The rest of the weekend passed uneventfully. On Sunday, Kyuubi staged an anti-video-game protest that threatened to turn violent if we dared log on for even the slightest moment just to check our in-game mail. So Dad gave in to his demands, packed his pockets with candy and together we headed downtown to the cinema.

"One for each of you," he explains, pressing the tickets into our palms. "Just to get past the ushers..then we can movie-hop all day long.. Oh and Naruto," He looked at me with a sheepish grin," I got you a child's ticket.. if anyone asks, you need to tell them that you're eleven..ok?"

"Okay..." I said reluctantly. "Whatever.." Dad was weird like that.. I mean I know my height didn't exactly match that of an eighteen year old and my babyish face wasn't helping either. Sure, He'd drop a thousand dollars on a souped-up computer without thinking twice about it, but totally balk at spending a couple extra dollars on an adult movie ticket for his teenage son. I think he liked the idea of feeling like he was getting away with something. He winked at me as we handed over our tickets to a zit-faced, bored usher- who would have probably let me in if I'd insisted I was an eighty-three year old grandpa- and then high-fived me as I officially entered into the inner sanctum of the AMC.

"Nice job, kiddo!" He praised, "Way to stick it to the man."

I didn't know who he considered the "Man" in this scenario. (It couldn't be the usher?) But I did reluctantly admit to myself, not for the first time, that Mom could be onto something with her whole "You dad never grew up" Theory.

We watched three movies in a row. I slept through most of the last one, bored out of my mind, all I wanted to do was to go home and play Fields of Fantasy with Sir Raven . I wondered if he'd logged on this afternoon. If he was playing right this very second... if he missed me and wondered where I was. I hoped he didn't think I was avoiding him after our convo last night...

I sighed, Shoveling a handful from my third bag of popcorn in my mouth.

"Free refills!" Dad had said when he bought the large. "Fill up and we won't have to eat dinner!"

I'd just have to log in the second I got home...straighten things out between us... after all, Sir Raven's friendship was about the only good thing happening in my life right now. The last thing I needed was to screw that up too.

xxx

Dad dropped us off around six. Mom had cooked a three course meal that both Kyu and I were too full to eat, thanks to about fifteen buckets of extra-buttered popcorn, three giant bags of M&M's and at least a gallon of coke. When questioned, Dad swore we had hit the all-you-can-eat salad bar on the way home and Kyu and I were just too stuffed with wholesome lettucey goodness to eat another bite.

I could tell Mom didn't believe him for one second, even when Kyu and I grunted confirmations to his outrageous lie, just so they wouldn't start fighting again. Das made a quick exit out the door and I headed upstairs, despite pleas from Mom that I come watch the latest and greatest episode from some random NBC drama or other that she had become addicted to. Three movies in a row had already put me over my limit for passive, mindless media. I needed something interactive to excite my weary brain.

I needed Fields of Fantasy.

Or- because who was I fooling..really? I needed Sir Raven.

I shut my door, blocking out the real world, and sat down at my computer, ready to immerse myself in the life I was already starting to prefer. The one where parents didn't lie and fight, where friends didn't let me down. Where bullies didn't torture me.. and where I could hang with the guy who was fast becoming my best friend.

If he wasn't mad at me...

Aurelius smiled as he appeared on the screen, as if he were happy to be back online. A blinking message told me I had new mail. I walked him over to the mailbox outside the inn and took a look.

Aurelius,

Hope you didn't get annoyed at me asking you all those questions yesterday. I guess it's just that I think you're really cool and I was curious about the real-life you. But I totally understand what your dad says about not giving out personal info on the Web. It's smart really. And there's no way for me to prove that I really am who I say I am.

Anyway, I hope we can still play and You're not mad at me 'cause I think your amazing.

Also, your magic comes in wayyyy handy with the dragons and stuff, lol just kidding..(well sorta).

Love,

Sir Raven.

I could feel the smile spreading across my face, the annoyances of the day fading away into oblivion. He was so sweet, So so sweet. I reread the note, tingles prickling all the way down to my toes. He liked me. He really, really liked me. He even signed his note with LOVE!

AHHHH!

I checked to see if he was online. No luck, I guess I'd just have to write him back.

Dear Sir Raven,

It's all good, I totally still want to hang out and play. Sorry about last night...Actually, I only closed the screen because my dad came by and he'd have gotten really mad if he saw me talking to someone about real-life stuff after he told me not to. He's real anal llike that. Anyway, I still want to play as much as possible,'cause I love this game and you're totally fun to be around (not to mention you're a great tank- little cloth-robed me would totally be smooshed without you! Haha).

I paused, trying to decide how to end the note. The deciding to be daring, I signed "XOXOXOXO" and then Aurelius.

After all, he signed 'love' first. Then I hit send before I could chicken out and delete them again.

Because even if, for neccessary reasons, the guy who played Sir Raven couldn't be my real-life boyfriend, there was no harm...no foul, for Sir Raven to be hooking up with Aurelius online,... was there?

I just wanted to thank everyone who left a review on the last chapter, it honestly makes me want to keep writting.

with love,

RoboArrow.

Please review!