Ding! Ding! Ding!

The sound of my phone echoes through the library, drawing annoyed glances from people trying to study. I give them a sheepish smile.

“Sorry,” I whisper, grabbing my phone out of my pocket.

On the screen, a message pops up from Jackson:

You getting on the game tonight, Drew?

Another notification follows — this one from the server, reminding me they’re trying to run customs tonight. I type back to Jackson a quick No and slip my phone away.

It buzzes again almost instantly. I glance down.

Please, man. Please. Just for me. I promise I won’t sell.

I sigh and type, “Look, man, I gotta study for this exam next week.”

I watch the message go from delivered to seen. Almost immediately, he starts typing again.

Exactly! Next week, I need you now. Can’t you help me out?

I close my eyes, then open them again, honestly deciding I’d rather play the game than study. I text back:

“Fuck it, we ball. But if I fail, just know you are financially supporting me for the rest of my life.”

He responds with a heart and smiley face:

“Sure 😀. Anything for my duo ❤️”

I send him a disgusted face gif and pack my stuff up to go home.

As I walk to the book counter, I see Sasha.

“Leaving so soon, Andrew?”

“Yeah, some things came up, but I’ll be back soon. I need to work on that exam for our class.”

I fasten my bag, tighten my coat, and open the door. Snow crunches under my feet as the cold wind hits my face.

I walk trembling toward my car.

When I reach it, the door handle is frozen. I pry it open and slither inside, turning the heat on and waiting for the car to warm up.

I check my phone. A welcome message flashes across the screen: Cookieslayer? Who the hell is that? I wonder as I drive out of the parking lot.

***
As I arrive home with food and the will to live, my cat comes purring over.

“Lady, how are you doing?” I say, setting the food down and picking up my pretty girl with her dark gray coloring.

Meooow, she says as I hug her close.

“At least someone’s glad to see me, huh?”

I put her down. She walks to her food bowl as I pour some kitty chow for her.

BZZ! BZZ! The buzzing in my coat pocket vibrates against my body. I pick up my phone.

“What?”

Soon after, Jackson is yelling through the phone.

“I know you’re home, so hurry up and get on! Time to rank up, baby!”

How the hell does this guy know I’m home?

“Put the pipe down, buddy. And how do you know I’m home? I could damn well still be in the car.”

His laughter crackles through the phone, and it annoys me.

“No, no, my dear friend, because I know — right before you picked up the phone, you were probably talking to Lady saying, ‘You’re the only one that gets me in this dark world.’ Am I right, Drew?”

I know that mug of his is grinning.

“Do you think I’m some emo kid? Actually, shut up. I’m getting on now, so warm up quick — I’m gonna slam you when I get on.”

I hang up before he can answer, putting my phone away, taking off my coat and hat, and throwing my bag down near the bed.

Meoww, Lady says, looking back from her food.

“Yes, yes, I know, Lady. I’ll hurry and get ready so we can eat,” I say while taking my boots off.

I grab the taco food from where I left it and bring it over to Lady. We eat together.

“Is it good?” I ask.

She ignores me, focused on devouring the food. "If anyone came in here right now, they’d think I don’t feed you," I joke.

Once we finish, I throw out the trash and wash my hands in the sink.

Lady walks over to her spot near my setup while I sit in my chair and turn on my PC.

A ting hits my phone. Jackson is asking where I’m at. I just send him: Logging in.