Archive of Our Own

The old Sedan pulled up into the school’s parking lot and Baylan cut the engine. Shin could hear the music booming from the gymnasium already, some pop song she couldn’t stand. She kept her gaze on her lap and made no move to get out.

“Just for an hour,” Baylan said. “If you don’t like it then call me and I’ll come to pick you up in an hour. Otherwise, you can stay for as long as you want.”

Shin didn’t move. A couple of monsters walked past the car and despite their costume, she recognized them as football players. She wanted nothing to do with them, or anyone at this stupid school party anyway.

“Competitions are coming up,” she said. “I should be at home training. Sabine is…”

Baylan turned as best he could in his seat to look at her.

“You’ll train tomorrow. Today you get to be a normal teenager. I’m sure Sabine Wren takes time off training every once in a while. Now come on, get out there before I decide to humiliate you by stepping out of the car.”

Shin rolled her eyes but unbuckled her seatbelt. She opened the car door but before she could step out, Baylan called her back.

“Don’t forget your mask.”

From the backseat, he grabbed a mask and handed it to her. It was a wolf mask, gray and metallic, with a snout extending over the nose and ears at the top of the head. Shin had not chosen her costume, not really. When Baylan had told her what she wanted to be for Halloween, she had dismissingly said a wolf. Now it was coming back to bite her.

She tied the mask behind her head. She had tied her platinum hair up into a bun, uncovering the short, shaved underside. The mask’s strap sat just at the edge of the undercut and immediately began to itch.

“One hour,” she said.

“Or more. Depends how much you’re enjoying yourself.”

She rolled her eyes again and slammed the car door shut. Baylan took that as his signal to leave. He turned on the engine and drove off slowly, mindful of the other students walking through the parking lot in the direction of the gymnasium. Shin was almost tempted to stay out here for an hour, sit on a bench and wait for the time to pass. However, the night was colder than she was ready for. She wore a gray checkered shirt and her usual black trousers. Already smoke escaped her nose as she breathed. Though she would rather be anywhere but there, she hurried to the party.

The doors had been thrown open and decorated with spider webs and hanging ghosts. An arch led within, and Shin thought it looked it belonged at a Prom more than a Halloween party. The fake plants over the arch had been poorly covered up with a paper curtain in the shape of pumpkins. The music was painfully loud here. Shin’s ears bristled against the pop song.

She gave her ticket to one of the teens at the door and was left inside. The party’s official photographer tried to get her attention to take a picture. She walked right past him and entered the dance floor. Most of the teens were dancing already, as a monster-themed song blared from the speakers on the other side of the room. A refreshment table had been set up against one wall, manned by teachers. A single row of bleachers had been unfolded to serve as seats, though most of them were taken already.

Shin was dizzied by the jumping crowd and the flashing lights above. She skirted around the dancers, walking as far from them as she could. Most everyone was masked, and it was difficult to know who was who. Shin had never bothered to learn the names of her classmates, except for a few very annoying ones that she would rather they had never been born. She found a seat on the bleachers and crossed her arms. Checking her phone, she found she had only been here for five minutes. This was going to be a long hour.

She waited another fifteen minutes, but the party was exhausting her patience. She could wait for a long time, usually, but the party was loud, the music grating, and the lights above blinking and flashing like lightning. It got on her nerve so fast that she decided she’d rather wait outside. Better to be cold then to be stuck at this stupid party.

She glanced toward the entrance. A throng of people now waited to get in, each taking a turn at the photo booth and blocking the path for the others. She could push her way out, but it was more trouble than it was worth. She might as well leave through the school. She stood up and walked around the bleachers to the door leading into the main building.

Already she felt better in the corridor. The music was dim enough that she couldn’t make out the words. The hallway was dark, only lit by the outside light coming through the sparse windows. Her heart continued to beat with the rhythm of the music as the base boomed through the walls, but every step was a relief that took her away from the party. Her footsteps were faint on the linoleum, barely a whisper compared to the escaping music. She didn’t need light to find her way out. She only had to cross the entire school to the front door.

