Saturday, April 6th, 2013
At campus, the garage was filled with the usual crowd. The team was mingling about, though there was a vehicle that was noticeably absent. The Puma. Its parking space was empty. The armored is the first among the team to begin the trek toward the convention. It has been loaded on a freight train toward Texas and will meet the team there come race day. The Puma crew, along with other members of the team who were designated as the pit crew, felt that did they did everything they could to prepare for the race. For everyone, they didn't have much to do in regards to their vehicles. The purpose of today was not to practice but to finalize all preparations for tomorrow's flight to Houston. They're due at noon.
"I'm going to ask again. No one has a fear of flying, right?" Redwood asked.
"How do you know if you're afraid of flying if you never flew before?" a student questioned.
Redwood stared blankly at her before responding,
"I guess we'll find out tomorrow."
In the garage office Valarie, Ray, and Buchanan were having a private discussion. Now that Valarie was cleared to return to the team, it was now time to inform her and Ray of the current situation.
"I don't want to spoil the upcoming fun of the convention, but, there is a situation that you two have to know about. At every convention, there is a rules committee that convenes. They hear all rule proposals by the ATA and decide whether or not to implement them. For this year, a proposal is up for consideration regarding tankery instructors. If it passes, it would mean I can no longer be an instructor due to the much stricter requirements."
Ray and Valarie exchanged worried glances.
"What can we do about that?" Valarie asked.
"Tankery captains can voice their opinions on proposals that the committee takes into account before their vote. Now, I've written up some arguments against the proposal. You both will read and add-on as necessary."
Buchanan passed her notes to both of them.
"Valarie, you will voice the school's formal objection. Ray, you'll act as a supporting role and help her out when needed."
They both nodded.
"So, when is this rules thing going down?" Ray questioned.
"Friday, the last day of the convention. So we got some time to prepare for it."
With that, the conversation ended and Ray and Valarie returned to their respective crews. Buchanan remained in the office for a few more minutes to use the relative solitude to contemplate. For most of her life, weeks seem to go by with nothing happening worth remembering. Next week, she anticipates that it'll feel like a year. One week absolutely filled with things to do. And that is all the things she is aware of that is occurring. Who knows what else could pop out seemingly out of nowhere.
Sunday
It was 7:30 in the morning. The sun, at this time of the year, was above the horizon so early morning weren't dark at all. The team was out in front of the school awaiting the bus that would take them to Ontario International Airport. Alongside the students were all the bugs they were carrying. All the clothes and other necessities, and some luxuries, to last them the week. Valarie was among the last to arrive. She got out of the car along with her mother.
"Be safe, alright?" her mother reminded.
"You told me to be safe a thousand times. I'm not even kidding."
"And I'll say it a thousand times more. Don't go anywhere remotely sketchy."
"Alright, I'll be smart and safe. It's not like I'll be alone anyway. I'm going to spend most of my time at the convention."
"I know, I know."
They hugged.
"Have fun Val. Love you."
"I love you too."
Valarie got her bags and joined the team in waiting for the bus. A few minutes before the eight o'clock hour, the vehicle arrived and the team stowed their belongings in the storage hold and boarded the bus. Once everyone was snugly in the bus, the door was closed and they drove off. Off to Houston. Inside, everyone was chatting. Ontario Airport was over an hour away so they got comfortable. Some people elected to return to sleep as they had to wake up early to make it to school in time. Up in front, Redwood and Buchanan were sat next to each other. Much like everyone else, they were talking.
"So...this cat..." Redwood began.
"You mean Soap?" Buchanan said.
"Yeah. Soap. You're positive you want her?"
"Yes. I've always liked the idea of having a cat so when I found Soap, it just seemed perfect. Besides, she was abandoned so that little fact played my heartstrings to a fine-tune."
"I think it's working on me too...anyway where is she now?"
"Under the care of a trusted neighbor."
