Drive Pearl home yourself

But in the end you acquiesce. It'd be too complicated explaining to your dad why Pearl's staying the night. She doesn't even have a bag packed. "I'll give you a ride," you say, unlocking the passenger side door. "Hop in."

While you circle around to the driver's side, Pearl begrudgingly climbs in with you - not that she has a choice in the matter.

Pearl remains in a bad mood all the way to her house. She doesn't even talk to you till you’re pulling up and parking outside of her place.

"All right, we're here. Thanks for the ride," says Pearl, not sounding thankful at all. "Can I go now?"

Taking stock of your longtime friend, you start feeling things you've never felt before. You still haven't forgotten the sight of her taking off her hoodie and how well she filled out the shirt beneath it. Pearl's much curvier than she used to be. Is that a recent development? Or have you simply never taken the time to notice?

Before you would have warded away such thoughts. Pearl's your friend, you’ve shared the sacred bonds of video games and memes together for years. You’d never risk jeopardizing that friendship with an attraction that might go nowhere, or explode in your face. Yet, after fixing Sullivan and Indigo's relationship, you've had a taste of the true power you wield, and the possibilities begin unfolding in your mind.

"Sure, you can go," you say, getting out of your truck along with your friend. "Let's go up to your room."

What would be the harm in experimenting a little more on Pearl? You gave her hoodie back, and Pearl let it slide. Couldn’t you undo any harm you blundered your way into the same way? The infinite potential behind the promise of the black ownership card is too intriguing to turn down.

Pearl's confused as you accompany her up to her front door. "You're coming with me?" she asks, getting her keys out from her pocket.

"It's not that late. It's barely eleven," you say, pointing at the moon as if its presence proves your point. "I figured we could hang out."

"Are you kidding me?" She folds her arms stubbornly and bars you entry to her house. "I'm not hanging out with you until you give me all my crap back. And not some bullshit 'oh yeah you can still use it but it's mine' flex, either.” Pearl imitates your voice way too deep, slow, and dumb for your liking.

“That’s a totally inaccurate impression,” you defend yourself.

Every inch of Pearl oozes with scorn as she delivers her ultimatum. “I want to own where I go, I want to own my sassy attitude, and I want to own my fucking hoodie. Now. Or you can go hang out with Yutong tomorrow. Hope you like JRPGs.”

Crap. You hate JRPGs. Pearl’s threat is serious.