The Extent of the Lemonade Conflict (written)

(For the version presented in Discord, see The Extent of the Lemonade Conflict (transcript))

In this short story, a lemonade prank goes terribly wrong.

## Story

“Alright, here's where I drop you off. Have fun!”

Hannah replied to her dad with a nod and took off. She made her way through the park carrying two bottles. For her, fizzy lemonade. For Flame... fizzy lemonade with the label switched.

When she introduced him to fizzy lemonade two weeks before, he insisted he didn’t like it, despite having never tried it. The next week, he still refused to try it. This time, he would try it whether he wanted to or not. Then he would see fizzy lemonade’s superiority.

In a secluded corner of the park, Flame sat waiting on a bench, still in uniform. Hannah gave Flame a smile which he didn’t return. He never smiled. Hannah often wondered if he used to smile before he lost his sister, but she knew better than to ask.

Hannah sat beside Flame and set the bottles between them. He opened her bottle before grabbing his own.

Hannah timed her speech to cover up the sound of Flame’s bottle fizzing. “I got a 100 on my science test yesterday.”

“Following in your father's footsteps, huh?”

“I dunno. I don’t like science THAT much.”

Flame took a sip. His face contorted. He glanced at the label, then at her.

Flame’s eyes flashed. “I told you I DON’T LIKE it fizzy!”

Flame's father had warned Hannah about Flame's temper. Said he had “violent tendencies”. Hannah could see it now in his eyes.

Hannah jumped up and held up her hands defensively. “I-I’m sorry! Don’t hurt me!”

“You switched the label! Why would you trick me like this?!”

Hannah bolted before Flame had a chance to attack.

“HANNAH! Come back!”

Hannah slowed her pace when she realized that Flame wasn’t pursuing. Now she’d have to explain this whole mess to her dad... but at least she wouldn’t get punched in the process.

And just like that, Flame was all alone again. He knew losing Hannah was inevitable. He warned her of this back when she first offered to be his friend. Why didn’t she listen?

No... why didn’t *he* listen? He allowed himself to become attached. Flame was quite used to scaring people away, but this was different. Hannah was the one person he wanted to stay.

Flame stared at the lemonade bottle. He'd down the whole thing if that could bring her back...

Hannah wasn’t even entirely wrong. Flame realized that he hadn't explained *why* he knew he wouldn't like lemonade fizzy. If he’d just mentioned that he didn’t like carbonation, this all could have been avoided.

“Um... I’m sorry...”

Flame looked up and saw her. She came back…

“Oh, you’re still mad at me...” Hannah took a step backward.

“No, wait! I’m not mad at you.”

“You look mad.”

“I’m mad at myself for scaring you away. I thought you weren’t coming back.”

“I was gonna come back some time... I just didn’t want to get punched.”

“Hannah, you’re my best friend. I won’t hurt you, no matter what.”

Hannah slowly stepped forward and took her seat next to him. “Promise?”

Flame grabbed her hand. “I promise.”

Hannah let out a relieved breath. “Dad was right. He told me you wouldn’t be that mad.”

“Your father is a smart man.”

Hannah smiled. “So, what happened to you last week?”

Hannah was the one who came back. That’s what made her so special.

## Characters

*In order of appearance:*

* Bradley Dash
* Hannah Dash
* Sonny Flame