I sat in the graphic novel section of the book store with my nose stuck in a Walking Dead comic. Sleeping bodies surrounded me- Daquan's limp body on the floor to my right and Austin's tense body propped against a book shelf to my left. They could get away with it only because nobody came to this isle. It was like the forgotten isle. It was exactly 9:00pm and it had to be the third time I had dragged them both into the book store since 3 that afternoon. All 3 of us had gone there the day before where I had spontaneously picked up a Walking Dead volume and instantly got addicted.

I could relate to this series. I'm not exactly sure how- a zombie apocalypse is far worst than what I was going through but it wasn't that. It was the little dramas that happened in between the intense fighting. Like when a woman named Carol found out her husband, Tyreese, had cheated on her- she slit her wrists. I teared up looking at the sketches of the blood slipping from her wrist down her fingertips. I thought about how many times I had thought about doing that but knew better to do otherwise. I got to a part in the book where the leader of the group, Rick, had been put under too much pressure; just felt like he was doing everything wrong. Now I wasn't a leader of any group but I did feel like I was doing something wrong if not everything because the world seemed to be closing in on me.

My train of thought was disturbed by Daquan's body shifting and I turned to see he had woken up. He sat up and rubbed his eyes then asked "Still awake?". I marked my spot in the book and set it down. "Somebody has to stay awake to keep you guys from getting kicked out" I remarked with a smile. He returned the smile slowly. "I'm going to get some water- hold my page" I said and walked down dozens of isles to the cafe. Hours ago people had swarmed this cafe but now 3 stragglers still remained doing whatever left over work they still had on their laptops. I walked over to the spot where the straws and everything were and poured the last remaining water in the pitcher into a little plastic cup. Normally I would've taken the cup back to the comic book isle but there was only enough water to not even fill half the cup. I drank it down there and walked back.

Daquan sat there quiet as a mouse, still holding my book on the exact page I told him too. I sat back onto my stool and took the book from him. I heard him walk off and knew he had gone to the men's room. I hadn't gotten through more than 3 pages before more rustling interrupted my concentration. I barely peeked over the book to see Austin had woken up. Just barely. But he was for sure awake. "Morning, champ" I said and he grunted in reply. I looked at the time; 9;30. The store would be closing soon.He grabbed my cell out of my pocket and quickly dialed his mom. I didn't hear much. I was trying to read as much as I could because I already knew he was calling his step dad to take us home. I heard footsteps again and felt Daquan's presence behind me. "Time to put the book away, kid" he mumbled. When he saw me frown he added "Cmon Gwyn, we'll be back don't worry.". Feeling slightly assured, I put it down. I instantly regretted shutting it and losing my page but I had no money to buy it and there was no point if you could read them in the store anyway

We walked through the cafe and out the door to wait for our ride. We all piled onto a metal bench with me in the middle as normal. To a lot of people, it was weird for my two best friends both to be guys. Especially South Carolina people- But what can I say? It's not like I really have anyone else. And who could want more than those idiots! They may had been a little bit dull, a little bit immature, and very obnoxious but I would die for those suckers. Words and all.

It wasn't long before Austin's white van pulled up to the curb. We all piled into the car- me in the 3rd row, Daquan in the 2nd, and Austin and his father in the front. As we started driving, I got thinking about how lucky I was that I wasn't like Rick- with all that responsibly, all those people to protect, I don't think I could do it. I looked out the window and saw what I always see. Trees; forest; bushes; an occasional gas station or grocery store. I wished I was driving through Chicago, looking at all the lights, all the people. But I was forced to face the sad truth that I was, indeed, driving through South Carolina. I call it the forgotten state. Nothing ever happens. That book store seems to be the very tip-top of my general excitement. And it really wasn't that great. It was just isles and isles of people like me. Who were too poor to buy new books and just searching for a story to get lost in so they can forget their own.

To be continued...