Chapter 53 - Searching Through The Crowd

As Mesto-Presto is standing by the cash register at Burrito Bistro, he can't help but let his mind drift over to what he was told the day prior. That someone was going out of their way to grant him a miracle, to make him see someone he never thought he'd ever see again. And they didn't want anything else in return.

"Those kids," Mesto murmurs to himself.

He stands there for a moment, letting his thoughts carry him until…

DING!

Mesto looks over to the front door as someone makes their way into the restaurant.

"Hi, welcome to Burrito Bistro my name is Mesto-Presto how can I help-" Mesto begins to say however the person passes him by leaving him to finish his sentence to nobody, "-you."

Mesto glances over to the person and sees that they are wearing a black hoodie with the hoodie up. Mesto prepares a glass of water and a pitcher for the patron. He walks over to the table and sets them down, however when he glances at the patron and sees their face, he's taken aback for a moment. 

"What are you doing here?" Mesto asks intrigued.

The person in the hoodie doesn't respond, so after waiting for a bit Mesto decides to simply continue doing the rest of his job. Though as he cleans off the tables, prepares some food, and serves other customers, he's still a bit perplexed by the generosity he's being provided. Though he's grateful for it all the same.

"Maybe things will turn out fine after all," Mesto murmurs to himself.

__________________________

"So uh, things aren't turning out fine," Ronnie admits to Marcus. 

The two have entered into Starlight High's gym as they are amidst the mob of people all spectating the game between the two rival high schools; Starlight High & Seastar High. The gym is so packed that the two can't even see the game going on. Fortunately for them, they notice that nobody is really over by the concessions stand so they walk over to it.

Though saying it is a concessions stand is definitely exaggerating it. What it really is is a small white fold-up table that has a selection of some random candy, a few bags of chips, and some water bottles. The two people running the stand are Alex Smith and Christopher Wrinkle, both being in light blue basketball jerseys.

"Oh hey I didn't expect you'd be here running the stand," Ronnie smirks before asking, "Got any funions?"

"Yeah well we're too young to be a part of the varsity team," Alex admits, "And we don't got those, only potato chips."

"What kind?" Marcus asks.

"The wet kind," Alex answers.

"Oh, how revolting," Marcus responds.

"Hey bro nice gains," Christopher Wrinkle says as he looks at Ronnie's slightly more broader shoulders.

"Thanks man, even though I'm nowhere near as jacked as you," Ronnie admits as he looks at the 6'4" 260 lb unit that is Christopher Wrinkle.

"Nonsense bro, you put in the work, you should be proud of yourself," Christopher admits.

"Uh… thanks?" Ronnie asks, confused since it was mostly Christopher who forced him to work out.

"Enough yip-yap, how's the search for that Seastar Chick?" Alex asks.

"We just got here," Marcus admits, "I'm guessing Ivory is over by the seastar bleaches."

"Yeah no shit sherlock," Alex remarks, "Look if she ever comes over to grab a snack I'll let you know but if not then I'll trust you guys got the rest."

"You got it!" Ronnie says as he and Marcus walk over to the other bleachers.

_______________________________________

When the two make it over to the edge of the bleachers, they spot Elizabeth & Cameron frozen, unable to enter the Seastar bleachers.

"That's where you guys are, what's going on?" Ronnie asks.

"Oh hey Ronnie we're just a bit stuck," Elizabeth admits.

"Really? How come?" Ronnie asks.

Cameron sighs as he points to the very other side of the bleachers where Ivory Dutchingson is sitting, and at the front of them are some Seastar High students.

"So we gotta get through all of them huh?" Ronnie says before stepping forward, "Should be a piece of cake."

Ronnie walks over to the kids blocking the way and asks, "Hey do you mind if I go through?"

"Sure thing pal," One of the kid says.

"Really? Thanks man," Ronnie says as he begins to walk forward.

"I didn't think it would be that easy," Marcus remarks as he tries to walk forward too.

However the same kid stops Marcus & Ronnie from going forward as he laughs, "Wait you thought I was serious? We wouldn't be letting Starlight High Kids through without a fight."

"God another fight?" Ronnie groans, "Is that all Seastar is good for?"

