[https://i.imgur.com/U3GgiZQ.jpg]

Burger Boyz

September 17th X288

Tarot Tori City was populated with many souls, each wandering like an unsuspected graveyard. Their lives ticked away as they continued to roam their unpredictable paths.

Tori Plaza seven days before Florian’s televised award ceremony.

“Irina, what’re you ordering?” Travis Wit Law said. He had long dreadlocks held back with a headband, a yellow short-sleeved shirt with an anchor logo, and baggy cargo pants. Both of his arms had custom-made arm cuffs that seemed more than just a fashion statement.

Irina Halt, a shaggy-haired blonde woman with a small build in a black and yellow motorcycle tracksuit, sat at their booth with her chin on the table. Her baggy eyes were glued to the glass of soda fizzing in front of her. She was too sleepy to answer.

“How about you, Sticks?” Travis turned to the gloomy kid beside Irina. A boy named Styx Caldwell, mistaken for Sticks. He wore a blue short-sleeved hoodie over his pale face and black hair that peeked past his hood a little bit.

The boy shrugged with his hands in his pockets. “A taco, I guess.”

“This is Burger Boyz, and you want a taco?” Travis asked.

“Then what’s with the giant taco on top of the building?” Sticks asked.

“Gaha, I guess it happened before you were born. Let me regale you with the legend. This used to be a taco joint, explaining the eight-foot work of art outside. Sadly that taco joint went out of business. Then Burger Boyz bought the building. However, they didn’t want to tear down such a beautiful sculpture. After a while, they realized everyone started asking for tacos, forcing them to add them to the menu. That makes this the only Burger Boyz in the entire country that serves tacos. They’re also rated as the worst tacos in the whole city. That advertisement alone draws in countless customers, daring each other to order them,” Travis said.

“In my country, burgers are served vid de freshest potatoes and vodka dat is strong enough to put down a bear. Not someding chiseled out of a freezer.” Irina’s stomach growled.

“Irina, that sounds delicious. It makes me want to order the Big Boyz Burger. Sticks will get the Little Boyz Burger,” Travis said.

“If you’re paying, you can make fun of me all you want,” Sticks said.

“Of course, my treat for the new recruit. When you’re older, you’ll have to be responsible and save up plenty of money to cover meals for your trainees.”

“Really? I thought we were going to dine and dash.”

“Come on, Sticks. If we did that, they wouldn’t welcome us back. Do you know what’s more important than money?”

“What’s more important than money?”

“Spending money. That’s what. What’s the point of having money if you don’t spend it? The more money you spend in a restaurant, the tastier the food will be the next time. Understand?”

“Don’t tell me what to do. Money is the key to my girl’s heart,” Sticks said.

“Travis, scoot over,” Juke Lucas said, out of breath. He had short spiky crimson hair, a light tan jacket, a black T-shirt, and jeans.

“Juke, I thought you were eating at your favorite restaurant?” Travis asked.

“I was, but when I got there, it was a pile of ash.”

“No way? Was it that restaurant? Gahaha.” Travis couldn’t hold it in.

“Their pancakes were to die for,” Juke said.

“You mean to kill for. If you die, you can’t eat any more the next day. Gahaha.”

“Yeah, I’ll kill you if you keep laughing. I can’t believe you burned down my favorite restaurant.” Juke’s voice curdled.

“Their pancakes were nasty, and you know it. It was the syrup that carried the flavor. Just drink the syrup strai—”

“You’re digging your own grave! Travis!”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“All right, all right, jeez, don’t snap here.” Travis knew he’d crossed the line.

“Can I take your orders?” the waiter asked.

“Big Boyz Burger with Friez,” Travis said.

“Little Boyz Burger and Ringz. He’s paying for mine,” Sticks said.

“Your exclusive famously bad tacos dat lure your customers in, potatoes not from last vinter, and vodka, hold de bear sedatives,” Irina said.

“Pancakes,” Juke said, glaring at Travis’s grin.

“I’m sorry, but we don’t serve pancakes,” the waiter said, shivering at the tall crimson-haired man.

