Rising Shards

Kalei stretched as we left the theater.

“I’m gonna be honest,” Kalei said. “Not a fan of that cancer subplot. That was dark.”

“Yeah that was like,” Nikki said. “Really dark. The rest was funny, though.”

I didn’t really think it was that funny, but I was too focused on my imaginary hand holding with Oka to worry about the movie too much. Oka looked somewhat content leaving the theater. Another daydream wormed into my head of holding hands on the walk to the bus stop, and I thought about really going for it. 

“Alright, I’m waiting until you’re all on the bus before I go,” Stella said as she gave me a hug. “I know I couldn’t see you over that last holiday but I’m realizing I miss you so I’m planning something soon to pull you out of there for a bit to make up for it.”

“Aw,” I said, squeezing into the hug a bit harder.

“I’ll see if you can get a day off or something out of it.” Stella said as she winked. “See ya!”

Oka, Kalei, Nikki and I got onto the bus, which was filled with people who were weirdly really pumped about the movie. Kalei and Nikki chatted them up while Oka and I hung back and shared confused glances. It was the most excited and animated I’d seen Nikki about something, too.

The bus dropped us off, and we all walked slowly back to the school, making a detour at the beach as a bunch of students from Rising and Falling Shards who were at the movie aimlessly walked the sands.

“That was great,” Oka said as Kalei and Nikki continued to talk in front of us. “Not the movie, that was…yeesh. But the parts with you were great. The others, too. But mostly the parts with you.”

“Agreed,” I said. I wondered if Oka had her own daydreams about us during the movie. 

That'd be silly though, right?

After Nikki and Kalei spent some time theorizing about the meaning of the post credits scene of Dentist Haircut and whether it was teasing a sequel or an entire Dentist Haircut cinematic universe, Nikki called it a night and went back to her room. Kalei watched until she was out of sight.

“You alright there?” I asked. “You’re like. Really sweaty.”

“Yeah, I think I’m…I’m just gonna…jump into the lake quick.” Kalei said and ran for the water.

Oka and I watched her actually jump into the water for a few seconds.

“What do you think, you want to head back too?” Oka asked.

“In a minute, I wanna make sure Kalei doesn’t drown,” I said. “I was trained from a young age to fear undertow.”

“Ah, of course,” Oka said. We watched Kalei thrash around in the water for a moment before she stepped out of the water.

“Hey, did you tell Oka?” Kalei asked me.

“Tell her what?” I said.

“About…you know.” Kalei said.

“I’ll leave it to you, I figured you’d want me to not spread that around without permission.”

“Right, right,” Kalei said. “I didn’t count Oka in that since we’re roommates, but still, thanks.”

“Spread what around?” Oka asked.

“I er…” Kalei said. “I think I might have a crush on Nikki.”

Oka blinked as she processed that. Then her eyes widened.

“Oh, that explains…huh,” Oka said. “That makes a lot of sense. Good for you!”

Kalei shook herself like a dog after a bath, getting water on us.

“Hey!” I said.

“Sorry,” Kalei said. “I’m just…pretty jacked up is all.”

“It’s fine,” Oka said. “That bus was kinda warm with all the people on it. And you were just with your crush.”

“Yeah,” Kalei said. “We should talk about that later though, I think I’m gonna call it a night too.  You guys done or are you gonna stay out here a bit longer?”

Oka looked to me. I didn’t want that to be it for the night even if we were breaking curfew.

“I think we’re gonna take the long way back,” I said. Oka nodded.

“Alright, I’ll text you if I see any night guards prowling around here,” Kalei said. “Night guys! Who am I kidding, I’m not gonna sleep after that!”

Kalei practically skipped back towards the school, water dripping off of her as she ran.

“I honestly didn’t piece together that Kalei had a crush at all,” Oka said. “But then again, I was pretty distracted today.”

I smiled a bit nervously at that, but I didn’t know how to respond. Oka and I walked along the beach for a while, until we were at a spot on the beach away from the other students hanging out there.

“Well, we have a few minutes at least before the curfew people start scanning the beach I think,” Oka said. “At least that’s what I assume those buggy things are that go around now are.”

“Oh, those ones we can see from our room?” I asked. “I actually didn’t consider that’d be it, but that makes sense.”

Oka had taken her shoes off and was watching her feet sink into the sand with each step. I did the same.

“I’m fine with just a few minutes too,” I said. “Even if it’s just a minute, it’s a minute with you.”

“Aw, Zeta,” Oka said. “You’re so sweet, you know?”

I again didn’t know what to say to that.

“Also, let’s plan out that movie night!” Oka said. “For those space and superhero ones.”

“Oh, yeah!” I said. “I think there’s like seven of them so far, the Versus Wars ones at least. They’re all out of order chronologically too.”

“What order do you recommend?” Oka said.

“Oh, definitely release order,” I said. “It just makes more thematic sense that way.”

“Are they as good as Tower of Hate and Love?” Oka said.

“Not as good, but they’re pretty dang good.” I said. “And the Infinites is like superhero globetrotting adventure stuff, there’s like fifty plus of those so far.”

“We can watch during nail night tomorrow!” Oka said.

“Yes, let’s!” I said. “Which do you want first, scifi epic or superhero adventures?”

“Hmmm, you sounded more excited about Versus, so let’s do that,” Oka said. “It’s a date!”

After she said that, Oka took a few steps ahead while I stopped. My hands were shaking. Her dress flowed over her leggings, almost in sync with the waves splashing near us.

“So, which way should we head now?” Oka asked. “I still have energy, I’m fine if we take the long way back, even if we risk the curfew guards more, because it would...it would..."

Oka trailed off. Just like how I imagined us holding hands, I could just let the night end there and just go back to bed. The bittersweet cloud over the night would grow a bit bigger, but it couldn't overwhelm all the nice times. Something inside me told me if I left things as they were here, I’d be shutting a door I didn’t want shut. I could let Oka walk away, and eventually the emotions inside me would settle and go back to normal, for now at least. Things could end up where I wanted them to still, eventually. Maybe. The voice in my heart said if I let it go now, I could be letting it go for good.

“Hey.” I said softly, barely getting my mouth to form words. “Oka?”

She stood frozen with her shoulders stiff and fists clamped at her side, petrified.

“Yes? Am I being too much?” Oka said. “I’m suddenly afraid to look back. Did I just get really annoying all of a sudden...?”

“No, it’s not that,” I said. I shut my eyes for a second, not able to bear seeing Oka look so scared without even seeing her expression. “Can you…turn around for a…”

I opened my eyes as Oka turned around, seeing that she looked as terrified as I felt. She winced, her fangs biting into her lower lip. The wind was at my back, blowing her hair behind her. I walked up to her and as soon as I was close, we both went completely still again. Panic threatened to overwhelm me. Knowing all the ways I could come up with if I waited too long, I didn’t give myself time to turn back. 

She softly gasped as I reached for her face with my hands and leaned in.

I kissed her, there on the beach, right as a big wave splashed onto the sand.