A City Story, Day 4

[Cytherea]

Jason reached for his Photosphere tablet and looked at his messages.

"Huh. Just the usual."

He went over them all and deleted them.

"Junk mail, junk mail, junk mail. That's all I ever get."

Suddenly, he remembered the party from last night, and the girl that he had met. They had exchanged ID's. He thought for a moment and then remembered what hers was. He punched it in.

"Uh... I just want to talk with someone." he said. He quickly messaged her:

Hi Cheiko! This is Jason Underhill. Not sure if you remember me from the party last night, but I want to get to know you better. I can take you out for lunch today, if you're not busy. Please message me back soon! ttyl!

[Lithium]

Cheiko blinked.

A message? A deep red exclamation point appeared in the lower right corner of her Photo-glasses. I should switch over to the desktop

She ripped off the large orange glasses as she dashed to her room. She sat down in the chair at her desk and plugged in the Photochip.

The screen flickered to life and the red exclamation point appeared again, only this time with two buttons below.

NEW MESSAGE!
[NOW] [LATER]

She moved the mouse over to click the "Now" and it opened.

From: Jason Underhill (I.D. XXXXXXX)
To: Cheiko Sonoda (I.D. 5698241)
Hi Cheiko! This is Jason Underhill. Not sure if you remember me from the party last night, but I want to get to know you better. I can take you out for lunch today, if you're not busy. Please message me back soon! ttyl!

Omgoodness! Jason?? Really? A smile dawned on her face. Get to know me better? Asking me to lunch? Her smile got bigger.

Her fingers could scarcely type any faster at the holographic keyboard.

Yeah, I remember! I had a really great time. I'm not busy today. Do you want to say

She stopped typing and looked at the clock.

It was already 10:45.

Do you want to say noon at... have you ever had Japanese food? And I mean good, authentic Japanese food

She clicked [SEND] and away it went into cyberspace.

[Cytherea]

Jason had barely put his device down when he heard the familiar note play on the screen, telling him another message had arrived. Smiling, he picked it back up.

Yeah, I remember! I had a really great time. I'm not busy today. Do you want to say noon at... have you ever had Japanese food? And I mean good, authentic Japanese food

Smiling wider, Jason quickly replied.

Yeah, and I loved it. I'll take you to that really awesome Japanese restaurant on the corner of Robyn Street if you want. Noon is fine, or we could go earlier and hit some thrift stores before lunch.

[Lithium]

Cheiko grinned, and felt butterflies rise in her stomach. She'd had dates before, but she'd never looked forward to them as much as this one.

The red exclamation and a high tuned pinging for an unfriended user came up and Cheiko opened the message.

From: Jason Underhill (I.D. XXXXXXX)
To: Cheiko Sonoda (I.D. 5698241)
Yeah, and I loved it. I'll take you to that really awesome Japanese restaurant on the corner of Robyn Street if you want. Noon is fine, or we could go earlier and hit some thrift stores before lunch.

She grinned. Good thing my allowance was just deposited in the bank

Thrifting sounds like fun! I used to do that all the time. How about we meet at the one on the corner of Poplar and Jayye? It used to have some really good stuff. How about at 11:30?

[Cytherea]

Thrifting sounds like fun! I used to do that all the time. How about we meet at the one on the corner of Poplar and Jayye? It used to have some really good stuff. How about at 11:30?

Sounds good. See you then!

Jason quickly put his Photosphere tablet down and started getting ready.

[Lithium]

Cheiko glanced at the message, saw his confirmation, then started running around as fast as she could, gathering up what she needed to get ready.

She hopped in the shower and took the fasted one she had ever experienced, dried herself off, threw on a cream skirt with warm brown leggings, a blouse made of jean fabric, a brown faux-leather belt and a pair of dark brown knee-high boots.

Grabbing the curling iron as she looked at the clock, she sighed in relief. It was only 11:03.

I don't think I've ever gotten ready this fast.

She quickly refreshed the curls in her hair, put on some mascara and lip gloss and grabbed her bag.