"Not just any fight," The Seastar High kid replies as he looks over to the person next to him, "Yo, show em your fangs!"

"Gladly," The other seastar high kid remarks as she whips out a beyblade, "Ready to rip?"

"What is that?" Ronnie asks.

"It's a beyblade! You never heard of 'em before Ron'?" The student with the beyblade asks.

"Nope, never heard of them," Ronnie admits, "but I'd love to play sometime."

"So you don't have them huh?" The beyblade Seastar High student says with a sigh, "Aw man, you can just go right ahead then."

"Yeah, though if I catch you again we're gonna need to try my specialty," the first non-beyblade Seastar student remarks, "Connect Four!"

"Okay sure thanks see you later!" Ronnie remarks as he and the other three quickly speed pass.

Though as Ronnie, Marcus, Elizabeth, & Cameron make their way through the crowded bleachers they're stopped by a familiar face, the rambunctious freshman at Seastar High, Draco Malite.

"You again!" Ronnie remarks.

"Yeah that's right, remember me?" Draco remarks, "I think it's time for me to teach you all the true might of the East's Drago-"

"Is that Ivory Dutchingson making her way to you?!" Elizabeth asks and points behind Draco.

"WHERE?!" Draco yells as he turns around to see her, "Where is she?"

"Wait, they tricked me!" Draco realizes before turning around to see nobody there, "OH COME ON!"

Running further into the bleachers, the group ends up running into Blanko. In hopes of not getting the others held up, Marcus decides to go chat with him so the others could pass.

"Oh it's Marco!" Blanko yells, "Long time no see dude!"

"I-it's, oh whatever," Marcus sighs, "Been a while how have you been?"

"I've been great!" Blanko yells.

As the two continue to chat, Marcus glances over to see the other three just about to reach Ivory when…

"No running in the bleachers," the principal of Seastar High, Ian Dutchingson remarks as he sits down in the bleachers.

"Dude go, we'll handle this," Elizabeth remarks as her & Cameron stay behind to be scolded by Ian.

"Do you know how dangerous it is? You could trip and hit your head on the bleachers," Ian scolds, "Just what are they teaching you kids here?"

"Sorry sir, but do you mind explaining proper bleacher etiquette to us?" Elizabeth asks as she helps Ronnie get further away.

Now with all other obstacles out of the way, Ronnie finally makes his way to where Ivory is. Once he does so, Ivory spots him and waves.

"Oh hey, didn't you visit Seastar High back in December?" Ivory asks as she points to Ronnie, "Nice to see that the people in the section haven't been too rude to you."

"Oh so you remember me, that's nice," Ronnie remarks, "And uh, I actually have a question for you."

"What is it?" Ivory asks.

"Do you know Mesto-Presto?" Ronnie asks.

After hearing those words come out of his mouth, Ivory's whole face turns into one of pure shock.

"How do you know that name?" Ivory asks.

"It's a bit of a long story, actually it really isn't but you get what I mean," Ronnie begins to explain, "If you want, I can show you where he's at and explain things on the way. Is that alright with you?"

Ivory thinks for a few seconds before nodding.

As Ronnie begins to talk with Ivory, he can't help but feel happy that he's one step closer to helping Mesto-Presto see a miracle. All he hopes is that Burrito Bistro isn't too busy when they finally get there.

__________________________

Over at Burrito Bistro, Mesto-Presto is cleaning a few empty tables while his boss Cedro Garcia hands the hooded person some chips and salsa.

"Would you like anything else to eat?" Cedro Garcia asks.

The hooded figure murmurs something, but Mesto is too far away to really hear what they said.

Suddenly in that moment, the front door opens once more.

"Oh welcome to Burrito Bistro, how can I help-" Mesto-Presto begins to ask before realizing who just entered the restaurant.

Standing in the doorway is none other than the CEO of Club Azure, Jerry Pitt.

"Oh hello there, is your boss around? I would like to discuss a unique business opportunity with him," Jerry remarks with a fake smile on his face.

As Mesto looks at the man, he realizes that today is going to be a much longer day than he anticipated.

See You Next Chapter!~