Hita - Anita Claire Page 0,40
a shrug of my shoulder I tell him, “If you don’t mind loosing again.”
Isabelle gets up as David and I play another game. Our Star Wars quotes turn into casual banter with a hint of flirting thrown in on top. Isabelle returns with a big box of Milk Duds. As she asks us if we want a Milk Dud I can feel an energy pass between us; an energy that’s been missing in my life since I played with Brandon.
Hal, from the front desk, announces, “Tournaments are starting in fifteen minutes.”
Isabelle gives me a questioning look as I explain, “Winner’s play winners until there’s only one left.” The losers can play against each other; they’re out of the running.”
“What do you get if you win?” she asks.
“Tournament passes, game cards, fame pieces.”
“It’s more reasons to come back here and play,” she says annoyed.
“Well of course,” I explain. “People that come here to play like having a reason to come back. I think you’re enjoying game night as much as I enjoyed skateboarding.”
“You didn’t enjoy learning how to skateboard this afternoon?” Isabelle says in surprise.
With a chuckle I wonder out loud, “How can we be friends for so long and not like each other’s favorite activities?”
David’s been patiently watching this exchange. Finally he says, “Hita, you taking off or are you going to finish playing?”
I look at David and shake my head. “I think I’ll take off.”
In a cool voice he asks, “You going to be online later?”
I look at him a little longer finally telling him, “Yeah, Minecraft, I have my own server.” Figuring I’ll now put it in his hands, I write my IP address down and hand it to him. With a wink I tell him, “I’m Pocahontas.”
David shows both of his dimples and says, “I’ll see you later, online.”
As we walk out the door, Isabelle asks, “Did he ask you for the equivalent of your phone number?”
Giving her a sly smile I answer, “Maybe.”
Chapter 31 – David
Arriving home, I immediately get on Minecraft. I’m on for about an hour, about ready to give up on David when an avatar shows up with a David Tennant skin and the name David10. My command line lights up with, Hita, is that you?
Hita: Are you The Doctor or David that went down in Star Wars?
David: I was in the middle of my comeback when you left. If you stayed a little bit longer I would have eventually won. I’m a come from behind kind of guy.
We play for awhile. At some point David messages me.
David: There’s the new Star Wars movie out, I’ve already seen it but I’d like to see it again. Can I interest you in joining me?
I stare at the screen; I, too, have seen the movie. A big smile runs across my face, as I realize he’s asking me out. Rubbing my hands on my jean clad legs I put my fingers back on my keyboard.
Hita: Tonight?
David: I think it may be a little too late, how about tomorrow? We can go to a 4 p.m. showing and then grab a bite afterward.
My body shutters with excitement as I take a deep breath and respond,
Hita: Yeah, that would be fun.
David: I need more than your IP address.
I send over my e-mail, this is too open an environment for me to be sharing my address.
We go back and forth a couple times on e-mail when he tells me he’s off to bed.
The next day when I wake up, I lie on my back and feel a happy smile cross my face as I think about tonight’s date. I’ve been playing against David for the last month. I like his energy and attitude. He’s a strategic smart player, there’s a chance if we played longer he could have come back from behind. He also has a sense of humor. I bet if I served him a twenty-five alarm dinner, or his name was Dikshit, he’d turn it into a joke.
***
David picks me up at four, dressed the same as last night, sneakers, jeans, a hoodie over a work logoed T-shirt. I wear sneakers, jeans, a crew neck sweater, and the leather aviator jacket that we got last year from work.
We drive to the theaters. As we walk in he says, “I know it’s a little strange to go to a movie at four, but I find it’s the least busy time of the day. Going in the evening it’s too crowded.”
Nodding my head in agreement, I see that