"Where's the Portable?" she asked as she dug through her purse. "Oh! I need to grab my chip."

Cheiko ran back to the computer, grabbed her chip and saw her Portable on her bed. She snatched it up, plugged in her chip and dashed out the door.

“Bye, Missy!” she called out as she closed the door. “I’m going out for a while!”

She got into the elevator and turned on her Portable, and messaged Jason.

I’m on my way.

She hit the lobby, raced out onto the sidewalk and hailed a hover taxi.

“Corner of Jayye and Poplar,” Cheiko told the computer, which promptly closed the door and the taxi soared into the Hoverway above the smog of the city.

[Cytherea]

Jason leaned against the wall of a building, fiddling with his Photosphere tablet. He was wearing his dark jeans and expensive brand sneakers, and a light blue shirt with his dark brown jacket.

It's 11:30. She should be here anytime now.

He heard another message beep onto his Photosphere tablet, and he quickly checked it. He had already received her confirmation that she could come, so whatever this was was probably not sent by her.

Jason, where are you??? Eli and I are having one of the best times of our life, because we are eating the house and store out of peanut butter and chocolate. Don't worry about us!

Jason smiled wryly.

"Siblings." he muttered, still smiling.

[Lithium]

"What's so funny?" Cheiko asked as the door to the Hover-taxi's door closed and she walked over to him. "Sorry I'm late. I don't think I've ever gotten ready that fast before."

She smiled and slid onto the bench next to him. "Where do you want to go first? It seems there's plenty of thrift shops in this area."

[Cytherea]

"What's so funny?" Cheiko asked as the door to the Hover-taxi's door closed and she walked over to Jason. "Sorry I'm late. I don't think I've ever gotten ready that fast before."

"It's fine. You're not actually late. I just got here." He smiled again.

She smiled and slid onto the bench next to him. "Where do you want to go first? It seems there's plenty of thrift shops in this area."

"Oh, wherever you want to go." He looked her over and smiled. "For getting ready so quickly, you sure know how to look fabulous on short notice."

[Lithium]

Cheiko held in her blush. "Th-thanks. Well, how about this one?" She gestured to the one behind him. "Looks like we could find some pretty retro stuff, right?"

He says I look fabulous, Cheiko thought. Matthew never said I was fabulous.

[Cytherea]

"Th-thanks. Well, how about this one?" She gestured to the one behind him. "Looks like we could find some pretty retro stuff, right?"

"Definitely." Jason stood up and offered her his hand. "Thrift stores are so addictive. What are you hoping to find?"

[Lithium]

Cheiko shrugged. "Clothes is the obvious answer. But, I've heard that sometimes you can find some old 21st century games. I'm looking for the update to this Nintendo game I'm playing. It was the only one left in the sale bin this one time and I was looking for a new game to play. It turns out it was really fun. The graphics aren't as good as now and it's not holographic or anything... but it's cute."

[Cytherea]

"Ya huh." Jason said, walking into the store and keeping the door open for her. "I have a store of old albums that I play constantly. I'm really into music and singing. I've made a few songs and recorded them, but never tried to send them into the public world. My two brothers, uh, that's what I was laughing about earlier, are the only one's who seen me sing and play. Well, and my sister."

[Lithium]

Cheiko grinned. "I love music. I'm sure you're great! Maybe you could send me your recordings some time."

They went into the little shop and Cheiko made a beeline for the electronics section. There was a bin of Nintendo DS games.

"Look at how huge their game chips were!" she said, holding one out for Jason to see.

[Cytherea]

"Look at how huge their game chips were!" she said, holding one out for Jason to see.

He quickly came over and examined the chip.

"Whoa, that's huge. I wonder if there's more." he started rummaging through the box, and found another. "This is jackpot territory." he said in awe. He stared into her eyes. "These chips are capable of holding..." he stopped himself as he continued to look into her beautiful, beautiful eyes.