She walked slowly with her hands in her pockets, taking her time. She might as well enjoy this impromptu walk through the school at night. It wouldn’t happen often. Only the distant beat of a drum disturbed the quiet. Everything looked gray because of the lack of light. All the doors were locked, creating a single tunnel to the exit with nowhere to hide.

A figure emerged from down the stairs and Shin froze. Her heart jumped out of her chest. She was too scared to move. A flashlight pointed at her, blinding her. Footsteps approached her. The white light fell away and once Shin had blinked the black dots out of her eyes, she recognized the vice-Principal. Miss Tano turned off the flashlight on her phone and crossed her arms.

“What do you think you’re doing out here?” she asked.

Shin cleared her throat. Her instinct, as was with any authority figure she didn’t care much for, was to lie.

“Just… looking for the bathroom.”

“Don’t think I don’t recognize you under that mask, miss Hati. You know you’re not allowed to go into the school during the party.”

This was news to Shin and for a brief second, she wondered when such a law had been announced. But she also knew there was no point arguing. The vice-Principal wouldn’t believe her.

“Now come along, I can’t be making exceptions. In detention.”

Shin frowned. Who would be running detention during a Halloween party? Apparently, no one, she discovered as she followed miss Tano to a room on the first floor. Within, the light was on, but no teacher sat behind the desk. A single person sat at the back of the class with their feet on the table.

“I’ll let you go when the party is over. Next time you’ll think twice before sneaking around the school.”

The door was shut once more, leaving Shin alone in the room with the other person. They hadn’t moved. They were dressed in a purple and orange Mandalorian armor, the owl-like helmet remaining secured on their head even as they leaned back, seemingly asleep. Shin sighed and sat on the other side of the back of the class. She was out of the party, but at what cost? Maybe she should have told the vice-Principal the situation. Now she would be stuck in here until eleven at least.

“So, what are you in for?” the Mandalorian asked.

The voice was garbled, the microphone in the helmet an antic, but it came through feminine enough that Shin figured the other detainee was a girl.

“None of your business.”

“Chill. I’m just trying to make conversation. It’s going to be a long couple of hours if we stay quiet.”

“I’d rather you shut up, if that’s all the same to you.”

“It’s not, but fine.”

Shin sank against the desk. She might as well take a nap, she thought. The mask was in her way, however. She reached for the strap, ready to take it off, when she realized the other girl had no intention of taking off her helmet, which gave her an advantage. She kept her mask on and shifted around until she could be comfortable enough to close her eyes.

An explosion made her jump upright. She glared at the Mandalorian who had pulled out a small plastic bag from one of her pockets. The bag was filled with small white packets. Bang snaps, Shin guessed.

“You got a problem with fireworks too?” the Mandalorian asked.

She took another bang snap from the bag and threw it against the teacher’s desk. A gunfire-like sound echoed in the room.

“Want one?” she offered to Shin.

Shin glared harder and ignored her.

“No need to ask you why you got thrown into detention,” she told her.

“This? No, this is nothing. She had trouble with my cherry bomb, but I still have the firecrackers.”

From another of her pouches, the Mandalorian produced a row of small red firecrackers. She hid them away just as swiftly, then picked up another bang snap and threw it above the desk, so it struck against the blackboard.

“Would it be too much to ask that you just stay silent?” Shin growled.

“Maybe, Wolfie. I have the right to be frustrated. Aren’t you frustrated? Everyone’s having fun except us.”

Shin rolled her eyes.

“I couldn’t care less. If I hear you throwing another one of these, I’ll make you swallow the bag.”

The Mandalorian shrugged, seemingly unbothered by Shin’s threat. Still, she stopped throwing explosives, which was a small victory.

