Erika was standing off to the left side in a large black colored winter parka. There was blonde fur around the brim of the hood which rested around her back and neck area of the coat. She glanced off to the side and started to chuckle at whatever she saw off camera.

  It was only a second later that Steve Campbell appeared in view, but he held a single rose clutched in his teeth. He came to a stop, reached up, retrieved the rose and dramatically handed it over to his interviewer. “For you my dear.” Steve said with a smile.

  Erika grabbed hold of the rose and smelled the bright red flower. Steve retrieved a handkerchief from his coat’s inner pocket. He quickly padded his bald head and wiped the sweat away. He placed the accessory away and then adjusted his coat and stood with both hands laid over one another in front of him.

  Erika had a curious smile on her face and she asked. “Well thank you Steve, but what is this for exactly?”

  She tilted the microphone towards him. “Well, for coming to my performance tonight, of course.” He said with a grin and shrug of his shoulders. Steve’s playful look made it appear as if the answer was obvious.

  Erika continued to chuckle. “Well, Steve, you do know this was a golem league match and not a concert right?”

  Steve immediately formed a shocked expression. He brought his hand up on his chest and then lifted it upwards as if he questioned the statement. “Was it? I wouldn’t know… my opponent never seemed to show up to compete.”

  The room erupted with a resounding cheer. “Ohhh!” To Pepper’s surprise, he even saw Wilson’s face light up in surprise at the statement. Erika on the other hand covered her face with her free hand while she lowered the microphone down.

  She quickly worked to compose herself and brought the microphone back up. “That is uhh… a pretty harsh statement there Steve.”

  “Harsh? Harsh? Hmph! This arena is harsh, this league is harsh… but what I said… is a lesson. Do not come to my performance unprepared. The people want my music and I… shall give it to them!” Steve dramatically snapped his head to the side and formed a smug expression. It only lasted a second before he cracked a smile and Pepper could see he was trying to hold in his laughter and maintain the act.

  Erika smiled but it appeared slightly frustrated but decided to feed into the act. “Well… that certainly was a unique song you played for your fans tonight. Care to share more information about that?”

  Steve brought his left hand up and grabbed hold of the jackets side while his right hand waved around. “Yes, this was a very unique medley I put together. I wanted to highlight the excellent library of the amazing Lindsey Stirling.” Steve paused and dry coughed, but quickly returned to the microphone. “Now, Erika, as you know the amazing Lindsey had a smash hit titled Shatter Me, therefore, I have titled this medley’s performance as Slashing Them… because that is exactly what my opponent witnessed with his very own eyes.”

  Erika did her best to contain her laughter. “Well, okay then. Where can fans go to re-listen to this exciting compilation of songs and medleys?”

  “Yes… you can go to my Golem Chat Waves channel. There you will find my entire library of recorded songs. The ones that speak of my wonderful home and country. Titles like, “We’re Sorry.” “Yes, I Am Canadian” “Amongst the Timber” and of course one of my all-time fans favorite. “Cover Me in Syrup.”

  Erika was pressing her lips together, her eyes closed as she looked to be fighting the cringe going on inside her. She started to chuckle and finally looked back at the camera. “Well there you go fans. You can find those songs there…” She now started to laugh and signed off. “Back over to you guys in the booth.”

  ***

  The guttural scream of rage and death sent Pepper into a panic. He lunged out of bed and dashed into the hallway. He slowed his pace once he realized it was coming from Wilsons room. His hand reared up and he began to bang on the door. It only took to firm knocks and he froze when the edge of the keyboard punched through the door.

  Peppers eyes were wide in shock as the computer part remained lodged in the thin wood paneled door. He hesitantly called out, “Wilson…” There was no reply at first but he was more relieved that he had at least stopped screaming.

  Marcus’s door jarred open behind him but he immediately heard a large thud and then his roommate cry out in pain. “Monkey-butt-love’n!”

  Pepper was about to turn around but at the same time he could sense Wilson’s presence just on the other side of the now broken door. The handle softly turned and the door cracked open. There standing on the other side was Wilson, he didn’t look up towards Pepper, but rather down at their feet.

