AN: Um, hey. Bet you forgot I existed, huh? I never meant to be gone so long, but big life events got in the way… Anyway, I kind of lost these characters, so this is a short chapter without any real plot, but just a way to feel them out again. Hopefully, it'll open my mind back up. Thank you so much for anyone still reading, and especially those that cared enough to message me about the story. Even though I felt guilty about letting you down, it's still nice to know that people still want to read the crazy stuff I write down. Thanks again and enjoy.

"Rise and shine, acquaintance of mine." Callie's voice rang obnoxiously throughout my formally peaceful room.

"Really?" I grumbled as I pulled the pillow over my head.

"Well, I thought 'friend of mine' would be a bit of a stretch, so I went with acquaintance…however, I can see now that that was probably unnecessarily formal…sista from another mista?" Even though her voice warped through the fluffy barrier, I could still hear her teasing lilt and taunting sarcasm.

"Definitely not formal enough…"

"I'm sure that was some witty retort, but I can't hear you through your oversized pillow…" When I made no move to repeat myself, she continued, "So, what? You'll only drag yourself out of bed to see me naked?"

A loud groan bubbled up as I rolled my eyes, and finally turned over to lay on my back, "That was like a week ago, shouldn't you be done harassing me about it? And, for the last time, I wasn't planning on seeing you naked, it was just bad timing." I huffed and propped myself up on my elbows to glare at her.

Callie scoffed, "One, no, I'm not done teasing you about it, and two, it looked like you thought it was very good timing." She snorted as I snarled at her exasperating personality and flopped back down, my hair half covering my face. "Ok, in all seriousness, what's going on? I haven't had a problem getting you out of bed in a long time."

Her voice carried just enough compassion and sincerity that I, unfortunately, felt compelled to honestly answer her, "Just lately, I've been…exhausted." Brushing the hair out of my face, I scooted up to lean against the headboard. "Physical therapy has been particularly brutal. And, with the stress about tomorrow's fitting appointment, I'm just frazzled and drained." I ran my hand over my face and let out a long stream of air.

Callie studied me for a moment, a thoughtful expression decorating her face. After a few seconds, she nodded, "Ok, tell you what. No workout today, no balance exercises, nothing to do with your leg or responsibilities. You're right. You've been working really hard recently, especially if you count the extra energy spent on not hating me every minute. So, we'll play hookie. All day."

Cocking an eyebrow, I looked her up and down, "Seriously?"

"Yep, I know exactly what you need. First, you're going to lay back down until you're ready to get up. Then, you'll get dressed in something comfortable, whatever that might be. Then, come out and see me and I'll help you have a day of relaxation and guilty pleasures. Deal?" She looked almost giddy at the prospect of whatever she was planning.

Considering her proposal for all of two seconds, I nodded slowly, "Deal."

"Good. Then, I'll see you when I see you." With that, she shot me a crooked smile and left my room. Not daring to risk losing this opportunity, I instantly sunk back into my sheets and closed my eyes.

"Son of a bitch! You're an even bigger pain in my ass than I originally thought!" Callie growled in frustration, angered by the vigor that I presented in our heated battle.

"Hey, you invited yourself to this party, I never said I'd be nice." I snapped back, clenching my teeth as I stared, unblinking, unwilling to sacrifice even a nanosecond of focus.

"I don't expect you to be nice, I've known you long enough to know that you're incapable of nice…but, a little human decency never hurt anyone." Callie chided with sneer.

I couldn't help but delight in her irritation, "And, I've known you long enough that I expected a little more sportsmanship from you…but, you're actually a very sore loser. Looo-sssss-errrr." I made sure to repeat and exaggerate the last word, ensuring that she heard it loud and clear.

"Shut up…Dammit!" Callie slammed her controller down as I pumped my fist in victory. "I want a rematch!"

I shrugged with a wide grin, "If you think that will change anything… How do you suck so bad at Mario Kart?"

Callie rolled her eyes, "I don't suck…" She brewed in a quiet pout, glaring at the screen with my dancing Yoshi and her sad Toadstool. "Why do you have a GameCube in the back of your closet, anyway?"

My smile faded as I reflected on her question. "I forgot it was there…it was my brother's. We used to spend hours playing this. I got of hold of it and just couldn't part with it…" I diverted my eyes as images of my brother floated up. Clearing my throat, I countered, "The better question is, what were you doing going through the back of my closet?"

"I was looking for Narnia. Why couldn't you part with it?" Callie plowed ahead with the conversation, despite my vagueness, which I had hoped would indicate that I didn't want to talk about it.

In attempt to delay the discussion, I counted, "Did you find it?"

Callie furrowed her brows, "What? The GameCube? Yeah, I just said that."

"No, Narina." I clarified with mock interest.

"No, just a lost Centaur. Stop avoiding the question." Callie responded cooly.

Sighing, I fiddled with the worn plastic of the controller, "He gave it to me when he left for the military, told me to keep it to practice so maybe I'd finally beat him." I let out a mirthless laugh. "But, he died over there a few years ago, and I just couldn't get rid of something that held so many good memories." I took a deep breath as I drifted through the feelings that had been stirred up.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Arizona. That's really tough…We don't have to play this, if you don't want to…I just found it the other day, and when you said you needed a break, I thought this would be perfect…I didn't know." She sounded so apologetic, that it was almost cute.

I shook my head, "No, you were right, this was a great idea, exactly what I needed…" I was getting uncomfortable with the emotions coming from her and collecting in the room. "So, you still up for that rematch? Keep in mind, I am going to destroy you." I smirked as her features clouded with annoyance.

"Oh, you're on. And, I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you. I have a steep learning curve and don't like to lose, so watch your back, Goldie Locks." She retrieved her controller from where she had chucked it, and restarted the race.

