A Game Of Pawns

Chapter 2

After a long day's work, I dragged myself home and ate some leftovers from my fridge. I didn't even bother warming it up, which I regretted since cold chicken pasta isn't great, but I was too tired and too hungry to use the microwave. I took out a can of coke and sat on my couch, waiting for the guys to get online so we could start our game night. By the time we were all connected, I was almost finished with my food.

"No way, man. You're too good, we're going with teams, and you're playing alone." A voice rang through my headphones.

"It's not my fault Paul bailed," I complained through a mouthful of wet noodles. Unfortunately for me, I was the only one on my side. Stuffing the last of my food in my mouth, I gulped down the last bite. "Oh, fine. I'll just have to kick both your butts. Let's do this!"

An hour passed and a gentle summer rain began pecking on the windows of my apartment while I sat in a room only lit by the glow of my television, a soft, electronic hum buzzing just beneath the screen. I was intensely staring at the screen and trying to evaluate what my next move should be. I had to act fast, otherwise I would lose my chance.

Quickly, I adjusted my headset, which was starting to slide down for the third time tonight. I blame the headset for being too big for my head. The 'one size fits all' claim was bogus, but I didn't make a fuss over it, I just dealt with it. After repositioning, I went back into my gaming position; that is, I grabbed my controller with both hands, while sitting on my couch.

Pressing buttons as efficiently as I could, I had my avatar jump, then drop quickly while a bomb appeared in the character's hand out of nowhere. When I was in a better position, I had the sprite toss the explosive at one of my nearby adversaries. I detonated the bomb and rushed in to give the finishing blow just after my enemy dodged. Hit! Now I just have to- oops. Another foe got the drop on me and instead of dodging out of the way, I blocked. My character was grabbed and unceremoniously thrown off-screen.

"Aah! I should've seen that coming! You got me," I said, taking a sip of coke.

Familiar voices rang through my ears from my headphones. "Finally! Man, you are too good. I was on my last life!"

"Yeah." A second voice agreed. "I thought we'd get a break when Paul bailed. We thought taking you on two on one would be easy. We won by the skin of our teeth."

I smiled, "Well, it just goes to show you...I'm awesome."

"Maybe....or maybe you just play too much." The first voice countered.

"As if, Tommy. I only play this with you guys."

"Yeah, you spend your free time playing classics. You're doing the Metroid run, right?"

"Yeah. I'm almost done though. I think I'll do the Zelda's again next."

"Nice. Well, at least Michael's worse than me at this game!"

"Hey!" Michael complained.

"It's true. Dude, Xander, seriously, you're really good. You should do a tournament or something. Then you can split the winnings with me since it was my idea!"

"I dunno," I said, smiling. "I just look for the animations that start the attack. All of the characters have tells for what they're about to do, so if you get used to that, you do better, I guess. I'm sure most people who do tournaments do the same."

"That's ridiculous. You're way too observant. Wanna go again?"

"Sure. But I'm getting tired, so this'll be my last one."

"Dude, it's like eight." Tommy teased.

"Yeah, well did your neighbor wake you up at three in the morning by playing his drum set?"