OK, first things first. No offense with the title, it just fits.
I hope you like this chapter and I hope you think that it is a little better than the last one. (sorry)
I hope it's a little better at least.
I mean, it's still not the best.
Just read.
The next one will be back to normal.
Review for a preview.
No Matter What They Say
Chapter 36: Guys Are Stupid
"Xi! Run! We've got um!" Hiroki aka Rikuji yelled at Johnny. They had been playing laser tag for the last few hours and they had just cornered a group of Gorghees. They lasered them all, and then turned and ran away. They went to a check point afterwards and closed the door behind them. Hiroki looked around for some instructions. After finding them, he typed his name into the keypad and watched as the screen poured out his information. He had received thousands of points already and had been promoted to a 1st Croj. "Your turn, Johnny."
Johnny stepped foreword and typed in his name. Then, the screen poured out his information. Both Johnny's and Hiroki's eyes widened as they saw Johnny's score move higher and higher and his rank go up. He was no longer a Jr. Croj. He wasn't even a 1st or 2nd Croj which were the next to levels in rank. He skipped them both and had been promoted to Crojean 1.
"Johnny, how'd you do it?" Hiroki asked surprised at his score. "I thought I was doing well."
"I guess that one of the guys I shot much have been a high rank. I don't know." Hiroki and Johnny both shrugged and headed out of the booth. They took a quick glance around and ran off to find some more Gorghees.
-m-
"Ulrich! Run!" Odd shouted as he ran faster away from the Gorghees that were chasing him.
"My name's Yurji!" Ulrich shouted back, but kept running.
"Whatever! Just run faster!"
The lasers of the Gorghees chasing them kept coming, but kept missing their mark. Ulrich and Odd quickly turned a sharp right and ran strait into two boys and knocked them over. The Gorghees lasered all of the boys while they were at a disadvantage and then quickly ran off.
"What was that for?" a black haired boy called, trying to get back up from the floor. "You made us loose points. Why didn't you watch where you were going? What are you a Jr. Croj?" he asked and finally got up from the floor along with his friend.
"Yeah," Ulrich replied embarrassedly. "Sorry, I didn't see you…. Hiroki!"
Hiroki looked at him and Ulrich looked back. "Ulrich? Oh, it is you! Sorry for that. Here, let's get out of range! We'll talk once we get there. Hurry, follow me, and don't get followed." Hiroki took off quickly with Johnny at his side. Odd and Ulrich shrugged and followed quickly as not to get left behind. They took a jumble of turns; so many that neither Ulrich nor Odd could have possibly remembered the way. They arrived at a normal looking brown pillar at the edge of a forest-type area. Hiroki pointed his gun on a small dot in the pillar, and knocked twice on the right side of where he placed his gun. Then, suddenly the pillar opened. Hiroki walked in and Johnny motioned for them to follow. Ulrich and Odd looked behind them to make sure no one was watching and then followed Johnny in. Once they were inside, Hiroki closed the door and relaxed.
"Ok, take a seat," Johnny said motioning toward rocky jut outs in the sides of the small enclosed area. There was only a small orange light illuminating the room for them to see by, but it was enough. Ulrich and the others all took a seat.
"So, when'd you guys get here?" Johnny asked.
"Oh, I don't know," Odd shrugged. I guess maybe an hour or so ago. "When did you get here?"
"Around the same time. So, how are you doing in the game?" Hiroki asked.
"Well, the last time I checked I had a little over two thousand points, and I was a 1st Croj," Odd said and smirked. "But, Ulrich, here, isn't doing as good."
"Shut up, Odd. I'm a little over a thousand and I'm a Jr. Croj, but that doesn't mean anything. I mean it's not like you guys are any farther, right?" Ulrich asked looking from Hiroki to Johnny.
Johnny took a glance at Hiroki and Hiroki smiled. "I'm a 1st Croj, and I think I've got like 3,000 points or something," Hiroki said and shrugged. "I guess you don't move up rank until a larger amount of points. As soon as you reach 2,000 you become a 1st Croj."
"Well," Johnny started. "I'm a Crojean 1. Yup. I've skipped both 1st Croj and 2nd Croj."
"How many points do you have?" Odd asked looking shocked. "I mean, I think it was hard just getting this far."
Johnny nodded. "I guess I'm just good. I have a little over 11,000 points. I must have gotten some upper rank guy in order to get that many points, but who knows what I have now that I just got shot again."
"Yeah, sorry about that," Ulrich said and rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
"It's alright," Johnny said and smiled. "Now, you ready to go back out? We can be allies"
Ulrich and Odd nodded, and Hiroki started to work on unlocking the door. "How'd you stumble on this place anyway?"
