Page 50 of From Drummer to Gamer

I heard my brother excuse himself and follow me, leaving the siblings alone.

“When is your next game?” Raphy asked, propping himself on the breakfast seat as he stole a muffin from the tray.

“Shush,” I whisper-shouted. “Keep your voice down. And it’s next week.”

He rolled his eyes, finishing off his snack while he stole another one. “Are you sure it’s a good idea to hide it from the big man? Because once he finds out, he’s deporting you straight to Iona. Although…” He grinned. “I must say he’s become partial to you, especially your cooking. Already getting on his good side, uh, sister?”

“Shut up,” I grumbled, taking a sip of the same sugary coffee I had made for Matty this morning before going back to sleep. “And yes, he can’t know. He can’teverknow.”

“Good luck,” he muttered, still grinning slyly as he walked away.

I remained in the kitchen while I finished my drink and heated myself some leftover rice from the previous night.

“Sierra,” called out a soft voice.

I jumped to see Katy standing by the threshold with a smile on her face. “I’m heading out now. I’ll see you tomorrow. It was nice meeting you.”

“You too, thanks again.” I waved, smiling as I watched her back disappear down the hallway.

Just as she left, Matty entered the kitchen, greeting me with a curt nod. “Good sleep?”

“Yes,” I mumbled, gathering my bowl from the microwave.

“You sleep a lot in the morning. Don’t you have classes?”

I froze. I’d been so involved in my gaming that I’d forgotten about the fact that I had to pretend to be a pre-med student. I couldn’t believe I let something this important slip my mind.

A tinge of burn from the bowl seeped through my palms, snapping my attention back to reality.

“Yeah… they’re mostly online,” I muttered, quickening my steps as I tried to dash out of the kitchen.

But Matty crowded my exit with his big, burly form towering over me like a bear. “You told me they were thrice a week.”

“Did I?” My eyes locked on his blue-greens peering at me with curiosity. “Oh, yeah. All the classes are recorded, so I could just view them online.”

“Is it because you have to drive there?”

“No. The campus is only twenty minutes away.”

“Do you drive?”

Did I drive?Yes, considering I did have a driver’s license. No, if you counted me driving straight into Ms. Letty’s flowerpots or Mr. Grisham’s doghouse. Thankfully, his dog, Rocky, wasn’t inside.

“Yes,” I blurted, licking my lying lips.

“I’ll get you a car you can borrow.”

“No, that’s okay. I can manage.”

“I don’t want you to miss your classes, Sierra. You came here for them, and your parents would be disappointed if you don’t attend them.”

“Wait.” My eyes widened. “You talk to Mom and Dad?”

He nodded. “Your parents text me. They worry about you both.”

Fire flared up in my chest. “You keep tabs on me?”

“I don’t keep tabs on you, Sierra.” His voice was laced with disbelief as he regarded me. “But your parents did leave you as my responsibility, so it’s my job to take care of you both and keep you safe. And also making sure you both do what you came here to do.”

---