True Harmony

Chapter 36

To this day I still have no idea how news travels so quickly in the school. As soon as Miku and I got through the hallway to advance our days, essentially every person we passed were fully aware of the challenge tonight. Hell, I eventually found out that Rick, Allen, Levi, and the rest of the gang found out within minutes of the class ending. How did I learn this? Allen was in my next period, and we were able to cross paths on the way there. He filled us in with all that occurred, but he conveniently left out the reason that he found out in the first place. My guess is it was a mass text that got sent out, but I still am honestly clueless. Maybe I need more phone numbers?

Time sort of inched along for the rest of the day, but this made sense, since essentially everyone waited with baited breath for the big event. Well, this would really be the case, anyway, but barely anybody showed up for the show! We all arrived at the track stadium and the bleachers were completely empty. The only ones who actually showed up were Rick, Allen, and Levi. I mean I think I saw a few other people in the mix, but I didn't really know them.

"Sketch, where is everyone?" I asked, feeling rather disappointed. "I thought you told a bunch of people about this whole thing, didn't you?"

"Of course I did. I even got a bunch of people saying they'd come. I don't know what happened."

"Did most of them seem genuine with their RSVP?" I asked. "Did they really seem disinterested and didn't really want to show up? I think that might be the case."

"Maybe once they heard it was just a race and not a big fight, they probably skipped out." Miku suggested. "I mean, I sort of expected you guys to fight and not run a race. Why is that?"

"Well... the school really began to crack down on fights on campus, so we have to find different means of settling disputes." I answered. Miku didn't really seem convinced.

"You mean to tell me that a school has more security than a shopping mall that really should have way more money than the school? That doesn't make any sense!" I understood her claim. I'm convinced the school had a gigantic fundraiser, but that's not the point of this chapter, is it?

Sketch and I went up to the starting line for the beginning of our little challenge. We assumed starting positions and prepped our powerful propulsion past the players down the path.

"Hope your ready for this, bud. This is more my turf." I shot at him. A little trash talk never hurts, you know.

"I sprint all the time, dude. You have no idea what you just got yourself into." Sketch retorted. Clearly he's done his fair share of smack talking as well. I should have guessed. He plays high school basketball. I'll leave that to your imagination.

"Hold it!" I heard Rick shout as he dashed towards us. "Don't you need an official to call this race?" It was a good idea, so we allowed Rick to start the race and a finish line was set up right behind us. Clearly everyone wanted a fair race, including me. Even with that basketball game I could have easily mopped the floor with Sketch with my powers, but what would that prove? Rick raised his hand to begin his signal.

"On your mark!"

"Get set!" And he threw his arm down to signal that it was time to...

"GO!" And Sketch and I rocketed down the track. I took an early lead down the first straightaway, but it didn't shock me when my opponent passed me on the first turn. Neither one of us was going to give up this race to anyone, and this became quite the close one. Down the second turn into the second straightaway, we were essentially neck and neck, but I could see Sketch become fatigued. Normally I got winded during a sprint like this. I wasn't sure why during a race he would suddenly get tired. However, I sensed something. Something percolating inside his head as we approached the third turn. I soon began to gain a slow lead, and Sketch was becoming more and more frustrated. I could hear him growling in anger near me.

And it all disappeared in the blink of an eye, in the worst way possible. He approached me as we got out of the third turn and suddenly, the wind was knocked right out of me and an old pain was revitalized. Out of desperation, I assume, Sketch reared back without my noticing, and slammed his rock hard fist right into my gut. Normally that wouldn't hurt too much, but it had me on the ground practically writhing in pain. Within seconds I heard him cross the finish line and I heard him cheering up a storm for himself. The meager crowd we had, however, was silent. It felt like all eyes were on me, and it was one of the most embarrassing things to happen today. I could take getting mortally wounded and eventually walk again, but a simple punch in the stomach? Why? How?

"GC!" I heard two voices call out in fear and concern. They belonged to Miku and Rick, who both ran over to help me. The oddest thing though, is that even though Rick was closer to the action, Miku arrived at my side first. Either she's faster than I thought or something might have happened differently. Hey, I can't be all omniscient whenever I want, so I don't really get why either.

"GC! Are you alright? Does it still hurt?" Miku asked me quickly. I heard fear in her voice. I then saw and felt her help me up, and when I tried walking on my own, I still felt kind of shaky, so both she and Rick had to keep me upright.

"Come on, you asshole!" Sketch called out suddenly. "There's no way that actually hurt you! You're just bullshitting here so it would seem like I cheated!"

"You did cheat, dickface!" Rick yelled at him. "This race was supposed to be fair and square, and you didn't need to hit him like that!"

"Especially not there!" Miku added. "He's still recovering from his huge fight on Saturday! I know that it would hurt when you'd hit him in his stomach, since he was punched there a lot more that day!"

"Is that a fact?" Sketch raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Prove it, then."

"Fine, you want proof that you fucked up?" I barged into the argument. I then lifted my shirt enough to see my abdominal area, and sure enough, there was a giant black and blue bruise right where he attacked me, the welt slightly swollen where the attack made it's impact. I heard basically everyone react the same way, with a "Ssss, oooh..." or something like that.

