The man on the side walk: chapter 5

Brian peered out the window catching a glimpse of Luke and Janni Wilsberry Luke waved to the two one of his teeth missing from his smile. Brian got out of the car pulling Toad along as he joined up with the other two.

"hey, bout time you guys showed up!" Luke sighed almost relieved. Janni looked at the two her red cardigan highlighted by her sparkly grey dress. For a moment Janni looked more like an adult than a child. she looked at the two slight anxieties in her eyes.

"I thought something bad happened." Luke looked at Janni slightly confused. Janni looked at the sky as though looking for some fault above them. Brian tapped her shoulder bringing her back to reality her skin was cold like ice cream on a cold summer’s day. Janni looked at Brian smiling.

"Sorry, I was just thinking, shall we?" Brian nodded, smiling as the four entered the courtyard. Brian flinched as the sound of blaring music shook the ground around them. Brian looked at the crowded area filled with all sorts of children. He looked towards the stage where an overhyped man stood once in a while screaming something incoherent as the children cheered him on. Toad looked at Brian slightly concerned.

"Are you sure about this?" Brian looked around his brain slightly overstimulated by the people around him. This was nothing he imagined it'd be like. Luke gave Brian a pleading look, Brian nodded trying to be chill.

"Yeah, dude, this party's the BEAST man!" Toad looked at Luke who pretended he was unaffected by By Brian's decision. Toad took Brian's arm smiling at him as they made their way into the crowd of people.

"I wonder where the food is..." Brian said as the music's volume grew.

"WHAT?" Toad screamed back

"I WONDER WHERE THE FOOD IS!!!" Brian hollered as loud as he could. Toad shook his head.

"I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE FOOD." Brian looked at him baffled.

"BUT IT'S A DANCE!"

"SO?" Toad screamed back Brian looked around making sure Toad's statement was true.

"SO, IN EVERY MOVIE THEY HAVE PUNCH! WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO GO IF I'M DEPRESSED NO ONE WILL DANCE WITH ME!" Toad looked at Brian confused.

"WHAT?!?" Brian sighed screaming louder

"I SAID-"

"I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID IT JUST SOUNDED DUMB!" Brian glared at Toad, annoyed.

"WELL, YOU WERE DUMB FIRST!!!" Brian looked around looking for any signs of Luke or Janni the two had vanished into the night. Toad groaned as he realized Luke's lack of existence.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE HE DITCHED US!"

"HE DIDN'T DITCH US, HE'S OUR FRIEND," Brian responded. Toad sighed, pulling Brian through the crowd. Much to Brian's relief as he felt the sweet soundless air once more. Brian sat down tired from the thousands around them. Toad crouched down next to him equally as relieved.

"you doing okay?" Toad asked Brian nodded ignoring the ringing in his ears.

"I THINK SO!!!" Brian screamed so Toad could hear him. Toad rolled his eyes surveying their new location. They sat in the school halls close to Mrs. Forks’ class. Panic made its way to Toad's face.

"I think we should just go ho-" Two junior boys walked towards Toad and Brian, one wore an American-colored tank top, the other wore a plaid shirt with a cowboy hat. Neither were in any way dressed for a school dance and something about the two scared Brian.

Tank top made his way to the two.

"what are you doing here, shouldn't you be enjoying your baby birthday party." Toad nodded nervously.

"yep, we were just taking a breather, we’re going back now." Brian grabbed Toad’s arm, stopping him from running off. He looked at the boys attempting to look bigger than he actually was.

"What's it to you ****!" Brian said, pulling the worst word Toad had taught him to say. Tank top looked at Brian almost astounded, Cowboy hat stared between the two looking as scared as Toad who looked about ready to pepper spray them. Tank top started laughing quickly followed by cow hat who recovered from his shock.

"LOL, he GOT YOU MAN!" Cowboy hat howled

"Damn, right!" Tank top chuckled gasping for air between his cackling. He patted Brian on the shoulder smiling at the two.

"your a tough MotherF***er aren't you." Brian pointed to Toad unable to tell if they were laughing in joy or sarcastic anger.

"He taught me." Toad looked at Brian pulling on Brian's jacket trying to get him to move. Tank top looked at Toad who did his best to hide his face.

"Well, he's tough too. what's your name MotherF****ers?" Brian felt his confidence begin to grow as the two looked down at him.

"Brian, and this is Toad, he's really cool he swears and drinks, oh, and we’re both time travelers, no big deal." Toad nudged Brian's arm trying to get him to shut up. The teens looked at Brian skeptical.

"That's sick man, what's the future like?" Brian shrugged.

"Well, I'm still new to this whole thing, only been through high school so far, Toad though, he's been an adult and everything. " The guys looked at Toad impressed. Toad grabbed Brian yanking him to the side.

"Brian, we should go!" Brian looked at Toad confused.

"Toad their teenagers, TEENAGERS, that think we're cool." Toad rolled his eyes.

