Unwanted call

In a small apartment on the 18th floor, young Nyco was practicing martial arts. He lived in a 15 meter apartment with barely any furniture, just one bed and a small table he could eat on while sitting on the floor. He wasn’t big on decorations, the only thing he had was a picture of himself, Emma and her mother, Juliet. The picture was taken on their first trip to the Moon, one of his fondest memories. Nyco looked at the picture and looked away as soon as his eyes met Emma’s mother.

“I’m sorry Julie. I promised I would always take care of Emma, but all I end up doing is complicate things…”. Nyco shook his head and started training again to keep his mind off things. Thinking of the kindness Juliet had always given him made him sad and hate that he’ll never be able to make it up to her.

He had a black punching bag hanging from the ceiling. The white bandana on his forehead kept the sweat out of his eyes.
Nyco punched and kicked the punching bag with extra strength that day, thinking of Mr. Litdawn always made him punch harder. Working out always cleared his head but he felt his mind was someplace else that day.

-That jerk will probably bother Emma today with what you’ve done. You fool!-, he screamed at himself with a direct punch that made the sand punching bag swing. -You gave her a hard time again. Why couldn’t you jump someplace else?! You should have selected another destination!!

He kept kicking the punching bag enjoying the pain it brought to his knuckles and feet. After 1 hour of releasing his stress and frustration he stopped to catch his breath.

-Come on Nyco. Just take a shower and rest. You don’t really know if your stupidity has put Emma in trouble. Hopefully he just shares his anger with me.

Meanwhile, Emma was flying straight into the ceiling with her friend hanging from her left hand. Her E-Cube was ringing, Mr. Litdawn wanted to share his anger with someone else.

Gyanna told Emma to open her right hand so that the Rocket Boots would stop accelerating. If she double tapped the button with her finger, the boots would also stop and maintain them suspended in the air, but Gyanna thought that it would be faster to get her to open her hand. Unfortunately Emma was in a state of panic and could not hear her or remember how they worked. Gyanna had to stop her. She hugged Emma to keep her body straight, stepped on her friend's boots and pushed them backwards in order to change directions. It worked, they missed the ceiling by 2 meters. She now had to open her friend's hand.
Gyanna stretched her arm and managed to touch Emma’s hand. But just as she was going to open it, a pole from the obstacle course smacked Emma on the head and Gyanna on the back.
The impact separated them and sent them both flying. Thankfully, the impact activated the safety measures. The same pole that hit them detached itself from the rotating column and gently catched both with a safety net. Emma’s rocket boots deactivated as soon as they hit the pole to make the capture easier for the AI from the pole.

Once they were placed on the ground, Gyanna went running to her friend.

-Are you ok, Emma? How many fingers am I holding?-, she asked.

-2… 3… Stop changing them!-, she complained while giving her a friendly slap on her shoulder. Gyanna laughed at her silly joke.

-I knew you were ok, that big head of yours would hardly feel a smack like that.

-Shut up!-, she laughed while catching her breath. -God, I hate flying so much. Look at my forehead. Is it red?-, Emma asked.

-Yep… You’ll probably get a bump I’m afraid…

-Agggh, great… I’m sorry Gyanna. I just froze when my dad called. Are you ok?

-Fresh as a daisy-, she winked. -But how do you know it was your dad that rang? Maybe it was Nyco.

-I’m afraid not. I silenced my E-C for the class, but my dad installed a vibrating option that only activates when he calls, he loses his mind if I don’t answer immediately.

The E-C started buzzing again.

-Here he is again. What a pain-. Emma touched the side of her pink cube and set it on” ear mode”. The cube folded itself until it took the form of an Earphone. She put it on her left ear and answered the call. -What do you want, dad? I’m in the middle of class.

-This is more important. Check what I had to deal with today-. A small sphere came out of the earphone and floated until it put itself in front of her. Then, it projected a hologram of a recording from inside her dad’s office. In it, she could see Nyco coming out of the teleportation chamber in his office. -Ooooh shi…

-What was he doing with your Warpy?-, interrupted her dad.

-I just lent it to him temporarily so…

-You know how much a jumping orb costs! I didn’t give them to you so you could give them to that unpresentable buffoon.