"Oh, luck. I was trying to scope out this area and I tripped and landed perfectly with my gun on that dot and I just happened to hit the pillar twice, and it opened. So, we went inside. I don't think anyone knows about it. So, keep it that way." Ulrich and Odd nodded, and Hiroki opened the door.
-m-
Yumi and Aelita sat down on the side, watching the other people skate on the rink while they continued to eat a pretzel. They had gotten hungry and stopped for a snack break. They each had grabbed a pretzel from the refreshment counter. "This was a great idea," Aelita said and smiled.
"What? The ice skating or the pretzels?"
Aelita and Yumi both laughed. "Both," she said and took another bite. "I'm glad we came."
"Me too. We should do this more often."
"What? Ice skate or hang out together?" Aelita asked and smiled.
"Either. Both. I don't care. Whatever is fine with me. I just thought today has turned out really well." Yumi smiled and Aelita nodded in agreement.
"What do you think Ulrich and Odd are doing right now?" Aelita asked.
Yumi rolled her eyes. "Can't stop thinking about them, huh?"
"No. It's just…well, I just thought that they were probably doing something really boring and that maybe we should join them for a while. After all, we have been skating for a while now, and I don't know how much longer my ankles are going to take it."
Yumi laughed and Aelita couldn't help but laugh as well. "Fine. Whatever. Let's call them." Yumi pulled out her phone and pressed her speed dial for Ulrich's number. Aelita smiled and turned to wait for Ulrich to pick up.
-m-
Ulrich, Odd, and Hiroki were running after a Gorghee, shooting at him, but missing. They were trying to lead him toward where Johnny was hiding a little ways away. They turned the corner after him, and immediately Johnny jumped out and got him in the chest. His lights flashed, and he ran away quickly. They high-fived each other, but Odd saw three Gorghees coming there way, and they quickly had to get a move on again because there was no time for a celebration.
"Ahh!" Ulrich shouted.
"What happened?" Odd asked quickly as they all ran to find cover from the two boys and one girl Gorghee that were following them. "Did they hit you? Did you hit something? Are you injured?"
"No. No. It's nothing. My phone is just vibrating!"
"Well, this is no time to get a phone call!" Hiroki shouted back at him.
"I know. I know, but I've got to answer it. It could be my parents."
"Why would they call you?" Odd asked. "They only call when they get a call from the principal."
"Yeah, but still. I've got to check," Ulrich muttered and fumbled through his pocket for his phone, as he continued to run. He finally pulled his phone out, and Yumi's name and picture was flashing on his screen. "It's Yumi!"
"Can't she wait?" Odd asked.
"Just call her back!" Hiroki shouted and they all turned another corner. Johnny and Hiroki looked quickly back and fired a few shots from their lasers. Hiroki was lucky enough to actually hit one of them.
Ulrich contemplated for a moment before he put his phone back into his pocket and continued to run.
-m-
"He's not answering," Yumi stated and hung up. "I got his voicemail." Aelita shrugged. "What could he be doing that's so important that he won't answer my call? I mean it's not off. He just ignored it."
"I don't know, but he's bound to be with Odd. Just call him, and see if Ulrich just couldn't hear his phone."
Yumi nodded and quickly called Odd's number.
-m-
"I'll call her back when I get a chance!" Ulrich said and they turned another corner.
"That's good. We just have to get into that forest up there and I think we'll be able to loose them!" Johnny shouted and pointed ahead to what seemed to be a bunch of plastic trees all in one area.
"Good idea," Hiroki said and smiled. They still had a ways to go.
"What's that sound?" Ulrich asked and looked around.
Hiroki looked around as well, but kept running. "It's like a Japanese song coming from somewhere. It sounds like something you'd hear on DDR. Maybe there's one of them around."
"No. It's coming from Odd," Ulrich stated, and Odd looked at him strangely.
"Oh! That's Yumi!"
"What! Yumi would never listen to that junk!" Ulrich said and glared at him.
"No! It's my ringtone for Yumi!"
"You gave Yumi a Japanese ringtone!" Ulrich, Hiroki, and Johnny asked at the same time.
"Don't kill me. I just thought it'd suit her."
"That's so racist, Odd!" Ulrich shouted at him. Odd shrugged. "Well, aren't you going to answer?"
"You didn't."
"Well, if she's calling back, then she must want something." Odd shrugged again.
"I'll call her once we loose these guys," Odd stated. They all shook their heads, but continued on following Odd and his J-pop ringtone for Yumi.
-m-
"Odd's not picking up either. What could they be doing?" Yumi asked.
