The next Monday after school, I log into City of Ages as soon as I get home. Monday is dungeon crawl day, it has been for almost a year now. Back when we first started playing the game, Nadine and I had joined a big guild to find people who would help us figure the game, as we had no clue what we were doing. Most of our friends from the group have stopped playing, but there are still five of us that meet every single Monday, and, most weeknights usually playing through some quests.

My obsession wasn’t a part of myself that I saw myself sharing with any new potential friends anytime soon—Reece had made it very clear that being a super nerd isn’t a selling point, especially when it comes to making new friends.

Once my character, Kinsey, makes it to our usual meeting spot, I spot the others. H3LLFYRE, Frankendogg, and Pizzaz are all in college, and had gone so far as to schedule their classes around having Monday afternoons off since Nadine and I didn’t have any real say in when we had to be in school. And sure enough, all three were there waiting for me.

Pizzaz: Hey, Kinsey. We’re about ready. Any sign of LuckyBug?

Using my keyboard, I scan the area, noticing that Nadine hadn’t arrived. I tell the others I will check in with her. They already know the two of us are off-line friends as well as guild mates. While the whole group sometimes communicates plans over email, Nadine’s mom refuses to let her give her number to strangers on the Internet. I hadn’t bothered to ask my parents if it was okay, but it wasn’t like I spent much time texting anyone other than Nadine. So it would probably never matter.

Reagan: Nadddiiinnneee. Where are you? It’s go time.

Nadine: Coming! I’m like five minutes away. I got stuck talking to people after school.

Nadine is freakishly punctual, so I try and shrug it off. She’s on her way, that’s all what matters. At least, that’s what I always remind myself. Most people online appreciate that real life always comes first, but since City of Ages is the closest that we get to hanging out in real life anymore, it’s hard not to feel like this should be more important to her than talking to randoms after school.

I’m wearing some heavy-duty headphones, but when Rhiannon bursts into our bedroom like a hurricane, she’s impossible to miss.

She ignores the annoyed look I flash at her over my shoulder, digging around for something in her dresser. I turn back to my computer screen, pretending for a second that I’m an only child. It should only be another week or two before dad has the attic sorted out enough that we can move our computers up there, which will free up valuable bedroom space. I’ll still have to share the attic space with my sisters, but I’ll be able to create my own little corner and pretend like privacy exists in this house.

I wish.

Nadine finally logs in and the five of us set off for the Dungeon of Argrish, planning to battle our way past the spider people before calling it a night. Being here, in this fantasy world lets me believe that nothing in my life has changed. Everything around my character looks exactly like it did when I lived in Richmond. I’m comfortable here. Happy.

But every time I die in game, I still take the opportunity to send a private message to Nadine’s character, chatting about my family, school, everything I’m missing back home and whatever else we hadn’t already covered while we were texting during the day. It sounds like my old school, Ashmore, is going along business pretty much as usual. Thinking that Ashmore is still there is kind of a nice thought. Ashmore is exactly how it was when I left. But it’s also a little lame to think the four of us moving away made no impact at all.

Only halfway into the opening section of the dungeon, just as we are facing off against Phillius the Damned, my computer dies.

Black screen, no power. This is not okay.

I stare at the blackened screen for a second. What happened? The overhead light in my room is still on, so the power hasn’t gone out. I poke a few buttons but the computer stays dead.

I’m on the verge of freaking out thinking that my computer is broken, I glance up to see Rhiannon staring at me, horrified. I take of my headphones to hear what she’s saying and come in in the middle of a Rhiannon ramble. "It was an accident. I was looking for some of my textbooks from last year and this room is a mess."

It takes me a second to understand what happened, not until I notice her foot planted on top of my power cord. I narrow my eyes at her. "You unplugged my computer?"

"No. I accidentally stepped on your power cable and your computer turned off. By accident." Rhiannon had an annoying habit of enunciating every syllable whenever she is being defensive or someone has pissed her off.

"Well, you were accidentally kind of an idiot. Did you find what you needed? Can you just go?"

"We get it, Reagan. You’re in drama class now. No need to be such a drama queen. It’s not like your game matters anyway. Just plug it back in and get over yourself."

I clenched my teeth, trying to avoid the fight that could become inevitable at any second. I need to get back in game, I don’t have time to deal with her attitude. "You’re already standing up, at least plug it back in?"

Rhiannon rolls her eyes, and she says I’m a drama queen? But she does as I ask, pushing aside whatever box she’d been looking through to get me hooked up again. I put my headphones back on and make a point of not looking at her. Hopefully if I ignore her she’ll just go away—a strategy I’ve been trying for years, but, so far, I still have three sisters.

* * *

I’m still texting Nadine apologies for my disappearing act the next day during lunch. It happened at the worst possible moment, leaving my group short one support hero, resulting in everyone dying off within two minutes. By the time I got back online, we were back to the beginning.

Reagan: Maybe we can try again tonight? I’m not doing anything and if everyone else is around, then we can make up for some lost time.

Nadine: Can’t tonight, I have plans with Elise and Laney.

Reagan: What? Did Richmond suddenly get more fun once we left?

Nadine: I wish. We’re going to make our own fun, getting away from my mom for a night.

That much I get. Nadine’s mom can be a lot to take on a good day, she’s not a part of my hometown that I miss.

I’m briefly inspired to follow Nadine’s lead. There has to be something to do in Fairview that qualifies as fun. Before we moved here, Mom couldn’t stop talking about all the events and activities that this town puts on. We missed some end of summer jamboree, but I wasn’t crying any tears over that one.

The notion to get out there and try something new leaves me as quickly as it arrived. I’ll have more fun playing City of Ages, I can do it just as easily without Nadine. Plus, I have a book I want to finish reading.

