“The sky above you grows dark. The ground starts to shake as the tarrasque bursts out of the ground, standing before you. Roll initiative” Tim had been waiting a long time for this battle. It was five in the afternoon, and Tim and his friends were doing a session of their favorite game: Dungeons & Dragons. Everyone rolls some dice and says the number aloud. “Seventeen''Tim reads. The DM, Wallace, looks at a black digital clock. “Wow, it’s already five? That was fast” he says, standing up. “I think you boys should head home before your dinner gets cold'' The three guests groan in protest, but say their goodbyes and leave. Tim starts to clean. “Can we do this tomorrow?” he asks. “Sorry, but tomorrow’s important for both of us'' Wallace replies. “It’s not father’s day already, is it?” “No. It’s the first day of school” “Oh” Tim replies, seemingly sad. He just moved to California, and was upset that his only friends were moving after tomorrow. He didn’t know anyone at school, and California just never felt like home to him. “Is something wrong Tim?” Wallace asks. “You seem a little down” “Yeah, I’m just not looking forward to starting over again” “It could be good for both of us. Besides, you might find a lover here” Wallace says with a smirk. Tim looks embarrassed. “Dad!” Wallace laughs. “It’s going to happen eventually” “No it’s not” “Yeah yeah, now can you help me make food?” Tim groans. “Fine. What are we having?” … “Can we eat now? I’m starving!” “No! We must wait fifteen minutes, you know that!” Wallace says. Tim groans. His favorite food, penne vodka, was sitting in the pot in front of him. He could almost hear it calling his name, teasing him. He could almost smell the delicious orange sauce that was sitting in the pot. He could almost taste the divinity of the noodles, looking perfect on that white plate. Seconds turned to minutes, minutes to hours, and hours to days as Tim and Wallace waited for the timer to go off. Once that timer started beeping, Tim sprinted towards the pot as a cheetah would chase a gazelle, excited to have something he enjoys more than anything. He fills a bowl and sits down, starting to eat. By the time Wallace finished, he was on his fifth plate. “Whoa, save some room for air!” Wallace says. Tim stops eating. “Dad, I’m not called a trash can for nothing” he points out. Wallace laughs. “So are you excited for school tomorrow?” “Nope” “But you love music! “It won’t be the same” “Look Tim, I know you were happy in Washington, but please at least give California a chance. You might enjoy what it has to offer” Tim thought about this for a very long moment. Maybe his dad was right. He needed to be less pessimistic. “Fine. One chance” Tim says unenthusiastically. “That’s my boy, now up to bed. The fun really starts tomorrow” Tim heads upstairs, his thoughts spinning like gears in a machine. He liked being alone and enjoyed it quite a bit, but now he felt strange. Is this loneliness? He thought not. “I probably just ate too much” he says to himself as he climbs into bed. He lays there, wide awake, thinking about what tomorrow might be like.
This is a first draft of the first part of the first chapter, so please don't criticize too harshly. Otherwise, I'm open to feedback Part 0.2 is out
