Two days later, while you're at D&D.

You keep checking your phone, expecting a text from your mother letting you know how her appointment is going and that she's still alive. You're with Edgar and Molly, at the comic shop that is your usual D&D spot. Finally, your phone beeps and you quickly tap the text icon. It's your mom, she writes 'Its going alright. We mstly tlkd about wut Im alrdy doing. 2day sposed 2 b yoga day so he had me do my nrml routine 2 see where Im at.'

'He try anything weird??? How do I know this you?!' you reply, only sort of joking.

'Lol :P <3'

Ok I'm pretty sure that's her, you think. She's fond of the old text emojis and this eliminating random vowels style checks out.

'Dont wrry Im prtty sur evrythng is fine. He was very professional n knows his stuff. Prbly wont b booking a 2nd appt bc awkward! XD But it looks like he's on the up and up. The space is small but mstly adequate, theres a gym nrby if he needs the bigger machines. It all checks out.'

"Earth to Quinn? You gonna keep staring at that magical tablet or you gonna stab this storm giant in the face?" You look up with a start at Edgar, the current DM. You usually trade this loathsome duty off between the three of you. Sometimes comic shop randos round out the numbers but today it's just your rogue and Molly's necromancer against Edgar's incursion of storm giants.

"Sorry," you say but your eyes return to the screen when your phone beeps once more.

'Were strting meditation usually skip this prt but he says its imprtnt 4 the stress reduction. Shuld b by 2 pick u up n half hourish.'

'Kk' you reply, and put your phone away.

"How's it going?" Molly asks as you get back to the game. "Is your mom alright?"

"We're not gonna finish this fight are we?"

"Calm down Edgar!" she snaps at him. "This Chris coming back shit is big. I'll nuke the friggin storm giant in a second."

"She said it's going fine. They're almost done." You say, still tense.

"Is she like... gonna keep going to these?" Edgar asks stupidly.

"No!" you say with a squint. "She just wanted to make sure he wasn't lying about stuff. See if he was just fucking with us."

"That's sensible I guess" Molly interjects. "Good to know one way or the other."

"Whatever, let's kill this big bastard and wrap it up." With that you return to the fight. Your rogue lands a nice crit after Molly's necromancer stuns the giant and he topples over with an earth shaking thud. Because Edgar is a dick as DM sometimes, he crushes some of your followers and Molly rolls her eyes as she raises them from the dead. You collect some loot and XP and take note of your progress before packing everything up. Edgar gives you a fist bump and some encouraging words before heading out to his car. Molly decides to wait with you.

"I hope your not too freaked out over this." She says, worried about you.

"It's weird." you say flatly. "Hopefully after this little reconnaissance mission I'll never have to hear about him again."

"Yeah, he was such a piece of shit." A short silence descends as you look at Molly. Her big green eyes stare back at you. You could look at those mesmerizing orbs for hours. Growing up, you'd always had feelings for Molly. Your mom used to tease you when you were really young calling her your 'little girlfriend.' You're glad you two are so close but you wish she'd see you the way you see her. "What? Do I have something on my face?" she finally says, breaking the moment.

"Sorry!" you say as you look away flustered. "Got lost in it for a second. Just a little stressed out." She takes your hand which makes your heart race.

"It's alright." She's smiling as you look back at her. Your phone beeps again, ruining the mood you'd hoped was developing.

'Here'

"When are you gonna get a car, y'all are loaded aren't you?" Molly asks with a chuckle.

"Just never felt like I needed one, probably get one soon for college." Molly wraps you up in a hug as you throw your bag over your shoulder. You feel her breasts pressing against you. The material of her top is smooth to the touch and your pinky meets the soft skin where it ends at her lower back. You inhale the scent of her hair for a rapturous moment.

"Y'all better hurry up with your bullshit community college and join me next year or I'm gonna be mad." she says into your shoulder, tightening her embrace slightly.

"We will, see yah later" you say, hesitantly pulling away from her. Your face is flushed as you turn to leave. Exiting the shop, you see your mother parked nearby and head over before she honks at you. You throw your stuff in the back and hop in the front passenger seat. Almost immediately you begin your questioning.