Frostbite

Chapter 7: The UA Sports Festival

(This is going to feel short and rushed, and it sort of is. But we all know what the obstacle course is, and there aren't many things I can change or add without bogging down the reading. Next chapter will be almost entirely original. You'll see why.)

--- Two Weeks Later ---

This was the day everyone was waiting on. A modern day coliseum packed with fans and pros alike. Thousands of eyes watching our every move in person, and millions more on TV. The UA sports festival was ready to begin.

I felt fine physically. But mentally, I wanted to collapse. My movements were essentially on autopilot: getting me into the gym uniform and through the locker room.

"Hey man!" I felt a hand slam down on my shoulder.

I knew the voice was Kirishima, my friend, but I still had to choke back the reflex to attack that had been drilled back in recently.

I turned slowly, seeing the lively redhead with a big smile on. "Oh hey." I fell flat.

"Damn! You doing alright? You're looking kinda rough." He replied, seeing my face.

"Just didn't sleep well is all. I'll be fine." I lied.

"Too excited to sleep? Me too! This is huge!" He bulldozed through the conversation.

"Yeah. Hey, uh, I'll see you out there man. I gotta grab an energy drink." For the second time in a row, I lied to my friend.

I headed out the doors and into the entrance tunnel. I scanned the thin crowd quickly, only a handful of participants even out here and most not from our class. There she was, Jiro. I hadn't spoken to her since our kiss because I hadn't had a phone, or any time alone.

"Jiro!" I called out.

Her head turned sharply. "Decklin?!" She shouted back, marching towards me angrily. I couldn't expect any less.

She reached me, her head faced down, fist clenched tight, shaking. Her ear jacks jabbed my chest. "Why didn't you ever reply? Why didn't you reach out? Why-" She cut out looking up at me, tears forming in her beautiful eyes.

"I'm sorry. Trust me, I wanted to but-"

"What happened to you?" She interrupted, reaching up to touch my face. "You look like you are dead walking."

I looked around, seeing that we weren't being watched. Then I grabbed her by the hand and pulled her around the corner and into a side closet. Only once inside did I grab ahold of her and pull her into a tight hug. I was leaning on her as best I could.

"I'm so sorry!" I wept. "My father... He... He came to town after we..."

She wrapped her arms under mine to support me. "What did he do?"

"He took my phone as soon as I came through the door. I didn't even have time to tell you. And then..." I drifted out, flashbacks of the weeks leading up to now vividly replaying in my head.

Jiro used her hands to lift my head and look into my eyes, wiping my face. "It's okay. Look, I'm sorry I seemed mad. I just... thought that you changed your mind. That you didn't want me anymore."

I felt my heart tear open. "No! No no no. I do want you! I want to be with you more than I can describe!" I held her face up and brought my lips to hers. It was better than I remembered. Like a tidal wave washing away the suffering I had endured.

We stayed there with each other for what seemed like an hour, but was really only minutes. Then we heard the announcement for us to assume our positions for the march out. I straightened up first, nodding for her to go.