….I'm already writing the next chapter I said, it'll be up soon I said.
Three months later isn't what I'd call 'soon', Sorry! D: but it is finally here! Life has been hectic recently, and I fell into the dreaded writer's block. However that is hopefully in the past now and I can finally get back to writing! I'v'e read all the reviews and it makes me genuinely happy to see so many people enjoying my writing. Hope this chapter was worth the wait!
"Hey no fair! You can't take shortcuts!"
"Says who? Last time I checked we didn't make any rules, Opie!"
Opal grumbled and glared as a smug Korra came bouncing off of the grass and skidded to a halt at the start of a large driveway. The two of them, once familiar with the landscape, decided to race the last stretch of road to Asami's house. Of course, Korra had decided that the road wasn't good enough, and cut a corner over the grass-covered verge to seal a victory. Korra stuck out her tongue in response to her friend's disgruntled reaction before getting off her bike and propping it up against the nearby wall as she adjusted her hair "you gonna come in or what?" She asked, grinning as she tilted her head.
All irritated thoughts in Opal's mind the minute she reached Korra's location and saw the sheer extent of the premises in front of her. She stared, slack jawed for a moment while Korra chuckled "pretty huge isn't it huh?"
"Yeah.. I'll say"
"I was the same first time I came here, I had no idea she lived in a place like this, but it's really cool, trust me, Asami's mum is lovely, I'm sure she'll love you!"
Opal hopped off her bike after finally shaking herself out of the daze she was currently in "she's so lucky to live in a place like this" she said as the pair of them began walking their bikes up the driveway.
Korra snorted "like you can talk! Your family home is huge and you have a holiday home!"
"I know I know, but I have to share it with four brothers, she gets this all to herself" Opal raised an eyebrow and sent a pointed look in Korra's direction "you're a single child, you have no idea what it's like having to deal with siblings, especially brothers." Korra shrugged "okay okay, point made. When you put it like that, then yeah, Asami's really lucky to have a place like this all to herself. I guess her mum makes a lot of money"
Opal raised an eyebrow "just her mum? Doesn't she have a dad?"
"No idea" Korra replied with a shrug "she never talks about him, and I never see anyone around that could possibly be her dad"
"Isn't that kinda weird?"
"What, that she just lives with her mum? Some people just have a mum or just have a dad, not everyone has both parents around you know!"
Opal blinked, taken aback by Korra's sudden change to a protective demeanour; she raised her hands defensively "hey now, I was just saying what I thought! No need to get all snappy" she let out a chuckle "what are you, her guard dog or something?"
Korra's eyes went wide and her face flushed "w-what?"
"You always jump in to defend her whenever you can. You're like a little guard dog!" Opal grinned and patted her friend on her head "aww good doggy!"
Korra narrowed her eyes and growled, to which Opal just laughed "see? That's what I'm talking about! Little guard dog Korra!"
"Shush" came the muttered reply as Korra turned away, trying to hide her blush "I'm just being a good friend, that's all"
"Yeah yeah, whatever you say" Opal replied, sticking her tongue out.
"...Is this your way of getting me back for cutting the corner in our race earlier?"
"Maaaaybee..."
"Ugh… I hate you"
"Nah, you love me"
Korra swatted at Opal to which the girl responded in turn with a swat of her own. Soon the two of them were engaged in some sort of playful shoving match, their bikes now strewn on the ground, neither one giving in.
"You know, as much as I love your visits, I'd appreciate it if you didn't have fights in my driveway"
Both froze mid-shove, their gazes shooting over to the location of the new voice. Yasuko stood there, arms folded and one eyebrow raised. There was silence for a moment before her resolve cracked and she let out a soft chuckle "ah.. I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist! But really, no fighting" she flicked her eyes between the two.
"Now, I know who you are Korra, but who's this? Another friend?"
Korra blinked, then gave the woman a sheepish grin as she shuffled her feet "ah. Yeah, sorry Yasuko, we weren't really fighting, just being silly, that's all" She turned to Opal who nodded quickly. "And erm, this is-"
"I'm Opal" Opal said, quickly cutting in and introducing herself and giving a polite wave "nice to meet you! You must be Asami's mum, right?"
A flash of recognition went across Yasuko's eyes and she smiled warmly "ahh, you're Opal! Asami speaks so often about the times she spends with the pair of you, I was wondering when I was going to meet the third member of her little friendship group. And yes, I'm Asami's mum, but please just call me Yasuko" her eyes crinkled up into a broader smile before she spoke again "would you like me to get Asami for you? I'm sure she'd love to see you."
