Colored sparks burned around me. The crackling fireworks and applause were deafening. The glowing eyes of the many TV cameras were all pointed in my direction, like the many eyes of some vile monster. This was bad. For someone who hated being in front of large groups of people, nothing could be worse. The fact that hundreds of agents were watching me from who knows where had just registered in my mind.

My breath was coming in quick gasps, whether from the dance moves I had just pulled off or nerves, I couldn't tell. The only thought flashing through my mind was, I have to get away from all these cameras. I allowed my feet to rush me offstage into the safety of the camera-free backstage.

As I started to compose myself I heard the footsteps that I knew were coming. Olympia trotted around the corner and bounced up to me beaming. The excitement of being on stage was still fizzling in her eyes.

"Otis you were amazing! You should really dance more often!"

"I don't like doing it in front of people. It makes me uncomfortable."

"You were just out there with me and you did fine."

"Well, I couldn't just let you stand out there by yourself. I make exceptions sometimes." I muttered.

There was a moment of silence. "Thanks for saving me out there." Olympia took off her headset.

"No problem. Just next time you enter a talent show please have an act ready before you go on stage." I took off my headset as well.

Unbidden my thoughts flashed to an iron vaulted corner of my mind. There was a question hidden there. It was a question I had thought about asking Olympia for a long time. It was one of those thoughts I would take out at night and think about for a long time in the protection of the darkness where no one else could see it. Maybe this was the moment. Should I ask her? What if she said no? Would I just embarrass myself? But then again, it might be worse never knowing.

Was I doing this? I took a breath. Yep, totally doing this.

"Olympia—

"Alright Shermans, let's move it! Ms. O wants headquarters back to normal before next year. Get to work!"

Orchid shoved her way between Olympia and me as if we were simply part of the wall; all the while issuing orders.

Talk about ruining the moment. Olympia and I hurried toward the break room, where we were safely out of the way of the working agents and overpowering noise of the stage being dismantled.

"What were you going to tell me?" Olympia turned to me curiously.

Should I try to tell her again? My motivation from before had been partially crushed. I mentally shook myself. You can do this. I took another breath.

"Olympia—

"Howdy do!" The friendly voice of Oona rang out. I turned to see her and the ever-calm Ocean approaching us.

Olympia glanced at me with burning curiosity before greeting Oona and Ocean with her signature smile, "Hi guys!"

"Your guys' dance was awesome!" Oona beamed at us.

"Totally gnarly dudes." Ocean high-fived both of us.

"At first I didn't think anything was going to happen, no offense Olympia, but you looked kinda lost up there, and Otis came on and; Bam! Music, awesomeness, dance party!"

"Wicked dance moves, bros. Even my pet dragon was impressed." Ocean added.

"That magic trick you did was pretty cool too, Oona." I congratulated her.

"Oh, that was nothing. I do it all the time. I even do it when I don't want to...then it can get annoying." Oona stared into space, partly lost in thought. She continued to stare off into the distance until Ocean had enough sense to grab her shoulder and shake her back to reality.

"Thanks." She smiled at him. "I get lost in thought sometimes."

"So do I." Olympia nodded understandingly.

"Um...well I literally get lost in my thoughts. I have so many thoughts in my brain that I have a hard time finding my way out sometimes. I think it's a medical condition." Oona nodded seriously.

"Oh, well good luck with that." Was all I could think of to say.

"Thanks. See you guys later!" Oona and Ocean waved cheerfully, finally leaving us alone.

By now I was feeling less confident than ever. It wasn't worth trying to ask her a third time, was it? It was a stupid idea in the first place. Why did I bother to think I could ask her? Nope, I'd just stay quiet and keep my thoughts to myself, like always...

"Um, Otis?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to walk home today instead of taking the tubes? I mean if you don't want to that's cool too, I just thought because, you know, it's so nice out and it's nice to have a change once in while and get some fresh air, but if you don't want to that's great—

"Olympia!" I jumped in to cut her off. I was used to her lengthy monologues by now. "I'm totally fine with walking home."

"Oh, great, awesome!" She beamed at me and together we headed towards the exit.

She was right. It was beautiful out. An early summer breeze whisked through the air. The sky was a brilliant hazy blue and completely duck-free. It was perfect. We started off down the sidewalk, headed for Olympia's house first.

In true Olympia fashion, she began rambling on about anything and everything with topics ranging from her visit to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to her favorite shapes of snowflakes during the month of February. This was one of the nice things about being friends with Olympia; I never had to do much talking. She was satisfied as long as she knew I was listening and occasionally giving a nod or two.

Her voice reminded me of those carbonized bubbles that fizzled out of a soda when you snapped open the top. Bubbly and full of life, that was her voice. And I loved it.

You could try asking her again, the little commanding voice in my head, that sounded oddly like Ms. O, suggested. I could ask. But what if she said no? What if she said yes?

Her saying yes was almost as terrifying as a no. With my kind of past would she be safe with me? Maybe. Yes, I was over that. I had changed for the better and there was no way I would ever go back.

As I was struggling with all this, I had failed to notice that we had reached Olympia's house.

"Thanks for walking me home, Otis!" Olympia gave me a quick smile before heading towards her front door.

Something clicked in my brain. It was now or never.

"H-hey Olympia?"

She froze in mid-step and spun around to look at me. "Yeah?"

"Well, would you, I mean could you....well only if you want to...I was just wondering..." My tongue was tripping over itself. I took a breath, collected myself, and tried again.

"Olympia, would you like to go out to dinner with me?"

"Dinner?" Olympia looked stunned.

"Yeah, you know to celebrate getting through the talent show and everything," I mumbled feeling the accursed blush creeping up my cheeks.

"Seriously Otis, I would LOVE to!" Olympia squealed and rushed to give me a hug.

As I hugged her back my brain was doing the conga. I had done it! I had asked her without making a complete fool of myself. And best of all she had said yes.

After a while she let go and bounded back up to her door; beaming at me the whole time.

"Friday night at 6 sound good?"

"Sounds perfect." She gave an excited bounce as she opened her door. "Goodnight Otis!"

"Goodnight Olympia." I grinned back at her feeling incredibly care-free.

As the sky began to dim and the first few stars appeared on the pale red horizon, I headed towards home, a wide smile determined never to leave my face.

Y'all wanna hear a story? Here's the short version: It took me three tries to write this story because the laptop gods were waging war against me and kept deleting it every time I got close to finishing it. But in the end, through perseverance, I was victorious! The end. Anyways. I'm glad to be back! I hope you all enjoyed the story and that you are all having a great summer! --Sara S.