From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

Anthea, who wasn’t usually into gaming, felt her interest piqued by Sarah’s enthusiasm.

“I might as well download it.”

“Well, come on up to my room then!” Sarah suggested, her voice upbeat. “The network is better there.”

“Sure.” Anthea nodded and followed Sarah’s lead.

Once they settled into Sarah’s room, Anthea finished downloading the game.

“Just log in and skip the tutorial. I’ll show you the ropes!” Sarah declared with a grin, her confidence not at all diminished by her modest status.

“Ann, I sent you an invite. Accept it, will you?”

“Got it.”

The game seemed simple enough on the surface, but as soon as Anthea entered the fray, she was promptly taken out by an opposing champion.

“It’s cool! Just stick with me, Ann. I’ve got your back!” Sarah reassured her, slipping into the role of the protective teammate. Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

“Okay.” Anthea, resurrected in the game, obediently shadowed Sarah.

But as luck would have it, even with Sarah’s limited prowess, they were no match for the opposing team. After three consecutive defeats, Sarah’s rank tumbled.

Silence hung heavy after the third loss, with Anthea staring down at her screen, a crestfallen shadow over her face.

Sarah, eager to keep the mood light, offered a comforting smile. “Don’t sweat it, Ann. Everyone is a rookie at the start. I was way worse on my first try.”

Anthea lifted her gaze, her clear eyes shining with resolve. “Enough talk. Let’s queue up again, Sarah. This time, I’ll carry you.”

Sarah blinked, taken aback not just by the bold claim, but also by Anthea’s striking beauty in that moment.

“Carry me?” Sarah was skeptical. She had evidence, after all. Gaming required quick reflexes and sharp wits. It was rare for someone to excel at both on their first try, especially someone who hadn’t even reached the primary rank.

To avoid discouraging Anthea, Sarah nodded. “Alright, let’s do this.”

As they launched into another game, Sarah braced for even a marginal improvement from Anthea. Instead, Anthea charged headfirst into the fray just as before. “Ann, slow down!

05-32

That hero is super strong early on. You can’t beat him alonel”

efore Sarah could finish her warning, the game announced a kill: “First Blood!”

Holy smokes!

Sarah blinked, thinking she was seeing things. “Ann, did you just take down their champ?”

“Yep.” Anthea nodded, casual as ever.

Sarah swallowed hard, wondering if it was a fluke. But as she was lost in thought, her character met an untimely demise.

“Damn!” Sarah couldn’t help but curse. “Sneaky assassin!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll avenge you,” Anthea declared, her fingers dancing over the controls. With a series of slick moves, she avenged Sarah’s death.

No way! Sarah turned to look at Anthea, her eyes wide. Was she gaming with a professional?

The game’s announcements kept coming, “First Blood! Double Kill! Triple Kill! Quadra Kill! Penta Kill!”

For the first time, Sarah realized that girls could totally dominate gaming.

So she was totally carried by Anthea to victory.

Sarah felt her cheeks burn with a mix of embarrassment and awe.

Meanwhile, in the living room.

Carole and Latonia were deep in conversation over steaming cups of coffee. Latonia was happy for her friend after hearing about the recent success of Carole’s diner.

“Carole, you’ve worked hard for so many years. Your good fortune’s just around the

corner.‘

Carole, ever the optimist, patted Latonia’s hand. “You’re blessed too, Latonia. You’ve got a wonderful family. Sarah is a sweetheart and so responsible, and Walter just got into a great college!”