"Alex wake up." I woke up to Lachelle laying across from me on the dock. She seemed happy. Like really happy.

I'm in danger.

"Yes?" It was more of a question.

"Want to fight?" Lachelle asked.

What did I do? I reached for my phone and it wasn't there. Why can't I remember?

I just stared at Lachelle. She was smiling at me. The smile wasn't innocent, but gosh was she pretty. But not pretty enough for an ass beating. "It's a no for me dawg."

"I'll give you whatever you want if you beat me." Lachelle sang.

"Do it." 

Hell no strange voice. I'm not going to win. "Whatever I want?" Why am I doing this?

"Yes." Lachelle said with a smile.

"I want to sleep in your room." Why am I so weird? Why?

Lachelle's expression harden. It's just that I don't have any interaction with humans and Lachelle let me hold her. I know it's weird. I just really like having her around. "Alex I can't sleep with you." Lachelle said firmly. "That isn't fair to either of us."

"You already slept with me." Why am I arguing?

"Do you hear how weird that sounds?" Lachelle was getting pissed. Is she really mad I won't let her beat me up? 

"You are asking to beat me up. I'm asking to cuddle." I hear myself yelling.

"It's sparing!" Lachelle yelled. I think I offended her. "Forget I asked."

"You can have whatever you want if you win." I offered. Lachelle jumped up. 

"I want you to sleep in your own room." Lachelle walked away.

Why am I doing this? I have zero fighting knowledge. I mean I played virtual reality. So I got a little bit of knowledge.

I followed Lachelle into this little hut. The hut had a padded mat and in the center was a giant circle. The circle had a line in the center. The walls were lined with weapons from wooden swords to metal num-chuks. This bitch really is a ninja.

Lachelle entered the circle. "Take your shoes off." She ordered.

I watched as Lachelle tied her hair up. She is for real preparing to beat my ass, and I'm about to let her. I don't know why, but Lachelle can hold my attention. Well I do know why. She's a real life ninja.

I walked onto the mat. I made sure to stand on my side of the circle. 

"First you bow." Lachelle instructed. As I bowed I saw that Lachelle's eyes never left mine. Her face turned a pinkish color. "Ready?" Lachelle whispered.

I must be a dumbass because I nodded. I took an open hand strike to the stomach and was thrown over her shoulder. 

"One." 

I hit my back hard. I looked up into her brown eyes. I want to beat her ass. I quickly rolled onto my stomach and pushed myself up. I started to stretch my arms out. I was pissed, as I walked to my side of the circle.

"Alex?" Lachelle said with a laugh.

"Best two out of three." I demanded. I wanted to win.

Lachelle nodded. "Go." She said.

I rushed to throw a punch which Lachelle immediately blocked. When she tried to strike me again with her right hand I grabbed her wrist with my left. I pulled her hand up and pulled her close to me keeping an eye on her free hand. I gripped her hand hard as she winced in pain. I had her on height so I knew the position was uncomfortable for her since I basically lifted her off of her feet.

"You can have this one." Lachelle said with a laugh. "I don't want to hurt you."

I let go of her wrist. I saw my hand print indented in her skin. I had this uneasy feeling when she turned her back towards me.

When we both got to our sides I had an uneasy feeling in my gut. 

"Ready?" Lachelle asked.

Before I could finish nodding my head Lachelle jumped up, spun around and kicked me in the side of the face. La-bitch is a full ass ninja. 

***

After Lachelle Ninja kicked me I just went to my room and went to sleep. I would have stayed asleep if my phone didn't start to go off. I saw that Jim was calling me. "Hello?" I am way too tired. 

Jim was also way too cheerful. "Hey kid how's it going?"

"What time is it?" I already regret my question. Jim is about to lecture me about not following the camp's schedule. Truth is there is no schedule. At least not that I been told. 

"It's almost noon. What have you been doing?" Jim questioned.

What have I been doing?

I looked around. There was some pain medicine by my bed with some water. There was an ice pack by my pillow. "Jim what does it mean when a girl kisses you then kicks you in the face?" It's an honest question.

"She's a Gemini." Jim said with a laugh. "Anyway your camp has visitation. Do you want me to come up this weekend?"

I guess my question didn't throw Jim off like I thought it would. "Sure." I really do like Jim. I can't help but think this is what having a father would be like.

"Hey Alex, are you sure you like girls?" Jim asked. I could hear the concern in his voice. To be real I never thought I would like another human being. 

"I mean I can try to make friends." is how I chose to answer.

Jim laughed. "I'll see you soon kid." Jim hung up. He didn't tell me a day so I can't really save the date.

I need to get out. I want to run. I snuck by Lachelle's room because I don't want to deal with her right now. I ran to the dock. As I reached the edge of the dock I saw that the sun was high in the sky. I also saw Maindo in the row boat alone.

Screw it!

I dove in the water and swam to Maindo. He was mediating in the row boat. "Kioku. Your stamina is impressive." Maindo said without opening his eyes. Weird old guy. That's okay because I'm weird too.

"Sensei what does it mean when a girl kisses you then kicks you in the face?" I don't think Jim's answer is logically correct.

"It means Ikari is still having an internal battle." Maindo Sensei said without breaking meditation. I climbed into the boat. "What's an internal battle?"

