//------------------------------// // Chapter 49: The past should stay in the past // Story: The Hacker Pwny // by Chetzi //------------------------------// "Toaster. Microwave. Countertop oven," I informed Vinyl as she pointed to every shiny thing in the kitchen appliance store. Vinyl stood there, in her new clothes, and pressed every button and turned every knob. She had a childlike curiosity when it came to shiny things. The people around her stopped to stare at her for a few seconds, then looked away and walked off. "Vinyl, we've spent the last two hours here, with you messing with every input device you could find. Let's head home." Vinyl's mouth started to open, but was interrupted with a stomach growl that originated from her. It almost felt like an anime, where for some unknown reason, all the people nearby would start awkwardly laughing, and I'd be like, 'Why...? Who would laugh when this happens? Being hungry isn't funny!' "Uh, could we grab a bite before heading back?" Vinyl asked. The only thing at the mall are fast-food restaurants. And that involves talking to people to get stuff. "No." "Dude, I have no money." "And to get food involves talking to other people." "And...?" "You know I dislike people." "Then I'll order the food." "That... I don't think that will end well." "Why? What could happen?" "You have a tendency to get impatient when dealing with idiots." "It's called fast-food, it won't take long." "Fine. I suppose I haven't eaten... well, since yesterday. I need to remember to consume energy routinely." "I'll remind you not to starve yourself. Now, this way, I can smell the french fries from here." Vinyl then walked out of the store, as I followed just far enough behind so that people wouldn't associate me with her. Yeah, I'm a horrible boyfriend. Deal with it. "Hey! Skinny dude! Wait up!" Some random guy said as he ran up to me. I continued to walk forward, ignoring his existence. Once the guy caught up with me, he walked with me. "Remember me?" I remained silent, in hopes of him going away. "Okay then, well, I sure as heck know you. Come on, don't tell me you don't remember your 'ol friend Johnny." He wore army cargo pants and a generic red shirt. "I have no friends," I replied. "Heh, you sure acted like it. So, who's the hot chick you're stalking?" I stopped and turned to him. As I glared, I harshly said, "I don't know who you are, so stop pretending to know me. And don't talk about Vinyl like that. She's a lot more than just a 'hot chick'." "Oh, you really don't remember me, do you?" I started walking away. "No, now go." But alas he kept walking beside me. "Come on, I was the kid who always tried to talk to you, back when we were in the orphanage. But you always want, 'Leave me alone, I have things to learn.' So antisocial." Oh no. Him. I glanced over at him, to find vague pictures flashing through my mind of a kid that looks a lot like him sitting next to me when I was about eight or so. His distinctive red, straight hair and small face made me realize the connection. "I hated that place. I wanted it to burn. I don't want to dig up old memories, leave." "Always so cynical. Only a few kids picked on you, yet you acted like they all did. You were only isolated because you never let anyone be your friend. But the past is over, let's catch up on each other's lives. I hope you know that after ran away, everyone wanted you back. People were sad for weeks. Like it or not, but people did care for you, even if they didn't show it." "This conversation is over." I then walked fast enough to catch up to Vinyl. "Hey, Vinyl, use this and get me a hamburger and you can have whatever you want," I said as I handed her my hacked credit card. "Bring the food back to this table." I then sat down at the nearest table as she went off to get the food. "So, your cute friend's name is Vinyl? Not bad," Johnny said as he sat down next to me, me being completely unaware of him doing it. "I've repressed as much as my past as I could. Don't bring it back." "Heh, that's Dylan for ya. I know you had it hard. But I don't want to talk about the past. Tell me, what happened after you left?" "I don't want to talk about it." "Uh, okay. So, where'd you meet Vinyl?" "Again, I'm not telling you. Though for a completely different reason." "Secretive, are we? What's your career then?" "Stop asking questions. I don't wan-" "Who's the new dude?" Vinyl asked as she walked up to the table and placed a tray down. "He was just leaving." "Oh no I'm not." He is really persistent. "I haven't seen you in a decade, no one has. I'm still in contact with most of the orphans." "Orphans? Who was an orphan?" Vinyl inquired. "So, the antisocial genius didn't tell you." "He doesn't really talk about his past much." "I'm right here," I interrupted. I can tell by