Page 59 of Love in Development

Charisse raised her hand.“I have play practice.”

“I’ve already written today off as a mental health day school-wise.But I need to go into work later.”I checked my watch.Since I didn’t have a phone, I needed to keep time the old-fashioned way.Dang.How had it gotten so late in the afternoon?“In fact, I need to leave now.Let’s talk about this later.”

I grabbed my bike from the garage and headed into the sunshine.It was a beautiful day with blue skies and fluffy clouds.I knew it was cliché, but I could hear the birds chirping as I pedaled along.My cheeks ached from smiling, but I couldn’t stop.IK wanted to meet me.He wanted to take me to the dance.I tried to imagine what he looked like.He’d be in decent shape because he played sports.I assumed that making a college team meant he had to be good.

The bike rack outside the building was mostly empty when I locked it up, and there were only a couple of customers when I walked in.Saying I worked at the campus bookstore was like saying Russia was a little country.The business sprawled across the lower level of a large building and carried everything from new and used textbooks and office supplies to school merch like PJs, shirts, hats, socks, bobbleheads, posters, backpacks, and folders.Cups, mugs, keychains, you name it; we had it.

It felt like a black and gold mini-superstore.We even had a section with drinks and food.Mostly snacks and candy, but there were sandwiches and pre-made salads in the cooler too.It was just me and my manager again.She sent me to check the floor before I did anything else.

I scanned the shelves, looking for things out of place, while I considered what I knew about IK.He couldn’t be stinky because ShadowImp and VerdantArcher complained sometimes about the chores he made them do to keep their place neat.Though I guessed he could be gross while making everyone else do the work, that didn’t sound like him.In the game, he didn’t make anyone else do anything he wasn’t willing to do.

I folded some T-shirts and rearranged the stack.

He could be funny, though his humor was understated.And he not only made goals but knew what steps were necessary to achieve them.I guess I really did know a lot about him and what kind of person he was.Otherwise, I wouldn’t have accepted his request.

I lined up the souvenir glasses, and it made me smile, thinking about how he lined us up like little toy soldiers to fight.With his insights, we always won.Done with the pickup, I got a spray bottle and rag from under the counter and started wiping things down.The cooler was almost empty.

Now that the school year had settled in, there weren’t so many rushes.Students trickled in and out throughout the day.The numbers swelled around lunchtime—were one of the places that served food on this side of the campus—and again closer to dinner.Since the food was all pre-wrapped cold stuff, it didn’t permeate the air like at DragonByte.The click and squeak of crutches caught my attention, and looked up to see Ni enter with a couple of his wingmen.

I set down the bottle and rag, grabbing a grape soda from the cooler on my way to the register.They stacked the little pile of notebooks, pens, and gum on the counter.

“Molly,” Ni sounded surprised.

“Here,” I said, adding the soda to the pile.“I meant to send you something at the hospital, but obviously I’m too late.Shouldn’t you still be there?”

“Thanks.It wasn’t as bad as it seemed.”

His wingmen wandered off into the aisles, whispering about something and giving us space to chat, while I bagged their purchases.The two of them reminded me of Lin and Charisse earlier.

“I heard you were unconscious.”Great, remind him of his trauma, Molly.

“Not for long.They kept me overnight to check for a concussion, and I have to wear old faithful here.”He gestured down toward the bright red cast.

My eyes scan downward.Luckily, there was a counter in the way.My entire head heated, probably turning darker than my hair.“Um.That’ll be $27.38.”

I kept my gaze down as he paid and we said our goodbyes.I followed theclick, clickas he left.That was a close one.I couldn’t afford to be too friendly.After all, I had an official date.

I about jumped out of my skin when my manager returned from the back room.“Molly.I’m so glad that you’ve decided to stay, and I must say you are very reliable.We’ve had the other two freshmen quit already, and I was wondering if I could schedule you for more hours?”

I didn’t think twice.“Of course.”

More work meant more money in my savings.It also meant less free time.Once I got home, us girls could compare our schedules.We only had a few weeks to get the dresses before I finally met the guy I liked.

“HEY.”

The soft voice made me practically jump out of my skin.I was so nervous to meet IK for the first time.And I was alone—at night.

The three weeks had passed faster than I thought possible.Then, this morning, Lin woke throwing up her eyeballs.Charisse was at home taking care of her.Lin wasn’t sure if she had the flu or if it was food poisoning.Charisse wanted to accompany me, but Charisse without Lin to keep her in check was a frightening prospect.And besides, there would be plenty of other people at the homecoming dance, while Lin needed Charisse to fetch her tea and crackers, and keep her from dragging herself around the house like a zombie—the stubborn girl.

I peered into the darkness, looking for the face behind the voice that had “Hey’d” me.

Not that IK was a danger to me.I was excited to finally put a face to the name.

My hands were moist again, and I smoothed them down my dress for the hundredth time.Would he like it?The breeze blew a curl, and it tickled my shoulder.Despite puking every few minutes, Lin had still insisted on doing my hair in some sort of updo with curls hanging down.At least I knew she wasn’t dying.And Charisse had done my bulletproof makeup again.I had the best friends.My dress fell perfectly along my curves, high on the chest but low on the shoulders, and the silver fabric glistened in the dimness.I felt more princess than warrior tonight.Would I be just as attracted to him IRL as I was to the person he seemed to be in-game and online?I hoped so.I didn’t want to be shallow.

The moonlight reflected off a shiny white walking boot, finally giving Ni away.Apparently, he had upgraded from the red cast.He stood under the hulking shadow of a tree.It almost encompassed him like a squid squirting its ink to wrap its tentacles around unsuspecting prey.My imagination was running wild.A single crutch glinted, lying on the ground.And he was alone.The path was empty of wingmen and possible dates.The music softly thundered through the back wall of the gym—the bass thumping throughout my body—giving the illusion that safety was nearby.If this were a game, I’d say it was a trap.Some trick of the boss to distract me from my quest.

“Can you help me?I, uh, well...”He gestured to the crutch lying out of reach.Apparently, he was down to just one crutch with the boot.