Phases

ii. conflict

ii. conflict

Katie and Aspen sat cross-legged on their chairs. Aspen persuaded Katie into working at a local cafe just a few blocks from her home.

Katie took a sip from her drink; her eyes scanning Aspen's features. A crease appeared between Aspen's temples, and she anxiously bit at the tip of her tongue. Katie laughed at her partner's awkward appearance.

Aspen pouted. "What're you laughing at?" She stopped writing.

Katie released a slight chuckle and snatched the pencil from Aspen. "Nothing."

"I started explaining what I thought you would be in the future." Aspen exclaimed, taking an enormous bite from her sandwich. Katie watched in disgust. "And by the way, it's rude to stare at people while their eating. Even if they look amazing."

Katie rolled her eyes and examined Aspen's wording.

"Did you write what I think you just wrote?" Aspen grabbed the sheets of paper from Katie and nodded triumphantly.

"Yeah, I did. Do u need glasses?" Aspen questioned teasingly, her mouth full of food.

Katie grimaced. "Stop. That's atrocious."

"Ooh big words," Aspen shook her hands mockingly in the air and took another huge bite from her sandwich.

"'Katie is bound to become a physician with temper problems.' Really? You've got to be kidding me, Aspen. Did you not read the index we created?" Katie shoved the index into Aspen's face, her tone irritated.

Aspen gulped. "Oh. That index." She smiled sheepishly and took the sheet in for examining. "To be fair, I think my prediction is way more believable than yours."

Katie gasped and threw a tissue into Aspen's unsuspecting face. "You're mean," She ripped the paper from Aspen's grasp and scribbled something Aspen couldn't quite make out.

"Pfft, rude." Aspen scoffed.

"Hah! Me? Rude? Look who's talking!" She placed the paper on the table.

"You're talking," Aspen read the print; her eyes trailing each and every word. "Aspen. Future homeless person; forever forced to steal potatoes from unsuspecting victims." Aspen burst out laughing. She clutched her stomach until people began to stare.

She wiped a fake tear from her eye and stared seriously at Katie. "I like that. Can we keep-"

"NO." Katie rolled her eyes.

Drinking their frappucinos, they continued working.

"Why do people call you potato, Aspen?" Katie wondered out loud.

Aspen leaned back in her chair. "Huh?"

Katie repeated her question.

"Oh, you know Candi?"

"Of course I do." Katie responded.

"Well, when she first came- I don't know why actually. I guess maybe because we were reading about cash crops in history, and I mentioned that I loved potatoes." Aspen pondered for a while. "So she called me a potato, and I called her a tomato because- well, it rhymes with potato. Also, her face turns crimson when she laughs."

She had a brief flashback.

*Candi sat by her and Erin. They were quiet, but Candi broke the silence.

"You guys are too quiet. It's boring."

Those two sentences blossomed into a well kept friendship.*

Aspen smiles lightly, but shields her face with her mug. Then she asked abruptly "Why are you known as Xiao Katie?"

Katie sighed, " You know the story; I killed the batman punching bag. Mr. R had to throw it out. Eventually we watched Karate Kid. The character, Xiao Dre, won the karate competition. I have been known as Xiao Katie ever since."

* "Come up and punch batman," Mr.R said to Katie. He was teaching science; lecturing his students about liquids, gases, and solids. She awkwardly walked up and punched it as hard as she could. Everyone in the front, including Mr. R, flinched.

Later the class watched the Karate Kid. Mr. R started calling her Xiao Katie after the character in the movie who won the karate competition (Xiao Dre).*

"You're a doof," Aspen chuckled.

"What's a doof?"