The sun had vanished behind the horizon, pouring out dark, playful shadows along the sidewalk as Lou and Roxy walked. A comfortable silence settled in—including the chirping of an occasional cricket and the rustling of some leaves in the breeze. Lou glanced at Roxy, highlighted by the warm bulb of an approaching streetlamp; a familiar warmth filled his chest.

"You know," Lou began, breaking the silence, "seeing all that history today with Darius and those other warriors... It was pretty intense."

Roxy nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I know, right? It's amazing what my power can do. I feel like I'm just scratching the surface of its potential."

"It's incredible," Lou agreed. "It must be pretty cool to be able to witness history firsthand like that." He paused for a moment, then added, "Watching those magnificent warriors in action today has only deepened my passion for pursuing my own dream."

Roxy raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "I understand how you feel... That's exactly why I aspire to be an archaeologist. I want to witness not just those epic moments of war, but also to uncover all the hidden mysteries of history."

Lou shrugged, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Thank you so much for today... After everything that happened at school, I guess I really needed this."

Roxy laughed. "Don't mention it... Honestly, I wasn't sure you'd be able to witness this echo when we set out. I'm glad it worked"

Lou couldn't help but smile. "Are you serious?. What was your backup plan if it hadn't worked? Were you going to say, 'Well, at least I brought you to this beautiful meadow'."

Roxy chuckled, giving him a playful shove. "Really, you jerk? Is that how you respond to someone trying to cheer you up?"

Lou's smile softened. "I know, I know... I'm just teasing you."

Roxy pouted slightly, feigning offense. "I go to all this trouble to show you something amazing, and this is the thanks I get?"

Lou's eyes twinkled with affection as he quickly realized he might have teased her a bit too much. "Hey, I'm really grateful, honestly. Today was incredible because of you. I... I just can't help but joke around. It's my way of saying I'm really happy."

Roxy's faux frown slowly transformed into a smile, unable to resist his earnest charm. "Alright, I'll let you off this time. But you owe me one epic day out to make up for it."

Lou's smile broadened, relieved. "It’s a deal. Anything, name it," he promised, with an easy heart and full, enjoying more than ever that special spark between them.

For a short while, they walked in silence, occasionally brushing fingers as they swung their arms. Lou's mind was abuzz with visions of future adventures. He marveled inwardly at the whirlwind of change, thinking, "It's astonishing how a few days have spun my ordinary life into something extraordinary."

"So," Roxy said, breaking the silence, "have you given any more thought to what you want to do after graduation? Are you really going to attend the Duel League? No backup plan?"

Lou nodded. "I'm definitely going to try out for the Dueling League. It's been my dream forever. I think I’ll think of a backup plan if I fail."

"That's awesome, Lou," Roxy said, her voice filled with encouragement. "I mean, I don't even watch Duel League that much, but I'm talking about you being so committed to your dream. I know you'll do great."

"What about you?" Lou asked. "Did you mean it when you said you'd join me on my journey?"

Roxy's face lit up. "I'm always serious... I can't say something I don't believe in." she declared, her eyes sparkling with passion. "And if I want to be an archaeologist, I need to hit the road too... Maybe we really can set out on this journey together. Unless you're going to leave me to drown in a lake, of course."

Lou grinned, squeezing her hand gently. "I can't promise that. I hope you know how to swim."

"Jerk," Roxy retorted with a mock scowl, but the twinkle in her eyes betrayed her amusement.

Lou was dragging his feet along the sidewalk, each step deliberate, prolonging the inevitable encounter with his mother's wrath. Beside him, Roxy's laughter punctuated the evening air, a contrast to the tension awaiting at home. He soaked in the comfort of her presence, wishing the walk could stretch on indefinitely.

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"I think we'd make a pretty good team," Lou said, a hint of hope in his voice. "The Cringe Lord and the Archaeologist Queen."

Roxy laughed, playfully shoving him. "Don't you dare call me that," she said, but her eyes twinkled with amusement. "But yeah, I think we would make a pretty awesome duo."

As they approached Roxy's house, Lou felt a familiar pang of nervousness. He took a deep breath and turned to her.

"Hey, Roxy," he began, his voice slightly hesitant. "I know this is kind of sudden, but... There will be this ball at my school. Would you maybe want to go with me? Like, as a date? As the epic date you asked."

Roxy's cheeks flushed a delicate pink, and she looked down at her feet. With a whispery voice, she stumbled, "I... I'd love to."

Lou's features were painted with a wide smile. With his heart racing in his chest, he questioned, "Really?"

Roxy looked up, meeting his gaze with a shy smile. "Really," she confirmed.

Lou extended his arm to grasp her hand, his fingers melding with hers. With warmth and affection in his voice, he said, "Then it's a date."

—---------------------------

As the comforting glow of the street lights flickered, it was almost as if the shadows reached out to Lou, their dark length stretching across the pavement, cold fingers grasping. He could still feel the warmth of Roxy's touch on his skin as it contrasted with a chilling dread that now clutched at his heart. Her words were playing over and over in his mind: her understanding smile, a silent promise in her eyes.

