"So was this a birthday gift?" I ask.
"No. I bought it myself."
I laugh. "Yeah, right."
"I did. I even paid cash."
"C'mon, Wes. This car had to be at least fifty thousand."
"Sounds about right." He stops at an intersection, waiting for traffic to clear, then turns down the street.
"Seriously, is this your dad's car and he let you take it because you had a date?"
"No. It's mine. I bought it."
"With what? Did you win the lottery? Inherit a large sum of money?"
He glances at me. "You care if we stop somewhere? We have time before the party."
"Where do you want to go?"
"There's a coffee shop up ahead. You hungry at all?"
"No, but I could get something to drink."
We go to the coffee shop and get some drinks, then sit outside on the patio.
"I need to tell you something," he says, bobbing his straw up and down in the plastic cup.
"Go ahead."
He sits back in his chair. "A few years ago I started developing video games. I just did it for fun. They weren't very good but I thought it was cool and I liked doing it so my dad sent me to some classes and I learned more about coding."
"Like software coding?"
"Yeah. I've always been interested in coding, even when I was really young. And it turns out I'm pretty good at it. I took the classes with adults and was writing more advanced code than them. Even the teacher was impressed. I guess it just comes naturally to me. I started creating video games and got better at it and eventually made one that was worth selling. I put it up for sale online and had thousands of downloads in just the first week. It took off from there and now I've got a company looking to buy it. That's why I—"
"Wait. Before you continue, what is this game? Is it something I would've heard of?"
He gets out his phone and shows me the logo of the monkey that was on his shirt the other day. Now I remember where I've seen that logo. It's from Monkey Mummy, a really popular online video game. It features this monkey who's a mummy and lives in a tomb where bananas are buried and he goes on a mission to find them all. If he finds a gold banana, you get extra points. There are different levels and the goal is to score points for finding bananas but also to find your way through all the underground tunnels in the hopes of reaching the hidden tomb, called the King's Ransom, that's filled with gold bananas.
I don't even play video games and yet I know about Monkey Mummy because so many people play it. It's that popular.
My jaw drops. "You created Monkey Mummy?"
"And some others, but the rest are still in development. Actually one is in the testing phase. I hired a research firm to do the testing since it's a little hard to do all this when you're still in high school."
"So is this why you've been gone so much? You're working on your new game?"
"The game is already developed. I was gone because I had meetings this week about other stuff. Budget. Scheduling. And Friday I had a presentation to give to the company that wants to buy the licensing rights to Monkey Mummy. When I said I'm doing independent study at school, it's actually stuff for my business."
"Wow. I can't believe you created Monkey Mummy. Why haven't you told anyone? Do you know how popular you'd be if people knew this about you?"
"That's why I kept it a secret. I don't want people liking me because of this. I wanted to see how people would treat me if they didn't know."
"So you're never going to tell anyone?"
"They'll find out this week, or maybe tonight at the party. I'm not going to make a big deal out of it, but if someone sees my car and asks how I got it, I'll tell them."
"So you purposely didn't tell people last week."
"Yeah. And now I know who I could be friends with and who would only be friends with me for my money. Just wait. Once people find out, the people who were assholes will suddenly want to be friends."
"Were you testing me too?"
"No. I knew right away you weren't like the others. You made some comments about how I dressed and the briefcase but you didn't stop being friends with me because of it. In fact, I think you thought it was kinda cool." He grins. "Am I right?"
"Maybe. I do tend to go for the weird, quirky type. But are you saying that was all an act?"
"Not at all. I mean, part of it was. I don't usually take a briefcase to school, and the plaid blazer wasn't what I'd typically wear, but other than that, I was just being myself." He chuckles. "The more you get to know me, you'll find I have many other quirky traits."
"So being friends with me wasn't just some test to see how people would react?"
His expression turns serious. "Luna, I would never use you like that. I know you don't know me that well yet but I'm not that type of person. I would never do something like that."
I didn't think he would but I had to make sure. After all the pranks people have pulled on me over the years, I'm always cautious. I don't easily trust people.
"Can I try it?" I ask.
"Try what?"
"Your game. I played it once but it was last year so I don't remember it that well."
He hands me his phone, then gets up and comes around the table to sit beside me. "So the goal is to help Monkey Mummy find the bananas." He reaches in front of me and starts the game. "Just lead him through the tunnels and when you see a banana, try to grab it. It goes slow in the beginning. In higher levels, the bananas start flying out everywhere."
"I remember this now." I see a banana ahead and make the monkey run to get it but he misses. "Crap. He didn't get it."
"There'll be more." He leans closer so he can see the screen. "There's one. See it?"
"Yeah." I make the monkey jump to grab it. "Got it!" I laugh. "This is fun. How'd you come up with this?"
"I just figured people like monkeys, and mummies are popular, so why not combine the two?"
"Who designed all the graphics?"
"A friend of mine."
"Another coding genius?"
"Her talents are more on the graphic design side but she does know some coding."
"She?" I pause the game and look at him. "Was this someone you used to go out with?"
