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first experience with technology.” He looked at her, smirking.
    “So were you, like, a Dungeons and Dragons person?”
    She grimaced. “No. I don’t do…pretend.” A waste of time. She lived in the real world. Well, maybe not quite the same world as everybody else. In her own version of the real world, some forms of frivolous
    entertainment
    were
    allowed, but not others. Even she didn’t
    understand
    the
    rules
    sometimes.
    “Ah.” He nodded like he
    was figuring her out.
    It made her squirm with
    discomfort. She didn’t like being studied. Numbers were puzzles, not people. Not her.
    “So why don’t you sell
    these? You could get a couple thousand for the system if you have the box and everything.”
    “’Cause I like to play.”
    His brows shot up then he tsked . “You should at least keep them in good condition. Don’t play too much. They’ll only get more valuable as time goes on.”
    She shrugged. “What’s the point? You can’t take it with you.”
    “Take
    what
    with
    you
    where?”
    “It’s a saying. Like, you can’t take your shit with you when you die. I’d rather leave behind academic contributions that better mankind than a few pieces of plastic wrapped up in packages.” She rolled back to her desk. “And I’d rather play with things that I enjoy while I can than have some extra money.”

    Money was a necessary
    evil. Unfortunately she needed it for things like sustenance but little else interested her for spending. More equipment would be nice. Even tattoos didn’t appeal much anymore, now that she had the few that meant something.
    “That’s pretty deep.” He
    narrowed his eyes. “You’re an interesting person, Emerson True.” Her cheeks heated. What
    should she say to that? Thank you?
    She wasn’t even sure it was a compliment. Interesting? No, more like boring. But whatever. If the bronzed sex god wanted to think she was interesting, who was she to stop him?
    “Though
    extra
    money
    sounds good to me.” He chuckled and stared at the game. “God, I’d love to rescore these.”
    “Rescore?”
    “Yeah.” He placed them
    back on the shelf. “That’s what I do.
    I write videogame music.”
    “Wow.” She cocked her
    head to the side, confused. “I thought you were like a rock musician or something.”
    “Why does everyone think
    that?”
    “You have the look for it.”

    He
    grunted,
    sounding
    frustrated.
    “No,
    I
    have
    no
    aspirations for stardom. I just want to hole up in my little studio and watch people play videogames while I compose. It’s probably silly. Maybe I’m more of a geek than you are.” He smirked.
    “It’s not silly. It’s…kinda cool actually.” Was she seriously impressed? Struggling musician brought to mind mediocre guitar players sitting on the side of the road, begging for change as they sang cheesy songs. “I thought you just strummed a guitar for a living.”
    “I teach guitar lessons but it’s not even my favorite instrument.
    It’s just the most transportable.” He chuckled. “What I really need, to be any
    good,
    is
    an
    awesome
    synthesizer and better software. But it’s expensive so I have to keep teaching until I save up enough. And I tinker around with the shit equipment I have now.”
    She was ashamed that her respect for him grew. Maybe she was being judgy but there seemed to be more skill involved in actual full orchestra composition. She’d heard the music that played in the background to some of the more popular games. They were no joke.

    Plus, to a videogame fan like her, it gave him major cool points. As if she needed more to feed this crush.
    He ran his hand through his hair then sighed. “I should go.” With a small smile, he looked her in the eye. “Thanks, Emerson. I know it must be hard to tell people the truth sometimes.”
    Not until now. And that was
    disturbing. She stared, unsure of what to say. You’re welcome? Why was she always getting stuck in this awkward moment?
    The front door swung