Chapter 8RX-78-2 VS. Barbatos Rex.

  My feet feel like they’re gliding and my eyes feel like they’re dying.

  The rge fluorescent mps mark my path like a cirvoyant guide for the chosen one, my prize stands alone by the fountain. You’re so cringe, stop that.

  I dip, I duck, I dive, and I dodge my way through the multitude of shoppers until my boots have squeaked their way across the food court and nded beside Casey.

  “How’d you do on your midterm?” I ask nonchantly

  “My midterm? Why do you want to know?” She asks with a teasing skepticism.

  “Didn’t say I wanted to know. I just figured it’s probably been trying to cw its way out of you for a day or so.”

  “I scored eighty-six percent. I got points off because I used smiley faces in the margins.”

  “That’s good enough, come with me.”

  I don’t wait for her to ask why, I just start walking back toward the food court. An even gait and a gnce to Brian as we walk past him eventually puts me in line for the pretzel stand. Casey hops her way over and waits next to me, still uncomfortably quiet.

  “Did you finally run out of words at some point?” I ask quietly, hoping to have a kind inflection instead of my stupid monotone one.

  I watch her bite her lip but the line shifts forward before I get a chance to appreciate it. A teenager a little younger than myself wears a goofy striped hat and a name tag that has clearly been through the undry cycle one too many times.

  “Two pretzels, one cinnamon sugar, one with salt and a side of mustard.” I ask, er, command the kid.

  A curt nod and he begins prepping our pretzels. I feel an elbow dig into my ribs and Casey whispers to me.

  “I don’t want a sweet pretzel, I want a mustard one.”

  I can’t help but lean towards her myself and whisper back.

  “I know, doofus. The sweet one is for me.”

  Daniel, lord of the pretzels, passes me both pretzels and a small cup of mustard. Casey’s hand shoots out to grab the mustard with a fat grin and I, of course, hold the pretzel above her head until we get back to Brian.

  Brian.

  “I didn’t on purpose forget to get you a pretzel. I swear.” The cringe never ends with me.

  “It’s all good, I told you I didn’t want one out in the parking lot remember?” He says through a smirk and a wink.

  “Oh right, yeah,” I say shamefully “where’s this new hobby shop you mentioned? I could get some- stuff for my cousin.” Nice save.

  “Yeah? What does your cousin think is the best mobile-suit?”

  “Barbatos Rex. Obviously.”

  I watch Casey happily dig into her pretzel out of the corner of my eye. She is attacking it like she’s never eaten a snack before. I however take my time with my cinnamon sugar pretzel.

  “You’re kidding me, Barbatos Rex? Not even Lupin Rex? Your cousin is a weirdo. Plus I think the original gangster RX-78-2 would whoop it.” He says confidently.

  Never once in my life have I heard such mispced confidence from a self procimed fan of the series.

  “Brian. My cousin would think that’s a bsphemous statement and would suggest we burn you at the stake. That’s like saying Danny DeVito would beat Ryan Gosling in a fight.”

  “He would.” Casey pipes up with the second worst thing I’ve heard all day.

  Brian and I share a look of incredulity.

  “Casey, you can’t possibly-“

  “He’s the trash man.” She replies before I get a chance to argue

  “Fair enough. Danny DeVito is the trash man.”

  My sweet pretzel gets finished as we arrive at the hobby store, Casey finishes her pretzel at the same time. I take her trash and mine and throw it away. When I return, she grabs my sleeve and shoves a single earbud in my face with a look on her face like I’m supposed to know what to do with it. I continue chewing while I calcute.

  A few seconds pass.

  A minute

  Mouth dry. I could really use a drink. Oh shit Casey is still waiting.

  I swallow.

  “What?” I ask pinly

  She groans at me then bribes “put it in your ear and I’ll leave you alone at CrunchBucks for a week!”

  I immediately put the earbud in my ear. The gentle beat flows into my brain like a worm in an apple. It’s some kind of cyberpunk lofi, not my usual industrial metal but I can’t compin too much about it, I’m just happy to be sharing music with Casey.

  “You’re not avoiding me for a week,” I mumble before pushing Brian into the hobby store “gunp wall, sniff it out. My cousin wants a new kit.”

  “Cousin. Right.” He scoffs at me but obediently drags me to the wall of pstic

  I don’t know what I was expecting, but this is an incredible surprise. An entire wall, floor to ceiling, side to side. Stacked. With just gunp kits. I take a moment to steady myself and check for drool. It takes me a moment of whimsical wonder before the next song snaps me out of my stupor.

  Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Follow You Into The Dark

  One of my guilty pleasure songs. Did she know or is she letting me into her personal pylist? Her eyes are glued to her phone, it’s a little quiet. I reach my hand over and squeeze her phone, one click, two click, three click, turning the volume up. I want to hear every song she pys for me.

  I follow Brian’s lead and start shopping through the kits that line the wall like family photos. As heavenly as this store would be on any other day, I can’t bring myself to focus on the pstic mechas. The current song ends and I hear the start of four different songs in a row. The sound of Casey skipping to find the right song, whatever song she’s looking for, it takes a few moments. And then she finds it.

  Julia wolf - In my room

  I want your things in my room, I miss you all of the time

  I stalk myself on the internet just to see what you’ll find

  I want your things in my room, I miss you all of the time

  You make it look so easy, leaving everything behind-

  “Hey, have you ever built any of these real grade kits?” Brian interjects into the middle of the song.

  “Uhh, nah. My cousin sticks to the high grades and master grades.” I reply softly, it’s not his fault, he doesn’t know.

  -I like when it’s dark out, October will cure me

  I’m walking these woods-

  Brian shoves a model kit in front of me, comedically bad timing hitting real hard. I try my best to focus on the song, I try so god damn hard. Casey skips it before I get a chance to get back to paying attention. A soft moment ripped from my fingers before I got the chance to memorize it.

  I take the model kit being offered to me, Barbatos Lupine Rex, high grade. The cardboard feels sharp and angry against my palm, the glossy cover far too bright and way too grippy on my fingertips. There’s only one thing I want right now.

  I want my moment back.

  SgathaChristie