the game

katie

ken knocks on my door.

"come on, let me in," his body slides down the door outside and rests there.

"i'm not going to kill you, you've been commanding from your watch all level. come outside," i hear him clang his head against the door in anger.

"what do you think you're doing?" amy's voice is further away but loud enough to be distinguishable.

"katie should come out and play," ken continues.

"didn't she give you orders?" amy begins.

"i'm going to be her bodyguard," ken states confidently. i open my mouth to object but before i can amy does.

"nope that's my job, now scram. i want my seat back," i picture her pointing at ken's body sitting on the ground.

"no," he replies promptly. "i will share but you can't have all of it," i hear him shift over and she begrudgingly takes a seat.

"how long before i can make you leave?" amy continues.

i find my body nearing the door, drawing close to their conversation.

"i'm not leaving. im helping katie win this level to prove my loyalty," he insists.

this makes amy laugh.

"what a weird sense of loyalty," and i can almost see her head shake side to side in shame. i hear it in her voice. i really do love my best friend.

i sit against the wall next to the door and listen to them talk.

"what else would you suggest i do?" ken sounds slightly exhasperated.

"time is the only way to build trust," amy says somberly.

"ahhh the one thing i don't have, time," now his voice sounds whistful. "she never gives us time, she hates me too much."

i roll my eyes. doesn't he know i'm in the other room. human interaction is so entertaining.

"if you're trying to secure a compliment you're asking the wrong girl. go ask katie if you're so curious," off kiltered i hear amy shift uncomfortably on the ground.

"she won't let me in! not even in the physical sense. she just keeps me at arms length," he complains.

"that sounds a lot like you though, i mean who really knows anything integral about you. i mean all i know is you look like a factory pressed doll they put up in those life guard stands, i mean. you could be a lifeguard doll for all i know. you see what i mean? i don't think that you two are having problems because you're different. i think it's because neither of you wants to open up first," i hear amy slap ken on the shoulder in ghoulish comfort. 

"so you're saying i should tell her my story, like tell her it honest," his voice sounds insecure. something i've never heard before.

"yep,"and then i hear a knock. "alright sleeping beauty im ready to set up command but i need your help. get your butt moving!" amy sounds irritated but that only makes me giggle more. i love my best friend.