Chapter 53
The music is loud and triumphant as I walk out of the tunnel. It’s nothing compared to the roar of the crowd.
My eyes scan the audience, and the little girl with her homemade sign is back.
This time, she’s wearing a tiny pink jacket.
She pats her mom on the leg when I come out of the tunnel, pointing.
I can’t hear her words, but I can make out the shape of them: “Go, Mari, go!” Then I notice the people next to her: my sister and my father.
I blink away tears as I raise my free hand to the crowd and wave.
When I set my eyes on Jacob, he and his team are clapping and cheering for me like they’re spectators, not competitors.
I’m so full of joy and love, I could burst. It almost overwhelms the nauseating anxiety.
Every hard moment it took to get here is infinitesimally small compared to this one. Win or lose, I know I’ve gained so much more than I could have ever dreamed.
“Mari Williams of Team ZetaMax and Jacob Moore of Team Kilowatt are ready to battle it out for a second time here in the Circuit Smack championships,” Mark’s voice booms.
“These two rivals were the first fight of the season, and now they’re the last. Mari and ZetaMax have had a surprising turnaround.”
“She sure has, Dex. It’s a complete change from the beginning of the season. This should be a fight like we’ve never seen before at Circuit Smack. Do you think she can even the score between them? Who will go home a champion?”
“That’s for the robot gods to decide, not for me to predict, Mark. But one thing is for certain when these two hit the arena—sparks will fly!”
Neil and Jacob get the robots into the arena as I take my seat in front of it. I close my eyes and let everything fade away but this moment.
When I open them, I look to my right and see Jacob.
He is the sixteen-year-old boy teaching me how to refine my soldering technique.
He is the person who, only weeks ago, offered me aid in a time of desperation.
He is the center of my pleasure, a bastion of comfort, the source of my joy, and the man I love.
There is no lingering resentment. There is no shadow of a doubt.
I’m going to beat him into a pile of scrap.
He gives me a small acknowledging nod, and I return it.
“Mari, you ready?” the referee asks.
“I am. Let’s go.”
“THREE ... TWO ... ONE ... FIGHT.”
Over the last decade and a half, I have fought Jacob thirty-six times. I know his style well. His bot is even similar to mine, both rocking vertical spinners, though Kilowatt has a larger, rhombus-shaped bar, instead of a toothed disk like mine. Still, in our thirty-seventh battle, he surprises me.
We shoot out of our corners towards each other, each vying to reach the other first and hit them where it hurts.
Instead, he stops quickly and swerves at the last second, sending me straight into the wall before I can chase him.
The hit makes my weapon slow down, and he swings around to hit me from the back, further jamming me against the wall.
Luckily for me, the angle isn’t perfect, and I can push back enough to get ZetaMax away. I drive quickly to the other side of the arena, letting my weapon spin up to full speed before turning to charge him.
Sparks fly like a million glowing crystals being thrown into the air as our robots meet in the center of the arena.
The crowd roars so loud, my ears hurt. I catch Kilowatt at exactly the right angle to send him flying into the air, flipping over and over before landing on his back.
I rush forward, hoping to get a kill shot on him, but he flips back up, and I only hit one of his wheels.
Ever the one for redundancies, he’s got two rows of wheels and can easily drive while missing the entire first set.
It does nothing to slow him. He comes at me again, and it’s my turn to go flying.
Each hit, each close call, I pray it’ll be the one that knocks him out.
He rips off my wheel covers, and I’m a wheel down, but he’s down three.
There’s a hole so big in my armor that you can see my robot’s guts, a mirror to our first fight.
It’s only by chance that none of the injuries are fatal.
And it’s incredibly unlucky for both of us that they aren’t fatal for our opponent.
I didn’t even realize the countdown had started until it hits zero. The lights flash, and lasers dance across the arena. A referee’s hand comes to my shoulder, telling me to stop.
“What a fight! Incredible driving by both Jacob and Mari. This will be going to a judges’ decision, and boy, it’ll be a close one!”
“That’s right, Dex. Jacob and Kilowatt have never lost a judges’ decision, but this could go either way.”
We hand our controllers to the referees and turn to each other in silence, still serious in concentration. It hits me when I see him.
It’s over. We did it.
It’s out of our hands now, and somehow that’s freeing. I grin at him, and he beams back, realization hitting him, too.
They line his team up and place me next to Jacob. A producer leaves the judges’ table with the notecard that seals our fate. Dex descends to the stage in front of us and takes it from him.
“Do you think there can be two winners?” It’s hard to speak around the lump of nerves in my throat.
“I love you,” he says beside me. When my face whips to his, his gaze is so full of love, it takes my breath away. “No matter what is on that card, I love you.”
“Alright, we’ve got the results. Are you all ready to hear who will be crowned this year’s Circuit Smack champion?” Dex teases as they cheer. “What was that? I can’t hear you!” The crowd cheers louder, and he laughs. I have lived and died a thousand times in the seconds it takes.
“I love you, too,” I whisper. “No matter what.”
“And the winner is ....”
Jacob and I suck in a breath.
“Well, why don’t we go category by category?” Dex laughs. The audience laughs and cheers. I, however, am wondering if I can tackle Dex, read the notecard, and still win if my name is on it.
“Starting with my favorite category: aggression,” he smirks. “Who drove the meanest? Well ...” My eyes are locked on the screens around the arena about to display a score. “It’s a tie!” There’s a collective gasp as the aggression scores display. I can understand that one.