Someone sits down beside me at the table I have staked out for my lunch spot since the second day of school. I don’t look up until I hear a girl’s voice calling my name. "Reagan?"

The brunette girl from drama class has planted herself beside me, dropping a heavy-looking schoolbag on the table in front of both of us. We’ve never technically met, but she’s always sitting with Kent. "You are Reagan, right? We’re in Mr. Sullen’s class together" I don’t answer right away, the girl looked mortified.

"Yeah, I’m Reagan. I should know what your name is, but I’m drawing a blank." I do my best to seem friendly, all while trying to figure out why she could possibly have chosen to sit down beside me.

"Jen," she says, sticking out her hand to shake mine. I’m a little unsure of what to make of the formal introduction from a girl my age, but I’m not about to leave her hanging.

"Nice to meet you," I say, trying to make sure it sounds like a statement and not a question. My lunch period has taken a turn for the unexpected, and I’m not sure I like it. I can already see myself saying something stupid, embarrassing myself in front of a whole new class worth of people.

"Sorry to bug you during your lunch. I would wait until class to ask about this, but when I saw you here, I couldn’t resist. You see, we have our first group project coming up next week."

"We do?" I say before I can stop myself. I’ve been making a point of paying attention in all of my classes, it still looks like I missed something big.

Jen must see how uncomfortable I look, because she quickly shrugs off my confusion. "It was in the syllabus. We’re not actually talking about it until class today, I like getting ahead of the game. We’re trying to put together a group and we’re one short."

I’m dying to ask why she approached me, but can’t bring myself to do it. "I don’t know if you want me in your group," I admit. "I’ve never done any drama stuff before, I’m pretty sure I will be useless."

Jen nods, studying me. "I’ll admit, you’re a bit of an unknown factor. When it comes to my grades, I’m not one to take risks. Mr. Sullen isn’t your typical grader. Kent, Frank, and I were all in his class last year too, we never managed over eighty-five. At this point, I’m not sure what will win him over, so I’m mixing things up a bit."

I hadn’t expected that much honesty, but Jen is clearly someone I want to work with if I’m going to have any chance of doing well in this class, one I shouldn’t have been taking in the first place. "What’s involved?"

Jen tilts her head, perplexed. I can already see her changing her mind about me. "Well, it is a drama class. So, you’re going to need to do some drama. Acting," she adds when my expression doesn’t change.

That’s what I was afraid of. But I knew this moment was coming. And I was going to have to try this whole acting thing anyway, so agreeing to work with Jen would mean that I don’t have to sit around pathetically, watching everyone in the class chose their friends for their group before the teacher had to assign me somewhere. "I can act, probably." I close my mouth before I talk Jen out of wanting me in her group. "I’m in," I add, before she can change her mind.

"All right, cool. See you in class then?"

"Sounds good."

I wait until Jen has walked away before digging through my backpack, locating the small folder I’ve been using to keep my drama files in. Maybe it’s time to have a look at that syllabus.

* * *

As soon as I enter the drama room, Kent bounces towards me. Every day since I joined this class, he’s made a point of seeking me out and saying hi. When all I can do is fumble an awkward reply, he gives in and goes back to sit with his friends. But today, I’m going to have to be a bit better. I knew agreeing to be in Jen’s group meant forcing myself to interact with Kent for more than a few seconds per class, but since that was something I was trying to figure out how to do anyway, it seems like a bonus.

"I heard the good news," Kent says with a lopsided smile. His face was made for smiling. "You know, it’s not easy to get an invite like this from Jen. She’s kind of intense about the whole school thing."

"I got that impression. I take it she’ll be group leader."

"Group leader, commandant, dictator. That’s her either way." I move to take my backpack off, to leave it in one of the cubbies by the drama room door, but Kent takes it from me before I can and hangs it up on a nearby hook. "You might as well come sit with us now. No more hiding in the back of the room."

Heat rushes to my face, I hope I haven’t spent the last week looking like a total dork, at least any more than usual. My strategy of not catching Mr. Sullen’s attention was working so far, but I hadn’t even thought to worry that anyone else had caught on to my plan.

I probably over did my attempt at enthusiastic and friendly as I sat down between Kent and Jen, waving hello as they introduced me to Frank. The dark-haired guy gave a friendly smile, then promptly went back to reading the graphic novel he had spread open on his lap.

I catch a glimpse of the cover of what he’s reading, getting way too excited way too quickly. "Saga?" I ask. Frank to looks up, his dark eyes wary. "Yeah, volume two. I just started it last week. It's pretty nuts."

"Oh yeah, it gets so much better too. There is some weird stuff in there, my mom was not thrilled when she saw what I was reading, but then she ended up going through the whole thing herself and decided it was worth it. So good!" There was nothing that could bring me out of my shell faster than talking about any of my favorite nerd obsessions. While graphic novels were a new hobby of mine, ever since Nadine's cousin had given her his old collection, I was finding more and more to like. It wasn't often I found someone out in the real world who could talk about any of these things with me.

Frank offers up a quick nod of appreciation before going back to his reading, probably only willing to be distracted from the story for so long.

Just then, Mr. Sullen stood up from his desk and walked over to the blackboard, beginning the day's lesson.

So far, I hadn't had to stand up in front of the class for any more than two minutes at a time, usually doing some improv warm-up for the day. I hoped that because we were getting a big assignment, it would mean I could get away with it for another day. All the while I was hyperaware of Kent's knee only inches from mine. Part of me wants to think I catch him glancing over at me out of the corner of my eye more than once, but I force myself to keep my eyes looking forward. I can't wait to tell Nadine about this.