The Shadow of Stars

Thirty Six

the realisation that I keep getting the chapter titles so awfully wrong HAHAHA I will fix them I SWEAR. 

Anywaysss sorry for the hiatus, beginning of my university semester and work has been crazzyyyyy. But I loved reading all your comments throughout--pure motivation right there. Ya'll are keeping me accountable and I love it hahah. 

ENJOY xxxx

"Die! No die! Die!" I scream at the screen as my hands move furiously over the controller, like my fingertips have a mind of my own. "Use the time potion! I'll go for the jugular!"

The warlock warrior shifts away from my character on the screen and covers the dragon with the purple powered potion we found in a chest two quests ago. This is the highest level I have gotten on Fire and Fury and my bones are thrumming as the dragons life bar reduces dramatically.

"Go, go, go! Now!" Micah yells the command with as much intensity as I had and in a quick manoeuvre, I press down vigourlously onto the controller, spinning my character so that the blade slices through the dragons throat, ending the beasts life immediately.

"Oh my god!" I literally jump up as the montage of what we just did replays and Micah erupts from the couch with me, grinning like an idiot.

"That was so epic! The way you like twisted the blade and the time potion? I didn't even think of that. I'm saving that replay and showing Ben, he's gonna die." I can't stop the bubble of laughter that erupts from me at his enthusiasm or the pure joy bounding through my bones.

"I know right! And that was always my plan but every damn time Henry was too slow to draw out the potion but you killed it. Literally."

A buzz sounds in the room and Micah snaps his attention to it. "Oh! Pack kitchen snacks are here. Wait til you try this grilled cheese."

"Thank god, I'm so hungry," I joke and slight concern flashes in his eyes, his grin lessening.

"Of course, sorry. I'll be right back!" He literally darts from the room and I hear his footfalls down the corridor like this grilled cheese is as important as the treasure we were just hunting down.

I slump into the sofa, resting my head against its back and flick my eyes over the space, something I couldn't exactly do with Micahs attention trained on me.

His room is so much lighter than I expected. I figured he'd dwell in some dark teenage boy room that smelt of bad deodorant and old food but it was pristine, not a speck of dust in sight. Even his bed was made with some military precision, a far cry from my shamble of blankets and pillows at home.

When Micah asked me to come over early today I had no idea he meant for Fire and Fury. I figured the event time was moved or there was some urgent thing I needed to do in preparation. But he simply answered his big old front door with a vintage merchandise tee of the game and a massive grin.

His entire family was out, preparing no doubt but we had spent the last two hours gaming. The only interruption was from Micahs mom who came in and took my measurements for some last minute dress alterations. I hadn't even seen the dress, or read up on any wolf customs, or even thought that far ahead into tonight. It twisted my gut to even think about it.

Part of me wondered if this early invitation was just a precaution on Micahs behalf. A way to get me here and ensure that I was going to attend or at least give himself a day to get me back on board. Honestly, I probably would have found some excuse if I was left to my own devices.