  Pepper sensed his roommate was embarrassed by the entire ordeal and his voice had an even softer tone and hesitation to it. “I’m assuming I woke everyone up?”

  Pepper didn’t have a chance to answer as a muffled response from Marcus called out behind him. “You could say that.”

  Marcus’s voice had the distinct sound of a nose being plugged. Pepper turned and looked over his shoulder to see his roommate clasping his hand over his face. The ridge of his index finger firmly pressed up and against his nostrils while a small trickle of blood poured down the front of his hand.

  “Are you mad?” Wilson asked while pressing his glasses up to his face.

  Pepper rubbed his face and then let his shoulder fall on the door frame. “I mean… I’m certainly not jumping with joy. Would have much preferred to get a full night of rest, rather than… whatever time it is.”

  “I’ll try to remember to scream into my pillow next time.”

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  “Squints, you ever consider going and seeing someone? You know, someone who can maybe help give you some ideas on… well, this?”

  Wilson glanced up just enough to see had Pepper motioned with his head towards the keyboard still lodged in the door. He reached up and adjusted his glasses on his nose. “I was actually. She recommended I use a damn-it doll.”

  Pepper’s mouth dropped and he looked up towards the sceiling. He wasn’t sure exactly what Wilson was referring to and he certainly didn’t want to know. Marcus on the other hand, didn’t seem to hesitate.

  “What’s that?”

  Wilson continued to stand perfectly still and gaze past their feet while maintaining his deadpan voice. “It’s a small stuffed animal or doll, normally 12 inches in length. You keep it with you and when you get angry you grab it and start to hit it against something and call out, damn-it, damn-it, damn-it!”

  A mental sigh of relief came over Pepper’s mind and he quickly glanced to Marcus who seemed to have the same thought. Pepper turned back to Wilson and asked. “And, you wouldn’t by any chance happen to have one of those… you know, here with you?”

  Wilson shook his head, “No. That therapist kept them and my parents stopped wasting money on them.”

  Marcus immediately asked as soon as Wilson finished. “Wait, so you’re not seeing that therapist any longer?”

  Pepper chuckled as he couldn’t help it from the humorous sound his roommates voice made while he continued to plug his nose.

  “No… she filed a restraining order against me. Which I didn’t no you could do when someone is thirteen.” Wilson shrugged. “But here I am and I certainly haven’t taken a single step within 500 feet of Dr. Holmes office.”

  Pepper and Marcus both glanced at each other and they each seemed to have an expression of disbelief. Pepper finally asked. “Why did she get a restraining order against you?”

  “I kept ripping the heads off the damn-it dolls when I got angry and told her I wished they were the heads of my enemies.”

  The two roommates heads snapped towards one another and Pepper couldn’t help but notice the alarmed look now on Marcus’s face. Pepper pushed the inside of his cheek with his tongue and grabbed the back of his neck. He was nervous on what to say next but figured there was nothing to lose at this point.

  “Squints, I get it. I know you’re passionate about…”

  Wilson cut him off. “Obsessed… I’m obsessed with Golem League TCG. It’s all I think about.”

  Just when Pepper thought he couldn’t have been even more surprised, Wilson reached behind him and retrieved the rare collector’s card he had given him at the card shop. He held it in front of his face for a second. Wilson then placed it on his chest and practically snuggled the heavy plastic case which contained the card.

  Thank god I gave him that card. He thought just before he continued. “I get it. Obsessed, but Squints, we got to be able to get some sleep man. Marcus and his friends are bad enough.”

  Marcus was taken by surprised and muttered. “Wait, what?”

  But Pepper ignored him and remained focused on Wilson. “None of use are going to get a good performance in if you’re waking us up at all hours in the middle of the night. I’m not saying don’t play, I get it, but we can’t keep going at this rate. And look, now you have to replace a freaking door. Marcus’s magazine cover of a face is damaged.”

  Marcus again muttered from behind him. “I do have great skin complexion.”

