Almost

Chapter Thirteen

The next couple of days were rather... good, actually. Tam helped Kaz fix up CB, and Kaz helped Tam fix 5L. The little mouse droid was rather friendly, and Kaz insisted on renaming it.

"Well CB has digits." She had said, shrugging off his continual protests. "So I don't see why he needs a new name."

Kaz frowned. "Well maybe he wants a new name."

Tam sighed and knelt next to the little droid. "Do you really want a new name?"

The droid beeped shyly.

"Haha! See!" Kaz said, a stupid grin crossing his face. "I already have a list of suggestions."

After bickering for a bit about names (and still not deciding on one), Tam had spent a lot of time moving things into her room, which was looking significantly less bare.

Other than that, she had spent a lot of time mending things with Synara and Nena, both of which actually became quite the tag team of teasing Tam about all the time she was spending with Kaz.

"You like him."

"I do not."

"Yes you do."

"Leave me alone."

Torra giggled at Nena's protests and Tams' deniance. "Stop annoying her."

Synara chuckled as she sat back in the booth. "I find it rather enjoyable."

Aunt Z's was more crowded than it had been in a long time, probably because it was the first race on Ajan Kloss. Or maybe it was Kaz's second race, and everyone (even though they didn't like to admit it) was looking forward to seeing him race, including Tam.

Tam sipped her drink as she heard bets being made, food and drinks being ordered, and the excited chatter of the citizens before a race.

It almost felt normal.

Synara nudged Tam as they got up and made their way across the bar to the marketplace, where even more people were.

"And the race is about to start! Cast your bets now folks! Bo Keevil verses Kaz Kaz!"

Tam grinned as the crowd laughed at the old joke. She had missed this. Sure, she had to stand on her tiptoes to see over the crowd, but the smell of various greasy snack foods wafted through the crow. Tam had really, really missed this.

"Aaaaaaaalright! On your mark!"

"Do you see the Fireball?" Tam asked Synara, who was the tallest out of the bunch.

"Get set..."

The pink milarian bit her lower lip. "Oh yes! Over there!"

"GOOOOOOOOOO!"

As soon as Synara pointed it out, the loud start of ship engines kicked in and rang throughout the Colossus. The crowd cheered as the commentator said, "And the race is on!"

The Yellow Ace shot ahead of the Fireball, but speed wasn't what they needed to worry about.

"Ah! The Yellow Ace takes the lead!"