"Holy shit! You kicked him in the balls?" Stan drops his jaw to the floor, laughing maybe a little to hard.
"I thought he was an intruder! And I was literally naked.. god!" She whines in her hands, thoroughly embarrassed. "It was bad."
Stans just laughs, the thought of her kicking him is funny, it serves him right. He shouldn't get to go around getting her to swoon in the middle of the night. At least, not unless the rest of them get to as well. His thoughts go quiet as he's hit with the reality of the situation though, he definitely saw her— like that. And he didn't tell anyone.
The first time she met Mysterion, Kenny went on and on about it. Bragging and rubbing it in their faces, apparently Kenny and Mysterion had a very interesting night with her. What was different about this? Why didn't he say anything? Why-
"Something about him... was so familiar." She shakes her head and looks to him. "Like I knew him." She looks down to her hands.
..That's why, because she's beginning to figure him out.
"Has anyone— figured out his identity yet?" She asks.
"Fuck". He thinks to himself.
"I don't think so?" Stan says, but it comes out more like a question.
"Way to be cool dumbass". He internally rolls his eyes at himself.
"Oh.." She sighs, disappointment apparent on her tongue.
"Maybe.. I should just drop it?" She thinks.
It's quiet for a while, none of them knowing what to say next.
"Have you ever seen him?" She looks up into his eyes, sparking in her own. Trying to hide her excitement at the possibility of figuring out the hero's identity, but failing miserably.
"Not for a many years". He shakes his head, devastated at the look in her eyes as her face dims and he stomps on her dreams.
"Why do you wanna know so bad? It could put you in danger." He tells her, stern.
"Just— something he said to me, what he called me".
"What did he say"? Stan clenches his fists.
"Kenny, you fucking idiot".
"He called me, princess." She blushes. "Almost like"- she stops herself.
"Fuck— she's warmer then I thought".
She shrugs, hiding her embarrassment.
"Maybe, it's just a coincidence?" Stan asks.
She turn her head around and gives him the strangest look, alien like, that immediately turns to sadness. Doubtful of herself.
"Maybe.." she breathes. "Yeah, your right". She waves her hand around.
"I'm crazy". She thinks.
Stan feels crushed, he hates to steer her away but it's for her safety. Who knows what would happen if she figured him out.
One things for sure, Stan will definitely be asking about their little encounter later. Maybe for the wrong reasons.
"Oh, right. I'm getting a new phone soon."
"Really?"
"Yeah, maybe then I won't drop by unannounced". She chuckles, but it feels sad.
"I never minded." He thinks.
"You don't have to ask, you know". He puts his hands in his pockets.
She just shakes her head, like she doesn't believe him. In reality she doesn't.
"Seriously." He leans into her.
She looks back at him, surprised. She blushes at the closeness and so does Stan. Though, he's smiling, liking her reactions. Like it's his turn to tease her mercilessly, pay back for her first couple days at school.
"I mean... I think we're a little past the asking now, seeing as I literally had"-
"Alright! Okay! I won't ask!" She covers his mouth with both her hands.
Stan smirks under her hands, leaning closer to her. He takes her hands away and gently places a kiss to her thin wrists. Never breaking eye contact.
"S-Stan!" She shutters. Impossibly red, and burning. Leaning as far back as she can.
He breaks character pretty quickly, as he bursts out laughing. Very deep and very loud. She pouts at him, sour.
"This is going to be fun."
"This sucks."
~~~~
_________________________
I sigh to myself as I continue my walk home. Nothing to do, and no one to talk to. I feel empty without my phone as I constantly reach for it only to realize it's not there. I decide I'm not ready to go home yet, not ready to sit in silence as I stare at the wall, so I head into town.
I look around at some of the stores contemplating what it is I actually need to get. I want to do something nice for the guys, maybe get them something to show my appreciation for them, for how much they've helped. I'm at a complete loss for what though, when I pass by a game store. Line wrapped around the building and out into the street, and I wonder what's going on in there.
