Catch the Metro

As Robert exited the store, it began to rain. Hard.

Fuck this, he was NOT going to walk home in this shit, even if his apartment was literally twenty minutes away on foot so he headed to the Metro Station on the corner of Jefferson and Main. Approaching the barrier, he scanned his Metro Card and scowled as the machine made a dissatisfying low toned beep.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding.." he rubbed it on his trousers and tried again but received the same result. Cautiously, Robert leaned over the barrier and surveyed the platform; in the small ticket booth, a podgy redhead who had a face like she'd sucked lemons since birth sat reading a trashy womens' magazine, the kind you always found sitting on a stained coffee table in a District Health Clinic. To his right, at the far end of the platform, a Transit Authority Cop stifled a yawn and looked at her watch, no doubt counting down the minutes remaining on her shift. Immediately in front of him, a couple of Students from the local State University huddled around each other, all smoking, despite the presence of the Cop.

"Fuck it.." Robert thought and as soon as the Cop looked at her watch again and the Ticket Attendant turned the page of her magazine, he hopped the barrier and sauntered onto the platform, giving the finger to the CCTV camera overhead. He pulled a beer from one of the pack and popped it open, taking a long, satisfied gulp.

"Hey, man!" aw, shit, one of the Frat Boys had noticed him or rather, his pack of beers "Chuck us a few?" Robert stared at the pack and then at the Jock before sneering "Get your own, kid, these are mine.." Fratty didn't seem to like the answer and walked towards him, still smiling but Robert could see the falseness in it, kid must be studying Politics or Criminal Law..

"Look, man, don't be such a square" Jock grins, still looking at the cans "You got a twelve pack and we only want four, you've plenty to share.." Jesus Christ, this kid is something "You stupid or something?" Robert snaps "I said no."

Suddenly, Jock is in his face and breathing hard. Now, he's staring Robert in the eye and he's clearly broadcasting "Gimme a freaking beer, old man, unless you fancy a diet of Hospital Food.."

"Listen, old timer" Jock continues to stare him dead on "Give me and my buddies some beers. Now." Robert stares back and smirks.

"Or what, Junior?"