“What?! Everyone else’s long order compared to my single-word order! And you don’t serve it?!” Juke stood, clenching his fist.

“Hiiiee! Don’t hurt me.” The waiter cowered.

“Calm down, Juke. They’re only kidding. Right? You do serve pancakes. Right?” Travis handed the waiter two hundred dollars. “Psst, take the money. I really don’t want my friend to cause any trouble.”

“Yes, sir! Pancakes. Coming right up.” The waiter ran off.

“Gahaha. See, the more money you put in, the better the restaurant gets.”

After that day, Burger Boyz added pancakes to its menu.

🙠🙢

“Sticks, is it all right for you to be skipping school like dis?” Irina said.

“It’s all right. I’m interning with you guys, so I don’t need school anymore.”

“Vat about dat girlfriend of yours? Does she know vat you got yourself into?”

“All she needs to know is how much I love her and that every dime I make is for her.”

“This pancake tastes strange,” Juke said.

“In my country, men vere only velcomed home by deir vives if dey brought home diamonds covered in blood.”

“We’re not in your country, are we? But I can’t deny that money covered in blood is still money,” Travis said.

“Sticks, you’ve got to start thinking for yourself,” Juke said. “If you don’t, you will end up worse than just broke.”

“What’s worse than broke?”

“Broken,” Juke said.

“I can drink to that,” Travis said.

“All right, wrap it up, guys. We need to get ready for the boss’s call tonight. Everyone’s required to be there or else,” Juke said.

“Hey, kid, isn’t this your first meeting with the boss?” Travis asked.

“Yeah,” Sticks said.

“I recommend only speaking when he calls on you. He tends to get scary if annoyed,” Travis said.

“If only Travis behaved like that all the time,” Juke added.

“Vaiter. Can I get dis to go?” Irina said for her half-eaten tacos.

“Are you really going to finish those tacos?” Travis asked.

“No, dey really are nasty. But Sophie might eat dem.”

“Gahaha, wanna put money on that?”

“You’re on,” Irina said.

🙠🙢

The crew began their commute home boarding the Tori Railway, catching an east-bound train.

“Dat vas a good meal. I only regret not driving us. A good drive after a meal vould have hit the spot.”

“Gahaha, we know you drink with every meal. We’re not stupid enough to ride with you after a drink.”

“Come on. It vill be fun.” Irina lightly tipped from side to side.

“Besides, when do you get the chance to enjoy a good walk to cool off? Isn’t it therapeutic? Right, Juke? Feeling any better?” Travis asked.

“Shut it, Travis! The boss put me in charge, so I order you to shut up,” Juke said.

“Fine, temp leader,” Travis said.

They sat on the crowded train, and the group’s banter went strangely quiet. Even Irina’s tipsiness sobered up.

“Irina. What’s going on with you and the others?” Sticks worried.

“I don’t feel like dealing vid it. I vanted to drive for a reason,” she said.

“Damn, we should have driven,” Travis spoke under his breath.

“What’s wrong?” Sticks asked.

“Don’t worry, new kid. Just keep quiet and act natural,” Juke said, calm and composed.

“Can I talk now, temp leader?” Travis asked.

“Fine. Who’s tailing us?”

“I have no idea?”

“FBI?”

“Nope. FBI aren’t this stupid. They would be observing our hideout, not risking their cover by tailing our individual moves.”

“Then who is it?”

“Whoever they are, they’re good. Way better than local police. Whenever I make a sudden move, I notice a reflection in the train window. Like when I checked my phone, whoever they are, they reacted,” Travis said.

“Are we just going to lead them to our hideout?” Sticks asked.

“Vant to split up?” Irina asked.

“No, they will continue to tail the easiest target: Sticks or Irina in her intoxicated state. If they’re trying to capture one of us, it would be best to stick together. They won’t be stupid enough to try while I’m around. Either way, if we’re late, Sophie will notice,” Juke said.

“Let the games begin,” Travis said.

🙠🙢

“I found you, and I’m not letting you out of my sights this time.”