-I’m sorry ok! He really needed it so I gave it to him momentarily. It won’t happen again-, she assured him so he would calm down.

-Oh, I know it won’t happen again, because I’m taking the jumping orbs away. I’ll leave your Warpy empty at home so you can still check the time, your temperature and all that. But no more jumping for you until I say so.

-But Dad! We live 2 hours away from school. On the days you can’t bring me in the morning with your car, I’m going to have to wake up at 5:30!

-You should have thought about it sooner, young lady. I don’t want to see you near that boy again. You hear me?

-Yeah? Well, I don’t want to hear you anymore. So goodbye!

-Don’t you dare hang up E…

Emma hung up the call , leaving her dad angry and frustrated.

-I knew he would jump to his office. He should have changed the destination! When I get a hold of him… Ugh! He owes me big time for this-. she complained.

-Wow. Your dad really is a piece of work. But I gotta say. It was kind of funny seeing Nyco trying to hide on top of the bookshelf. I wonder why he fell-, said Gyanna.

-Who knows-, she answered while rubbing her eyebrows in frustration. -They are never going to get along. He is just impossible…

-...You mean your dad or Nyco?-, asked Gyanna.

-BOTH.

-Why didn’t he jump to another place?

-I hope it’s because the Warpy was charging-, Emma deduced.-He is just… Agh, how can we be so unlucky!

-Come on. Things will work out. Let’s go shopping after school. You deserve it.

-Yes, thanks. Good idea. But don’t forget we have an exam next week and a study session later.

-Of course-, I wouldn't miss it for the woooorld-, Gyanna said.

-Don’t you use that ironic tone with me, young lady. You know Yve needs the help and you are not leaving me alone with her-, she said jokingly.

-Hahaha. Ok, we’ll go shopping for an hour and then we’ll connect to study.

-Sounds like a plan. Oh, let’s go to the big mall on Conquest street. I need to buy a new Warpy now.

-Sure-, answered Gyanna as the PE teacher walked up to them.

-Well. I’m glad you two had the time in my class to call your dad and make plans for this evening, how cute. Don’t worry about the rest of the class waiting outside to do this exercise, no. Do you want something to drink? Mmm? Maybe I can bring you a few snacks-, said the PE teacher standing right behind them.

-Hey, Miss Jehnfred-, stuttered Emma.

-Let me see that bump in your head-, she said, pooling her head towards her eyes. Mmmm, yes, it will swell up a bit. Here, have this cold sticky band-, she said while putting it on her head. -Well, I’ve checked your vital signs through the sensors in the rocket boots, and seeing how well rested you two are. How about 10 laps around the school. Sounds good?

-What? no!!!-, moaned Gyanna.

-Please teacher. That’s too much-, cried Emma

-Nonsense. After all the chit chat you had, you must have regained all your energy.

-Even with all my energy I could not handle even 2 laps around the school-, explained Emma.

-My my. You still have energy to fight back your teacher. Maybe 20 laps would be a better number for you.

-WHAAAA…

-10 would be just fine, teacher. Thank you-, said Gyanna covering her friend's mouth. Right Emma?!-, she asked in what seemed more like a threat than a question.

-MMmm mmm-, she answered through her friend's hands.

-Perfect. Well then. Get up and start burning that energy.

The two girls got up and left the training course. Outside, their friend Yve came forward to speak with them.

-What happened? Why did it take so long for you to come out? What’s that in your head Emma? You ok?

-Yeah, it’s a long story. We decided we’ll go shopping later. You in?-, asked Emma.

-Ha! Do birds sing? Of course I’m in! Where are you going by the way?-, Yve asked.

-Miss uptight told us to run 10 laps around the school-, replied Gyanna.

-10!!!!?-, Yve yelled.

-Yve!!-, shouted the PE teacher. -Would you like to keep chit chatting with Emma and Gyanna? You could do the 10 laps with them if you want!

-I… I don’t even know these people, teacher. I just wished them good luck.

-Good girl!-, answered Miss Jehnfred

-Good luck besties. See you after class-, Yve announced after sending them a kiss.

-Cheecky-, laughed Gyanna.