The bus turned onto the I-15 which would take them all the way to the airport. Soon, there were driving past places like Victorville, where Bascom was, and not too long after, Hesperia. Some time driving later and they entered Cajon Junction. The freeway was now flanked by two large hills, both arid. Not too far from them was another stretch of road, the historic Route 66. This scenery wouldn't last too long as it would soon abruptly change from hills to a sea of suburban houses and other kinds of buildings, as far as the eye can see. People who were looking through the window and happened to look toward the sky can see commercial airliners flying to and fro. They weren't high in the sky but looking like they were in the process of taking off and landing. The bus then got off the freeway and was just minutes away from the airport. Their surroundings were one that was very much urban. Office building here and there. As they got closer to their destination, the landscape was filled with restaurants, car rental services, and many flavors of inns and motels. Everything needed to cater to the flying traveler. Finally, shy of ten o'clock, the bus parked right in front of the terminal. The moment the doors opened, a flood of students rushed out to collect their belongings. With their things, they all entered the airport and proceeded to check-in. The interior of the airport, combined with the sound of planes taking off, made for appealing acoustics. Checking in went as smoothly as it could and soon the team was the gate, waiting for their time to board. Valarie and Emma, as always, were sat next to each other.
"Nervous?" Valarie asked.
"...A little." Emma responded.
"Same here. It's gonna be fun, I hope." Valarie assured.
Looking out the window, Valarie watched the airport at work. Outside was their plane, currently being prepped. At its rear, she could see workers lugging the team's bags onto the plane. Underneath one of the wings, a truck was parked where it was pumping the plane with the fuel needed for the upcoming trip. Behind that was more activity. Occasionally, there were little carts, cars, and trucks driving past on their way to destinations Valarie could only being to think about what they were. The main crowd-pleaser was, of course, the planes taking off. She could see them taxi toward the far end of the runway. With immense power, those planes sped up and got off the ground. The power she felt, just being at the gate, was incredible. And to think that very soon, she'll feel that power firsthand. In time, the call was given for the team to board their plane. Valarie managed to snag a window seat, which she understood was a seat that was coveted. Once everyone was settled in, the plane began to taxi. Valarie watched as the flight crew gave their safety presentation, one they've given a million times before but, for Valarie, was one that she found oddly fascinating. After a few short minutes of taxing, the plane made a turn as it orientated itself on the runway. Everyone was settled in for the three hour or so flight to Houston. Near the rear of the plane, Natalie was all set up. She had rummaged through her bag to retrieve a book she intends to read for the duration of the flight.
"Oh? A book? For what class?" asked Jane, her friend and the Jagdpanzer IV's driver.
"Not for any class. Just to occupy my time."
"Ah okay. What is it?"
"The War of the Worlds. I heard a good review about it."
The engines of the plane now began to rev as the vehicle move forward. The plane was accelerating rapidly as the engines were as loud as thunder. The force of take-off made everyone stick to their seats. Some of them were uncomfortable over this but for others, it was an amazing experience. Valarie was absolutely overjoyed over what was happening. She then felt the plane get off the ground and quickly looked out the window. She looked with satisfaction as the ground got smaller and smaller. They were airborne and climbing to thirty thousand feet. There were on their way.
Monday, April 8th, 2013
Houston, Texas
The first day of the 2013 Tankery Convention has begun. The Mojave Rose team, much like the previous they have traveled, were residing in a hotel room in the same configurations. Commanders get the bed and everyone else sleeps on the floor. The hotel the team was in was at a great spot, only a block away from the convention. So great was the spot that the hotel as at capacity. Each room booked. They were lucky to get their rooms. The T-44 crew was all wake, just a few minutes before the nine o'clock hour. They were in the process of getting ready.
"I really don't care if you guys see. We'll all friends here." Ashley said.
The remaining three girls had their backs to her, all staring at the opposing wall.
"Well, I care. So we're all gonna look at this wall until you're all dressed." remarked Valarie.
"Fine…" Ashley said with a sigh.
There was the sound of clothes being moved.
"I'm all set."
"Alright…" Valarie said.
She turned around, gasped, and very quickly was back looking at the wall. Red-faced.
"You're…You're not done!" she stammered.
"I'm wearing a bra. Relax. Like you've never seen anything like this. You've had P.E yeah?"
Heather and Emma let out some laughs as Valarie's face remained red.
"Your bra is matches your skin color. I thought you were…uh…well…yeah…"
"Yeah indeed."
Ashley put on her tank top.
"Okay, I'm done. For real now. Are we ready to go?"
