((Katrina Lavell continued from This Woman's Work))
Katrina wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin before setting it back down on her tray. She sighed in relief after finishing her lunch. A Sbarro caesar salad wasn't the most exciting lunch, but it was what Katrina needed after a busy morning. She had arrived at the Harrison Central Mall early on to do some shopping. Prom was around the corner, and while she had her dress ready, she still needed some accessories and makeup to complete it. Fortunately, a few trips around the makeup counters of the department stores and one prolonged visit to Sephora got her exactly what she needed.
Feeling assured of her mission's success, Katrina decided to take a break to get lunch at the food court. She still had to mind her weight going into Prom, so a salad and some breadsticks would be plenty for her. Either way, it had been a nice, quiet trip to the mall, and she was feeling really good about herself.
Katrina pulled out her phone and began to go through her Facebook feed. She wanted to know what was going on in the world, and she had a bit of time to spare. Thus, she flicked through her feed, past memes and random status updates.
I've Got One Less Problem Without You
Open
"We're not having the Hummer debate again, Faith."
Abel rolled his eyes as Faith spieled on and on about getting Dad to let her use the orange one for Prom, for the third time this month.
((Abel Zelenovic continued from Take the High Road))
It had been a pretty all right day so far. Faith needed someone to go with her to pick out something for Aaron's birthday next week, and Abel was her first pick. Probably. He kinda just assumed.
Regardless he just liked hanging out with her, especially since they never really get chances to do so these days. So, here they were in the middle of the food court with their spoils from the Bass Pro Shop. And a detour for Dick's. The sporting goods store. Grow up.
Abel took another sip from his styrofoam cup filled with Mello Yello. He fiddled with the lid again trying to get it to actually clamp down over the top, to no avail; the plastic top rebelled by always sticking back out. Who the fuck designed these things in the first place?
"I tell you what, though," he moved the cup aside to the right edge and wiped his arm down the table, clearing the space in between both of them. He raised his right arm over the table and bent it at a right angle, resting the lower half on the table itself with the upper half standing upright with his hand open.. He furrowed his brow, shifted in his seat, and stared into Faith's eyes with fire.
"I'll arm wrestle you for it. Win and it's yours, but if you lose you gotta stop asking. Aight?"
Internally, he sweated a little bit. Not like he'd lose, but Dad would kill him if anyone drove one of his Hummers. In fact he'd probably run over Abel three times with one first before killing him. But this would shut Faith up for good, and that's all he needed right now. Even as strong as Faith was, he didn't need a miracle.
Abel rolled his eyes as Faith spieled on and on about getting Dad to let her use the orange one for Prom, for the third time this month.
((Abel Zelenovic continued from Take the High Road))
It had been a pretty all right day so far. Faith needed someone to go with her to pick out something for Aaron's birthday next week, and Abel was her first pick. Probably. He kinda just assumed.
Regardless he just liked hanging out with her, especially since they never really get chances to do so these days. So, here they were in the middle of the food court with their spoils from the Bass Pro Shop. And a detour for Dick's. The sporting goods store. Grow up.
Abel took another sip from his styrofoam cup filled with Mello Yello. He fiddled with the lid again trying to get it to actually clamp down over the top, to no avail; the plastic top rebelled by always sticking back out. Who the fuck designed these things in the first place?
"I tell you what, though," he moved the cup aside to the right edge and wiped his arm down the table, clearing the space in between both of them. He raised his right arm over the table and bent it at a right angle, resting the lower half on the table itself with the upper half standing upright with his hand open.. He furrowed his brow, shifted in his seat, and stared into Faith's eyes with fire.
"I'll arm wrestle you for it. Win and it's yours, but if you lose you gotta stop asking. Aight?"
Internally, he sweated a little bit. Not like he'd lose, but Dad would kill him if anyone drove one of his Hummers. In fact he'd probably run over Abel three times with one first before killing him. But this would shut Faith up for good, and that's all he needed right now. Even as strong as Faith was, he didn't need a miracle.
