My Multiverse Trip 128 128. Everybody Love Video Games

I waited for them to get into the house, Jacob was already climbing out of the car, his wide grin visible even through the darkness. In the pa.s.senger seat was a much older man, a heavyset man with a memorable face - a face that overflowed, the cheeks resting against his shoulders, with creases running through the russet skin like an old leather jacket. And the surprisingly familiar eyes, black eyes that seemed at the same time both too young and too ancient for the broad face they were set in. Jacob's father, Billy Black. I knew him immediately, though in the more than five years since I'd seen him last I'd managed to forget his name when Charlie had spoken of him my first day here. He was staring at me, scrutinizing my face, so I smiled tentatively at him. His eyes were wide, as if in shock or fear, his nostrils flared. My smile faded. I'll have to smack some sense into this one later on.

Billy still stared at me with intense, anxious eyes. I groaned internally. Had Billy recognized Amanda so easily? Could he really believe the impossible legends his son had scoffed at?

The answer was clear in Billy's eyes. Yes. Yes, he could.

I turned toward the house, beckoning to Jacob as I ducked under the porch. I heard Charlie greeting them loudly behind me.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't see you behind the wheel, Jake," he said disapprovingly.

"We get permits early on the rez," Jacob said while I unlocked the door and flicked on the porch light.

"Sure you do," Charlie laughed.

"I have to get around somehow." I recognized Billy's resonant voice easily, despite the years. The sound of it made me feel suddenly younger, a child.

I went inside, leaving the door open behind me and turning on lights before I hung up my jacket. Then I stood in the door, watching as Charlie and Jacob helped Billy out of the car and into his wheelchair.

I backed out of the way as the three of them hurried in, shaking off the rain.

"This is a surprise," Charlie was saying.

"It's been too long," Billy answered. "I hope it's not a bad time." His dark eyes flashed up to me again, their expression unreadable.

"No, it's great. I hope you can stay for the game."

Jacob grinned. "I think that's the plan - our TV broke last week."

Billy made a face at his son. "And, of course, Jacob was eager to see Ryan again," he added. The call of video games is like sweet music to the ears of almost any boy.

"Are you hungry?" I asked, turning toward the kitchen.

"Naw, we ate just before we came," Jacob answered.

"How about you, Charlie?" I called over my shoulder.

"Sure," he replied, his voice moving in the direction of the front room and the TV. I could hear Billy's chair follow.

The grilled cheese sandwiches were in the frying pan and I was slicing up a tomato when I sensed someone behind me.

"So, how are things?" Jacob asked.

"Pretty good." I smiled. "How about you? Did you finish your car?"

"No." He frowned. "I still need parts. We borrowed that one." He pointed with his thumb in the direction of the front yard.

"Sorry. I haven't seen any... what was it you were looking for?"

"Master cylinder." He grinned. "Is something wrong with the truck?" he added suddenly.

"No."

"Oh. I just wondered because you weren't driving it."

"I got a girlfriend and she apparently believes that it's her duty to pick me up every morning like an overprotective boyfriend." Jacob let out a chuckle and said "and she drives a nice car she must be a keeper anyone I know?"

I laughed and said "probably it was Amanda Cullen that's probably why your dad looks so grim." he laughed again "I was wondering about that."

"Superst.i.tious old man," Jacob muttered under his breath.

"You don't think he'd complain to Charlie?" I asked curiously

"I doubt it," he answered. "I think Charlie chewed him out pretty good last time. They haven't spoken much since - tonight is sort of a reunion, I think. I don't think he'd bring it up again." "Oh," I said.

After dropping off some of the delicious golden goodness that is grilled cheese to Charlie we proceeded to head to my room I'd gotten rid of some things like the rocking chair and such and had put up a nice medium sized TV a few weeks ago I added some bean bag chairs that i could just kick under the bed when I wasn't using them I proceeded to beat the absolute s.h.i.+t out of Jacob in mortal kombat for the coming few hours. let me tell you good sirs ermac is the best mk character ever. we swapped over to call of duty mw2 after a while and just drank soda and tried trick shots online and failed miserably I'm pretty sure Jacob will be coming around a lot more.

It was a long night. I had a lot of homework that was going undone, but I don't often get to just lounge around and game it was fun but it was time for them to leave.

"Are you and your friends coming back to the beach soon?" Jacob asked as he pushed his father over the lip of the threshold."I'm not sure," I honestly replied.

"That was fun, Charlie," Billy said.

"Come up for the next game," Charlie encouraged.

"Sure, sure," Billy said. "We'll be here. Have a good night." His eyes s.h.i.+fted to mine, and his smile disappeared. "You take care, Ryan," he added seriously.

"Sure sure." I muttered waving my hand nonchalantly