Korra and Opal nodded and said "yes please!" In unison, causing Yasuko to chuckle again "very well, you wait there, I'll go get her for you."
A few minutes later, Yasuko returned, Asami in tow. Her face practically lit up when she saw both girls standing there and quickly hurried over to meet them "Korra!" She exclaimed gleefully, giving the shorter girl a gentle hug "I was wondering when you'd show up, you're always late" she teased before turning to Opal and giving her a similar, albeit shyer, hug "I wasn't expecting to see you today, this is a nice surprise!"
Opal, having returned the hug, gave Asami a confused look when the two parted "huh? But I thought Korra told you I was coming?" She shot a glare at Korra who grinned guiltily and shrugged.
Asami shook her head "no, she said nothing, but I'm happy you're here all the same" she gave a shy smile "you're both my friends after all." She glanced back at her mother who was still stood in the doorway "anyway, would you like to come in? Mum says she's happy for you to stay for tea"
Korra grinned and gave Opal a gleeful look "ooo! Trust me Opal, the meals here are amaziiiing!"
She threw an arm around the short-haired girl's shoulders "we'd love to stay for tea!" She announced for the pair of them, Opal nodding before giving Korra a look as soon as Asami had turned around and begun walking inside.
"What are you up to?" Opal said quietly as she eyed Korra, who just grinned again
"Dude I'm not up to anything, I just wanna spend time with both my bestest friends, what's wrong about that? Sure I forgot to tell Asami you were coming, but didn't you see how happy she was to see you? C'mon, lighten up huh?" Opal raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly
"Fine fine, but I'm watching you" she did the 'watching you' fingers between the two of them, and the pair of them just giggled and swatted at each other.
Eventually the three of them made in indoors, Korra grinning as she watched Opal take in the environment around them. Sure, the Beifong estate was large, but it was nowhere near as lavishly furnished as Asami's house.
Once they were inside, Asami turned to them, the expression on her face clearly giving away that she had suddenly had a thought.
"By the way..." she said, tilting her head "how'd you guys get here anyway? I didn't hear a car or anything."
Korra grinned "ahh that's easy! We biked here, well, raced. I won!"
Opal folded her arms and pouted "no you didn't, you cheated! You cut off a corner!"
"What, you want a rematch?" Korra replied with a grin and sticking her tongue out "you know I'll win again anyway."
Asami flicked her eyes between the two, a slight smile on her face "well, if you want a rematch, we've got a bit out private road out back you could race on. No risk of cars and stuff, you know?"
Korra raised an eyebrow "you wouldn't mind us doing that? I mean, wouldn't it be boring for you just to sit and watch?"
"Who said I would be watching?" Asami replied with a broad grin "I'm gonna race too!"
The other two girls blinked in surprise "wait, really?" Opal replied "I didn't think you'd wanna do something like that."
Asami just shrugged "I'm not really the type of person to share everything but, yeah, I like to race. It's the speed you know?"
"..Well, okay, but I'm still gonna win" Korra said with the same smug grin on her face, to which Asami just raised an eyebrow and bit back a chuckle.
"No cheating this time!" Opal announced, eyeing Korra pointedly.
The three of them headed back outside, Opal and Korra stopping to collect their bikes before following Asami around the back of the house to the garage behind. The door was already open so the three of them headed inside, Asami still taking the lead.
The light was switched on and flickered into life, illuminating the room beyond. Unlike the house that was maintained to a status that was borderline immaculate, the garage was a mess. Boxes upon boxes were stacked precariously on top of each other, some harbouring what looked like several layers of dust. There was a large workbench in the corner with a plethora of tools scattered about its surface as well as what looked like a bunch of old books.
"Careful" Asami said as the trio weaved their way through the mountains of boxes and bags "if you knock any of these boxes too hard it might fall on you. They shouldn't but.. Yeah, be careful"
Korra nodded and glanced around her in surprise. How was it that this room was in such a state? It didn't make sense to her; turning to glance back at Opal who was clearly thinking the same thing.
"You're surprised it's so messy, huh" Came Asami's voice, as if she'd read their minds "but honestly I don't really know. Apparently Dad used to use this place a lot, but that was back when I was really little; I don't remember it ever being used."
The two other girls glanced at each other worridly, their conversation from earlier coming to the front of their minds once again. Usually Korra might have pushed a bit further, being the curious type that she was… But she wasn't stupid. If what they thought was true, it wouldn't be the best subject to talk about.
Just as Korra was scanning the room in a effort to find something to change the topic of conversation, there came a rattling from Asami's direction "ah! Got it!" She exclaimed, pulling a bicycle out from behind yet another stack of boxes. It was deep red with black pinstriping down the sides; seriously, why was everything in Asami's house red?