They stayed in silence for ten minutes. That was all the Mandalorian could take. Then, she stood up went to the windows.

“Alright, I’ve had enough of this.”

She opened the window and leaned down. Shin watched her do with confusion. Then, the girl stepped over the windowsill. Shin’s eyes grew wide.

“What the fuck are you doing!”

She rushed from her chair to the window where the Mandalorian now stood on the edge of the first floor.

“I’m bored. I’ll be fine I’ve done it before.”

Shin watched as the other girl climbed the side of the school. She held onto the edge of the first floor and lowered herself until her feet touched the windowsill of the ground floor. Her right foot slipped. She fell and crashed onto the concrete floor. Her armor rang out like a church bell, but the music drowned out the sound as it echoed over the playground. Shin didn’t realize she was holding her breath until the Mandalorian sat up. She sighed.

“I’m okay. The armor did the trick. Come on, your turn.”

Shin frowned.

“I’m not following you down. You just fell. This is dangerous.”

Still, the girl stood under the window, arms outstretched as if ready to catch her.

“Come on. Do you really want to spend the whole night in there?”

Shin bit her lower lip. This was insane. But she could go home at least. A surge of adrenaline prompted her to step over the windowsill. She held on tight and climbed down. If she fell, her cardboard mask would do nothing to save her. She could break her arm. She could break her leg. She could break her back. She could paralyze herself. She would miss this year’s competition. Her fighting days would be over.

The sole of her Dr. Martens touched the ground, snapping her out of her spiral of worry. Still, the Mandalorian remained close, ready to catch her should she stumble. When Shin had both feet on the ground, she turned around. Heat radiated from the other girl who stood so close to her. Shin took a quick step away, feeling herself foolishly blush.

“See? Easy peasy,” the other girl said, and she could hear her smile in her voice.

Shin was quick to change the subject.

“Is your armor really made of metal?”

“Not just any metal. It’s beskar.”

The girl tapped her helmet, and it made that same high-pitched ringing as when she’d fallen.

“Why are you wearing a beskar armor to a Halloween party?”

The girl shrugged.

“It’s an antique. Family heirloom. When else am I going to get the opportunity?”

Shin looked over the girl’s shoulder at the road. She could just walk home, she thought. It would take a good hour. Then she could lie to Baylan, tell him she took the bus. He would be none the wiser.

The Mandalorian walked to the left, toward the school’s main entrance, leaving Shin confused.

“Where are you going?” she whisper-shouted after the girl.

“I want to get my fireworks back.”

“This is a terrible idea.”

“It’ll be fine. Ahsoka is busy at the party, her office will be empty. Come on.”

Shin had no desire to tag along with her. However, her feet followed before she could make up her mind to go home instead. As she walked, she kept low, fearful that someone could see them lurking through the windows.

“You’re insane.”

“Insanity is just a hair away from genius.”

“No, it’s not.”

The Mandalorian pressed the handlebar of the front door. It opened with a groan. They were back into the dark hallway Shin had wondered not long ago. The faint sound of the base echoed from the gymnasium, or else it was Shin’s heartbeat pulsing in her ears. The other girl led the way into the administration’s offices. The door was unlocked. There was no secretary behind the squared desk. Still, Shin felt the need to crouch to the vice-Principal’s door, as if one would suddenly jump from behind the desk.

The door was locked, which didn’t seem to concern the Mandalorian too much. From one of her pockets, she pulled out a lockpick.

“Seriously? You know how to lockpick doors?”

The girl inserted the hook into the lock and wiggled it until she could find the tumblers.

“Yeah. I’ve been told it’s one of those skills that really impress girls. Is it working?”

Shin rolled her eyes. Although she didn’t want to admit it, the other girl was an expert and in no time, the door unlocked. They hurried inside and closed the door behind them. The Mandalorian was quick to search through the pencil case and containers on the desk for a key to the drawers. Shin realized this wasn’t her first time doing this.