Vinyl's expression she didn't want to hurt me by talking about it. "All the better. Since you're so reluctant to share anything, I'll start," Johnny said. "I never did get adopted, but I started selling artwork, people took note, and I got hired as a graphic designer for a large company. Once I was seventeen, I had already found an apartment and was living there alone. I actually just got a house a few months ago. Still haven't found a girl yet." "So, you're an artist? That sounds awesome! Draw us draw us!" Vinyl said as she started unwrapping her hamburger. "I will, but now it's Dylan's turn to tell us what he's been doing. I'd say a software engineer. You've always a strange obsession with numbers. And based on how pale and weak you look, I'd say you spend all day in front of a computer." "Stop trying to guess my life," I said. "Then tell me." "I told you, I can't and you wouldn't believe me." "Fine, have it your way. Hey, Vines', how'd you meet Dylan?" "We were at a party, he was tied up in rope. I helped him out, he seemed like a fun guy, so I asked him out," Vinyl said. I dodged a bullet there. No mention of Ponyville or Equestria. "Uh, I really don't want to know the context." Vinyl started to loudly chew on her burger. "Sharp teeth are weird," Vinyl said with a mouthful of burger. "Have fun with that, Vines'," Johnny said as he turned to me. "Why are you so secretive? What aren't you telling me?" "You don't need to know my life," I replied. "Every second you're here, is every second my past gets brought up. I hate the past." "Always such a downer. The only reason I'm here at the mall is to waste time. Why are you her?" "To find me new clothes," Vinyl said with a mouthful of french fries. "I can see you're wearing them now. Not bad. Though, there has to be a bigger reason. I'm sure clothes for just you wouldn't be enough for Dylan to drive all the way here and have to talk to people." A little time with Vinyl is all I wanted. Why is that so hard? I glared at Johnny in the awkward silence. I wanted him gone. "Geez, you and that glare of yours." He then took out a pen, and started doodling on a nearby napkin. "I suppose I'll let you get back on that date with the blue-haired chick. Here, in case you ever need help." Johnny handed me the napkin, which had a simple drawing of me and Vinyl, me being all grumpy and Vinyl smiling next to me. A phone number was also at the bottom of the paper. Johnny stood up, and walked off with his hands in his pocket. I was about to crumple the paper up, but Vinyl snatched it out of my hands. "Oh no you don't, I wanna see what's here," Vinyl said as she examined the napkin. "He really nailed your personality. We look cute together." "Not funny." "You haven't touched your food yet." I looked down at the table. My hamburger was untoched. I must've forgot. I unwrapped it and started lightly chewing on it. At this point, Vinyl was scarfing down my fries also. She should at least add ketchup. "But... I want it..." Vinyl said "This is absurd." I replied "I still want it." "I'm not sure if that's even a good idea." "But it looks so cool!" A brief pause lingered. As I looked over the blue carpet, the shelves and walls lined with movie cases, I glanced back at the movie Vinyl wanted to see. It was the 2011 prequel, The Thing. It just had to be a horror movie that she wanted. "I really don't want to watch it..." "So, you're chicken?" "That strategy doesn't work on me. You lived in a place that doesn't have movies. When movies were first invented here, it was a simple, short clip of a train leaving the station. Everyone in the theater freaked out, and thought the train was going to hit them, even though it wasn't real. You have just as much of experience in films as those people. Now, this isn't a slow-frame rate, black and white, clip about something we've all been around and know what they are. I think this movie will scar you for life if you watch it... Vinyl?" "Huh, wha? Oh! Sorry, dozed off. You were saying something about strategy?" I threw my hands up in the air. "I give up! Grab it!" Vinyl smiled at her victory. I gotta stop letting her win. At the very least, Vinyl's going to be holding onto me all night... and possibly choking me as I try to escape from her killer grab. "Okay, you got a movie, you got new clothes, we had lunch, what else?" I asked Vinyl as we aimlessly wandered around the mall. "Let's switch the gender signs on bathroom doors." "Vinyl, no." "What about swimming in the water fountain?" "No." "Ride the elevator all day?" "No!" "Light garbage cans on fire?" "NO!" "Let all the birds in pet stores go free?" "No! Stop it with these bad ideas!" "Uh... throw ice cream cones at old people from above...?" "This conversation is over." "Okay okay, I guess there's nothing else to do. Home it is."