A FEW DAYS PRIOR

Dressed in his work uniform Konan serves the two conversing customers before him while trying desperately to tune their words out. A new gambling game had taken the city by storm, everyone with a phone seemed to be obsessing over it,

(no matter where i go it seems all anyone cares about is Pik-Side), Seated off to the corner Jimmy grins towards a physically exasperated Luke,

"C'mon Luke just try it, if making money was this fun I'd have been rich ages ago" Jimmy states emphatically remaining unrelenting in his endeavor to have Luke play,

"All you have to do is put some money and pick a side odd or even, it's simple and you even have a fifty percent chance of doubling your bet, there's also the twenty-five percent chance for triple the amount!" he states enthusiastically.

"you sound like an under trained sales rep" Luke retorts, "and a bad one at that"

"Yo Jim!", the two turn towards the point if call, Jimmy's face visibly contorts into a frown while looking up to meet the voice's owner, before them are his and Luke's school mates. Turning to the one whose hand was placed atop his head and the other standing behind him while glaring him down as if willing his eyes to glare him to death,

(good cop bad cop ey... what a fucking joke, why even bother?)

"What a coincidence to meet here, you see the cash you loaned me has already been spent, sooo how about you add another five thousand to that hmm?, don't worry i'll be sure to pay,... When i win that is" his mate states never dropping his amicable smile

"Sure" Jimmy replies through grounded teeth

"Your a really good friend Jimmy" he replies patting his head repeatedly. The duo turn away before making their way out if the stall, Jimmy springs up to stop Luke from calling the two back and intervening as they watch the two exit the store

"Why'd you stop me, are you scared?, You don't have to be!, didn't they just press you for cash?" Luke gestures angrily

"No, no they're just classmates"

"So that's why you'll just take this?" Luke states donning a frown

"They're broke, I'm just being a good person, they'll pay back once they win" Luke glares Jimmy down, while the latter looks away unable to maintain eye contact,

(he actually doesn't care about pik-side, he's just talking about it cause his losing money to the players), Luke muses sourly,

Konan who'd been watching from afar frowns at the scene,

(Pik-side's now the only thing stuck on their brains)

"Um, Konan, could you lend me some money i'll pay you back",

(It's not even only the guests, i have to stop this shit now, this has gone on long enough) , "No" Konan replies, Frowning dejectedly Konan's dark haired co-worker sweeps his gaze over the coffee shop his lips curling upwards as Jimmy's back catches his gaze, speeding up to the departing duo he calls out to Jimmy who'd long became a regular

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"Jimmy!", Turning Jimmy's lips curl upwards as his eyes meet Konan's co-worker

"David!, How long has it been?, You still work at the shop? How come i haven't seen you in a while?", jimmy inquires excitedly.

"I work at the back during mid day shifts" he replies, "anyway how're your parents?"

"There good as always how about you?, it's been a year since I've seen you"

"I'm good as always....." He trails off momentarily, "but it would help if you could lend me some money....y'know..For pik-side",

"Ah I don't have any on me though" Jimmy replies his smile fading

"Oh i see you seem to be strapped for cash too, don't worry about it okay?" David replies his smile ever present

"No!, no How could 'i' be strapped for cash, it's all in my card i'll go get some"

"Now that's the Jimmy i remember" David states forcing his widening smile back as he watches Jimmy run off, Luke stares him down but the taller boy gives a dazzling smile in response, watching Jimmy return with the money he hand's it to David who collects it while thanking him extensively

"Thanks a lot Jim i'll be sure to pay back once i win, how about you give me your number so we can keep in touch"

"It's fine i'll be waiting" Jimmy replies while exchanging numbers, the two wave the other off as they each go their separate ways.

"Pik-side?, What's that" Raven inquires turning to Luke who looks to Jimmy beside him in response

"Ask him" Luke signals towards Jimmy, "he seems to like giving anyone money as long as they say the two magic words" he states with a questioning look

"David isn't that way, he's different, he's a good person" Jimmy state's ardently forcing Laura to stifle her laughter,

(if I didn't know any better I'd have said he's rather into this 'David'),

The chink of the store's doors opening draws the group's attention towards the door

"David!" Jimmy exclaims rather excitedly, David who's eye's are trained on Laura turns them towards Jimmy before pulling out a bundle of cash from his coat's inner pocket

"Here you go Jim, ten thousand credits" he states watching Jimmy and the group go slack jawed as they look on in pleasant surprise

"Ten thousand?, But i.."

"Gave me five?" David completes, "well you see i have a friend among the admins running the site, he gives good tips"

"Is.....is that even allowed?" Jimmy replies with guarded skepticism,

"Of course it is, how do you think i won so much?, I'm only telling you this cause it's you" David states gesturing in a quiet motion,"you'll only be betting a small amount of money anyway"

"Well....um...could you....."

(Hook line and sinker) grinning widely David pushes harder, "do you even need to ask?...of course i can, do you guys want to try it too?" David inquires gesturing towards the rest

A few minutes later Raven is standing phone in hand while staring at the betting site hosting the pik-side game, (should i really be doing this?), Going with his uneasy intuition Raven exits the site whike he watches the other two from behind the counter, Laura noticing his expression gives him a nudge up his side before mouthing a few words to him,

('just a game' huh, i'm not to sure about that), he mules watcing David look to his phone and predict the results correctly for a third time running)

A few minutes more and Raven wasn't so sure his 'gut' was right as the group stand surrounding Jimmy who stands frozen while staring at a two hundred and fifty thousand credit bank balance,

"Jimmm..... that's... that's not real, right?" Bumbles Luke unable to contain his shock, Jimmy quivk8exits the store before walking up to the closest ATM machine while the group excluding Raven follow in tow. He proceeds to withdraw twenty thousands credits in cash before it finally crack's the last veneer of calmness he'd maintained, smiling ecstatically his hands shake swaying the bills held between his hand's lightly.

Ever smiling David walks up to Jimmy before placing a hand on his shoulder as he leans in, "so jimmy What do you think, still interested?",

"This...you mean i could do this every day?, I ....i could even live off this!" he replies excitedly,

"You could even meet that admin friend if mine if you want. He's also quite close to the site's manager",

Looking up toward David with stars in his eyes Raven can't help but grow increasingly skeptical,

"I could?" Jimmy inquires, unbothered by his heightening tone David replies,

"Sure, through they're busy today, how about some other time?"

"Yeah!, sure!",

Smiling he waves Jimmy and the rest goodnight as he saunters out the store.