Chapter 9

I stare at my phone anxiously, waiting for Beck’s reply. Please please please say yes!

Rebecca🌸: I am free then

Rebecca🌸: I’d love to go on that date with you :)

GUH this dude is killing me here!!!! Grinning like a shithead, I try and suppress the happy feeling in my chest, pushing it down and ignoring it.

Griffin🦅: perfect

Griffin🦅: what time and where?

Rebecca🌸: We could meet up at that same café, have some lunch and then maybe go for a walk down by the river?

Fuck, that sounds so cute! There’s a river going straight through the middle of the city, and whilst most of the time no one is aware of it, based on how there’s buildings over it where its natural course has been redirected and such, there’s still a bit by the park where it flows naturally, and it’s a really pretty area, especially at this time of year.

Griffin🦅: sounds great

Griffin🦅: I hate getting up early I’ll be honest

Griffin🦅: can we meet at like 1pm or something?

Rebecca🌸: Of course! I’m already excited :)

Shit, I’m excited too. I hope I don’t fuck this up.

Griffin🦅: really looking forward to seeing you again

No, don’t write that! I quickly erase the message, typing out something else instead.

Griffin🦅: same

“That’s drier than a fucking antarctic desert, what the shit Fin!!!! Just be normal,” I remind myself, trying to get a balance between not too excited and not giving a shit.

Griffin🦅: me too :)

Ok, that feels fine. It’s whatever now, I’ve sent it so I have to deal with the consequences. I can’t go on the game again today because of my shitting assignment, so I immediately start working on it so I can meet up with Beck in game again sooner.

My phone stats ringing and I pick it up without checking who it is, assuming it’s just Miri - she’s the only one who ever calls me aside from my mother, and I saw that woman earlier so I doubt it’s her.

Nope, instead it’s someone I hate talking to about as much as I hate talking to my mother.

“What do you want?” I ask with a sigh. “Stop avoiding me, Griff. We need to talk,” Rodger’s irritating voice sounds down the line. I used to think his voice was nice and pretty sexy, but now I’m just like ugh shut the fuck up.

“Alright, talk.”

He sighs, and part of me wants to just hang up now. “Why did you have to make things so awkward between us?”

I choke on my own laugh. “Excuse me?! You’re the one who publicly humiliated me, I don’t think I did anything wrong here! My only mistake was crushing on a dick like you in the first place.” I mentally and also physically pat myself on the back; Miri would be proud.

“Oh come on, you’re not still hung up on that are you? Grow up, Griffin. Anyway, this isn’t what I wanted to say. You should date me.”

I hang up the phone. What kind of asshole is going to talk shit about me, to my face, in public, in front of all of our friends, and then in private call me telling me to get in a relationship with him?! No fucking way.

He keeps spamming me with calls, and I eventually pick up, curious as to what he’ll say. I’ll block him in a moment, but I want to know his reasoning, out of morbid curiosity.

“That was very rude, Griff. Just be my boyfriend already. We can go back to what we were like before, plus I know you want to kiss me.”

I make fake vomiting sounds, before laughing. “Shut the fuck up, m’kay? You’re right, at one point, I liked you, and I would’ve loved to be your boyfriend. But I don’t like you anymore- it’s more than that, I actively dislike you. Plus, didn’t you hear the other day? I’m already seeing someone.” Not exactly true, but sort of?

Rodger just snorts, and I contemplate throwing my phone into the wall at his smugness. “Sure sure, I know that was just a lie. You can’t see anyone else; you’re too busy thinking about me. Just give up already and be mine.”

“Rodger, get your head out of your own ass. How many times do I have to tell you ‘no’ for it to sink in? Because honestly? I thought you were cleverer than this. I will never ‘be yours’ so leave me the fuck alone.”

And then I really do block him. Sighing, I press my head into my hands. Should I tell Miri? She’d get angry on my behalf, and maybe she could help me avoid Rodger.

For some reason though, I don’t text her, but Beck instead.

Griffin🦅: hey I could play for an hour later if you want to

Rebecca🌸: Really? That would be nice, but don’t push yourself if you’re busy

Griffin🦅: it’s fine. 9-10 then?

Rebecca🌸: Sure that works for me

Rebecca🌸: See you in a few hours :)

I smile slightly, before texting Miri something about how much I hate Rodger, deciding to tell her the details in person on Monday. A few hours later and I’ve made good headway with my assignment.

Logging on to the game, I smile when I see that Beck is already online. He is almost always online before me; he pretty much lives on this game when he’s not working. Teleporting to my elven wife, I give her a smile and a wave.

Rebecca trots up to me, presenting me with the enchanted javelin she was making. “Thank you, it looks incredible!” I enthuse whilst she blushes, hiding behind her hands. “A-ah thank you! I’m so glad you like it, I-I just finished it.”

Placing my hand on her shoulder, I smile again. “Thank you, this is really kind of you. It must have taken ages to complete.” Enchanting weapons so they’re actually useful is really difficult and only highly-skilled mages try it, because of the skills and resources needed for it to work.

“It’s ok, I enjoyed m-making it. What do you want to do today?” She asks, patting my arm. Crossing my arms, I think about it for a moment. We won’t have enough time to do a mission; an hour is cutting it too close.

“Have you checked out the new event? There’s a bunch of different game modes,” I suggest after a moment. Rebecca shakes her head, her candy-floss pink hair waving at the movement.

“I can teleport us to the arena? There are supposed to be 2v2 duels I think.”

“That s-sounds fun!” She exclaims, grabbing my hand in both of hers. Smiling, I give her hand a squeeze, before wrapping my arm around her waist and teleporting us to the arena.

“Let’s win some duels.”