Chapter 1
It was still hot at the beginning of September, and Riley figured Las Vegas would be about the same. Inside the convention hall, however, it might be cold. She tossed clothes into her bag, trying to get a decent selection, then checked her watch. They were still waiting on one more person, and their plane took off in a few hours.
"Anyone heard from Knock?" she yelled into the house.
"No!" Kitty bellowed back.
"Just call him," Logan said, before adding, "I'm packing the computers."
With a sigh, she grabbed her phone and dialed. It rang and went straight to voicemail, so she dialed again. This time it rang three times, then he answered.
"Hey."
"Knock, we gotta get out of here in a bit," she said.
He chuckled. "Yeah, about that. Um, I need you to come bail me out of class."
"Seriously? Fuck me. Ok. I'll be there in a sec." She hung up and grabbed her bag, carrying it to the living room where she dropped it on the floor. "I have to go bail Knock out."
Logan laughed, proving he wasn't surprised. "Want company?"
Riley just shook her head. "No, I got it. I need you to make sure the rigs are packed. Knock won't have time to do his own."
He nodded, accepting that, and reached into his pocket. "Take mine so we can load the truck?"
She reached for the keys, but he pulled them back, lifting his chin. "Mm, ask nicely."
She did, grabbing his jaw and kissing him while her other hand snatched the keys from his hand. With one last quick peck, she turned, gave Quake a pet, and walked out of the house. Thankfully, it was a short drive across town to the high school. She pulled in the parking lot and found a spot marked for visitors before sending a text.
Riley: I'm here, where are you?
Jeff: Class is out in a minute. Clear everything at the office, will meet you at the front entrance?
Riley: kk.
Jeff: I'm gonna show you off. Guys don't believe me.
Riley: You're so fucking bad. I'll put on my game face ;)
She turned off the car and marched into the school, looking around quickly to find the office. It hadn't been that long since she was in here for his registration, but this was a new building, not the same one she'd gone to back when she was in high school. She'd only managed a few steps when an older woman stopped her.
"Young lady, that attire is not appropriate for this school."
"Mrs. Johansen, I see you're still teaching," Riley countered. "Can you point me to the office?"
The older woman stopped hard when she recognized her. "Riley Andrews? What are you doing here?"
"Came to bail my little brother out. We have to fly out in a couple of hours."
"I didn't know you had a brother?"
Riley nodded. "Yeah. Jeff Beasley. Not biological, though. His folks kicked him out last spring. He's a part of the Andrews crew now."
"Is he into those games too?" she asked, sounding oddly inquisitive rather than judgmental.
Riley nodded. "Yes, ma'am. He's already been signed. Kid makes more a year than he would in most jobs, so I have to make sure he gets to the convention."
"Well, good for him! The office is just around the corner to the left, Riley. It was good to see you again. Tell Kitty I hope she's well."
The joy of living in a small town was that everyone knew everyone else. It was also the biggest downside, though. Still, Riley waved at the woman who'd once been her own teacher before this building had even opened and followed the directions, hearing a bell ring in the halls. She remembered that sound a little too well, just like she remembered the principal's office. Luckily, the man who held the position in her day had retired a few years ago.
She opened the door and walked to the counter, smiling at the lady on the other side. "I need to get Jeff Beasley excused from the rest of his classes for today and tomorrow. He's having a bit of a problem getting out of school."
The woman looked up, saw Riley, and paused. Maybe it was the synthetic dreadlocks. They were black at the base and an impressive shade of neon green at the ends this time. Maybe it was the line of piercings across her ear. It could also have been the tattoos down her left arm and shoulder, since there was no way she would see the one on Riley's right wrist. Whichever it was, though, this lady looked like she had no intention of being friendly.
"And you are?" the woman shot back.
"Riley Andrews, his legal sponsor, which is basically the same thing as a guardian so far as the school is concerned. It's all in his file."
The woman pursed her lips and nodded, rolling her chair back with a purpose. Then she walked through an open door. Riley could hear soft voices and knew things were about to get difficult. She grabbed her phone and typed out a text to Logan, warning him that she might need something faxed over, sending it just as a different woman walked into the room.
"Hello, Ms. Andrews, I'm Principal Gregory. Why exactly are you pulling Jeff out of his classes? This is only the third week of the school year, and he just transferred here."
Riley nodded. "I know, Ms. Gregory, but unfortunately, the event was planned before Jeff even moved to Texas. My hands are tied with the scheduling, since they don't exactly ask me."
"And what event is this?"
"The Professional League of Gamers' Las Vegas Tournament," Riley explained. "Its official name is the F5-Con, but that doesn't really tell you much, I'm sure."
The principal looked like she smelled something bad. "Why, exactly, are you wanting us to let Jeff out of classes for a game tournament?"
Riley just sighed. "Please tell me you're having that woman check his file? He's contractually obligated to attend. It's what he calls a job. Jeff gets paid to play video games and talk really nicely about power supplies and water cooling systems."
"And how are you related to him again?" the principal demanded.
"Court-appointed legal sponsor," Riley said, starting to lose her patience. She glanced at her watch.
"Yes, and you have documentation of that?"
"Look, Ms. You-think-you're-better-than-me, I don't have time for this posturing. We have a plane to catch and need to leave town in half an hour. Yeah, you don't like me; I get it. Thing is, I don't really care. All of this is in his file. Do I need to fax it again?" Riley pulled up her phone and asked Logan to send the documents.
He responded with a laughing emoticon, and then the fax at the back of the room rang.
"That should be it," Riley said. "So, can we go now?"
The principal looked at the first paper coming off the fax and sighed. She nodded. "Ok. I'll have him given an excused absence. I do need to talk to you about the dress code, though."
Riley struggled not to roll her eyes. "I'm not in school, Ms. Gregory."
"His," the principal clarified. "He cannot wear those piercings to class. They're a disruption to the other students, and not appropriate for the dress code. Never mind his hair!"