Chase    Oh, Julian. What's up?

Julian    Hey there...My shift just ended and saw you sitting here.

Chase    Oh, uhh...

Chase    Wanna sit down?

Julian    Yeah, sure.

Julian    Thanks.

Chase    Yeah, no problem.

Julian    How are you today?

Chase    Good. You?

Julian    Eh, I've been better. This job is really starting to wear me out, ya know?

Chase    Yeah, I've had a few like that.

Julian    Yeah? What sort of job do you have?

Chase    Uh, well, I'm between jobs right now. I'm going to school but I'll probably stock shelves over the summer, like I did last year.

Julian    So that job wore you out?

Chase    Well...no, but my fast food job did, the one I had in high school. I kind of like stacking boxes and putting stuff on shelves.

Julian    See, I think food service jobs are definitely the worst, so I can see why stocking might be a little better.

Janice    Oh! You know Chase, Julian?

Julian    A little! I know him through TJ.

Janice    Ah! Well, if you see that boy again let him know that I'd like to chat with him!

Julian    But anyway, I'm going to school too, over at Mesa, and this diner has some seriously flexible hours. Only reason why I'm still here.

Chase    At least you guys don't seem very busy, even during the lunch hour.

Julian    Heh, yeah, it's a wonder we're still in business. Probably gonna have to close down in a year or two.

Julian    So...where's Teej at? I thought you two were hanging out?

Chase    Yeah, he went off on a hike earlier this morning. I slept in.

Julian    Ohh, I see. He still do that a lot?

Chase    I don't know. We've only been here about a week. He does love going on hikes, though.

Julian    I mean, does he do that at CCU?

Chase    Oh, no, I don't go to CCU. I'm at Pueblo.

Julian    Huh, so you guys met up here?

Chase    Well, I picked him up and brought him here, along with Jenna, but she goes to Pueblo too...

Julian    I see...well, TJ was my best friend during senior year, after you and Carl left. We hung out all the time. After he left for college we kind of lost touch.

Chase    Hmm, yeah, he's not very active on social media.

Julian    He was kind of depressed right after graduation, so I've been a little worried about him.

Chase    Depressed?

Julian    I thought it might have to do with graduation, but it went on all summer.

Chase    Oh...well, if you want to talk to him I can definitely let him know.

Julian    That would be great! Please do. I think he must have changed his number after leaving.

Chase    Okay.

Julian    How long have you known TJ?

Chase    Since he got here in like 2001, so fourteen years ago?

Julian    Wooow, that's a long time.

Chase    Yeah, it really is.

Julian    You guys always been good friends?

Chase    For the most part...I had times where I was kind of a dick to him, but he's always been a good friend to me.

Julian    I see, I see...Yeah, we all went to the same elementary school, but it wasn't until junior high that I met him in bible study.

Chase    Ah.

Julian    I always knew about you guys though, the Echo kids.

Chase    Yep, that was us. The weirdos.

Julian    It was a mean thing to say, but this town IS kind of messed up. Lot of weird things happen here.

Chase    I can't argue with that.

Julian    Hey, so this is gonna be a bit weird, and I don't want to offend you, but it's something that's bothered me for a while.

Chase    Yeah?

Julian    TJ told me what happened at Lake Emma a while back when we were talking about death and heaven.

Julian    Well, he never actually told me about what exactly happened, but I can tell it really affects him.

Julian    Now, you don't have to tell me, and if it makes you uncomfortable please don't—

Julian    —but I feel like if I have a better idea of what happened, I might understand him a bit better.

Julian    I'm not going to ask HIM to tell me, of course. I know it was a long time ago, but I know you can carry stuff like that around for a long time.

Julian    So if you're not okay with it then please just let me know and I'll change the subject.

Chase    Okay, but please don't bring it up with TJ. Like you said, it still really affects him.

Julian    Never.

Julian    I wouldn't mind going with you, TJ. I love hiking.

Chase    Yeah, we could both go. The point is you don't go out alone next time, alright Teej?

TJ    Yeah, okay. Thanks guys.

Julian    No problem.

Julian    We were just talking about our old bible study group.

TJ    Ugh.

Chase    What about it?

Julian    Oh, just the way that TJ would always take it so seriously, and no one else would, haha.

TJ    Yeah, I never had any control in that club.

Chase    Oh really? Were you in charge?

TJ    Yeah, I revived it after it sort of went defunct for a few years. Wasn't all that popular.

Julian    Yeah, we had like, three other members not including you or me.

TJ    Yeah, then one dropped out after like, two meetings.

Julian    What a godless school we went to.

TJ    Hey!

Julian    You know I'm kidding...mostly.

TJ    Well, I did want atheists to join too, as long as they weren't disruptive. I just wanted to show everyone what a nice experience it could be—

TJ    —even if you didn't believe.

TJ    Wasn't all that spiritual in the end, though.

Julian    Yeah, mostly we just talked and brought snacks. It took TJ a while to realize no one wanted another Sunday school session at actual school.

TJ    Yep. Hours of planning out the window.

Julian    It was still a great time. I think the four of us were happier for it.

TJ    Yeah, I guess.

TJ    Ah, sorry Chase, you wouldn't know much about this stuff.

