As I walk home, I sigh. I feel dirty. Too much ice cream splattered across my shirt, too many sauces wiped hastily on my pant legs. Ugh. Fast food’s not the greatest at all.

The stoplight turns red as I approach the intersection, and I sigh. Guess I’m waiting.

I double-click the button on my earbuds to change the song, and as a new tune starts, I survey the night life of small-town Sqwatel. A few cars swish past quietly through the intersection, another pedestrian waits diagonally across the four-way light from me, and a light fog has settled, making the mountains mottled in the distance.

As my light turns green, and the walk signal flashes, I start to move across the street. Movement catches my eye, and I look to the other side, where the other person I noticed is traveling away from my destination. As cars stream through the intersection, I catch glimpses of red through the gaps. I turn fully, hoping to get a good look, but they’re through and out of earshot the moment I have line of sight. I watch as they slowly meander away, red hoodie brightening and dimming in the spacing of the streetlights.

A car honks at me, and I realize I’ve been standing in the intersection past my walk time, so I quickly jot across, embarassed. The driver gives me a weird look as they pass by. I continue my walk home, wondering. Either someone is stalking me, or a lot of people in this middle-of-nowhere farming town own red hoodies and I’m going nuts.

Probably the second one. I chide myself as I get to my apartment building. “How stupid.”

Opening the door to yet another empty apartment, I sigh. I have to get myself a roommate, or a pet, someone to make this not feel so lame. I don’t bother turning on the lights, knowing tomorrow is my day off, instead tossing my stuff down and heading right to bed. I shake my head to settle into the pillow. “Let’s hope I can sleep it off.”

My alarm goes off, and I snooze it until it stops bothering me. I sleep for another few hours before getting up. I shower, and then head out into my living room. I sit down right on my stuff, and a sharp edge bites into me. I groan. “Alright, alright.” I deal with my bag, still sitting where I left it, putting each thing where it needs to go. Once it’s put away, I sit back down, picking up my phone. One new message, the screen screams at me. I raise an eyebrow. “Ooh?”

I tap it, and a chat app pops up.

Kade: hey bish

You: wow i was actually excited for a moment

Kade: shut up

Kade: anyways want to Spellfight?

You: god kade that’s the only thing you capitalize dear lord

Kade: shut up it’s important

Kade: yeah or naw

You: give me a moment jeez i’ll be there eventually

I turn the screen off and sigh. I guess I have plans today.

I grab a banana and eat on the way to Solstice. Kade excitedly greets me at the door. “Dude, you won’t believe it! Someone says the champ’s signed up here, at Solstice!”

I yawn. “For what?”

He gestures wildly. “The tournament!”

I raise an eyebrow. “Where else would they register? Gamma Games?”

He mimics shoving a finger down his throat and vomiting. “May Satan be ever more cruel to their souls.”

I laugh. “You wanted to play nerd games? I don’t have all day.”

He shrugs. “What else would you be doing today?”

I cough. “Eh, you’re right. Let’s play.”

After a few rounds, I start to get into the groove, and by the end I’m actually giving Kade a run for his money, if he had any money to spare. He chuckles. “Got some fight in you, huh, scamp?”

I grin devilishly. “Enough to take you down, flush.”

He reddens. “Hey! You’ll pay for that!”

I shake my head. “Not after this card, I won’t.” I play a spell, negating his master plan, before hitting him with more than enough damage to win.

He chokes. “Damn, son. When were you this good?”

I lean back, acting cocky. “Well, when you’re born with this much talent, you-“

I get cut off by Jamie grabbing my head from behind. “Hey, jocklets. What’s the melt?”

I cringe. “That was horrible.”

Ben sits down beside me. “I told him not to say that, but he insisted.”

Jamie skirts around the table, sitting down beside Kade. “Prepping for the tourney?”

Kade nods. “This scrub just beat me for once in his life.”

Ben looks at me, impressed. “Nice. You might have a shot at the title this time.”

Kade laughs. “Every name on that trophy is mine. You won’t be getting far.”

We banter for a bit, and then duel each other. I win a few, lose a few, and manage to make one a draw. As we start up what must be my twentieth duel, Kade looks behind me, momentarily distracted.

I wonder. What could get him so distracted from what is almost literally his life?

He laughs stupidly, and then turns to the rest of us. “Hey, guys. Don’t all look now, but there’s a girl outside. She’s totally checking me out.”

I shake my head, half in disgust and half in disbelief. “No way in hell, Kade.”

He leans in. “No, seriously! Look!”

