Page 35 of Dungeons and Drama

“You listen to oldies music?” I ask with a grin.

“Not exactly.”

I scoff. “Um, I’m pretty sure that was Michael Jackson you were just blasting through the speakers.”

“Oh, yeah?” He turns up the volume and backs out of the parking lot. The song begins to play again, and it’s “Beat It”by Michael Jackson…but it’s also not. I squint and listen to the lyrics. Is he sayingeatit? What kind of weird song is this?

Nathan laughs when he sees my confused expression. “It’s Weird Al Yankovic. He made parody songs back in the day. Lucas’s dad introduced us to his music when we were kids.”

“And you’re still listening to it now. Very cool.”

“I thought you’d already realized Iamthe coolest.”

“Well…” I pat his dashboard. “It’s pretty cool having your own car. I wish I had one, but I don’t think that’s ever going to happen now.”

His smile slips. “You need your own car when your parents aren’t around to drive you places. I got my license the moment I could.”

I blink, surprised by his change in tone. Nathan never acts this way around his D&D friends. He’s never melancholy or bitter—but then he never brings up his parents or home life. I wonder if it’s possible I’m seeing a side of him most people aren’t privy to. It makes me even more curious, but I’m not sure I should be the one asking questions. Maybe he should be the one who chooses to share.

“I guess I should’ve gotten my license, too, huh?” I ask lightly instead.

He chuckles. “That probably would’ve saved you some trouble.”

“And savedyoua ton of trouble.” I gesture around the car. “Imagine how easy your life would be if I hadn’t gotten caught coming home fromWaitress.You’d be hanging out with your friends instead of fake flirting and buying frosted Pop-Tarts.”

“Actually…this timeline is growing on me.”

He looks away from the road long enough for our eyes to meet, but it’s enough time for my stomach to jump like we’re on a roller coaster that just dropped.

We split up at the grocery store—him running for the soda while I grab the Pop-Tarts—then we hurry back into the car and to the game store. We probably aren’t gone more than fifteen minutes, but I feel different when I walk back through the door to Sword and Board Games, strawberry goodness in hand. I smile at Nathan, and he smiles back without the slightest bit of animosity.

I think we’re actual friends now.

Chapter Twelve

I link my arm with his as we walk back into the store. “Here we go. And remember, you’re not thinking about her. You’re too caught up talking to me.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Don’t you mean teasing you about your pants?”

“You love my pants,” I say, not missing a beat. “They’re amazing.”

“I could play chess on them.”

I grin at him. “Who said fashion can’t be practical?” I push open the door to the back room and we head to the D&D table, the others eyeing us as we approach. Nathan shakes the grocery bag at them. “Guess what we got?”

“I don’t get it. What’s the big deal with Pop-Tarts?” Sophia says with a pout as Nathan pulls out a box and waves it in the air.

“Wait, you brought us Pop-Tarts? Sweet!” Anthony exclaims.

“You do realize which kind they got, right?” John asks him, and then glances at me for confirmation. I smile wickedly.

“All the frosted ones you can eat,” I reply.

Anthony groans.

“Nathan?” Sophia’s voice is low, and I fight my urge to look her way. “I just finished the first Wheel of Time, and I loved it. Especially the ending.”

“Wow, that’s so cool that you read it,” he replies. “What’d you think of that last fight scene with Ba’alzamon?”

---