[Lithium]

"Holding... what?" Cheiko asked, a blushed rising to her cheeks as she held Jason's gaze. Her organs must have been putting on a circus or something, because she felt like her stomach was doing back flips, while her lungs were holding their breath on the tight rope and her heart was sprinting around as a lion chased it.

[Cytherea]

"Ah..." Jason quickly tore his eyes from hers. "They hold lots of space for memory and... stuff." He ran his fingers through his hair. "But anyways..." he quickly checked the time on his tablet. "Wow, it's almost 12:00. We'd better... we'd better find what we're going to buy." He added with a smile.

[Lithium]

"Yeah," Cheiko murmured. "Here it is! This is the game I was telling you about. It's called Pokemon. Some of the characters are really cute. The evolution thing is a bit weird, but it's like... growing up, I guess." She shrugged. "I don't think I have this one yet."

She turned the chip over in her hands, feeling the plastic. "It's incredible that this stuff has lasted for over 200 years."

[Cytherea]

"Yeah." Jason said. "It really makes you think about saving things for the people who will come after us. Like, you know, preserving history, I guess." he shrugged. "My view, anyway. You ready to check out?"

[Lithium]

"Yeah," Cheiko said. "Didn't you want anything?"

She smiled at him and started to go through her purse when her Portable vibrated.

Cheiko frowned and pulled it out. It vibrated in her hands again.

Missy's face lit up the whole screen. Cheiko looked over at Jason apologetically. "I'm sorry. I really have to take this."

She tapped the accept button. "Hey, Missy. I'm kind of busy."

"Where are you?"

Cheiko paused, narrowed her eyes and set her jaw at the tone in Missy's voice. "Why?"

"Just where are you?"

"You've never talked to me like that before. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I was just worried. You're all right, then?"

"Yeah. I'm just out with a friend I met at the party last night. Jason, remember?"

"Oh. Yeah. Well, stay safe. And be careful. Love you, girl."

"Love you too. Bye."

She hung up and turned back to Jason. "Sorry. Ready to check out?"

[Cytherea]

So she knows Mistalyn... Missy, I suppose from last night. I can barely remember her now...

She hung up and turned back to Jason. "Sorry. Ready to check out?"

"Sure. I didn't find anything." he said with a shrug. "Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't." he fiddled with a juice stick by the counter flavored peanut butter. He picked it up and searched for another. He smiled at her. "Never mind, I found something. For my two younger brothers. They are obsessed with peanut butter."

[Lithium]

"Cool!" Cheiko put her DS gaming chip on the counter, the cashier rung it up and Cheiko handed them her card.

"Wow. I didn't realize that gaming chips were so expensive."

"Well, those ones are," the cashier said. "They still have labels in good condition. They're practically antique, if anybody could afford the consoles that go with them."

Cheiko shrugged. "Thanks."

"No problem. Have a nice day, Miss."

"Thanks. You too."

[Cytherea]

Jason

Jason quickly bought the two peanut butter juice sticks (YUCK!) and held the door open for Cheiko.

"I could have bought it for you, you know. Sorry, it just escaped my mind." he said with a smile. "I really shouldn't have bought these, though." he looked at the sticks. "My brothers are really good at eating us out of food at my place, and I wanna give them something to chew on for a while. I've heard these things are gross."

Shawlin

I have to find her... it shouldn't be too hard... I know where she lives now.

Shawlin kept walking towards house after house, reading the address, and then turning around and going to the next one.

She should live... ah! Right here!

Shawlin walked up to the house and knocked on the door. He waited expectantly.

[Zinna]

Mandi

"Mother! Someone is at the door! May I answer it?" Mandi called upstairs to her mother.

"Fine dear." Mrs. Jras was arranging flowers and not really paying attention to Mandi.

Mandi walked over to the massive solid wood door, unlocked it, and slowly opened it. Maybe it's a salesman or a child begging for food. Whatever the case I'll answer it like Mother has taught me too.

[Cytherea]

The door opened and Shawlin saw Mandi, just as beautiful as the night before. He smiled at her.

"Uh, you dropped your locket last night at the party." he pulled it from his pocket and handed it to her. "I found it for you. Here."