The Aftermath and Baseball Bat

by Hoe-mori

This story begins with what Aubrey, Kel, and Hero went through when Sunny and Basil fought each other, and revealed the truth. But past that, things are a lot more light hearted and mundane. Aubrey and Kel grow closer in Sunny's absence. Basil still has some trouble, but he's not the focus here. (Idk why but when I select character tags in the app, Sunny's has a typo.)

11. Lunch with Kel

Lunchtime. Kel was already waiting outside Aubrey's classroom.

"How did you know that I'd be here?" she asked him.

"Oh come on, I usually see you meeting up with Kim here. I just made sure to be faster than her."

"... Good job, stalker."

"Puh-lease! You agreed."

"I was spacing out!"

"Yeah, clearly. Good thing I only asked for lunch instead of a million dollars!"

Aubrey growled. Kel laughed. They walked together to the cafeteria.

She noticed Kel leading her to his table. It was most of the basketball team, and a few cheerleaders.

"Keeeeellllll! My man!" Someone from the basketball team said it when he spotted Kel. She watched Kel go up to him, they did some kind of complicated handshake that ended with a chestbump. Definitely a Kel thing to do, but also definitely not an Aubrey place to be.

"Who'd you bring?" someone else asked.

"My friend, Aubrey!" Kel said.

"Just a friend, huh?" someone else interjected.

"C'mon guys, don't be like that, we're childhood friends."

"Dude that's like, the number one way couples get together here."

Kel was actually stammering, "Aaaahhhh, just, y'know, like I said, it's not… That."

"BROOOOO YOUR FACE RIGHT NOW!" this guy practically roared it.

"Dude, you look like a tomato." someone else at the table pointed it out. A couple of the cheerleaders giggled.

Kel was quiet again. Another moment that Aubrey felt like it was so weird, to see Kel go quiet. She spoke up, "Can we sit here or not?"

"Oh shit. Yes you can, ma'am."

Aubrey didn't think she sounded particularly intimidating, but she must have been because the entire table hushed.

As everyone began eating, the noise of conversation slowly trickled back in. A lot of talk about the game next week against Nearby City. She was expecting to sulk in the safety of the Hooligans, but she just sort of forgot while she was here. It was a completely different atmosphere at this table. Topics bounced around as fast as a ball being dribbled around the court. Kel was chowing down.

"You gonna go?" Kel asked.

"To the game?" Aubrey asked back.

"No, I just meant away."

"Huh?!"

"I'm kidding, yes, the game."

"What day is it again?"

"Thursday after school, and we're planning on having a pasta party the day after at Marlon's house!"

"To celebrate?"

"Only if we win. Otherwise we'll just party."

"I'll think about it."

"You'll be there then!"