AAOOOSC! United

"Are You Guys Ready?"

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
July 12, 2017
Late Morning

The next day, Toews's house is built up once again, like as if it had never been exploded by a destructive force of energy. Kale is sitting on the sofa in the living room next to Jake and Brett.

"You're okay, right?" Jake asks him with worried eyes on him.

Kale lifts his eyes up at him, leaning against the armrest with his legs to his chest. "Yeah, I'm fine. Tazer took away the energy, if you remembered."

"No, no, no, no, no." The goalie shakes his head vehemently. "About Duker. Are you fine with what happened to him?"

Kale casts his heavy eyes aside, letting out a loud huff.

Brett frowns at his bestie. "I don't think he wants to talk about that."

Jake whirls to face him. "But I wanna make him be okay!" He turns back to Kale. "If you need a buddy, I'm here for you." He gives him a warm smile.

Kale flicks his eyes back up at him. "Thanks."

Jake then scoots over to him and pulls him into a big side hug. Kale purses his lips at the unfamiliar affection.

Brett chuckles at the sight. "Now you get some of Jake Dog's lovin'."

Jake pulls away from Kale and peers at him with big, concerned eyes. "I just want you to be alright."

"Thanks for your effort." Kale pats his shoulder. "But I'll deal with it on my own."

Jake lies down next to Kale, propping his long legs on Brett's lap.

Brett peers down at his legs with disapproval. "Oh, thanks, Jake Dog."

Jake gives him a warm smile. "I'll cuddle with you next."

Kale couldn't help but crack a toothy grin.

Jake gasps at the happy expression. "You're smiling!"

Kale's smile fades away as reality settles back in.

Jake's frown comes back as well. "Aw."

Brett cranes his head back against the cushions of the sofa. "I cannot wait to get back to the real reality. Then I can continue practicing for the summer showcase and actually have a chance to win rather than M'David winning all the time." He takes a quick glance at his watch. "Ugh, it's eleven forty-nine." He drops his hand with an anxious expression. "Eleven more minutes until boom or bust."

Kale picks at the edge of the cushion he is sitting on. "You think he can turn back reality on time?"

Brett knits his eyebrows at him. "Of course." He holds his hand out toward him. "He healed you—" He reverts his hand up to the ceiling. "—he got the house back up—" He drops his hand. "—he can totally fix reality. He's been practicing for hours already."

Kale dips his head, staring at his bent knees. "Duker and I were supposed to fix reality."

Brett purses his lips at him. "Maybe something would've gone wrong. Maybe you guys didn't even have that ability."

Kale rolls his eyes. "We sure did have it. It's just that he thought that saving the NHL in this reality was a better idea." He yanks hard at the loose pieces of thread connected to the cushion.

Jake peers at him with massive eyes. "I'd merge with you if I could."

Kale gives him a slight frown. "Thanks."

"But I must say..." Brett taps the tips of his fingers together. "...it's pretty cool fighting alongside NHLers." He peers at the other two teenagers. "Even though we didn't really fight much."