The History of a Runner/7

Chapter 7: Heart of Concern
That night, Homestar and the gang went to bed at this wide opening at Henderson Park. Marzipan had tried to persuade Strong Bad into returning to the AISS, but he had refused &mdash; no way was he going back. The two had compromised at the clearing they were at now. It was a distance from the building, but they could live with it. By around ten o'clock, all but two were asleep.

"Strong Bad?"

"What, Dairy Queen?"

"I told you to stop calling me that!"

"Oh sorry, Dairy Queen. Anyway, what is it?"

"Do you think they'll find us?"

"Do I think who'll find us?"

"Those scientist guys. The people we escaped from in the first place."

"What? Course not.  Why would they?"

"I don't know...they seemed like the kind of people who were determined to find out whatever had happened to us."

"And?"

"Well...I think they might be the same way as finding where we are and getting us back. What're we gonna do then, if that happens?"

"Look, they're not gonna find us. Plain and simple."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure. Now just go to bed so I can get some freakin' piece of quiet."

"Okay." Strong Sad rolled over to his side. The wind blew and he shivered. It was gonna be a long night.

****

8:36 AM. Matt, making cereal and still in his pajamas, heard the phone ring. He picked it up. "Y'ello?"

"Hey Matt."

"Oh hey, Jamey. What's up?"

"Not much. Hey, you wanna get together later today?"

"Uh, sure. For what?" Matt put down the milk, which was almost overflowing.

"I have tickets for the male swimming competition tonight. You wanna come?"

Matt thought for a minute. He was pretty sure Mike and Craig had tickets, and Jackie was thinking about going. "Sure. Is it okay if some other people come?  I think they have tickets."

"Sure. Why don't we get together at my place, say around seven-thirty?"

"Okay. That sounds good."

"Great. See ya."

"Later." Matt put down the phone and sat down at the counter. He was about halfway through his breakfast when Mike came in, reading the book he and Craig had written.

"Hey Matt, could you look this over for me?" he asked.

"Uh..." Mouth full of Corn Flakes, him talking with his mouth full of food wasn't the only weird thing Mike noticed about his brother. Normally willing to go over what Mike had written, Matt seemed unusually hesitant.

"Matt? Is everything okay?  You're acting kinda weird."

"Yeah, yeah, everything's fine."

"You sure?"

"Yes, I'm &mdash;"

"Mike?" Jackie, who had spent the night, appeared with her camera in hand. "I think there's something we need to show you." She gave Matt a look that said Should we? Matt, realizing that it may be best, nodded. He got up and walked to the two of them.

Jackie hit the rewind button on her camera until they reached the point they were looking for, and pressed "play."

Fun Facts

 * Strong Bad calling Strong Sad "Dairy Queen" and the little quarrel they have is a reference to "But in Mouth Disease."
 * Strong Bad wanting to get some freakin' piece of quiet is a reference to "Homestar Ruiner," the first episode of Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People.