[ OT ] Sunday Free Write : Leave A Story , Leave A Comment- On Schedule Edition

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 I took a seat next to Jack, soda in hand, and reached for a slice of veggie pizza from his box. He swatted my hand away. 
 
 `` Get your own, man.'' 
 
 `` You're seriously going to eat that whole box.'' 
 
 `` Die tryin'.'' He bit the crust off another slice. `` It's not like there's none left.'' 
 
 We were at a party. It was supposed to be a cookout for a baseball game, but it started raining, and Dave decided to order pizza instead of just using the stove in the kitchen. It felt a bit inconsiderate to me. I spent good money on those steaks, and I knew my freezer was n't enough to keep them in good condition. Plus I wanted to help cook; Dave bought a brand-new grill last month and I wanted to try it out. 
 
 The commercials started again. I took out my laptop and went to Reddit, as usual. Jack watched me. 
 
 `` You're obsessed, you know that?'' 
 
 `` Obsessed is a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated.'' 
 
 `` No, obsessed is when you do n't need to be dedicated because it's stupid. Come on, man. It's been two months.'' 
 
 `` It's gon na end soon, y'know? I wan na watch when that happens.'' 
 
 He shook his head and spoke through a mouthful of cheese crust. `` I do n't get it, you know? I do n't know why anyone would bother.'' He swallowed. 
 
 `` Bother about what?'' 
 
 `` About any of it. It's a button. You push it and nothing happens. It makes no sense. People need to get on with their lives, do important stuff.'' 
 
 The game came back on. I pointed at Dave's TV. `` Like watch baseball?'' 
 
 He groaned. 
 
 `` Look,'' I told him. `` It's entertainment. It's fun, it's supposed to be. And I want to enjoy it. I do n't know why anyone would n't want to press the button.'' 
 
 `` I thought you were one of those... the destruction group.'' 
 
 `` Destructionist. Yeah, I am.'' 
 
 `` Well now you're contradicting yourself.'' 
 
 `` I'm not. Everyone should push the button if they want to. They still should have that choice.'' 
 
 For a few minutes, we watched the game. There were two home runs in a row. It was exciting to watch. 
 
 `` What do you think was Reddit's idea though?'' Jack asked. `` Why did *they* make it? What was their goal?'' 
 
 I paused. `` I dunno. If I had to guess, I'd say it's like an art imitating life thing. Musings on the reality of...'' 
 
 `` Of what?'' 
 
 `` I have no idea. Whatever, you know? As long as you get something out of it.'' I turn to face him. `` That's what I do n't understand, honestly. You're a non-presser. What are you getting out of it?'' 
 
 `` You're a 60s. You clicked it without thinking. Did you even have time to get anything out of it?'' 
 
 I shrugged. `` Something's better than nothing.'' 
 
 **60** 
 
 `` Hey, guys, sorry I'm late.'' 
 
 Claire walked in and put her rain coat on the hook by the front door. Her face was radiant, despite being drenched by the downpour outside. Matt held his hands up jokingly. `` Whoa, I thought this was the boys' club. What gives?'' 
 
 **47** 
 
 `` Shut up.'' She laughed. `` It's Sunday, and I got nothing better to do.'' She looked around. `` I thought you guys were making steak.'' 
 
 **40** 
 
 `` Got rained out,'' Ethan said. 
 
 `` Aw.'' 
 
 **35** 
 
 I gazed at her as she sat down with Ethan's wife and a slice of pineapple pizza. Then I heard Jack start talking again. 
 
 **30** 
 
 ``... Life by the horns, dude. Real life. Get something out of that, man, not some code on a website.'' 
 
 `` Ca n't it be both?'' 
 
 **25** 
 
 He sighed. `` If you keep this up, it might be neither. Seriously, man. The Button will be there when you get back.'' 
 
 **20** 
 
 `` Might not be.'' 
 
 **18** 
 
 `` Does n't even matter. Live in the present dude, whether you pushed the button or not. Life finds a way.'' 
 
 **12** 
 
 I stare at my laptop as it enters the final ten seconds, just as it has for the past week straight. Then I close it, and stuff it in my bag. 
 
 **5** 
 
 I stand up, and stretch a bit. `` Eh, when you're right, you're right. I'm gon na go talk to Claire.'' 
 
 **1** 
 
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 *Musings on the Realty of... * By Castriff - *Unposted* - *Critiques Welcome. Thanks for reading. *
