70 Interlude (59a)

"Katrin?"

"Colin! How are you?"

"Great! We just had another Farm Wars. Satrox, Rita, Henry and I went up against Sandy, a J-Knight Commander, and we won! Sandy says she won't argue about letting me Travel any more. She said she underestimated me and my Comrades. What about you?"

"Me…? I've been feeding the baby Lynxmice." Katrin said, sounding dreamy. "They're so cute!"

"That's good, Katrin. You sound happy."

"I am. Meek's a bit down, but she seems to like me. The rest of them too. Colin, are you the one sending us habitats?"

"Habitats?" Colin blinked.

"Yeah. Someone's been donating habitats to this Comrade Home, and they're {perfect} for our Comrades; you know, the ones you gave me? At this rate, recovery is going to be a snap! They're so suitable, I thought it was you."

"No, it's not me." Colin said, frowning. "Maybe it's Satrox, or Lynn. But I'm glad all the same. Kat, I'm going to the Lamico Continent to take a few Tournaments, and my Home Base is at the Forest of Legends now. Everything's going great for me, but I don't want to leave you."

There was a sudden, stunned silence.

{Goodness… did I actually SAY that?!}

Colin's tongue froze to the roof of his mouth. Great. She must really think I'm trying something weird on her now.

"Colin… do you remember what I asked you?" Katrin began slowly. "About… what you think of me?"

"Kat…" Colin struggled. "Uh…"

"Am I just a friend to you? Or something more?"

Colin felt like he'd been running a race, hot all over and heart pounding. {I shouldn't feel like this! I'm too young for this kind of problems!}

"Colin?" Katrin pressed.

"Wait… let me… think." Colin struggled.

He thought long and hard. Katrin waited, not saying a word over the comms link.

"You're more than 'just a friend'." Colin said at last. "You're a very important friend. The best friend I've ever had."

"Do you make a habit of kissing your best friend?" Katrin wondered aloud.

Colin choked. He counter-attacked. "Well, what about you? What do you think of {me}?"

"I'll decide that after I hear your answer." Katrin replied at once, sounding incredibly innocent.

"That's not fair!" Colin protested.

Katrin giggled. "Tell me later. I gotta go."

"Later." Colin cut the comms link with a scowl.