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"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T JOIN HELLFIRE TONIGHT?"
"I mean, if you wanna go down in flames I'd happily join... "
The last day of school before spring break expired quicker than Amara had predicted. The teachers, who were just as enthusiastic about the prospect of winning the championship game, had assigned minimal to no homework, giving her time to complete all of it during study hall. Now she was due for her shift at Family Video, waiting on Robin to finish band prep so they could catch the bus to work. But Dustin had either memorized her schedule or happened to be in the vicinity, for he had cornered her while she was emptying her locker for the break, desperate to recruit someone to take Lucas's place for the final Hellfire Club meeting.
"You can't be that bad! You know more about D&D than most people here," Dustin contended, persistent as ever. "What else do you have planned for tonight?"
"Nothing, unless you're counting the championship game – "
"But that goes against our code of not giving in to forced conforming!" Dustin pleaded, short on his list of options. He really was dramatic when he wanted to be, an attribute Amara was sure he had picked up from Steve. "What's Eddie gonna say when we're one member down because you decided to go to a basketball game, huh? You can't give in to the dark side!"
"It's a basketball game, not Star Wars," Amara disputed, swinging her backpack over her shoulders. "Maybe if you'd asked earlier I'd be up to join, but Lucas came to me first and I already promised him I'd go. It's bad enough that you and Mike won't – not that I can force you to, of course – but he deserves to have someone cheer him on."
"Okay, fine. Tell him we hope he wins that dumb trophy," Dustin gave up, searching through his mind for anyone else willing to substitute for their friend. Amara saw Robin lingering by the entrance for her and made to rendezvous, signaling to Dustin that their conversation was over. Except it wasn't for him; she could barely get one footstep in before, "Hold on, what about Steve? Do you know if he's free tonight?"
"He isn't, because we're going to the game together," Amara elucidated, ignoring Dustin's too-loud murmur of how she and Steve were 'like glue.' "I'm sorry, but I have to head out now. Gotta have enough money for the next time you guys mooch off of me."
"Hey!" Dustin exclaimed, but this time Amara didn't stick around, leaving him to try his luck finding anyone who didn't associate Dungeons and Dragons with satanic worship, which was no easy task. But it was a trial he and Mike needed to conquer if it meant they had a chance to win their final campaign.
The energy in the air was even more intense than that of the morning when Amara returned to the gym for the match hours later, her fingers interlaced with Steve's. She crossed through the doors and deposited her ticket, scanning the enclosure for Lucas. He was antsy with nerves, simultaneously prepping himself in the event that he actually got to play after months of being on the bench and holding out a sliver of hope that his friends would show up but knowing deep down that they wouldn't.
