Bobbie saying those words to me should have been the green light for a divorce. However, he was all I had. My parents left me nothing after their passing. If I left him, yes, I would have money to carry me for a while, but once that ran out, I would have nothing. Then I thought about the Prestige and the main reason why Braylen could not have a seat at the table. If he was in, then I was out, and I knew once that happened, Bobbie and I were through.
I picked up the napkin and dabbed at my eyes so I wouldn’t ruin my makeup. When my eyes landed on a picture-perfect family, I didn’t know whether I was envious or angry. The wide, pretty smile she gave said everything in her life was great. To know you found your forever person, one with the presence of a king, was something I wanted, and Bobbie wasn’t that. I watched as he nuzzled his face in the baby's neck while she reached downto cater to the baby in the stroller. The way her wedding ring reflected off the Christmas lights was mesmerizing. Seeing him out with his family was much different from seeing him in his monstrous element.
Clark and Naheem’s focus was destroying him. My focus was on figuring out how to make up for the years I destroyed the one person I needed on my side, and away from June Calloway, which was Braylen.
PAIGE
I let the hot water stream down the back of my neck as I washed away today’s problems. Pierre had come through when I needed him most. Not only did he handle Tyrek, but he also got me a new car. I smiled because the little piece of hope I held onto had come through. I knew this was a sign that a new level in my life had begun, and how I approached it would determine everything in the future. I finished up, got out, oiled up, and threw on an oversized shirt.
I walked past my computer multiple times before sitting down. The podcast conversation popped into my head.
“Ugh!” I sighed.
It was becoming harder to focus. I was trying to convince myself that I was truly done until I thought of the person from the Orange app. I checked my phone to see if he had sent me a message on the app, but I had gotten nothing since dropping him my tag. When I loaded the game, I saw that Morgan had accepted my request and that I had a new one. When I saw his name and that he was online, I smiled.
Before I could get fully into the game, Morgan sent me a message: ‘I’m sad. Let’s play, yes?’
I wanted to say no and request a session with my new online friend, but instead, I decided to join her because I understood. I slid my headphones on to prepare myself. When I saw him request me, I wanted to exit with her and run to him.
“Paige!” I heard my name being called on the headset, bringing me out of my thoughts.
I flicked my mic down. “On here, you don’t call me that. Damn, how new are you to this game?” I asked Morgan, who seemed excited about my friend request.
I could hear her laughing, and it made my face scrunch with annoyance. “Um, I’ve been playing since the summer.”
“Explains it,” I mumbled. “Meet me by the oak tree, Dance Slayer,” I told her as my fingers moved.
My character began hopping, running, and jumping through the forest to meet up with her. When I saw a request from Tyrek pop up, I became annoyed. “Leave me the fuck alone,” I mumbled.
I continued to control Pyran as I rushed through the forest trying to get to Morgan. Her screams let me know she was in trouble. “Ok, what’s going on? I’m almost over there.”
“Shit, I don’t know, I think this is some goblin that keeps popping up and almost killed me. Reminds me of my ex, a nigga that can’t let go.” She laughed.
The way Morgan looked and talked was utterly different. She sounded like she hung with the best of them but looked like she was a debutante princess. I had finally reached her in the game. “Found you. Oh shit, you chose Princess Shira. Ugh. Okay, we’ve got to get you back to Stone Castle. You can follow me.”
“Girl, I’m never going back!” she screamed. “So, what, you go to TSU?” she asked.
“Yes, I do,” I replied dryly.
I could hear her fingers moving the controller. “That’s cool. One of my best friends goes there, and my ex. Do you know Alyse Maverick?”
I froze. “Yes, I do. Now it all makes sense. But what doesn’t make sense is you playing the game.”
I was now curious. “Once I realized how realistic the game was, I became interested.”
“Ok, Dance Slayer, keep a lookout. I think this is where the wolves are going to try to capture you.”
Morgan and I were whooping ass.
“You kind of look like a live version of Pyran,” she blurted out.
“Hmph,” I sighed.
It was funny she said that because I’ve always thought Pyran resembled me. There was a lot about the game that connected me with it.
“So, tell me, is the Dungeon Master real? I saw something that says he pops up in the game. Is that a Myth?” She came with another question.
I heard things about the Dungeon Master, but I didn’t believe any of it. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen him in the game. Besides, the Dungeon Master develops the game; I’m sure he doesn’t have time to play.”
