Evelyn was with her friends, Annie and Brandi. Some other cheerleaders were there, but they trickled in and out. Jennifer and Beckah walked over, smirks on their faces, and Evelyn felt nervous. She didn’t know why, but those two smirking always meant something.

Jennifer leaned against the wall, watching someone come near. “This should be good.”

Evelyn turned to see Noah, with Reed not far with that same deer in the headlights look from before. Evelyn glanced at Brandi, who was uncomfortable being with more experienced CCNC players. Some teenage boys were all too eager to help.

“Hey.” Noah was looking right at Evelyn, overwhelmed. It made Evelyn’s heart tug at the thought of being on edge. “So, um, the dance on Saturday? Are you… going?”

Brandi glanced at her hands, and Annie chewed on the inside of her cheek. Evelyn closed her eyes, thinking of Clarissa. Of Moonsparkle. Thought of the hours of therapy she already took and still needing so many more. Evelyn forced herself to straighten her shoulders like a princess before she opened her eyes. “Yes, I am. Are you?”

“Uh, yeah. Yeah. Did you want to… come with me? As a date?” Noah asked.

Evelyn eased her textbook to the side, making a conscience effort not to use it to cover her chest. “It’s the Halloween dance. They’re not pairing off on dates.”

Noah nodded. “Yeah. I know.”

When she searched for Noah to have him sign up for CCNC, she had an inkling something like this would happen. She mentally prepared for this moment, and her heart still hammered. Jennifer snickering behind her did not help. Noah ignored Jennifer, or was simply unaware, because he kept staring at Evelyn. The whole thing was rather pathetic. She hated this feeling, and she tried to think of something to put some sort of dignity back into the conversation.

“I’ll be at the dance. The Halloween dance is great, because there isn’t the pressure of pairing off. I’m not ready for a boyfriend yet, but it’d be nice to get to know a few more of your friends before we have our CCNC session on Monday.” Evelyn’s eyes wandered over to Reed, staring at her with wide, wondrous eyes. She waved, and he did nothing, so she focused back on Noah. “Are more of your friends attending the dance?”

Noah nodded. It was all he managed to do.

“Perfect! I’d love to get to know them.”

Noah still stared at her, and Evelyn waited, giving into the urge to cover her chest with the textbook. The silence remained, and Evelyn wasn’t sure what to do. She’d been as graceful as possible, and he still stared at her like a mythical creature. Evelyn shook her head, reminded of what she said to Derek. “One of these days, Noah, you’ll get to know me, and realize how human I am. I’ll see you at the dance. I intend to dance with many people there. One dance can be from you. Another for your friend, Reed.” Evelyn waved again at Reed with his wide eyes. “See you later?”

Noah nodded, stumbling back. “See you later.”

He and Reed left, still in awe. There was a silence among the cheerleaders until Jennifer broke it with a scoff. “It’s almost pathetic, the hope you give those boys.”

“I was quite clear I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend,” Evelyn said.

Jennifer rolled her eyes. “Like that ever gets through their thick heads. It turns their stalker mode on.”

The bell rang as Evelyn shook her head. “Maybe it does. Maybe it doesn’t. But there’s no need to be rude.” She gave in, bringing the textbook up to protect her chest.

Annie walked beside Evelyn as they blended into the sea of students heading for their first hour. Brandi was on the other side, keeping her eye out for Noah. “Aren’t you afraid you’ll… get hurt again?” Brandi’s voice was hushed.

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Yes. It was a thought that often crossed her mind throughout the conversation. She hated that being nice could leave her so vulnerable. But she refused to become rude. However, being nice took a courage she wasn’t sure she truly had.

***

Quetzal curled up in Alejandra’s lap, sensing her nerves. The drake was getting big. And heavy. She was almost sad that her time with Quetzal on her lap was numbered. It blew her mind that once she could hold Quetzal in her palm. He’d be a month old next week. That much closer to adulthood. That much closer to attacking monsters.

Not old enough to attend the heist tonight.

Alejandra absently hugged Quetzal. He placed his head under her chin, making his growling noise that was once a purr.

“Nervous?” Rafael asked.

“Yes,” Alejandra said.