"We didn't at first. We were friends for years. Then last year we started dating. She's older than me. She started college this year."
"Is that why you two broke up?"
"No. It just wasn't working between us. We were better as friends."
"Well, she did a great job on the graphics."
"Yeah, she did. I gave her half my profits the first year, which will pay for her college."
"You mean like for a semester?"
"No, I mean like all four years. This game made a lot of money. Still does. And I'll make even more if I sell it."
"Do you think you will?"
"I don't know. I haven't decided yet. Since it was my first game, I'm a little sentimental about it."
"What does your ex-girlfriend think you should do?"
"She thinks I should sell it. If I do, I'll be able to use the money to create more games."
So he still talks to his ex and still gets advice from her. Maybe that means he's not over her. That would be just my luck; to start falling for a guy who's already taken.
Chapter Ten
"Does she still do your graphics?" I ask, resuming the game.
"Not all of them. She doesn't have time. I hire a design firm to do most of the work and run it by to her to get her opinion."
"Where does she go to school?"
"In Chicago. It's a small private college."
"Chicago? That's not that far from here. She could drive here and see you."
He reaches across me and pauses the game.
"What are you doing?"
"Luna." He waits until I look at him. "I'm not dating her anymore and I won't again. She and I are friends. That's it. And really the only reason I still talk to her is to get her opinion on the games. She's really go
od with that stuff. She has good suggestions, especially with the graphics."
"Does she have a boyfriend?"
"No, but she's been on a couple dates since she started college. She started a few weeks ago."
I set his phone down. "Have you had other girlfriends?"
"Not really. I dated some girls, but it wasn't anything long term. Karrie was my only real girlfriend. How about you? What's your dating history?"
"I don't really have one. I've been on a few dates. Never had a boyfriend."
"Is that by choice? Because I can't imagine guys didn't try to go out with you."
"I don't get asked out much. When you get named Luna the Lunatic, it kind of scares the guys away."
"It didn't scare me away."
"Well, you're different."
He holds up his phone. "Are you done with the game?"
"Yeah, but I'm going to download it and play it again later."
"I'll send you a promo code so you don't have to pay for it."
"I can't believe you created that. So is that what you want to do? Make video games?"
"I love doing it and so far I've been successful, so yeah, I'm just going to keep making them. I already have a company set up so my plan was to focus on running it and expanding it after I graduate."
"Instead of going to college?"
"Yeah, but my dad doesn't like that plan. He wants me to go to school and get a business degree so I can learn how to run my company."
"Is that what you're going to do?"
"I haven't decided yet. How about you?"
"I have no idea. My parents want me to go to college, but I think it's a waste of time."
Why did I say that? Now I'll have to explain.
"College isn't for everyone. Maybe you could take a year off after you graduate to figure out what you want to do."
"Yeah. Maybe."
He checks his watch. "Should we head out? It's almost eight."
"Okay." I grab my phone from the table and see a text from Stella, saying she and Sam just got to the party and to meet them by the bonfire.
Wes gets up and tosses our cups out. "Now I kind of wish we weren't going."
"To the party?"
"Yeah. I kind of like just being with you, without other people around."
"I'm free tomorrow," I say as we walk back to the car.
He stops in front of me. "Then before some other guy asks, would you go out with me tomorrow?"
I smile. "What time?"
"I'll pick you up at six."
"Where are we going?"
He pauses to think. I put him on the spot, but I didn't think he'd actually give me an answer. "We'll rent a paddleboat on the lake, then go to dinner, and go from there."
If we do all that, I'll be out when it's dark but I don't want to tell him I can't go. I want to spend more time with him. I already thought he was smart and funny and the coolest guy ever, and now I find out he's the creator of this really popular video game and has his own company.
When we get to Colton's, dozens of cars are lined up along the dirt road in front of his house. It's a two-lane country road so to leave room for drivers, cars have to park halfway in the ditch.
"Your car's going to get dirty," I say to Wes.
"It's fine. I'll just run it through the car wash." He opens his door. "Just wait there. I'll help you out."
He offered because I'm on the side with the ditch and it slopes down, making it easy to fall when getting out of the car. It's also getting dark now so it's hard to see.
"We forgot the flashlights," Wes says as he opens my door.
The flashlights. I knew we forgot something. Before we left the coffee shop, I was reminding myself we needed to get flashlights but then we started talking about our date tomorrow and I forgot.
"Do you want to go back into town and get some?" Wes asks. "I have a flashlight in my trunk but it's small. It doesn't give off much light."
What do I do? Risk it and hope I don't fall? The fire will give off light but I don't know if it'll be enough.
"You'll stay near me?" I ask. "The whole time?"
"I'll hold your hand. I won't let go."
"Okay." I get out of the car and he helps me walk through the ditch to the lawn. He takes my hand and we walk around back to where the party's going on. The music is loud and I assume there are lots of people here but it's dark now and I really can't see.
