Rising Shards

There wasn’t a grand plan in place for Lillia and Ko’s date. Lillia spent a great amount of time agonizing over that absence of a big plan. After hearing what Oka had scheduled for her date, Lillia decided something simple and safe would be best for this. So the two met in the cafeteria, got their coats on, and walked around the school grounds as snow fell peacefully around them.

“You look gorgeous today,” Ko grinned.

“I…see.” Lillia said. “Apologies, I’m…not used to hearing it. And apologies if I am rattled.”

“You look fine to me,” Ko said. “You look great.”

Lillia blushed at how easily Ko doled out compliments. “It’s just…I’ve never had a date before. And when I’m inexperienced in something, I fear I won’t handle it well. I did my best to study dating tactics, but apologies if my research doesn’t aid me well.”

“Trust me, I’ve been on plenty of first dates, you’re doing fine.” Ko said. “You showed up, that’s half the battle.”

Lillia felt a twinge of jealousy that others had first dates with Ko before Lillia could.

“Since you have experience,” Lillia said. “What is your usual procedure for a first date?”

“Procedure, huh? I usually…” Ko thought it over. Then some more, blatantly calculating how well she thought Lillia would take what she was about to say. “We just like go somewhere cool, talk for a bit, I say how good looking they are a bunch, then we go make out.”

That earned a glare that Ko had clearly braced herself for. While the idea of making out with Ko was thrilling, Lillia didn’t want to be treated like the other girls Ko had been with.

“I will not be giving you a kiss that easily, unfortunately.” Lillia said.

“Awww. Bummer.” Ko said. “Maybe someday?”

“Perhaps.” Lillia said. “Think of it as a challenge. To replace the competition with others outside of ourselves aspect.”

“Hmmm,” Ko said. “Like I gotta really win that kiss, huh?” She nodded. “I dig that.”

Lillia read in her studies on dating (a mix of print books and websites were the basis of her research) that linking arms with a partner could be a suitable romantic moment. Because of that, she reached her arms toward Ko’s elbow. Her date had her hands in her pockets, so she opened her arm a bit like a wing to allow for Lillia to loop her own arm through more easily.

“Hey there,” Ko said.

“G-greetings,” Lillia said, finding she greatly liked feeling Ko’s strong arm once more.

“You’re so frickin’ cute when you’re flustered, you know?” Ko asked.

Lillia blushed harder.

“The next thing…” Lillia said. “I was told small talk can be a good way for dates to go successfully.”

“Pfft, I think?” Ko said. “I’d rather just talk talk.”

“Right,” Lillia said, unsure if Ko understood what she meant. “I’d like to know more about you.”

“O-oh.” Ko said.

“I like when you’re flustered, too.” Lillia said.

“What do you wanna know about me?” Ko asked. “I’m a pretty open book, I think.”

“Do you have a favorite book?” Lillia asked. “Since you said open book, that…gave me the idea. Apologies if that’s a strange question.”

“No, that’s normal? I think? I uh,” Ko said. “I don’t read a whole lot. I do love Hado Diconius, though. Do comics count?”

“I think they count.” Lillia said. She had only read a volume of Hado Diconius and found it a bit…blunt. The ultra-violent saga was massively popular though, and while it wasn’t greatly attuned to Lillia’s taste, it was gripping. “Are you…excited for the movie adaptation?”

“Oh hell yeah,” Ko said. “Did Kalei tell you we were all at the convention? We saw the writer guy for a second!”

“That’s amazing.” Lillia said.

“How about you?” Ko asked. “Oh, uh…” She looked bashful as she reached into her backpack. “This is kinda dumb but…” She handed Lillia a paper bag.

Lillia had to let go of Ko’s arm, which was unfortunate, but Ko got her a gift, which was unexpected and fantastic. She opened to find…

“A math textbook?” Lillia asked. It wasn’t from the school, and it was relatively old, and had a bunch of price tag stickers on it that seemed to gradually go down in price.

“Yeah!” Ko said. “I was at this old bookstore because Kai wanted this sports bio and I thought of you when I saw that because like, you’re really good at school and junk.”

Lillia immediately hugged the book to herself. “I will cherish this. Thank you.” As Ko proudly snickered, Lillia searched her purse. “I got you a gift as well.”

“For real?”

“Yes…I…” Lillia frowned.

“What’s wrong?” Ko asked.

“I seem to have forgotten it, somehow.” Lillia said. She rubbed her temples. “I’m so disappointed in myself. I had a checklist and everything.”

“Aw, don’t be mad.” Ko said. “We’re on campus, we can swing by your room to get it?”

“Assuming I left it there…” Lillia said. She stopped and put her hands on her hips. “Did you just invite yourself to my room? I don’t remember that being part of our plans tonight.”

“Guilty,” Ko said.

Lillia mulled over having Ko in her room for about .0003 seconds before agreeing. With the gifted textbook in one hand, Lillia linked her other around Ko’s elbow again as the two headed towards the girls’ dorm.

* * *

I’m the biggest moron if I can’t even find her, Kalei thought to herself as she wandered around the restaurant. It wasn’t even a big place. There was a band setting up on a tiny stage, some tables and booths behind them. The other side was just a bar and more tables and booths. Kalei did three passes around, including one really awkward one where she made eye contact with like five people before she had to admit Nikki wasn’t seated yet. She sent a quick text, hoping she was just early or something. About fifteen minutes passed, and the soda Kalei ordered wasn’t sitting well in her stomach with the worming anxiety from this. She sent another text, then a few after in quick succession, as she just wanted to make sure Nikki was alright. After the fifth text, Kalei’s phone rang. She dashed outside so she’d be able to hear the call.

“Nikki, hey!” Kalei said. “I’m here at the, the place or whatever, heh. Everything good with you?”

The immediate sigh on the other end was not reassuring. “Hey, dude, I’m so sorry. I’m such an idiot.”

“No, you’re not…” Kalei said. “So I uh, is everything good? I…already said that.”

“I totally forgot the concert was tonight, ugh,” Nikki said.

She…just forgot?

 “Oh, ha, as long as you’re good…” Kalei said. “I don’t think the band’s started yet if you still want to head over? I’d give you a ride but…”

Please, do NOT say ‘my mom drove me’ to freaking Nikki.

“The problem is…” Nikki said. “I forgot the concert was going on and then…plans came up.”

“Oh.” Kalei said, unable to hide the disappointment in her voice.

“I’m really sorry dude,” Nikki said. “Like I said, real idiot here.”

Kalei didn’t want to answer with ‘yeah’ and call Nikki an idiot. But getting accidentally stood up like this still stung.

“Sorry again,” Nikki said. “Totally understand if you’re pissed right now. But like, you get it.”

“Huh?” Kalei asked.

“You told me you’re a lesbian, so…”

“What are you…saying?” Kalei asked. Is she gonna ask me out for real? I don’t care if tonight doesn’t happen if she’s still interested, like that’s still awesome right? There had been times after tough beam chasers losses at her old school where she felt similarly disheartened. Kalei’s coach at the time would make her feel better by saying that even in a loss, you could gain something from it. Even just perfecting a skill you wouldn’t have otherwise can lead to a bigger win down the line, even if the game was lost. Maybe I can get a win out of this.

Despite her optimism, what Nikki said next felt like losing every beam chasers game for three seasons in a row.

“Well, my girlfriend wanted to hang, so,” Nikki said. “The girlfriend takes priority, y’know?”