The Gamer (Mashton)

3

I spent the entire previous night explaining to my mother the reason for my absence that day at school, taking hours to convince her that I was sick, didn't tell anyone, and am deeply sorry.

Lisa had called early this morning wanting to meet at the town library before the beginning of school. Knowing she would just go anyway if I didn't, I agreed.

I throw the covers off the bed at 6 am, wanting to hurry so we actually make it to school today. I shove my feet into the sneakers on the floor, not bothering to tie them, and grab my bag from the chair at the small desk.

The sun is just beginning to peak through the clouds as I walk through the town, a slight breeze rustling the leaves upon the trees.

The streets are lively, cars and bikes filling their surface. The library's front is becoming visible through the mass of trees as I continue my way on the path.

I rush up the stairs and step inside the extensive building. To the right of the long front counter there sits a group of tables all cluttered together.

Lisa sits at the table furthest from the lady at the counter, books sprawled across the table's surface.

"Find something interesting?"

She snaps her head out of the book in her lap at the sound of my voice.

"Not really, honestly. Most history books and books in general with information about dimension X have been wiped out. I was just hoping for something different."

"I know how you feel."

I take a seat in the wooden chair beside her and look at the assortment of books before me.

Technology: Then and now. The complete history of technology. Basic functions of modern technology. American technology.

Nothing, nothing, nothing, and nothing. Nothing is here, just like I expected. My grandfather's journal provides little information, and I know my father would be unwilling to talk about anything relating to him or dimension X.

"This is useless. Nothing is here, Ash. I'm thinking we may need to get our information somewhere else." Lisa tells me, closing her book.

"I know, I know. We should probably get going to school."

"We will Ash, we will." She says, looking furiously through her bag.

I pick up one of the books and leaf through it to pass time, when something in the corner of my eye catches my attention.

A tall man dressed in black from head to toe takes a seat at a table right across from ours, with nothing in his hands. He looks to be around my age, eighteen or nineteen probably, with shaggy blond hair sticking out in all directions.

Something about him holds my attention, my eyes gazing over him longer than I should.

Black tattoos are scattered across his arms, a hoop going through the skin on his eyebrow, large black earrings sitting in his ears. I don't think I've seen him before, but something about him seems almost familiar to me.

I must have seen him around school before, I decide. There's nothing suspicious in that.

He looks up at me then, his eyes boring straight into mine. I look away quickly, embarrassed that I was staring for so long.

"Ash? Ash, are you listening to me?" Lisa's voice breaks into my thoughts, finally snapping me out of my trance.

"We should get going to school now, unless you changed your mind?"

"No, we're going to school, L. Can't use all my sick days in the first week, can I?"

"Yeah, like that ever stopped you before."

She picks up her bag and pushes back from the table, heading towards the door. I take one last look at the man. His eyes seem to have never left my direction.

I'm about to turn away when I see him smile slightly, like he knows something I don't.