“How often has she confiscated your fireworks?”

“I don’t know. I stopped counting.”

Out of a small box of paper clips, she retrieved the drawer key and unlocked it. Within, Shin was horrified to find not only a bag of cherry bombs, but also a rocket.

“What is that?”

“That was a very expensive purchase that I intent to light tonight.”

She picked up her fireworks, cradling the rocket in her arms. They stepped out of the office, only to hear footsteps approaching. Panic seized Shin by the throat. The Mandalorian grabbed her by the belt and pulled her down. They hid behind the secretary’s desk. The door to the administration opened. A tall shadow holding a flashlight walked inside cautiously. Shin recognized Mr. Huyang, the student counselor. If he caught them, they would be in even more trouble than before.

She held her breath and watched as the man stepped closer and closer to their hiding spot. Beside her, the Mandalorian was slowly crawling back. They would need a distraction if they were to make it out. Shin reached into one of the Mandalorian’s pouches and retrieved a bang snap. She threw it against the principal’s door. It snapped like a blaster shot. Huyang hurriedly pulled the keys from his pocket and unlocked the door. The two girls knew this was their only chance. They stepped out of the administration, then ran to the front door.

They kept running, away from the school, away from the gymnasium and the parking lot. They ran until they found themselves standing on the football pitch, out of breath and laughing. It had bubbled out of the Mandalorian first and had contaminated Shin before she could stop herself. They collapsed side by side on the short coarse grass, laughing all the while. Tears ran down Shin’s eyes and she brushed them as best as she could without taking off her mask.

“That was insane,” she let out in a breath.

“No, it was genius.”

The Mandalorian sat up and looked at her rocket.

“So, what do you say? Do you want to see how bright it sparks?”

“So we can get into even more trouble?”

The other girl shrugged.

“In for a penny, in for a pound, right?”

Shin sat up and watched as the other girl walked to the middle of the pitch. She planted her rocket in the grass. Shin stood up and approached carefully. From one of her pouches, she pulled out a lighter and offered it to Shin.

“You do the honors.”

Shin hesitated. Though she couldn’t see her face, she knew the Mandalorian was looking at her.

“Are you sure this is safe?” she asked as she tentatively took the lighter.

“I’ve done it a hundred times before. As soon as the fuse catches though, run.”

Shin glanced back at the other girl, who nodded at her. She took a deep breath. She felt her chest spark with nervousness and excitement in equal parts as she flicked the lighter on. She approached it to the end of the fuse. At first, the fuse seemed to ignore the presence of the flame, as if it knew better than them. But after a long second, it caught on. The girls ran away.

They reached the edge of the football field when they heard the rocket whistle through the air. The Mandalorian stopped and grabbed Shin by the arm to stop her as well. They turned around and looked up. The rocket flew straight into the sky. They lost track of it in the night. Then, a shower of sparks burned through the darkness. Golden strands of glimmers burned through the air, leaving behind the crepitating sound of the powder being consumed and the acrid smell of firework smoke.

“Yeah!”

The Mandalorian positively howled with joy at the sight of the firework. It radiated out of her, and Shin could feel it in her chest. She laughed.

“That was incredible! But we really should run though because they will absolutely find us again.”

Without wasting a second, the other girl grabbed Shin’s hand and led her away from the field.

They settled on a bench near the bus stop, overlooking the quiet, empty street. Although a bus did drive by, Shin didn’t take it. Instead, she sat with the other girl on the backrest of the bench. From one of her pouches, the Mandalorian pulled out a bag of candies which she offered to Shin.

“How much stuff do you have in your pockets?”

“Well, Mandalorians used to carry all their ammo and weapons and such. Like that thing used to carry rockets and a flamethrower, right?”

She pressed the buttons on her gauntlets, but nothing happened. She shrugged and picked up a handful of candies from the bag.

“So, I came prepared. Firecrackers, bang snaps, candies, extra fuses and my lighter.”

