"We haven't even joined up and you spent two hundred dollars in the store?" Alisha said with a laugh.

"I like their cosmetics!" I said.

"I guess having a rich dad has it's benefits!" She laughed. "Anyways, this is a friend from school and he's rather new so I'll try and teach him my mad methods, my loyal Bush People."

"Um, who are you talking to?" I asked through the mic.

"Oh, my stream. Here I'll walk you through it."

I followed her directions and started the game with custom settings and my voice going into her stream. I don't like this, what if the culprit was watching? Trying to be tactful, I didn't raise my suspicions and just enjoyed the game and, much to my surprise, Alisha's company as well.

(A/N: I just had to.)

"I've got to admit, you are probably the most... zealous of my Bush Worshipers."

I kept a downed enemy captive in a over-the-shoulder carry, spinning atop a building like a wrestler on top of the cage. "You are a sacrifice to the Bush Gods and this. Is. Sparta!"

Tossing the male maestro down from ten stories he made a cartoony splat with zero blood and zero gore. What was funny though was the mental picture of the enemy gamer's face as I WWE'd him to his death. I was laughing like crazy!

"Well there you have it everyone!" Alisha declared, "He went from newb to Holy Inquisition of The Bush in less than three hours! I'm gonna end today early since I started early so see you all next time!"

I waited a moment before asking, "Are we off the air?"

She sighed, "Yes, long day but fun."

"Um," I tried to think of a way to word it, "don't you think the culprit could be watching?"

"I don't want to worry about that Allen. I don't even want to think about it."

"I'm sorry just can't help it."

"It-it's not your f-fault Allen." The quieter Alisha I knew in public began to show, "You just... came in the middle of a bunch of stuff."

So I was a burden-

"Ack, I'm not good at this sort of thing. It's... not a bad thing that you came when you did. It's almost perfect... did you want to FaceTime later? Mother's calling me for dinner."

Perfect? FaceTime?

"Um, sure?"

"Great! I'll see ya in a bit!"

I was distracted by the reoccurring thoughts related to the letter when Mr. Oriskinnov tapped lightly on my already open door for my attention. He said, "Master Clark would like you to join us for dinner."

"Junior?"

"Senior." He said.

"Crap."

"I see that you're splurging quite a bit. Care to tell me about your friends at school?"

My father had baked tilapia, green beans, fried crawfish and steamed vegetables. A balanced meal along with the breadsticks. I enjoyed the breadsticks, some salad, and an exquisite shrimp étouffée. Dipping the breadsticks in the broth or extra ranch as I ate was a habit of mine. My father treated Oriskinnov to dishes from his homeland, some piroshki, bliny and caviar with sour cream on the side. Flattening the silverware cloth across my lap I answered,

"Just friends of Makayla's mostly. In chemistry class yesterday I volunteered to drink some liquid nitrogen."

Oriskinnov choked on the water he was drinking.

"They had you do what?" My father nearly growled.

"I didn't get hurt or anything dad, it's not a big deal."

"If you say so, son; but I'll still be giving them a good talking to."

I practically groaned, "Daaaad."

"How was the Fast Track the other day?" Oriskinnov asked, changing the topic.

"It-it was fun." A warm feeling swelling inside my stomach.

"Yes," my father said, "I got a text from the bank saying that you spent five hundred at Subway and six at The Fast Track."

My eyes bulged in my skull. Do what in a cup? My father noted the shade paler I became before lying, "Oh, I just wanted some cash on hand. That math homework was frying my brain for a second. Trigonometry is of the Illuminati."

Oriskinnov laughed at the tacit joke, "I thought you said you were doing geometry and algebra."

"Those are from hell."

While I continued to speak my mind was a million miles away. I need to talk to Hannah as soon as possible. My father gave me a strained smile.

"Well, while it was me who pressured you to start going to public school. I'm just concerned that people will try and take advantage of you, son."

"I know," I replied quickly, "I think with my head; not my pants."

"Allen," Oriskinnov said, "we all know boys don't do that 24/7. I told your dad it wasn't a big deal. You saved up your allowance, bought and sold, and earned a good penny. I was happy to see you spend a little."

"I'm just being cautious Oriskinnov." Dad stated, "I don't want my son to be treated like some baby daddy."

"The poor boy isn't even a dad, now Junior might be one soon."

"Don't. Even." My dad said with a smirk and Oriskinnov laughed.

I blushed like mad and dad asked, "So, again, was there any special occasion for the trip?"

"A friend of mine was having a bad day so I tried to cheer her up."

"Her?" Oriskinnov asked teasingly.

"Be quiet, how was your date?"

Oriskinnov sighed and whistled, "Too much like Mother Russia. Didn't even like that I worked for a quote—capitalist pig—but I was the friendliest Russian she's met since she moved from Moscow."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"I almost told her off but she must have noticed the danger in my face as it grew flatter by the minute. She still thought she was on good enough grounds to invite me to a ballet."

"And?"

"I gave her my number."

Dad had a knowing smirk but I was shocked.

"Really?!"

"But I'm never going to pick up the phone ever again. I thought about giving her the number to the nearest meat mart but that was too mean. How was work Mr. Clark?"

"Had to cull some of my staff. Lay off the unproductive. Always the bad guy, as per usual, right Oriskinnov?"

"Such is life I assume."

"Where is Junior by the way?" I asked.

Oriskinnov smiled, "Where do you think?"

"Makayla's?"

"Yup."

I chuckled and, my food finished while we were talking, got up.

"May I be excused?"

"Hot date?" Oriskinnov teased.

I blushed, rolling with his jokes, "S-something like that."

My father dismissed me and my footsteps quickened to my room. After that I texted Alisha, seeing if she was ready for the phone call. She was, and went on rather patiently guiding me through the process of getting FaceTime set up. Ten minutes later we were talking.

I had my purple Batman hoodie and sweatpants as my pajamas. Alisha wore a cream onesie with seashells on it and had her head propped up on her arm as she laid in bed looking down at her phone. Her smirk was... provocative? Suggesting? Simply happy to see me? It was... unpleasantly-pleasant.

"Hey~" I was distracted by the smooth of her neck, "nice coat."

"Nice-" neck. No-
Rack?
Complexion?
Smile?
"I mean that game was fun!"

"Yeah I might play more later," she scratched her head and her blonde hair flared out like a mane, "I just got done taking a shower."

"T-that's-" hot, "cool. I just got done eating dinner."

"Coolio."

"Hey," I asked, "what did you mean by perfect?"

She smiled and blushed. "Weeeell I meant that you came up at the perfect time I guess. At least an optimal one." She glanced down and frowned in thought and then began, "Hannah's father had divorced his fifth wife, Megan has always kept to herself, Sarahlinn... had something happen with a friend when she was younger and I-" she perk up with a strained smile, "have problems to. We... all have our quirks. Problems. And... we all make or made mistakes so the more friends the better."

A/N: Prepared to be blinded from the pure awesomeness of my face reveal~

You just got trolled XD My purple Batman jacket! Ta-da!