It was a lovely sunny morning when we got out of the house. The sun was already up in the sky, and the sunrays pleasantly warmed my back.

I found out that the jeep belonged to Hew. He would bring Mike and Tom home first, but they were all three living not far away; they could have walked the distance. Only I lived on the other side of the town. I wonder why is Matt going to that school far away from home?

When I started my bike, the flock of little birds abandoned the neighbouring tree in panic again.

I didn’t want to show off, but only after the second or third intersection did I realize that I had lost Hew and the jeep since the beginning. Maybe I should have driven slower. Cala was driving completely relaxed, but even this loose driving was too fast for Hew.

Neither Flo nor I are competent enough to ride the bike properly, so we let Cala do the heavy lifting. She likes to do it, and it is a pleasure to see the elegance with which she is driving.

Flo moves are gracious and elegant, but riding a bike requires a different kind of elegance, and that is what Cala provides.

Cala and elegance! This sounds like a contradiction in itself, and yet, she does ride the bike with elegance. The elegance with which she would make a decapitating movement or execute a training kata. There is elegance in those acts of power.

The bike devoured the asphalt like a hungry monster sneaking between cars, trucks and buses. Cala is always grinning happily when she drives, and her Mephisto leather armour and boots are gathering looks. They did that on purpose in Mephisto to make the characters look gorgeous. Good that she can ignore all those looks and concentrate on her fun.

I would fail here. Why do I always feel when somebody looks at me, and then I move unnaturally, like having a broom up my ass? Why can she ignore everything and move so freely? There must be a reason why I did split my mind into another alter ego. I need to learn from them and try to make their boons be mine.

She stopped at the petrol station to fill in the tank. At least five different guys came to admire the bike or talk with her. She only grinned happily, answered frankly about Gonzo's bikes and behaved naturally with a simplicity that I always admire and know that it is not mine.

Will I ever be able to move like her? This world is not fair!

Speaking of Gonzo. I did not go straight back home.

I went straight to his workshop. The thought of the situation I've put him in did not give me peace. I needed to speak with him and try to make amends.

From the main road to his house and workshop was a short way of about sixty to seventy meters, and the entry for cars was closed. I parked my bike in front and walked to the house. The small gate for persons opened, so he probably closed the main gate during the night.

The workshop was silent. I wondered if he was still sleeping and thought about leaving when I heard music coming from the other side of the house.

I walked around the house, and to my surprise, I saw there two lovebirds having breakfast on the sunny terrace. They were both dressed in some large bathrobes enjoying the early sun rays.

“Ahm, hello?”

They both were shocked and surprised to see me, as surprised as I was seeing her. A wide grin spread on Cala's face. I mean my face.

As soon as he saw me, Gonzo almost panicked:

“Hi! Do you have a problem?”

I grinned. Well, the existing grin enlarged itself.

“Oh no. I was afraid that I caused you a lot of trouble and wanted to apologize. I see you are fine, so...”

Helen gave me a funny look. I wonder what did he tell her? She hesitatingly pointed towards the table.

“Are you hungry? We are just having breakfast?”

She interrupted me. Plus, she spoke about food. I was just going to leave.

There are rules in this universe, and one of the rules is: that you should never talk about food in front of Cala unless she is really full or face the consequences.

“You don't mind if I join you?”

They looked at each other. I jumped over the small hedge with easiness and came towards them with that grin. Cala was hungry. That breakfast at Matt was since long already digested, and on the table, I saw they had eggs and bacon and vegetables and sausages and cheese and… wow! Somebody had filled the table with goodies!

“Tell her to stop! Let them eat in peace! She just had breakfast, damn it!”

Cala is worse than a bulldog when it is about food. She ate and told them that she had sung with a band the whole night and that there would be a performance coming Thursday. They wanted to hear me singing, but Cala just laughed and said it would be a surprise, they should come there. I told them about that tavern.

The conversation was between Cala and Helen. She hesitatingly tried to understand me and probably the relationship with Gonzo. After being silent for the first ten minutes, he asked me about the bike and how it was going.

Helen was still looking now and then at me. I know she still has some questions. Whatever he told her, she believes him; however, she does not know the whole story and would like to know but hesitates to ask. After I exterminated their food, I left feeling slightly better. At least I did not manage to destroy their emerging friendship… yet.

Arrived at home, Lola informed me that my parents had called, well I already knew that. She also complained that I had not instructed her what to tell, so she had just mumbled something about me being with colleagues.

I told her that it was ok, and then I went straight to bed to make my digestion.

I woke up in the afternoon and went to Matt, where we continued our rehearsal. The boys were already there. There were additional songs they wanted to exercise.

