Chapter Text
Tuesday, September 5
Out in the backyard, me and Arthur were talking about what just happened.
"Man, I still can't believe that happened to poor little Mike! Should've known not to mess with Erik Fisher!" Arthur said enthusiastically. I nod to myself, agreeing with him. Although it wasn't staged, it did work out in our favor. I mean, now that Mike Costello is out of the picture—for good— Arthur can be my place kickholder. Not that it effects me in any way.
But hey, Mike shouldn't have dissed me like that, look who you're talkin to! I'm Erik Fisher! I have a bright football future ahead of me! Soon enough, I'll be mention in the sports section in the daily paper! Dad tells me I already have scholarships lined up ready to take me in. Sure, Mike Costello had a scholarship for School of Engineering at FSU, but c'mon! He had no future in football—unlike me! He deserved it anyways.
Before my mind can wander anymore, a sly smile creeps on my face and a chuckle comes out.
"Ha! Did you see his hair? Did you see the side of his head? He got Mohawked, man!" I hit Arthur on his right shoulder to encourage him. "Mohawked." He mumbled quietly. I knew he found it funny, that grin is all the evidence I need to know! I jokingly grab Arthur's shoes and say in a mocking tone of Joey Costello's voice—Mike's little brother.
"The shoes! Gimme the shoes!" Me and Arthur start laughing at that. "I'm still wondering why his brother was trying to take off his shoes, what does shoes gotta do with helping Mike?" Arthur questioned. He had a point; what's the point of taking off his shoes? I come up with an answer that's just as funny as Mike's new hairdo. "Maybe their family's just too poor and Joey was thinking of selling his big bros shoes." Arthur smiles at that, it seems a bit too friendly but I just brush it off.
"Nah nah! I bet he just wanted the shoes for himself! Middle schoolers are just so greedy! Take your sorry-excuse-of-a-brother! Can't believe he stared at the sun so long he got blind! What a moron!" Arthur laughed. I laughed at that to, though I felt something at the back of my mind telling me that's not true. I ignore it sheepishly, waving it off internally.
The laugher slowly dies down and quiet creeps in until..
"Hey man, you and me, we're gonna be the best duo and players on the team right?" He gives me a comforting smile, which lights something inside of my chest—wait what?! No, no, that's wrong. I ignore that weird and unfamiliar sensation and answer Arthur's question. "Oh yeah no, of course man! Me n' you, we're gonna rule this city! Soon enough, we'll have this entire place in the palms of our hands! It's just a matter of time." I say confidently, a small smirk lands a place on my face.
That seems to give him motivation, "Yeah... yeah, yeah! I can't wait to become your partner in crime!" Arthur beamed. He isn't wrong. I too, somehow can't wait to get to know Arthur. Maybe we can be something, together! Just you wait, the world isn't ready for Erik Fisher and Arthur Bauer!