Saint Joseph School

Frank ducked out of his third period math class early, the sister teaching the class pretended not to notice though secretly she was happy for the respite.

He walked down the hall to the east wing and waited by a certain locker.

Bobby's locker.

Bobby slung his heavy backpack over his shoulder. With third period over, it was just about time to swap one mobile library of textbooks out for another. He ducked out of the classroom and rode the current of hall traffic, not even bothering to look up as he pecked out a text message to Layla Stevens.

Blissfully unaware, he approached his locker.

Frank saw that Bobby was engrossed in his little gadget. A grin crept across his synthetic skin.

"Hey Bobby," Frank said, getting the boy's attention, "I think we've got an appointment." To accent the message, the bully tapped his knuckles against the cool metal of the locker door.

Bobby looked up from his cell at Frank. A little color flushed from his cheeks.

"Uh, hey Frank. Was that today? I could have sworn it was next week."

"Oh. It was. It was. But, lucky you, I got a opening in my schedule."

Bobby checked his watch.

"Oh. Your 11:30 with Reggie must've gotten over with quickly, huh? Wow. Uh. Well, you know I'd love to, but I've got this... thing. That is imperative. To the survival of the entire human race."