"The shadows creep closer—boom, boom, boom," Mike Wheeler's voice rang out as he crouched behind the game master's board, his eyes twinkling with theatrical suspense.
Surrounded by a scattering of miniatures and character sheets, Dustin, Mike, Lucas, Will, and I were deep into our Dungeons & Dragons campaign, nestled in the familiar confines of Mike's cluttered basement.
"Guys, seriously, it’s the Demogorgon. We’re doomed," Dustin muttered nervously, eyes darting toward the table.
"No way it’s the Demogorgon," Lucas retorted, rolling his eyes with a smirk.
"A horde of troglodytes is stomping toward your party!" Mike declared dramatically, slamming several figures onto the battle grid.
"See? I told you—it’s not the Demogorgon," Lucas said, turning to Dustin with a triumphant grin.
"Wait! Behind the troglodytes, growling... something huge... something hungry... it’s the Demogorgon!" Mike shouted, planting a formidable figure onto the table. "Sir Will, your move!"
"Fireball that beast!" Lucas urged, eyes locked on Will.
"No, cast protection!" Dustin protested sharply.
"Fireball!"
"Protection!"
"Fireball!"
"Alright, fireball it is," Will decided, rolling dice that bounced right off the table.
"Oh no!"
"Where did they go?"
"Well, if I knew that, I wouldn’t be down here hunting for them!" Lucas exclaimed, crouching to peer under the table.
"Mike! Time to wrap it up and get everyone home!" Mrs. Wheeler’s voice echoed from upstairs.
Mike dashed upstairs to plead his case, desperate to extend our game night even a little longer.
"Over here!" I called, carefully retrieving one of the rogue dice.
"What is it?" Lucas asked, drawing a deep breath.
I handed the die to Will, who squinted and announced, "It’s a seven."
"Did Mike see it?" Lucas inquired skeptically.
"No," Will replied, shrugging.
"Then it doesn’t count!" Lucas declared with finality.
"Kids, it’s a school night! Time to head home," Karen’s voice came again, firmer this time.
I sighed and grabbed the pizza box from the corner. "You want this?" I offered to Dustin, who promptly took it and swung his bag over his shoulder.
"Thanks, Y/n," he said, already heading toward the stairs to share the pizza with his sister, Nancy.
The rest of us—Lucas, Will, Mike, and I—stepped outside, the chill night air wrapping around us as the porch light flickered above.
"Goodnight, guys. See you tomorrow," Mike said with a tired smile.
"Night, Mike. See you then," I replied, beaming back.
Dustin zoomed out the door, hopping on his bike with eager energy. We all mounted ours and began pedaling down the quiet street.
"Goodnight, ladies," Lucas teased as we reached his block.
"Night, Lucas," I called, easing my pace.
Suddenly, Dustin’s voice rang out from behind us, "Y/n, tell your mom I said goodnight!"
I grinned at the challenge. "Race you home!"
An *A/N*: When I say something in italics, it means I’m using my powers to whisper inside someone’s head without anyone else hearing.
"When I say go, go," I told Will, who nodded back with a grin.
"Winner gets a comic," Dustin declared, determination flashing in his eyes.
"Any comic?" Will asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Any comic," Dustin confirmed without hesitation.
"Go!" I whispered in Will’s mind.
We both kicked into high gear, legs pumping as the cool wind whipped past our faces. Letting him surge ahead didn’t stop me from chasing fiercely.
"Son of a bitch," Dustin muttered under his breath as we sped past his house.
Will looked back over his shoulder with a shout, "I’ll take your X-Men #134!" before bursting into laughter, the sound mixing with the night.
"Here’s my stop," I said, slowing as the streetlights cast long shadows. "See you tomorrow, Will the Wise."
"Until then, Y/C/N," Will replied with a goofy grin. "Goodnight." (Y/C/N means Your Character Name.)
"Night, Will." I watched him pedal away, the night feeling alive with friendship, secrets, and the promise of tomorrow’s adventures.