It was an important night for me. Tonight is the night I finally moved in with Andrea. We had a huge party already with all of our friends, after which I kissed Sean goodnight, promising to see him tomorrow one way or another. And then I looked around at my new room for a second -- no, a third time that year. The second was the house that Sean had walked me home to a couple times, and the first house was one where we had actually managed to stay for more than six months. I let out a sigh of relief, pulling off my clothes and changing into a warm nightgown. I plomped down upon my bed, curling up and squeezing my pillow.

Uugghhh... why can't this be Seeeaaannn... I lamented internally, wondering if he ever did the same. I probably wouldn't ask him straight out about it, but it'd be cute to find out. A knock came to the door of my new room, and I quickly sat up.

“Come in!” I said, and Andrea, basically my new sister, came in, wearing her own two-piece nighties. She sat down next to me and hugged me.

“I'm glad we had a room for you!” she said as I hugged her back.

“Me too!” I said, tears of happiness once again crawling down my face. She kissed my cheeks, and then we slid down to the floor together. We talked about a lot of things together then, about how life at her house would be, about our plans and hopes for the future, about school assignments and goals for our adventures in Panarena, about all of the guys who were getting really envious of Sean, and then we fell quiet for a moment. I then looked over at her; she had taken her glasses off for the night, which almost surprised me. She almost never took them off in school, except to clean them up.

“Andrea... what do you think would have happened if I hadn't come to this town?” I suddenly wondered.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Hmm?” she looked over at me. “What do you mean?” she asked.

“Like... with Sean... we're all together now because of the game, do you think the five of you would have gotten together without me?” I said to her, wondering what she thought.

“Hmm...” she returned, an unsatisfied look on her face. “I guess some of us might have. Ellie would definitely have dragged me into it by now, and Mary would be along for the ride. We might have brought Sean along... after all, he is...” Andrea trailed off then, an almost sad smile on her face.

“Y-don't tell me you also had a crush on him?” I said with a nervous laugh. Mary and I had talked it out earlier, and I was satisfied with her explanation.

I did have -- no, I do have a crush on him. But... I'm happy. You two were meant for each other. I mean it. Maybe someday these feelings will truly go away... but for now, please believe me when I say I want to be your friend, both of you, and that I don't ever want to come between you, she had told me.

“Not as strong as Mary's,” Andrea shook her head.

“Oh?” I remarked, genuinely interested now.

“It was more like... he looked so lonely, and I wanted to see if I could brighten his world if I got the chance. I'm glad you beat me to it, though, and I'm--” she broke off again, wrapping me in another tight hug. I hugged her back, both of us softly crying. “Don't you ever let go of him.” she said to me.

“I never will.” I promised. “I never will.” We fell asleep together side by side, wrapped in each other's arms. For the first time in my life, I finally knew what it was like to have a sister. Sisters in-game, and sisters for life.

I won't let go of you, either... any of you, I promised as we fell asleep together. I didn't say it out loud, but I saw Andrea's lips twitch in a smile anyway before my eyes closed in sleep. A dream of soft meadows appeared before my slumbering mind, and I heard someone call my name.

Sean.