Finding Obsidian

19 - Stakes

"Hanna, this is crazy." Rokim vehemently shook his head, settled on the couch in his apartment. I'd left Rian in mine along with the other two judges I'd called up, and I was currently under fire for the half-thought plan I'd set in motion.

"No, it's genius," I insisted, looking at him eagerly. "Come on. Acknowledge my genius, Kimmy."

"I'll acknowledge nothing," he retorted, scowling. "It's ridiculous. I'm not gonna judge some random contest the two of you cooked up."

"Ha. I see what you did there. Cooked up, very funny. Now will you help?"

"I'm being serious!" Rokim crossed his arms. "I won't do it. You said these judges had to be impartial."

I raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. So?"

Rokim mirrored my expression, incredulous. "So I'm not impartial. Not even close."

I waved my hand dismissively. "Yes you are. Your ability to compartmentalize is insane," I said, eyeing him a bit enviously. "Remember that time you said Lisa's crème brûlée was better than mine? You didn't seem very partial then."

Rokim rolled his eyes. "Are you still salty about that? I told you, it was nothing personal. Next time don't make the caramel so runny."

"My caramel was not runny!"

"Yes it was." He snorted derisively. "My hands got all sticky, and I was using a spoon."

I huffed. The sass never ended with him. "Fine, whatever. The point is that I need you to help me out, okay?"

He made a face. "You and Rian can go be stubborn on your own. Don't drag me into it."

And then I wished Rokim hadn't said that, because suddenly my mind was roving over all the other things Rian and I could go do on our own, and then I thought of the biting, and the leave your mouth open, and maybe a bit of runny caramel wouldn't be so bad after all, and—

What the hell is wrong with me today? Get a hold of yourself, Hanna!

I cleared my throat, hoping Rokim didn't notice the telling pink in my cheeks. "Just—" I threw my hands in the air in exasperation. "Rokim. I know that you don't approve of this, but try, please try to understand what this one stupid bet could do." I felt my anger resurfacing as I recalled Rian's challenge yesterday. "I can finally get the bastard to admit it."

Rokim considered me carefully. "Do you really think he's going to tell you that easily?" 

I frowned. "What do you mean? A deal's a deal," I said, my eyes narrowing balefully, "and if he even tries to go back on it—"

 "That's not what I mean," Rokim interrupted. He leaned forward and rubbed the back of his neck. "Whatever his motivation is," he cut his eyes away from mine, "it seems pretty solid. Even if he remembers, there must be a good reason why he's kept away from you all this time. And going so far as to pretend to not even know who you are—" he stopped himself, shaking his head. "I'm just saying don't get your hopes up."

I huffed again, my expression bordering on a pout. "Too late. They're already up."

"Hanna—"

"They've now burst through your ceiling."

"I mean it, Han—"

"Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Nope, it's my hopes which you are currently crushing with your pessimism."

Rokim sighed, but I could see him suppressing a smile. I grinned in response. 

"There's only one way to bring them back down to earth, Kimmy," I said teasingly. "Don't let me pass the stratosphere."