I’m gaming online with my friend Max…
When a notification pops up on my laptop screen:
“You’ve received a video chat request from Madison Brown.”
Lindsey
Ugh, I thought I was free of her for the summer.
Max chuckles over his webcam.
Lindsey
No one. Be right back.
The last thing I want to do is remind Max that Madison exists.
Madison is the most popular girl at our school.
All the guys have crushes on her.
Well, I have a crush on Max.
He’s SO CUTE, with big brown eyes and a gorgeous smile.
But I’m the kind of girl he games with…
Not the kind he’d ever date.
Sighing, I mute Max and click out of the game.
I’m not exactly excited to talk to my former best friend…
But I’m just curious enough to accept her chat request.
Madison appears on my screen in all her glory—
Perfect blonde waves, flawless skin, glossy pink lips.
She has this big fake smile pasted on her face…
But it fades into a confused grimace when she sees me.
Madison
WHAT is that on your head?
I touch the huge headphones covering my ears.
Okay, maybe my gaming headset IS kind of dorky…
But it’s essential for my favorite hobby.
Lindsey
What do you want?
Her tone goes syrupy-sweet.
Madison
Is that any way to talk to your bestie?
Madison
C’mon, you need to learn to let things go, girl.
Madison
You game with Max Kilgore, right?
Oh no, what is this about?
Reluctantly, I tell her the truth.
Lindsey
Yeah. We’re in the middle of a raid right now, actually.
Madison
I have no clue what that means, but I…
I see that perfect veneer break.
Madison
This is embarrassing.
Madison
I was scrolling through Max’s Insta—
Lindsey
So you were creeping him?
Madison
I was just looking.
Madison
I saw that he has this pic of me at a party last summer, and…
Madison
I look SO WASTED.
Madison
I’m a total mess.
Madison
I don’t even remember him taking it…
Madison
But I can’t handle it being out there!
Lindsey
So why not ask him to take it down?
Madison
I don’t want him to think I’m…
Madison is the vainest girl I know.
Madison
Look, I know I’m not your favorite person.
Madison
But I can’t deal with that pic being online.
Madison
It’s literally keeping me up at night.
Madison
I mean, LOOK at these under-eye circles!
Like someone as perfect as Madison would have eye bags.
She does look genuinely upset.
Madison
For your former bestie.
Lindsey
I’ll think about it.
But I’m almost tempted to help her.
But first I need to see the photo in question.
I scroll through Max’s Insta until I find it.
She’s standing alone, mouth open like she’s yelling.
Her makeup is smeared and her hair’s a mess.
I remember that night, even if she doesn’t.
Am I really going to help her?
Max reappears onscreen, grinning at me through his webcam.
Max
It’s about time! I’ve been getting my butt kicked.
Max
Help me slay this dragon.
I draw my sword and pierce the dragon’s heart.
Max
You’re SO GOOD at this.
I blush, hoping it’s not visible through my webcam.
With the dragon defeated, it’s time to head to another kingdom.
The game will be chill for a few minutes while our characters travel…
Which gives me time to speak up.
I’m still not sure I should help Madison…
But she WAS my best friend once.
Lindsey
Can I ask you a favor?
Lindsey
You know my friend Madison, right?
Max
I didn’t know you two were friends.
Lindsey
You have an awful pic of her on Insta.
Lindsey
Could you please delete it?
Lindsey
It’s from last summer.
He grabs his phone and starts scrolling.
Max
Hah! From Spencer’s party, right?
Max
Wow, yeah, it’s pretty bad. Consider it deleted.
After that, he keeps scrolling.
Max
That was a great party.
He holds up his phone to show me another photo.
It’s an artsy shot of party lights in Spencer’s yard.
When I look closer, though…
I see myself standing off to one side, looking lost and upset.
Max
I remember taking that pic…
Max
But I didn’t know you were in it.
I blink away tears as the memory floods back.
It’s like the heartache and hurt are fresh again…
Especially not for Madison.
Lindsey
I haven’t been straight with you.
Lindsey
That was the night my friendship with Madison ended.
Max
Hold on. This sounds important.
Lindsey
We went to that party together.
Lindsey
Since she was driving, I told her not to drink…
Lindsey
And she just blew up at me.
Lindsey
She told me to stop embarrassing her.
Lindsey
When I wouldn’t let it go, she said…
Lindsey
“Either grow up, or go home and play your stupid games.”
I point at my gaming headset.
Lindsey
You can tell which one I chose.
Max
If she was so horrible…
Max
Why did you bother asking me to delete that photo?
Lindsey
I guess I miss the Madison I used to know.
Lindsey
She doesn’t even remember the fight—
Lindsey
She was too drunk.
Lindsey
But I’ll never forget her words.
Lindsey
She said I wasn’t cool enough for her.
I gesture to my headset and my gamer shirt.
Lindsey
She’s right about me not being cool.
Max sits back and shakes his head.
Max
But you’re incredibly cool.
Max
You’re smart and funny…
Max
And you’re the best gamer I know.
Now it’s HIS face that goes red instead of mine—
And I can DEFINITELY see him blush through his webcam.
Max
You’re way prettier than Madison.
But Max’s expression is serious.
Max
I’ve been wanting to say that for a while.
Max
You’re beautiful, even in a gaming headset…
Max
AND you can slay dragons.
Max
That’s an unbeatable package.
Max
You’re out of my league.
I have to remind myself to breathe.
All this time I’ve been crushing on Max…
And stressing about not being good enough for him…
And he’s been feeling the same way about ME?
Suddenly feeling bold, I sit up straighter.
Lindsey
Max, I love our gaming “dates”…
Lindsey
But how’d you like to go out for real sometime?
His smile lights up his whole face.
Max
Should I put Madison’s pic back up?
Max
She doesn’t deserve any favors.
Max
Not after how she treated you.
I chew my lip, thinking for a moment.
Lindsey
It’s time to let go of Madison…
Lindsey
And focus on the future.
Lindsey
Now let’s get back to the game.
Max
You’ve got more dragons to slay.
Lindsey
We’ll slay them together.