Valarie, along with the others, turned around, Her face was still partly red.
"Yes. We gotta meet everyone else down in the lobby. Let's head on down."
The four girl left their room and went toward the elevator. As they got on and the doors closed, a hotel room on the same floor flung open. Out came out two girls, similar ages, wearing their school uniforms. All black save for their red tie. One of them was carrying a notebook.
"So, what exactly do Penelope and Caroline want from us?" asked one.
"Info on all the schools still competition on the tournament. What we can learn from a team's behavior can tell us a lot on how they conduct tankery matches. From there, strategy can be adjusted for best performance."
"Cool."
"Alright. Now, let's see…"
The girl with the notebook opened it to a specific page.
"I've written down who we're supposed to…stalk I guess."
"Who?"
"Mojave Rose. California school from Barstow."
"How do we find them?"
"From their school uniforms."
"What if they don't have school uniforms? What if they are just wearing their casual clothes?"
The other girl just looked at her.
"Hmm. This is going to be harder than I thought."
At the hotel lobby, it was already a crowded place despite the early hour. Nonetheless, the T-44 managed to easily find their team among the crowd and link up with them.
"Good morning everyone. Before we head on over to the convention, I got some things to say." Buchanan announced.
"The main reason we are here is the race, which is on Wednesday. But the race is not the only thing that is happening this week. There are dozens of events and activities to occupy your time. Some are fun. Others are educational. You're not obligated to do any of them. If you just want to spend your week just walking around, I'm not gonna stop you. Still, it would be your best interest to attend the education ones. Especially if you're a commander…or a captain."
With that, they all walked toward the convention. The building that housed it was immense in proportions. Everyone felt dwarfed compared to it once they got close enough. Already, on the outside, was an innumerable amount of people. They were waiting for the doors to officially open. The weather was chilly, with the occasional wind gust forcing some to zip up their jackets. Overhead were clouds, thick and gray. A storm was brewing but this was irrelevant for all involved. They were going to be inside anyway. The Mojave Rose team didn't have to wait long 9:30 exactly, convention officials unlocked the doors and a flood of people entered. The interior was as, if not, more impressive. The convention was multi-storied with every square inch used to entertain attendees. Already, the team dispersed among the crowd as they explored all aspects of the place. The T-44 paused not too far from the entrance to contemplate their next course of action.
"So…" Valarie said.
"So. What's first?" Emma said.
"I'm going to find the lounge. A place like this gotta have one. I just want to chill." Ashley explained.
"I'm going to knock out the educational stuff early and do things related to drivers." Heather added.
They went off, leaving Valarie and Emma alone. They looked at each other.
"I'll go where you'll go." Emma said.
"Same."
Valarie looked around a bit.
"Let's just walk around the ground floor and see what's up."
With a plan now in had, the pair walked the convention. There were all manner things out set up. Booths and display as far as the eye can see. Stalls selling shirts and other merchandise to booths selling showcasing tankery equipment for everyone to try and experiment with. They walked past television screens that were playing tankery matches. The girls stopped and watched them. Then, Valarie excitedly pointed to one of the screens.
"Oh my God. It's her!" she exclaimed.
"Her….who's her?" Emma questioned
"Miho Nishizumi. It was her match we watched back in November. You know, the one with the Maus and the duel between her Panzer IV and Tiger. Her sister commanded that Tiger. God. Imagine that. She must've felt a million emotions during that match."
"I bet it was more than a match for her." Emma commented.
"No kidding."
Emma looked at the other screens and then pointed as well.
"Hey! That's us!"
They both hurriedly approached the screen and watched intently.
"It's our Arizona match." Valarie said.
On-screen, it displayed the Mojave Rose team as they fought against Valentine. Their action with the SU-14 and the gas depot was featured prominently. It caused Valarie to become embarrassed slightly.
"Ah geez…I regret that order now."
"You feeling regret means that you've grown. That's a good thing." Emma said.
Valarie smiled.
"It is, huh?"
They continued watching. When their T-44 appeared on screen, they were excited.
"There we are!" Emma exclaimed.
"Wow. It's a weird feeling to see yourself on TV."
"Well, I feel special to know a famous actress such as yourself." Emma teased.
Valarie blushed hard.
