Chapter 10 The Sky is Sparkling
"What's up?" Roy asked as he took a seat opposite Sage. The koopa boy ran his hands through his hair. His brow was starting to scrunch up.
"Roy, this place is the very opposite of where you should have taken Celia! She can't even eat anything here!"
Roy slid deeper down into his seat upon hearing Sage's scathing scolding. They were as hot as lava and just as lethal. Sage took a deep breath. He pinched his brow with his thumb and forefinger.
"If you want to impress Celia," he said. "You need to take her someplace nice."
"Like where?" Roy asked. "I don't know of any place that is nicer than here." Sage scoffed.
"What about the Sky Sparkle Steakhouse?"
Roy felt a pit form in his stomach. The Sky Sparkle Steakhouse. Such a fancy pants place, it was. Too fancy pants. Roy thought that it was a little too excessive, which was impressive considering that he lived in a castle. Besides, it was too far away.
"I am not taking Celia there. I can't."
Sage shook his head.
"Well, you can't stay here. If Celia eats any of the dishes here, she could possibly die!"
Just as he said this, Sage started to flicker again. The sight made Roy visibly cringe.
"Okay, okay," he said. "You know what? Let's do a compromise."
With that, Roy got up and left the restaurant. As he walked away, he remembered Sage's scolding. He needed to do better. He needed a good idea to not only prove that he could handle being Celia's boyfriend, but also that he was smart. Luckily, the idea he had right now seemed like a very good one indeed.
…
Celia heaved like an unhealthy horse as she stood in the bathroom. The grungy place was even more sickly than the restaurant, if that was even possible. And the smell. It was horrible.
So, swallowing a lump forming in her throat, Celia went back out into the restaurant. She examined the place for Roy, but did not find him. Worry started to make itself known. She frowned.
"Roy?"
"He went to go get something," said Sage. Celia glanced down at the Koopa Boy.
"Where? What?" she asked. Sage shrugged.
"Beats me. But don't worry. He'll be back."
Celia nodded, still unsure about this boy. He was leaning nonchalantly in his chair and sipping a cup of coffee. She began to wonder how he came to know Roy. So, she took a seat across from him in the booth.
"So," she said. "How did you and Roy meet?"
Sage accidentally swallowed too much coffee once that question was voiced. He started to cough sporadically.
"Sage!" Celia exclaimed. She leaned forward, afraid. "Are you okay?"
Sage held up his pointer finger. He continued to cough, but thankfully wrapped it up without much of a problem. He cleared his throat.
"Yes. I'm fine." He hesitated for a little bit. "Roy and I met at a festival."
"Ah," Celia said. Although, the inflection in Sage's voice and the fact that he was holding one of his hands behind his back made Celia suspicious. "Which festival?"
Sage hesitated again.
"The 'make a new best friend' festival."
Celia snorted.
"Really? That's what you're going with?" Sage glared at her.
"No actually, I lied. It was the 'Shut your mouth' carnival."
Celia and Sage sat in silence. Celia refused to make eye contact with him, mostly because he looked grumpy every time she did. Celia started to twiddle her thumbs.
"You know," Sage said. "Roy really likes you."
"I know," Celia said with a nod. Sage smiled.
"You should hold onto him, Celia. It isn't everyday that you run across a guy like him."
Celia nodded, her face falling a little bit.
"Especially if you're someone like me."
Sage looked at Celia with a shine in his eyes. Although, Celia wasn't entirely sure what the shine indicated. Was that empathy? Discomfort? Sage didn't say anything though, so Celia wasn't entirely sure if she should question him.
The front door opened. Celia was relieved to see Roy, but only for a moment. That relief was replaced by puzzlement when she saw that he had something tucked underneath his arms.
"What the World Eight?" she muttered quietly. She started to make her way toward Roy. She saw him handing a package to the waitress. He was whispering just loud enough for Celia to hear him.
"This is a steak. If you can have your chef prepare it, I'll give you a 100% tip."
The waitress nodded without hesitating and took the steak to the kitchen. Celia watched as Roy smiled.
"Okay." He set the box that was under his other arm on the floor. "Now to just wait until I can set these off."
He uncapped the box, and Celia gasped when she saw it was full of fireworks. She stormed over to Roy.
"Roy, what are you doing with those?"
Roy smiled when he saw Celia.
"Oh, you're gonna like this, Celia. I am going to recreate the feel of the Sky Sparkle Steakhouse. Not only will you be eating some of the best steak in the kingdom, but you'll also be doing it as you watch a fireworks display!"
Celia glanced down at the fireworks again. Just the sight of them was starting to make her nervous.
"Because steak just isn't decadent enough, right?"
Roy put his arm over her shoulder. He was grinning confidently, or at least trying to.
"Don't worry. You'll enjoy this for sure."
Just as he said that, the waitress came back out with the prepared steak. Celia had to admit the smell was alluring. Roy grinned brightly.
"Ah! That was fast!" He then directed Celia toward her original seat at the bar. "Now, you get started on eating that while I light the fireworks."
Celia nodded and took a bite of the steak. Being her first time having such a delicacy, she thought it was amazing. She chewed on it happily.
"Mmm. That's good," she said. Roy nodded as he took a seat next to her.
"Yeah, it is."
Suddenly, Celia heard a noise. It sounded like a sparkler. She looked toward the fireworks and spit out her steak when she saw that the line to set them off was already lit. Sage looked equally shocked.
"Roy!" he cried.
"You're supposed to light those outside!" Celia screeched. Roy looked embarrassed.
"Oh." He then looked back at the fireworks, and the embarrassment was replaced by urgency. "Oh! Shoot! How could I forget?" He jumped out of his seat. "Maybe if I'm fast enough I…"
It was too late. The fireworks started to spring out of the box. They hit the ceiling, causing fire to rain down all over the restaurant. Celia coughed as the place was overtaken by smoke.
"Quick!" Sage squealed. "We all need to get out of here!"
With that, Sage grabbed hold of the waitress' hand. Roy grabbed hold of the Celia's, and they all bolted out of the diner. Celia coughed, trying to get the smoke out of her lungs. She turned and watched in horror as the Spring Fling Diner burned.
"Shoot," Roy said. He looked between the three people who accompanied him out. "I am so sorry."
"You should be!" The waitress screeched. "You could have gotten us killed!"
Roy chuckled in embarrassment.
"Uh...would you like it if I turned the 100% tip into a 200% tip?"
"That won't pay for the entire restaurant! Roy, how could you be so stupid!" Sage cried. Roy shrunk back a little from that question before turning back to Celia.
"Celia? Are you okay?"
The scent of smoke was filling Celia's nostrils. The orange fire was reflected in her eyes. She shook her head, not entirely sure what to think.
"Celia?" Roy repeated, his voice overlayed with guilt.
Celia sighed.
"I just want to go home," she said sullenly. "I need to get ready for my parents' wedding anyway."
"Okay," Roy said. He tried to take her hand. "Can I walk you…"
"NO!" she cried. "No...I...I can get home myself."
With that, Celia started making her way back.