“Quetzal will be fine,” Rafael said. “Calawit’s always been a good babysitter.”

“I know.” Alejandra kept her arms around the drake. He was about the size of a small Komodo dragon. “I want to make sure Cal keeps an eye on him. The last thing we need is him escaping her tent and finding me or Hraktar.”

“Calawit’s got enchantments that’ll keep Quetzal in one place,” Clarissa said from the back of the car.

Alejandra knew this. Her brain told her that because Quetzal snuck to school once, didn’t mean he’d sneak away from Calawit. No one could sneak away from her. It came back to the overall nerves of what they were about to do in another hour and a half. She was terrified for all the characters. What if, when the session was done, she’d collect Quetzal without Hraktar? Or Ezekiel? Or any of them? What if Quetzal was the last hope?

“Hey.” Rafael kept his eyes on the road, but she knew he was talking to her. “Don’t do that.”

Alejandra frowned, then glanced at him. “Do what?”

“Tunnel into yourself,” Rafael said.

“I’m just… nervous.”

Rafael snorted. “That doesn’t even begin to explain it.”

Tears pricked her eyes as she glanced behind her, saw Hraktar there. Her character had always been there, ever since he was created. Always in her mind, comforting her during hard times. Especially during hard times. She imagined, often, what Hraktar would’ve done if he had been here in the real world while Jack was abusing them. He had become the silent protector in her mind.

Now he was here. About to sneak into a place when he wasn’t known for being stealthy. With Akshi, four levels stronger.

Alejandra closed her eyes, clutching Quetzal until he squirmed in her hug and tried to escape. Rafael pulled to the side of the road near Calawit’s tent.

“This is insane,” Alejandra said.

Rafael sighed. “It is. Completely.” He dropped his voice. “But we can’t lose Ezekiel to lycanthropy.”

She glanced behind her again to see Ezekiel curled into a ball, leaning against Clarissa. A death would be horrible. Watching Ezekiel’s character erode the past month was torture.

“None of you have to get out. I’ll drop Quetzal off and be back. Quetzal, say goodbye to Hraktar, Ezekiel, and Princess Clarissa,” Alejandra said. Quetzal jumped into the back, nuzzling the three of them. Alejandra tried not to think about how this might be Quetzal’s last time seeing them. She refused to linger on that thought for long. The drake climbed out of the car and scurried forward, heading for Calawit’s tent. Quetzal crawled under the tent opening, receiving the flower petals on his four paws before getting much farther into the tent.

“Oh, hello, little one,” Calawit said. Quetzal ran up to Calawit, almost body slamming her in a hug. “Yes, yes. I missed you too.” She climbed on Quetzal’s back. “Come on. There are some things in the storage room I haven’t been able to reach.”

Quetzal raced off with Calawit on his back. Alejandra rubbed her arm, trying to steady her breathing. Nothing more to do now but get to Nick’s house and go on this mission that might end up in everyone dying.

She turned around and was surprised to see the tent door open. She held in a gasp as Hraktar walked through.

“I… thought you were going to stay in the car,” she said.

Hraktar studied her closely. “I have little wisdom. I have even less charisma. And maybe the only group of people who’d be impressed with my level of intelligence is a bunch of orcs. But even with all that, I can’t help but notice you’ve been jittery all afternoon.”

Alejandra let out a breath. She wasn’t sure how to express herself. This was her character, someone she loved like another sibling. Throwing himself into danger. “Hraktar… if something ever happened to you… if you… die…”

Hraktar said nothing. It was as he said. He had a +0 in wisdom, a -1 in charisma, and barely a +1 intelligence. The two extra points for reaching level four she stuck in strength, giving him a +5, with an already incredible constitution of +4. Hraktar could speak no words that would comfort her.

To her utter surprise, he picked her up off the floor and wrapped his arms around her. Alejandra closed her eyes, leaning against her gentle half-orc with a heart of gold. She allowed herself this moment to cry, to get it all out. Hraktar didn’t say a word, because he didn’t need to. He was far more apt at strength and used it how she always imagined. He kept hugging her until she no longer felt like breaking, and that could only come from someone who had a +5 in strength.