If you read the version posted on Wattpad, there is an original drawing of my OC Bobby Towers, who makes his debut in this chapter. Next chapter will feature a drawing of Kaitlyn Wiles, who is also an OC of mine.

Please enjoy and review!

Next Monday after hastily signing up for the Apocalypse of the Damned tournament, Michael and I headed to GameMania! after school. The tournament hosts had emailed every contestant, saying that if there was more than one team in a district, there would be a preliminary round to take place in that district's local arcade. The winners of that mini competition would go to Hilton Head Island, where the main contest was being held. I knew Michael and I were good, but I couldn't help wondering as Michael drove us to the arcade: who else around here played and loved AotD enough to enter a competition?

"Hey, Michael, Jeremy!" Bobby moved out from behind the register as Michael and I walked into GameMania!. The arcade was fairly empty, save for a few kids near the Pac-Man machine. "Good to see you guys! How's high school treatin' ya?"

Bobby was a college student at the local university. He worked part-time at GameMania! and often did his homework while manning the register.

"The semester only just started, but so far so good," I said as I took a glance at the counter. "Got an exam coming up?" Textbooks and random papers were scattered haphazardly all over the glass surface.

Bobby sighed and brushed some of his curly hair away from his face. "Unfortunately. We're not even a week back, but Professor Greckle wants us to take a pretest on the new material. Which everyone knows is teacher code for 'how much do the little shits remember?'" We laughed at Bobby's impression of his professor. "Anyway, what can I do for you guys?"

Michael leaned against the counter and grinned. "We're here for the AotD preliminary round.".

Bobby's eyebrows raised. "Oh, so you're the second team?" He stared off into space for a second, then hmphed. "Dunno why I'm surprised 'bout that."

"The others are already here?" My stomach flipped.

"Yup. C'mon, they're in the staff room." Bobby took a set of keys off a hook behind the register and led us to the back of the arcade. "Gotta say, you guys might have some actual competition."

My mouth felt dry. Michael glanced at me concernedly. "You okay, Jer?"

I nodded. "Just pre-game jitters." Pull it together, Heere. Preferably before you start stuttering.

With a dull jangle of keys, Bobby unlocked the staff room door and led us inside.

Black walls and stiff, dark blue carpet mirrored the arcade outside. A small wooden table sat in the corner, coffee rings dotting its surface. Mediocre foldable chairs were set up in front of a small television. In one of the chairs sat Ponytail Girl—Kaitlyn, I reminded myself. She was furiously button-mashing, her avatar throwing everything it had at the onslaught of zombies. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough and she died. "Noooooo. No. I won't accept defeat. Not when I was that close!" She slumped, arm flopping over her face, controller still in hand.

The other person giggled, the fluorescent lighting glinting off her dark hair. "When you try your best but you don't suceeeeed..."

My heart stopped. So much for pulling it together.

Kaitlyn shoved Christine, the pair laughing. "Shut up."

"Hey, ladies," Bobby said, twirling the key ring around his finger. "Your competition's here."

"Finally!" Kaitlyn launched herself off the chair, whirling around as she did so. Christine turned in her chair, her face morphing from curiosity, to astonishment, to excitement.

"I'll go get the challenge instructions." Bobby left.

Michael nudged me. "You okay playing against your girlfriend?" he asked quietly.

"Mhm." I didn't dare open my mouth for fear of what would come out. Shit, shit, shit, shit...

Kaitlyn came over to us, grinning. "Michael and Jeremy, right? From World History?"

"Yeah." Michael nodded, speaking for both of us. "I didn't know you and Christine knew each other."

"We didn't! We were just put together as partners in drama class, and boof! Instant friendship!" Kaitlyn bounced on the balls of her feet. "It was Christine's idea to sign up for the tournament, actually."

"I remember you talked about playing AotD with Michael a lot, Jeremy." I nearly jumped out of my skin as Christine spoke up beside me. I didn't even see her leave her seat. "I thought it sounded fun, so Kaitlyn and I decided to give the tournament a shot."

"We've been practicing for the past two days, and it turns out this firecracker is incredible!" Kaitlyn's eyes shone with competitiveness. "If you're inclined to go easy against your girl, Jeremy, I wouldn't advise it. She's got tricks up her sleeve." Christine gave Kaitlyn an odd glance, but said nothing.

"Okay, the moderator is back!" Bobby said, entering with a packet of paper. "Everyone head on over to the television and we'll get this show on the road."

Thank God. A distraction. My palms were sweating, and I'm pretty sure my face had started to turn slightly red. Michael and I grabbed some chairs and sat behind the girls as Bobby flipped through the packet and started to read. "Each team will select one player to compete. The players will play AotD per normal. After a player has died, their zombie counter is their final score. There is no respawn, and players are not allowed to kill each other. Whichever player has the highest zombie count will move on in the competition with their team." Bobby lowered the packet. "Everyone understand?"

