Angelina dial her associate, “Hey, Cockroach, where are you and the gang right now?”

“We’re over by the central arcade doing some morning stunts. Why are you calling? Is there a next race that you want us to accompany you in?”

“Stay where you are. I’m coming over to you guys.”

Angelina hopped onto her motor and set her course for the Tomb Rider arcade located in the Hallow Street District. The street was busy with congestion, it was moments like this when Angelina wished that her motor could levitate. “Darn it. What’s the hold-up here?”

A traffic director recognized that Angelina was a proficient Tomb Rider and went over to her aid. “Miss, there appears to be some sort of accident up ahead. We are currently directing incoming traffic to the Bismalt area. Right this way please.”

“Thank you, kind sir. You’re so sexy.” Angelina blew a kiss to the big belly fella then rode into the direction he pointed to.

“Oh my god. I can’t believe she just blew a kiss to a lowly person like me and she thinks that I’m sexy. I feel like I’m going to faint.”

“Hey, Bob! Pull yourself together! We have traffic to direct here!”

“Oh! Sorry for that, Andrew. But do you know who that girl was earlier?”

“What does it matter? Pull yourself together and go do your job before the boss lady fires you.”

“Right, right. I wouldn’t want to get on her bad side. She doesn’t mess around when it comes to laying off incompetent men.”Big belly Bob went back to directing traffic. “Right this way, sir! Ma’am over there please.”

***

Vrmm!

Angelina pulled over her motor in the central part of the arcade. Dismounting her motor, it transformed back into a portable Motors Cube that she could carry around effortlessly. She sauntered off in the direction that Cockroach gave her for them to meet at.

“Hey, A.J over here!” Cockroach who was drinking a colourful smoothie saw Angelina afield and called out to her. “What took you so long? We’ve been waiting for you over an hour now.”

“I was caught up in a long Traffic jam. Where are the others?”

“Well, Rooster couldn’t wait around anymore so he went back inside to train. As for Hard Steel, I think he’s still hanging between the seductive legs of that Super Elena chick from last night.”

“So you’re the only one here that I can talk to?”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Yeah, nothing is wrong with that, is there?”

“I guess not.” Angelina sat opposite Cockroach and ordered a similar refreshment beverage from the juice counter. She paid using Ghoul Currency which was more valuable than regular digital currency. When the cashier received the hefty payment, she was over-generous.

“So what is so eager that you want to tell us? Couldn’t you have sent us an SMS or something? Not that I’m complaining about you being here with me though. I like you very much. I mean I like being in your company very much. Don’t misunderstand. I wasn’t confessing that I like-like you. I was only saying that…”

“Cockroach it’s okay. I understand what you meant.” Angelina intervened Cockroach’s flustered speech then slurped down more of her smoothie.

“Ah, refreshing. This drink really cools a girl down in this blistering morning.” Setting aside her drink, Angelina spoke what she really came here for. “Cockroach the reason why I wanted to meet with you guys face to face is to not come off as disrespectful by telling you over a text. After all, you guys were a big help in me passing the promotional tournament.”

“Hey, we should be the ones thanking you. If it weren’t for your audacious offer, none of us would have made it to the mid-rank Tomb Rider. You don’t have to finish your speech. I can already assume why you wanted to meet all of the gang today. You want to terminate our relationship don’t you?”

“Well, that’s a really harsh way of phrasing it. But yes, I want to disband the crew seeing as how there is no more need for your services.”

“Wait, what about when there is another group tournament? Won’t you be needing our assistance or will you just randomly pick up some other group?” Cockroach didn’t like feeling like used rubbish but that was exactly what he was.

Angelina tried conveying her thoughts without much hostility towards Cockroach’s feelings. “I know that you are upset but frankly I don’t think that I will be participating in any Ghoul Stadium events for a while.”

“What do you mean, A.J? Will you quit being a Tomb Rider or are you going on a trip somewhere?”

“Kind of. Anyhow, I’ve told you what I wanted to. Now I must be on my way.”

“Wait a moment.” Cockroach stretched his arm over the bench and grabbed Angelina’s wrist while she was standing up to leave. “Can’t we still be friends even if we’re not in a crew anymore?”

“Certainly we can. It’s not like I’m completely tossing you guys away. I’m just going to focus more on what really matters to me.”

“Oh, alright then. For a second there I thought you were actually kicking our friendship to the curve.” Cockroach withdrew his grasped on Angelina’s wrist.

“You’re so emotional, Cockroach. Here’s a gift for your troubles.” Angelina bent over the counter and gave Cockroach a sumptuous kiss on his forehead.

“Wow…” Cockroach was in a dazed. He caressed his forehead as he watched Angelina’s sultry figure disappeared in the distant crowd. “I’m so glad those bozos weren’t here with me today, otherwise, my forehead wouldn’t have been able to taste her peachy lips. A.J has such a nice figure. When I see her again I’m definitely going make her my woman.”

“Hey, Cockroach what’s with that stupid smile on your face? Did something good happen while I was in the simulator?” Rooster came back just in time to see a stupidly exciting expression along with a red lipstick mark on his face. “Is that a kiss mark on your forehead? Which girl were you wooing while I was busy bulking up?”

“Shut your trap! You have no idea what you’re talking about!” Cockroach shot up from around the table then stormed off into the simulated field.

“Hey, wait up! Didn’t you say that A.J was coming here soon? Aren’t we going to wait for here?”

“She just left!”

“Really? What did she want? Was she the one who gave you that red smooch on your forehead?”

“For the last time, shut it before I beat all that muscles out of you!”

“You can try but these guns won’t be so easily intimidated.” Rooster gave his proud arms some lovely kisses.