BONUS: Boris [ Neighbourhood Jerk ]

FOREWORD: This chapter should be read as occurring BEFORE the other ones in this section. This is purely a bonus chapter to provide added context and content for anyone who's interested in reading some additional story / plot development.

As I reach the corner where I turn to head from Amy's house to my own, I see another boy from the neighbourhood come around the corner. Straight down the sidewalk on the other side of the neighbourhood block. I groan at the sight of him.

Boris has always been an asshole, ever since we were children. Today, for some reason, he's decided to come jogging up to me and raising his hand like he wants to catch me before I cross the street. He calls out as he comes jogging, “Hey! Nico!”

First time in ten years he's gotten my name right without making some stupid rhyming joke. The kind that makes me feel glad my parents didn't name me Nicholas or he'd be rhyming my name with dick or prick, as he does with “Ricky” Marks.

Boris is really the reason that Ricky started going by Freddie. Not because he likes the name Freddie, purely because that doesn't rhyme with dick and we live in an area where someone is that immature asshole still making middle school jokes.

“What is it, Boris?” I ask as he reaches me and stands facing me, “I need to head home.” He rolls his eyes and lifts his chin, with a long-suffering expression. As if it's totally unfair I'm not thrilled to see him, after he's spent ten years being an ass.

“Hey, don't be like that,” he says, “I heard it on the grapevine that you and Amy are doin' an experiment, and that I should back off and not bother you for a few days. And, well, you know me ...” He turns up his palms and tries to give a sly smile.

“Yeah, I know you, so, you never listen?” I reply, staring at him flatly, his expression looking much more condescending, I think, than he realises. Boris simply turns his smile the other way around and frowns at me, putting his hands on his hips.

“Man, that's your problem. So damn rude,” he sighs exaggeratedly, “No. I never back down and I never back off. When I'm interested in something, I go for it. So I wanted to know what's going on with you two, and what this experiment even is.”

“It's none of your business,” I answer blandly, “It's not my place to tell you. You'd need to ask Amy about it, to be entirely honest. You know I don't tell people's secrets. If you were meant to know, she'd have told you.” Boris furrows his brows.

“Hmmph,” he grunts, pulling his smartphone out, “Fiine. You just stand right there and wait and I'll give Amy a call, then. Jeez. Don't know why you're so stingy. It's just information.” I roll my eyes sand lean against the lamppost to wait quietly.

He talks for about two minutes before he hands the phone to me, and Amy's voice comes over. “Hey, Nico. Boris is dumb. Don't think he thought it through, thinking he'd call me and suddenly I'd just tell him everything that he wants to know.”

“I know. So?” I reply.

“I told him that he's not fit for participation in this experiment. He's a conceited jerk, narcissistic and utterly unreliable,” Amy answers, “Tell him my position hasn't changed, and not to call me again because I didn't give him my damn number.”

“Okay,” I reply, hanging up and handing the phone back, “Her position hasn't changed. She doesn't trust you to be part of the experiment. Also, she said don't call her again as she didn't give you her number.” He looks extraordinarily frustrated.

“Hey, that's n-”

“Don't try to claim it's unfair,” I cut him off and he freezes, caught in the act, “It's her experiment, her rules, her decision on who participates and who doesn't. No one in the neighbourhood likes you, Boris. You're arrogant, entitled, and rude.”

Amy could probably help him with that. Hypnotic therapy helps a lot of people with certain personality disorders to fight them and lead better, happier lives. It'd require Boris to admit to having a problem, though, and to volunteer for hypnosis.

“Hmmph!” he grunts instead, “Jerk. I'm not any of those things, but fine, have it your way. I'll just have to investigate and figure out what this experiment is for myself, and when I do, I'm going to ensure that I'm included in this secret bullshit.”

Boris huffs irritably and storms off. I roll my eyes, as I'm fairly certain no one will tell Boris anything about what Amy and I are doing. I'm not completely sure of what the experiment is, myself, so I couldn't have told him even if I had wanted to.

Author's Note:
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