Chase    It's okay. It's interesting to hear about.

Julian    You didn't miss much. Just discussions about movies and...watching movies too.

TJ    Ugh, they couldn't even be religiously themed.

Julian    Thank God.

TJ    Hey!

TJ    Well, I'm glad you had a good time at least. I came away thinking the whole thing was a failure.

Julian    I think I remember you mentioning that you wished your friend here would have shown up.

TJ    Er...I don't really remember.

Julian    Of course you do, you said it all the time.

Chase    Who, me?

Julian    Yep!

Chase    Ugh, sorry Teej. You know, it was high school and all...

TJ    Yeah, I understand. Don't worry about it.

Julian    So did you start another club at your new school?

TJ    It's a Christian school, so there's like, fifty clubs about religion.

Julian    Oh? Are you a member of any of them?

TJ    Uh, a few.

Chase    Which ones?

TJ    Uh...a singles club.

Chase    Singles?

Julian    As in finding a date?

TJ    Sure.

Chase    You meet anyone?

TJ    Hey Chase, don't you have to film some stuff?

Chase    Whooah, just askin'.

Julian    Was it fun?

TJ    It was okay, was really quiet.

TJ    Kinda creepy to be honest. I would like it if you two went along sometime, if I do it again.

Julian    Of course.

Chase    Yeah, definitely.

Chase    What were you guys talking about?

Julian    Not much. Just about high school.

Julian    Oh! Chase, you left your camera in the truck bed yesterday. I forgot to tell you.

Chase    Ah yeah, probably should have remembered that.

Julian    Do you want me to pull over so you can grab it out? I dunno how you feel about it sliding around back there while we're on the highway.

Chase    Should be fine. It's probably been through worse considering it's a crap rental from the university.

Julian    Ah...

Julian    Sooo, your...friend seems okay. He'll need to rest for a few months to recover, but he didn't seem too worried about that.

Chase    Of course not.

Julian    ...Yeah, anyway, what was it you guys wanted to do?

TJ    Huh?

Julian    I was asking what you wanted to do tonight, TJ.

TJ    Oh...Hmm, I'm not really sure. We could go see a movie, maybe.

Julian    Anything out that you wanted to see?

TJ    Eh, not really.

Julian    You know, I used to do this thing where I'd get a random ticket to a movie I'd never heard of before.

Julian    I'd have no expectations so usually I'd be pleasantly surprised.

TJ    Oh that sounds kinda fun, as long it's not R-rated.

Julian    Yeah, so the way I'd do—

Chase    Why don't we go to the Familyplex?

TJ    The Familyplex?

Chase    Yeah, you remember that place, right? We'd go there as kids for birthdays and stuff.

Julian    The old run-down arcade thing at the mall?

Chase    Yeah.

TJ    I haven't been there for like, ten years. That could be a lot fun.

Julian    If it's still open. I haven't been to that corner of the mall in a long time.

Chase    It is.

Julian    Well...alright then. So should we go there?

TJ    Yeah...yeah, let's do that.

TJ    Oh my gosh, everything is exactly the same!

Julian    Mmh, even smells the same.

TJ    I kinda like it, actually. Reminds me of a movie theater.

Chase    Same.

Julian    It's really just the popcorn and recycled air from the AC.

Julian    You guys wanna chip in some money and I can go get us a few rolls of quarters?

Julian    Wow Teej, that's a lot.

TJ    Eh, I only have tens. Besides, we'll go through them fast. We always do.

Julian    So we have two rolls. You want me to count out your shares, or...

Chase    Doesn't matter.

TJ    Yeah, we're just here to hang out anyway.

TJ    You guys wanna Skee-Ball?

Julian    Sure! You know, I've always been pretty good with this game.

Julian    Aww, don't worry about it Teej. Want me to show you how?

TJ    WOW! On your first try too!

Julian    Honestly I'm out of practice, but usually I go for the 100s in the corner.

TJ    How do you do it?

Julian    Well...

Julian    It's all in the wrist.

TJ    Oh, I see.

Julian    Nice!

Julian    You alright, Chase? You still got four balls.

Chase    You can lean against me, Teej.

TJ    Oh really? I mean, I don't wanna—

Julian    Looks like she's got a flat.

TJ    Hmm?

TJ    What's going on?

Janice    Well, now what are you doin' out here, Julie?

Chase    Janice has a flat. Wanna go back to sleep until Julian's helped her?

Janice    Chase and Tobias, too!?

Julian    Yeah, we were having a night out. Anyway, do you need any help?

Janice    Well, ya know Julian, I actually do! I don't have my own jack. Been missin' for the past fifteen years, haha!

Julian    Well I've got one. Do you have a spare?

Janice    Yep, in the back! Hope it's not flat too. Haven't had to use that thing in a while.

Julian    Well go ahead and pop the trunk and we'll see what we've got. I'll go get my jack!

Janice    Well, how are you two doin' this evenin'?

TJ    I'm doing well, thanks.

Janice    I wanna thank you again for doin' all that yard work during your vacation. Seems I'm always out here just needin' help.

TJ    Oh, it was no trouble at all, ma'am.

Julian    Just wanna give us a little more light!