While all this is going on Scott turns back to the game, and kills Steve’s character, ending the game. “Hey! What the fuck, Scott?!” someone yells. Everyone then looks over to see Scott trying to claim the win at the registration table. Sarah sees this, and becomes furious.
She cringes in anger. Then Steve begins to wheeze, and Sarah turns back. Tears start to roll down her cheeks. Just then, someone hands them a bottle of water. “Here Steve, drink this.” Sarah helps him to take a sip, and then Steve grabs onto the bottle and tilts his head back, chugging it down.
He stops coughing, but appears to be a bit dizzy. “Ugghhh” he moans. “I need my medicine… But I left it at home.”
“Oh no! Okay, c’mon.” Sarah walks with him to the front of the store, and outside. She waves down a taxi for him. It rolls up, and she opens the door for him. “Okay, let’s go, get in.”
“Thank you, Sarah, but you should stay.”
“What? NO!! I want to go with you, and make sure you’re alright.”
“I’m fine, really. This happens all the time. I just need to take my medicine, and I’ll be all good. But you should stay, because you can keep playing.”
“…”
“Besides… that Scott guy’s a real dick, and I need someone to beat him for me. Do you think you could do that?”
Sarah looks down at the ground, and clenches her fists, then back up at Steve. “…Okay…” she reluctantly agrees.
“And, I’ll tell you what else; tomorrow — why don’t the two of us go out on a date? We can hit up the beach, and grab some food, and spend the whole day together. How does that sound?”
The grimace on her face slowly dissolves, and then she gently wraps her arms around him. He holds her and kisses the side of her head. More tears start to pour from her eyes. She wiggle her face against his shoulder and pulls away.
“I love you, Steve.”
“I love you too, Sarah.”
They kiss, and then Steve gets into the taxi, and disappears down the road. Once he’s out of sight, she turns back towards the store.
“Sarah!” Michael shouts. He walks over to her with his coffee in hand. “What are you doing out here?” He sees her eyes are red. “What the…? Were you crying?”
Sarah sniffles, and breaks down. “Something happened to Steve! He was coughing and couldn’t breathe, and I didn’t know what to do, and, and… he just left in a taxi, and…”
“Ohh, hey, hey, yeah, it’s okay, Sarah. I’ve seen that happen to him before. He has a medical condition, umm, I forget what it’s called… But don’t worry about it. He’ll be fine.” Michael hugs her, and she digs her face into his shoulder. After a short moment, she lifts her face away, and wipes her tears.
“That reminds me, Sarah…” Michael begins to ask. “What’s the deal with you guys anyway?” He takes a sip of his delicious beverage.
Sarah awkwardly looks down at the ground, not really sure what he was going to think. “Well…” she begins to blush, “we’re in love.”
Michael takes another sip of his drink. “Oh,” is all he says.
“Are you mad?” she asks.
“No, it’s just… I never thought… you guys… my best-friend… my sister… heh… you know? But yeah, no. It’s cool. I wish you two the best. Just kinda shocked me when I saw you guys kissing. Wasn’t sure if was tripping on that take-out breakfast or something.”
Sarah laughs.
“Oh! And another thing! How in the… fuck… did you get so good at the game? Like, seriously! What the fuck!”
“Oh… well, I play your game when your not home. I wanted to get good enough to play with you guys. Because, well, I wanted to spend more time with Steve. So I looked up some strategies on the internet, and practiced those.”
“Wow! I’m really impressed, Sarah. That’s awesome. If I had known you were serious about it, I would’ve helped teach you myself. And I still will if you want. But, by the looks of it, you seem like you’re doing just fine.” He takes another sip of his hot beverage.
“Thanks. So, ummm, can I ask you something about Steve?”
“Mhmm.”
“What’s his family like? Does he have any brothers or sisters?”
“Umm, no. It’s just him and his parents. His dad is in a wheelchair, and his mom bakes for a living. And oh man does she ever make good stuff. I had some of her cake this one time when I was over there, and I would’ve killed for the whole thing. Mmmm-mmm-MMMM!!”
Sarah smiles.
“You’d really like Steve’s mom, she’s the nicest person in the world. Like you… wheeeeeen you’re not being cranky — Which is often…” Sarah punches him in the arm. “Ow! See what I mean?” She smirks at him.
“What’s with you, Michael? You’re so outgoing and talkative now. I’ve never seen you like this. What did that girl do to you?”
“Maria? … Well… I guess… she showed me that I’m worth it… You know? She let me know that I don’t have to hide myself. I feel like worrying doesn’t matter anymore; that it’s better to just enjoy yourself, and not worry what anyone thinks. I used to believe that I wasn’t good enough… But now I know that I am…”
Sarah looks at her brother with complete respect. She feels really connected with him in this moment.
“Everyone is… if they believe it. And so I guess… she opened my eyes… and my heart. I owe her… big time.”
Sarah just nods, not taking her eyes off him. His words made her feel really good. She never realized how smart and cool her big-brother was until now. She felt really lucky to have him in her life, and wished she could take back all the hard times they’ve had over the years. She leans on him, and he puts his arm around her.
One of the people who is running the tournament opens the door. “Hey guys, we need you inside. We’re starting the semi-finals now.”
Michael turns to Sarah. “C’mon sis. Let’s go kick some ass.”