Ethereal Madness

Chapter 56- Painful Victory

I sat down on the cold, hard bench. The steam lingering off the stacked sunrise burger rose into the air and my stomach growled.

Olivia sat next to me, her burger double the size of mine. Her eyes grew wide as she ogled her food like a great treasure. She was nearly drooling.

I snuck a small chuckle. I'm glad to see she's calmed down. She was so hysterical when she met Ainia and Clarissa. To see her engrossed, so invested, like a five year old; it's like she wasn't even the same person.

The kids scattered about on the playground, laughing and screaming. None of this reached Olivia however, who I wasn't even sure remembered I exist.

She took a bite of her burger and her face was elated. Each bite reflected a joyous smile that was brighter than after she beat the punk at Air Hockey. By the time I was on my third bite, she was balling up what was now only a wrapper in her hands.

"Not hungry huh?" I said to her and she puffed up her cheeks, which didn't help as she head sesame seeds stuck to her.

"No, I wasn't that hungry," she denied it. "But I figured it would be rude to decline your offer. What fool would decline a free meal?"

"Your burger was bigger than mine," I took another bite.

"You eat slow." She complained.

"I don't even think you chewed. Pretty sure you didn't even taste it." I teased her.

"I did too!" Her expression softened a bit. "It was good. Better than the ones you gave me before."

I gasped. "Really? Even better than White Castle?"

Her lips twitched and I knew she wanted to say yes. "I-I-it was good," she repeated and folded her arms proudly, holding her head up. "Maybe as good as White Castle. But I wouldn't say better."

You really are...I don't get how Clarissa can even think that this is a date. Feels like I'm babysitting my little sister.

"Arthur," she pointed at the swing set. "Let's go on there."

"The swings?" Sure, why not? If it helps her forget about the 'ruthless, bloodthirsty Amazons,' then I'm all here for it. "Sounds good to me. Do you know how to ride a swing?" I asked without thinking.

"Of course I do. What do you take me for, an idiot?" She stomped over to the row of empty swings and sat on the one in the center. She fidgeted with the seating for a good twenty seconds, and I stood in front of her, waiting for her to start swinging.

She pushed off, and I thought she was off to the races...until...until she moved a couple centimeters and returned to the center, where she rocked back in place. She frowned and I decided to wait before helping her. She lifted off again, this time with more force, and her legs almost tapped me. Almost. Then like before, she rocked back a little before ending up in the center above the small puddle.

"Don't say a word," she threatened a finger at me.

I put my hands up to show compliance, and sat down on a part of the playground, waiting for this penguin to attempt to fly. As dumb as she was, I had to give it to her, she had grit. She was stupid yes, but her stubbornness was deserving of a medal.

I thought back to the air hockey games and her progressively getting better and even copying my moves. Even with that guy that interfered that was clearly better than her, she was never discouraged. It's like she doesn't feel defeat. Or maybe she's just that hungry for victory.

After three minutes of her trying and failing, and continuous scrolls down my phone, I got up and grabbed one of the swing's chains, pulling her to me.

"What? I was just getting it!" She snapped.