Page 14 of Bro Amazing

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, then open them and start down the stairs. Hopefully there are no cobwebs. Or mice.

The steps are a little rickety, and as soon as I'm part way down, I squat down so I can peek between the railing bars to see what I'm walking into, hoping none of my roommates sees me first.

It's dark down there. The walls are dark. The ceiling is dark. The floor is dark. There's an oversized black sofa in the middle of the room facing a projector screen. Helix stands by the screen, pointing things out using big sweeping hand movements. The others watch intently from the sofa, but I'm not sure what they're watching. It must be paused at the moment because nothing is moving. It's almost like a big map with weirdly bright colors in the corners, blues and purples.

I can't tell if they're working or not, but they never said I couldn't come down here. Of course, they hadn't shown me that this room exists, either.

Though they'd also never shown me that the kitchen exists, but I'm still allowed to use it.

It doesn't matter. I stop arguing with myself and scoot a little farther down the stairs to see better.

"You can come down and join us if you want," says Miles, glancing over at where I crouch on the dark stairs.

I stand and force my legs to carry me down the stairs into the room. The only light in the room is from the projector screen, and I'm careful not to trip over anything as I make my way through the dark. I'm not sure where to sit, and finally settle on perching on the back of the U-shaped sofa.

Maybe my new boyfriends don't know what to do either now that I'm here in their space. Maybe they aren't as confident as I thought. Maybe they're also figuring this out as we go.

"So … what are you watching?" It's the most basic question I can think of to ask. It's not like I can ask what they want from me, or why they let me hole up in my room for a few days and didn't pressure me to give up any of the benefits they'd hired me for, even though I desperately want the answers to those questions.

"We're going over game footage for the next team we scrim," explains Helix, looking around the group for backup.

"This way we can see what their go-to moves are. Learn their patterns and weaknesses," adds Quintin. "Choose our champions wisely so we can counter their damage."

"Oh, like the way football teams analyze their own games or the games of the teams they're about to go up against." I didn't realize gamers would do the same. I mean, from how much they seem to play their game, I assumed they were serious about it, but I didn't realize it would go so far as this.

"Yes, exactly like football teams," says Helix, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "Because esports are real sports."

"Oh, yeah, of course." I shift uncomfortably on the back of the sofa. I didn't mean to insult them, but I've never met an esport team before them. I've never even met a single player. Or at least not someone who openly admitted to being a professional esport player.

There's an awkward silence that none of us seems to know how to fill. But if I were trying to date these guys for real, I would take an interest in what they do for a living. I try again.

"So have you found any weaknesses you can exploit?" I ask, then wonder if I shouldn’t have said anything else. I'm completely in the weeds here, and I don't want to be in the way.I'd rather they keep going, pretend I'm not here, and let me listen. It'd be its own type of research.

"The other team tends to counter jungle, so we're going to choose champions with ward abilities to block off not only the jungle entrances, but the gank paths too," explains Helix, pointing out different areas on the map. "Of course, each of those potential champions have weaknesses of their own, and we'll need to weigh out if they're worth the risks."

"That sounds like a difficult choice.” I've got no idea what they're really talking about, but it does sound complicated and like they're making a big decision. However, it's just a silly game, so I'm not sure why it matters.

"It really is," agrees Miles. "Their team often chooses the same characters each time though, so that at least helps."

"It'll be a clown fiesta no matter what," says Quintin, looking around at his teammates. "You knowthey'renot having a strategy meeting right now."

"Don't be toxic, Arrow," complains Lionel. "We need to stay on top of our play. If they want to be feeders, that's their choice."

"This next scrim will help prep us for the next rank game," Ethan points out in his soft voice. "It's all part of the training so we can make it to the top."

"Yikes, this all sounds a lot more complicated than I thought it would be." Who knew computer games could be so involved? I'd thought they sit down, bash a few monsters, steal the flag, and then declare victory. But apparently there's actual strategy to this game.

"That's why this pays so much," says Helix. "It's a lot of work and a lot of effort, but if you can make it, it's worth it."

"Is that why you all do it?" I find myself wanting to understand these guys I find myself living with. What brought them together? What holds them together as a unit?

"This is what we enjoy," whispers Ethan.

"Why would we want to be stuck in a cubicle all day when we can play games we're good at and get paid?" adds Miles as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. Which, I have to admit, is a fair point.

"But aren't you stuck inside all day anyway? I didn't see any windows in your computer room and there's no light in here." I look around at the darkness to make my point.

"It's different." Helix shakes his head. "This is our choice. When it's your choice, you're willing to do anything to chase your dream."

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