I turn around, and notice a girl through the glass of the front door. The red hoodie tips me off. I stare, wide-eyed, at the figure in front of me. I look up to her face, and lock eyes with her. We keep eye contact for a few seconds before she shakes her head, puts up her hood, and walks away. I stand up abruptly, and start to rush out to catch her before she leaves. Before I can go, though, Kade groans. “Aw, man, your ugly mug scared her away. Sit down and let me beat the pants off of you for that.”

I sit down, rattled. I barely manage to play, let alone strategize, so Kade wipes the floor with me. I sigh, putting my head in my hands.

Jamie and Ben look over. “Dude, you okay?”

I chuckle weakly. “Yeah, just going nuts.”

Kade waves his hand in front of me. “Another round, dumpster?”

I look up. “Oh, you’re on, toolshed.”

More games ensue, the insults, camaraderie, and trash talk distracting me from the girl’s appearance. Midway through a game with Ben, my phone rings. I pick it up. “Yeah, hello?”

Britt’s voice rings through. “Declan, can you come in? Tanner called in sick, and we need someone to cover his shift.”

I cough. “I’m sorry, what?”

She sighs. “Fine, we’ll pay you time and a half. Just get in here.”

I hang up, and start packing my gear together, back into my bag. Ben looks at me. “Work?”

I shrug. “When isn’t it? They’re paying extra, so I may as well.”

Kade looks at me forlornly. “Will you be here for the tournament?”

I nod. “Yeah, I’ll get them to let me off early. Midnight?”

He points at the sign hanging above the door. “You know it, boye.”

I wave goodbye as I leave. The walk to Milk Monarch is cold, because I under-dressed. I can’t complain, though, because it’s my own fault.

On arrival, I enter through the front door. Britt waves at me, and I salute back. As I walk past, she examines me. “Where’s your uniform?”

“I have a locker with a spare uniform set in it. You’re too predictable.”

She giggles. “Thanks for coming in.”

I sigh, waving her off. “Pay me and I’ll do whatever, so long as I don’t have to do anyone.”

I don’t see her reaction, but I can tell by the way she slaps me in the back that she was shocked. I chuckle.

“Nose goes!”

Emilia sighs. “Fine, I’ll do spoons. You guys are jerks.”

I laugh. “You’re figuring this out now? Took you long enough, space cadet.”

Nicolas rolls his eyes. “I’m guessing you want to go home, Declan?”

I nod. “That’d be great.”

He waves me away. “Go, clock out. See you.”

I punch my number into the till, and then select the “Time Clock” option, then hit “Punch Out”. I take off my nametag off as I grab my bag, heading out the back door, once more on my way to Solstice. The night is chilly, and I can see my breath in the air as I walk.

Entering in the front door, I notice the abnormal amount of people, even for a tournament. The Solstice staff, being a board and card game store, should have some board game paraphernalia on display, but tonight the store is solely populated by play tables, each with its own play mat. Nathaniel, the owner, is busy corralling players and referees, while the rest of the staff are hastily handing out player IDs and schedules. Even though it’s barely 11 o’clock, I notice Kade, Jamie and Ben talking with some neckbearded dude. His grey t-shirt doesn’t fit him, as it’s just a teensy bit too small, and so his unkempt body hair is peeking out of the crack. He has off-brand Beats hanging around his neck, and a card bag under his arm. I approach cautiously, and notice that he has a lanyard around his neck, boasting a card that says “Finalist”.

Kade turns to me excitedly. “Declan! Meet Mark. He’s the world champion!”

Mark extends a sweaty hand. “Hey. You any good?”

I shake it firmly, trying not to gag. “Nope. You’ll have no trouble against me.”

He guffaws. “Ain’t that the truth. Listen, chumps. I have other people to talk to, but I’ll see you in the tournament- maybe.” He walks off, still chuckling to himself.

Jamie shakes his head. “Pompous sperm whale. You’ve got him down pat, Kale.”

As the group converses, after a while, one of the Solstice staff, Joseph Paul, comes over to me. “Declan?”

I nod, and he hands me a little printout of my ID and the bracket. I smile. “Thanks, Jope.” He winks, and disappears back into the crowd. I turn back to my friends, and resume wasting time until the tourney begins.

I hear Nathaniel crow. “Alright, players, listen up!” We all turn to look in his direction.

He points at the screen. “These are your brackets. I know I’d usually say something introductory but there’s too many people here. You know what you’re here to do, so do it. You have an hour.”

I scan the brackets. I’m up against someone I don’t know, which comes as a complete shock, seeing as I’m the king of the social life. (And sarcasm.)

I win two and lose one, taking it as it comes. I give my score to Joseph, and he enters it in. I notice that I’m among one of the first to finish, so I survey the crowd. I see Jamie, Kade, Mark, Ben, and some other people I know from various places.

As more and more people get up, having finished their games, I notice, hanging loosely on a seat, is none other than a red hoodie. I stare at it for a moment. “Wait.”