"We were teenagers literally a little bit ago, let’s just go."

"that was a little bit ago, this is now!" Toad sighed, turning to the boys.

"It's been nice talking to you but we really have to get back to the party." The tank top looked at the two disappointed.

"Look, me and my bros are hanging outback, it's way more chill there. besides, dances blow when you don't got a beer or a date." Brian looked at Tank confused.

"Toad is my-" Toad yanked Brian's arm hard, pulling him away from the boys. Brian pulled back, trying to stay in place. A loud popping sound came from the toad's side. Toad froze as he looked at his dress shirt which had been split revealing a tan piece of cloth. Toad quickly pulled Brian into him covering the tare. It was too late though, Tank top looked at Toad confused.

"what's that?" His stance suddenly got aggressive as his eyes met Toad's. Cowboy hat responded before Toad could say anything, his eyes going wide. As repulse drip onto their faces.

"dude, that's a chest binder, I think my cousin wears one. Little dude's not a dude, dude! She’s a chick!" Toad's breath quickened as the previosly cool teenager's faces grew dark and hevey unatural hatred in their eyes. Brian recognized this look, the same look his mom had on her face yesterday. Confusion, disapointment, anger all mashed into a look of murder. Toad grabbed Brian's arm quickly running down the long halls.

Brian didn't resist this time, finally understanding Toad's fear. The boys charged after them their loud footsteps echoed behind them, threatening to crush the two into a messy pulp. Janni opened a classroom door waving to the two. Toad pulled Brian through the door quickly locking it, taking deep breaths as the teenagers banged against it.

”GET THE HELL BACK HERE FREAKS!!!” Toad shot Brian a quick glare as he tried to open the classroom window. The window flew open Janni grabbed Brian and Toad's arms pulling them after her as they plummeted down the normal school courtroom turning white as they fell into the tunnel's overwhelming darkness.

Brian opened his eyes as he stumbled out of bed. Brian looked at the bed confused. this wasn't his bed, his bed. Brian rushed to the bathroom mirror barely recognizing his own face as he looked at the bearded man who stared back at him.

"No, NO, NO, NOOO!" Brian ran downstairs finding the source of the noise. A short lanky man with large eyes looked at his hands.

"Toad" Toad turned to Brian his face went red for a moment as he looked at Brian. His look of awe quickly shifted back to fear as he stormed upstairs.

"You look awesome. I mean, look at us!" Brian said, admiring his majestic beard. Toad looked at the calendar June 16 was circled. Toad sighed relieved as he looked at the piece of paper.

"Oh thank god, come one Brian, we’re leaving." Toad grabbed Brian's arm opening the window. Brian looked at Toad confused.

"what, where are we-"

"We're going back!" Brian yanked his arm free as he looked at Toad confused.

"Not until you tell me what’s wrong." Toad shook his head, tears running down his face as he tried to pull Brian forward. Toad sighed, finally giving into Brian's strength.

"Please... I don't want to be here, I don't want to see it again." Brian looked at Toad as he sat on the ground still clutching Brian's arm.

"see what? Toad what’s wrong." Toad didn't answer the tears staining his face as he shook nervously. Brian sighed, crouching down to meet Toad.

"Look, I don't know what you’re afraid of seeing, but we can see it together. I'll be there for you, Toad." Toad shook his head looking up at Brian.

"That's what I'm afraid of." He said, choking back as many tears as he could. a knocking came from the door. Brian opened it, a familiar chubby face came into view.

"hey! What are you guys doing here! Hurry up and get dressed, you don't want to miss it do you?" Luke barged his way in grabbing a grocery bag from the table. Brian looked at him confused.

"Miss what?" Brian asked, Toad struggled to get up fear in his eyes as he looked at Luke. Luke looked at Brian dumbfounded.

"Seriously Brian? I don't know anyone else who'd forget their own wedding." Brian's mouth fell open as the words ran through his head. He looked at Toad who wiped the tears from his eyes.

"WEDDING? RIGHT NOW?" Luke looked around, chuckling nervously as he nodded.

"Yeah, RIGHT NOW! So hurry it up. It’s one thing for one groom to be missing, but I don’t think anyone wants to know how it feels to be stood up by both!" Luke slammed the door leaving Brian to barely process what happened. He sat himself on the couch, his mind freezing for a moment as he looked at the floor. Toad sat next to him looking at the window.

"if you want we can just-" Brian grabbed Toad’s hand holding it gingerly.

"no, I just said I was going to be there for you... besides, I've never had a wedding before." Toad smiled reluctantly as he eyed the window. Brian sighed.

"I’m sorry for not listening to you, that was stupid, but I really want to do something incredible, with you. An actual experience, not just this back and forth. Just a couple of moments of a milestone. if you want we can leave right after." Toad smiled, squeezing Brian's hands.

"promise?" Brian nodded as he pressed his head against Toad’s forehead.

"promise."