From the Prom to Baltimore, Friday Night

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy was had been at the prom for maybe half an hour before her phone rang; just enough time for her to have a few conversations and a quick trip to the refreshment table (or four). She was frowning when she felt it vibrating in her clutch, trying to think who it could be. If it was her parents, she decided, she was just going to ignore it and tell them later she was studying.

Imagine her surprise when the name that flashed across her screen was Gorgon. Actually, forget surprise. Imagine her concern.

"Hey," she said, setting her cup of punch on the closest table and ducking for the door. "Gorgon, it's Banzai. Did you mean to call me? Is everything okay?"

[For the caller, please!]

Comments

[gunslingerpose]

And his reply had been fairly hypothetical, too. Nikolai grinned.

"Nah, I know. But just think," he replied, "any given time of the day, there's a chance that I've taken a hit from someone. How can you ever know for sure?"

Besides talking about it very candidly the way they were now.

[spin_kick_snap]

"By how fast you react when I try to kick the legs out from under you?" Kathy suggested impishly. "I'd be looking downwards for that one. And then by whether or not you can catch up to me after I take off running?"

[gunslingerpose]

"And again, see if I ever get you more chicken nuggets," Nick laughed, shaking his head. "Jeeze, everyone's clearly out to get me, here."

His life was super hard, okay?

[spin_kick_snap]

Just the absolute worst. And he didn't even have a Beemer he could go home and carefully cry his sorrows into, in such a way as to not stain the interior.

"I'm just saying, it would work wouldn't it?" she said, looking up at him innocently. "I thought you were looking for an answer! I was helping."

[gunslingerpose]

"Because that's what you do, huh?" Nick shook his head and took a drink of Coke before continuing. "Spin, and kick, and give people answers."

In fairness, the snap part wouldn't come until a bit later.

[spin_kick_snap]

"I'm just a darling ball of rainbows, come down to help people find their way in life," Kathy said piously. "Either through answers to life's little problems, or a well-placed kick to the head. I'm like a bouncy Buddha, really."

Didn't you just feel so lucky to share a beat with her, Nikolai?