“Next up: defense!” Dex continues. “Who defended their robot and their chance at the trophy the best? Personally, I think,” he says, pausing dramatically and winking at the audience.
“I suppose it doesn’t matter what I think.
” He waits for a polite laugh from the audience before he mercifully continues. “It’s another tie!”
Jacob smiles, but I can see that little muscle in his jaw twitch.
“And last, but certainly not least: damage!” Dex says. If I throw up on the stage, do I still have a chance at winning? “Now, both Kilowatt and ZetaMax did some incredible damage, but I am happy to report this is not a tie. Any guesses on who the winner is?”
The crowd shouts their answers. For every “Kilowatt” there’s a “ZetaMax.”
“Sounds pretty split to me, huh?” Dex laughs. Seriously, will I have to pay a cleaning bill if I throw up? “Okay, okay. We’ve waited long enough. The winner is ....” The wait is long enough that I am seriously weighing the pros and cons of tackling him.
“ZETAMAX!”
The scores display on the screen. ZetaMax won by a single point.
Before I can even process, Jacob is scooping me into his arms. “You did it, sweetheart. You did it.” His mouth is on mine, giving me a firm kiss in front of the hundreds of people in the stands and the millions of people at home.
He tastes like winning. His gravity is mine, no longer pulling or pushing, just steady and reassuring.
My cane dangles from the strap around my wrist as I hold him close.
“You did it,” he says, pulling back before kissing me again.
“A different kind of sparks flying at Circuit Smack! I guess these two aren’t rivals anymore!” Dex whoops and swoops in. “Mari, how does it feel to have your very first championship win at Circuit Smack?”
Something tickles my chin as I open my mouth, and I realize it’s a tear as it drops on my chest. I laugh wetly.
“I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a kid.
Every moment, every fight, win or lose, brought me here.
I did it my way, with the help of people I love.
And I’m excited to do it again next year.
” I turn to Jacob, who is still beaming at me.
“Jacob, that was a close call. How are you feeling? Something tells me you aren’t going to contest that judges’ decision.”
“I got to fight the best person in the sport. I’m thrilled,” he laughs as he wraps his arm around my shoulders and kisses me on the temple. “Mari won fair and square. That was a close call, but she did more damage, and that’s the category she beat me on.”
“Mari, what’s next for you and ZetaMax?”
“We've got to start getting ready for next year!” The crowd cheers, chants of “Zeta!” rippling through.
“Jacob, what about you?”
“Kilowatt will be back to take down the reigning champ next year, but I think I’d better study some more of her fights if I have any chance.”
The founder of Circuit Smack comes on stage carrying the trophy, a golden toy robot. It’s maybe a foot tall, but it’s heavy in my hand as I hoist it up high. My eyes water as the light glints off the blank spot where my name will be engraved soon.
I can’t stop crying when Ava and my dad come on stage to hug me with praises and congratulations as confetti falls and teal and pink laser lights sparkle over the arena. The tears don’t stop until we’re all backstage.
“So, Mari. What’s the first thing you’re going to do with your prize money?” Ava asks as she inspects the trophy.
“Well, I have to call the dealership to see if they’ve sold my car yet, but I have an idea for after that.”
An hour later, the restaurant we ate at when my family came for the Trot is filled with my family and Jacob’s team.
Laughter perfumes the air as we celebrate.
My dad talks about the specs of my soon-to-be-mine-again car with one of Jacob’s team members, who is also a mechanic.
Ava is explaining a meme to Neil and a couple of other teammates.
Jacob’s arm is around me as we sit side by side.
“So, here’s the real question,” he says. “Is Zeta coming back, or are you thinking of joining me on Kilowatt?”
“I don’t think I’m done with Zeta yet,” I say. “But I’ll need a workshop if you have space in your new one.”
He nods, serious before it dissolves into an excited smirk.
“I’ve already been sketching plans on how to arrange the space for your workbench and called a contractor to install an accessible ramp to the door.
” I blink with surprise, and he pulls me closer, kissing me on the cheek. “Congratulations, sweetheart.”
“Thank you.”
“I can’t wait to fight you again next year.”
“I can’t wait to kick your ass again next year.”
“I don’t doubt it one bit,” he laughs.
I rest safely in his arms, looking at the trophy on the table before us.
I couldn’t have done this alone, but I did it my way and with the people I love by my side.
I don’t believe things happen for a reason, but I do know every struggle, every horrible thing, as well as every chance taken, every lucky opportunity, and all my hard work brought me here.
I’m with the person I love, with our families.
I have won so much more than a trophy. I look at Jacob again.
“Pinch me,” I ask him.
He raises an eyebrow but gently pinches my shoulder where his hand rests. A gentle, reassuring pain. “It’s all real, sweetheart.”
“Promise?”
“Promise. I’ll remind you every day for the rest of your life if you let me.”
“The rest of my life, hmm?” I bump against him, biting my lip, trying to quell my smile.
Four weeks ago, I never could have imagined this.
Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself by imagining a life together.
Though if I’m being honest, I’ve been imagining this since I was a teenager.
This could all fall apart again, or maybe this time, it’ll work out.
For once, I’m not only hopeful, but I also have faith it will.
“Every hour, if you need me to,” he says, giving me a soft squeeze. His gray eyes sparkle at me.
“How do you feel about Isaac Asimov? And cats?”