Mako's Message: I think people will like this chapter. I didn't quite get to do everything I wanted here, but that's okay because trying to shoehorn in certain lines just felt forced and threw things off. And I kinda like how it ends, with no parting words.
6
I don't think I've ever so felt so frustrated and wound-up yet happy before in my life. Actually, I don't know if I've ever felt frustrated, wound-up and happy at the same time before.
When we were out tonight we found this girl in this blue and silver costume that made her look like a power ranger trying to fight these two guys. She was getting her ass handed to her pretty thoroughly, but she was managing to not get grounded and stomped on and she kept trying to fight and...okay fine, it was kind of like a pathetic version of Dave's first fight. The one that made him famous, not the one that got him stabbed. It was closer to that one though.
So we stepped in and the two guys ran off.
And then, as she's picking herself out of a pile of garbage bags she says, "I could have handled them. I didn't need your help," and we both froze. I know I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I can't imagine what was going through Dave's head.
He finally managed to choke out, "Katie?!"
And she says, "Yeah, it's me," and she pulls off the helmet she was wearing with the stupid reflective visor and giant heart symbol on the front and shakes her hair out.
I tried not to laugh for about five seconds before I realized I had no reason to. Dave asked her, "What the hell are you doing out here?!"
And she said, "Being a hero. Like you. I stopped those two from mugging a girl."
And I laughed and said, "You are NOTHING like us."
And Katie got all huffy and said, "I CAN do this!"
And Dave had both hands covering his face and he started to say, "Katie-"
But I cut him off with, "Obviously you can't. We just watched you get your ass handed to you."
And she said, "I would have been fine! I just needed to get my footing back."
I laughed at her again and said, "Yeah, whatever, keep telling yourself that."
She got all indignant and said, "I'll prove it then! Come hit me."
Dave's head jerked up and he put his hands up and said, "Katie!"
But I couldn't keep the grin off my face and said, "Alright."
And Katie fell back into a pretty basic stance with her fists up and I just walked up and went for a spin kick to her head. And she blocked it. I actually froze when she blocked it. I shouldn't have, spin kicks and the like pack a lot of power but they're also never lead with something like that, they're finishers. To be used only when you have your opponent off balance and it's time to put them down. Anyone with any martial arts training could get out of the way of one. Dave ducked one on his first day of training.
But for some reason, seeing my foot two inches from her head, and her arm up, stopping it...I cannot describe the immediate and overwhelming rage that came over me. I leapt up and, using my leg against her arm as leverage, spun around and kicked her in the back of the head. She should have gone down from that. Should have ate pavement. But she managed to put her hands down and catch herself. Before she could stand I marched over and booted her in the side of her ribs. And as she was stumbling back I grabbed her by the front of her costume and punched her in the face. And then I did it again and again.
Then Dave yelled, "Enough!" and after seriously considering continuing to ruin her pretty face anyway, I let her go and she fell to the ground. I did enjoy seeing all the blood pouring from her nose though.
Dave sighed and pulled some napkins from one of the pouches on his belt that he keeps for just such an occasion(though it's usually it's his own blood he's mopping up.). As he knelt down in front of her and started cleaning her up he said, "Jesus christ Katie, why are you out here?"
And she answered, "Because I love you Dave. I miss you and want you back."
Dave asked, "What does that have to do with-"
And Katie cut him off by pointing at me and yelling, "Her! It has to do with her! She stole you from me." I laughed at that because if I had stolen Dave from anyone I would be in a MUCH better mood.
I was going to say as much, but Dave cut me off with a, "Hit Girl, stop, please." Then he looks at her and says, "Nobody stole me from you. You broke up with me."
And Katie said, "No, she did. She took a part of you that I could never get back. She took this part of you. She shares a part of you I was never able to. You and her just kept getting closer and closer. And then you picked her over me. Don't even try to deny it! I told you I wanted you to stop seeing her and you flat out refused.
"And then there's Riley. Who's gorgeous. I can't compete with her in looks. And I can't win against Mindy as long as she has this part of you all to herself. I thought...I thought if I could make a name for myself as hero, on my own, then I could have that part of you too. And then, I'd have that over Riley, and I'd be prettier than her," she said looking at me again, "so I'd have a chance with you again."
And then something really weird happened. She was looking at Dave, and he had his back to me so I couldn't see his face, but Katie's face...the only way I can think to describe it is that all the hope drained out of her face. And then she whispered so quietly that if there'd been a breeze it would have drowned it out, "I am, right?"
Dave didn't say anything I could hear, but Katie started crying. Dave stood up and looked down at her for a second before turning and walking back to me and saying, "You didn't do any permanent damage. She'll be fine. Let's get out of here."
And he put his hand on my shoulder and turned me around and started me walking away while Katie cried on the ground.
And now...I feel like I won a fight, lost a fight, and was denied a fight all at the same time and I don't know how to deal with this and it's keeping me up and I REALLY need to get some sleep and I just...Ugh. I wish I'd gotten to finish beating the crap out of Katie.
