Page 54 of Dared

I didn’t know how much time had passed, but eventually, I crawled from my bed, feeling like crying all over again when Icurled up in the gaming chair Finn had bought me. I jammed my headphones over my stupid overgrown hair and loadedLesath Legends. It was my one guaranteed escape from the world, and I needed it right now.

The in-game message alert was blinking at me. I thought about ignoring it, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to focus on the game while I was wondering what was waiting for me. Steeling myself, I clicked on the message.

HAMMERHEAD:

I unlocked the abyss campaign. Want to play?

Oh, Finn. Hammerhead’s icon showed he was online, and so I replied. There was only one answer I could give him because I didn’t want to hurt him any more than I already had.

VIKING:

Ok

HAMMERHEAD:

We got this Viking. Ready up

VIKING:

Ready

Even though my headset was on mute, I could feel Finn there through the screen. He was too good to me, and I didn’t deserve his understanding. Even after those things I’d said, he was still here, not making any demands of me, just letting me be and giving me what he somehow instinctively knew I needed.

We played for hours, communicating only through the in-game text chat, doing one campaign after the other. When the rumbling of my stomach became too loud to ignore, I typed out a single message with shaking hands, trying to brace myself for potential rejection.

VIKING:

Want to get some food?

He replied immediately.

HAMMERHEAD:

Yeah. Now?

VIKING:

Yes. I can come to you

HAMMERHEAD:

Unlock your door

His icon instantly greyed out, showing he was offline, and so I logged out, removing my headphones, and unlocked my door.

When I opened it, I stopped dead.

Finn was standing outside.

We stared at one another for a moment, both frozen in place, and then he sighed.

“Come here.” He held out his arms, and when I remained where I was, he stepped forwards, wrapping his arms around me. I buried my face in the crook of his neck, breathing in the spiced apple scent of his shampoo. Stroking up and down my back, he remained silent, allowing me time to process what was happening.

“H-how are you here?” I mumbled into his throat.

“I never left. I persuaded Connor to let me use his laptop to play.”

“I…I’m sorry. So sorry. I didn’t mean what I said. Or…I guess I meant it, but I didn’t mean to shout at you all.”

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