"Excuse me?" I tap a nice looking boy, maybe a little older then me, on the shoulder and he turns around to look at me.
He's last in line but his features are bright and excited, I can feel his enthusiasm from a mile away.
"What's this line for?" I ask him.
He gasps at me and points into the store.
"Deadreign just dropped two hours ago, everyone wants their hands on a copy!" He tells me.
"The fighting game?" I ask him, slowly putting the pieces together.
"You mean you don't know?" He gawks at me.
I slowly shrug and shake my head.
"It's a new gen PvP game that's just dropped on all consoles! The graphics"...
I tune him out as he goes on and on about this Deadreign game, I remember from about a week ago the boys were very excited about this. Geeking out about the same things this guy's trying to talk to me about now. I look around the line trying to find some familiar faces, when I don't see anyone I recognize. I decide the boys must be so caught up in my drama, they don't even remember it's out today.
I look down to my feet, embarrassed and slightly guilty. They really do so much for me, it's only right I wait in this impossible line for them.
It's perfect.
"How long have you been standing here?" I cut the boy off as he rambles about some character design.
"An hour!" He says, like he's excited about it. Like he doesn't even care he's wasted one whole hour of his life in this damn line.
I look around again to the front. An hour has passed and this line is still incredibly long— and only growing.
"Thanks." I tell the boy.
He smiles at me and turns around back to his friends standing in line with him. I sigh and mentally prepared myself for the next few hours. Thankful I brought my wallet, but devastated at the blow to my bank account.
I need a job.
I shake my thoughts away as I get excited, I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when I pull out these copy's.
It's worth it, for them.
_______________________
~~~~
Guys group chat
Eric: she came to your house??
Stan: just left.
Kyle: I'm glad you guys figured it out
Eric: there's nothing to 'figure out' it was barely a real kiss
Stan: smh
Kyle: can we finally drop this yet???
Stan: I think Kenny has something to tell us first
Kenny: ...
Eric: the fuck???
Kyle: ???
Kenny: I plead the fifth
Eric: spill, right now!
Stan: Mysterion payed a little visit to our friend last night
Kyle: huh????
Eric: dude??
Kenny: oh that? Yeah was fucking wicked
Stan: she kicked him in the balls
Eric: WHAT BAHAHA
Kyle: why?????
Kenny: don't worry about it
Stan: go ahead fucker, tell them what u saw
Kenny: a gentleman never speaks about it
Eric: you're not a fucking gentleman what happened
Stan: she was... quite exposed
Eric: ...
Kyle: ...
Kenny: ...
fuck you bro
Stan: sick him, boys
=====
Me: was she really naked?
Kenny: totally..
Me: dude..
Kenny: I know... was totally worth it
=====
______________________
"Four copies, please". I ask the very tired looking cashier.
He sighs and rings me up. The total is an unholy amount of money for a video game, but I bite my tongue. Focusing on the reward, rather then my poor bank account.
My feet hurt and my body aches, but I run home with more energy then ever. I sat in that line for about three and a half hours and it was excruciatingly. I'm physically vibrating with excitement now as I get closer to my house, ready to wrap these up and give them out later. I'm not even sure I'll like this game, but I'm happy because my friends are happy.
"Woah, woah! Slow down!" I hear a voice in front of me yell, and I stop in my tracks, almost falling into him.
"K-Kyle!" I say in equal parts shock and dread as I hide the plastic bag behind my body.
"What are you running from?" He asks, a little worried as he looks around behind me.
"Nothing!" My voice cracks, as I sweat uncontrollably.
He could ruin the surprise right here, right now. My efforts with not go in vain, I decide.
He looks at me a raise an eyebrow, I smile awkwardly and grip the plastic behind me so hard my knuckles crack.
"Uhm— I have to go home, bye Kyle!" I choke as I take off running.
He's definitely watching me, I can feel his eyes on my back but I don't look back at him as I quickly shut the door to my house, sighing loud and out of breath. I lock the front door, just for good measure.