The guy beside me looks at me. “What, dude?”

I shake my head to clear the cobwebs. “Nothing, dude. Just going nuts.”

“Dude”, he grins, “welcome to the club.”

Nathaniel says something about the next brackets, so I look up. I’m up against Ben this round. I catch his eye. “Tough luck, Ben. Always knew you were a bit of weak one.”

We sit down at a table, and I roast him in due time, two-nothing. He sighs. “Not doing too hot this tournament. Eh, oh well.”

I smile. “Thanks for being a stepping stone for me losing to Kade again.”

He nods. “Anytime.”

I stand up, and try to spy the red hoodie again, but it seems to have disappeared. The room is too big for me to try to case the whole joint, so I head to the front desk instead. Nathaniel sits behind the desk, sorting cards. I lean over the counter. “Hey, Nate. Got a question.”

He nods. “Shoot.”

I point a thumb behind me. “Red hoodie. Where are they?”

He points to the corner. “She’s over there. Two-oh’ed the first dude. Why?”

I shrug. “Enemy showed up on the radar.”

He looks up. “Not a predator?”

I step back. “Feels like prey, the aura she’s giving off.”

He shudders. “Yup. Can’t help but feel she’s going to be in the finals.”

I nod. “Oh yeah. Thanks.” I step away, and head to Joseph, relaying my score once again. He plugs me into the brackets, and whistles. “You’re doing pretty well this time.”

“I got lucky,” I shrug. “First opponent had to mulligan, and Ben’s just bad.”

I hear him object from behind me, but I ignore it. “Let’s hope it lasts. Mind if I take a look at the rankings?”

He shakes his head, stepping away from the computer. “Nah, dude, look all you want.”

I briefly peruse before Joe has to move me to enter in more scores. I watch the girl in the corner. I can’t see her face, because of the angle, only her jet black hair. Her opponent’s face, however, looks pained, like he’s being run over by a bus full of feminists.

As I watch, he shuffles his cards together, writes on his slip of paper, and brings up his score. I take a quick peek. “Dude, got two-oh’ed? R.I.P.”

He chokes. “Dude, she’s a monster. She didn’t even say more than a word in a row. Don’t go near her if you can help it.”

Nathaniel calls out. “Alright, next bracket is up. You have an hour! Go.”

I find my opponent, and before sitting down, I can tell he’s nervous. “Hey, man. You doing okay?”

He shakes his head. “First tournament. I think the atmosphere is getting to me.”

I shrug my shoulders. “You’re doing well so far. It isn’t always like this. All the sharks are out because there’s some serious fish in the pond, if you know what I mean.”

He nods. “I could sense that. I don’t know if I can survive.”

I lean in to him. “Listen, kid. The mind is half the battle. You think you’ll lose, you’ll lose. So think positive. You’ll do much better if you change your mindset. Besides, I got here by the skin of my slug’s teeth.”

He chuckles. “Sounds like me. Good game, have fun.”

We shake hands, and deal our cards. I win the first one, he wins the second one, and by the third one, the kid looks much better. He loses to me, but just barely enough that it doesn’t hurt his ego. We shake hands again. “Good game, dude,” I congratulate him, “you did well.”

He thanks me again, and then runs off to submit his score. I notice we’re among the last to finish, so Kade is already done. I stand up, and walk over to him. “How’s it handling, man?”

He shuffles his cards. “No mulligans so far. Good signs.”

I laugh. “I wish I could say the same.”

As the fourth bracket gets shown, Kade visibly stiffens. I turn to him. “What?”

He looks at me. “I’m against Mark. Wish me luck, dude.”

I blow air out of my lips, making a ‘psh’ sound. “Dude, you got this in the bag. Go get him.”

He walks away to Mark’s table, sits down, and starts to play. I return my gaze to the bracket announcement, where it says I’m dueling Jamie. I nod, and move to his table, sitting down opposite him. “What’s kicking?”

He glares good-naturedly. “A licking. Good luck, have fun.”

We play our games. He wins the first one by a landslide, but a series of bad cards cripples him late second game, so I barely squeak by, and as we start the third game, he takes mulligan after mulligan. He picks up five, then four, then three cards, then throws them down. “Nothing. I forfeit.”

I raise my eyebrow. “No way. Really? This isn’t like you.”

He looks at me forlornly. “At least one of the two of us is moving on. Beat Kade for me.”

Kade’s voice suprises us both. “You won’t have to.” He sounds defeated, and the look on his face confirms it.

I stand up. “Dude, what happened?”

He holds up two fingers on one hand and makes a fist on the other. “I’m R.I.P., dude. Loser’s bracket, here I come.”

I shake my head. “Not that bad. You can come back.”