We nodded.

"Then, children," Bobby said, deepening his voice and raising his arms as if he were summoning. "Choose your champion!"

The girls immediately turned to each other, discussing in hushed voices. Michael looked at me thoughtfully. "I think we're just about evenly matched," he said. "So, do you want to rock paper scissors for it?"

I shook my head, my mind having been made up when Bobby said only one of us would compete. "You play."

"What?"

"Don't give me the evenly matched bullshit," I said, my nerves softening as I finally looked Michael in the eyes. "You're better than me and we both know it. You're going to play and you're going to get us to the next round." I held up my hand as Michael opened his mouth. "Yeah, I'm sure. Besides, I can tell you want to."

Michael chewed on his bottom lip as he studied me. Then he smiled. "Thanks, Jer."

"'Course. Give 'em hell for me."

"You boys made your decision yet?" Bobby called. Kaitlyn and Christine were on either side of him, grinning.

Michael nodded, standing up. "I'll be playing."

"Better be prepared to lose, then," Christine said, stepping forward. "You'll be going against me."

Kaitlyn and I had been kicked out of the staff room. The rules had mandated that the player's teammates weren't allowed in the same area while they were playing, so that left the two of us wandering the arcade while Bobby refereed the match. We eventually ended up back at the register.

"So, uh..." Kaitlyn heaved herself up onto the counter, moving some of Bobby's papers. "I know you're not really Christine's boyfriend."

I had to do a double take when I heard that. "Wh—how?"

"I asked if she was seeing anyone. She told me that she had just broken up with a guy named Jeremy." She shrugged, her legs kicking and thumping lightly against the glass. "I put two and two together."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

A moment of silence passed before something else clicked in my head. "Wait, so if you know Christine and I broke up, why did you call her 'my girl'?" I made air quotes.

"Because I heard Michael call her 'your girlfriend'." Kaitlyn used air quotes right back at me. "And from what Christine told me about you, you and Michael are super close."

"He's my best friend."

"Exactly. So, I figured that if you didn't tell him, it must've been for a good reason and you plan to tell him later. I'm not gonna step on your toes."

"Huh." I mulled it over, pulling myself up to sit next to her. "Thanks."

"Yeah, sure. So." Kaitlyn swung her legs up onto the counter, using the momentum to spin toward me. She folded them criss-cross and planted her hands on her knees, leaning forward. "Why haven't you told him?"

"What?"

"Like I said, you must've had a good reason not to tell Michael. Spill."

I felt heat creeping up my face. "Um..."

Kaitlyn smiled. "I'm not going to let it slip to anyone. I promise."

After a moment, I sighed, relenting. "Christine told me that someone else has a crush on me, and apparently I like this person, too."

Kaitlyn hummed. "Any idea who it is?"

"Not a damn clue."

"That sucks." A beat of silence. "Was Christine upset when she broke it off?"

"Uh...no," I said, caught off-guard. "She said that she actually thinks of me more like a brother than a boyfriend. Which is cool, I guess."

"But you want it to be more?"

"Well, I want her to be happy more than anything," I explained. "I mean, yeah, I wish she hadn't broken up with me, but if I had known I wasn't making her happy, then I probably would have broken it off myself." I shrugged, gazing down at my knees. "Christine also told me that when I figured out who I had a crush on, she'd be happy to help me out. I'm just glad she still wants to be in my life. I'll take her anyway I can."

A heavy weight crashed into my side, almost knocking the air from my lungs. Kaitlyn had latched onto me, hugging tightly. "You, Jeremy Heere, are the definition of a pure cinnamon roll." She looked up at me, grinning. "And that's a compliment."

"Thanks. I think," I said, half laughing as I patted her on the back.

Kaitlyn chuckled as she let go and lay flat on her back, legs swinging idly while her head hung over the edge. "Okay, so since we basically just had a heart to heart, I feel like I should tell you something about myself."

I leaned back on my hands. "Sure, go for it."

Kaitlyn took a deep breath. "I'mbisexual."

I blinked. "What?"

"I'm bisexual," she repeated, slower. "I asked Christine if she was in a relationship 'cause I wanted to ask her out."

"Oh." I processed the information, my brain taking a second to catch up. "Oh."

Kaitlyn sat up, watching me carefully. "You're not, like, homophobic or anything, right?"

"Huh? No, oh, no!" I said quickly. "I just wasn't expecting a coming out speech."

Kaitlyn relaxed a bit. "And you're okay with me liking Christine?"

"Of course," I said, bumping her shoulder. "Just don't hurt her. She doesn't deserve that."

"I know, and that's the last thing I want for her." She smiled, relieved. "You know this makes us friends, now, right? You shared shit about yourself, I shared shit about myself, so now we're friends."

I grinned. "Doesn't mean I won't do a victory dance when Michael comes out the winner."

