Chapter 3
# Chapter 3: After the Bell
After what felt like the longest school day in history, Milo finally stepped out into the warm afternoon
air. The sounds of chattering students and the distant hum of traffic filled the atmosphere. As he
walked towards his usual spot by the old oak tree, he caught sight of his friends gathered there,
already deep in conversation.
## The Gathering
"Hey, Milo!" called out Jake, a lanky kid with a shock of blue hair, waving him over. "Over here!"
Milo grinned and quickened his pace. "Hey, guys! What's up?"
Sam, seated on the grass with her sketchbook open, looked up and smiled. "Not much, just trying to
figure out our plan for the weekend. Got any ideas?"
Milo plopped down next to them, leaning back against the tree trunk. "Well, there's that vintage
market downtown," he suggested. "I've heard they've got some cool stuff."
"Yeah, and maybe we can find something for our collections," Jake added enthusiastically. "I need
more pins for my jacket."
Sam nodded, her eyes lighting up. "And I can sketch some of the scenes. It's always so vibrant
there."
## Finding Themselves
As they sat there, the conversation shifted to more personal topics. Milo was feeling contemplative
today, and it seemed like his friends were too.
"I've been thinking," Milo started, his voice quieter, "about what it means to really be a part of vulture
culture."
Jake raised an eyebrow. "You mean why we collect things and love old stuff?"
"Yeah," Milo replied. "It's like... we're trying to connect with something bigger. Like, all these items
have stories, and we're piecing together a part of ourselves through them."
Sam closed her sketchbook thoughtfully. "I get that. It's like we're curators of our own identities. And
maybe that's why it's so important to us—to figure out who we are."
Jake nodded, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by a rare moment of introspection. "I guess it’s
about creating a space where we feel we belong."
## Enjoying Life
The conversation drifted back to lighter topics, filled with laughter and plans for the weekend. As the
sun began to set, casting a golden hue over everything, they stayed there, enjoying each other's
company.
"You know, sometimes I think we're just trying to make life a little more interesting," Milo said with a
smile. "And I like it that way."
Sam chuckled, "We wouldn't have it any other way, right?"
"Definitely not," Jake agreed. "Here's to vulture culture and figuring things out, one day at a time."
As they gathered their things and headed home, Milo felt a sense of contentment. Life was a puzzle
he was still piecing together, but with friends like these, the journey was half the fun.