"Oh lord…"
"Tell me, Miss Woodlin…" Emma asked, pretending to hold a microphone.
"…your latest film is well on its way to sweep the every awards show. Your thoughts?"
"Oh my God…Emma!" Valarie said, laughing.
"Rumors say you're next film will have you co-star with Matt Damon. Can you confirm or deny?" Emma continued, clearing enjoying every second of it.
Valarie couldn't respond as she had to stop herself from laughing too hard. She looked away, hand covering her mouth.
"If you could, you'd keep me blushing for the rest of my life."
"If? Oh, I can!" Emma rebutted.
After having fun around the televisions, they resumed walking around the convention. It wasn't long before they found something else that captured their full attention. In a more open area of the hall was a wooden mock-up of a vehicle. A vehicle that Valarie immediately identified. They ran up to the thing all giddy.
"It's an E10!" Valarie exclaimed.
"Looks like it. You told me about this thing once or twice." Emma said.
"From Germany's Entwicklung program. Standard panzer. Just look at it. The roadwheels look like the ones on a King Tiger. The whole point of the program—"
"Was to streamline the manufacturing of armored vehicles through the standardization of tank designs. This was to increase the rate of tank production and to improve the mechanical reliability of Germany's panzer army." Emma said with a smug smile.
Valarie looked at her, amazed.
"I've heard you say that constantly. To a point where I've memorized it." Emma explained.
"Wow."
They admired the mock-up of the E10. What amazed them the most was the size of the thing.
"The size of this tank is staggering. It's only an inch shorter than I am." Valarie commented.
"Grown men were supposed to crew that thing? I can't even imagine myself in that tank. I feel I'd be too cramped. Still, I bet it can hide anywhere."
"That it could. If it was ever built."
"Mmm. Tell me, Valarie, what vehicles can or can't be in matches?"
"I can't say how they do it in other countries but for the U.S, it's like this. As long as the vehicle was built, it can be in play. It didn't need to be fully constructed either. If the vehicle only had its hull made it can still be accepted into play. It meets the criteria set by the ATA."
"I see. So, schools can have tanks that were just prototypes and experiments?"
"Yes. Our VK is a prototype. As long as the vehicle exists physically in some way, it can be used in matches. A prototype doesn't mean its better though."
Emma looked around the hall and spotted something truly special.
"Well, is that prototype good though?" she said pointing beyond Valarie's vision.
She turned around and let out a surprised gasp. Valarie grabbed Emma's hand and led her directly toward it. It was something that the two had seen before only in pictures. Now, here it was right before. In the flesh. Well, steel actually.
"An honest-to-god Panther II." Valarie said.
The tank looked exactly as it did in the promotional pictures. The thing looked ready for a match at a moment's notice. All of its special equipment was out and proud. The girls laid their hands on the side of the hull, the metal nice and cool.
"Marvelous, isn't it?" Said a voice just out their peripheral.
They turned to the source of the voice. It was a girl around their age. She was wearing a school uniform, all black with the exception of a very red tie. It was so formal which was in contrast to the clothing of Valarie and Emma which were casual shirts and jeans.
"Yeah, I read about it so much but it's another feeling entirely to see it for yourself. Let alone touching it." Valarie said.
"I understand that feeling one-hundred percent. I knew this tank was out in display and yet, I still have goosebumps.
The trio looked at the tank silently together for a few moments.
"Are you in the race to win this thing?" Emma asked the girl.
"Oh no, not my school. The Panther II is an impressive machine but we're not going to expend any efforts to compete for it. Besides, we don't have any armored cars and a race like this favors them heavily. You?"
"Yeah, our school is participating. Might as well give it a shot, you know? Maybe we'll win. Maybe we won't. It'll be fun all the same." Valarie said.
"Very cool. What school are you? I don't think you've mentioned that.
"Mojave Rose" answered Valarie.
Upon hearing that, the girl slightly raised an eyebrow.
"Ah. Mojave Rose. I've heard of you. Your showing at Arizona, I'll admit, is impressive.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Are you the one doing the racing…?"
"Valarie. And no, I'm not. Our team's Puma will be racing.
"Then I will keep a sharp eye on your Puma. Good luck, Valarie."
