Patch = update for the game. Usually this comes in two versions. The first one is weekly updates where they fix bugs and things like that and the second one is almost more of an upgrade than an update. These bigger patches often include more dungeons and things like that between big game expansions. One of the things often added during these are raids and end-game dungeons.

I’m bouncing my leg as I wait for Destruction of Elysium to update. Of course, it’s the final day before the meet and the game needs to update even though I’m itching to log on... My final exam ended late and I got home right in time for dinner. But now I’m done. This was my final day before summer break and there’s nothing I want more but to spend it with the guild.

I stand up, the update is going to take a while, walking downstairs and grabbing a cool bottle of fizzy drink from the fridge. Then I step out into the garden where my mom and dad are sitting, the plates of their desserts still on the table between them.

“Mom.” I lean against the door.

“Yes?” She looks at me, her sunglasses reflecting me like a funny mirror.

“Do you know about tomorrow yet?” I try not to sigh, because that makes her annoyed, and when she’s annoyed I’m not getting anything at all.

“This again?” She turns back. “Like I said. I don’t know yet. I’m not sure if it’s a good idea at all, you know that.”

“I studied. I went to classes. I worked hard. I deserve some fun.”

“Yes. You deserve fun. But why does it have to be with people you met online and you’ve never actually talked to? You can have fun with Hannah, Sydney or even that girl, Jade, from your work. Why do you have to look online for that?”

“I didn’t look for them online. It’s just other people who also play the game and we play together a lot. They’re not scary or evil or whatever. We just wanna hang out in real life for once.” We’ve been having this discussion every time that going to the meet comes up. “It’s not like it’s somewhere scary, they just rented the outside tables at a barbecue grill place and it’s only an hour away by bus.”

“You’ve got work tomorrow.” Which is a lame excuse, as she tells me that I should go out with my friends, at least the ones she approves of, after work all the time.

“I wish you’d consider it.” I turn back to the house, escaping. Because as long as she’s not said ‘no’, there’s still a chance for a ‘yes’, even though I know that the chance is slim. I make my way up the stairs and in my room, I see that the game wants me to log on again, which means that the update is finally finished.

Right on time...

I sit down and as soon as I appear in game, a message from Alex appears.

AlexTheDestroyer: Any news yet?

BelleFleur: No.

BelleFleur: I just wish she’d make up her mind. This is driving me crazy...

AlexTheDestroyer: Yeah...

AlexTheDestroyer: Anyway, how did your final exam go?

I laugh, sure, leave it to Alex to ask the hard questions first.

BelleFleur: I think I did well enough. You?

AlexTheDestroyer: Destroyed it.

I can’t help the smile, a fuzzy feeling in my stomach, which happens every time he makes me laugh at one of his lame jokes.

BelleFleur: Right...

AlexTheDestroyer: Hey, you got any preference for drinks or snacks or whatever? Or anything you can’t eat?

BelleFleur: Nope. Luckily not.

AlexTheDestroyer: Cool.

AlexTheDestroyer: So, you want to group up and get some dungeons done or something?

BelleFleur: Yes, please.

BelleFleur: I want to get this crazy thing called school out of my head and dive into the not-so-normal world of dungeons and monsters and magic.

I make myself comfortable as I wait for Alex to invite me to his party, but when I click the accept button, I see it’s just us.

BelleFleur: No others?

AlexTheDestroyer: They’re all in voice chat going crazy about tomorrow. I want to play, not chat.

Ah. Yeah. With me not knowing if I’m coming, even though I really want to, we kind of finished discussing the meet a few days ago. Now it’s just nerves, nerves about yes or no for going and nerves about what would happen if I would be able to go...

***

“Hey!” Jade prances into the flower shop, a big smile on her face. “I see someone is dressed for the summer. Or is it a date?” She wiggles her eyebrows.

“Don’t say that...” I close my eyes. “I don’t want anyone to put that idea in my mom’s head, even if she’s not here. This morning she looked at me and asked me if I’m dressing up for someone special today. I, of course, denied, but I don’t want to give her any more reasons to tell me I can’t go.”

“Still a no then?” She leans onto the counter, looking at me.

“She had this great idea this morning...” I sigh, playing with a few flower petals on the counter. “She may allow me to go. But... She wants to come too.”

“What?”

“Yeah. I don’t want her in there when I’m meeting Alex for the first time. 'Hey, I’m Fleur, I know we talked and joked all the time online, so much so that I’m doubting if we haven’t been flirting or something. Oh, and this is my mom...'” I groan.

“Well, it’s some progress...” Jade shrugs. “But she doesn’t have to go to the actual meet with you, right? She could just drop you off or something and stay nearby?”

“Yeah, I said the same, but she answered more of a ‘we’ll see’ than a ‘yes’ or ‘no’. So I have no idea.”

“So, you’re looking forward to finally meeting Alex? Meeting mister funny and cute?” Jade grins, leaning closer. “You gonna jump him and kiss him when you meet?”

My cheeks heat up immediately at that thought, my mouth opening, but no sounds coming out. “Don’t... I don’t... I don’t know.” I put my hands on my cheeks, but it’s no use, they’re scorching under my hands, even in the heat of the shop.

