An hour later, they finally set up the signature table for Amaya. Even though I was early to be in the line, I let everyone cut in front of me, but then I was surprised to see a flood of people come in. I thought only tournament players would come in for a signature. Still, it drew many others who weren’t even in the tournament. Then I let all of them cut in front of me.

I wanted to be the last one in line, so I didn’t feel pressured. I wanted to have a conversation with Amaya and not feel humiliated when she most likely would reject the idea of us joining her Miami team. The line grew so large that we decided to wait in Darren’s car for a little bit before returning.

While we waited, Darren picked up a pizza, and the three of us split it in his car. I sat in the backseat, looking at them proudly like they were my older siblings and I was a kid again. Wyatt purchased a pizza for the three of us, and we scarfed it down. We sat in the car and listened to classic rock, not saying a word, just enjoying the moment. Once we finished the pizza, we sat outside Darren’s car and watched the line. Fortunately, it had been a beautiful spring evening, and we were able to bask in the sun. The air contained a unique fragrance of freshness and cut grass. I wanted to tattoo the beauty of the moment in my head, the three of us smiling, on cloud nine, and enjoying a pizza together. A car wasn’t the best place to try and eat a slice, but there’s an unstated thrill about doing it with your friends after spending a triumphant day together.

The line thinned out after an hour. Once we finally realized no one else was coming, we approached the building. Walking up felt so cool. I was with two of the best people in the tournament, including the champion. I felt like a rockstar, or at least a roadie with the rock stars.

When we joined the back of the line, Jackie-O-Lantern was in front of me, but she didn’t turn around to talk to us. In fact, I’m not even sure she saw Wyatt, who was just behind her.

While waiting, we didn’t talk about a plan. We should have, but we were still relishing in Wyatt’s victory. I kept replaying the scene over and over in my head.

The losses always felt low; got to make the wins feel high and I can’t forget it.

I was thinking about it so much that I forgot where exactly I was. I was standing in line in the school cafeteria, waiting to pick up lunch for all I knew. Then I heard Jerry’s voice say, “Next in line, please.”

Jackie-O-Lantern approached the table, which meant I was next to get something signed.

“Bro, what exactly will you get signed by Amaya?” Darren asked.

Panic crawled up my spine like a slug. I didn’t get that far in the planning process. How did I miss that? Nothing could go wrong that day, but I failed when they relied on me again. “Duh-duh-damn, I-I-I don’t know.”

“We could dig that pizza box out of the trash, and maybe she could sign that?” Wyatt suggested.

“Are you serious? Do you know how stupid of an idea that is?” I snapped.

Wyatt shrugged. “It’s better than nothing.”

“I respectfully disagree there, champ. Gordie, you could go up there and get your hand signed, or your controller signed. It’s really not that big of a deal,” Darren said.

“Controller, that’s a great idea. I’ll just do that.” But I really didn’t want to do that. I didn’t want some scribble of sharpie marker over my special Christmas gift that was given to me long ago; I didn’t have much of a choice, though. Taking a deep breath, I eavesdropped on the conversation between Jackie-O-Lantern and Amaya.

“… I feel a little starstruck at the moment, so sorry if I’ve been awkward or weird. It’s just, you’re one of my heroes, truly a personal hero, because you’re one of the best players in the world and you’re super nice and so cool -and full-stop- you really inspire me. So again, I’m sorry if I’m being weird; this moment just means something to me,” Jackie said.

“Nonsense, you’re not being weird at all. Congrats on getting second place. You’re really good at the game. Do you play in the major tournaments ever?” Amaya asked.

“No, that seems much too overwhelming for me. I just like to play in local tournaments sometimes.”

Amaya smiled. “You should really give it a chance. I was impressed with your Galactic-Reaper.”

Jackie’s jaw dropped. “Uh-uh w-wow, th-that means a lot.”

“Here are your posters signed for you, your younger sister, and your younger brother.” Amaya slid the rolled-up papers back to Jackie, and she left with the biggest smile on her face.

“Next in line, please,” Jerry said. He was sitting next to Amaya, which made me feel more nervous. I handed Jerry my voucher, and he said, “Thank you.”

I shuffled up to the front of the table with Darren and Wyatt a foot behind me. My heart thumped away in my chest like a drum solo from a legendary rock band. “Uh, hello.”

“Hello.” Amaya smirked.

“I’m a huge fan,” I blurted.

“Thank you for your support and for being here today. What can I sign for you?”

“Yeah, that’s right, I have something for you to sign. Okay.” I started to breathe nervously, and I could feel my body shaking. Pulling the controller out of my backpack was more complicated than ever. “Could you just sign my controller puh-puh-please?”

“I would be happy to. Where would you like me to sign it?”

“If you could just -uh- sign -uh- underneath the controller, that’d be cool or whatever.”

Amaya flipped over the controller and signed the back of it.

I took a deep breath. “Can I ask you something?”

“Oh, sure, wait, are those two guys with you, or are they also getting something signed?” Amaya pointed at Wyatt and Darren.

“It’s just me. They’re my two best buds.”

“Oh, okay, wow, you three are quite the talented bunch. I saw all of your games, well, at least from the quarter finals-on.”

“Really? You think we’re talented?” I asked.

Amaya laughed and nodded. “Yes, I do.”

“So I saw the news that c-came out. What are you going to do for the Miami t-tournament? Have you assembled a t-team yet?”

I was afraid that Amaya would give me a stink-eye or tell me to go to hell and leave, but she just smiled politely and said, “You know, I haven’t assembled a team yet.”

This was it. This was the moment. I felt like I was on a clean break towards the goal. Depending on what I said, I’d cross the goalline or trip over myself.

