Jake had been tired all day at school. Yawning all through class and even nodding off once or twice. He wasn't a stranger to staying up too late even after going to bed. Normally it was from reading late into the night one novel or another. Last night after showering and crawling into bed, more physically tired than he had a right to be. He found his mind unable to slow down, running through everything he had experienced. Boy was he glad it was Friday.
The game was rather bleak and barren, nothing but the red rocky terrain. The monsters so far had been silly, a rock shelled beetle the size of a shoe wasn't very exciting. But then there had been that huge beetle he found at the end. He also wasn't a big fan of his Power Claw class. It seemed rather simple and boring. When he had read the case the game came in it mentioned magic and high tech combined. Jake actually hoped to get a magic caster class. Rather liking the idea of rune etched flowing robes and a magic staff. All while unleashing arcane elemental destruction… from a distance.
Still, as he thought back to the time in the game he hadn't hated it. It kinda felt good to run around and punch something. Almost cathartic after the last eight months. Even after making it to school he mostly thought about the game. Surprising even himself with his eagerness to play again.
"Hey, no snoozing. We are counting on you to finally put Princess Snooty in her place." One of his school friends, someone he would loosely hang out with at school but that was it, jabbed him as he started nodding off during study period.
"Huh?" Jake glanced over to where Cassandra sat, or Princess Snooty as most called her. Her parents were wealthy. Something to do with real estate or doctors, Jake never cared to find out. She had the highest grades in class. Jake was second only by a few points and if his teachers were to be believed only because he didn't put in the effort.
Between her wealthy parents and her overbearing attitude of superiority, most people found her downright annoying. Jake included. The fact that he was always so close to scoring better than her, yet never quite doing so was one of her favorite things to point out. Mostly Jake just ignored her. He could care less who got the better grades. As far as he was concerned he didn't care how many people scored better than him as long as his grades were still high. Besides, if he had to choose between studying books all night or reading his novels. The novels won out easily.
Cassandra wasn't in her seat. Thinking back he realized she hadn't mocked, pestered, or berated him in almost a week. "Huh. Has she been absent?"
His friend Tom shook his head. "Yes. Didn't you hear? She got sick. Actually went to the hospital but got out." He snickered. "Heard they had to take the stick out of her ass finally."
"Terminal. I heard." Micky added from the other side of Jake while shaking his head sadly. "Said it was so far up there not even surgery could get it out."
One of the girls in front of them turned to glare at the three. "You shouldn't talk like that. She was really sick I heard." She focused in on Jake. "You were in the hospital too a few months back." Jake didn't remember the girl's name but she was one he had seen by Cassandra's side before.
"Jake wasn't in the hospital. His mother was." Tom snapped at her then seemed to realize what he said and glanced at Jake to gauge his reaction.
"No, she is right. I got sick right after my mom passed away." Jake ignored the stabbing pain in his heart and acted as if none of it mattered. The last thing a fourteen year old boy wanted to do was show emotion and weakness in front of other guys. The girl opened her mouth as if to say something then closed it. Glared at Tom and Micky before turning her back on them.
"Anyways." Tom continued, quieter. "I figured you'd be studying hard. I bet Miss Snooty McStick up her butt hasn't gotten to study. And we have that big test Monday. If you get a better score than her the look on her face will be priceless."
Jake shook his head and tried to sound nonplus. "Just because she is so immature to care about a few points doesn't mean I have to be. Besides she only acts that way because no one likes her." In truth, Jake had found it annoying and her attitude irksome but not enough to put the effort in to try harder. The girl turned to glare at him for a moment before going back to whatever she was working on.
Jake ignored her and left the two others to switch to complaining about recent rolling blackouts as he drifted into thoughts about the game again.
**********
Jake kicked the front door closed behind him and tossed his backpack on the couch before almost walking into his dad coming around the corner. "Sorry, Dad." His father was dressed for work. "You working nights again?"
"Yeah. There have been some issues with the grid again." His father worked at the power station in town. Jake knew he was somewhat important but didn't know exactly what he did other than being some kind of engineer. "You moved your mother's…" There was a slight pause where his father swallowed hard before continuing. "Game machine into your room?"
"Yeah. I…just kinda felt like playing it. Is that ok?" Jake asked, he hadn't mentioned moving the machine into his room.
