The Paradox Corridor

Chapter 38: Everyone Loves Strength Training!

James woke up with a start at the crack of way too early in the morning, jolted awake partly because of the nightmare he had had and partly because Andrew had just poured freezing cold water all over him. With a cry of rage and fury of a thousand suns he jumped up, and chased after a laughing Andrew, cursing up a storm and promising to feed his limbs to the vultures. He chased Andrew around a campfire, through a tent, and over a large hill...twice. He was about to catch up to him when Andrew threw something behind him. James made to jump over it...but instead landed directly on the banana peel, slipped, and fell with a WHUMP to the floor. As he sat on the ground, he considered being furious about the whole ordeal, but finally decided to laugh about it instead. This is how Amber found him: on the ground, laughing like mad, with water dripping all over his hair and body. She laughed too, and laughed even harder when she noticed the banana peel on the ground. She walked over to James and held out her arm, helping him up.

"Thanks," James said, chuckling a little bit still, "I think this place has gone bananas." Amber started to walk away (her training started soon). Then she realized the pun. She smacked her forehead and doubled over, laughing her head off. Her loud, high-pitched laugh brightened up the darkness of the early morning. Andrew's head popped out from behind a nearby bush, wanting to know what was so funny but at the same time keeping a large distance away from James, who shot him a look of pure anger. Receiving the message, Andrew headed off to the keep, ready for his lesson in killing people (seriously though: how cool is that?). Amber finally caught her breath, and she and James headed off to the keep together. As they walked, each one of them pretended to be looking at the scenery (even though you couldn't really see anything) while in reality James was sneaking glances at Amber while Amber snuck glances at him. Neither one wanted to admit it, though. They had been friends since what felt like the beginning of time: the three of them had always been best pals, and the thought of that changing scared both of them. Eventually, Amber looked at James and laughed for the second time that minute.

"What's so funny, Amber?" asked a very confused James.

"Nothing. It's just, you know, funny how quickly things can change. I mean, this time yesterday we were beginning our road trip to St. Louis, and now...we're in ancient Britain with King freaking Arthur and we're about to learn how to fight in a war, and there's an evil robot out to get us, and-"

"Amber! Calm down," said James, "Freaking out like this...this isn't you Amber. You sound like Andrew, and that's not necessarily a good thing."

"I know for a fact it's not: I have to live with the chump."

"See! There it is again! The old Amber would have never used the word chump. She was quieter, although she was very competitive with Andrew,and never fretted: but now? You've changed. And I'm not," he talked louder over Amber's indignant retaliations, "Saying that it's a bad change. I'm just pointing out facts."

"The hell you are" muttered Amber under her breath, then gasped when she realized what she had said. She finally huffed and said,

"Harrumph. Maybe you have a point. I don't really feel like myself anymore." They walked along in silence, but Amber's mind certainly wasn't silent. She thought about how different she seemed now.

"I can't even really place it...it just seems like...I don't know. I use words that I would normally never say, I've been raising my voice for the first time ever, and James...well...hmm. I'm not even sure if any of these changes are good or not, but...I don't know. I kinda like this new me." Suddenly the presence spoke up in her mind;