This choice: *Writer's Choice* (RESERVED FOR WORSTFAILURE) • Go Back... It was easy enough for Hanna Chambers to multitask, equally dividing her focus into judging the diving competition between Selena and Mari fairly, and brainstorming ways to get you out of the picture permanently. While getting rid of you for good would be child's play, Hanna preferred to dish out fates to tinies with something of a poetic edge. It'd become something of a specialty of hers.
Growing up, Hanna had always been contemptuous of the bugs walking among normal people, but what really stupefied her were the number of seemingly rational, intelligent women who failed to live up to their full potential because they chose to instead burden themselves by helping pathetic tinies get through life unscathed.
One of her best friends since childhood was the smartest girl Hanna had ever met, but the girl had run herself ragged trying to protect her stupid tiny brother, causing her grades to suffer as a result. Then came the day when her friend had slept through a test she was sure to ace because she'd been up late looking for her brother after a neighbor's cat had grabbed him. Seeing her friend burst into tears at being given a failing grade had been Hanna's breaking point.
The next day Hanna gave her friend a shiny red apple, ordered her to give it to their teacher then ask her if she could take a retest. The middle-aged woman took pity on the girl and allowed it, and Hanna watched with no little satisfaction as her teacher munched on the apple throughout class, oblivious to the fact her friend's tiny brother had been smeared into the skin of the fruit and dyed to match its color. Maybe he'd enhanced the flavor because her teacher had even eaten the core. Naturally her friend had aced the makeup exam and, after a period of mourning when her brother "disappeared", went on to become valedictorian when they graduated high school. Though Hanna had lost touch with her friend as they grew up, she never regretted helping her.
Another friend had been the star of their track team, but she'd been so wrapped up in dating her tiny girlfriend, she was oblivious to the fact that the head cheerleader was head-over-heels for her. So, Hanna had braved the stench of her friend's ancient, supposedly "lucky" shoes, and swapped out the insole with her friend's flattened, dyed and Full-Length sprayed girlfriend. Sure enough, before the season was over, her friend and the head cheerleader had became the school's power couple! The pair was still together to this day and Hanna's friend never went a day without going on a jog around the neighborhood in her old "lucky shoes."
Hanna didn't brag about her successes, save to one or two like-minded friends who nicknamed her the Exterminator after all the bugs she'd taken out, she was just proud she'd gotten rid of those bugs to help those exceptional women achieve their best lives. Just like she was going to get rid of you to secure Selena and Mari's future. Just as soon as she figured out the most fitting fate for you.
Looking at your crushed boy, Hanna thought, I may need to use my emergency kit.
Just as Mari and Selena were getting ready to take another dive, the timer on Hanna's phone went off.
"Competition's done," Hanna said, getting her friends attention. "Your lunch break's over, Morrow. Tallying the scores I hereby declare the winner, to no one's surprise, Selena Morrow."
The remaining members of the crowd who'd watched applauded Selena's victory, causing the silver-hair woman to take a bow.
"I demand a recount!" Mari said jokingly, earning laughter.
Selena laughed too and stuck out her hand. "It was a close one, Fuertes. If we went another few rounds you might've had me."
"Damn right," Mari said, accepting Selena's hand to shake it. "Live it up for now, because one day the crown shall be mine."
"If you'd like to stick around in the diving section, I'd be more than happy to watch you. Uh, watch you dive! Just to give you pointers, I mean!" Selena said, recovering quickly, but unable to hide her furious blush.
Whether Mari noticed Selena's blush or not was unclear, but she grinned eagerly. "Who am I to turn away someone so eager to mentor the one who will surpass them? Watch closely, Morrow!"
Selena did. She watched very closely, her eyes glued to Mari's backside as your girlfriend hurried back to the high dive, eager to improve her technique. Crushed under Hanna's water bottle, you were dismayed at how Mari hadn't even mentioned you, as if all memory of you had disappeared. Your sadness was replaced by terror as Hanna seized on Selena's distraction to casually swipe you in her hand before descending from the lifeguard seat so Selena could resume her position.
"Thanks for covering for me, Hanna," Selena said. "I really appreciate--" Selena cut herself off as a loud rumble emanated from her hungry stomach, making her blush. "Sorry."
"Must've worked up quite an appetite diving instead of taking your lunch," Hanna said, a wonderfully horrible idea popping into her head. "Tell you what, how about I grab you something to eat? My treat."
Selena blinked in surprise. "Yeah, I mean, just a hotdog from the foodcourt would great! Thanks, Hanna, this is... surprisingly nice of you."
"What's so surprising? I'm always nice!"
Hanna said sweetly as she turned around and walked away so Selena wouldn't see the wicked grin on her face. You have the following choice: 1. Continue |
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