Page 3 of The Stolen Tribute
ONE
KYLIE
“Kylie, oh my goodness,” Sue said the moment the Zoombot app opened.
“What’s up?” I asked, still fumbling with my headphones.
“I got recruited today,” She said,
I nearly jumped out of my seat and dropped my controller. “Like a sponsor? I thought you weren’t going to make it to WEG this year?” WEG is what we all called the Worldwide E-Gaming Championship. Made it way easier.
“No, no, like one of the recruiters for Zexian Matchmaking.”
“Oh,” I instantly deflated and wrinkled my nose in disgust. “Are you seriously considering it, Sue?” I asked. “I mean, no judgment, but … well, they’re aliens.”
“Hot aliens,” She said. “Way better than the ones in Star Shield 3.” That was the game we both excelled in.
“I mean duh,” I rolled my eyes.
“Should I apply?” She asked.
My stomach rolled uncomfortably. I thought of the advertisements, the money, the hype, the (supposedly) fantastic alien dick.
“I dunno. Do they have e-gaming there?” I asked.
“I’d say probably? I dunno. I guess I have to do more research into it.”
“But, if you apply and you get in, what about me?” I asked. I hated sounding whiney, but Sue was my best friend.
“Girl, you have so much ahead of you! Your world-wide rankings are the bomb, and as soon as the e-gaming world gets their head out of their sexist asses, you’re going to be a millionaire. I’m only going to last so long before my dad tells me I need to quit and take on the family business.” She shuddered.
“Fishing,” I said flatly in unison with her.
We both laughed. It was true, Sue had a lot more pressure on her from her family.
My parents had pretty much disowned me when I was sixteen and moved out to California to be a full-time gamer. I hadn’t seen them in three Christmases. All my hometown friends were getting married, having babies, starting their lives, and I was here living in a closet off of instant ramen and coffee.
“But what if you get in?” I asked. Sue was gorgeous, smart, charismatic, everything that those aliens supposedly looked for. I knew because I was bombarded with ads all the time.
“What do you think the time difference would be? Would I still get wifi?” Sue giggled. “I mean, I don’t think our friendship would change? Would it?” Her voice wavered.
“No way! You’re my best friend.” I said. The thought of losing her just made me sick.
Even if she was living in orbit around Earth on a Zexian mothership, patrolling the area with her hunk of a warrior husband, she’d always be my Internet bestie. Nothing could take that away from me.
We let the conversation drop after that, but my mind couldn’t stay focused on the game. I lost five out of seven matches that I played, most of them against nobodies that I didn’t even recognize the gamer tags for.
“You ok?” Sue asked after the fifth loss.
I sighed. “Just tired,” I lied. “I think I’m going to sign out for the night. Catch you later, ok? And, hey, if you apply, good luck.”
“There are no secrets between us, girl,” Sue said with a laugh. “Later.”
***
I laid awake in bed until two in the morning, which was usually when I stopped gaming. I stared at the ceiling, watching my multicolored fairy lights twinkle across the room.
Why did I feel so strange? What was this emotion? Sadness? Jealousy? I was confused that much I did know. I never took Sue to be one of those girls who would chase alien dick for money. Was that really all that was going on? She’d never lied to me before.
