Me:Depends. What flavor of chaos are we talking?
Carter:Your favorite kind sweetheart
It’s stupid how fast he pulls me out of it. One message, one dumb joke, and suddenly I’m not drowning in my own head anymore. I laugh under my breath, reaching for my headset as my phone buzzes again. This time, it’s a voicemail from Cassie. I raise a brow and hit play.
“Hey, nerd. Just checking in. You said you weren’t gonna spiral and then immediately disappeared, so this is meassuming you’re buried under a pile of empty snack bags and self-doubt. Anyway, I know I’m probably your emotional support extrovert, but I also have a life. Sort of. Text me if you’re alive. Love you, mean it.”
I stare at the screen for a few seconds after the message ends. It’s stupid how much better I feel, hearing her voice. I don’t know what I’d do without her. Seriously. She just… knows. When to push, when to check in, when to leave me alone but still make sure I’m not completely disappearing into myself. It’s like she’s got a sixth sense for my bullshit.
I shoot her a quick “Still alive, love you.” and toss my phone on the bed. My fingers linger over my mouse, half-tempted to boot up early just so I have something to do besides sit here and feel everything. Instead, I open the tournament site again, just to look. The homepage loads fast. Sleek graphics, player brackets and live feed countdowns. It’s all right there, glowing on my screen. I’m actually doing this.
I don’t know what possessed me to say yes when that invite landed in my inbox. Maybe it was spite, or maybe it was ambition. I just needed to know I could do something big without having to explain it to anyone. Without needing permission, without Carter or Tate or even Cassie weighing in.
And okay, maybe it’s not the smartest move I’ve ever made. I’m newer to the competitive side, I don’t have the same rank history as half the other players on that list but I’m here now.
I want people to know me. Not just as a streamer, not just as some girl in a headset with fast reflexes and snarky commentary. But as a real fucking player.
I hover over the team list again, skimming past my handle and stopping briefly. His username doesn’t sting as much now. It still simmers,andmakes my spine feel gross, but it’s dulled by something now. Something that says ‘you don’t get to scare me anymore.’
I lean back in my chair, Let him watch. I’ll show anyone exactly what kind of player I am.
A soft ding pulls my gaze to the corner of the screen.Lobby invite received: NoOneGhost.
I smile. Typical Tate no message, just an invite. I click accept, slide on my headset, and settle in. Seconds within going live, chat is already frothing at the mouth.
[Chat Log:]
Morb3lla:GHOST IS IN HER PARTY???
Morb3lla:IS THIS A FEVER DREAM??
toxicpixie:no way no way no way
Smashlee_98:NOONEGHOST AND HAVEN PLAYING TOGETHER AGAIN WHAT THE F—
mod_goblin:hey! language.
My cheeks ache from smiling already. I adjust my headset and settle deeper into my chair. “Okay, okay—calm down,” I say, biting back a laugh. “Yes. That’s NoOneGhost. Yes, we’re actually playing together. No, I don’t have him chained in my basement. Although…”
Tate’s voice cuts in, deep and low over comms. “You wish.”
[Chat Log:]
sadlilshooter:he SPEAKS
snackattackirl:did I just hear GHOST flirt??
KMONEY:why is this the hottest collab ever
Ec_hoe3:girl you okay?? blink twice
I laugh so hard I nearly choke. “Carter, can you please be the voice of reason?”
Carter chuckles in my headset, his soft warmth energy that has chat swooning on cue. “You’re asking me to fix the chaos?”
“You’re the one who brought the chaos into my lobby!”
“Yeah, but I brought snacks too,” he says, and I swear I can feel him smiling through the mic.