To Shin’s amusement, instead of taking her helmet off, the girl fed herself one candy at a time, passing her hand under the helmet.

“You could always remove your helmet, you know.”

“I’ll take mine off if you take yours off.”

Shin pursed her lips, pondering the offer. She wanted to know who hid behind that broken speaker voice and passion for explosives. But cold fear prevailed in her bones. Shin didn’t have the best reputation around the other kids. She had gotten more than one into trouble, when she wasn’t viciously beating them at whatever sport the coach had chosen for them that day. Her rivalry with Sabine Wren was legendary, and Sabine was popular among her peers. Shin was the black sheep of every class. And if the other girl also hated her, like most everyone seemed to hate her, she didn’t think she could recover.

“I’ll keep my mask, if you don’t mind.”

“Fine with me, Wolfie.”

The Mandalorian continued to eat her candies one at a time. They ate in companioned silence for some time. Shin strained her ears for a sign of trouble, but the party was still going down below them, and no one seemed to have come to investigate the firework.

“What’s your favorite candy?” The Mandalorian asked. “Like if you went trick or treating, and someone gave you a full bar of it or a bag full of it, what would that be?”

“I don’t go trick or treating.”

“My bad, you’re obviously too cool for that.”

Shin rolled her eyes.

“Snickers.”

“Good choice. My little brothers and I usually fight over Milky Ways. I’m gonna take them trick or treating this weekend.”

The Mandalorian paused, chewing a little bear for so long that Shin wasn’t sure there was anything left to chew when she was done.

“Do you… I mean, would you like to come with? You can just wear your wolf costume again. I’ll be wearing that armor for sure.”

Shin bit her lower lip. She was surprised to find that she was tempted by the offer. Despite their rocky start, she was having a great time with the mysterious Mandalorian. She swallowed, feeling her tongue was sticky with sugar.

“I can’t. I have a very busy weekend.”

“Oh. Of course. Don’t worry about it.”

A spark of guilt flew out of Shin’s stomach and to her heart like a firework. She was busy this weekend. Beside their homework, she also had training. She intended to win the national tournament this year. No more second places for her. And she couldn’t get distracted.

The Mandalorian picked up the candy bags between them and pocketed it again.

“I should get back home. How are you going home?”

Shin looked down the street, but since no bus was coming through, she replied:

“I guess I’ll walk.”

She didn’t want to bother Baylan. She would walk home, give herself some time to clear her mind. The Mandalorian jumped off the bench and said:

“I have my bike. I could drop you off.”

“I don’t want to bother you.”

“I offered. And anyway, I could use the detour. I bet Ahsoka probably called my mom by now. The longer it takes me to get home the more I can delay the inevitable.”

Shin hesitated. The other girl extended a hand, ready to lead her to her bike. Her resolve broke and Shin took her hand.

The Mandalorian’s bike was an electric bike which she had painted all over in orange, purple, pink and blue. Its owner took off the padlock and chains and wrapped it around the bike’s frame before pushing it toward the road. She climbed astride it and looked at Shin.

“Sorry I didn’t bring a helmet. I figured mine would do the trick. I’ll go slow, promise.”

Shin lingered beside her, wondering what she was supposed to do. The other girl stood in front of the saddle, obviously giving her plenty of space to sit behind her.

“Come on, hop on.”

Shin climbed behind her, holding onto the Mandalorian’s pauldrons to keep steady. The girl pedaled out of the parking lot and onto the street, marking the stop sign there.

“So, where are we going?”