"Luna!" I hear Stella yell. Then I see her, waving light sticks in the air as she runs up to us. The light sticks don't give off as much light as a flashlight but they're bright enough to light up the path in front of her.
"Hi, Stella." I give her a hug.
"How's it going?" she whispers to me.
"Great," I whisper back.
When I pull away, Wes takes my hand again. When he said he'd hold my hand all night, he wasn't kidding.
"Hi, Wes," Stella says.
"Hey." He notices someone in the distance and says, "Hey, Sam. Drinking already?"
Sam laughs as he approaches us, holding a can. "It's pop. The beer is in a keg by the DJ."
"There's a DJ?" I ask.
"Here." Stella hands me a couple glow sticks. "They're giving these out because last year some girl fell and broke her ankle because it was too dark and she tripped. So this year, they're giving out glow sticks which actually do give off a lot of light."
Even with the glow sticks, it's still hard for me to see, but it's better than being in complete darkness. And since everyone has one, it adds light to the entire back yard.
Wes leans down to me. "Feel better now?"
I nod.
"So did you guys go to dinner?" Sam asks.
"We went to a coffee shop," I say. "Where'd you guys end up going?"
"The sports bar by Sam's house," Stella says. "He loves that place."
"Next time you guys will have to come with us," Sam says.
Stella nudges him and mutters, "They just started dating. Don't pressure them."
"I'm up for it," Wes says, "but I'll leave the decision up to Luna. She's still not sure she wants to date me, although I can't figure out why. I gave her a basket of tomatoes. I thought that would seal the deal."
Everyone laughs.
"It did," I say. "I agreed to go out with you tomorrow night."
"Which means our date with Sam and Stella would have to be the following week. You sure you want to commit to that?"
"Hmm. I don't know."
"Luna!" Stella scolds.
"What? You're the one who yelled at Sam for pressuring us."
"I know but...you're right. Think about it and let us know. No pressure."
"You guys want to go sit by the fire?" Sam points to some chairs set up by a fire pit.
"Sure," I say, then turn to Wes, "Are you good with that?"
"Yeah, sounds great."
We walk over to the fire pit. Sam and Stella move their chairs together. When Wes does the same to ours I look at him like I'm not sure we should. I'm still worried about people seeing us together and the comments they'll make.
"I promised to hold your hand," he says. "I can't do that if the chairs are far apart."
"But people might see us," I say in a hushed tone. "They'll know we're together."
"That's kind of the point." He sits next to me and takes my hand, resting it on the armrest between us. Stella's watching us, smiling.
"So Stella," Wes says, "tell me more about curling. I've seen it on TV but know almost nothing about it."
"You should come to the rink. It's easier to explain if I show you."
"And I work at the rink," Sam says, "so I can get you in for free."
"Maybe we could go tomorrow," Wes says to me. "Before our date."
"We won't be there tomorrow," Stella says. "There's a private event at the rink. But maybe sometime next week."
Sam puts his arm around Stella. "You have to see her in action. She's really good. Best player on the team."
"How long have you played?" W
es asks Stella.
"About ten years. I tried to get Luna into it but she wasn't interested."
"Because I'm not good at sports."
"Anyone can curl. It's easy."
"I'd rather read a book." I look at Wes and smile. "Or play video games."
"Video games?" Stella says. "You never play video games."
"I do now that I know someone who creates them."
"What are you talking about?" Stella asks.
"Can I tell them?" I ask Wes.
"Go ahead."
"Wes created Monkey Mummy."
"Yeah, right." Sam laughs, then takes a drink of his pop.
"No, really. He did." I nudge Wes. "Tell them."
"I developed it a couple years ago. I didn't think anyone would buy it. I just made it for fun. But then it kind of took off."
Sam sits forward in his chair. "Are you serious? You really created Monkey Mummy?"
"I did." He gets his phone out and holds it out to Sam. "This was the original prototype. The monkey's changed a lot since then."
"Holy shit." Sam sets his can down. "That's one of my favorite games. You seriously made it?"
Wes laughs. "I have others in development. If you're into games, maybe you could be one of my testers."
"Are you kidding? Hell, yeah, I'll be a tester. Sign me up. Send me whatever you got." He turns to Stella. "Can you believe this? The guy develops video games."
"Yeah, I heard. That's really cool, Wes, but how do you have time to do all that and go to school?"
"I don't sleep."
She laughs.
"No, really, I don't," he says. "I get maybe four hours a night, if that. But so far, I've been able to handle it. I think because I love what I'm doing. If I could just quit school and do this full-time I would, but my dad wouldn't go for that."
"This is so freakin' cool." Sam is shaking his head, amazed and in awe that he's sitting across from a video game developer. He looks at me. "If you don't want to date him, I will."
Stella whacks him. "What the hell?"
We all laugh.
"Just kiddin', babe." He gives her a kiss.
The conversation continues with Sam asking Wes a million questions, wanting to know everything about video game development. After a while, Stella and I get up to go find some drinks.
"I'll be right back," Wes says, getting up.
The Geek and The Goddess Page 9