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Chapter 15 - Weighted Expectations

Our rock skipping competition was awesome. Though, eventually, it simply became a rock throwing competition. At some point, we stopped trying to go for rock skipping distance and started going for thrown distance and sometimes flair.

"There's no...freaking way!" Khi shouted as Dana's stone bounced off Ettrail's wall and set the record for the farthest distance any of us had managed thus far.

"Way," Dana said sassily, placing her hands on her hips as if she were Crevari or Mum mouthing off to the druids.

A part of me believes Dana and Khi getting into overly-competitive battles and vying all the time was a sure sign that they were meant to be together. After all, they are married now. If you're wondering, yes, I did attend the wedding and no, Dana did not attempt to flirt with me again. She and Khi were very, very happy and I am glad they found blissful happiness in each other.

I'm sure she finally realized that Khi was the one and all her attempts to romance the wrong male in our friend group finally put a cork in the bottle that held her feelings for me. From what I remember being told, Dana had latched onto Khi after I left Ettrail altogether, having to find solace in her other male friend now that I was gone. Khi realized he liked her back after some time. And you know the story. They lived happily ever after.

As far as I know, Khi and Dana don't have any children. Of course the last time I checked was quite a few years ago, so that fact definitely could've changed.

Arlett and I giggled to ourselves as Khi and Dana broke out in a yelling match. Arlett and I watched in interest, wholly entertained for the time being.

I'm not sure why young Khi and Dana's competitions often ended in screaming. Perhaps it was just their way to get their frustrations because they didn't understand how to talk things out. On the other hand, Arlett and I were quiet and kept to ourselves, but we would rather talk things out if we had issues with someone. The only time I escalated to shouting was when someone made me extremely mad within five seconds.

"How did you even do that?" I heard Khi ask upon trying Dana's move himself and utterly failing. His rock ricocheted off the wall and back at us, which caused us all to duck. "The rocks are fighting back!" he screamed.

"Yeah, because they don't want to be thrown by a kid with sticks for arms," Dana elbowed Khi in the rib as she laughed.

"Elbereth has sticks for arms, too, but they don't mind being thrown by him apparently," Khi frowned. Dana shrugged. 

"I'm not aiming for the wall," I said as fixed my flower crown and picked up another rock. I had no problem simply throwing the rocks as hard as I could. I didn't really care about winning the contest. I just wanted to spend time with my friends.

"What would happen if you did?" Khi asked. It was my turn to shrug.

I suppose he was implying that he wanted me to attempt it.

So I did.

I put a little spin on my stone. It bounced off the wall and flew past where Dana's rock had fallen into the water before settling at the bottom of the lake. Khi and Dana exchanged a look of pure surprise and gasped loudly.

"How on earth?" I heard Arlett say in astoundment equal to Dana's and Khi's.

"I dunno..." I replied, sticking my hands in my pockets. 

I really have no idea how I'd done it. The spin I put on the rock wasn't meant to mimic Dana's. I was just fudging it. I didn't really think it'd work.

"I doubt you can do it twice," Khi teased. Arlett and Dana gave me worried looks, as if they thought I was going to punch Khi. I was used to Khi and his deriding antics, but never ever had I been bullied by my friends. I knew he meant it as a joke.