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Frozen Smoke
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((Faith C. Marshal-Mackenzie continued from A Trip to Nerd Zoo))
Abel's Dad was a dick. That was the conclusion she'd come to, after hearing Abel's many protestations about how driving one of the hulking vehicles that lay so temptingly in his garage would end in his demise. What kind of Dad wouldn't let their kid drive their car? Especially when said car was the closest thing to driving a tank as you could legally do on the highway! Apparently even needing it to impress a girl wasn't a good enough excuse to get away with driving it in for prom, which would have been THE coolest thing. She sighed in exasperation, and resigned herself to probably being driven in by Wyatt instead. That wasn't the worst thing, but it would have been fun to impress him for once. She shook her head a little and smiled a lopsided smile back at him, knowing it wasn't his fault, anyway. She wasn't out to get him in trouble, even if it was fun to tease him about how much of a fucking goody two-shoes he was. The smile turned into a few notes of laughter that she quickly muffled my pressing her fist against her mouth for a moment. Seeing him trying to take an arm wrestle so seriously was probably the funniest thing he'd managed to do all day, and given Abel, that was a high bar to meet.
What was it with guys and arm wrestles anyway? It seemed like the only thing the Football team ever did when they were out drinking.
Probably because actually saying "My dick is bigger than yours" would require them to actually compare, and everyone except for Kayden wasn't down for that.
"Deal." she accepted, with a cocky grin, as she reached out her own hand and clasped Abel's. She was pretty sure that he was going to win, given how easy Wyatt seemed to find it when she - in the midst of her own drinking - had decided to try her luck against him, even taking a moment to pretend like he was struggling before slamming her hand down and claiming victory. But, she wasn't going to give up the opportunity, and she could tell he was probably getting just a little annoyed. Either way, they'd be able to call it quits.
Abel's Dad was a dick. That was the conclusion she'd come to, after hearing Abel's many protestations about how driving one of the hulking vehicles that lay so temptingly in his garage would end in his demise. What kind of Dad wouldn't let their kid drive their car? Especially when said car was the closest thing to driving a tank as you could legally do on the highway! Apparently even needing it to impress a girl wasn't a good enough excuse to get away with driving it in for prom, which would have been THE coolest thing. She sighed in exasperation, and resigned herself to probably being driven in by Wyatt instead. That wasn't the worst thing, but it would have been fun to impress him for once. She shook her head a little and smiled a lopsided smile back at him, knowing it wasn't his fault, anyway. She wasn't out to get him in trouble, even if it was fun to tease him about how much of a fucking goody two-shoes he was. The smile turned into a few notes of laughter that she quickly muffled my pressing her fist against her mouth for a moment. Seeing him trying to take an arm wrestle so seriously was probably the funniest thing he'd managed to do all day, and given Abel, that was a high bar to meet.
What was it with guys and arm wrestles anyway? It seemed like the only thing the Football team ever did when they were out drinking.
Probably because actually saying "My dick is bigger than yours" would require them to actually compare, and everyone except for Kayden wasn't down for that.
"Deal." she accepted, with a cocky grin, as she reached out her own hand and clasped Abel's. She was pretty sure that he was going to win, given how easy Wyatt seemed to find it when she - in the midst of her own drinking - had decided to try her luck against him, even taking a moment to pretend like he was struggling before slamming her hand down and claiming victory. But, she wasn't going to give up the opportunity, and she could tell he was probably getting just a little annoyed. Either way, they'd be able to call it quits.
Criticism or thoughts on my writing are welcome and appreciated - always looking to improve! Feel free to poke me on Discord or via PM.
Heh. Now it was on like Donkey Kong.
"Aight. On the word 'go'. Ready? 3...
2...
1...
Go!"
Abel tensed his muscles right as the match began. But Faith did the same, and both competitors were gridlocked. Both sides refused to budge from their erect position. For every extra inch of push strength Abel added, Faith returned with her own coursing from her hand. Faith was an unstoppable force, but Abel was an immovable wall.
But then it happened; after what felt like a stalemate for hours, someone finally broke through.
It was Faith. Abel's wall began crumbling.
He had to do something, and fast.
His face reddened with blood and sweat as he gripped the underside of the table with his free hand to draw as much strength as possible.
But he kept falling, his wrist almost touching the drink he had set aside. How was this even reality? He shut his eyes; he couldn't lay witness anymore.
His heart was so loud now, his arms and fingers so tired. He couldn't hold on anymore. He only had a little strength in him left to hold out, but it was just delaying the inevitable.
Faith was going to win, there was no way around it.
But he clenched his teeth; he couldn't give in. It wasn't over yet.
It was time for the reversal.