Aelita shrugged. "I'll try calling him. Maybe, he'll pick up this time." Yumi shrugged, but just waited as Aelita dialed the number.
-m-
The music stopped, and they all reached the entrance. Each dodged around trees and eventually lost them. They quickly met back up on the other side of the trees. "We lost um," Odd stated.
"Good. Now, I can call Yumi back," Ulrich said and reached for his phone.
"Not quite!" Johnny said and pointed to two of them that were coming out after them with their lasers blasting toward them. "You'll have to wait a little longer. Let's go!" They quickly ran away trying to dodge the lasers at the same time.
"What's that song, now?" Ulrich asked and looked immediately at Odd. "Is that a remix? What is that pop junk? Britney Spears?"
Odd looked shocked. "Ohhhh…." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Yeah. That's Aelita. She must be calling me now because we didn't answer the calls from Yumi."
"So you gave her a Britney song? Is that Toxic?" Hiroki asked and he and Ulrich laughed.
"No! Well, it's a Britney and Gwen Stefani remix." They looked at him like he was insane. "What?"
"That makes you think of Aelita?" Ulrich asked. "That sounds nothing like her."
"Shut up! It did when I first got it, ok? I thought it would be bubbly like her. Oh, I don't know…. I guess it doesn't sound too much like her, but I don't care!" Odd shouted defensively. "Should I answer it?"
"No time," Johnny said and motioned for them to turn ahead.
-m-
"He's not answering," Aelita said and looked at Yumi and shrugged. "I guess they must just be busy. Let's skate just a little while longer and we'll try back." Yumi nodded in agreement and they both headed back out to skate a little while longer.
-m-
Milly and Tamiya changed quickly. Tamiya was gloating the whole time because she got to their room first. As soon as they got changed into their swimsuits, they headed down to the pool.
"You only won because I let you," Milly said and smiled. They both laughed.
"Yeah, right. I beat you easily." Milly rolled her eyes and Tamiya laughed.
"Whatever. It doesn't mean anything." They both laughed together and quickly walked toward the pool.
They arrived soon, and both grabbed a lawn chair on the platform by the lazy river. They placed down their towels, flip-flops, cell phones, and hid their money under Tamiya's towel and then headed to grab a tube to get into the lazy river.
"This is great, Milly. No one to bother us. No one to bug us to clean up or do our homework. Just me and you and these inner tubes. How much better can it get?" Tamiya asked and smiled, laying herself out on a tube. Milly smiled and nodded. "I mean sure I don't want to lie here forever, but this just feels nice right now, you know?"
"Yeah. I know what you mean. The water just feels really good, and I don't have to have a care in the world. I don't have to think about anything or anyone. I can just lay here and… relax." Milly sighed deeply and stretched her arms out.
They both leaned back and relaxed, just letting the current carry them around the area. Each of them didn't talk or hardly move for a while until they both actually fell asleep.
-m-
"Um, hey. You guys. Come on already," someone said and shook Milly's shoulder. "Hey, it's time for my break, and I can't have you floating around in the river."
Milly looked up and saw a teen boy with a short brown Mohawk standing in front of her. She pushed Tamiya and she woke up too. They both stared at him and didn't move. He rolled his eyes and expelled a deep breath. "Get out of the river. It's time for my break."
"Sorry," Milly said, and they rushed to get out. He looked as if she was the most annoying person he'd ever seen before.
"Gosh. People these days," Ayden said and rolled his eyes again. "I don't get paid to watch babies take naps on my break." Ian laughed and nodded.
Milly fumed and glared over at Ayden. "It's alright, Milly. He's just being stupid. All guys get that way eventually. Come on. Let's go get some drinks or something. Aren't you thirsty?" Milly continued to glare, but Tamiya was able to drag her away before she did anything too hasty.
"Yeah, sure," she mumbled and they headed over to grab some money and get a drink. They walked down the stairs to the snack bar and waited in line behind a few other people who were taking advantage of the break to get snacks and drinks themselves. "I just don't get it, Tamiya."
"Oh, Milly, just leave it," she said and sighed. "Just drop it."
"But, why? Why are we always considered babies?" Tamiya rolled her eyes as if to say here we go again. "I mean really. I'm 12. I'm not 7 or 8. I've got a boyfriend. I mean, well, we're not babies, Tamiya."
"Yeah, don't you think I know that?"
"Exactly! So, why does everyone insist on saying we are?"
"I don't know. It's probably just because they're older than us. He looked like 17 already. We're five years younger than him, so we look like babies. Does it really matter? I mean, it's not like we're ever going to want to hang out with that jerk anyway."
"That's not the point!" Milly insisted.
