Hammerhead," Mika retorted as he too tried to help Jenna stand up straight.
"What happened?" Jenna asked, not knowing what happened.
"You took a big whap on the head from a hockey puck," Balto replied, motioning toward the small black disc that Mika was clutching. The Finn put it down and continued checking over Jenna just to make sure she wasn't seriously injured. Which, fortunately, wasn't the case.
"Now who's this?" Jenna asked.
"The puck slapper who almost put you in a coma," replied Mika. Realizing who just spoke, he paused briefly before speaking again. "Oh, great, now she's talking to me, too."
"What?" asked Jenna.
"Oh, I spoke aloud within hearing range of him," replied Balto, "and he heard it."
"Yes, and now I hear both of you talking," said Mika.
"So what took you so long, Balto?" asked Jenna. "I thought you were just going to apologize for yesterday's mishap"
"I did apologize, Jenna," Balto replied.
"Look," Mika cut in. "Part of it's my fault. After that, Balto noticed a few things in my house, asked about them, and the next thing I know, I'm dictating my autobiography."
"I know that sounds hard to believe," said Balto, seeing that Jenna didn't believe a word she had just heard, "but that is what happened. And yes, I was aware that we had plans for this evening."
"You two dogs are dating?" asked Mika, sounding confused. The idea of dating existing among another species sounded odd to him. Then again, he had never previously heard of or seen such a thing.
"Oh, no," Balto responded, shaking his head as Jenna rested hers on his chest. "We're way beyond that."
With that said, Balto and Jenna shared a brief kiss, which left Mika open-mouthed and scratching his head in disbelief. This was another thing he never saw another species do. Now he wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't real.
"This throws my entire perception of reality into question," Mika said.
"Why?" asked Balto.
"Is it not obvious?" Mika replied.
"Oh, I get it," Balto answered back. It took a while for the answer to come to him.
"Alright, you two," Jenna cut in. "I hate to interrupt, but remember, Balto, we have a seven o' clock reservation."
"Yes, I know we do," said Balto as they walked off. "Nice talking to you, Mika."
"Likewise, Balto," Mika replied. "Alright, I gotta go knock the last couple images out of my head."
As Mika started to go pick up his equipment, he turned around and said, "Don't take this personal, but until further notice, no eye contact."
"Why?" both Balto and Jenna asked simultaneously.
"Best not to ask," replied Mika.
With that, he went to go pick up his equipment and head back inside.
Balto spent the entire walk to the dog restaurant trying to apologize to Jenna for taking so long to apologize to Mika, but every attempt left him more desperate to get through to her.
"Look I said I was sorry," Balto pleaded. "What more do I owe you?"
"Details," said Jenna. "You owe me that."
Balto sighed before answering. "His name is Mika Kykalisko."
"Kykalisko?" Jenna asked. "What kind of last name is that?"
"It's Finnish," Balto responded.
"Finland?" asked Jenna. "That's where he's from?"
"Uh, yes," Balto answered. "His father is Toni Kykalisko."
"The mine supply pilot?" asked Jenna.
"Yes," said Balto, "the mine supply pilot."
"What else did he have to say?" Jenna asked, eager to hear more of what Mika had to say to Balto.
"Well, you think me and Aleu had a hard time finding where we belong," said Balto. "Well, he's had it worse. Still is. He's been bounced around from his hometown of Kokkola, to Detroit, then Ishpeming, and now here. And it all happened when things were going so well for him. He was a local ice hockey sensation, had a girlfriend, and was just doing well. Now he says he's basically hit rock bottom."
"Really?" asked Jenna.
"Oh yes, very much so," replied Balto. "I may not know all there is to know about his story, but I can definitely say this much. The road that me and Aleu have been on, is the same road that he's on."
Flashbacks ran amok through Balto's mind. Among them, his early days in Nome, his confrontations with Steele, all those lonely nights he spent on his boat, witnessing Aleu's own struggle to find her place, and lastly, what Mika described of his own story. He kept hoping that Mika's luck would turn around.
"No one should have to go through that for no apparent reason," Balto thought. "Not at all."
Back at his house, Mika lay down on his couch, thinking about what had just transpired. He thought he was alone, that he was the only one ever disliked in Nome. Boy, was he wrong. He actually felt a little relieved that he wasn't alone, and yet he was a little bewildered that he find out from a dog who was once in his position. He almost didn't know what to believe. Like he said, his entire perception of reality was thrown into question.
Will Mika's luck turn around? Will he ever be able to feel like he has a place in Nome? Will his perception of reality ever come back to normal? And what else lies in store? Find out in Chapter 3: Highs and Lows.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1817 visits
Report this fanfic