Abel pushed back with all of his might, focusing all of his qi into the core of his palm. With the power of God and Dwayne AKA "The Rock" Johnson on his side, he wouldn't lose.
...Eh, plus he was done goofin' for now; Faith and him both had their fun, and they had one last store to visit today anyway. In one clean sweep, he pushed Faith's hand back and gently pressed the back against the table before freeing her from his iron grip.
"Heh," he rolled his other hand around his wrist. "You still have much to learn, spring pig."
Her technique honestly did improve since the last time he had to punish her to a good ol' fashioned match after lunch, but technique can only get you so far. Anyway, at least he didn't have to be harassed by her and her Hummer questions any more.
He stood up and took a celebratory sip of Mello Yello, the elixir of victory.
"Aight. On the word 'go'. Ready? 3...
2...
1...
Go!"
Abel tensed his muscles right as the match began. But Faith did the same, and both competitors were gridlocked. Both sides refused to budge from their erect position. For every extra inch of push strength Abel added, Faith returned with her own coursing from her hand. Faith was an unstoppable force, but Abel was an immovable wall.
But then it happened; after what felt like a stalemate for hours, someone finally broke through.
It was Faith. Abel's wall began crumbling.
He had to do something, and fast.
His face reddened with blood and sweat as he gripped the underside of the table with his free hand to draw as much strength as possible.
But he kept falling, his wrist almost touching the drink he had set aside. How was this even reality? He shut his eyes; he couldn't lay witness anymore.
His heart was so loud now, his arms and fingers so tired. He couldn't hold on anymore. He only had a little strength in him left to hold out, but it was just delaying the inevitable.
Faith was going to win, there was no way around it.
But he clenched his teeth; he couldn't give in. It wasn't over yet.
It was time for the reversal.
Abel pushed back with all of his might, focusing all of his qi into the core of his palm. With the power of God and Dwayne AKA "The Rock" Johnson on his side, he wouldn't lose.
...Eh, plus he was done goofin' for now; Faith and him both had their fun, and they had one last store to visit today anyway. In one clean sweep, he pushed Faith's hand back and gently pressed the back against the table before freeing her from his iron grip.
"Heh," he rolled his other hand around his wrist. "You still have much to learn, spring pig."
Her technique honestly did improve since the last time he had to punish her to a good ol' fashioned match after lunch, but technique can only get you so far. Anyway, at least he didn't have to be harassed by her and her Hummer questions any more.
He stood up and took a celebratory sip of Mello Yello, the elixir of victory.
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Frozen Smoke
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Faith put up a good fight, but the inevitable tide of Abel's home-run scoring biceps were more than a match for her pistol-hardened wrist, and her knuckles met the cheap, wobbly table that the two of them were sitting at with the slow finality of an auctioneer's gavel. The two of them disentangled their hands as she chuckled at his words. From anyone else, it would have been a little insulting to be called a pig, but Abel's wizened arm-wrestling-sensei impression was enough to make her laugh no matter what exactly he said.
As her mirth subsided, she noticed him rolling his wrist around, realising she hadn't seen his other hand laid on the table as hers had been. "HEY! You cheated!" she accused, her voice rich with righteous indignation. "You're not allowed to use your other arm! It's called arm wrestling, not arms wrestling!" she explained, before folding her own arms across her chest in a faux-huff, and managing to fix him with a serious look for all of a nano second, before it cracked and she began laughing again at his reaction.
As her mirth subsided, she noticed him rolling his wrist around, realising she hadn't seen his other hand laid on the table as hers had been. "HEY! You cheated!" she accused, her voice rich with righteous indignation. "You're not allowed to use your other arm! It's called arm wrestling, not arms wrestling!" she explained, before folding her own arms across her chest in a faux-huff, and managing to fix him with a serious look for all of a nano second, before it cracked and she began laughing again at his reaction.
Criticism or thoughts on my writing are welcome and appreciated - always looking to improve! Feel free to poke me on Discord or via PM.
"It's not cheating," he pointed the cup at Faith, some drops of soda splashing out from under the lid and onto the table. "It's strategy."
With another sip he started picking up their trash; he may have been a cheater, but he always tried to be a good winner too. "BRB," he sent himself off on the journey to the trash bin.
But he would never make it. Some dick talking on his phone ran right at Abel in the central aisle and kept walking, the jerk not even bothering to look back or even acknowledge him other than saying a quarter-hearted "Sorry."