"Of course son. Someone should get some use out of it. It cost too much to leave it sitting there." He smiled at his son kindly if sadly. "Your mother loved that thing. Almost too much you know!" His dad laughed but it sounded hollow.
His father seemed almost nervous for a moment. "I might be at the station all weekend. These issues aren't local. Something further down the line is causing it. The higher ups are looking into it but I and the guys think we have a solution to mitigate the issues at least. No more blackouts, at least not like recently." There was a pause. "Will you be ok on your own?"
"Dad. I'm fourteen. I'm way old enough to stay home alone." Jake made sure to sound put out as if he was annoyed his father thought age was the issue. He and his dad had mucked through his mother's death together. His dad was a good man and a good dad. Just not the emotionally supportive type. Jake in turn was more than a little introverted. He put up with people at school but would rather be alone when he could be. His mother had been the glue to the family and now they were having to navigate being a family without her.
Jake's dad Darrel saw right through his son. Both had been a wreck after the funeral. Then Jake got sick right after making it worse. Darrel actually felt guilty that it was Jake who seemed to suck it up and try to move forward before he could pull himself together. That had shifted the power dynamic of their relationship from father son to more of almost equals. At least in Darrel's eyes. His son had grown up fast and he wasn't sure he liked it. But didn't know what else to do.
"Be sure to eat. Don't play so much you forget. You have the new card I gave you right? Order something if you want." Darrel checked the time.
"I'm just going to get a sandwich then play a little. There is a test Monday and I think I'm going to study for it." Jake mixed truths with lies.
"Alright, son." Darrel stopped, debated on hugging his son but felt it would be awkward and instead clasped his shoulder before leaving.
**********
Jake crouched down. There wasn't much cover. But a few of the red rocks were big enough to block him… mostly. The huge beetle was in front of him. He had found it much faster than he thought he would. But he wasn't going to complain. Finally, he crept close enough to make his move. Rushing out the last dozen feet or so he lept forward. Mid air he drew back his right fist intent on smashing the beetle with all his might. As he lept up there was a chittering sound then the beetle started rushing forward.
Jake came down and still made contact. His new larger gauntlet connected solidly and the bug let out an angry sound. But it had already been moving away and the impact was less than he expected. It picked up the pace and raced off.
"HEY!" Before Jake could figure out what to do an angry voice called from behind him. He turned to see a figure pop up from behind one of the larger rocks a good thirty yards from him. In one hand was a small compact bow, he thought it might be a recurve bow? It wasn't a straight curve, but two that kinda met in the middle. The wielder stomped towards him angrily and he got a good look at them, at her.
She had curly golden hair that hung down past her shoulders. She wore chest armor that looked like branches and vines had grown together to make a shirt. With bright green leaves between them.
They had on some dark earthy colored shorts and knee high leather boots. He thought the outfit was classic fantasy elf ranger. It would have been kinda exciting he thought if she wasn't so skinny… and flat.
"You scared it off! That was my kill." She glared at him with bright blue eyes and her lips pursed in annoyance.
"Sorry?" Jake didn't know what else to say. He hadn't even known she was there. Again looking at her gear he was slightly jealous, she looked more like magic fantasy.
"Well." She took a moment to look him over and her lips pursed with displeasure again. "A tech type?" She looked past him to where the beetle had fled then back at him. "Hey." Her tone changed becoming more friendly. "Do you want to team up? You actually did some damage to it."
Her shift in attitude had him off balance. "Huh? How do you know I did?"
She again looked him over. "You should have an item for sale at your trainer that gives you the improved HUD." She tilted her head and showed him some strange earrings that covered the full length of the outside of her ear.
"Oh yeah. I haven't bought it yet. I just upgraded my weapon." He held up his oversized fist.
She gave it another of her pursed lipped looks of displeasure. "A melee type? Oh well." Before he could decide if he should be offended or not she continued. "So, are we partying or not? I've been hunting that stupid thing for days. I don't want to spend all weekend trying to kill it."
"Ok, sure." Jake shrugged.
"Good. Then what skills do you have?" She asked the moment he agreed.
"Skills?" Jake found her pursed lipped expression of annoyance… well annoying.