Char dashed outside and runs quickly to the train. She slammed her card on the scanner and ran down the stair. She checked her phone to find that the battery was dead. She cursed and shoved it back in her pocket.
"They are going to kill me… Maybe it's not too late! Maybe they aren't there yet!"
She nearly missed the train. Everyone stared at her catching breath. She plopped down onto a seat. After the train stopped at her stop, she rushed back home. She slowed down as she reached the stairs to her room. She got her key and opened the door. She feel so relieved that there wasn't anyone waiting at her door. Only to have it dashed, when she saw her friends waited on the couch. They all were pretty upset, but it turned into worry when they saw her.
"Whoa… are you okay, Char?" a bright blue boy Inkling asked.
"Girl, ya need to sit down, before you topple over again!" a violet girl Inkling ran over to her.
"Char, you didn't need to rush back here like that…" a golden orange boy Inkling with glasses sighed, "Leon, go get her some water."
"Don't need to tell me twice!" the blue squid ran over to the kitchen.
"Guys, I'm fine… totally..." Char fell back and the violet squid caught her, "...fine…"
"No, you ain't! Now sit your butt down!" She brought Char to the couch.
"Thanks Jazzy" Char replied, "But how'd you guys get it my house?"
"Oh boy, Char did you forget?" The orange boy smiled, "You are hopeless aren't you? You gave us all a key to your house, so we could stay over whenever we wanted."
"I did, Chizel? When I do that?"
"After we got to S+ rank remember?" The blue squid handed her the glass of ice cold water, "Here, drink this and stop being loopy"
"I'm not... loopy…Leon" She slurred as she drank the water.
"Coulda fooled me" Leon grinned, "so wanna tell us where you ran off to yesterday?"
"Oh I got called by Marigo. She said it was important, but I guess I am done with it now."
"Oh, Marigo? How is that crazy scientist, lady?" Jazzy asked.
"She's good, kinda busy, now?"
"You probably may wanna thank her" Chizel replied, "After you left, she postponed the match for later today. Though, she never explained why."
"No way, she did?!" Char' eyes lit up, "that's means we still have a chance!"
"Yup, better thank her later, kay?" Jazzy patted her head, "Come on let's get some nice clothes for the big game!"
"What? Clothes shopping? No way!" Leon crossed his arms, "I don't wanna carry all your clothes!"
"Yeah, I'm gonna pass on that too" Chizel cleaned his glasses.
"Um, I kinda like my clothes…" Char scratched her face.
"Welp too bad, I guess I won't take ya to grab some DEELISH food after the game" she pulled out a poster for a fancy restaurant, everyone stared at the poster and started drooling, "Well, more for me."
"No! I'm sorry! I'll carry all your bags!" Leon hugged her legs, "I'm sorry! Take me with you!"
"Fine…" Chizel shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Well, I guess if everyone's going, I'll go too." Char smiled.
"Aight! Let's bounce, gang!" Jazzy proudly pranced out of Char's house.
The others looked at each other and followed her out the door. The train ride to Arowana Mall was not as long as the ride to the go to Marigo's lab. When they arrived at the stop, they bought a locker for Jazzy's shopping spree.
"I can't believe this is just the first week of summer vacation." Leon yawn as he stretched, " It started out with a major Turf War tournament this year. It's soo much different than last year. "
"Aw, come on Leon. Last year, wasn't so bad, we got to see a Squid Sister Concert, the best seats in the house too!" Jazzy nudged Char, "All thanks to Char!"
"Not even! My mom chewed me out because of my grades. I spent most of the summer in my room, do you even know how that feels?!"
"It must have been really lonely…" Char muttered to herself.
"Char, you feeling okay?" Chizel asked, "You haven't say a word since we left your house."
"Huh?" She snapped out of it, "No, it's nothing!"
"It's not nothing! You have been acting weird lately" Leon pointed out.
"Yeah, what's on your mind, girl?" Jazzy patted her back.
"No really, it is nothing! It's nothing to worry about!"
"Char. Tell us." Leon put his hands on her shoulders, "Come on, please?"
"...fine..." Char sighed, "I met a guy today…"
"OH! YOU FOUND SOMEONE ELSE TO REPLACE THAT DEMON?!" Jazzy blurted out.
"What?! NO! The guy just seems to be all alone and miserable… I just kinda feel bad for him."
"Is that it? Well, why don't we just pay him a visit?" Leon suggested.
"NO!" Char suddenly exclaimed causing her friends to jolt.
"Whoa, okay girl, but might I ask why?" Jazzy asked.
"It would be- He doesn't like visitors, yeah, so there you have it!"
Char fidgeted with her tentacles as her friends looked at each other and back at her. They just shrugged and smiled back at her. They went on with shopping. Char followed Leon into a video game shop. Leon's eyes sparkled when he saw a game he had his eyes set on for a while.
"No way! Char take a look at this!" he called her, "it was released today!"
"Oh, yeah! You were waiting forever for this game." She smiled, "Are you going to buy it?"
"INK YEAH! You know it!" he rushed to the cashier.
Char looked at the game and picked it up. She couldn't help but think Dylan must be really lonely and bored. She walked behind Leon and waited to be helped.
"You too huh? Good choice, you won't regret it. I promise!" Leon widely grinned
"Oh, this isn't for me… It will be a gift" she bought the game and a game system.
Leon looked at her strangely as they walked back to the locker. He grabbed her wrist. She stopped and looked back at him.
"Leon? What's up?" She asked.
"Char, is there something bothering you? You do know you can tell us, right?" he reminded her, "Did Quil hurt you again?"
"Leon, I'm fine! Quil has nothing to do with this!"
"Are you sure? Well, fine then… I'm sorry..."
Jazzy and Chizel met them at the locker.
"Hey, where'd you two run off to?! I nearly lost track of time, the match starts up soon!" Chizel called out.
"We gotta bounce, and fast!" Jazzy grabbed Leon and Char's wrists.
They were pulled to the tournament. Char decided she was going to sneak away after the tournament, so she could check on Dylan. She truly hoped that the matches would take her friends minds off of her.
-Author's Notes-
Hey guys! I got another chapter done yay! So same as always how am I doing? Should I fix anything? Thanks for reading!