Trash fell from Abel's hands as he stumbled back, paper wrappers falling to the floor with a silent thud. Normally he would've just bent down and picked up the trash with a quick "Thanks, Jackass," under his breath and continued on his merry way. But this time was different.
It was the cup. His cup.
The cup went flying, the lip finally freed from its seal as its bodily fluids poured out and splashed indiscriminately.
A little got on Abel's right arm, some got on the floor, and some got on the table next to him. The bulk of the icy gold waterfall landed on the girl sitting at the table, right near the top of her head.
With another sip he started picking up their trash; he may have been a cheater, but he always tried to be a good winner too. "BRB," he sent himself off on the journey to the trash bin.
But he would never make it. Some dick talking on his phone ran right at Abel in the central aisle and kept walking, the jerk not even bothering to look back or even acknowledge him other than saying a quarter-hearted "Sorry."
Trash fell from Abel's hands as he stumbled back, paper wrappers falling to the floor with a silent thud. Normally he would've just bent down and picked up the trash with a quick "Thanks, Jackass," under his breath and continued on his merry way. But this time was different.
It was the cup. His cup.
The cup went flying, the lip finally freed from its seal as its bodily fluids poured out and splashed indiscriminately.
A little got on Abel's right arm, some got on the floor, and some got on the table next to him. The bulk of the icy gold waterfall landed on the girl sitting at the table, right near the top of her head.
Katrina was in the social media zone. She could vaguely hear some people nearby arm wrestling, but for the most part, she was distracted by her Facebook feed. She began to chuckle to herself as she read a tweet someone screencapped and shared on their account.
"Current stress level: Chris from Get Out asking Rose for the keys."
Before Katrina could admire the tweet further, she suddenly felt something really cold hit her head. In an instant, her entire head chilled as she felt a strange, yellow liquid cover her head and drench her hair, her sweater dress, and her phone. She let out a loud gasp as soon as the initial shock passed, her mouth falling agape and her eyes widening in shock.
Katrina held her hands to her side as more of the sticky liquid continued to drip down her. Suddenly, she started to shiver. It smelled like some kind of soda, although she couldn't tell exactly what kind it was. She remained frozen in place, aware of people in the food court suddenly looking her way. Suddenly, she felt exactly like Chris from Get Out asking Rose for the keys.
"Wha-wha-what?" was all she could stutter out as she realized the yellow soda was likely staining the white sweater dress she was wearing and sending her into a mild internal panic.
"Current stress level: Chris from Get Out asking Rose for the keys."
Before Katrina could admire the tweet further, she suddenly felt something really cold hit her head. In an instant, her entire head chilled as she felt a strange, yellow liquid cover her head and drench her hair, her sweater dress, and her phone. She let out a loud gasp as soon as the initial shock passed, her mouth falling agape and her eyes widening in shock.
Katrina held her hands to her side as more of the sticky liquid continued to drip down her. Suddenly, she started to shiver. It smelled like some kind of soda, although she couldn't tell exactly what kind it was. She remained frozen in place, aware of people in the food court suddenly looking her way. Suddenly, she felt exactly like Chris from Get Out asking Rose for the keys.
"Wha-wha-what?" was all she could stutter out as she realized the yellow soda was likely staining the white sweater dress she was wearing and sending her into a mild internal panic.
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Frozen Smoke
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Faith pulled her phone out of her pocket as Abel walked away, quickly typing in her password on the miniature keyboard and heading to her texts, opening up a message to Aaron and staring at the cursor for a few moments as she tried to think of a good way to tease the present she'd got him. Not enough to ruin the surprise, but she wanted him to know she hadn't forgotten and found something last minute. Her digital indecision was interrupted by the sound of a few things hitting floor just a moment away, her eye contact with the screen breaking as she looked around for a few seconds, trying to figure out what was going on.
Katrina was soaked. The yellow soda that Abel was so weirdly fond of had somehow managed to coat the poor girl's white absorbent clothing, making her look like a snowman that a dog had pissed on. The two of them seemed stunned, pausing for just a moment before the inevitable meltdown occurred.
"Ah, shit." she mumbled under her breath as she began to get up, chair squeaking against the floor as she pushed herself out from the table. Someone was going to need to take care of this, and Abel looked like a deer in the headlights as Katrina looked around for the source of the liquid that was now probably ruining both her hair and her clothes. She just hoped Katrina would let her, rather than making things worse for herself, just because she was here with the guy who'd doused her in piss-soda.
