The rest of Rodney's first day was fairly uneventful. Vivian had her TA period to close out the day while the boys had P.E. Neither Rodney or Derek were any good at basketball which left them little to be excited about for the next month.
The final bell rang and the parking lot flooded with kids. Rodney was on his way out of the gum when his phone buzzed. It was a text from his grandmother.
[Tuna noodle casserole for dinner tonight, so don't make any plans with your friends. During the school year Monday and Wednesday are family dinner night.]
[Sounds good to me.]
Derek appeared next to Rodney as he was sending off his reply. "Down for some GoldenEye tonight?" He asked.
Rodney shook his head. "I can tonight. Gran's imposing family dinner nights on Monday and Wednesday." He explained.
Derek nodded. "Sweet! That leaves us the 'Za days to hang out." He said with a smile.
"'Za days?" Rodney asked.
Derek nodded. "Yeah, Tue 'Za Day, and Thur 'Za Day" He laughed at his terrible joke.
Rodney shook his head. "See the problem is you're not even ashamed."
Derek shrugged as the exited the building. "Geniuses rarely are." He boasted with a puffed up chest.
The parking lot was beginning to empty out. Vivian was leaning against the driver side door of the Volvo playing with her phone. She pocketed it as the boys approached. "Great." She sighed looking them over. "Sweaty boys, just what the leather interior needed." She groaned.
Rodney shook his head. "Your car is partially spared. I'm walking home." He confirmed while jutting his thumb at the worn out football field behind him and the more worn out houses beyond.
Vivian opened the driver's side door and unlocked the passenger side so her brother could get in the car. "You sure?" She asked.
Rodney nodded. "I've been nonexistent around the house the last few weeks. Gran wants to build a family tradition."
Vivian nodded but didn't get in the car. "Well," she paused. "Tell her I said hi, and you to enjoy yourselves." She said with a soft smile.
Derek lowered his window enough to stick his head out. "Just make out already!" He yelled at both of them.
Vivian and Rodney blushed at the same moment and Vivian broke eye contact to jam her finger into the 'window up' button on her door handle. Her brother was cackling like a hyena and pulled his head back in just quick enough to barely avoid getting trapped by the rising window. When she looked back in Rodney's direction he had already started for his grandmother's house and was waving in her direction without looking back.