As Lou neared his home, his pace slowed, a heavy dread settling in. He could almost predict the scene that awaited him. No doubt, by now, the school had informed his parents about the suspension. He imagined the stern dialogue, the disappointment likely etched across his mother's face, the air thick with unasked questions and lectures poised on the edge of silence. Each step felt heavier as he braced for the inevitable confrontation.

Lou hesitated at the front door, a deep breath not quite steadying his nerves. He pushed the door open, the familiar squeak amplified in the tense silence of the house.

"Lou, sweetie?" His mother's voice floated out of the kitchen, worry barely camouflaged by a forced cheerfulness.

"Yeah, Mom, it's me," he replied, barely above a whisper.

He shuffled into the kitchen, where his mother was standing near the counter, she was fidgeting and looked too nervous to sit. She turned to him with a mixture of concern and disappointment in her eyes. His father George was sitting sprawled out in jeans at a kitchen table with a newspaper open in front of him, though he was obviously focusing on Lou.

"We got a call from the school today," Julia began, her voice carefully controlled. "They said you were involved in some kind of... incident."

Lou nodded, unable to meet her gaze. "Yeah," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "I got suspended."

A sigh escaped Julia's lips as her shoulders slumped. "Yeah, we already know about that. Lou, what on earth happened?"

Lou was hesitant about how much to reveal. His parents weren't ready for the truth about his situation in the school. "It was a fight," he finally admitted, his face laced now with feelings of shame. "With Derek, you know, that jerk from school."

"A fight?" Julia's voice rose in disbelief. "Lou, you know better than to resort to violence. What were you thinking?"

Lou's gaze darted to his father, hoping for a lifeline. With understanding in his eyes, George cleared his throat. "Son, why don't you tell us what happened? From the beginning."

Lou took a deep breath before he began to recount the day, stumbling over his words. He described the confrontation with Derek, how much Derek pushed him, and how the power burst out of control, for which he was suspended.

As he spoke, his parents' faces showed shock, confusion, and worry. When he finished, the kitchen fell into a heavy silence.

Julia broke the silence first, her voice shaking. "This is exactly what I feared. Lou, using your powers like this... it's dangerous!"

George tried to mediate, his tone even. "He was defending himself, Julia. We can’t ask him to just stand down when provoked.”

Julia turned sharply towards George, her frustration boiling over. "This is because of you! You’re the one who’s always telling him to stand up for himself, to not back down. Now look where it's gotten him—suspended for fighting!"

George met her gaze, his voice firm yet controlled. "Understanding how to defend oneself is crucial. We don’t want him to be helpless. He needs to learn control, not fear his own strength."

"But at what cost, George? What if next time it's worse than a suspension?" Julia’s voice cracked under the strain of her worry. "What then?"

George's expression hardened, his patience waning under Julia's relentless fear. "What would you have him do, Julia? Curl up and take whatever comes his way? That's not how he should live."

Julia's eyes flashed with anger. "And fighting is? You think sending him into the world thinking every conflict needs to be met with force is the answer?"

"He didn't start it, Julia! He was standing up for himself," George countered loudly, his usual composure slipping. "And yes, he needs to know how to handle these situations without getting overrun by others or his own emotions."

"And what about his emotions now? Look at him, George!" Julia gestured emphatically towards Lou, who stood quietly, the turmoil clear on his face. "He's not just learning about his powers; he's scared, confused. We're supposed to guide him, not send him into battles!"

Lou felt torn, each word from his parents slicing through the air like a blade. He swallowed hard, the urge to escape the escalating tension growing stronger.

George looked at Lou, then back at Julia, his voice softening. "I'm just trying to prepare him for the real world. It's not all black and white."

Julia's shoulders slumped, her anger giving way to a resigned sadness. "I know you are. But sometimes I wonder if we're preparing him or pushing him too far."

The room grew quiet again, the weight of their words hanging heavily between them. Lou cleared his throat, his voice barely above a whisper. "I... I just want to make the right choices. I don’t want to be scared of my own shadow—or my own power."

Julia looked at Lou, her face etched with concern and fatigue. "Lou, maybe you should go to your room for now. We'll talk more about this later, okay?" Her voice was gentle but firm, suggesting a need for space to calm the heated emotions.

Lou nodded, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. As he turned to leave, the sense of causing their argument weighed heavily on him. “What have I done?” he thought, the guilt gnawing at him as he trudged to his room.

He paused at the doorway, turning back to face his parents with a look of determination. "I was just defending myself. And you don’t have to worry about me getting hurt anymore. I have my powers now, and I can protect myself. And you both know it’s been my dream to become a champion in the Duel League," his voice was getting firmer as he spoke. "So please, don’t be afraid of me fighting. It’s part of who I am and what I want to become."

With that, Lou went to his room, the door closing softly behind him. His words hung in the air, a testament to his growing understanding of his own strength and his parents' fears. The muffled sounds of his parents' continued discussion still reached him.