"And where are you going?" Jack looked back with a hand on the doorknob. He was just about to go out when he heard his mother's voice behind him. "I'm going to the mall with guys, I've told you, remember?" he replied, turning around. "You know them for one day, do you really think it's a good idea?" his mother sighed. "Don't worry mum, they're cool. Not like they're going to rob me or something. Besides, I have my cellphone" "I guess... Alright, just don't come back too late, okay?" she said giving her son a caring look. "I promise mum. I have to go or I'll be late, bye!" With that he opened the door and went out, heading for the bus stop. It was a warm, sunny day, so he considered just walking to Phil's house where they've agreed to meet, but in the end he decided to take the bus and save some time, so it was only 10:15 when he ringed the doorbell at Phil's doors. He didn't have to wait long for response. After few seconds Phil opened the door, shouting back over his shoulder. "And don't touch the sofa! Oh, hi Jack, come in" he said moving aside. "Who's supposed not to touch the sofa?" Jack chuckled as he entered. "Keith, he decided that our room needs some refurnishing to make more space or something... Dunno what got into him." he said as he took the stairs down "Frankly, it could use it. Anyway, is everyone here already?" "Not really. We're still waiting for Chris. And Mike gave me a call and said that he won't be able to come 'cos his girlfriend pinned him down. Sounded quite literally to me..." When they've entered the room they've found Keith untangling cables by the amps. Looked like he was working for some time - amps and guitar stands were lined up in order by the wall, sofa changed its place after all and all games were neatly stacked on shelves. Phil sighed as he looked around "I've told you, leave it alone dude, it'll just get messed up again in no time" "Well, no reason not to keep it organized at least for a little while. Hey there, rabbit" Keith replied as he stood up, looking at his finished work. "Waste of time if you ask me" Phil growled sitting on the sofa and turning the TV on. "Yeah, I bet you'll see to that it WILL be a waste of time" the fox snickered as he leaned on the sofa and watched the TV over his shoulder. "Bah." After surfing through the channels for some time they've decided there's nothing to watch and went upstairs to grab a snack while waiting for Chris. "Man, is he ever going to show up?" Phil asked looking at the clock as he took a last bite of his sandwich. Just as he said that the doorbell rang. "Speak of the devil" Jack snickered. "About time, too. I thought we'll have to go all Spanish Inquisition on his ass." Phil replied as he stood up and headed to the door with Jack and Keith following him. They've found Chris leaning against the wall in his usual baggy clothes, despite the warm weather. He seemed frustrated about something, but quickly called a smile to his muzzle as the door opened. "Do you realize what time it is? You're grounded." Phil said as he punched the lion in the shoulder "Hey, don't blame me. My mum made me help my sister, sorry to keep you waiting guys... Where's Mike?" Chris replied as he greeted Jack and Keith. "Oh, not coming. Personal issues. Kinda. Come on, let's go already!" Phil locked the door and they've headed to the bus stop. *** "I..." Phil started as soon as he exited the bus. "...hate traffic. Yeah, we know that" Jack finished, jumping out right behind him. Phil just shrugged as everyone else snickered. The mall was different than Chris expected. He thought that since they're so far away from downtown, it'll just be a moderately sized, two story building. In best case. But it was big. Maybe not as big as the one in city centre, but big enough to be an interesting hangout place. You know what's the worst thing about going to the mall on Saturday? That's right. The crowd. As soon as they've entered the building they got flooded by a sea of other furs. "Don't these people have anything better to do?" Chris growled as he almost got swept away for the fourth time. "Don't you?" Phil replied getting on the escalator "Touché" the lion said as he looked down at the lower level. He hated crowds. "Well, we're here!" Keith exclaimed after few more minutes of navigating through the crowd as they've entered what seemed to be least populated part of the mall. The music shop was rather big, and it looked like it had everything you can wish for. All kinds of accessories, amps and instruments. It was clearly divided into sections, with "heavier" equipment like drums and keyboards close to the shop's entrance, all kinds of guitars in the back and a mouse napping behind a counter on the right. "Whoa, cool, I didn't expect it to be so well-equipped and... Big" Chris said in awe as he entered and looked around. "Yeah, told ya it's awesome. That just proves you should always listen to me" Phil said as he approached one of the percussions and hit the crash cymbal. "HEY!" a voice behind them called "Don't touch anything on your own or I'll cut your- oh, it's you guys" the shopkeeper called as the noise waked him up from his nap. "Hey Garry, what's up" Keith greeted the mouse as he approached. "Not much" Garry replied hitting high fives and shaking paws with Jack and Chris "One would think that there would be many customers on Saturday, but you're my fifth visitors today, looks like people don't like music any more" "Or the owner" Phil chuckled "We just came to look around and show our new companions your empire. By the way, that's Jack and Chris" he introduced them "Hope ya don't mind us" "Good to finally have something to do. Feel free to browse, I trust you guys enough to know you won't try to steal stuff... Right?" With that everyone separated to look around - Keith dragged Chris to guitars section, as he said he needed some new strings, Jack wandered around the keyboards and Phil stayed with Garry to discuss latest concerts. After about an hour they've left the shop, everyone carrying a small bag - Jack got himself a CD of his favourite band, Chris and Keith both got their strings (and, in Chris' case, new picks, as he always loses them faster than he's able to buy them) and Phil bought few magazines with musician's interviews and equipment reviews. "So, Jack" Keith started "If you liked the keyboards so