The girl departed and left them alone.
"She seems nice. But she didn't say what school she is from." Emma remarked.
"Maybe she thought it wasn't important." Valarie suggested.
"But it was important for her to ask about our school?"
"Yeah…uh…makes you think. I'll just chalk it up as a mistake. It happens.
The girl made sure to walk a good distance away from the Panther II. Then she whipped out her phone and made a call.
"Caroline. I've just met Mojave Rose. The race became that more important to watch on Wednesday."
Buchanan was wandering the convention. Alone. Redwood was with her but a presentation of the academic benefits of tankery took him away from her. So she was alone. Relatively. She was still surrounded by a sea of convention attendees. It wasn't noon yet and it was already was the day dark. A storm was beginning to roll in and it was already starting to drizzle. She briefly thought about if this weather would impact the race in any way. Not a chance, she concluded. Like the ATA ever views the weather as a serious threat. As she was exploring the convention, she saw something that piqued her interest. A tankery instructor social. Sure, why not? Buchanan headed over. It was held in a separate room, an auditorium. Inside were other tankery instructors. All women. Some were around her age, others far younger, others far older. They were all talking among themselves. Before she could throw herself in there, Buchanan was approached by a convention official.
"Hi there. You an instructor?"
"I am."
"Great. Name please?"
"Gabrielle Buchanan."
The official, who had a tablet with her, was typing on it.
"Ah yes, I have you in the database. You're verified. Do you mind answering some questions?"
"Sure thing."
"How would you describe the demographics of your team?"
"Mostly white with some people of color. Overall, an accurate representation of the school's population."
"Good to hear. Next, has any of your students suffered any injuries as a result of their participation in tankery?"
"Nope. Not a single of my students has been hurt. I made sure every tank has a first-aid kit at the ready."
"That's excellent to hear. Thank you for your time."
The official left. Buchanan only had a moment to herself before one of the tankery instructors went up to her.
"Sorry, but, I couldn't help to overhear your conversation. Did you say you put med-kits in your team's vehicles?"
"Yeah. I made them myself with my own money."
"Amazing." the instructor said in a shocked tone.
"I can count the number of instructors who do that on one hand. I'm absolutely stunned that such a thing isn't mandated by the ATA."
"I know right!" Buchanan exclaimed.
"It's surprising, you know? This sport is innately dangerous. Too many people put way too much faith in the carbon protection."
"You have no idea how good it feels to meet someone who gets it."
"Likewise."
The instructor then withdrew a piece of paper from her pocket.
"I've been trying for years to get med-kits mandated by the rules but no dice. And now, this year, the rules committee is hearing a proposal about something regarding instructors? That's just random."
"It sure does seem random."
"Right? The Association fails to understand what really needs to be done."
"Yeah but it seems that no matter what anyone does, nothing seems to change. What can be done, if anything?" Buchanan said.
The instructor pondered for a moment, finger tapping against her chin.
"There is always something that could be done. I don't know what exactly it is. The solution could very well be unconventional, but I'll take it at this point."
Buchanan nodded in agreeance.
"Hey, I never got your name." she asked.
"Beth. And yours?"
"Gabrielle."
"Well Gabrielle, I want to keep talking about this and so much more. Coffee?"
"I could go for some coffee right about now."
The adults were going for some drinks while someone else is going for an entire meal. Ray, in a move that surprised absolutely no one, went immediately to the food court for a nice breakfast. It wasn't too hard to find with the smell of freshly baked goods become stronger as he drew near. The food court served a variety of items, much to his delight. He browsed the selection at his leisure and filled his tray. A few pieces of fried chicken fresh out of the fryer with buttermilk ranch sauce. A club sandwich cut into quarters. For his sides, potato salad, breadsticks, and coleslaw. Then there was the soft chocolate chip cookies that were, appropriately, shaped like a tank. His drink was a big cup of water. For health. With his tray full with his breakfast, he sat down at a table and began to eat. As he enjoyed his breakfast, he was totally oblivious to his surroundings. Oblivious to the fact that on the second level, overlooking the food court, was three girls. Watching him.
"That's him, right?" asked one of them.
"It is. The length of his hair matches the picture. Longer than average.
"A bit of a glutton, is he?" remarked another.
