Api’s Friends
Api’s day had been another day of joy as his research into gravitic effects had resulted in the hardware team finally designing an electronic version of his own ability to detect anomalies so small they were once thought of as only esoteric exercises of thought. His physics teacher was delighted because with the new scanner he could begin mapping the trash that cluttered near earth orbit for a pet project of his.
Having finished his required studies and having few personal connections at the institute other than Sally and from what he’d seen of she and Drake were closer and as such had the older man to lean on so he hopped on his bike and peddled to the nearby Mall to meet with the girls.
Hanging with Lacy, Jan, and Carla
They were waiting for him by the rack he always locked his bike to each wearing their Alameda Gymnastics T-shirts and shorts and as soon as he stepped away from his bike they each hugged him
”Sæll Api” they said in greeting using the little they understood of his language.
”Hello my friends, looks as if you’ve an event this weekend by the wearing of the team shirts” he said with a smile
”Its a big one this time Api and we were wondering if you’d come and cheer us on” said Jan grabbing his right arm and clutching it close to her body.
Then as usual Carla grabbed the other arm and hugged it close making Api feel as if they were attempting to restrain him gently.
”We brought goodies” Giggled Lacy holding up a shopping bag.
So the girls pulled him over to tables that lay outside of the mall under the shade of trees and Lacy pulled out first a ticket to the event they said would place him close to their team’s benches. Next came a Gold T-shirt just like theirs which they insisted he change into to make sure it fit.
Api used being in gym settings and lacking the normal body consciousness that plagued others stripped off his shirt exposing his well muscled form that drew sighs from his friends as he wiggled into the gift shirt finding it snug but acceptable.
”It sure looks good on you Api too bad you can’t join our team; we’d love to have you” purred Lacy as she put her palm on his chest.
”I just can’t get over how hard your muscles are; its like what you’d expect a panther’s body to feel like””Dios mio Lacy, down girl” said Carla as she reclaimed his left arm followed by Jan taking his right
Api thought it was funny how they were always teasing him and acting so possessive; if he didn’t know better he could assume they were his actual GFs but dismissed it as silly. Three pretty girls who wanted him was more like some fantasy you might read about in one of his former roommates magazines.
It wasn’t that it wasn’t a fun fantasy but it was just a fantasy three girls at once was a bit much so he laughed as he slid away from the two gentle pythoness that held his arms.
”Come Kærustu (GFs)
lets go get smoothies my treat” He said with a laugh though puzzled by a look of disappointment Carla and Jan wore.
Oblivious to the real reasons for their expressions he thought they were just happy being physically affectionate and he’d disturbed them so he offered them each their previously claimed arms. Then as they walked into the mall he was mildly shocked when Lacy wrapped her arms around his waist pressing her body close to his in a distracting manner.
So as he walked to the food court he tried to control his base self who was aroused by the chesty jewish girl who seemed to be trying to playfully embarrass him. Luckily for him Carla and Jan got Lacy to join them as they released his arms before he was further embarrassed by an involuntary response of his body.
Having a smoothie with friends
Once they’d all gotten a drink they were sitting as a group which soon grew with the addition of Jessica, Mike and Merle who were also members of the Alameda Gymnastics team talking about the event coming soon and gossip.
Merle turned and said to Api
”Don’t look now Api but here come your fans the Johnson Jocks” Api turned and looked in their direction and sighed. There were 8 of them and Clive Habersham their leader had 3 20 dollar bills clutched in his right fist as if they were weapons.
”Yo! Monkey boy ya cover a C-note?” the tall blond Jock demanded. He hoped Api couldn’t cover the bet as if that was victory but they’d played that game before with Clive and the other boy had proven a bigger pain.
Reaching into his pocket Api drew out his wallet and handed Janet a crisp 100 dollar bill then walked over to stand under one of the braces that were like a horizontal bar between two columns at the edge of the food court. Another boy, a big muscled boy; a heavy boy stood under the bar.
Api waited bored while the other boy handed his coat, things from his pockets, and shoes to his buddies who encouraged him to win. He was clearly a weight lifter and football player which got Api to thinking about where he and the Alameda gym team were going to go on the 100 dollars.
The signal was given and both boy leap up and grabbed the cool painted steel bars, the football player wiggled to get comfortable in his one handed grip Api grabbed his without even over shooting the target knowing that was an unnecessary expenditure of energy. Hands that had grown strong on rings, horse, and bars, worked hauling net in the Grand Banks or climbing the rocky terrain of Iceland locked like the jaws of a pit around the steel.
Some of the food court workers who were on break or working for a permissive manager or the managers of the food stalls joined in the spectators who had stopped to watch. The football jock tried to stare Api down unaware that the smaller boy was in a sort of meditative state reliving other times he’d just hung around but the scenery was nicer and the real world a blur.
He ceased to exist in real time to even perceive it passing just a mind at rest who was waiting to hear his challenger drop to the tiles which actually came quicker than he’d expected. So Api only released the bar at 1:31 minutes dropping to the tiles after a visual confirmation.
THe jocks pouted and left with the promise that they would beat him next time.
Not interested in being known as a gambler Api and the team went to Karaoke and Scoops leaving Api a net gain of 6.23 from the jocks and their bet.
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