Skeleton Beats the Clock

Chapter 13

 Nineteen-year-old Kett, who was literally a red, purple, black, yellow and blue silhouette chose first. "I'll have banana milk coffee and banana foster French toast." The colors of her silhouette structured physique took in the sunlight from the windows making her body look like a rainbow seated up close.

"I'll have baked banana chips, slice of banana cream pie and a banana daquiri," Twenty-one-year-old Vivie-Mei chimed in her order.

"I'll order the special banana spider bites on kemp lettuce with a banana chocolate smoothie," Twenty-year-old Wellsley said adding in her order.

"I slice of banana nut cake, chocolate chip banana bars, banana blondies and banana fritters to go. And a banana green tea refill, please. Thanks," Taigoo said holding her tiny cup of tea and saucer upward sitting in a miniature doll chair with table near the napkin holder. The android waitress took the teacup and saucer. And returned a few minutes later with a tea refill.

"Another cranberry banana tea. And banana pound cake, banana pudding, banana peanut butter pumpkin brownies and raw banana tikkis shipped out tomorrow morning for brunch after the roller derby game," Sixteen-year-old Urmine listed.

"Banana ice cream and banana Nutella crepes," Seventeen-year-old Emiefika added without looking at the menu.

Pennysol, Qwendoline, Prizar, Theorie, Iren, Visola, Blaezr, Ollivete put in their final banana-inspired orders.

"This'll be our first time competing against an all-male roller derby team," Sixteen-year-old Ollivete stated taking a sip of her banana boba tea.

"We're the first in history to do this, girl," Seventeen-year-old Qwendoline said her eyes gleaming as she took a few sips of her banana and sesame seeds cappuccino.

"Yeah, this'll be a game changer," Sixteen-year-old Iren said raising her brows in excitement and curiosity, taking a bite of her banana doughnut.

"Reinventing ourselves is a great idea. Fans always expect us to go up against The Mop Girls." Pennysol shrugged. "They're our rivals on and off the rink. But they won't be expecting this."

"The team's name is the Hearts of Nox. They're from the musical planet, Nox," Visola informed. "They've already played several all-male and all-female roller derby teams. Makes us seem like novices in that regard, since we've only competed against only female teams. We really need to up our game, ladies."

"Yes, we better practice working on our skating muscles with lunges, squats and any other exercises for glutes and hips," Eighteen-year-old Blaezr said standing up to leave after finishing her food. "My place tomorrow at six a.m. sharp. No excuses."

"You heard her, girls. Better get some rest. We're goin' totally hardcore. And practicing and exercising at home without our roller blades, couldn't hurt. It'll strengthen the technique and strategy of our movements on the rink," Prizar added.

"See ya!" they said to each other in unison.

The next day at Blazer's condo. The team gathered in the private gym in the building downstairs.

"Sorry to hear Theorie, about your cousin, Monasugar," Qwendoline said putting her arm around her after their morning workout.

"Thanks. I got a call last night from my aunt, after we all left Cracked Banana," Sixteen-year-old Theorie said crestfallen, sniffling a bit. "I didn't mean to ruin our training this morning with sad news, you guys."

"It's ok," the team said in unison. "Do the police have any leads?" Iren asked, breathlessly as she did more lunges.

"Right now, they're not sure what happened," Theorie shrugged one shoulder, wiping sweat from her brow, with the back of her hand. "He was only eighteen. How did this happen? I spoke to him before he went on that cooking show. I knew something was wrong when I hadn't heard from him in a few days. We were closer than cousins could ever be. We were more like brother and sister."

"Any ideas as to what might've happened to him?" Reiga asked as she did squats.

"Police are still investigating. But I have my own thoughts about what could've happened to my cousin. I'm not ruling out the other contestants may've had a hand in his death. Or that the show's producers might've facilitated it for ratings."

"Do you really think they'd orchestrate a conspiracy and involve Monasugar or the other contestants just to get a boost in ratings? Not likely. That seems too farfetched," Emiefika said shaking her head as she alternated between lunges and squats.

"I don't know anything for sure. Just speculating. I just want justice for Monasugar, that's all. May he rest in peace," Theorie said wiping tears from her eyes.