Rising Shards

Lillia approached the lunch table her friends ate at cautiously. Normally she wouldn’t have to have any trepidation heading to dinner, but it sounded like one of them was moaning, and someone was hunched over. As Lillia set her tray down, she saw it was Zeta who had her head on the table as she held her stomach. “Bleeugh….”

Oka alternated between lightly rubbing her shoulders and patting her back. “Did you take the ibuprofen?”

Zeta nodded.

“Helps a little,” Zeta muttered. “Just let me…lie here for a while…”

“What’s with Zeta?” Kalei asked, arriving at the table and plopping her tray down without any of the cautiousness Lillia had. 

“I mean, she doesn’t have to say it, right?” Oka asked.

“Why?” Kalei asked.

“Because Zeta gets uncomfortable when things of that manner are spoken aloud.” Oka said.

“You’re not saying it because of the whole Zeta being a prude thing?” Kalei asked. “Like she’s in any state to stop me if I did.”

“So you do know what it is, huh?” Oka said. “Sometimes I think you just say things to be obtuse.” She started rubbing Zeta’s shoulders again. “But Zeta’s always acute. Eh? Eh?”

“Mrmmgh.” Zeta groaned.

“I’m just gonna say it," Kalei said. "It’s not like she can get more uncomfortable. Period, oooh. See? She didn’t even move.”

Oka scowled at her. "Say, is this your first since the pill got you all...shapeshifted? Is shapeshifted the right word?"

"That's probably a way more uncomfortable question to ask than what I said." Kalei said. "How is that fair?"

"Because I know how to phrase things in ways that don't upset her." Oka said. "So, is it the first?"

Zeta weakly held up two fingers. "The second...this time's a lot less...euphoric..."

"But still kinda euphoric, right?" Oka asked.

Zeta nodded again, her head staying on the table still.

Lillia could tell that Zeta was in no shape to be left alone, but there was a play event they had to go to after dinner. It wasn’t a full practice, just a meeting, so it wasn’t the most urgent thing. Oka read the look on Lillia’s face.

“Sorry Lillia, I think I should probably stay with her instead of going to the play get together.” Oka said.

“It is optional,” Lillia said. “I’ll report back if there’s anything of note.”

After eating, Lillia wished Zeta luck in weathering the storm she rode through before leaving for the meeting. She entered the auditorium and saw a group on the stage. Like practice, there were students scattered about the seats as well. As Lillia walked down the aisle, someone brushed their fingertips against her elbow. Lillia wasn’t prepared for the sensation and nearly whipped her arm around, smacking the person who did it.

“Oh.” Lillia said, seeing it was Ko Matora seated at the end of a row.

“Acting, huh?” Ko asked. “Theater, huh?”

“Yes, it’s…practice.” Lillia said. “Why are you here?”

“Why do you think?” Ko asked, winking at her. “I've been waiting for a chance to talk to you all week. You think I could act good? There’s probably some missing spots with the people gone, yeah?”

“There are a few, yes.” Lillia said. “Today we’re meeting to discuss the preliminary plans there.”

“Cool, cool.” Ko said. “Do you play someone that gets kissed? I bet I could do that role.”

“That’s…” Lillia said, her heart pounding. What is wrong with this girl, saying things like that out loud in a public space? Lillia couldn’t even form a response.

“Excuse me, are you supposed to be here?”

“Naomi!” Lillia said, much louder than she intended.

Lillia turned to see Naomi Ratuna approaching, which made her anxiety even more powerful. She had never been with Ko and Naomi in close proximity at the same time since her crush on Naomi started and since Ko started…whatever she was doing with Lillia.

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you, Miss Prefect,” Ko said.

“You can talk to me about whatever it is after our meeting,” Naomi said. “This is for theater club members only. Don’t make me give you a demerit.”

For a few seconds, it was like a stare down between two outlaws in a cowboy movie. Lillia wasn’t sure who would draw first, just that she was stuck in the middle of it. Which she hated to admit was absolutely thrilling. Even if Naomi was just trying to get Ko to leave, it was like the two were dueling over Lillia’s attention.

“Alright, alright,” Ko said, standing up. “I won’t get in the way of theater. Talk to you soon, kay Lillia?”

Lillia didn’t respond as Ko winked at her again. Normally Lillia would say Ko majorly overdid it with the winks, but the effect they had on her said otherwise.

“I’m going to lock the door behind her when she goes,” Naomi said, watching Ko head up the aisle toward the door. “Could you do me a favor and ask those two to leave while I do that?” Naomi pointed to two students on the other end of the auditorium. “They’re definitely not in the club. They can go out through the doors on the other side.”

“Yes, I can do that.” Lillia said, feeling a rush of pride that Naomi trusted her enough to handle such a task.

Lillia approached the two students, who she quickly recognized as Arielle Roux and Latte Bein. They were in the middle of an argument.

“They can’t swing up faster, because if the coffee cup was in there, it’d like fling across the whole room!” Roux said. “The cup holder is way too small.”

“I know that, I’m just demanding you use your magic spell to make the cup holder bigger so I can keep set my mug down while I’m in a rally or something!” Latte swung the armrest up and down before trying to finagle her mug into the cup holder on it.

"My magic can’t do that,” Roux said. “Or if it could, I wouldn’t do that for you.”

“Excuse me,” Lillia said. “You two aren’t supposed to be here during practice. I am asking politely that you leave the premises.”

Lillia had dealt a bit with the two before. As long as Latte’s coffee wasn’t messed with, she could be somewhat agreeable. Roux was more of a wildcard but caved easily under pressure. So Lillia gave the best glare she could with her hands on her hips.

“We can go once Roux fixes my cup holder."

“No, you're going now, I have a meeting.” Lillia said, immediately tired of dealing with the two. She grabbed their forearms and pulled them up, marching them over to the doors. “Please do not interfere with clubs you aren’t a member of again.” She shut the door on them and locked it, turning to see Naomi looking her way. Naomi gave her a thumbs up, which felt as good as every wink Ko gave her.

* * *

Roux and Latte stared at the door. For some reason, they nonchalantly pawed at the door once Lillia locked it.

“I feel…something.” Roux said. “Something about the way she took charge there.”

“Yes…like the longing for a cup of coffee in the morning. And at lunch. And all the time.” Latte said. “She gripped me as tightly as I grip…my mug, I guess.”

“It feels like…” Roux said, scratching one of her ears.

“Something kinda familiar…” Latte said.

“Oh!” Roux said.

“I got it!” Latte said.

“I think I’m in love.” Roux and Latte said at the same time. They squinted at each other, then started grappling, wrestling each other to the ground.

“Watch the coffee!” Latte yelled.