When Elizabeta had first found out about the convention, she was ecstatic. She could meet the people who she considered to be her best friends in real life! It was a dream come true. It also helped that the con was fairly close to her home in Jacksonville.

However, there were a few downsides. These downsides had been haunting her thoughts since she had told her other friends about this meetup. Elizabeta was nervous. Her ruse was up. The gaming world was going to find out that she was a girl. How would her friends react? Roderich had already said that he couldn't make it. That was understandable, as he did live in New York and the drive would take him almost thirty hours. But, what about Gil? He had also confessed to feeling anxious about the meetup. He said it was something physical. He was probably just worried because he was too pale from staying on the computer for so long. Elizabeta had always found pale boys to be cute. That wasn't a problem. Elizabeta had a big problem. Would Gil even acknowledge her? Would he laugh at her?

Elizabeta decided that if she had to be a girl, that she would go all out. She wore a patterned sundress that she had bought a while back. Hell, she even put a flower in her packed a quick bag containing a few outfits and necessities for the weekend. She was getting more anxious by the second. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. She checked her reflection in the mirror quick and smoothed down her hair. She gathered up all of her things.

Elizabeta had her brother come with her to the convention. One, because he loved this game just as much as she did, and two, for moral support. If her other friends completely ditched her, she could always just hang around with now he was just lounging around on her couch, eating doritos and itching to get on the road. It would take them three hours to drive to Tampa and the convention started at five. Elizabeta figured that they could get there at around three, get checked into their hotel and settled by four and then be on their way to the con.

"Ready to go?" She asked as she entered the living room, both of their luggage in tow.

"Wow, Eli, you look so fancy! Why are you so dressed up?"

Elizabeta giggled. "It's just a dress Henry!"

"Yeah, but you never wear dresses." Henry said, taking his bag from her.

"Oh, hush you." Elizabeta smiled.

She ushered them both out the door, making sure to lock it behind her. The two made their way down the driveway, to the little Honda Civic that she owned. Maybe it wasn't the most stylish car, but it did it's job of getting her to and from work. They both climbed into their seats. Elizabeta smoothed down her dress. She took a deep breath to soothe her nerves. She started the car, and off they went.

"Can I turn the radio on?" Henry asked.

"Yeah, sure! Whatever station you want." The radio would be a welcome distraction to her ever growing anxieties. Henry fiddled around with the dial for a bit before settling on the Alternative station. Apparently, Henry knew the song that was playing. He sang along loudly.

Elizabeta laughed. "Nice singing." She remarked.

"Oh, shush, Eli. You wish you had these rad skills." Her brother joked. Elizabeta's brother always had a way to cheer her up. He had been so sad when she moved away from home. Luckily, he went to a college that was only a couple hours away. She felt her nerves settle. This convention would be fun. Everything would be fine. Elizabeta knew it was. It's not like she was the only girl gamer out there. It would be good. For about an hour.

Sadly, Henry decided that after a few rounds of Arizona tea and the old mixtape a hiding in the back of Elizabeta's dust-filled glove compartment, he wanted to stretch his legs.

"Eli, I want a burger." Henry said as he thinks his head on the cool window. Elizabeta looked out at Orlando. The rising sun hovered over the lit buildings, and the steady stream if cars and trucks zoomed past over the endless interstate exchanges.

"Eli, are you listening to me? I want a burger." Henry said louder.

"What happened to the pretzels?" Elizabeta asked.

Henry lifted up the full bag towards her. "They expired a month ago." Elizabeta looked at the bag. Suddenly, Henry dropped the bag and pointed at the windshield.

"Look out!" Elizabeta whipped her gaze to the front. A small Volkswagen decided to use this time to slam its brakes to a halt, forcing Elizabeta to close in on the car. She screamed, and her hands yanked the wheel to the right, forcing them to jumble onto the exit ramp to downtown Orlando. They made it to the bottom of the ramp, and the car lurched to a halt at the red light. Elizabeta swatted Henry's shoulder.

"You planned that, didn't you?"

"Well...I didn't want us to die," Henry said. "But now we have to stop for a burger."

"Fine. I'll stop at the 7/11 and get one." Henry clutched his chest and leaned back.

"Are you crazy? We have to have a real burger."

Elizabeta crossed her arms. "There's no way you're making us late. End of story."

The gentle heat swooped down on the patrons outside of Julio's Bar and Grill. Elizabeta and Henry sat at the green garden table with white table cloth in between the cool metal and the ice tea resting on it.

Henry smiled as he set down a glass. "Isn't it great to pause life for a minute?" Henry said with a snicker.

"It's one o'clock, Henry." Elizabeta said as she rested her head on a hand.

"We wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for me." Henry said.

"I could say that about many things." Elizabeta said.

"Please. Your life as an only child would have been miserable. Anyway, you haven't talked to me much lately."

"Yeah I do." Elizabeta said as she adjusted her brown hair away from her eyes.

"You know things aren't as fun as before. At college, I mean. You'd think they'd be all fun and games, but their real stick in the muds. I'd like to say its because I'm too much energy for those losers, but I guess I have to face the facts."

"And what's that?" "Some places just aren't cool enough for me."

Elizabeta rolled her eyes. "So you're gonna drop out?"

Henry shook his head. "For as much as I love to be the life of the party, it's tiring. I haven't had proper beauty sleep in a long time."

Elizabeta laughed. "I don't think any amount of beauty sleep could save you now."

"Hey, that hurts. I can't help if I didn't get your foreign genes." Henry said before taking a sip of the tea.

"So you'd rather have lived with a boring, American family?"

Henry gasped. "Lord no. No one would've cared if I was from a boring family with no sister. Especially one that broke my leg four times."

Now it was Elizabeta's turn to gasp. She leaned forward. "You gave me bruises, too."

"You should swing by some time. My new roommate saw that picture of you from Christmas, and now he has a huge crush on you."

Elizabeta laughed like a honking horn on the motorcycle screeching past. A few of the people outside looked at her as she keeled over and clutched her stomach. She wiped away a small tear. "Are you setting me up with your roommate?" She asked, still catching her breath.

"He's a year older than me and Greek. You know what they say about Greeks."

"I don't, but I have a feeling your gonna become perverted in a second, so enough of this love talk."

"Seriously, though. Come by. Things aren't as great without..."

Elizabeta looked up. Henry was stuffing his face with a burger, leaving streaks of barbecue sauce around his mouth.

"As great whiteout what?" She asked Henry suddenly stood up and strode past Elizabeta, only barking out "bathroom" for an excuse. Elizabeta looked at him as he disappeared, narrowing her eyes slightly.

"Never mind, I guess." Elizabeta said.