"You're getting slower everyday" Robin pulled her gym back over her shoulder and fixed her hair. "Somethin' wrong?"

"Na, nothin," I shook my head and tapped my foot nervously.

I lied to her then, for the first time in so long. Something had been bugging me, not sitting right. Givin me a bad feeling, causing me to feel restless.

"Oh, alright." She smiled, kicking a rock around. " Shoot, school is hard, you sure is lucky you ain't gotta deal with it no more." She laughed using her funny vocabulary she picked up from some girls at school as we stood at the bus stop. "And one of these days we gotta get ourselves a car, a red mustang at that." She fantasied, looking at the car stopped at the red light in front of us.
"Robin, are you listening to a single word your teacher tells you?" I put my hands in my pockets and tried to act calm. I needed a cigarette but I couldn't have one now, not in front of her.
I don't know, I'm always like this on Monday mornings for some reason. Dad warned me about this all the time when he was still around town. What's funny was that he got me into the habit. He was still young, and everyone smoked, so when I asked him once, he let me. Sure, he was a little drunk at the time and let an eleven year old kid smoke, but that's where it all started.  It wasn't all the time though, like it began to be. After dad fell sick, he started taking them away and I started to cut back on them as well. He then left with my mom for business relating things and wasn't there to stop me anymore. Robin was all for me quitting and has since then thought that I have.

It'd break her heart to find out I haven't kept up with my promise.

Robin hopped on the bus and waved at me through the window as it started to pull away and head toward the bend. I started off walking to the gas station and spotted Rusty on his way to work.

"I'll holler if I need any heavy liftin done" Rusty smiled, humming to an old Elvis song as I caught up to him. Rusty was a scrawny guy, so he often called for my help when things were to heavy to carry around his shop. He had been working alone ever since his girl left him. They used to tag team the business together, but I guess they grew apart over time. Rusty was in shambles when they broke up, but tried his best to hide it as he joked about it with the gang. I knew he was all depressed at the time, but he never let it on until I pestered him for it.

"Stop acting like a girl already and tell me what's wrong" I had once teased him after he gave me the silent treatment for asking him about Liz.

I had been through this so many times before with Robin that I was familiar with the way to attack this drama, I guess having a little sister does come in handy at times.

After that comment, he burst out screaming and ranting about what had happened to me for a whole week straight. I sorta regret it now. I couldn't get him to shut up, even when I got uncomfortable.

"If I'm off work early I'll stop by, deal? And if I do...I should get some money for it." I bargained.  "No more free work."
"But I'm your buddy!" Rusty teased. "Fine. I get it, sure. What? Planin' on getting something shiny?"
"Yeah right. " I said sarcastically. "Anyway, thanks pal. I really do need the money." I sighed, looking around to make sure Robin's bus was gone and lit a cigarette.
"You antsy today too?" Rusty looked over my shoulder.
"Yeah, I don't know why, but it's fine I guess."
"I know what you feel. Monday's. Especially after that movie. So boring, it sucked the life outa everybody."
"Yeah" we said in unison and sighing. Rusty always knew what was going on. He understood things others couldn't, like how Eddie and Bruce only see what's on the surface, or Danny and Angel who don't really care for others feelings, well maybe a little for Danny. Maybe. Rusty was one of the closest friends I had, besides the twins. He listened and we often shared the same emotions, he was in somewhat of the same situation.

Rusty worked at the hardware shop in the same plaza as our gas station so we hung out very often and laughed at each other's bloopers.

Eddie was leaning on the counter and flirting with a few girls at the register. One was trying to buy some gum and the others stood behind her giggling.

Bruce was wiping the windshield of what I assume was the girls' car.

"Hey batman! Come over here! You're late" Eddie called as I walked into the small convenience store.

"Sorry Eddie the bus was late and-" I started with my excuse when he cut me off.

"I'm just yanking your leg! Don't sweat it. Look at you, you're sweating bullets."

"Yeah, sorry again." I dodged his last statement. There were three girls. All high class girls at that, wearing long skirts and straight hair, all except for one, who had her brown hair pinned up in curls. They whispered to each other and giggled. "So what do you need me for today?" I asked, anxious to get to work.

"Well it's a slow day..." Eddie trailed off taking the nickels from the blond girl's hand and putting it into the register.
"Maybe you can help these fine chicks."

I rolled my eyes and took the second register. The girl with curls walked up and placed a coke and Hershey chocolate bar.