Rising Shards

Kalei didn’t really care for either team playing, but live beam chasers with the pros was always enjoyable even with the worst teams playing. And the Turbos and the Flame Broiled Furniture-Salespeople weren’t the worst, they were just kinda there.

The first quarter ended, and a mascot waddled out on the field. The Turbos were cocky this season, as they recently changed names and mascots, going from a cute lizard to a boring space marine from that dumb space marine show.

”Everyone enjoying the game so far?” An announcer shouted over the speakers. ”Let’s all give it up for the thrilling new mascot for the Turbos, from the hit series Void Marines, it’s Lt. Colonel Chalk “Turbo” McStormRain!”

Whoever was in the mascot suit was a pro, avoiding the beam chasers tracks as they walked around, waving at the audience. The mascot held up a t-shirt gun, teasing shooting it toward Kalei’s section.

”I need a shirt! Free shirt, free shirt!” Kai chanted. She smacked the plexiglass, then had a realization. ”We’re too close, Captain Chalk Turbo whatever can’t shoot it at us!”

”Then move back!” Ko said.

”I’m getting a shirt,” Kai said, pushing through the crowd to move up the stands.

”She doesn’t even like the Turbos,” Ko said, to which Lillia giggled.

Kalei felt pretty good about how well this was going so far, she was almost able to put the last week out of her mind.

Great. You just had to think about it.

In trying not to think about it, she ended up thinking about what had happened with her and Risa. Their recent hangout went pretty well, and it felt almost like old times. Almost. Risa still seemed like the new edge she had to her took precedent over the goofy girl Kalei grew up with. But they were able to play games and chat, and it wasn’t stressful like some of their recent attempts. At least until Risa dropped a question on her right before they wrapped up.

”Oh yeah, didn’t you have something you wanted to ’run by me’ or whatever?” Kalei asked as Risa was getting up to leave. In hindsight, she wondered if she should have asked that at all. Then it could have just been a nice hangout without any weird clouds looming over it.

Risa wore a crooked smile as she said it. ”I’ll get right to it. You wanna go out?”

Kalei thought she was kidding at first, but she was serious. The first time she’d ever been asked out, and it was by Risa of all people. She wasn’t sure what to feel. A rush of fluttery feelings hit her, but a lot of anxious and hurting ones did as well. If she was in a video game, this would be like being attacked with a bunch of tiny energy blades, with some of the blades having healing properties. It was a surreal feeling. Risa didn’t seem to notice Kalei having any kind of internal strife, continuing on.

”I’ve been trying to get with these Wildfire Hearts girlies, but that’s mainly trying to start something that’ll blow up in their faces later,” Risa said.

”Oh,” Kalei said. ”That’s...kinda bad.”

”Maybe, but it’s fun,” Risa said. ”And you know what else would be fun? Us dating! We know we’re compatible. We’ve been friends forever. It’s simple!”

I should be happy, right? Kalei thought to herself.

This should be exciting. This should feel amazing.

The room felt like it was getting wider and smaller at the same time. She wished this would just be over.

Maybe it’s so sudden, that’s why I feel like this.

She blurted something out, because part of her begged her not to answer right away.

”Let me think about it,” Kalei said. ”Not like, no. But like...”

”Like, thinking about it,” Risa said. ”I get it. You always have that contemplative side to ya.”

”Heh, yeah...” Kalei said. ”And like. Thank you.”

”Of course,” Risa smiled. ”Thanks for hearing me out.”

Kalei couldn’t remember if they hugged before they split for the day, she was too foggy mentally to notice.

She felt foggy just thinking about it again, with that same feeling in the arena of everything around her feeling too wide and too small at the same time somehow.