Breaking x Making Promises

Getaway Vay-cay

It was Thursday when Killua left the stadium, and it was Friday when he and Zushi walked the two miles back from campus and arrived to the sight of someone with blonde hair nearly as bright as his own sitting on the porch steps. They were kitty-corner on the intersection, and the instant they realized who it was, Zushi was clutching at Killua's arm and saying, "Maybe if we walk around the block we can sneak in through the alleyway."

Killua was tempted to agree with the plan, but then he thought about how painful it was to watch Retz smile after confessing that Gon was going to break up with her.

"Nah, I'm not a pussy," Killua said.

"Oh, and I am? Is that it?" Zushi said, chasing after Killua as he walked off of the curb and across the road. "You're just asking for an emotional pummeling. A mental roundhouse kick, if you will."

Killua struck a lame karate pose and said, "Good thing I've got a blackbelt in anxiety gymnastics."

Zushi threw his head back and laughed. Killua shoved him in the arm and raced him to the front steps of the apartment. He had his keys out and they chimed as he jogged up to where Retz was rising from the steps, that cheerful smile on her face.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey back," she said. She pointed to Zushi, who glowered at her. "We never properly introduced ourselves."

"There's a reason for that," Zushi said. Killua attempted to kick him, but he dodged it and skirted around Retz to use her as a meat shield. Killua tossed him his keys since they were on hand and Zushi caught them.

Killua followed him up and gestured for Retz to join them.

She waved her hands quickly. "Oh, no, I couldn't intrude. And I only came by to ask you something."

"Me?" Killua repeated. "And you should come in. I've got an entire closet full of pudding."

"Pudding? Why?" Retz said.

Zushi pushed open the front door and squinted back at them. "An emotional roundhouse kick."

"I'll punt your ass to Saturn, Umi," Killua threatened.

"Oh, the—um, Knuckle thing," Retz said.

"Right..." Killua sighed, rolling his eyes to the door. He held it open, but Retz didn't seem inclined, so he stuck Hank the doorstopper in the front door. When he came back out, Retz hadn't moved an inch.

"I have my brother's car for the weekend," she said, pointing to the road. Sure enough, there sat an nondescript SUV that looked like something Secret Service would drive. An entire surfboard was strapped to the top. "I was hoping you and I could go on a road trip to the redwood forests up north."

It was the last thing Killua thought he'd be confronted with on a Friday evening. "Why me," he said, and he didn't mean to look disgusted, but he did.

Retz scratched her hair and said, "I'd like to see the redwood forests, and I'd really like it if you could come. It might come as a surprise to you, but I don't actually have that many friends here. I left most of them behind in Chicago and plane tickets aren't exactly cheap..."

Jesus Christ, way to guilt-trip me, he thought. Not only was he hesitant to open the can of worms that was Retz' relationship status, but now he felt like shit for not wanting to go. He remembered what she said about ghosting him if she and Gon broke up, but something must have changed.

He needed to know.

"Fine, whatever," he sighed. "I work on Sunday."

"We'll be back by Saturday," she promised.