"B-but how? When did...?" Sketch was stunned. I don't think I ever saw him so flustered.

"I was playing fair, you know, holding back my strength that would have easily smoked you like a bad cigar." I continued. "Even when we were shooting hoops earlier, all I wanted was a fair challenge."

"Yeah, whatever..." Sketch was just about done with all of it. "I'm out of here. I showed you all that he isn't the best thing out there!"

"Just go, you ass!" Rick demanded, but Sketch turned to Miku, hoping to stir the pot a little more.

"You see that? He isn't as great as he says he is! You could've had anyone in this school, and you went with that loser?" I felt Miku's grip tense up on my shoulder. "I knew you weren't worth my time, but you ain't worth ANYONE'S time if you decided on that wannabe bitch!" She began shaking and her body began to heat up, and I even saw her reaching for her leek to knock some sense into him.

"Miku..." I said softly. She looked at me and I just shook my head. "It's okay... He isn't worth it..." We all watched as he walked away, the rest of the crowd booing and hissing as he left. Allen and Levi came up to see what happened. Well, they would've been able to see more if Miku wasn't hugging me so tightly.

"Oh, GC! I can't believe he did that to you!" She said, practically crying. Wow, I never would have thought...

"I know, seriously!" Allen said to the group. "I mean, I ain't your biggest fan, GC, but I respect you enough for a fair fight!"

"Same here, bro!" Levi added. "That was just wrong! What gives that bastard the right?"

"I'll say it's his overinflated ego." I suggested. "That bastard didn't want to see some 'lowlife' such as myself desecrate his pride." I felt Miku's hug tighten more. "Ah, geez it's alright Miku. I'm fine."

"No, you're still hurt, and I just..." I never thought she's get so torn up about this. "I hate seeing you get hurt, and seeing you on the ground like that just... I..." I saw tears welling up in her eyes, and I could do nothing more than just hold her close to me. All she did was hug me tightly and kissed my cheeks a few times.

"And I thought you were the overprotective one here, GC." Allen chuckled. "It's like a mother getting her child back from a burning building or something." Again with that comparison. Something's wrong with either these people, or just me.

"Well, I mean..." I went red in the face. "You should've seen her after our fight at the mall last weekend." I only assumed she was worrying herself sick, since she ended up carrying me back to the neighborhood. I don't even know why she gets this way, to be honest. Perhaps out of guilt and fear from events a few weeks prior?

"Must be great having someone like that, huh?" Levi asked. I shot him a look and he thought more rapidly. "I mean with how much she cares and all that." He revised his statement.

"Uh..." My face went red again.

"Hey, come on, buddy." Allen egged me on. "We're all friends here. Just say something, dude. What's so good about your girlfriend, GC?"

"Huh?" I heard this question before. I didn't have an answer back then that would satisfy anyone. However... "You guys want to know what I think of Miku?" I didn't know why at all, but somehow, I didn't care.

"YES!" The three said in unison. I asked Miku to let me go for a bit so I can talk freely. Kinda makes it hard to think straight.

"Hoo boy, one of the toughest questions to ask someone..." I began. "Well... I have a really hard time putting these feelings into words...but I think I can work something out." I took a deep breath and emptied my heart. "She's...my everything. I can't think of a better way to put it. She's everything that's amazing in a girl. Smart, fun to be around, funny, and the most beautiful girl I ever laid my eyes on. I'm serious." The guys were surprised how deep I was going, and I saw Miku turn progressively redder. "I know a lot of girls, but... not one of them makes me feel the way she does just by her smile. She could melt anyone's heart with that face, and nothing compares to losing yourself in her sparkling eyes." My friends were holding strong, probably because they wanted to hear something like this in the first place. They asked, I'm going all out for the answer, you see. I saw Miku continue to turn red and her eyes were glittering with every word I said. "I mean, when we first met, I was awestruck because I'm a huge fan of her work, and now look where I am, being able to say that I'm dating such a beautiful girl, not that I'm dating a famous pop star. I just like her for...her, I guess."

"Okay, could you sum her up in one word?" Levi asked me. These guys were getting into what I was saying. I wasn't about to complain, but something felt off.

"I don't think I can, dude. No one word in the English language could possibly do a girl like her justice... But, for now, could I use two words?" Levi and the others nodded. Miku was stunned by what I've been saying, and she awaited my words. I took a deep breath.

"Absolute perfection." was what escaped my lips.

"W-wow...really?" Levi asked me, and I nodded.

"I never would have guessed you felt this strongly about her..." Allen said with a surprised look

"Well, when you have feelings this strong for a girl..." Rick began. "your heart knows what it is you want to say, right?"

"Mmm hmm." I agreed, and then I looked at Miku, who was practically stunned by my choice of words. "That's about the size of it, by the way. I could have said more, but I would just be rambling at that point. So, uh, what did you think, Miku?" I asked her. Her next move was something I didn't expect. She approached me, still beet red and she could barely look at me.

"You, come with me, NOW!" She grabbed me by my collar with this command and once she released, she grabbed my hand and led me away rather forcefully.

"O-okay! I guess I'll see you guys later." I said as I was being dragged back to the school. I didn't know what to make of this situation. She seemed angered, but also embarrassed by my words.

Did I go too far with this?