I'm drowning myself in those, heh.  How's school going for you?"

"Okay— yeah, um, great. Want to get food or something? I can drive us to the diner." He was still smiling, although the awkwardness of the situation was dawning on him just a little. Armin had been his best friend, they’d spent a lot of time together; Ryan’s family had actually liked him, a lot, but then he’d left for public school and his parents stopped asking when they’d see him again. The smile stayed, but he had to busy himself by digging around his schoolbag for his car keys. 

The small smile returns, and Armin nods, "Let me just check and make sure I've got money on me." He's quick to fumble through his messenger bag for his wallet, so glad to find one ten dollar bill, a five dollar bill, and three singles. To get food with Ryan is nothing short of a miracle for him, because getting food at the group home is truly a battle, if you're not quick enough, you won't get any food-- and if you're not paying attention to your plate, the food is stolen right off of it, "I'm starving, early dinner sounds good to me!" Having skipped lunch in favor of the library, he could really use the fuel.

There's a small grin, a hint of pain radiating from within. Armin hasn't gotten better, only worse. His 'home life' is a nightmare, "Yeah--curfew is still 10 PM, but I'm free now, I just got out of class." Ryan had been the best thing to ever happen to him, and switching schools? He doesn't want to lose that closeness just because of it, "I can hang out."

Ryan Quinn | 16 | Student [Indie OC; multiverse]