You sat on the couch after a nice relaxing shower. Your hair was still a bit damped, but it was whatever.

At the moment, you were looking through the camera to see what shots were good and which were bad.

Rakan: How do you like your eggs, kid?

You looked up to the older boy and gave it some thought.

Y/N: I....whatever is fine. I have no preference.

Xayah: Wrong answer. It's sunnyside up.

Ezreal: Let the man have his eggs the way he wants.

Y/N: It really doesn't matter.

Rakan: It does matter. It always matters. Every choice you make matters. It's your choice, therefore it matters.

You just looked at the boy for a moment before you slowly nodded. You didn't quite get it, but whatever.

Y/N: Scrambled. I like them scrambled.

Jinx: Fuck yeah. We're going to be good friends, kid.

You looked around at the friends that had gathered. They all seemed close. You could tell that they've been friends for a while now. Granted, you didn't know much about them.

You put the camera down and looked over to where Ezreal was sitting. He was spining a knife around his hand, not really caring if he cut himself.

Y/N: So, you guys are in college, right?

Ezreal: Yep. I'm studying archeological research.

Y/N: Like Indiana Jones?

Ezreal laughed a bit.

Ezreal: Sure. Like Indiana Jones.

Xayah: What about you, Y/N? You planning on going to college?

You shook your head.

Y/N: Not really. I'm not, uh, very good at school.

Jinx: Good. Shit's a scam anyway. That's why I didn't go.

Rakan: You didn't go because you hate school.

Jinx: It's a waste if time, that's why.

You raised a brow as you sat back on the couch.

Y/N: You don't go to college?

Jinx: Only the parties. I'm a tattoo artist. Actually, I did everyone's.

You looked around to see everyone nodding. You wondered if she did her own as well. You actually never met a tattoo artist before.

She seemed really cool, though.

They all did.

Akali: Alright, bitches. Let's get this party started.

You looked over to the hall, but quickly turned away with red cheeks.

Xayah: Kali, hun, put some clothes on first.

The
Traveler

Akali, now dressed, ate her plate of food next to you at the table. The others were discussing their experiences at college, or in Jinx's case her costumers, while you listened.

They seemed like they knew who they were. Like they knew what they were doing.

As you looked around the table, you realized something odd.

They all had their own stories. Their own paths that all lead to this exact moment. Like a road that lead to one place.

Rakan: I got an A and whatever, but it still pissed me off.

Xayah: He wouldn't shut up about it for days.

Rakan and Xayah were together. Had been since high school. Rakan was studying art and music. Xayah was studying all minds of things ranging from social justice to criminology.

Ezreal: Oh no. I have a significant other that complains about their problems to me. So sad.

Ezreal was studying archeological research as previously mentioned. He had known everyone for almost ten years now. Weirdly enough, he was Akali's age. He seemed older.

Jinx: Ha! Lonely ass.

Jinx wasn't in college. But she had her own wild as hell story. Her sister was a police officer and practically pushed Jinx through high-school. Their relationship seemed rocky.

You could relate a bit too much.

Akali: Do you guys know when Kayn is supposed to be here?

Rakan: Oh, he's already here. He's passed out in the back.

Akali: What? Where?

Jinx: Back room to the left.

So you did hear someone snoring. Good to know.

Akali: Well, good to know. Guess I'll talk to him when he wakes up.

Ezreal: So, Y/N, you're still in high school, right?

You nodded as you swallowed your food.

Y/N: Yeah. I'm a, uh, senior.

Jinx: Oh, shit. Do you have that Senioritius?

Y/N: I've had it since 8th grade, honestly. I have a hard time focusing sometimes.

Everyone immediately looked at Jinx. She just rolled her eyes.

Jinx: Well, hey, I have my tattooing stuff. You want one?

Akali: Sorry, bluebird. No go on that one.

Jinx pouted. You weren't against the idea of getting a tattoo. Not now obviously, but eventually.

If eventually came.

Actually, you just realized that you hadn't thought about death for a while.

Akali: His aunt trusted me to take care of him. She'll never let me kidnap him again if he came back with a tattoo.

She had a point there. Then again, you think you could hide it well. You've hidden enough things well enough.

Jinx: Come on. It can be a small one.

She looked to you for an answer. You actually did give it some thought.

Finally, you decided against it.

Y/N: Maybe another time.

Jinx seemed disappointed, but Rakan sat up.

Rakan: See? You made a choice just now. One that matters.

You looked at him oddly.

Y/N: Yeah, what is that about? Why do you keep saying that?

Rakan leaned forward while everyone else fell into a separate conversation. You felt a bit bad for pulling him away, but he didn't seem to mind.

Rakan: Look, do you know what makes us human?

You had a few ideas, but for the sake of the conversation, you just shrugged.

Rakan: It's our consciousness. People always say that there's smart animals out there, and they're right to a point. But what makes us human is the fact that we can make our decisions with actual thought and consideration. Like, if you see a man getting mugged on the street. In the wild, the animals run when they see a predator typically. But us humans, we can chose to go and help the guy getting mugged. We can even choose to help the mugger.

He moved a bit to get more comfortable.

Rakan: Every choice we make matters. It matters because it's us making that choice. If you live your life just saying "whatever" or just "going with the flow" you'll never truly be living your life. There's nothing wrong with just going along with things, but you should never rely on others to make choices for you. You just chose not to get that tattoo. That matters, cause if you just said "go ahead" or whatever just to make Jinx happy, then you will most certainly regret it later.

You nodded along as he spoke. It was weird, but he kinda made sense?

Rakan: You make the choices in your life. You chose to go on this trip. You chose to be here right now. You chose to say yes.

You did. Instead of jumping, you chose to stay with Akali. Instead of going back to your normal life til graduation, you chose to come along on this trip.

You might be dead right now if you didn't make that choice.

Y/N: So, every choice matters.

Rakan patted your shoulder with a smile.

Rakan: Now you're getting it. Never be afraid to say no. And definitely never be afraid to make the choice that will make you happy.

You nodded with a smile.

Maybe you could be friends with these people after all.

Kayn: I smell eggs.

You all looked over as a guy with a ponytail walked out of the hall. He looked around before he walked over and took some eggs off of Akali's plate.

Kayn: Hey, Kali.

Akali: Hey, Kayn. This is Y/N.

Kayn looked over to you and nodded.

Kayn: Nice to meet ya, Y/N.

Y/N: Uh, yeah. Likewise.

Kayn just ate the eggs.

Ezreal: Well, let's go to town.