In a break, I found I got a message from Helen. All my messages come in silent mode except those from my parents, and I check my phone only now and then. I do not like when somebody else is pacing my activity, but when we made the break, I had nothing to do and checked for messages. When I saw the one from Helen, I wanted to read it immediately.

What could she be mailing me about?

It was not about Gonzo and me or any questions; it was a piece of information:

'It appears the game we spoke about is up and running (?!). We have no explanation of how this can be true unless somebody is interested in keeping it up. We now have connectivity; I've put the details in a separate email to you. It works through our servers. We are not sure how long it will last.'

I hesitated for one moment. They did their piece of hacking and are now again connected. How long will this work? Are there any risks? Well, I already used that proxy, and it worked for a while; probably, it will be the same again. If I intend to do anything for the Lynx and the others, I should do it now.

Does it matter? Does it even make any sense? It is just a game, is it not so?

Do I have again to pass through this?

I sighed. Singing can wait until tomorrow. I just need to take the Lynx, Sid and the gang out of that cavern, and then I can sleep better. I'll never forgive myself if I do not try now to connect. Even if it is only about my pixelated friends. I'll go for my peace of mind.

I stood up and stopped with a sigh.

Of fuck. I neglected the dream interface issue! I should have checked the used interfaces market, even if I am a little reluctant to buy a used dream interface. These are without guarantee, and there can be all kinds of problems.

“Guys, does anybody have a dream interface to borrow?”

But the moment when I asked the question, I knew the solution: a coffin! Yeah, a rented coffin. Not far away from my home, there is that hotel also known as the vampires' hotel. Well, it is called the vampires' hotel or the zombies' hotel, because people sleep there in coffins called 'dormitories'. Those are just larger drawers with ventilators to give you enough air. It is a very cheap kind of hotel, popular with workers who need a cheap place to sleep for several hours, and some of those coffins are upgraded with dream interfaces.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Those dream interfaces had proved to be a bad investment for the owner, as the workers just want to sleep and are not interested in gaming, but it could be an affordable way to get what I need now. Payment is per hour.

I called the hotel, and they do indeed have a couple of coffins with dream interfaces free.

The hotel is not far away from school so I’ll have to drive back through the whole town.

I left the boys exercising, promising I’ll be back tomorrow. After a little more than half an hour, I was home and could explain to Lola that I’ll leave for a pyjama party.

With whom?

With some gamers. It will be a big party.

Is somebody coming to pick me up? No? Why?

Gonzo was there.

Oh, fuck it, Gonzo! Anytime would be OK, but not now? This idiot comes to visit me unannounced Saturday evening? I could be anywhere; it was only a stupid coincidence that he found me there.

I wanted to tell Lola to get rid of him, lie that I just left, but I could not. Let me see why did he come all the way here?

“Hi, Gonzo!”

“Hey, Dolores! I’m so glad I found you home!”

“Gonzo, you should have called; I’m actually leaving. I’m already late… to my appointment.”

“Oh. Oh, really sorry… Ahm… Could you give me ten minutes? Please? I really need your advice!”

“My advice?”

White Flower clarified it for me:

“It is my advice that he is looking for. Let me lead.”

Oh. Gonzo wants to talk to my fairy.

Whilst she took the lead, I watched him: he was not his usual self. He looked unkempt, was nervously clamping his left hand and had a slight tremor in his voice. He was sweating. I think it was the first time I saw him sweating.

“Come, let’s talk in my room.”

He followed me into my room under the scandalized eyes of Clara. I ignored her. I closed the door to my room and invited him to sit on the only available chair at my desk. I took off my shoes and made myself comfortable sitting cross-legged in my bed.

“So what happened? Is she angry because of me?”

He gave me a distressed look.

“No. I mean, I do not know. I mean… May I tell you the whole story?”

I sighted. Exactly what I need now. I am in a hurry, and he wants to tell me the story of his life. Yet I knew that if I cut it short, he would feel betrayed. So what is more important for me?

He saw my reaction and already bowed his head defeated.

“Gonzo, look, come tomorrow, and I’ll have all the time we need. I’m in a bind now, I am not going to a party, but I really need to help some friends. I need to hurry up!”

I decided to tell him the truth. He gave me a hurt look and sighed:

“I understand.”

He stood up, yet I didn't want to let him go like this.

“Look, I should be able to spare some ten minutes. Tell me what you can now, and we resume the talk tomorrow? Is this OK with you?”

His eyes lighted with new hope. I am no good at extracting sentences from nobody; I let my fairy take the lead. Interesting, the moment she had taken the lead, he suddenly felt more comfortable and started to talk:

“The problem with Helen is not as simple. OK? I have known her since I was in school. She was in a class one year younger than me. I always admired her. It is.. yeah, it is ten years since I first saw her, and from the very first moment, I knew I loved her.”