  “I’m sorry. I…” Wilson paused and took a deep breath. “I promise, I will work on keeping my anger down while playing, and will setup a code that will block me from accessing the card game during late hours.”

  “Sounds like a good compromise.”

  Wilson shifted and began to close the door. “Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight.” Pepper and Marcus said in unison.

  The door closed and Pepper couldn’t help but chuckled. Wilson started to pull the keyboard out of the door and small wood particles started to rip away as he did. Pepper tilted his head over towards Marcus.

  “I’m assuming your friends are passed out in the living room?”

  Marcus shrugged, “Probably.”

  “How in the world did they sleep through that?”

  “I dunno, but I’m jealous.”

  Pepper was about to turn and walk back towards his room, but his eyes scanned down the hall and towards the kitchen. He let out an frustrated huff and shook his head. “Marcus, what did I say about your friends picking up after themselves?”

  He walked towards the kitchen and flicked the light on. His anger immediately rose inside him when he noticed the countertop crawling with ants. His hand shot out and pointed towards the counter while he turned to look at his roommate. “This! Do you see this!”

  A soft murmur called out from the living room. “Why are you guys being so loud man. It’s like 430 AM.”

  “Shut it!” Pepper called back but kept his glare focused on Marcus.

  His roommate arrived and lowered his hand from his face when he realized the blood had stopped. Marcus glanced at what Pepper was pointing out and his face contorted in a cringe expression. “Eww, gross.”

  “Exactly. Eww gross! Marcus, I’m sick of it. You’re friends are literally here every day, every night, hell. They are practically living here as there is always someone sleeping in the living room, or even the freaking toilet for that matter!”

  A surprised look formed on Marcus’s face. “Wait, Braden came over last night? I didn’t even see him arrive, but if anyone is sleeping on the toilet, it would be a good bet its him.”

  Pepper’s mouth opened and he was left completely dumbfounded. “Marcus… this isn’t what I signed up for. This space..” Pepper lifted his hand up and waved it around in the direction of the living room. “Is a space for Me, Wilson, You, first. Wilson and I can never even use this space to hangout because your friends are always over.”

  Marcus chuckled, “Could you imagine Squints hanging out in the living room. He gets all mad and throws a couch out the window or something. Haha! Wild.”

  Pepper could feel his cheeks flush as his anger continued to grow. “And the energy drinks…”

  Marcus looked to have the light bulb turn on inside his head. He snapped his fingers and pointed towards Pepper. “Oh! Man I am glad you said something, cause it totally reminds me, we’re almost out. You think we could get another shipment soon, cause I totally got the guys hooked on them and….”

  “No. No Marcus, they’re not getting any more of them because the Big Duck Energy’s are for me. It’s a part of my agreement of being one of their sponsored gladiators. I offered them to you as a nice gesture, but I never intended for you to take advantage or abuse that gesture. I’ve barley had any and they’re already gone? Like, what the hell Marcus?”

  There was a long pause between the two. The gravity of the situation seemed to take hold within Marcus. He took a slight step back and leaned against the hallway wall.

  “I’m sorry man. I got the feeling that you really didn’t like the drinks, and I thought there was no better way to get some new customers than to get the homies to try them and spread the word. And yeah man, like I know this is also your guys spot, but let’s be honest. The only time I see Wilson leave his room is to use the bathroom and to get the new keyboards that arrive after he breaks another one. You’re always in the workshop building your golem. I felt like if I or Wilson didn’t tell you about the Golem League matches you’d be practically living out there 24/7.”

  Marcus’s words came off genuinely given the circumstances. Pepper questioned whether or not he had overstepped, but now felt like he had went overboard in loosing his temper. There was an awkward tension between them that felt as thick as molasses.

  Pepper nodded and then turned and started to look for bug spray that would kill off the small invasion. He started to open up multiple cupboards in search of the spray. His memory not able to recall where exactly they had kept it up till now.

  “I can take care of that man.” Marcus tried to intervene.

  “Nope… you should have gotten it last night when you all were done partying. I’ll take care of it now.” He countered. By the time he found the bug spray he noticed that Marcus had quietly left.