I narrowed my eyes in concentration as the lights counted down the start of the race. Just as the light turned green, Callie reached over, snatched the controller from my hands and tossed it to her other side and sat on it. "Lets see those fancy skills now."

Momentarily stunned by her childish actions, I stared as she giggled and whipped her fingers over her controller, maneuvering her player to the front of the pack. "What the hell?! Steep learning curve, my ass! You're just a cheater!" I eventually shrieked.

"At least, I'm not a loser," came her nonchalant reply.

Growling, I lunged myself over her body and attempted to reacquire my controller. This meant that I was sprawled across her lap and digging around her butt, trying to find it. She laughed lightly, "Well, I can't say I hate the way this is turning out."

Glaring at her, I finally managed to use the cord to pull the controller into my hands and sat back up. "Game on, fool."

"Did you just call me a fool?" Callie asked as she took out another player with a banana peel.

"Yes, I did." I bit back as I focused on driving faster and better than ever before.

"Well, alright, then. But, there's no way you're going to win with that ridiculously slow start. What, were you Flintstone-ing it?" Callie taunted as she swerved through a sharp turn.

"Nope, just dealing with a pathetic, coward of a racer. I'm back in it, now, though." I sped up and wove through the other opponents, gradually creeping up in rank.

"Yeah, right. I'm so going to win. And, when I do, you have to answer one question for me. Anything I want to ask, you have to answer truthfully." I felt her glance at me, gauging my reaction.

I mulled it over as I took out Bowser. "Fine, but when I win, I get to ask you a question."

"Deal."

When we got to the last leg of the final lap, I looked up to see that I was right behind her and had a green shell in my arsenal. It was not the most reliable or at all easy to use, but it would have to do, it was my only shot left. I carefully observed her car on the screen and took a deep breath, letting my green shell loose, I had to time it perfectly.

I watched in aggravation as it sailed just a fraction too far to the left and she veered around it. "Ha, nice try. You lose." A maniacal giggle came from her wide smile.

Without hesitation, I reached over and slapped the controller out of her hand and squealed as her guy slowed down and drifted off the track, allowing me to pass her just before the finish line and secure my first place win. "Ha, to you. I win." I flashed her a smug and dimpled grin as she stared with her mouth gaped open.

Finally, she snapped her jaw shut and shook her head, speaking in a calm tone, "Wow, I am so disappointed in you."

Unable to help myself, I laughed, "You started it. So, about that question."

"What makes you think I'm going to honor our deal after that stunt you just pulled?" Callie quipped, crossing her arms.

I held my hand to my chest and gasped in mock reverence, "Because you're Calliope Torres and your word is binding. You'd never betray your code of ethics because of one silly game would you?"

Callie rolled her eyes, but was unable to hold in a grin, "Fine. Ask your question, you manipulative shrew."

I thought for a moment, then looked in her eyes, "Why do you only sing 80s rock in the shower?"

"Really? That's it?" She cocked her head and raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, what's wrong with that?" I asked indignantly. I couldn't even ask good enough questions for her.

Callie shrugged and shook her head, "Nothing, it's a good question…I was just planning on asking something way more personal and I figured you'd go for the throat with yours…" When I glared at her, she quickly continued, "Anyway, that's easy. My mom loved classic rock and pretty much any rock from the 80s. By looking at her, you'd never know she knew nearly every verse to every AC/DC song. Or that, on any given day, Foreigner could cheer her up. Or that she secretly called herself Mrs. Bon Jovi well into her thirties…" She trailed off and a look I could only describe as fond sadness transformed her features, before she shook it off and finished, "Anyway, I grew up listening to all of that, so it's special to me."

I nodded once, "Good answer. Where's she now?" I found myself asking before I could filter it.

She shook her head, "Sorry, you already asked your one question. You're not going to buy the cow if the milk is free."

"What?"

"Don't worry about it." Callie got up from the couch and headed toward the kitchen. "So, I'm thinking root beer floats are up next."

I shifted in my seat so that I could see the kitchen better, "Seriously? GameCube and root beer floats? Are we nine?"

"Yes. So?"

I sighed, but flashed her a half smile, "Sure, why not?"

"That's the spirit. I take it you don't have hookie days very often." Callie commented as she shuffled through the freezer for ice cream.

"Um…I have one leg. All my days are hookie days." I felt the need to point out the idiocy of her observation.

I could see Callie roll her eyes from the kitchen, "You know what I mean. Not hookie from work, which I'm guessing you never did, but hookie from reality for a day. Everyone needs days like those."

I pondered her statement, before shrugging, "No, I guess, I don't take many. But, I get it the merit of it."

As she re-entered the living room, carrying two floats, she smirked, "You know…you might want to start being more careful…"

Taking a sip of the thick, frosty goodness, I mumbled, "Careful about what?"

With a quick swipe of her tongue, which I couldn't help but stare at, she caught some stray ice cream, "Careful about the fact that you seem to be warming up to me. I just might start to think we're friends."

It was my turn to roll my eyes, "I'm not worried. You're not that clueless."

"It's because you saw me naked, huh?" Callie grinned mischievously, ignoring my brush off.

"Oh, my God. I'm going to go take a nap. You can use that time to get over yourself." I pushed myself to my feet and grasped my crutches.

"But, you didn't even finish your float. Fine, you don't have to admit that you just like me because I'm cute… Come back." Her voice teased as I hopped away.

"Bye, Calliope." I said, completely disregarding her attempt at banter.

Callie huffed, "Fine."

I smiled to myself as I swung the door shut, not caring that I didn't hear a click.

AN: So, what'd you think?