Bonds And Ties

Kickback

When Blaze and her friends arrived at school, the atmosphere was already buzzing with excitement. Soft music played in the background as students and staff gathered snacks and food at various tables. The kickback was happening in the large area at the back of the school, decorated with colorful lights and banners.

Blaze felt the energy as they walked in, her nerves settling with each step. Just then, Shadow arrived, wearing a fitted black shirt and dark jeans that accentuated his athletic build. He looked around, exuding his usual calm confidence.

Rouge spotted him first and called out, “Hey, Shadow!” She waved him over, a smile brightening her face.

Shadow approached, his expression shifting to a slight smile as he caught sight of Blaze. “Hey, Blaze. You look great in that outfit.”

“Thanks, Shadow!” Blaze replied, feeling a rush of warmth at his compliment.

After a brief moment, she glanced around, remembering her responsibilities. “I need to go find the band before the first performance. I’ll see you later!” she said, giving him a quick wave.

“Good luck!” Shadow called after her, determination fueling her steps as she headed off to get everything in place.

Once Blaze was out of earshot, Rouge turned to Shadow with a mischievous smile. “You know, today would be the perfect day to ask Blaze out.”

Shadow raised an eyebrow, his expression thoughtful. “I’m not so sure about that. It feels… complicated.”

Rouge crossed her arms, trying to gauge his feelings. “Come on, you two have a great connection! What’s holding you back?”

Shadow hesitated, then replied, “It’s just that… I don’t want to make things awkward between us.”

Rouge nodded, understanding his concerns. “I get it. But if you keep waiting, you might miss your chance.”

After a moment of silence, Shadow added, “By the way, have you told Blaze about your breakup with Chase?”

Rouge shook her head, her expression turning serious. “No, I didn’t want that to affect her performance tonight. She’s been focused on this kickback, and I didn’t want to add any extra stress.”

Shadow nodded, appreciating her perspective. “That makes sense. But you know she’ll find out eventually, right?”

“I know,” Rouge replied, looking away for a moment. “I just want her to enjoy tonight without worrying about me.”

Shadow regarded her thoughtfully, sensing the weight of her decision. “You’re a good friend for looking out for her,” he said softly.

Rouge smirked, trying to lighten the mood again. “And you should be a good friend too—ask her out before someone else does!”

Shadow chuckled, but his gaze remained uncertain. “I’ll think about it.”

As they stood there, the sounds of laughter and music filled the air, the excitement of the kickback unfolding all around them.
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As Blaze basked in the excitement of her performance, Jasmine rushed over, her eyes sparkling. “You were incredible out there!” she exclaimed, hugging Blaze tightly. “I can’t believe how good you sounded!”

Blaze felt a rush of pride. “Thanks, Jasmine! It was unexpected, but I had so much fun.”

Rouge approached with a bright smile. “Seriously, Blaze, you need to do that more often! You made it look effortless!”

Jasmine beamed. “You didn’t tell me you were such a good singer!”

Rouge crossed her arms playfully. “Now we need to celebrate! The night’s just getting started.”