Light flurries are dancing all around us outside. It just started snowing about half an hour ago, but it’s said to be minor. One thing about attending a boarding school is that there are no snow days. Unless there’s such a huge snowstorm that we can’t get the door to the dorm buildings open. But that has yet to happen.
We enter the rec room and hang our coats on the rack near the door. My hair must be so messed up from my hat, and I try my best to pat it down in place. I know it’s useless, though.
It doesn’t look like Richie and his partner have arrived yet. Kylen and I bounce onto the sofa with our controllers and load another game in the meantime. It would feel like cheating if wewere to squeeze in a game before the competition. Richie might be totally okay with cheating, but we are definitely not.
“Oh by the way!” he says, looking giddy. “We finished editing the song last night and uploaded it.”
“Really? How is it doing?”
“Last I checked, we’re at two thousand views and only a handful of comments. But let’s see how it’s doing now.”
He reaches into his pocket and produces his phone. We both bend our heads together to peer at the screen. I get a whiff of his awesome smell, and I once again feel the heat radiating off his body. If he and I were to turn our heads toward each other, our lips would be really close to one another…
“Not many more views,” he says, disappointment etched into every part of his face. “But the comments are really positive so far! They really love the song and the music. Are you sure you don’t want your name listed in the description? Maybe you changed your mind.”
I twist my nose. “Thanks, but no.”
He nods in understanding as we scan the comments. He’s right—they’re saying wonderful things so far. Some comments just call the boys hot, but most of them focus on the music.
Once we’re done reading over the comments, we watch the video. I didn’t have a chance to watch the edited version yet. Kylen looks so cool and charismatic as he strums the guitar and sings. And his vocals are out of this world. Of course the rest of the guys sound really great, too, but there’s just something about him…
“Well, here’s hoping we can make it to five thousand,” Kylen says with a chuckle as he tucks his phone back into his black pants. “And then ten thousand, and then fifty, and then a hundred, and then boom. Viral.”
I laugh. “Why not? Anything is possible.”
He smiles as he shakes his head. “It’s okay if we don’t. All that matters is that there are people out there who like us, and we’re happy to bring them joy.”
I return the smile as I lean back on the couch and focus on the game. That was really sweet.
Since Richie and his partner are taking their jolly good time getting their butts here, Kylen and I spend the time in a co-op game. It’s the kind of game where you’re thrown into a new world and have to build a house and a farm, and there is a whole island to explore. I can’t describe how much fun it is to work together to build amazing things.
“Oh my gosh,” I gasp as I quickly press a button. “Did you leave the pen unlocked? The cow just ran out!”
“Shoot,” he mutters as he presses down on his bottom lip and directs his character to chase after the crow while I shut the gate so the rest of the animals won’t run out. “Oh no. She’s headed to the pond. You think she’ll fall in?”
“Considering the game is for all ages, I highly doubt they’ll let the cow drown.”
His guy catches up to the cow and snatches her into his arms. It’s kind of funny to see the little dude carry the huge cow in the air as he makes his way back to the farm. In real life, he would be a pancake. I find myself giggling at that.
“What?” he asks as he continues pressing the buttons. “What’s so funny?”
“I’m picturing you carrying a cow in real life. Imagine you holding an animal that weighs hundreds of pounds! You’d be flattened like a pancake.”
He chuckles, too. “I guess my farming skills are just as bad as my British accent.”
“Seriously, dude. You should win an award.”
The door flings open and Richie marches in, followed by a group of students. Are they here to watch the match?
“We have a challenger!” he announces with his chest puffed out.
Kylen and I roll our eyes at one another.
Richie’s eyes settle on the TV screen and this loud chortle escapes his lips. “Wait a second. You guys are our competition? The people playing afarm sim?” He slaps the guy next to him, Derek, in the chest. “Oh, we’ve got this in the bag.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Don’t you know not to belittle someone else’s interest or hobby? There’s nothing wrong with a farming simulation game.”
“Might teach you some humility if you actually had the responsibility of taking care of farm animals,” Kylen adds.