As she was contemplating that thought, Korra suddenly heard Opal speak up rather excitedly "hey, what's that?" She asked as she pointed across the room. There, just peeking out from behind, you guessed it, more boxes, was what looked like the gleam of metal. Were those headlights? If they were, they weren't what Korra was used to seeing.
Asami shuffled her way back over through the alleyway of boxes and craned her neck to see. She smiled "oh, that's my mother's old car" she explained "I've got photos of her driving it somewhere… never got a ride in it though"
Considering the fact that it was stuffed right to the back behind a tonne of mess that wasn't really surprising. It was probably shut in here at the same time as when the building stopped being used, and Asami had said that was when she was much younger.
"I'll probably get to drive it sometime though" continued Asami "because when I asked my Mother about it she said it's mine when I'm old enough."
Opal's and Korra's jaws simultaneously dropped to the floor "you… you've got a car?" Opal exclaimed "for real? You have a real car?"
Asami chuckled and gave a nod "yeah I do. But like I said, I can't drive it til I'm at least 18. Mum said so."
"Still.." Interjected Korra "You've already got a car! I don't think I'll get one till I'm like, 30 or something!"
"Anyway, since it's your car, can we have a look?" Asked an excited Opal. Asami shrugged
"Sure, if you can get to it. It's pretty stuck in there."
"Where there's a will there's a way!" Opal announced proudly before squeezing between the boxes. Korra frowned "say what?
"It's an expression! Mum says it all the time!" Came Opal's voice as she momentarily disappeared from view.
The two remaining girls looked at each other, Korra shrugging in confusion while Asami giggled a little before they followed suit. After much shuffling and squeezing in and out of tight spaces, the three of them were greeted with the car. It, too, was a deep red colour that showed up even underneath a thick layer of dust and dirt. The black interior was also just as dusty.
"It looks really old!" Exclaimed Opal as she scurried over to get a better look. Asami nodded "yeah, mum said was given it by her mum who bought it years ago" she tapped her lip "I think it's called.. Um.. oh! Yeah, it's a model A, a roadster. That's why it doesn't have a roof"
"Is it really that old then?" Opal continued
"It is" Asami replied, a cheery tone in his voice "they were the second car to be mass produced in America, after the Model T"
"Eh? How does that work?" Responded a confused Korra "Shouldn't it be A first? Then B?"
Asami shrugged again "don't ask me, that's what the inventor called it."
"Pfft, then they're stupid" Continued Korra, folding her arms. Asami puffed up her chest, glowering at her companion "Henry Ford was a genius! He's the reason cars are where they are today!"
There was a silence in the room for a moment before Korra snorted, shaking her head "okay okay, calm down" she stuck out her tongue "didn't think you were such a car nerd."
Asami let out a huff "sh-shut up.." she stuttered out, clearly caught off guard by Korra's cheeky response.
The moment was interrupted however by a dull 'thud'. Turning they discovered that the cause of the noise was Opal; she had attempted to get into the car but had found the door was jammed shut due to the piles of junk either side. She had clambered up over the boxes and lost her balance, falling headfirst into the seat. As the pair rushed over her head popped up, sneezing and wiping the dust off of her face. "Ow.."
"You okay?" Asami asked, a worried tone to her voice. Korra meanwhile was biting her lip as she tried her best not to giggle. She'd been worried initially, but having grown up with Opal she'd gotten used to her clumsiness, finding them more amusing than anything. Well, when she wasn't hurt of course.
"Ugh… I'm fine" Mumbled Opal as she wriggled about a bit, rubbing her head slightly "bumped my head a little, but I'm okay." Korra squeezed her way through to stand beside Asami. With a sigh she leaned forward "okay you clumsy lump, you'd better get out of there, who knows how many spiders and other creepy crawlies are down in there" she said the last part with a slightly evil grin across her face, to which Opal squeaked and practically jumped out of the car, Korra grasping hold of her arms and tugging her out the rest of the way as Asami found herself stumbling back to get out of the way.
Once out, Opal brushed herself down and shook the dust from her hair. Korra snorted "okay, after that little show, how about we go out and race, you know, like we planned?"
"Fine fine, no need to be so rude" Retorted Opal, sticking her tongue out playfully in her friend's direction. The trio finally exited the building, Asami pulling her bike behind her.
Picking up their own bikes once they were outside, Korra and Opal were quick to bring their thoughts back to the race at hand. Much teasing and bravado ensued as Asami lead the way to the stretch of roadway at the very back of the property.