Katrina was soaked. The yellow soda that Abel was so weirdly fond of had somehow managed to coat the poor girl's white absorbent clothing, making her look like a snowman that a dog had pissed on. The two of them seemed stunned, pausing for just a moment before the inevitable meltdown occurred.
"Ah, shit." she mumbled under her breath as she began to get up, chair squeaking against the floor as she pushed herself out from the table. Someone was going to need to take care of this, and Abel looked like a deer in the headlights as Katrina looked around for the source of the liquid that was now probably ruining both her hair and her clothes. She just hoped Katrina would let her, rather than making things worse for herself, just because she was here with the guy who'd doused her in piss-soda.
Criticism or thoughts on my writing are welcome and appreciated - always looking to improve! Feel free to poke me on Discord or via PM.
Abel was a statue, petrified and frozen in place. His mind screamed for his muscles to move, to do something. But he couldn't. All he could do was stare and blink with his mouth agape at the girl who was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
This was it. This was gonna be the scandal that would socially ostracize him like Lucas.
He struggled to put sounds together, using all of his will power to slowly form words. "I-I am so sorry," his voice shook.
What else was he supposed to say? To do? Other than crave for the sweet release of death?
This was it. This was gonna be the scandal that would socially ostracize him like Lucas.
He struggled to put sounds together, using all of his will power to slowly form words. "I-I am so sorry," his voice shook.
What else was he supposed to say? To do? Other than crave for the sweet release of death?
Katrina quickly blinked her eyes as some of the Mello Yellow dripped into her eyes. She could tell that the guy who dumped the drink on her was apologizing, but she couldn't even turn to look at him. She did tilt her head a bit, and noticed some ice chips fall down onto her lap.
She couldn't imagine why this had happened. Obviously, it was an accident of some kind, otherwise the guy wouldn't be apologizing. However, she couldn't imagine what sort of chain of events could result in this happening to her. Did she do something bad that the universe was punishing her for? What was the last bad thing she did, anyways? She did put an empty milk carton back in the fridge after she used it, but that wasn't active malice. She was just trying to get it out of the way. It wasn't her fault her brother went so crazy about it. And it certainly didn't deserve public humiliation.
Or maybe it did. Katrina would admit she didn't have the best grasp on how the universe worked, so it very well could be justified.
But as she felt her head get colder, her makeup starting to smear, and her clothes getting wetter, she couldn't think too much more on it.
"I-I-I" she continued to mutter.
Finally, she lost it. She began to whimper and could feel her eyes starting to water, mixing her tears with the soda. Whatever the reason this happened, this whole thing was so unpleasant she couldn't even control herself anymore.
She couldn't imagine why this had happened. Obviously, it was an accident of some kind, otherwise the guy wouldn't be apologizing. However, she couldn't imagine what sort of chain of events could result in this happening to her. Did she do something bad that the universe was punishing her for? What was the last bad thing she did, anyways? She did put an empty milk carton back in the fridge after she used it, but that wasn't active malice. She was just trying to get it out of the way. It wasn't her fault her brother went so crazy about it. And it certainly didn't deserve public humiliation.
Or maybe it did. Katrina would admit she didn't have the best grasp on how the universe worked, so it very well could be justified.
But as she felt her head get colder, her makeup starting to smear, and her clothes getting wetter, she couldn't think too much more on it.
"I-I-I" she continued to mutter.
Finally, she lost it. She began to whimper and could feel her eyes starting to water, mixing her tears with the soda. Whatever the reason this happened, this whole thing was so unpleasant she couldn't even control herself anymore.
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Frozen Smoke
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Faith couldn't help but shoot Abel a withering glance as he stood like the lemon he was whilst the catastrophe he was responsible for played out, Katrina apparently being the sort of person who couldn't handle life's misfortunes herself and going all teary eyed like she was in a UNICEF advert. Although, her problem was specifically the exact opposite of what those were normally about, being the dampest Katrina since the Hurricane. Still, she couldn't deny she felt bad for her. Getting shit dropped on you sucked. Getting shit dropped on you in public, where people could take pictures of it, when you put as much effort as Katrina did into making herself look good? Yeah. She got it.