Shin gave her her address. Without need for more explanations, the other girl pedaled away. The city streets were lit by orange lights, giving no chance to the shadows of night. The Mandalorian pedaled steadily away from the school, leaving the echo of pop music behind. Shin gripped her shoulders, the metal beneath her fingers growing warm. The Mandalorian didn’t seem to struggle too much, despite the added weight. They rode out of the downtown part and into the suburbs, where the houses were all dark. Many were decorated for Halloween, with skeletons on the doors, pumpkins on the lawns and cobwebs hanging over the windows. Shin’s wasn’t. She had grown past Halloween, and Baylan had been too busy to dig up the ancient decorations from the attic. When they stopped in front of it, however, the Mandalorian didn’t comment on it. She steadied the bike while Shin stepped off, then climbed off herself.

“Thank you for driving me back,” Shin said politely.

Now that she stood in front of her house, she felt awkward. Whatever bubble she and the Mandalorian had lived in for the past hour or so was about to burst, and she feared to be the one to burst it.

“Wait until I can finally get a motorbike. Now that’ll be something.”

They stood side by side, awkwardness festering in the air with every passing second. Shin didn’t want to move, and neither did the other girl it seemed. Finally, she let out a sigh and said:

“Fuck it.”

She took off her helmet. Shin was too stunned to say anything. Even in the dim light of the evening, she would recognize that girl anywhere. Short purple hair ruffled by having worn the helmet for so long. Clever brown eyes looking at her with uncertainty, a strange new emotion Shin had never seen there before. Usually, they were full of defiance and confidence. A mole beside her nose. Lips curled into a smirk. Sabine Wren.

Before Shin could react, Sabine leaned and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Good night, Shin.”

She put her helmet back on and disappeared into the night, leaving Shin a burning statue on the side of the road.

Shin had a terrible weekend. She barely slept, was terribly distracted during training, all because her mind couldn’t conjure away the feeling of Sabine’s sweet lips on her cheek. Even Baylan noticed it. He tried to breach the subject on their way back from the dojo, while Shin stared as hard as she could out of the car window.

“Are you alright? You were distracted today.”

“I’m fine,” she snapped back.

“Did something happen at the party?”

She frowned and turned to him.

“Why would anything have happened?”

Baylan recognized a losing battle when he saw one.

“I’m just trying to figure out what could make you so distracted. Usually, the closer we get to a competition the more focused you get. Especially when you know Sabine is going to participate.”

Shin knew she was blushing. She forced herself to look out of the window again, hoping Baylan hadn’t notice. She could see her reflection, all pink cheeked and flustered.

“I’ll be fine. I’m going to crush her.”

There was such venom in her voice that Baylan, convinced of her determination once more, dropped the subject.

Come Monday, Shin had persuaded herself that whatever had happened on Friday evening didn’t matter. She was still going to ignore Sabine at school, was still going to train as hard as she could, was still going to kick her ass. Her resolve was immediately broken the moment she opened her locker. A small deluge of chocolate bar tumbled out. Every eye in the corridor turned to her and the small ruckus she had made. She glared at them. She picked up as many as the bars as she could, stuffing them all in her bag. Among the few which had remained in her locker, she found a note. She almost crumbled it up and ignored it. She didn’t need to be a genius to know who had broken into her locker for that little stunt. All the bars were Snickers bars.

She kept the piece of paper in the palm of her hand. She walked to the nearest trashcan, intent to throw it away. However, before she could, curiosity got the best of her. She unfurled it.

Meet me at lunch where we made fireworks.

She grumbled and crumpled the note, throwing it into the trash without hesitation. Who did she think she was? She couldn’t get under her skin so easily. Shin wouldn’t let her.

After fuming about it all morning, barely paying attention to what the teachers were saying, or even what class she was in, Shin decided to give Sabine a piece of her mind. So, when the lunch bell rang, she walked out and toward the football field.

Sabine wasn’t hard to find, even as she tried to hide in the trees at the edge of the field. Her purple hair and painted jean jacket were enough to destroy her discretion. When she saw Shin approach, she smiled. Shin had never seen her smile like that. Usually, there was always a form of malice or smugness in her smirks. This was a full-on smile, containing nothing but elation. Shin had so much to say, she had planned a long, vicious rebuttal. As soon as she saw that smile, she forgot every word of it.

