Chapter 4
I scoop up the pieces of my bot. My overconfidence got the better of me after winning my first two fights. I can’t believe I thought I could beat Jacob Moore.
I’m not even mad I lost. I’m just excited I got to fight him. Last year, he won the national beetleweight championship, and he’s the same age as me.
“Good match, Peanut,” my dad says as he bounces the baby on his hip. “You fought hard.”
“Thanks, Dad. And thanks for taking the morning off to come. I’ll see you tonight?”
“Mmhmm. I’ve gotta drop this one off at Grammie’s house.
” He coos at the baby. Being an older sister is still new, even after a year and a half, but I don’t mind much when it comes with such a cute sibling.
“Your mom should be home before me tonight. Good job, kiddo.” He winks before grabbing the diaper bag off the bench and heading out.
I bring what’s left of my bot back to the workstations, cautiously peering at the other builders’ tables to see what they’re doing and bringing. I still can’t believe I’m here. No more LEGO bots for this girl. Today, Twin Cities Robotics Society. Next up, Circuit Smack!
Jacob is back at his table already, his crowd of friends leaving to go back to their own tables or to watch the next round of fights.
It’s a good show of sportsmanship to congratulate someone on their win, right?
The people I fought last weekend said good fight afterwards.
Jacob disappeared so quickly after the fight that I didn’t get to say anything, but maybe I could go congratulate him.
Jacob is really cool. I’ve been watching his build videos on YouTube for the last couple years, and they’ve helped me a lot in building my robot.
He seems really nice. Not that I have time for boys right now, but he’s pretty cute, too.
He’s got these dreamy gray eyes and pouty mouth.
And those curls? Ugh, I bet they’re so soft.
I rub my sweaty palms on my jeans. Okay, now or never. My pink Converse squeak on the floor as I approach, and he looks up. I stop in my tracks like a deer in headlights. My skin tingles as his eyes meet mine, the world slowing down to only this moment. He’s even cuter up close. Oh my god.
“Uh, hi!” Oh god my voice is squeaky. My cheeks heat, and I give a little wave to distract him. “I wanted to say good fight. I’m Mari.” I hold out my hand, purple glitter nail polish sparkling in the light.
Jacob stares at me for a moment before shaking my hand.
His hand is warm, and I hope he can’t feel how sweaty mine is.
“I’m Jacob. Thanks. You, too.” He smiles at me, and I think I might faint.
Is this real life? Oh my god, does he have a dimple?
Jacob Moore is smiling at me. He’s probably only being polite though.
Still, I’m going to die. Please bury me in that dimple.
“Is it weird to say I’ve been watching your channel since you started it?
” I laugh nervously, and his cheeks flush as he rubs the back of his neck.
“It, um, really helped me build my bot.” I point to the shattered parts a few tables over.
“So, thanks for sharing your knowledge! I can’t wait to fight you again.
” I give him the friendliest grin I can and pray it doesn’t come off as weird.
“You watch my videos?” Red rises in his cheeks. Oh, god. I shouldn’t have said anything. He waits, but when I say nothing, he continues. “Will you show me your bot?” My heart flutters as I bite my lip and nod eagerly. He follows me to my worktable.
“So, this is it.” I gesture to the parts on the table. “Your video on motor placement for drive power inspired the design.”
He picks up a piece of the broken housing. “What’s this material inside?”
“Plastic cross stitch canvas. It’s a cheaper way to add a second layer to the housing without adding too much weight. I fought Dave—you know, the guy with the crab robot with the candles, Crab Cake—he broke through the first layer, but his hammer pick got caught in this.”
He blinks at me with surprise, those pouty lips falling open. “This is your first robot?”
I blush. “Well, I’ve built LEGO robots before.”
He shakes his head, huffing out a laugh. “If this is your first bot, I’m excited to see what you do in the future.” He turns over different pieces in his hands, examining them one by one. “Your soldering here is sloppy.” He points to the spot. Admittedly, it is.
“I haven’t had a ton of practice on that yet.”
“I have to fix some parts on my bot. I can show you how I do it.” When I gape at him in surprise, he shifts on his feet. “If you want, that is. Sorry if that was overstepping.”
“No–yes–no–I mean, yes, please show me.” I resist the urge to chew on my nails. The only thing more embarrassing than this would be a flake of purple glitter nail polish in my teeth.
He waves me over to his table, pulling an extra chair for me as we settle in.
“Was that your dad with you earlier?” he asks as he pulls over his tools. My knee bumps his, but he doesn’t pull away.
He noticed my dad? “Yeah. He’s really busy, so it was nice of him to come.”
“Was he upset you lost?” Jacob asks quietly.
I sit back, my brows furrow. I’m stunned by the question. “No. Why would he be? Sometimes people lose.” I shrug. “He said he’s proud of me for trying.”
Jacob’s expression mirrors what I imagine my own to be. “But if you lose repeatedly, won’t he stop caring?”
I seriously don’t understand his question.
I know my parents are almost embarrassingly supportive, but surely no one’s parents would stop caring about them if they lost a couple of fights?
“Well, first of all,” I say as I sit up straight and square my shoulders, holding my head high, “I intend to win way more than I lose.”
Jacob’s face smooths into a quirked smile. He dips his head, looking at me through thick, black eyelashes. Those dreamy, gray eyes are like storm clouds, and suddenly, I think I might want to be a storm chaser instead of a robot builder. “I think you definitely will.”
“Second,” I continue, trying not to get flustered by a cute boy and his big, beautiful eyes.
Never have before, won’t now! “No. My dad doesn’t care about that sort of thing as long as I’m doing my best. And I am.
Which means I’m going to win. So, he gets to be extra proud of me, anyway,” I say confidently.
Confusion flickers across his features again before it turns back into something kind. “Makes sense,” he says, but he doesn’t sound like he totally believes me. Maybe I said something wrong? Am I being weird? “Did he teach you how to solder?”
I shake my head. “I learned by reading online tutorials.”
Jacob nods again. “Okay, show me your technique.”
I show him how I learned. He watches silently but closely, then tells me what I did wrong.
I don’t take the feedback personally because why would I?
I want to learn, and he wants to help. Then he carefully shows me his technique, and I try again.
With his help, I learn to do a half-decent job before it’s time to pack up and go home.
“Are you coming to the next community build night?” he asks as he carefully tucks everything into his backpack.
I pause my not-so-gentle scooping and dumping of items into my backpack. “Oh. I haven’t decided. I might have to babysit.”
His casual smile falls a bit, but he gives an understanding nod. My stomach swoops. Does he want me there?
“Well, I’ll save you a seat, anyways.” He bites his lip. Is it hot in here? “See you around, Mari.”