She didn't like it, or respect it, but she got it.
She'd feel the same way if someone managed to accidentally destroy something she'd worked hard for as well. Especially when they cost enough that you might not be able to replace them. She wasn't sure of how well off Katrina was, but she didn't seem to dress with the same brands or makeup as Ivy, so she guessed she wasn't as rich as her. She winced as she looked at the once pristine white sweater that was looking like it would maybe survive a dark cream at best. It looked expensive.
As she reached the two of them, still looking like they were posing for a renaissance painting, and broke the spell by pushing in between the two of them, her back to Abel as she moved to comfort Katrina a little. She tried her best to put a polite smile on her face, the strain on it clear to all of them, as she tried to keep the scene from garnering any more attention.
"Hey, uh, Kat. Do you need a hand getting cleaned up?" She offered, as she looked around momentarily for the little girl's room that the two of them were sure to have to take refuge in momentarily, before catching Abel looking at her out of the corner of her eye and locking on to him. He wasn't exactly at fault here, but he also wasn't currently covered in Mello-Yello, so he needed to make himself busy containing that yellow peril before it ruined yet more of Katrina's stuff.
"Paper towels. Now." she ordered, trying to put a bit of authority in her voice as he looked back at her.
She didn't like it, or respect it, but she got it.
She'd feel the same way if someone managed to accidentally destroy something she'd worked hard for as well. Especially when they cost enough that you might not be able to replace them. She wasn't sure of how well off Katrina was, but she didn't seem to dress with the same brands or makeup as Ivy, so she guessed she wasn't as rich as her. She winced as she looked at the once pristine white sweater that was looking like it would maybe survive a dark cream at best. It looked expensive.
As she reached the two of them, still looking like they were posing for a renaissance painting, and broke the spell by pushing in between the two of them, her back to Abel as she moved to comfort Katrina a little. She tried her best to put a polite smile on her face, the strain on it clear to all of them, as she tried to keep the scene from garnering any more attention.
"Hey, uh, Kat. Do you need a hand getting cleaned up?" She offered, as she looked around momentarily for the little girl's room that the two of them were sure to have to take refuge in momentarily, before catching Abel looking at her out of the corner of her eye and locking on to him. He wasn't exactly at fault here, but he also wasn't currently covered in Mello-Yello, so he needed to make himself busy containing that yellow peril before it ruined yet more of Katrina's stuff.
"Paper towels. Now." she ordered, trying to put a bit of authority in her voice as he looked back at her.
Criticism or thoughts on my writing are welcome and appreciated - always looking to improve! Feel free to poke me on Discord or via PM.
Great job, Abel. You made a girl cry. And this time it actually was your fault unlike what happened in the 2nd grade.
He was ready to die. Right here. Right in the middle of the food court. Please, someone. Anyone. He could even pay in experience.
And then Faith came to the rescue. Her shove snapped him out of the trance as he looked around, seeing some middle schoolers taking photos and probably uploading it to Twitter as we spoke.
How much he wanted to flee, to just do a hit and run on his manslaughter victim. But he couldn't; it wasn't right. It wasn't right to Faith, and it wasn't right to the girl sitting at the table ("Kat"? It sounded familiar, but he'd have to get a better look at her that wasn't just her waterlogged back).
Faith locked eyes with him and commanded him to get paper towels. "Right... right," he nodded, already sprinting to one of the condiment counters. He gripped the napkin dispenser and pulled out one, then three, then six, then a countless amount of napkins, just an absolute whirlwind of as much paper as he could reasonably carry. It probably wasn't gonna help much, but he'd have to figure it out as they went.
By the time he rushed back, the girls already took their leave and headed someplace else. They were making a beeline straight for it—the girls' bathroom. Made sense. He rushed to join them before they stepped past the no-go zone for Abel.
He finally got a good look at her. Katrina. Didn't really know anything about her other than that she was on the dance team and had a YouTube channel he'd unintentionally stumbled on a couple of months ago. Her songs weren't really his kinda thing, but that was irrelevant right now.
"Here, I grabbed as many as I could," Abel dumped his napkin bundle into Faith's hands and took guard at the entrance hallway thingy.
He was ready to die. Right here. Right in the middle of the food court. Please, someone. Anyone. He could even pay in experience.
And then Faith came to the rescue. Her shove snapped him out of the trance as he looked around, seeing some middle schoolers taking photos and probably uploading it to Twitter as we spoke.
