Quoted By:
You can’t do it. Well, you can probably, <span class="mu-i">TOTALLY</span> kick her ass in a <span class="mu-b">BREATH-HOLDING CONTEST,</span> that goes without saying, but… yea, you know what? Let’s show her what breathing’s all about!
“Sweet! Now I wonder what I should get when I win, hmMmM~?”
As Mitzi examines you like a cat perusing a fish market, you have a momentary lapse of consciousness and break free of your competitive trance! Actually, Mitz, you interject as the two of you continue to bob on the surface, there’s…
…there’s something I need to tell you.
“Cool. You can tell me after the contest.” She counters before a contemplative look forms on her face, “... <span class="mu-i">and</span> after you do whatever thing you’re supposed to do when I win. Haven’t decided what, yet…. You’re already in your underwear…”
<span class="mu-s">MITZ</span>, you repeat with all the seriousness you can muster, it’s important, okay? <span class="mu-i">Really</span> important!
To her credit, the tomboy stares at you for a moment before motioning you towards the shore. “Alright, but don’t think you’re home free yet…”
Paddling ashore, Mitzi chucks her snorkel gear into the duffel bag and lays out her towel on the sand, prompting you to follow suit.
Okay, you say as you take a steadying breath, you’ve been putting it off, but-
“Stan…” Mitzi mutters with a sheepish look growing on her face, “I’m, uh… I’m just joking around, y’know? You don’t have to pretend to like gi-”
It’s not that, you reply with a stern look on your face!
Mitzi’s eyes widen in horror. “... Oh… oh <span class="mu-i">shit</span>... Stan, did… Talbot didn’t <span class="mu-r">KNOCK YOU UP,</span> right!?”
Okay you were all set to tell her about how her family died, but that? That right there is <span class="mu-s">INFINITELY WORSE!</span> So much so that a drawn-out croak akin to a chew toy being stepped on escapes your lips as you imagine it! What the <span class="mu-s">FUCK!?</span>
“So it’s not that? Oh thank <span class="mu-i">CHRIST</span>...” Dabbing her sweating brow with her towel, the red slowly fades from your friend’s face as she lets out a sigh of relief! “I was gonna kick his ass if he did… like, <span class="mu-s">REALLY</span> kick it, Stan.”
Look, you stammer, still mortified by her first few guesses, you aren’t preggo, you aren’t moving away, though your brother <span class="mu-i">DID</span> mention meeting up in <span class="mu-g">VERMONT</span> next month or so, you aren’t in any medical trouble or whatever, but you know what it’s like when people take too long to tell you something, so…
<span class="mu-i">THAT</span> got her attention. Cocking her still-damp head to the side, Mitzi raises an eyebrow your way.
“... so?”
<span class="mu-s">SO</span>, you sigh as you push through every mental wall trying to stop you, you…
You learned how her dad and sister died, you choke as the sentence nearly catches in your throat!
>CONTD.
