Getting ready for game night.

Chapter 2 – So it’s real, now what? (continued)

Jason spent the better part of an hour getting his homework done, bit by bit, page by page, and was just about finished with everything he’d been given for the weekend, when his phone chimed again to inform him of a new text message.

:Kyle: Let’s everyone confirm attendance this evening, so we know how much snacks to bring.

It was quickly followed by another.

:Gabe: I’m good to go. I’m bringing the chips and dip, as usual.

:Chloe: Please bring something other than flaming hot chips?

:Gabe: You’re the only one who doesn’t like them.

They were messages from his gaming group scheduled for that evening. And another came through before he could reply to the existing messages.

:Manny: I’m with Chloe on this one.

And then, a second came as he was typing.

:Gabe: You’re always on Chloe’s side.

Jason chuckled.

:Jason: Gabe is right.

:Kyle: Just bring a variety, no one’s saying you can’t bring the hot chips, just bring other stuff too.

:Kyle: Manny, you bringing the sodas?

:Manny: Can’t this week. Jason was going to.

:Kyle: Jason, same question?

:V: Gabe is correct.

:Manny: You too, V?

Jason smiled.

:Jason: Yeah, I’ll bring the sodas.

He started on the process of putting on his shoes so he could swing by the store, while leaving his phone open in front of him to read any new messages coming in.

:Kyle: Vic, you good for tonight?

:V: I might be late. Flight got delayed. Also won’t have time to pick up any food. I can have some delivered.

:Manny: What’s Chloe bringing? I liked those cookies you brought last month.

:Chloe: I’ve got jerky smoking, and brownies in the oven.

:Manny: You smoke your own jerky?

:Chloe: Lynn does, she said I could bring some.

:V: Anyone object to Thai food?

No one objected. So after a couple minutes Victor added.

:V: I’ll put in an order for Thai food then. See you as soon as I can get there.

It looked like everything was on track for game night. They were supposed to meet around 6 pm, so he had plenty of time to get to the store, buy some 2-liters of soda, and get back home to finish his homework.

He spotted Kate coming out the door to their apartment right as he made it home. She was wearing baggy sweat pants and a hoodie, and had a gym bag over her shoulder.

“Oh hey, Kate!” He called as he approached. “You did say you were going to the gym between errands and the ice skating rink.” He recalled aloud.

“Yeah, I go every Saturday, and most Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays if I can fit it in.”

Jason wasn’t really that worn out, and he figured he could spare some time to bond with his sister’s best friend a little, so he set his groceries just inside the doorway to the apartment, and turned to follow Kate to her car.

“I’ve been thinking about what you said this morning.” He began once he’d caught up to her. “And I thought, maybe I should make an effort to get back into shape. Would it bother you if I accompanied you to the gym sometime? Probably not today, but starting sometime next week?”

She glanced at him, surprised, but then quickly averted her gaze, and he thought for a moment he could detect a blush behind the freckles on her cheeks. “No, it… it wouldn’t bother me.” She replied.

“You sure?” She seemed uncertain, so he wanted to confirm she wasn’t just saying it to be nice.

She nodded, “I mean, it’ll be an adjustment, but I haven’t had a gym buddy in a few months. Not since Breanne started standing me up.”

“Well, I promise…” Jason paused before making a promise he might not be able to keep. “I promise I’ll do my best to be reliable, and I’ll try to give you notice if I feel like I’m not going to be able to do it. My schedule is a bit busy, so I can’t promise more than that, but I can tell you I’m serious about this, and will really try to make it work.”

At that, Kate smiled at him, the pink behind her freckles looking warm now, rather than awkward. “I think I’d like that. Here’s hoping it works.”

“Here’s hoping.” He smiled back. By that point they were at her car and she’d already deposited her duffle in the back seat.

“Well, have a good time.” Jason said, feeling the awkwardness return. “Maybe later we can go over the details of your gym schedule, and I’ll try to make sure I have clothes and stuff to be ready to join you next week.”

“Yeah, okay. You have a good time too.” She replied, then got into the driver’s seat of her beat up Nissan, and drove off.

Jason walked back to the apartment, and unloaded his groceries, making sure there was room for the sodas in the fridge for the next couple hours. Then he opened his phone and texted out to his gaming group.

:Jason: I’ve got RB, diet coke, and Dew. Hope that’s enough for everyone.

:Gabe: No DP?

Jason resisted the urge to groan. Gabe always complained about the lack of Dr. Pepper, but the few times they’d brought some, he didn’t even drink any. So Jason didn’t bother replying.

He didn’t have any new messages on Skype, so after making himself a quick sandwich, he sat back down at his computer to finish off the weekend’s homework. Then maybe get a start on his next long-term project.