"Not a bit. He is."
"Let's head on down there and give him a 'proper welcome'."
The three walked toward the nearby staircase and was about to descend it when one of them stopped.
"Wait a second. Someone is walking up to him."
Below, heading towards Ray, was Natalie. She sat down across from him.
"I should be surprised but I'm not. It's you being you."
Ray playfully shrugged.
"How's the convention treating ya?" Ray said after taking a bite of his sandwich.
"It's pretty good. Loads of things to do. I'd ask the same question to you but I think I already know the answer."
"I think you do."
"You're not going to spend the entire convention at the food court, right?"
"Believe it or not, I do get full eventually. I've heard the Panther II is on display. I'm going to see it after I got done with my breakfast."
"I was thinking of doing the same thing. I'll…go with you."
"Ah…cool!"
"I just need to go to the bathroom real quick to wash my face."
Natalie walked off. On the second level, the trio of girls watched as she left.
"There's our chance. Let's go."
They descended the stairs and turned the corner toward the food court. Once there, they scanned all the tables. Something was missing. The table Ray was sat at was now empty. Getting closer, they saw an empty tray.
"The bastard can put down a meal, I'll give him that."
Ashley's search has yielded great fruit. There was indeed a lounge area. And it was better than she had expected for there were free refreshments and massage chairs. Sat at one with a lemonade in hand, she relaxed. A peek at the time told her that it was two o'clock. But you wouldn't know that by looking out the windows. The sky was in a complete overcast with the occasional rip of thunder. She was glad she was inside and more so that the massage chair was heated. With no obligations, today was purely dedicated to chilling. Her eyes were closed as the massage chair worked its magic on her body, its vibrations feeling damn good. She was so relaxed that she would have dozed off had someone not sat at the empty chair next to her.
"It looks like the convention is going great for you." Heather commented.
"MmmHmm." Ashley replied.
"I saw a booth that sold some stuff for loaders. I'm guessing you didn't visit it?"
"Nope."
"This is the first time you're hearing of it.
"Yup."
Heather grinned slightly.
"Thought so. It does have cool stuff though."
"I'll swing by later."
Heather looked at the controls of the chair and pressed some buttons. It vibrated nicely. She reclined into her seat and entered into a state of relaxation. The two girls enjoyed the chairs for a couple of minutes. Ashley kept her eyes open as she no longer wanted to nap. Naturally, her sight wandered. And eventually, caught something worth looking at.
"You know something Heather. I've just made an interesting observation."
"And what's that?"
"The uniforms of ATA officials look strikingly similar to ours."
At a more secluded area of the convention, one geared toward adults was a bar. Sat on stools were two adult women, sipping on their drinks. They were exhausted as they were walking all day. One of them ran their fingers through their hair as they took a deep breath.
"I didn't anticipate finding Mojave Rose would be so difficult. We've asked close to one hundred people and none could help us." Zoey complained.
"There are four thousand people at the minimum here. Maybe more. Our work was cut out for us from the onset. We'll find them." Sarah assured.
"Yeah. We will. Not finding out how they found our Jumbo will irritate me for the rest of our lives. Finding them at this convention could be our only chance."
"Mmm."
Sarah looked at her drink for a few moments.
"You know, being here has brought back loads of memories. You remember that match back in '87?"
Zoey inhaled sharply.
"In Alaska. Yes. I do. Every single detail. God, it was one hell of a match."
"It was close!" Sarah said dramatically.
"The sun was high in the sky yet the cold was not vanquished by its heat. The only thing keeping us warm was the blast of our guns that filled the air with vaporized gun powder. The snow that blanketed the land glistened brightly, enough that we were are wearing goggles to shield our eyes from the reflective snow. Both teams suffered similar casualties. One for one. Our position was on a large hill that overlooked a valley. The paint of our tanks contrasted greatly against the white snow so we tried to cover them up with the stuff. It was no use. We still stuck out like a sore thumb. The enemy spotted us from miles away. It was all of them, all that was left. They were charging us."
"It was terrifying. All those tanks heading right for us." Zoey added.
"Everyone was scared. Scared of being overrun. That was then the captain had a stroke of genius.
"The SU-14." Zoey interjected.
