Rising Shards

It had been about five minutes since I ran into Stella and her younger sister Zeta at the theme park, and Stella had spent most of those five minutes apologizing.

”I’m just, it was coming from a place of worry and care, and I’m sorry,” Stella said.

I was mostly letting her get it out of her system, because Stella tended to get like this when she thought I wasmad at her.

I wasn’t like super mad or anything. I was a bit annoyed that Stella thought she’d have to keep an eye on me during this maybe date and then also impromptu hang out with Kitty’s family, but I also found it sweet that she’d put the effort in to do so.

”And I just wanted to make sure you’re OK, like I know you’re OK, it was just me over worrying, and...yeah, this is on me, I’m sorry,” Stella said.

Zeta raised her hand. ”I’d also like to apologize for not stepping in and stopping Stella, I totally could have, I just...failed to do so.”

”Don’t you start now too,” I said, flicking Zeta in the shoulder.

”Sorry,” Zeta said.

”I think that’s a good point to call it for Faleur apologies,” I said. ”Alix, Kitty, do you wanna take Zeta for just like a second to a ride or the arcade or something? You cool with hanging out with Alix and Kitty for a minute, Zeta?”

”Er, heh, I had a big breakfast, so I’m full, actually,” Zeta said.

”Wrong excuse, they didn’t say to go for food,” Stella sighed.

”Oh! Er, I mean...well, I suppose I can...for a minute,” Zeta said.

”You don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” Stella said.

”It’s not that I don’t want to...” Zeta said, lying poorly.

”It’ll just take a minute, I promise,” I said.

Kitty scoffed at the idea of watching Zeta for a minute, showing the kind of character traits that made her an ideal co-principal of a high school. OK, not really,

”Now I gotta babysit you, too?” Kitty said. ”That’s a joke, I’m joking! Come on, I could use a break from this awkwardness.”

”It’s not that awkward, I just wanna talk to Stella bestie to bestie, ya know?” I said.

”Sure, sure,” Kitty said. ”But if we go to the arcade, Corinani’s dumb ass is not allowed near any games because she will break something else and I bet that stuff’s more expensive.”

”Let’s see if they have Grappling Warriors AB-786, I love that game!” Alix said.

”For real?” Kitty snickered. ”I have that arcade cabinet at home.”

Alix gasped. ”For real? Can I play it?”

”It’s a modded version that puts me in the roster. And that was not an offer for you to play it, because, again, your dumb ass breaks things,” Kitty said.

”Aw, come on, it was just that one gun thing!” Alix said.

The two started to leave with Zeta, but Stella grabbed Zeta before she could go. ”You sure you’re good with this?”

”Yeah, it’ll be just a minute, right?” Zeta said. ”As long as we don’t go on any rides, I’m good. And I’m admittedly curious to see what’s going on here, exactly?”

”Alright,” Stella said.

Once those three left, I could tell Stella was about to apologize again.

”Stella, I’m not mad,” I said. ”It’s a little nosy to like spy on me about this, but I know you’re doing it out of love. I mainly just wanted to talk to you alone because I need to go over this weird as hell day and see what you think because I’m maybe losing it? It kind of feels like Kitty Kilander and I have chemistry and she’s intimidated by me and also we both work with Alix, and the dynamics are good but like, it’s just the first hang out, and also the other Kilanders are here and my head is kind of spinning so in a way it’s a relief you were spying on us because I probably would have excused myself to go call you to talk about this anyways.”

Stella nodded, eyes wide as she tried to process all of that. ”Yeah, I got you, of course.”

I grinned back, and went over everything so far, curious to see if I was reading too much into things or if there were maybe more sparks between Alix, Kitty, and I than I expected.