“You came,” Sabine said, obviously glad.

Shin stopped a few feet from her. She suddenly feared stepping nearer.

“Are you mad at me for Friday evening?”

Shin didn’t know what to answer to that. She hated her, had always hated her, and Friday had made her hate her so much more that it had turned that hatred into something new and strange.

“Did you know this entire time it was me?” Shin could only ask.

Sabine chuckled as she answered:

“You thought a mask and a ponytail would stop me from recognizing you? Did you not recognize me at all?”

Shin glared at her.

“You were wearing full body armor and a helmet. Your speaker was broken.”

“I know. It’s incredibly difficult to find a replacement.”

Sabine sighed.

“I didn’t mean to trick you. I just… I guess I was having a lot of fun with you. It was different from the usual.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Sabine gave her a look and Shin understood perfectly what she meant. They had never taken the time to know each other. They had been rivals for so long, they only knew how to insult and taunt each other. Without that Halloween party, she would have never learned that Sabine liked fireworks and Milky Ways.

A sudden shiver of anxiety took over her heart. She had to do something. She handed her back to Sabine.

“Take your Snickers back.”

Sabine shook her head.

“They’re yours. I had to trade really hard for them. Jacen has a strong mind for business for a nine-year-old.”

She sighed and sat in the grass, overlooking the football field. Shin remained standing, her bag falling limply beside her.

“Oh, and don’t worry about Ahsoka. I told her you went straight home after I helped you out. I said I was alone for breaking into her office and lighting the firework.”

Shin frowned.

“Why would you do that?”

Sabine shrugged.

“She’s a family friend. I knew she’d believe me and she wouldn’t be too harsh on me.”

After a second of hesitation, Shin finally sat down beside Sabine.

“What did you get?”

“Detention until Christmas. But I can still do something stupid and turn it to detention until Easter.”

Sabine laughed at the idea. Shin didn’t find it funny. She only stared. Once Sabine had stopped laughing, she sighed. She turned to Shin.

“I don’t know about you, but I had fun with you on Friday night. I never imagined that you could be fun like that.”

“I always figured you were stupidly reckless,” Shin replied, prompting Sabine to roll her eyes.

After a second of hesitation, Shin added:

“But I did have fun… with you.”

Sabine smirked.

“Maybe we could do that again, sometime? Just the two of us?”

Shin bit her lower lip. Sabine was talking about a date. She was sure of it. She didn’t dare ask for clarification.

“Well… The competition is coming up. I need to train without distraction. But after that… I suppose we could do that… Go on a date, I mean.”

Sabine blushed and looked away as soon as the word ‘date’ had been spoken into the air. Shin was pleased to see that she could embarrass the other girl just as readily as Sabine could fluster her. Sabine cleared her throat.

“Yeah, of course… I mean I’m grounded right now anyway, my mom found my stash of cherry bombs. But after that, absolutely.”

Sabine smiled at her, and to her surprise, Shin smiled back. Sabine’s dark eyes were shining with something she had never seen before, but it was light and playful like the shower of comets in the sky. It made Shin’s heart flutter like a panicked bird in a cage.

“Can I kiss you?” Sabine asked, finally, as if the question was inevitable.

A surge of warm anticipation grabbed a hold of Shin. She nodded. Sabine leaned against her and placed a feather light kiss on her lips. The warm press of her lips on hers awakened something in Shin. She kissed her back hard, refusing to let her go. Sabine followed her lead eagerly, shifting closer to Shin. Shin cupped her face, holding her steady through the kiss. When they parted, out of breath and shaken by new, powerful sensations, Shin breathed out:

“Don’t think that changes anything. I will still kick your ass next time we fight.”

Sabine smirked. That smirk which had always irked Shin now made her feel hot all over.

“I would expect any less,” Sabine replied before kissing her again.