Combat Evaluation
The gang all went inside and talked all the way, not a peep of negative emotions nearby. Settling in the student lounge and conversating on entertaining news and sports. It was like a small party in there, Odd and Aelita brought in a boom box as Ulrich turned on the ceiling TV and put it on some sports network. Some teachers came in to partake in the fun as well.
"Now there's a good team, they have won enough games to get to the playoffs." A teacher in his twenties said sitting with Ulrich and Jeremie watching the sports play by play.
"I've seen them too." Ulrich said as the news center displayed score charts of recent games.
The teacher took a drink from his glass and put it back on the coaster. Jeremie got up and went to find Aelita. Yumi and Aelita's dorm mates where playing pool with a female teacher in her thirty's.
"It seems like you and me are like sisters." Yumi joked as Kila put a ball in the left corner pocket.
"Aelita told me so much about you and your past experiences, hope you don't mind. There in lies our similarities, we hold the same philosophies if you wish to call them that." Terra told her as she nodded in agreement.
The overhead light above the pool table shone a dull yellow and the multi colored pool balls shone under it. Guerrmo, Odd, and Nathan sat on some low lying chairs and talked about their sport of paintball to Odd. Who seemed to be taking an interest in it.
"Well I've played soccer, dive, but not a sport like that. Hey the next time you guys head out take me with you." Odd said acting like he would start off like an expert.
"We'll be glad too, Guerrmo will teach you the ropes and you can watch me kick some butt on the field." Nathan gloated.
"His weakness lies in his own technique." Guerrmo tried to whisper to Odd.
"Man if he beats me because you told him that…" Nathan gave him a glare.
"Hey have any of you guys seen Aelita?" Jeremie came by and stood looking at them a little worried.
"Ya, she's over there by the drink dispensers." Nathan pointed behind him.
"Thanks." He headed off.
"Man someone worries too easily." Odd told the guys as if he was trying to keep it between them.
The two just chuckled and took sips of their drinks.
"Aelita! Aelita!" Jeremie didn't see her at the bar and started to panick, he panicked even more when someone's hand grasped his shoulder.
He jumped and looked to see who it was, Aelita stood there smiling handing him a soda.
"I thought you might want something since all you had was coffee." She giggled at his sigh of relief, taking the drink from her and returning the smile.
"Everyone's enjoying themselves and this place feels like one of those high priced lounges like the ones at clubs and stuff." Jeremie told her taking hold of her hand as they walked to the low lying couches and join the guys.
"Hey so what are you guys talking about?" Aelita asked as her and Jeremie took a seat.
"Odd wants to try out paintball." Nathan grinned.
"Ya, we told him sure we'll do it." Guerrmo added.
"You two think I can do the sport too don't ya?" he asked with hope to boost his ego.
"After what Nathan got on his neck from playing the Alamo? Odd if you can bear the pain the I guess you can." She said taking a long sip.
Jeremie just looked around and evaded the question.
"You don't think I can bare standing the pain! I'll prove you wrong, hey want to play before the dance!" Odd asked demandingly at the two boys.
They looked to each other and talked lowly so he couldn't hear them, Nathan shrugged and they looked back to him.
"Deal!" Guerrmo told Odd, "We will give you a piranha marker with laser sight, halo hopper, and a medium sized CO2 container. Nathan's got an armory in the schools equipment room. But fair to warn you, he and I have been this school's tournament champs for two years running."
"Two years! Ah hahahahaha, I'll take you down." Odd laughed at them thinking they only played two tournaments.
"Two years of thirty tournaments." Nathan broke Odd's bubble.
Odd looked dumbfounded and shook off the fact as he would do when Ulrich or Yumi joked of his food consumption.
Jeremie listened to the talk and found a great way to prove himself that he was better suited for Aelita. In his head he thought, 'I have the brains, as long as I can fire the gun I'll make the tactics in seconds and bring this boy down from his high chair. Aelita should see my victory and like me even more then him.' Inside he laughed evilly.
"So uh…Nathan, mind if me and Odd team up against you guys?" Jeremie asked like it was nothing as he swirled the drink in his hand.
The two looked at him and for a second looked like they wanted to laugh their hearts out but didn't.
"Well Odd looks like you have a team mate for tomorrow." Nathan grinned, "We will make sure your first day will be one heck of a day."
"Your on!" Jeremie shouted with his own smile, "Aelita would you like to come and watch us?"
"I've seen the game myself when I went with them to watch awhile ago. I'd love to come thank you." The knowledge that she has seen his rival play got Jeremie's heart steamed.
But his tactics will do him a world of great, and just before the dance too! Now if he successes, she and him would be together the whole time and she wouldn't accept his offers to dance with him.
Next Day
They ate breakfast and everyone prepared for the busy day. All the girls except Aelita would be busy getting ready for the dance as well as Ulrich. But the others where prepping for the showdown.
Nathan unlocked a large cabinet closet to reveal several guns on a rack and many accessories strewn about on the bottom. The guys picked their gun of choice and they grabbed their equipment, but Odd and Jeremie had too figure out what to take by themselves.
After getting their equipment, they went to their changing rooms. Nathan and Guerrmo came out in camouflage pants, and grey shirts and tournament grade armor. Jeremie and Odd put on two layers of shirts and thick jeans and came out looking like different people.
"How can you walk and play with those huge things on?" Jeremie pointed to Nathan's deer hunting boots.
"Well tiny…you got to exercise and then these will feel like simple shoes." Nathan got back at him and rubbed his hair like an annoying big brother.
He was slightly taller thanks to the height of the boots. Guerrmo wore more military like boots instead and Odd wanted a pair for himself.
They drove to the field an hour later and took everything to an open table. As they unpacked and got ready, the mask that Nathan and Guerrmo put on intimidated their opponents, Odd and Jeremie.
"We'll meet you down at the ghost town field, the one with white buildings. You go on the other side and the ref will give the count down!" the two said leaving to the open battleground.
"Jeremie you know you don't have to do this?" Aelita told him as she put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"I can't leave Odd to those two, what friend would I be right Odd." He said smiling as he lied to her.
"Well just don't stay put thinking of what to do, just aim and pull the trigger okay Einstein?" Odd seemed agitated as he struggled with the accessories.
The two boys left ready to play and where chronoed on the field so their guns weren't too powerful.
"I have two boys in love with me and ones willing to go the length and prove himself." She swayed her head in amazement, "Oh Jeremie I can always see the truth in your eyes, even if you lie but don't get yourself hurt okay?" she said to herself sitting and waiting for the game to begin.
The two blonde haired boys made their way to the other side and gave their go ahead to the ref.
"3…..2…..1….GO!" the female ref shouted.