He raised his eyes. Flo did not say a word but nodded, so he continued:

“I am no good with girls, and we were kids, ok? Until I gathered my courage to talk with her, my best friend was faster than me. What could I do? The two started meeting, and I could not interfere. Well, what hope did I have? She was the leading cheerleader. She was the prettiest girl in school. Honestly.”

He sighed.

OK, the classical: nerd loves the beauty. Probably all nerds in that school were in love with her.

Probably even with Flo in the lead, he felt my feelings as he added fast:

“OK, OK, It’s stupid, I know, but I could not change my feelings. I tried to live with the fact that she did not even look at me. After we finished school, I concentrated on my shop and work. The first years were hard. I‘ve also met a couple of girls, but I did not find in them what I was looking for.”

That's also a way of saying it. He chuckled:

“It sounds cliche, but this is the truth: I’ve never met a girl like her. My friend went to university, and we have met only a couple of times since then. In one such meeting, I was surprised to learn that he ditched her about a year ago. How could he have ditched her? I could not imagine it, but it happened!

I immediately tried to find her, and with some luck, I met her in the gamers community. I was lost, not knowing how to talk with her and what to do, so I was very grateful for your ideas and what you told me to do. To my surprise, it worked, and I was meeting with her, even briefly.”

“Was? What happened?”

“Well, you know, after that incident, after she saw us….”

OK, it was me. He continued:

“we two left. We went to a party where I had invited her. It was in a cabin in the woods, about half an hour drive away with another two pairs from the gamers community.”

“Another two pairs?”

“Yes. She accepted it, and I was in the ninth heaven. I met my friend, and I told him. The surprise was that my friend also came to the cabin. I told him I'll go there with her, and I thought he might come with his new girlfriend, but he came alone and even asked Helen to leave with him when he left. He told her that he would gladly drive her home if she so wished.”

“What an asshole! Is this what you call a friend? Your best friend?”

He gave me a pained look but then continued:

“She stayed. She did not leave with him. That was the best moment in my life. Honestly, I never felt happier.”

I watched him askew:

“Buuut?”

“Well, after that, we went to my place where you found us in the morning.”

“Oh….”

OK. Was that the reason? That I went to make amends? He continued:

“After that, she talked to me about pregnancy. That she fears that she will remain pregnant.”

Oh. She had other worries.

“What did you say?”

“I did not say anything. Why would a beauty like her accept to get out with a nobody like me? I guess that she might have gotten pregnant before, and she tries to dump her kid on me. You know abortions are prohibited in this state.”

“I know.” - I watched him – “Did you have safe sex?”

Me asking a man if he had safe sex. He shook his head:

“Certainly not.”

Certainly not? He continued:

“I love her. I would be glad to marry her even with a child. Marriage is for life, and I would gladly raise her child even if not mine, but I would like her to be honest with me and tell me if this is the case.”

“Can it be that she really is afraid?”

"So fast after we did it? Her uncle is a gynaecologist; he must be able to tell her if this is the case.”

Because she wants to go to her uncle?

“So what happened?”

“Well, we met the afternoon, and she told me that it is probably time that we go separate ways.”

“And you?”

“Well, if she wants to separate, I will accept her decision. I want the best for her….”

I put my hand in my hair. No, this level of fuckery is not possible.

“Gonzo, do you love her? Yes or no?”

“I do”

“Are you sure?”

“Sure? I was always sure.”

"If she is really pregnant with your child? Is that a problem for you?"

"What? Nothing in this world would make me happier than having a child with her but can you feel instant that you got pregnant?"

I watched him as he told me that.

“You idiot, go and tell her this!! The first part of it. I don’t know what you told her and how you explained to her what happened between us, and I see that she trusted you. She trusted your brained explanations, and you do not trust her? If you love her, go and do what you can to get her back!”

“But, but… what should I tell her?”

I watched him dumbfounded. There is only one sentence that he needs to tell her. That one sentence that he already told me. Is this a general men thing or is he a special case? Why can't he find the right words at the right time?

“Tell her exactly what you told me about her child. That is what you should have answered. Don’t let anybody else stop you from telling her. Gonzo, consider that she is going to die if you do not tell her this because the love she nurtured for you will die. Do you want to save her? Then do what you must. Do you understand me?”

Well, metaphorical speaking, in this multiverse, a version of her together with him lives or dies depending on what he will succeed or fail to achieve.

He left in a hurry. I watched the door after he left. Were there other aspects in this story that I did not grasp? Were ten minutes too short, and I did not get the message? Or was he so blind that he could not see what was under his nose?

Either he finds her now and clears his soul, or he will be left for his whole life to think about this fuckery where he lost her.

Does he even deserve her?

But I have no time now to think about his problems, his little love story. What if I fail to rescue the Lynx and the others because I lost ten minutes with him?

I left in a hurry.