"Please. Christine is a master! I have complete faith in her skills."

"A tie?" I stared at a sheepish Michael and Christine, slack-jawed.

Kaitlyn was equally baffled. "How in the hell did it end in a tie?"

"I don't know!" Michael burst out. "Christine died first, so I was trying to catch up to her score, then I died, looked at the zombie counter and it was a tie!"

"Bobby's calling the tournament officials now," Christine added. "But I think Michael and Jeremy should move on."

"What?!" the three of us exclaimed.

Christine wrung her hands, concern written all over her face. "Michael lasted longer, so it makes sense, right?"

"Hey, guys." Bobby had returned. "Just got off the phone with the judges. All of you are moving forward."

Michael's eyes widened behind his glasses. "How, though? I thought it was a two-player team event!"

Bobby shrugged. "The deal is you guys will rotate out playing. Christine and Kaitlyn will compete, then Jeremy and Michael, so on and so on. If one team is eliminated, the other will continue on in the rest of the tournament, so you don't affect each other's chances. If by some miracle you both make it to the finale, then you will play against each other."

We all glanced at one another. "So, we're basically one big team...that doesn't play like a team," I said slowly.

Bobby nodded. "Yep."

"Well, at least none of us are out," Kaitlyn spoke up. "Not yet, anyway."

"The competition is in Hilton Head, though," Christine said. "How would we all get down there?"

"Jeremy and I were planning to drive down ourselves and call our parents when we get there," Michael said. "We'd offer you guys a ride, but I don't think all of us, plus our luggage would fit in my car."

"I'd be more than happy to give you guys a lift," Bobby said.

Christine's brow furrowed. "Are you sure, Bobby?"

"Yeah, why not? There's more than enough room in my minivan. Besides—" Bobby smirked. "I'm invested now. I wanna see how this plays out, so to speak."

Christine, Kaitlyn and I groaned good-naturedly at Bobby's pun while Michael gave a thumbs up, grinning. "Then it's settled. Christine, Kaitlyn, think you guys can be ready by tomorrow?"

"That was a curveball," Michael sighed, shifting in the driver's seat as he pulled out of the GameMania! parking lot.

"No shit." I leaned my head against the window, closing my eyes and letting the tension drain out of me. Talking about Christine and Michael had left me feeling both anxious and relaxed, like a weight had been taken off my back, but another added to my arms.

"Hey, what did Kaitlyn say to you?" Michael asked after about ten minutes of silence, taking the left toward my neighborhood.

"Um..."

"Tell him." Kaitlyn's steel blue eyes burned into mine, so different from Christine's dark brown ones. She had caught me by the arm and dragged me back a fraction just after exiting GameMania. Michael had given me an odd look, but went to start up his car. "It's completely your choice, but you should tell Michael. He shouldn't be left in the dark. He doesn't deserve that."

"I—"

"Trust me." It was odd, seeing blue fire. But that's what I saw in Kaitlyn's eyes, shining bright and fierce. "It'll be better in the long run."

She let me go with a meaningful look, then trotted after Christine. The girls grabbed the bikes that were leaning against the building, and sped off.

"Nothing." Discontent settled in my stomach. "It didn't matter."

"M'kay." Michael slowed to a stop in front of my house. "Pick you up tomorrow at around eight?"

The pit that had been gnawing in my stomach suddenly spit out butterflies, flapping wildly and tickling my sides. If only the words had held a different meaning, perhaps not for a rendezvous with friends, but something more personal, more intimate...

Shut up, Heere. This is Michael. Mi-chael. Your best friend. Your brain is just in overdrive. You're overreacting.

"Yeah, sure." I opened the car door and stepped out, but something stopped me from closing it. Kaitlyn's words floated back to me. Tell him. He doesn't deserve being left in the dark.

I spun, moving completely on a whim. "Christine and I broke up."

Michael barely blinked. "I figured."

"Wait, you already know?"

"Well, now I do." Michael rested his arm on the steering wheel as he turned halfway to face me. "I thought something was up when you and Christine didn't hug when you first saw each other. Then when we took a water break in the middle of the match, I asked how and her were doing and she changed topics without answering. But, you okay, man? With the break up?"

The butterflies quieted, finding random perches to land on and lazily open and close their wings. "Yeah. Kaitlyn and I talked while you two were playing. I'm good."

Something crossed Michael's face. He smiled, but it looked a tad forced. "Good, then. See you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow," I said quickly. I closed the car door and began the walk up the front path. I hadn't taken more than two steps when the PT Cruiser drove off. I frowned, confused. Had I said something wrong?

The thoughts stayed in my mind as I entered my house and had a small, mediocre parent/son conversation with my dad. But I shook my head as I went into my room, grabbing a small suitcase from the hall closet. I had to pack for Hilton Head. I had to focus on the challenges ahead.

It's game time.