How much he wanted to flee, to just do a hit and run on his manslaughter victim. But he couldn't; it wasn't right. It wasn't right to Faith, and it wasn't right to the girl sitting at the table ("Kat"? It sounded familiar, but he'd have to get a better look at her that wasn't just her waterlogged back).
Faith locked eyes with him and commanded him to get paper towels. "Right... right," he nodded, already sprinting to one of the condiment counters. He gripped the napkin dispenser and pulled out one, then three, then six, then a countless amount of napkins, just an absolute whirlwind of as much paper as he could reasonably carry. It probably wasn't gonna help much, but he'd have to figure it out as they went.
By the time he rushed back, the girls already took their leave and headed someplace else. They were making a beeline straight for it—the girls' bathroom. Made sense. He rushed to join them before they stepped past the no-go zone for Abel.
He finally got a good look at her. Katrina. Didn't really know anything about her other than that she was on the dance team and had a YouTube channel he'd unintentionally stumbled on a couple of months ago. Her songs weren't really his kinda thing, but that was irrelevant right now.
"Here, I grabbed as many as I could," Abel dumped his napkin bundle into Faith's hands and took guard at the entrance hallway thingy.
"Y-y-yeah," Katrina said as she slowly got up out of her seat. "Lemme get my stuff too..."
Katrina grabbed her purse and her shopping bags and awkwardly walked with Faith to the bathroom. She kept her purse and bags held out at arm's length so no more soda would drip onto them. It was bad enough that her day was ruined, but the last thing she needed was to have to return merchandise to Sephora. They probably wouldn't take them back anyways.
Once she and Faith got to the bathroom, Katrina had finally gotten to see the exact horror show that was her appearance. The yellow soda had definitely soaked through the sweater dress, making a large, yellow stain all around her collar and splattered down her chest like a rejected Jackson Pollock. Her mascara was also streaking down her face, and even though she had her hair in a very tastefully done Ariana Grande-esque ponytail, it was now feeling matted and sticky on top of her head.
Katrina set her items on the sink edge and quickly turned it on. She took her tie out, letting her hair fall freely down her shoulder.
"I don't even...what happened?" she asked Faith.
Katrina grabbed her purse and her shopping bags and awkwardly walked with Faith to the bathroom. She kept her purse and bags held out at arm's length so no more soda would drip onto them. It was bad enough that her day was ruined, but the last thing she needed was to have to return merchandise to Sephora. They probably wouldn't take them back anyways.
Once she and Faith got to the bathroom, Katrina had finally gotten to see the exact horror show that was her appearance. The yellow soda had definitely soaked through the sweater dress, making a large, yellow stain all around her collar and splattered down her chest like a rejected Jackson Pollock. Her mascara was also streaking down her face, and even though she had her hair in a very tastefully done Ariana Grande-esque ponytail, it was now feeling matted and sticky on top of her head.
Katrina set her items on the sink edge and quickly turned it on. She took her tie out, letting her hair fall freely down her shoulder.
"I don't even...what happened?" she asked Faith.
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Frozen Smoke
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- Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 3:50 pm
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Faith gave Abel a nod and murmur of thanks, taking the napkins from him with one hand and clutching them close to herself with one hand as the other opened the door, letting Katrina inside before she followed. Katrina had walked the whole way with her arms outstretched, carrying her bags in front of her, looking as though George Romero had felt like he needed to redo Dawn of the Dead but with MORE symbolism this time. As those bags finally came to rest on the counter, their handles wilting out of reflection in the big, fingerprint smudged mirror that sat in front of them, Katrina seemed to finally begin to start processing everything again.
She shrugged at the question, however, not having much to help her. She hadn't seen it herself, and stopping to ask Abel for details hadn't seemed important, but he was pretty sure Abel wasn't about to throw his precious Mello Yello on a poor unsuspecting classmate.
Like, 98% sure.
Maybe he had an evil alter ego.
"Guessing Abel tripped or something." she explained, not paying much attention to it, as she pulled out a wad of napkins, intending to help soak up some of the liquid. Her smile shifted to the side as she tried to figure out where to start. The splash was kind of all over her chest, and it had already soaked into the fabric of her sweater dress. She wasn't really sure it was worth patting her down, and it was kind of weird to basically feel up a girl you didn't know, even if you were into that sort of thing. Which she wasn't. There was a moment of hesitation as she stood there, papers in hand, trying to figure out what to do next.
