When Asher changed and got downstairs Art was looking at him funny. "Why are you already so sweaty and tired looking?"
"Dude, weird dreams last night. I think I must have a hidden fear of sheep or something…" Asher was still thrown off by the dream but could remember every detail of it perfectly.
"You could have just told me that you were going to try and train extra to get ahead of me." Art was convinced that Asher was trying to stay ahead of him and didn't want to admit it. 'This guy is going to surpass me, I will get up earlier tomorrow and train too.' His promise to himself was made and his motivation soared. "Come on, we set the pace today."
Ashher shook himself from his thoughts and realized that they were not competing with Cara but with each other this morning. "Bring it on!" The two set off on the run to the park finding that is was empty. They got in to their workout and were soon on the way home. They made good time. Asher narrowly beat Art in to the house, securing the use of the shower first.
"Mom I can make us breakfast this morning. It's the least I can do after kicking Art's butt in the last run." Asher tried to take over in the kitchen but he did not expect his mother's reaction.
"No! Out out out! You can make the toast and that's it!" Her reaction shocked Asher. 'Well toast it is then...but she doesn't need to be so territorial." He was pushing it off as just his mother not wanting another cook in the kitchen.
The smell of burnt toast slowly wafted through the house. "Who is burning toast?" Art walked in to the dining room showered and in casual clothing looking at Asher with horror.
Asher had made a stack of crispy blackened toast. "I added a little char to it so that it will have some extra flavor. What do you want with it? Butter? Jam? I could make a special sauce?"
Hearing that Asher could mix a special sauce made Art shiver in fear. He could not imagine what ingredients he would use to poison the breakfast if this was allowed. "Don't put yourself out, I will take the grape jam please." Art tried his best to smile through his suffering as he put loads of grape jam on the blackened toast.
"You really like jam huh? I can get more for you while we are out." Asher could only think his best friend was a jam fanatic watching this. However Asher's mother knew the truth and gave Art a thumbs up to encourage him. He was taking one for the team eating the toast after all.
After forcing himself to eat Art stood up. "If we hang around here too much longer we will leave Jane waiting outside too long. Let's get this show on the road." He moved towards the door.
"Asher, while you are out make sure you grab this list of groceries for dinner. Will you be getting some gear designed for camp as well?" His mother asked out of pure curiosity since she had already heard about Art's ideas while they cooked the other night.
"No, I might buy some gloves and basic pads but I think I will hold on to the voucher...maybe I will do something else with it. I haven't signed it making it mine yet...I don't think I can make the best use of it to be honest."
"I am sure you will figure it out while you are shopping, just keep an open mind honey. You should think about your own safety too." She left him with this as he headed out the door and was greeted by the waiting Jane.
"Good morning you two!" She sounded full of energy and ready to get out and about. The morning was bright and the sky was clear. They had a whole day ahead of them to shop and explore.
"Hey Jane!" Asher and Art said in unison causing the two to try and punch each other in the arm.
"You guys can't let me forget to pick up groceries on the way home or my mom will kill me again." Asher knew that there was the possibility of being severely punished if he didn't bring them home.
"Again? Bro, you mom is super nice. How could she kill you at all?" Art caught this and Asher just shook his head.
'Ah man, they wouldn't buy my crazy story about a world where I was pretty much nothing. I decided to focus here in this one and I need to keep it that way.' Asher shook his head to push the thoughts away. His actions were strange to Jane and Art but they just figured he was being the usual weird Asher.
"So we need to stop at the hero corp department store design shop. Then we can hit the video game store to see that new fighting game they have. After that we can snag some food. Then we can hit the grocery store. Sounds like a plan?" Art was listing these off on his fingers, however he could only care about the design shop and the grocery store. He had already created the recipe in his head and written it all out the night before.
"Then why do we have to go by the video game shop?" Jane had no idea why she would be dragged to a video game store. She knew it was a boy thing to go after the new video games but still she didn't think it would be a place to get a gift for Cara.
"Oh well there is this new fighting game that they based off real martial artists. So if we can get it then we can watch their moves in the tutorial for added training." Art spoke matter of factly and even started to bring up the pilot video on his phone browser.
Jane held this and watched it while Asher peaked over her shoulder. 'He is leaving right against me, why can't this video be longer…' Jane let out a sigh as they watched real martial artists demonstrate their moves and have them mapped by a super smart computer program. The result was a hyper realistic video game that basically could teach someone how to use those moves.
"I have gotta say Art, great idea. We can train them and really surprise coach Winters next class." Asher was feeling the same things as Art, they would be able to come out of nowhere with a huge improvement to their portfolio of moves.
"Do you guys really think it would surprise coach Winters? I bet she would be really happy to see us working hard!" Jane was hooked, she still believed coach Winters to be out for only the good and not to torture them but in this case it was more drive to get the game.
"Now way! The website says that a random lucky customer will get a free copy and a chance to meet the guy whose moves were used for the main character. They are going to randomly select someone walking in to the store." Art looked at Asher knowing that they had their good luck charm.
"Then let's head there first, it's on the way right?" Jane had a point, they might as well just stop there instead of passing by and not going in.
With their goal found the group moved through the streets faster, they were just in time for the opening of the store. The group of dedicated gamers was already there, twenty or so people with chairs or even tents had set up camp. There were cameras taking pictures of a tall muscled man in martial attire. This had to be the man that had his moves used to create the main character.
"Yo check that guy out. No wonder he is the main character. He is totally jacked. I would definitely bet that his super power is physical strengthening." Art was pointing like a fool at the martial artist who took notice and gave a wave. He was enjoying the spotlight and decided to really live it up.
"Looks like he noticed you." Asher laughed at this while heading toward the store entrance first. Those who had been camped out were already in line at the register while the martial artist was watching the door with excitement.
'The alarms will go off when our man goes through them, then he will win the game and we will take a photo. The game store will get the copy back and we will have our publicity. It's a win win.' This plan that the martial artist was using was very common in these kinds of events to trick people in to showing up for the hope of a free item then leaving with a paid one.
"Can't stop me!" Art jumped ahead of Asher and made it through the door first.
There was no response from the alarms or anything at the door. Art looked disappointed, he had no luck at all.
"Jane, ladies first." Asher played the gentleman card like he had seen his father do in the past. 'There really are benefits of having dad around.' This thought nearly brought a tear to his eye.
"Here I go" Jane entered and looked about, "Dang". There was no notice that she won anything either. "Asher your turn!"