“Do you know what you’re going to do? Are you going to hold auditions or something for those three spots?”

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but, Gordie, what exactly are you getting at here?” Jerry interrupted, and for the first time in all of my brief interactions with him, I despised him.

“Jerry, you know earlier how you said if I needed anything just to let you know? I need you to let me ask Amaya what she plans on doing for the Miami tourney.”

He looked at me, shocked, but he tucked his head down, pretending not to listen.

Amaya was still smiling politely. “I still haven’t made any decisions yet and haven’t looked for free agents. Why do you ask? Are you with the media or something?”

“Okay, just hear me out, please, I know it’s like every player’s dream to go to the Miami tournament, but the three of us are really good. Like, at the Chicago tourney, Darren beat Dayzees in one game. I was doing great but missed my one match and got disqualified for it. Wyatt was doing amazing until a personal issue came up, and we had to leave, but I really think that we could have had a chance at getting one of us in the top eight spots. We thought we’d ask if we could join your team for Miami?”

Her smile was still on her face, but she shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know.”

“Could you play us? Play each of us right now, and I’ll pay you if you can beat all three of us. I’ll pay you $1000 if you beat all three of us, best of 3. If we win, we get to join your team, and I think we’d honestly have a shot at Dayzees and his squad, but if we lose right now, you win $1000. It’s a win-win all around.”

Amaya still shook her head. “I don’t think so,” she looked over at Jerry, who still hadn’t said anything, but he looked at her apologetically. “Uh, Jerry?”

“Amaya, I actually know Gordie. He’s a good kid. His friends come into the shop all the time to buy games. They’re good dudes, known ‘em for a while. I didn’t want to intervene or get in the way because Gordie is just a young kid, and his brother-uh, how do I put this.” Jerry scratched his chin nervously. “His brother passed out two years ago just before he was about to play his match. I remember I was there. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. His brother was going up to play against his opponent, but I think it was in a later round. He was an excellent player, but then he started coughing and passed out. Then he went to the hospital but never seemed to make a full recovery from what I read about.”

My mind became completely scatterbrained. I was crying. I felt like I had embarrassed myself far enough. I picked up the controller and stuffed it in my bag. “Come on, guys, let’s get out of here,” I said, turning around and escorting Darren and Wyatt with my arms.

“It’s alright, Gordo,” Wyatt said.

We rushed out of the store with Darren patting me on the back.

“Wait!” Amaya called out in the middle of the parking lot.

I turned around looking at the pavement, sniffling hysterically. I felt a hand move up and down my back. I wasn’t sure if it was Darren or Wyatt. Maybe it was both.

“Gordie, I remember you. I remember that moment like it was yesterday. Sorry, I should have recognized you, but you look so different. Please forgive me.”

I managed to lift my head and look her in the eye.

“That was quite a defining moment in my career. I felt horrible. To be given a victory like that and advance to the next round felt cheap and wrong. Even some of the other players that try and get in your head will bring it up to me. They’ll say that it should have been your brother being Dayzees’s teammate or that I should have never gotten that far in the Chicago tournament. I had to change that whole perception about me.”

“Yeah, I bet that hurt real bad. I’m sorry that my brother’s death inconvenienced you like that,” I snapped.

“Gordie!” Darren whispered harshly and yanked my shoulder back.

I regretted my outburst.

Amaya was stunned. “I’m sorry, I can’t imagine what that would be like, but I wasn’t finished. There’s more I want to say. I was up there on stage with you. I asked if I could help. Which I know is pointless, it’s not like I was a medical health professional or anything, but if it was as simple as a hug, I would’ve given a hug, you know? It’s just what you say when you want to do something, but you know you can’t. I always wanted to reach out to your brother or you somehow. When the New York tournament came that summer, I asked around if you or your brother were there, and that’s when I found out he passed away. I felt crushed, obviously not to the same level as you, but it made me want to reach out all the more. So I could extend my condolences and tell you how sorry I was.” Amaya reached out her hand for me to hold.

I inched closer with Darren’s hand still on my shoulder. I held her hand, which was warm and comforting. I couldn’t stop trembling. She took a deep breath.

“I know what it’s like,” she said. “Which is why I’m so sorry.”

Now the tears were really streaming.

I wanted to say something, but I couldn’t. The emotional pain flooded my mind overdriving any ability to function normally. I was so embarrassed to break down in front of a stranger who I just asked, ‘uhhhhhh hey uhhhh, can I go with you to uhhhhhh Miami?’

“I’m sorry,” I croaked.

“It’s okay, it’s okay, I don’t know why you’re apologizing, but there’s no need to,” she said, rubbing my hand. “I’m sorry how callous I may have seemed earlier, but I would be happy to play against the three of you. I’ll even consider the option of you joining my team for Miami. And, more importantly, even if I beat all three of you, I don’t want your money.”

My mind was still twisting and churning, I didn’t fully comprehend what she had said, but I knew it was good. I stood there, broken.

“Thank you, Amaya, but you really don’t have to,” Darren said.

“I know, but I want to.” She shrugged. “I figure I should put together a team for Miami, right? May as well start the auditions with someone.”

Finally, I was able to comprehend something. “Wuh-wuh-when? Wuh-where?”

“Tell you what, we can play right here in the store. So you can go to the other room, get yourself together, take as much time as you need, then let me know when you’re ready. I’ll be happy to take all three of you out.” Amaya grinned. “Is that okay, Jerry?”

“I don’t mind,” he said. “The store is technically still open for a few more hours, so I have nowhere to be. I’ll just close off the side of the store with the TVs and let the other clerk finish the shift. Besides, we’re usually pretty dead around this time anyway.”

“Thank you,” Darren said, guiding me back inside the store.