Page 29 of Don't Love the Boy Next Door
I used to game a lot when I was younger, but haven’t touched a game in years until now. With school and football and the band, I hardly have time. But playing with Phoenix makes me miss it. I miss many things about my old life. Like when Mom and Dad were still married and we were a normal, happy family.
But those days are gone and are never coming back. At least I have my playing to remind me of the good old times.
LiamC: You’re killing it out there, I tell her once we finish our first match.
PhoenixFireBird:Because I’m the most amazing gamer out there.
LiamC: You are.
There’s no response from her for about a minute.
PhoenixFireBird: I was just kidding.
LiamC: I wasn’t.
Another few minutes pass before she answers again.
PhoenixFireBird: Oh, well thanks. You’re pretty good yourself.
LiamC: Thanks for the compliment, but I know that’s not true.
My phone dings with a text, and when I peer at the screen, I see it’s Charlotte wanting to know how I’m doing.
I’ve been waiting for this text all day, but now that it’s here, I’m wondering why I was so desperate for it in the first place.
I send her a quick answer before turning back to Phoenix. She’s in the middle of talking about a new game that was recently released and how she can’t wait to get her hands on it and share it with her fans.
My fingers hover over the keys to type, when my phone rings. This time, it’s a video chat from my ex.
I answer, watching her face fill the screen. “Hi.”
She smiles brightly, that smile that’s been engraved in my mind since I first laid eyes on her two years ago. “Hi, back,” I say, returning the smile.
She narrows her gray eyes as she studies me. “Did I catch you at a bad time? You sent such a short, abrupt text and I’m wondering what’s up.”
My eyes flick to the screen, where Phoenix has sent a few more messages about that new game.
“Ethan?” Charlotte asks.
I focus back on her. “Yeah, I’m here. How was your day?”
She frowns. “You already asked me that. And I told you it was fine. Seriously, what’s up with you?”
Nothing, I’m just pretending to be someone else online to a girl who hates me, but aside from that, everything is cool and perfect.
“Everything’s fine.”
She narrows her eyes again. “Why does it seem like you don’t want to talk to me?”
“I do. Can I call you back, though?”
“Okay…”
I hang up and turn back to the screen, quickly responding to Phoenix’s messages. Then I tell her I need to do some homework, wish her a good night, and log off. After that, I get comfortable on my bed and call Charlotte.
My eyes keep springing to the computer for some reason as Charlotte tells me something that happened at school with herfriends. My former friends. It’s weird that I don’t miss them as much as I used to. Sure I’d still like to hang out with them, but I like my new football buddies. Like I said, they’re like my brothers. I never felt that way with my previous teammates. If I had a choice of returning to L.A. or staying here, I’d stay here. I wonder if Eric feels the same. Considering his massive crush on Katie, it’s safe to say he does.
“Ethan, are you even listening to me?” Charlotte whines.
