3.He knew he offended her, Howard didn't know a simple question could hurt someone so much but he knew pain and knew when someone was feeling it. "I- I'm sorry." he stuttered "I didn't mean to offend. You stay, I'll go," he got up quickly and gathered his things, he was about to walk off to the bus stop infront of Mike's when he remembered something. He pulled a small black box from his bag and handed it to her, "a gift, for your initiation." his voice cracked at the last word, the back of his green eyes stinging with tears. he tossed the box to her and watched it cartwheel through the air before she caught it. Before she could say anything to him he scurried off, pulling his hood up over his head and made his way to the sign that identified that part of area as bus stop. The tears were already dripping forth from his eyes and light sobs emerged from his throat, he slumped on the sign and slid down, dropping his head between his knees so no one could see him cry. He never wanted to upset her, Howard got her a gift to make her happy. He thought of the gift, a black band with a silver ingraved plate on the front, 'Outcast' styled on it in gothic font -the same font as his tattoo- on the back was ingrained, 'alone together'. He spent most of his savings on it, renting out a workshop and buying the blank plate, 'but it was worth it'
he thought to himself, 'maybe she'll forgive.' but he still couldn't stop crying, he started to bang his head in frustration against the pole he leaned on, sending a wave of pain through his head. Pulling a book out of his bag he dried his tears on his sleeve and continued to read, red eyed and with a raspy breath.