Page 5 of Love in Development

I nodded and finally opened the rear door, sliding in.The car smelled of oranges, but there was no air freshener hanging from the windshield.I couldn’t tell that the car was running.It was so quiet, and the movement forward was smooth.The only thing that gave it away was the passing scenery.This was luxury.Lin was a walking contradiction.

“We’re going to DragonByte.My parents own the strip mall, so I’m friendly with the owner.It’s not far from school.”

Wow.The car was one thing, though it had been a pretty big tip-off Lin’s family was well off.But her parents owned a whole strip mall?Maybe it was a small, ratty thing.And if she really was a rich kid, why didn’t she have more friends?I’d expect people to line up to impress her.Also, why was she helping me?

“We go there to play popular online games.It’s close to school, so you’ll recognize some of the customers.Stephanie doesn’t go there.At least I’ve never seen her there.So, you don’t have to worry about dealing with the likes of her.Lin loves to come here even though Maddox doesn’t come here, ever.Lin always pays for me, and she’ll probably pay for you, too.I tell her that I can do it myself, but she says that it is either bribing me to spend time with her, or she’ll have to buy me a gaming computer and drop it off at my house.So, I just let her pay the fee when we go to DragonByte.”She shrugged.“It’s easier to just let her pay.And more fun to play together.”

Aw.Lin was a grumpy old ogre with a soft and squishy middle.

The entire shopping center was painted red.It looked just as new as the car we were in.The signs were distinct different colors, and many of them had what I assumed were Chinese words on them.There were dragons all over the place: 2-D, 3-D, partially hidden like aWhere’s Waldo.

The rooftops curved upward at the corners, pagoda-style—straight out of an RPG village map.

By itself, at the street corner, was a separate building in the same style.A Chinese restaurant.Did they serve traditional Chinese food, or was it American-style?Either would be good.My stomach grumbled.

Lin parked, and we entered one of the shops.Once inside, it was a gamer’s paradise.There were some tables and chairs in the middle, if your poison of choice included cards, boards, or figurines.But most of the room and the upper loft were row after row of computers and comfy gaming chairs, all red and black.I noticed a theme.I almost strained a muscle in my neck, gawking as Lin pulled my arm once again.

“Buzz, Molly here is looking for a job.”Lin dropped my arm.

The older Chinese man raised a thick eyebrow.

I could feel his assessment, but it wasn’t as positive as Lin or Charisse had led me to believe.He didn’t think I was a good fit.I was used to that look.

But DragonByte: A Gamer’s Haven was perfect.It was close to home and school.The setup was amazing and clean.And it had an energy.

They had an open kitchen in the back that served the basics.A menu on the wall included sandwiches, fries, chicken, and pizzas.It had a clear-doored fridge with cans of soda pop and racks of individual chips and candies on the counter.The place was well-stocked with gamer food and energy drinks.

Buzz showed me upstairs, clomping as if being inconvenienced, while my friends sent me encouraging looks and went to sign in at the front desk, where a little golden waving kitty presided.

He installed me at computer number 12.It felt ominous, but I refused to acknowledge that the coincidence reminded me of a quarterback I’d technically never met.

“Show me,” I’m pretty sure Buzz said.His accent was too thick to be certain.

I logged into my game of choice as ScarlettSaber and pulled up my fighter.I glanced at the time in the right corner of the screen.The headphones slid on, easily transporting me into COTSA.With less than an hour available, I wouldn’t have time to look for a group, so I found some mobs and fought for experience.The XP wasn’t much.

Then a random boss appeared.

My hand flew across the keyboard with impeccable timing andwrektthat boss in no time.I jumped at the loud cheers interrupting me as I collected the loot and a decent chunk of XP to go with it.The group of regulars checking out the new girl was disconcerting, but at least they’d been watching the screen and not me.And I’d at least proved I wasn’t a totaln00b.I rubbed my collarbone, glad I hadn’t known they were there.

Buzz nodded like a bobblehead, which I took as a hopeful sign, though his face looked just as blank and unimpressed as when Lin had dragged me in front of him.I slipped the headphones back off, hanging them on the side of the computer while Buzz showed me the process of logging off and checking out.Maybe he hoped I would come back as a customer.

“I think ‘bout it,” he said.

I didn’t know if that meant my gaming skills were helpful in getting the job or not.Concerned about how long I’d been immersed in COTSA, I checked the time again.The dark gray rubber and clear plastic window of my watch had seen better days, but it kept on ticking.As long as it could keep going, so could I, job or no job.“Lin, we gotta go back to school so I can ride home!”

“Ride?”Lin raised an eyebrow.

I hoped the motorcycle-looking chick didn’t thinkIhad one.“My bicycle’s still locked up at school.”

She waved that away.“I’ll just pick you up tomorrow.”

A loud commotion sounded at the door just as we needed to get through, and Lin pulled me to the side.We had to wait for a sizable group to make it inside.

I wiggled as if doing a potty dance.I wanted to get home before my mom, and precious minutes were slipping through my fingers like health potions disappearing too quickly against a boss.

“Seriously.Why did they all have to come now?”I slipped onto the white leather of Lin’s backseat and buckled myself all in one motion.

“The football team always comes right after practice.Ni-guy says it’s a way for them to unwind.He’s soooo smart,” Charisse cooed.