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"It's just not fair!" Mariah huffed, placing her fists on her hips. Her stride didn't slow, as if fueled by the steam coming out her ears. "What do they mean we can't beyblade with them? We're just as good as they are!"
"Better," Crystal corrected her. She walked at a slower pace behind Mariah, hands laced casually behind her head. Every few paces she gave a rock a kick, watching as it tumbled ahead.
"Right!" Mariah stopped walking. Her hands remained on her hips and her shoulders rose up to her ears. "So we should be able to blade with them! Lee was being so mean." Her shoulders dropped as she heaved an agitated sigh. "I can't believe he spoke to me like that. 'We don't want you giiiirls getting hurt'. Ugh!"
"Lee's always been like that." Crystal gave the rock another hard kick. It careened off the ground, jerking around until it came to a stop by a tree trunk. Birds nestled in the trees above stretched their wings, taking off. The two girls stopped walking, heads tilted back to watch them melt into their endless sky.
Mariah waited for Crystal to reach her side before they started walking again. She messed with the hem of her shirt, tugging and twisting a loose thread. "I know," she said quietly, the words directed at the ground.
"So, why's it botherin' you now?" Respect was a large cornerstone of their village. It being attributed to their "elders" didn't just mean those in the generation above them; older brothers and the male figures were to be listened to for guidance and structure. Lee liked to use it to his advantage sometimes, to their irritation. Case in point.
Mariah's nose wrinkled and her fisted hands gripped her shirt. "...Do you think Ray agrees with him?"
An elongated groan came out of Crystal's mouth as her head tilted backwards. "Really!?" This again? It was one thing seeing Mariah getting goo-goo eyed over him up close but they didn't have to talk about it all the time.
"He used to teach me how to blade. He was so patient and kind and smart. He used to not care about us joining in with them."
Crystal made a gagging noise. "Just because you like him—"
"It's not about that!" Mariah's golden eyes gleamed with indignation. "It's just...if he thinks like that, if he agrees with Lee and the others then...he's not the guy I thought he was. He's always been so...so worldly." She sighed. "If everything I thought about him was wrong this whole time...then what can I trust?"
"Uhh, yourself?" Mariah hummed. Rolling her eyes, Crystal grabbed Mariah's arm, making her stop walking. "Listen to me. I'm older than you. And wiser."
"Hmph. We're the same age."
"Yeah, but I was born first—"
"Just by a month.
"—and that makes me more mature." As a smug smile came to her face, she rapped Mariah's forehead with her knuckles. "So listen up, dummy. Just because they're being stupid boys doesn't mean your instincts are wrong. They're being stupid. If they want to beyblade on their own in their stupid boys' club, let them. They'll need all the help they can get."
Mariah wrenched her arm out of Crystal's grasp. "Why doesn't this bother you?" she asked, rubbing where Crystal had her.
"Because." The bright sun above illuminated her large smile. "I don't care what those guys say; I'm gonna be the best beyblader in the world and no one can stop me!" She puffed out her chest and declared, "I'll even beat Lee and Ray one day to prove it!"
"Not if I beat them first," Mariah countered, matching her grin.
"Fine. Then I'll just beat you." Crystal continued walking.
"That won't happen." Mariah sped up, falling into step with her before pulling ahead a little.
Crystal smirked, increasing her speed. "We'll see," she threw over her shoulder.
"Yes, we will!" Mariah agreed. Her walk turned into a light jog. Crystal mimicked her, challenge settling into her eyes.
"Fine. One day, we'll enter a tournament and we'll be one and two and we'll see who's officially the best!" Crystal broke into a run "Which will be me!"
Mariah chased after her. "In your dreams!"
Breaking into giggles, the two girls ran down the path, a promising future on the horizon.