much, why don't you try playing? "Nah, too much trouble. I prefer to listen to music, not play it." he replied, looking at displays of shops they've passed "Hey, video games store!" *** They've left the mall around 3 PM after raiding various video games, clothing and general stores. The food court was yet another proof trustworthiness - you name it, they have it. During their meal Chris noticed two things. First, Jack attracted attention of most girls that passed them. Second - Keith attracted his attention. The more time they've spent together, the more trouble he was having to not admit that the fox is at least handsome. Thankfully, Phil quickly got him occupied with a conversation about how he should practice to get used to playing in a band. As Chris' family was supposed to be out of home for the rest of the day, they've decided to hang out at his place and decide their plans for the "Big Cultural Event" as Phil called their school trip. They were on their way to the bus stop when Chris' cellphone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the display to see who was calling him. It was Dave. He motioned his friends to keep walking as he slowed down and flipped the cellphone open. "Hey there, how you've been Chris!" Dave greeted him as soon as Chris put the phone to his ear. "More than good" he replied with a smile, looking at the group near the bus stop "How about you, old pal. How did your first days of school went?" "Eh, t'was okay, would be better if our teacher wasn't a little mentally unstable" Dave said a little annoyed "But hey, I was thinking, maybe I could drop by today, you'd show me around your new place and we could talk more, whatcha think buddy?" "Well, we're planning to hang out with the guys I've told you about, but... Sure, it's even better that you'll get to meet them. We're coming back from the mall right now, so if you take the train you should make it shortly after we get there ourselves" the lion replied happily. Chris explained to Dave on which station he needs to get out and how to get to his house, then said bye and joined his friends just as the bus came. The traffic was much smaller on their way back and even Phil didn't complain, so they've made it to Chris' house faster than they've expected. He was happy that everyone was okay with Dave joining them without earlier notification, and it seemed that the day was going to get even better. Chris brought his gaming console downstairs and they were all in the living room, with Jack and Keith playing Army of Two and the rest cheering on them. "Hey!" Keith growled as he received a headshot from Jack. "Oops! Sorry" he giggled. Just as he said that, the doorbell rang. "That must be Dave, I'll get it" Chris said as he stood up and headed for the front door. He opened the door to find Dave pointing right at his face with two fingers. "Bang! You're dead" he said. "Very funny man" Chris chuckled "Great to see you again, come on in!" he moved aside to let his friend in. "Nice house, man, almost makes moving here worth it" Dave said jokingly as Chris locked the door behind him. "Oh, COME ON!" a voice came from the living room, followed by a burst of laughter "Aaand I suppose that's your friends?" Dave asked with a sign of amusement in his voice. "Yeah, come on, I'll introduce you"Chris said leading Dave to the living room. As they've entered, Keith blew Jack up with one of his grenades, which caused another burst of laughter. The first person to notice that Chris was back was Phil. "Oi!" he exclaimed as soon as he saw them, which immediately brought everyone's attention first to him, and then to the newcomer. "Okay guys, here's Dave, my old friend since I can remember. That's Phil, Jack and Keith" Chris introduced them, everyone raising their paw as their name was called. After a brief moment when everyone greeted Dave and talked a little they got back to playing, this time with Dave going against Phil in a round of Tekken. They've played for one more hour before deciding to take a break. "Okay, I'm going to grab a soda, anyone want something?" Chris asked stretching out. "Bring me one too if you can" Dave said "Okay, I think I can get you a can" Chris chuckled leaving the room. "So" Phil started leaning back in a chair "You guys ever noticed that Chris' parents are never home? I mean, it's second time we've been here and so far we've only met his sister." "Maybe they're just working hard. But then, it's weekend, so.." Jack said playing with one of the controllers. "Well... It's true that his mother is working most of the time, and about his father... I'm not sure if I should be talking about that behind Chris' back" Dave replied scratching the back of his head. "Nope" Chris cut their conversation as he came back and threw a soda can at Dave. "Sorry man, I was just wondering..." Phil started to explain. "Don't worry, not like it's a secret really, I can tell you if you want. As our traitorous dog said, my mum works most of the time, she's a real estate agent, so when she's not at her office she's meeting clients. My father died a few years ago in a car accident" Chris said opening his soda can. "Sorry man, I didn't know" Phil said as his ears dropped. "Don't be, he got what he deserved. He was an alcoholic, and he was drunk that night. The only thing to be sorry about is that he killed a young woman," Chris continued talking as his eyes became cold and void of emotions. "Dude... That's cold" Jack said. "Maybe" the lion shrugged "But enough of that, we came here to have fun" he said as he shook his head and called a smile back on his muzzle. Before turning his attention back to the TV screen he noticed that Keith was looking at him strangely. Was that compassion? After few more hours of playing, talking and laughing Dave left, as he had a quite long way back home. The rest of the pack stayed a little longer, but when Chris' sister came back home the party was officially over. "Today was fun, we have to do it more often pal" Phil said patting Chris on the shoulder "Definitely" Chris laughed shaking Jack's paw. "I say we just lock her in her room" Keith said jokingly as he went through the door into the night. "Unfortunately, you would have to attend to my funeral after that. See ya later, guys!" Chris said waving to them as his friends started walking down the street and closed the door.