An hour passed before he decided he couldn’t sit at his desk any longer, and stood up to stretch and check his phone again.

Gabriel Davis

Relationship: Gaming Buddy, Former Track Buddy

Prominent Attitudes (out of 100): Friendship 24, Nostalgia 12, Trust 11, Loyalty 9, Admiration 6

Nothing super surprising in Gabe’s profile.

Katherine O’Connell

Relationship: Best Friend’s Brother, Roommate

Prominent Attitudes (out of 100): Loyalty 53, Affection 33, Friendship 28, Trust 20, Nostalgia 18, Protectiveness 18, Worry 9, Admiration 0, Lust -7 (-1)

Special Traits: Childhood Crush

Temporary Traits: Cautiously Hopeful

He’d thought Kate might be attracted to the idea of him getting back in shape, but maybe that would have to wait until he was actually going to the gym with her. As it was, it seemed his interaction with her had soured her a little more on him, physically.

Victor Preston

Relationship: Gaming Buddy

Prominent Attitudes (out of 100): Friendship 16, Admiration 6, Lust 0

And yet another instance of him gaining information about someone he wasn’t totally sure he’d wanted to know. While his current lust was 0, it was the first time he’d found a male profile that had a lust score at all. He wouldn’t have guessed that of V. Victor, or V as most of them knew him, was someone who had become part of Jason’s friend group his junior year of high school, and even then he was a bit of a prodigy. He always wore nice suits, and took business trips around the country a few times a month, but still was pretty loyal to their humble gaming group. Jason frequently wondered just how successful V was, but it seemed to be an unspoken rule that they never talked about finances.

Chloe Yazzie

Relationship: Best Friend, Gaming Buddy

Prominent Attitudes (out of 100): Loyalty 85, Friendship 68, Affection 64, Trust 42, Playfulness 41, Protectiveness 39, Love 14

Special Traits: Partner in Crime

Seeing Chloe’s attitudes, especially her loyalty, made Jason smile, and the love score, even though low, warmed his heart. She was his oldest friend outside of his immediate family, having met even before they’d started school and been thick as thieves ever since. He had to check the meaning behind her special trait: “This person relies on you to get into and out of trouble, and will generally support you no matter what trouble you get into. Getting into trouble with you generally leads to feelings of excitement and fun for this person.”

He hadn’t spent a lot of time thinking about Chloe recently, and unfortunately hadn’t been hanging out with her nearly as much since they’d graduated high school. But with her profile in front of him, he determined that was something he wanted to change, but before he could make plans, he wanted to check a few more names in the app.

Manfred Carson

Relationship: Gaming Buddy, Rival

Prominent Attitudes (out of 100): Friendship 19, Jealousy 4

He wondered what Manny had to be jealous of him for.

Kyle West

Relationship: Gaming Buddy

Prominent Attitudes (out of 100): Friendship 43, Trust 31, Loyalty 30, Playfulness 18, Protectiveness 12, Affection 10, Love 5

Special Traits: Childhood Best Friend

Temporary Traits: Social Authority

No new surprises there, though there was another temporary trait he decided to check. “This person is taking the lead in a social situation where they have been given authority by the other members of the social group.” So it was because Kyle was their dungeon master for the upcoming game. That made sense.

After scanning through the profiles, Jason went back to look at Chloe’s again. After taking a moment to consider his words, he typed out a private text message to her.

:Jason: I know things have been busy lately, but I’ve missed hanging out with you. Do you want to get together at some point, without the rest of the crew?

She didn’t respond right away, and Jason set his phone down while he browsed the internet, fairly certain he wasn’t going to get anything more productive done at this point.

:Chloe: Like a date?

Jason frowned.

:Jason: Not a date…

But he didn’t hit send. Did he want it to be a date? He couldn’t ever remember thinking of Chloe romantically… But, he cared about her more than almost anyone else he knew aside from Alex. Would dating her be a bad idea?

He deleted his unsent text and started over, but it still took him long enough trying to decide what to write that Chloe must have gotten worried.

:Chloe: I was just joking. Sorry if I made things weird.

That gave him the impetus he needed.

:Jason: It’s fine, it’s not weird, just made me think. I’m okay calling it anything you’re comfortable with, a date, a casual date, or whatever. I have some things I’d like to discuss with you. A lot has been going on with me lately, and I feel like I need your advice. So maybe it’s best if we keep it casual, for now?

Chloe took her time reading his response, then even longer coming up with an answer for him.

:Chloe: I don’t want things to get weird between us. I’m okay with a casual date. But I have to ask, is everything all right with you and Steph?

:Jason: Too late, it’s already weird.

