Snippet #2427378

Seated as he was, surrounded by friends in the diner he'd been going to since even before he could remember, the familiarity of the situation was comforting, relaxing Oz as he slouched in his seat, any semblance of good posture vanishing as he reclined. The chair wasn't exactly comfortable- it was one of those garden variety ones that were good for a quick meal but not for comfort- and he could feel the sweat already drying on his neck leaving him feeling a little sticky. Still, chairs, sweat, and exhaustion besides, it was days like this that he lived for, a soothing routine to lull him into the falsity that everything was just how it had always been. The chorus of subdued hellos made it seem all the more normal. Well, as normal as there eclectic group got which was, admittedly, not very. All of them seemed infamous in their own way at school and, indeed, in the town for various reasons whether they be positive or negative, a mix of clashing personalities that somehow managed to be in the same room long enough for them to not all kill each other.

He didn't even bat an eye when Violet invaded his personal space, so close that he could practically feel her mischievous smile for that moment, instead leaning his head obediently towards her to catch her whispered words. It didn't take much effort to realize the subject of their little clandestine conversation; Nate. Violet and Nate had always been close and Oz and Violet's collective worry about him served as much as a bonding tool between the two friends as anything else. Admittedly, they worried about him in different ways. Violet was always the dynamic one, eager, or perhaps too eager, to act as soon as a thought flitted across her mind. Oz, on the other hand, was content to worry alone, to wait back and worry, much preferring someone to come to him if something was wrong rather than to poke and prod them actively.

It was still odd, however, that she was asking him of all people. In recent years their relationship seemed to be slowly unravelling for a reason Oz couldn't really fathom. He didn't know when it had started, even if he had a good inkling as to why, but the two no longer hung out by themselves, only when someone else (usually Nate for obvious reasons) was around. It had hurt, of course, but in the end, it was Violet's choice.

Still, despite their slightly strained relationship, the offer was tempting and he felt a lazy smile forming on his own face, eyes flickering to his best friend for a moment. It was as much an answer as any, given the circumstances. As passive as he was, Violet could practically just grab him by the wrist and tag him along with little protest from the teenager. Besides, maybe it was the time to be active for once in his life, and if had gotten to a point where Oz was agreeing to one of Violet's harebrained schemes, then this worry for Nate was getting out of hand.

"Our secret," He agreed, holding up a finger to his lips with a friendly little wink as she pulled away and he slouched again against his seat. Nate was talking to Violet now, offering a one-on-one hanging out session. Which didn't bother him, not really, he decided as he waved a waiter over(not, as it turned out, the cute one who had been getting everyone's attention today), ordering a strawberry milkshake to go(to go, of course, because this little impromptu get-together already seemed to be winding down of its own accord). Oz prided himself on being a low-maintenance friend like he was a low-maintenance son; it makes others life easier on everyone involved which held a satisfaction all its own.

Before he could speak again, others of their little friend group started filing in, Sam first with his eternally lazy expression belying his amazing athletic ability. No sooner had Oz offered him his own lazy greeting then Paige bounced in, finding her way to the table and snatching Sam's ball away in lieu of greeting.

He turned his attention away long enough to receive his milkshake, the styrofoam container doing a perfect job hiding the drink's chill, and had just taken a sip of his long-awaited milkshake when Paige asked about a party. A party? Oz scoured his mind, searching for any mention of a party, but he couldn't think of anything really. Maybe he hadn't been paying attention....?

"What party are we talking about?" He echoed Paige's words, head tilted to one side in a mild sort of curiosity. He wasn't really all that interested; parties were fun and all, but he'd be just as happy sitting around anywhere with friends.