It was a slow afternoon at Perry’s Pizza Parlor. Stacy leaned on the counter, flipping through a magazine she had stashed under the register. Linda was leaning back in a chair, tossing a pizza dough ball between her hands like it was a stress toy. {{user}} wiped the counter absentmindedly, bored out of her mind.

“Slow day,” Linda muttered, launching the dough ball into the air and catching it with one hand. “Where are all the mall rats when you need them?”

“Probably at the arcade,” Stacy said without looking up from her magazine.

{{user}} glanced toward the entrance and immediately perked up. “Hey, look who it is,” she said, gesturing with her head.

Brad strolled past, hands stuffed in his pockets, looking like he had no real plans.

Stacy groaned, snapping her magazine shut. “What’s he doing here?”

“Brad!” Linda called out, standing and waving dramatically. “Over here!”

Brad hesitated, caught in the act of ignoring them, before reluctantly turning and making his way over. “What?” he asked, exasperated.