"So. Get over it, Milly," Tamiya continued. "Besides, we're at the front of the line. Just order a drink and we'll go back and talk or something. Just don't think about him, and have fun. We're supposed to be relaxing."
Milly sighed and nodded. "Fine. We'll order some drinks and then we'll just relax." She turned toward the lifeguard behind the drink stand and ordered a peach and lime sweeper, which was just sprite, peach juice, and a hint of lime, but sounded cool. That was the only reason she even got it. Tamiya shrugged and ordered a coke.
-m-
They finally lost them for good. That was when Ulrich pulled out his cell. "I'm going to call Yumi. Keep watch. Tell me if we have to go." Everyone nodded and started to keep watch. Yumi's phone rang three times before she answered. "Yumi? You called me?"
"Yeah. I did. Thanks for calling back. You're a little late though. What have you been doing this whole time?"
"Um…Odd and I have been over in the arcade."
"They have an arcade here? Whatever. Wait have you been playing video games this whole time. Is that why you haven't answered your phone? Are you afraid you'd lose?"
"No. No. That's not it. Well, not really. You see we've been playing laser tag, and you see we-."
"Ohhhh. Laser tag. That's so much better. You've been playing it for three hours? Are you ever going to stop?"
Ulrich was at a loss for words. He just stuttered and mumbled something into his phone.
"So? Are you?"
"Well, you see it's a huge game. I don't want to disappoint my team. Besides we met up with Hiroki and Johnny. Anyway, I didn't know you'd care. I thought you wouldn't mind. Why do you even care?"
"I don't. Wait…my brother? Whatever. It's just I don't appreciate it when you don't answer my calls. That goes for Odd too. Anyway…I guess you guys can continue your game or whatever. I'll talk to you later." Yumi sighed and was about to hang up.
"Wait! Yumi!"
"What?"
"Do you want to meet up or something? We can hang out tonight if you want."
"No. It's fine. Just go play your game. I'm sure it's more important."
"Yumi! How about I meet you for dinner? We'll all meet up at the Chinese buffet. Then, we can talk and hang out together, ok?" Ulrich suggested.
"Ulrich! Someone's coming," Odd said and motioned toward a teen girl in green armor.
"Just take her out," Ulrich muttered to Odd.
"Whatever. I see you're way into your game. I'll just leave you to it. I mean, I shouldn't have bothered you in the first place. I mean, we're going to go skiing together tomorrow anyway. I just shouldn't have bothered you. Just have fun."
"Yumi! No. I'll meet you for dinner. Odd and I will. You and Aelita just show up around 7, and we'll all have dinner. Okay?"
"Ulrich!" Odd shouted at him. "She's got company." The teen girl now had a group of six other girls with her and they all raised their lasers at once to aim toward them. "We need to go."
"Whatever. Just go. You're busy."
"No, Yumi. Promise me you'll come to dinner."
"Ulrich…we need to go now," Odd urged.
"Just play your game."
"Promise me you'll come."
"Fine. We'll both come to dinner. We'll see you around 7."
"Thanks," Ulrich said and smiled. "We'll see you then." The girls started to come closer. "Bye, Yumi."
"Bye."
"Enough with the goodbyes already!" Hiroki shouted. "We're dead!" Both groups of people started shooting at the other group at the same time. Johnny did well enough to get two of the girls, both of the long blonde-haired ones. They both ran as soon as they got hit. Hiroki was hit next by some girl with magenta streaks in her brown hair. He turned and fled as well. Odd was able to get a short brunette. Johnny also got another young looking blonde. Both teams dodged in and out of trees and barriers. Ulrich got hit on the shoulder by the same magenta-haired girl who smirked as he fled the scene. It was then two against two. Odd and Johnny vs. the magenta-haired girl and a curly red head who was just lucky she hadn't got hit yet. Odd shot at her quickly and got her, but was soon hit by none other than the only girl with good aim. Johnny stood and faced her. She was a good half-head taller than him, but he tried not to let that bother him. They both shot their lasers at the same time, but Johnny barely got out of the way in time. The magenta-haired girl looked down at her chest light which flashed. Johnny smirked and she ran off to find the rest of her 'gang'.
"Great shot, Johnny!" Odd called as he came out after they had all gone. "Let's go check our stats." They all nodded in agreement and headed off to a checkpoint.
-m-
"We're going to a Chinese buffet with Odd and Ulrich tonight at seven," Yumi said as she hung up. "They've been playing laser tag the whole day, and Ulrich thinks Chinese food will make me happy. I'm not even Chinese!"
Aelita laughed. "It's alright, Yumi. Guys are stupid." Yumi smiled and nodded, and they both continued to skate.
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