But Jade just looks at me, a glint in her eyes. “Busted! You’ve thought of it. You want to jump his bones.”

“I don’t. I don’t know him. I just know that he’s funny and sweet. I don’t know anything else about him.” Not that I wouldn’t like to... Not that I wouldn’t like touching him and seeing where things will be going.

Though, with today’s weather, probably not very far. It’s already hot and the day has just started. I can’t imagine how hot it will be this afternoon when the meet actually takes place.

I let out a deep breath. “Is this going to be good enough? I don’t want to look overdressed, but I also don’t want to look like I just threw something on.” I look down at my dress. “Alex said that it would be outside, so there should be a little breeze, right?”

“You’re going to wear that?” Jade steps around the counter, looking at me.

“Without the apron, of course.” I laugh as I hold it aside to show the whole dress. It’s just a simple summer dress with big flower patterns on it. It’s probably the most summery while still decently covering dress that I have.

“Looks pretty.” Jade nods appreciatively. “Do you have like... a hat to go with it or something?”

“A hat?”

“Yes. Against the summer sun, but also, this dress requires a hat. A big summery hat.”

“I don’t have one.” Because, when would I ever think of that?

“No worries. I’ll get you one before the end of the day. Just make sure you personalise it with flowers or something. Make it more you.” Jade checks her phone. “Okay, got to go. Break’s over.” She smiles and I can see a little mischief in it. “We’ll get you an amazing outfit, and maybe even a little bit of make-up before the end of the day. That way your mom has to let you go.”

“Sounds more like she’d have all the more reason not to...” I shake my head. “Okay. Fine. You do what you think is best. It’s not like I’ve got much experience with dating, or even going on dates...” Not that I have no experience, just not a lot, guys usually aren’t that interested in me… Especially not when they can have one of my friends.

“You’ll get there.” Jade waves at me as she leaves the shop. “This is going to be great!”

***

I look at my phone again. Andrew let me out of work more than an hour early, it wasn’t busy anyway and I think he got a little crazy from my jumping all over the place in nerves. Which means I could get going to the party, I could grab the bus and leave. But I texted my mom and she said she’d come pick me up. I don’t want to push my luck, so I didn’t ask what she meant exactly.

Then I see my mom’s car turn onto the road, slowing down and stopping as she reaches me. I open the door and quickly slip inside, taking care that the big summer hat Jade was somehow able to find for me, doesn’t get bunched up or broken on my way in. “Hey.” I rearrange my stuff so I can sit more comfortably.

“Hey. What did you say that meet-thingy cost?” She drums her fingers on the wheel of the car.

“Thirty bucks. But that includes food and drinks and everything.” Wait, does this mean that she’ll allow me to go?

“Okay.” She rummages through her bag and hands me some money. “Should cover the costs for the meeting and then some for maybe something fun or nice or whatever.”

“You’re allowing me to go?” Really?

“Yes.” She holds her hand up before I can say anything. “But. I’m going to be dropping you off. I will go and have a drink at the place itself to see everything going on and if everything seems okay, I will go visit a friend and I will pick you up at ten. Are we clear?”

Hells yes! “Yeah. Thank you so much!” Wow. This really is going to happen. I want to squee, but I know that Mom hates that and I can’t even send a message to Alex to tell him I’m coming. So annoying. But I can send a message to Jade. ‘I’m going to the meet! Mom’s dropping me off!’ I just have to share this excitement with someone.

Mom starts driving and laughs a little as she’s aware of my excitement.

Then my phone buzzes and I see that Jade has sent me a lot of emojis and moving stickers, from happy faces to fireworks to a whole row of hearts.

I feel my cheeks heat up a little. Yes. Hearts... I will be seeing Alex. Oh, help! I check myself out as well as I can, pulling at my dress a little, making sure there are no stains on it. But even if there were, I’m not going to be able to get changed anyway.

“That hat, did you make it yourself?” Mom glances at me for a moment as she drives through the city.

“Jade got me the hat, but I put the flowers on it myself.” So, I guess it’s a little bit of both.

“Very pretty. It looks lovely with all those fresh flowers on it.” She smiles. “You’re really looking forward to this, aren’t you?”

“Yeah!” Like my asking and begging for the last weeks wasn’t obvious enough.

“Anyone in particular who’s coming. I thought you mentioned an Alex?”

“Hmm, hmm.” I play with the hem of my dress a little. “Yeah, he’ll be there too. He’s the one organising this.”

“Oh, that’s nice. Have you told him yet that you’re coming?”

“I don’t have his number. We always meet in the game, so we didn’t actually swap numbers.” Especially since I sort of don’t want to ruin the surprise. Or maybe just because I’m scared...

What if he isn’t as hot as I imagine him to be? Or what if his jokes are much less funny in real life? Or maybe he’s just annoying or something? I kind of didn’t want to ruin the dream before I really met him. Or ruin whatever his idea of me is by being all plain and boring...

Dammit. Now I’m scared. What if I’m this huge disappointment to him? This plain little girl who has crappy social skills when out in a group...

How can I now be scared and excited at the same time?