"Everyone's internal battle is different Kioku. This camp is all about acknowledging the battle and gathering the tools to fight." Maindo spoke.

"Kick ass. Like a video game." Now I see why I was sent to this camp. To improve my skills in Infinity Quest.

Maindo opened his eyes and kind of glared at me. I now knew I was going to get in trouble. "Enter the Virkshasana pose." Maindo ordered.

Okay I got this. What is the Virkshasana pose? I remember. Lachelle did it. She got all red too.

I tried my best to mimic what I remember. I don't remember her falling off the boat. I think she was wet though. Why was she wet? Oh yeah I remember. I gave up and didn't come up for air. She got me changed and in bed. I remember now. She took care of me. She-

"Kioku."

I opened my eyes and saw that we reached the dock. There's no way.

"Achievement Unlocked: Vrikshasana Pose"  The robotic voice announced. 

"Good job Kioku." Maindo said as he exited the row boat.

There's no way. I hopped on the dock. I just held that pose as he rowed to the dock. I have to tell Lachelle.

I ran into the cabin. "Lachelle!" I watched as Lachelle walked out her room. She frowned when she saw me. 

"Why are you wet?" She asked.

Am I wet? "That's not important. I did it. That v thing. What the hell is it called?" I can see the concern grow on Lachelle's face. Please don't look at me like that. "I did it." I felt my excitement fall.

"Go shower and I'll make you lunch." Lachelle told me.

"She doesn't care."

I hung my head in defeat from the words of the strange voice. 

"I did it." I whispered. "It doesn't look like it, but I did." I watched as Lachelle walked past me.

"Why did you kiss me then kick me in the face." I yelled. Lachelle looked at me with her eyes wide in shock. "I stayed in that Vrikshasana pose while sensei rowed the boat back to shore. I earned an answer."

"I kissed you because I'm stupid and I kicked you in the face because you're stupid." Lachelle yelled back. "Are you happy now?"

Nope. Not even a little bit.

***

A few days later I found myself sitting with my back towards Lachelle mediating. I focused on the vanilla smell coming off of her. We haven't really been talking. We meditate together and passed the Virkshasana challenge, but that's it.

Maindo said Jim comes tomorrow. So, tonight he was going into town leaving Lachelle and I alone. Still I get to leave camp for a little bit. It's not that I don't like being at camp, I just feel the tension between us. I felt Lachelle relax against my back. It didn't really ruin my meditation because I haven't done it right since we started. I mean 90% of the time Lachelle and I are alone together, so why do I have this awful felling in my chest?

Oh yeah I remember. I kissed you because I'm stupid and I kicked you in the face because you're stupid.

Focus. Clear your mind.

The night I ran away. Lachelle slapped me. Why? Because I grabbed her. Why? I was scared. Why? Because she kept calling me. She was going to yell at me and beat my ass. I remember my phone ringing and ringing. Please stop ringing. Where am I supposed to be?

Focus.

I know that was just Lachelle calling me. So why? 

"So if I hurt her why was she desperately trying to find me?" I blurted out on accident. 

"You didn't hurt me Alex." Lachelle's voice broke my train of thought. "Even when we spared you didn't hurt me. You have shown me nothing but kindness." I felt Lachelle move. I turned to face her. It has been a while since I actually had a conversation with her. It has been a while since I played Infinity Quest.

Lachelle was just staring at me. She seemed really nervous sitting next to me. I don't want her to be nervous around me. 

"Jim is coming to get me tomorrow." I started. I ended up leaning back on my hands to build space between Lachelle and I. There was a huge possibility that my question was going to piss her off but, "Would you like to hang out with us tomorrow?"

"No thanks." Lachelle whispered.

I figured. What did I do? Why do I care so much of what she thinks of me?

"Would you like to hang out with me tonight?" I asked. 

Lachelle let out a little laugh. "Do you miss Infinity Quest?"

"I miss you." I don't even care if I'm being weird right now. Yeah Lachelle is difficult, and so confusing but I miss her. I just miss being around her without this tension.

"You see me every day." Lachelle said. She smiled at me. "You can chill in my room." 

I nodded. Well it's a start. I watched as Lachelle got up and walked towards the cabin. What does Maindo call her again? Ikari.

Ikari means anger. Thank you internet. 

Lachelle probably has anger issues. Or, someone thinks she does.

I went and just chilled in my room. This is different. Normally I'm okay with being alone, but now I hate it. Like there is literally another human who doesn't find me repulsing in the next room. Or does she? Do I ask her? Do I want to know the answer?

"Hey Alex, come here." I heard Lachelle call.

My heart stopped to the sound of her voice. Why? Right. I was super forward with her. Well she was more forwarded with me, when she kissed me.

I walked into the kitchen and saw two plated holding burgers. One plate had a small garden on the burger with the amount of vegetables. 

"What do you want on your burger?" Lachelle asked.

"Just ketchup." I answered. Has Lachelle been fixing my food the whole time? Have I done anything useful?

Lachelle handed me my burger and a bag of chips. "We can share okay." Lachelle said as she grabbed two bottles of water. Lachelle looked at me and smiled. "Still want to hang out?" Lachelle asked.

I nodded. Why am I so nervous?

Photo from a fan. Thanks Kat.