Bridging the Gap

chapter seven - 1 step forward, 3 steps back

About a week later and they were all strolling through the city together.

Jay and Kai had been looking for video games, Jay for comics and Zane and Nya for books.

They had all filled Nya into the story and believe me when I say, she was MAD.

Cole's mood was better, the sun was shining and his friends laughter was contagious.

He just came with them for fun, but helped picking out an awesome new video game and so they all were excited to try it out this evening.

Cole was still thinking about his father, but now that he brought more distance to the whole... situation.... his mind was clearing a bit, his thoughts stopped spinning in circles and he actually considered reaching out to his father for a clearing conversation.

He was still mad at Sabrina, but mature enough to understand that none of this was her fault.

It was Cole's father replacing his mother..And why, Cole wanted to understand.

Maybe it was totally stupid or Lou had a good reason.

Whatever it was, Cole was ready to swallow down his own emotions and try to understand his father's.

But then, just the two of them, without...

"Cole?"

... Sabrina.

Cole immeadiatly came into a halt, causing Jay to bump into him.

"Wha-", Cole didn't even understand the rest of the lightning ninja's complaint.

Sabrina.

Across the street. Waving at him.

Called you on the phone today
Just to ask you how you were

"How are you, stepson?", she giggled, it almost sounded hysterically.

Cole almost barfed.

He looked at his friends for support, but they only looked puzzled.

Of course, they don't know what she looks like.

Now, she was approaching him.

Stepson... barf, barf, barf. Cole was grinning, it probably looked exavtly as forced as it felt - hopefully it does.

"Sabrina", he said, not only to greet the woman that was currently ruining his life, but also to give his friends a hint.

They immediately came to closer, almost like some sort of wall to protect Cole.

"What a beautiful day for some shopping, huh?", she kept on talking.

Barf.

She stopped in front of him. "Haven't heard from, since... uh, yeah. How are you? Do you wanna talk to your father? He must be here somewhere..."

For Cole it was almost like the time stopped. The cars stopped driving by, the birds stopped chirping, People around them stopped talking. No. They vanished. Disappeared in front of Cole's eyes, at least it felt like this.

And then Lou came around the corner.

And then also Cole's heart stopped.

It was hot, the sun was stinging down merciless and Cole grabbed the nearest thing, which happened to be Lloyd's waist, to not keel over.

All I did was speak normally
Somehow I still struck a nerve
You got me fucked up in the head, boy

"Lou! You two-timing-", Jay needed all his strength to hold Nya back.