Chapter 31: The Lie

1400 Words
While the Infinity Riders celebrated the epic closing to the interview by ordering in more pizza than they could eat and playing Fantasy Stars with their newest streamer friend, practically everyone else in campus had gathered in the Kappa Kappa Delta sorority house for a Friday night blast. Music was loud, glasses were full and lights were dim, complemented by lots of neon and disco balls. The inside of the house was already at top capacity, and more and more people kept flocking around the building, spilling into the backyard, front yard, sidewalk and even the street. A few guests had made their way to the rooftop, while others felt at home enough to dive into the pool. Amidst the dancing, yelling and overly excited crowd, however, a very serious Emma leaned against the kitchen’s counter. Cellphone in hand, she scrolled her thumb through the vastness of her social media feed. She was no stranger to make-up and revealing clothes, but she had gone an extra mile that night hoping to run into a certain swimming champion. Still, the entirety of the swimming team was bouncing on her couch, spilling drinks all over the carpet and ceiling, and Luca was still nowhere to be seen. “Ems!” Carly hooked an arm to Emma’s shoulder, her words dragging as much as her feet. “What you doing, girl? It’s a PAR-TEY! Put that phone away and come dance!” “A thought just crossed my mind,” Emma spoke plainly, just raising her voice enough to be heard over the house music. “Not that you would understand what that feels like.” Emma kept scrolling the posts at lightspeed until she stopped at a picture of Sophie Hobson. Sarah’s sister. “A-ha!” Emma grinned deviously at the picture. There was a location tag and a timestamp. Sophie, who was supposedly in town and out with her sister, had just posted a picture having dinner with her fiancé at a French restaurant located on the other side of the country. “Would you look at this, Carly? Sarah’s sis, who is supposed to be having dinner with Sarah right now, was twelve states away just fifteen minutes ago.” “Wow!” Carly gawked. “These planes nowadays are, like, really fast, aren’t they, Ems?” “What? No! Do you really not get what’s up?” “Time zones?” Carly risked. “No! That’s not even how time zones work!” “Really?” Carly squinted, still hugging Emma. “How do they work?” “Not the point!” Emma shoved her phone into her purse. “Sarah lied to us! She’s not with her sister!” “Ahhh!” Carly finally put the pieces together. “So where is she?” “Finally asking the right questions, Carly. Finally!” Emma scanned the room, longing particularly on the swimmers jumping on the couch. “You know who else’s missing?” “Cindy?” Carly asked. “Uh… No? She’s literally dancing on the dinner table on her bra!” Emma pointed at the table upon which Cindy shook her arms—and more—to the beat. “Luca is missing!” “The swimmer guy?” Carly scratched her blonde hair. “Yes, the swimmer guy!” “So what, Ems?” “Remember that day when his buddy’s car broke down just outside?” Emma asked, still searching the scene. “Remember how him and Sarah were all buddy-buddies, how she showed him to the restroom and all that?” “Oh my gosh!” Carly squealed. “Ems, I think I know where Sarah is! I think she is with Luca!” “Oh, you do?” Emma rolled her eyes. “Yeah! I think they might be together!” Carly nodded excitedly. “This is, like, so juicy! I can’t wait to tell, like, everyone!” “I bet you can’t, and I know exactly who we should tell first,” Emma’s Machiavellian grin widened as she located the person she was looking for. Sitting on the stereo surrounded by his buff gym buddies, was none other than Charles, Sarah’s actual boyfriend. Emma gently pushed Carly ahead of her and started moving towards her target. *** The practice session for that night had been short, with most of the time being either occupied by Barry, Luca and Sarah spending some real-life quality time with Carol and Amanda or with the lot of them taking promotional pictures in the game. The epic images of Kramen Blacksky, Serry Frost, DM3-C4, Lord Potathunder and Gurmonya Bearius taken that night would populate the official Infinity Riders social media profile on the coming weeks. Profiles that Carol and Amanda had so kindly volunteered to manage. Come 2 AM, the group agreed to call that a night. Sarah had jumped out the window, as usual, leaving her gear in the boys’ locker. Carol and Amanda had returned to their hotel room for a good night of sleep before they returned to their hometown the following morning. That had left Luca and Barry alone in their home once again. Barry had asked if Luca still wanted to try and catch the rest of the party, but Luca just waved off the suggestion and climbed onto the bunkbed. Barry changed into his pajamas and rolled onto his own bed. The grand inauguration of the Infinity Riders as an official team was now less than 24 hours away, and when it happened there would be a very explosive interview ready to add some gas to the fire. Barry kept his gaze nailed to the underbelly of Luca’s bed, his hands crossed over his stomach as all kinds of considerations crossed his mind. Time had become an abstract concept as thoughts piled up, and Barry could not tell if it had been twenty minutes or two hours since he laid down. “Luca?” Barry whispered. “Are you still awake?” “Yup…” Luca did not bother whispering. “Thinking about tomorrow?” “Yes…” “I get it,” Luca said. “I get the exact same way before an important swimming event.” “Do you think I overdid tonight?” Barry asked. “With my last answer in the interview?” “I’d say so, but that’s a good thing!” Luca reassured the man sleeping beneath his bed. “You spoke from your heart. People will see that. You also picked a fight with the Star Rangers, the biggest baddest gang in town. That alone should get folks invested in voting you for Wildcard. It’s just important that you stick to the principles you defended.” “You mean not sell my soul for sponsors?” Barry asked. “Exactly,” Luca said, then yawned. “And be sure to not let what happened five years ago get to you. Trust me, it’s best to leave the past in the past. Focus on the present, on the team, the friends, you have right now. Carry whatever flag you want, but at the end of the day, remember to look at the people who are at your side. Okay?” “Okay…” Barry whispered again, letting the silence of night fall over the dark room once again. He remained on the same position as before, mind still running, but now focused on the friends he had made over the last few weeks. More friends than he had made over the last five years, and much better ones too. As time ticked on, Barry caught himself smiling to himself. “Hey, Luca…” he whispered again. “I just wanted to thank you, you know… for helping me come back. It feels good to have a purpose again. And to have people with whom to share it. I haven’t felt this happy in years… since way before I left the Rangers, even.” Luca’s response was a snort. But that was okay. Just saying all that was more than good enough.
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