Rising Shards

As Oka and I were the only ones who knew which car was Dr. Diast’s, we led the group to the faculty parking lot.

“Well, that was the most awkward conversation with your sister ever, Zates.” Kalei said.

“I’d rather not talk about it.” I said. I almost cried and blabbed everything in front of Stella. It was only thanks to Lillia’s quick thinking that we were able to slip away without incident.

“Aw, Zeta did her best!” Oka said. “I’m proud of her for appearing mostly normal there. I don’t think Stella suspected anything, either.”

“I think we’re all just lucky Lillia’s roped in this time,” Kalei said. “That was a good save on your part saying Zeta pricked herself with a pen, that’s why she’s slightly jumpier than her normal incredibly jumpy levels.”

“You’re welcome.” Lillia said.

We reached the parking lot, and I hid my embarrassment by diving my face into my scarf.

“How do you know Diast’s car, anyways?” Kalei asked.

I snapped out of my scarf safety zone. “That’s—” I started, trying desperately to come up with an excuse that didn’t explain my new housemate situation with Diast, and her new relationship situation with Stella.

“Diast drove me around a lot in the summer,” Oka said. “When Berin was busy, she was my go-to for entering normal society after leaving Tesata.”

“Ah.” Kalei said. She normally didn’t have any jokes for anything dealing with Oka’s time at Tesata, which had the added bonus in this instance of keeping her off any trail that could lead her to finding out about Stella and Diast before they were ready for people to know about them. Oka pointed out Diast’s car, and we got inside. I sat up front, with Oka right behind me and Kalei and Lillia next to her.

“Oh, hey, I just thought of something!” I said as I buckled up. I didn’t just think of it, but it was a good way to move the conversation in a direction I wanted and to try and get my mind off of potentially ruining Stella’s career. “If we’re going shopping, maybe we can pick up some stuff for the sleepover!”

“That’s a great idea!” Oka said.

“If you don’t mind us shopping after we get this book, Dr. Diast.” I said.

“As long as we get the book, and you don’t take too long doing whatever else, I don’t care what we do there.” Diast said as she started driving us out of the parking lot. “This place is in the Sky Clay business street, so there’s probably some store nearby that’ll help you with sleepover stocking.”

“Zeta coming up with the good plans!” Oka said.

“Yeah, real big brain on Zeta to think up that one.” Kalei said.

I knew she was being sarcastic, but her tone helped me tap into my goofy energy reserves, which helped block out my panicking powers.

“Yeah duh, me real big brain.” I said. I don’t know why, but something possessed me to say a string of words that were mostly gibberish, words though that were imbued with the power of someone feeling really smart. “Me mo brig bain…me mo brig—” I found whatever I was trying to say the funniest thing ever and burst out laughing.

“What?” Lillia asked. She hadn’t been part of a situation where Oka, Kalei and I got real goofy at the same time yet and was understandably perplexed. “Genuinely, what are you trying to say?”

“Me...mo….brig—” I started laughing again.

“You know, she big brain.” Kalei said. “Pretty self-explanatory.”

I kept trying to say “me mo big brain” for some reason, and it kept coming out as “me mo brig brain” and it was just inducing all the laughter in Kalei and I for some reason.

“Oka, translate for your girlfriend. I’m afraid whatever she’s afflicted with has spread to Kalei.” Lillia said.

“What more do you need Lillia, she mo brig brain!” Oka said.

“I don’t…get you guys sometimes…” Lillia said.

“Confusion, Oka strikes!” Oka said, holding a hand to Lillia’s throat. “Hup! Killing strike!”

“I’m kinda concerned that you switch so easily between gushing over Zeta and this hup kill shot thing.” Kalei said.

“Hup!” Oka said, giving a fake strike to Kalei this time. “I have two modes, I’m programmed to kill and also love Zeta.”

“Are you a robot now? I thought it was like a martial arts strike.” Kalei said.

“I was thinking more like robot blades.” Oka said.

“They’re robot blades.” Lillia said.

“Right. Hup!” Oka said, getting Lillia with her robot blade hands. “Hup hup!” She did the same to Kalei again. “Combo. Hup hup twip!” She froze as she reached for my neck in the front seat. “Zeta, are you OK with playing this? It is kind of violent.”

“I want in!” I said. I reached for the back seat towards Oka. “S-schwoom? Kill…shot?”

“Your voice lacks enthusiasm, but your unflinching attack on Oka is impressive. Triple kill denied.” Lillia said.

“You guys are so gonna get it when I formulate a battle strategy.” Kalei said.

I recognized the street with the movie theaters in Sky Clay; including the one where we saw Dentist Haircut the night I asked Oka out. A bit past the newer stores and theaters were the more local ones, all brick buildings with old paint from a bygone era across them.

“Alright, we’re here,” Diast said as she pulled into a small lot behind a bookstore that helpfully had a big sign that said “HUBBA HUBBA BOOKS” on it.  

As soon as we were all out of the car, Oka did a jumping spinning “Hup!” attack, getting myself, Kalei, and Lillia in one swing. “Triple kill.”

“You four better not do that in the store, for my sake.” Diast said.

“Hup!” Oka said, hopping again but not making any apparent effort to strike.

“And stop saying hup!” Diast said.

Oka looked at the store's sign. "Hub?" She did a questioning hup stab towards Lillia, who shook her head.

The store had apparently no organization system, but Diast was confident she’d be able to find another copy of the book and left us to look around.