Jason wanted to break the tension, but still felt a bit nervous with his answer, so he quickly added more.

:Jason: But weird is okay, especially if it’s you. You’re still my best friend.

:Chloe: Best Friends Forever?!

Jason grinned.

:Jason: *nods, nods* Forever and ever!

:Chloe: So about you and Steph???

This time Jason sighed. She wasn’t going to let him avoid that topic, but he wasn’t sure how to explain the issue in a text message. No, it was too complicated for that. Chloe was the only person he’d talked to about his doubts when it came to Stephani, and that was before the app.

:Jason: That’s one of the things I want to talk to you about. But it’s super complicated.

Another delay. Chloe was either thinking, or had something else taking up her attention.

:Chloe: So, dinner and a movie tomorrow night?

Jason chuckled, and felt immediately at ease. This was Chloe. He didn’t have anything to worry about with her. Their friendship had survived worse than a potentially awkward date, and he was sure even if it wasn’t amazing, it would survive this.

:Jason: Dunno for sure if I’ll have time for dinner AND a movie, but we can start with dinner, and see where things go from there?

:Chloe: It’s a date! :D

:Chloe: But don’t think you can get out of treating me. If we go on a date you better MAKE time, Mister. ;) XP

He chuckled to himself. He knew Chloe was only half serious. But he would still do his best to give her the attention she deserved. He then checked her profile one last time.

Chloe Yazzie

Relationship: Best Friend, Gaming Buddy

Prominent Attitudes (out of 100): Loyalty 85, Friendship 68, Affection 64, Trust 42, Playfulness 42 (+1), Protectiveness 39, Love 14

Special Traits: Partner in Crime

For some reason, he didn’t feel even a little disappointed that he’d only gained a single point to one of her values.

He stretched again, and looked at the clock on his phone. He only had a little bit of time left to kill before he would have to start getting ready for his game. Then he turned as he heard a key in the lock.

Alex came in and set her keys down next to the door. “Hey, Bear. You feeling any better?”

Jason nodded, “Yes, actually.”

“That’s good. I’m going to hop in the shower, unless you need it?”

“No, I’ve got time yet. You go ahead.”

She disappeared into their bedroom to gather some clothes and then went straight into the shower.

It was only a few minutes later that Kate came in, her hair still damp from gym. She asked what he was up to, and he replied that he was finished with his homework for the day, and was waiting for the shower.

“Good to see you keeping on top of it.” She offered. “Anyways, I gotta get changed. Don’t want to be late.”

Jason nodded, and got up to wander into the kitchen, not sure what to do with himself and his restless energy.

At some point Alex emerged from the bathroom dressed in her pajamas. She sat down at her laptop and presumably got started on her own homework. Then Kate emerged in her skating gear with her ice skates draped by the laces around her neck, and waved goodbye to the two siblings on her way out the door.

Jason went into the bedroom and briefly got his phone out to check Alex’s profile.

Alexandra Kelly

Relationship: Brother

Prominent Attitudes (out of 100): Affection 90, Friendship 71, Love 70, Playfulness 68, Loyalty 59, Protectiveness 48, Admiration 37, Trust 35, Worry 30 (-1), Submissiveness 10, Lust 4 (+1)

Special Traits: Fantasy Crush, Taboo Kink

Temporary Traits: Lightly Edged

He was glad to see his sister’s worry had lessened, even if only a little, but what the hell was ‘lightly edged’? “This person recently took brief action to increase their arousal, possibly thinking about you, but didn’t spend enough time to achieve a climax.” Alex, seriously?! Jason wanted to groan. He could feel his body responding to this mostly unwanted information despite himself. He couldn’t stop himself from picturing his sister touching herself in the shower, even knowing she didn’t have time to do much more than tease.

He had to wonder if this app was even ultimately beneficial, it seemed it had done little but cause him problems. But then, even if it was unpleasant, he couldn’t say he wished he hadn’t learned about the possibility of Stephani not being Stephani. If it was true, he couldn’t blame the app. No, that part was not a curse, even if it was hard to hear. He just needed to figure out if the app could be reliable or not. If what it was telling him was true. Unfortunately, by the time he’d finished his shower, and had everything ready to leave, he still hadn’t thought of a way he could find out if his sister really had teased herself. So that, at least, would have to remain a mystery.

“I’m heading out now!” He called as he had his gaming books in one arm, the bag with the sodas hooked over his elbow, and had his car keys in his free hand with which he was also opening the front door.

“You have fun, now, ya hear?!” Alex called to him, not turning from her laptop.

“That’s the plan.” He called back, then closed the door behind him, and made his way to his car, managing not to drop anything, not even his dice bag balanced atop the tower of books.