A Terrible Fate

Chapter 2

We came out in a place that looked like a game room. It had a couch near the back window, which we were facing; a couple bean bag chairs near us; and a door off to our left. I assumed that it's the exit. There were also some gaming consoles by our feet. "Hey, careful! This stuff's expensive!" BEN said from beside me.

It was then that I noticed the Nintendo 64 by his right foot. I gasped, crouching down beside it with a smile plastered on my face. "Is this an actual Nintendo 64?" I asked excitedly, nearly shouting. Dumb question, I know, but the sight of an N64 is rare for me. I was really excited.

He rolled his eyes. "What kind of question is that? Of course it is." He plopped down in one of the bean bag chairs, muttering something I couldn't quite make out. It didn't matter, though. I knew what he was saying without having to hear him. "Just because I can't hear you, that doesn't mean I'm too dumb to know what you're saying, BEN," I said frustratedly. "I'm just excited, that's all. I don't usually see these very often."

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Haven't you ever had one?" he asked. I shook my head. "Nope. My parents had one when they were younger, but they got rid of it before I can remember," I confessed.

He wore a horrified expression, as if the words that came out of my mouth were an elaborate curse that I was putting on him to make him suffer the pain and sorrows of every last one of his victims. "They did what??" he practically yelled. I sighed. "I know, right? I wish they would've kept it, but alas, that didn't happen," I replied maybe a little too dramatically. He rolled his eyes at me, and I decided to give him a little friendly tease. "Hey," I said with a laugh, "at least I'm not the one who nearly had a heart attack about someone getting rid of their N64!"

The next thing I knew, my back was slammed against the wall and BEN's face was mere inches from mine, his eyes glowing a fierce, angry red. I stood there, surprised that he had gotten so angry with my gentle teasing. "Look, Nicky, you don't get to tease me, got it? Not even if it's friendly. You haven't earned the right to treat me like that, understand??" he growled, slowly releasing me from his grip.

"Look, BEN. I know that you don't know me, but I know you. I've read about you, I've been on Cleverbot, I play your game, I've even roleplayed as you at least once. I know that in your mind, we've just met, but the fact is that I've known you for a long time," I told him calmly, slowly moving to the bean bag chair next to his. He sat down in the chair beside mine and sighed. "Just don't treat me like family until you've lived here for at least a month or two," he replied, calmer now.

I nodded. "I understand." I started reaching for the Nintendo controller, but then reconsidered, leaning back in the chair. I didn't want to make him angry again by playing on his game consoles without his approval, knowing full well how much they mean to him.

He looked at me and gestured that it was fine. "Go ahead and play the game if you want. Your profile is on there," he said, picking up the other controller. I picked up the controller in front of my chair and hit the Start button.