Page 13 of Fake Game

“This is why I hate this game.”

Parker kind of sucks atGods Leagueand avoids it when he can. He might be one of the best speedrunners to exist, but it doesn’t matter how many years we’ve played, there is just something in his brain that won’t let him get better atLeague. He’s still ranked Silver class while Lee, Aleks, and I are all Ruby. Ryder and Wylder have God Master ranks, but as pros it would be embarrassing if they were anything less.

“How’re we doing?” I finally chime in.

“Shield, welcome to the party, my man,” Ryder drawls, addressing me by my gamertag.

“Parker’s dragging us all down, per usual,” Aleks grunts.

“I didn’t ask to play, you all made me,” Parker whines.

“No, we said we were playing, and then you got upset when we wouldn’t join you inFrozeLineand complained you were lonely,” Lee corrects.

“Yeah. Technically, you invited yourself,” Wylder laughs.

“Whatever, I’m quitting. Jackson can take my place.”

“Thank God.”

I click to join their game lobby and then decide on which character to use for support. I don’t mind the role; it just isn’t my favorite. As support, my main job is to assist the lane player—Ryder in this case—until they amass enough experience and gold.

We start the game, and Ryder and I head down to the bottom lane of the map to begin working our way through the minions.Minutes pass as Ryder continues to farm for gold while I tap in for support and grow my XP.

A notification pops up on my second monitor, and my gaze darts to it.

I abandon my gameplay, quickly moving my mouse to click on the notification before it disappears.

Deer’s profile loads, a little green dot appearing on the corner of her picture. But just as soon as it is there, it flicks away, turning gray again.

“Shield, the fuck are you doing?” Ryder bites.

I whip my attention back to my main screen just in time to see an enemy player blast him with a spell.

“Shit.” I quickly throw a healing cast. “My b.”

“You guys good down there?” Aleks checks in.

“Someone got distracted,” Ryder grumbles before raining bullets down on the enemy and killing the fellow God champion. “We’re fine now.”

“Nice kill,” Lee congratulates.

“Distracted? The great Shield?” Wylder taunts.

“Fuck off.” I try to laser focus my attention onto the screen, my eyes darting between incoming enemies while keeping an eye on Ryder. We keep advancing down our lane to the tower we need to take down. Even with all the action, I can’t stop that little niggle in the back of my brain that has me wanting to check on her status again.

She acts like the princess who doesn’t need a knight to keep her safe, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to stand guard.

My attention continues to wane until I finally bite the bullet.

“How’s Deer doing?”

My question breeds silence for a second before Lee chimes in. “Oh, are you asking me?”

“Yeah.”

There’s a loud sigh from her. “She texts me a pic every day as proof of life, but…I don’t know.”

“I’ve tried checking in, but she just sends me those little sparkly pink heart emojis,” Aleks adds.

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