"Uh, can you like, take the sweater off? I think you might need to wash it out." she said, trying to sound like she knew what she was doing as her eyes flicked over to her matted, slowly congealing ponytail. "And probably your hair too."
She shrugged at the question, however, not having much to help her. She hadn't seen it herself, and stopping to ask Abel for details hadn't seemed important, but he was pretty sure Abel wasn't about to throw his precious Mello Yello on a poor unsuspecting classmate.
Like, 98% sure.
Maybe he had an evil alter ego.
"Guessing Abel tripped or something." she explained, not paying much attention to it, as she pulled out a wad of napkins, intending to help soak up some of the liquid. Her smile shifted to the side as she tried to figure out where to start. The splash was kind of all over her chest, and it had already soaked into the fabric of her sweater dress. She wasn't really sure it was worth patting her down, and it was kind of weird to basically feel up a girl you didn't know, even if you were into that sort of thing. Which she wasn't. There was a moment of hesitation as she stood there, papers in hand, trying to figure out what to do next.
"Uh, can you like, take the sweater off? I think you might need to wash it out." she said, trying to sound like she knew what she was doing as her eyes flicked over to her matted, slowly congealing ponytail. "And probably your hair too."
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And then it was just him.
Abel huffed and paced around the entrance to the women's restroom with arms crossed and heart pounding, his breathing finally starting to return to normal.
This sucked. At least Katrina didn't blow up in his face, but honestly that would've been better than watching a girl cry with the knowledge that you were the guy responsible. Well, partially responsible, but still. In any case, it was understandable however she felt. Abel would've cried too if he got shot with a blast of soda from a freak accident and had all of his clothes ruined with that gross sticky syrup residue stuck in his hair. At least Faith was here to help.
He started picking at his cheek again as he leaned back against the wall, his eyes staring at the tiled floor. He had to do something. He was supposed to do something. Something to show "Hey, I know I just splashed you with soda and ruined your face, but I'm not a bad guy. Honest!"
But he couldn't think of anything. He tapped his foot against the floor.
Damn it.
He took a look out at the food court area again. The middle school girls that were seated near the scene of the crime looked like they stopped staring and taking photos and went back to talking about shoes and boys or whatever.
The massacre remained untouched, with the trash left behind by Katrina and Abel slowly sucking up the yellow soda pool that remained. He could maybe start with that to not be a dick to the janitor along with making sure Katrina and Faith got everything since this was probably gonna be a while.
He shot Faith a quick text to tell him if they needed something, and he retraced his steps back to the tables at the food court. Hopefully after cleaning up for a bit things would calm down and Katrina would not be feeling particularly bloodthirsty.
((Abel Zelenovic continued in Dare You Enter My Magical Realm?))
Abel huffed and paced around the entrance to the women's restroom with arms crossed and heart pounding, his breathing finally starting to return to normal.
This sucked. At least Katrina didn't blow up in his face, but honestly that would've been better than watching a girl cry with the knowledge that you were the guy responsible. Well, partially responsible, but still. In any case, it was understandable however she felt. Abel would've cried too if he got shot with a blast of soda from a freak accident and had all of his clothes ruined with that gross sticky syrup residue stuck in his hair. At least Faith was here to help.
He started picking at his cheek again as he leaned back against the wall, his eyes staring at the tiled floor. He had to do something. He was supposed to do something. Something to show "Hey, I know I just splashed you with soda and ruined your face, but I'm not a bad guy. Honest!"
But he couldn't think of anything. He tapped his foot against the floor.
Damn it.
He took a look out at the food court area again. The middle school girls that were seated near the scene of the crime looked like they stopped staring and taking photos and went back to talking about shoes and boys or whatever.
The massacre remained untouched, with the trash left behind by Katrina and Abel slowly sucking up the yellow soda pool that remained. He could maybe start with that to not be a dick to the janitor along with making sure Katrina and Faith got everything since this was probably gonna be a while.
He shot Faith a quick text to tell him if they needed something, and he retraced his steps back to the tables at the food court. Hopefully after cleaning up for a bit things would calm down and Katrina would not be feeling particularly bloodthirsty.
((Abel Zelenovic continued in Dare You Enter My Magical Realm?))