Once there the trio were quick to organise the rules (no cheating, as Opal had once again pointed out.) A start and finish line were established with the help of a piece of chalk and they stood together, bikes at the ready. "Right, on the count of three" Opal said excitedly as she and the others got onto their bikes "one, two, THREE!"
All three bikes left the line simultaneously, both Korra and Opal doing their damndest to overtake one another. They were neck and neck when all of a sudden Asami sped by, leaving the other two in the dust before skidding to a halt across the finishing line. She was already hopping off her bike by the time the pair also crossed the finish line, both staring slack-jawed at her.
Opal was the first to react. With a chuckle she dismounted and gave Korra an amused look "seems you got beat" she said with a grin. She was surprised Asami had beaten them both so easily, but a part of her was somewhat pleased that Korra had been put in her place. Speaking of Korra, she too was equally surprised. However at Opal's comment she tried her best to brush it off; she had her pride to take care of after all. With a slight cough she shrugged her shoulders casually "beginner's luck, has to be" she said, avoiding the others' gazes as she knew they were both smirking at her.
In response, Asami tilted her head, a playful smile on her lips "oh? So you're asking for a rematch then?"
"Well yeah, I mean, we can't make the call on just one race, right?"
"Says you" Opal replied with a snort, to which Korra just sent her a mildly playful glare. Asami on the other hand just shrugged "well if you insist, best out of three then?"
Korra nodded, a determined look in her eyes. She wasn't going to be beaten. It was beginner's luck, right?
They started the race once again, and once again Asami won by a long shot. Korra was once again flustered and demanded they do best out of five instead. Yet again she was beaten, race after race; during race number five Asami decided to even pop a wheelie across the finish line.
This time Korra knew she'd been beaten. She was a prideful person but she knew when enough was enough, and finally accepted defeat. They pulled their bikes back along the roadway and round the side of the house, propping them against the side of the garage beside each other.
"...So, why didn't you tell us you were that good at cycling?" Opal asked curiously as the three of them made their way back indoors "A lot of the other kids at school bring their bikes in all the time for races and the like. If you took your bike in and raced, they'd love you!" Asami looked back at her and just gave a small shrug
"well.. I could" she confessed, running a hand through her hair "but then a lot of them might say nice things about me and want to be my friend, but then they wouldn't be friends with me for me, you know? Just what I can do." She sighed as the other two watched her in confusion "It's happened before" she explained "at the last school I went to I had a lot of other kids wanting to be my friend, but it was only so they could get popular. After that, mum always taught me I should be friends with people who like me for me… if that makes sense."
Opal and Korra glanced at one another, taken aback by this admission. Sure Asami had always seemed the more intelligent of the group, but this seemed as if it was almost philosophical. Korra soon found herself deep in thought. If what Asami said was true, then she could understand why she would feel the need to keep certain qualities about herself… To herself, so to speak. She couldn't believe that anyone would have such a superficial reason for friendship, and it made her wonder just what Asami's life had been like prior to her attending their school. This curiosity was soon dropped however as they rounded a corner and a delicious smell wafted towards them. Upon entering the house Yasuko was there to greet them, informing them that the chef was almost done with cooking and that tea would be ready shortly.
The meal itself went relatively quickly, since the three girls were eager to share the recent events with a rather amused Yasuko. Opal was also keen to ask even more questions about the house which Yasuko was more than happy to answer, despite most of them being repeated several times due to Opal's excitement.
Soon, the sun was beginning to make its way across the final stretch of the sky, causing Opal to glance at her watch and grimace "ugh...it's getting late. I don't wanna leave but we've got to cycle back, and mum always told me not to ride my bike in the dark." She glanced over at Korra who was wearing a similar displeased expression on her face. Neither of them wanted to leave, but they knew they had to.
Eventually they headed back out the front door, both giving Asami a tight hug and promises of coming back soon. With a few more waves the pair mounted their bikes and began the long journey home, Asami waving them off until they were out of sight.
Despite Opal's initial hesitation at the beginning of the day, she was glad that the three of them were able to spend time together. She had genuinely been worried about the rift she had seen forming between her and Korra, but it had apparently been all in her head. Korra was and always would be the kind of person to put her friendships before anything, something that Opal had almost taken for granted until recently. She hoped from now on that they would be able to spend as much time together as possible. All three of them.
As usual, I hope you all enjoyed this story! I'm always open to criticism, especially now since I've taken such a long gap from the last chapter, so please don't be afraid to point out anything you think I could improve on. I take it all on board, Promise!
I'm not going to give specifics about when the next chapter will be up, but I can promise you it won't be another three months, not even another one month either if I can help it!
See you guys next time!
-Kieran