Page 208 of Left on Base

I blink. “An intervention?”

“Yes. Pay attention. No time here!” Fork Guy nods, eyes gleaming. “I need warriors of the heart and wielders of the fork. You in?”

Jaxon shrugs, leaning back in his chair. “I’m in. Someone’s gotta drag him out of that pixelated prison. And he needs to do laundry. He’s been wearing the same clothes for three days.”

I glance at Fork Guy. He’s waiting for my approval. “Count me in too. Someone’s gotta remind him there’s a real world outside the game.”

“Excellent!” Fork Guy clasps our hands triumphantly. “The ‘Save Jameson from Himself’ campaign is underway.”

Right as Fork Guy’s energy hits its peak, Jaxon raises a hand, cutting him off mid-juggle.

“Hold on,” Jaxon says, voice steady. “With Jameson, you can’t just barge in with a fork and a marching band. He needs to come to terms with this on his own. You know how he is—pushes people away until he’s ready.”

“But intervention!” Fork Guy blinks, napkins slipping from his fingers. “Support! Community! Emotional forks!”

Jaxon shakes his head. “Chill, he’s not going to listen to you.”

I nod, knowing how stubborn Jameson is. “He’s right. Jameson’s not going to listen to us right now.”

Fork Guy sighs dramatically. “Fine.” He reaches for the last spring roll. “Anyone gonna eat this? No? Mine now.”

Jaxon laughs. “How did you even find us?”

Fork Guy grins. “I track both your locations.”

Of course he does.

Jaxon lays his head on my shoulder and sticks out his bottom lip. “Can I steal home yet?”

I smirk and poke him. “Only if you promise not to build a Minecraft fortress the size of the Space Needle.”

Fork Guy chimes in, mouth full of spring roll, “And if he does, I’m launching a full-scale spoon invasion.”

I laugh. “Great. Just what we need. A digital war with forks and noodles.”

Jaxon groans. “At least it’s better than real life drama.”

Fork Guy raises an eyebrow. “Speak for yourself. I’m still negotiating with a mongoose.”

We all burst out laughing, the weird little family we’ve become somehow making the chaos a little more bearable.

“Alright,” I say, “It’s time I let Jaxon score home.”

Jaxon stands. Instantly. “That’s what I’m talking about.”

Fork Guy’s eyes light up, and he suddenly stands, wobbling slightly from all the curry. “Wait! I’ll come too!”

Jaxon groans, pulling me closer. “Nope. This is a ‘just us’ thing. No tarot readings in the bedroom, okay?”

Fork Guy waves a napkin like a white flag. “Fine, fine. But if you change your mind...”

“We won’t,” Jaxon says, tugging me out the door.

CHAPTER 44

CYCLE

JAXON

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