"At the captain's command, the artillery fired a shell on the hillside next to the approaching enemy. The resulting explosion triggered an avalanche that smothered the remaining tanks of the enemy team. The day was ours."
"That day was simply fantastic."
"That it was."
They clinked drinks and drank up. Zoey finished her glass and slammed it down.
"Hey, if we somehow don't find them, coming to the convention was worth it regardless."
It was the start of the evening and though one might assume that the convention would wind down for the day, the opposite in fact was happening. An influx of late arrivals kept the energy alive, along with events and activities to occupy one's time well into the night. The Tankery convention just doesn't cater to participants of the sports, though they are their main demographics, it also caters to fans of the sports and people who just love armored fighting vehicles. Consequently, to appeal to everyone, there was a seemingly endless amount of things to do. Valarie, who happened to fit all three of those demographics, attempted and quickly gave up trying to do everything thing in a day. The task was too daunting. Despite her desires, the convention will be enjoyed gradually over the week. With Emma, the two girls rested at soft chairs facing a large window. Outside, they saw a park that was right next to the convention, within the background, high rise buildings. The sky had darkened, much more that was usual for the hour. The storm had arrived and enveloped the city. The water was being splattered with an innumerable amount of water droplets. This was the type of weather that Emma adored and was more than happy to watch the rainfall. She was thinking. Not about many things. Just one. Valarie. She told herself before that she wanted to wait for the perfect moment to confess how she really felt about her. Now, being at a new place neither had been to before, she felt it in her soul that the moment was soon. Very soon. Looking out toward the park for a few moments and an idea formed.
"Hey Valarie, what are your plans for tomorrow?" she asked.
"There's this captain's event that seems pretty interesting.
"Oh? When is that?"
"Noon. It'll last a few hours."
Emma pondered for a moment.
"Well, I was thinking that instead of going to that event, you and I head down to that park and enjoy a nice walk."
Valarie seriously considered her suggestion. She tapped her fingers against the armrest of the chair.
"Um…I dunno…that thing is something Miss Buchanan wouldn't want me to miss out on…though…"
Valarie was looking at Emma and saw that she was giving her a look. Not just any look. The 'look'. It was something she used strategically to persuade people in her favor. To Valarie, Emma was unbelievably adorable when she does it. Irresistible. It worked. It always does.
"Thinking about it…Ray can go in my place. He'll love it. We'll go to the park. But there is this booth I want to go to first."
"Will that take long?"
"Nope. Ten minutes tops."
"Great! Just meet me at the park at noon."
"Cool! It's a d—"
Valarie stopped herself. Her true feelings nearly becoming known. Emma looked at her puzzled.
"It's what?" she questioned.
"Um…ah…it's going to be fun is what I meant to say." Valarie answered in a not so confident manner.
Emma eyed her suspiciously for a few seconds then returned her gaze to the window. She could feel Valarie turning red. She had an idea of what she truly meant to say but refrained from making assumptions. Though she was fairly positive she was right. They spent some time at the chairs when they then decided to call it a day and made their way back the hotel. When they arrived on the third floor and entered their room, Heather and Ashley were already there. They too had the same idea and were on the floor all nestled in their makeshift beds. Emma and Valarie quickly slipped into her sleepwear and settled in for the night. The light was shut off though the room wasn't totally quiet. The storm outside created an ambiance that they all enjoyed. Before she fully went to sleep, Emma heard the bed creak and saw the silhouette of Valarie. Silently, she beckoned her to join her on the bed. Without hesitation, she crawled into the bed with her. There was more than enough room for both of them. They whispered each other good night and closer their eyes. Yet they did not fall asleep. For Emma, she was thinking about the next day and she will do.
"I'm going to do it." she thought to herself.
"I'm going to confess to her how I feel about her."
She took a deep breath. She better stop thinking about tomorrow or she'll never fall asleep. For Valarie, her mind was active as well. Emma's plan for tomorrow was the opportunity she was waiting for. She didn't think it would happen during the convention for there were just too many things to do and see. But here it was. Maybe it was the work of some higher power, or perhaps it was the result of sheer luck. However it happened, she was overjoyed all the same. A chance for them to just have each other for their company. A chance to tell Emma just how much she means to her.
