Beta Testing

"Is everything ready?", Desiree asked, seeing how meticulous Zephyr was being in the kitchen

"Yeah", Zephyr replied, waving off her concerns, "I'm basically done. Just waiting for the brownies to cool and then I'll add the chocolate ganache".

"Are you sure you're fine?", Desiree asked again, "I've seen how many brownies you made. It'll be easier if I help".

"It would be", Zephyr agreed, "But I have a special method of adding the ganache. It'll take too long for me to teach you".

"There are special ways to add ganache?", Desiree questioned, confused by the concept.

"Yep", Zephyr answered, making sure to pop the 'p' for extra effect.

"So", Desiree muttered, "When are we going to start with the game?"

"We can start at any time, but I want it to be a fun gathering for everyone", Zephyr declared.

"That's smart", Desiree remarked, nodding her head in agreement.

"Guess who's going to destroy everyone at Candy Crush?!", Matt exclaimed as he entered the kitchen. Pointing both his thumbs at himself, he announced, "This guy!".

"You're really excited honey", Desiree commented, a competitive smile appearing on her face, "But there's no way that you're going to beat me".

"Ha", Matt laughed, "I crush the hopes of newbies like you all the time".

Snorting, Desiree countered, "You're not the first to say that and you won't be the last either".

"Calm down you guys", Zephyr intervened. "Here. Have some food", he said, handing a plate of food.

"These nachos taste great", Matt complimented.

"Yeah. They're the best I've had", Desiree added.

"What are they?", Matt asked, somewhat curious.

"That is Pico de gallo, also known simply as salsa fresca. It's a fresh and flavorful Mexican salsa made from chopped tomatoes, onions, cilantro, jalapeños, lime juice, and salt. You can choose other chilli peppers but since I don't know everyone's tolerance towards spicy food, I made three batches. There's the average made with moderately spicy chilli peppers, which you both had. The less spicy one was done with regular chilli peppers and the really spicy one was made with the species chilli peppers I could find", Zephyr stated, feeling proud of himself.

"How much food did you make?", Matt asked, having stopped paying attention to what he said halfway through Zephyr's lecture.

"I made quite a lot, but not too much", Zephyr explained, "I have a wide variety of food so that everyone can have some".

"That's nice", Desiree commented, "It's really great how you're trying to make everyone happy".

"And done!", Zephyr exclaimed, finished with the brownies. Quickly moving to the living room where a 52-inch plasma screen TV was connected to his laptop.

Following behind him, Desiree asked, "What's with the TV?"

"Since everyone I know is so competitive, I thought it'd be great to have a leaderboard. The leaderboard will show what level you're on and how far you've gotten. It'll also display the total number of points you've accumulated", Zephyr replied, quickly explaining the purpose of the TV.

"Hahaha!", Matt laughed, "Now when I beat you, you won't be able to deny it".

"As if I'd lose to you", Desiree snorted.

As they were about to continue their arguing, the doorbell rang, causing them to halt in their tracks. Walking away from them, Zephyr made his way to the door and quickly opened it, a look of relief flashing on his face when he saw who it was. "Hey guys", he greeted, moving to the side.

"Hi Zephyr", Claire greeted back.

"Yo. What's up Z-Ball?", Phil exclaimed, fist-bumping Zephyr as he entered.

"Can you, like, make it quick?", Haley asked as she entered.

"Haley!", Alex complained. Seeing she was ignored, she turned her attention to Zephyr and gave him a quick hug, "How are you?", she asked.

"I'm good", Zephyr replied, a large smile on his face, "How've you been?"

"Been busy with exam prep but otherwise I'm good", Alex stated.

"Not overexerting yourself are you?", Zephyr questioned, familiar with Alex's antics.

"No", Alex replied, comforted by the care her boyfriend displayed.

"Good", Zephyr said, nodding his head.

"Is there food?", Luke asked as he walked into the house.

"Luke!", Alex chastacised.

"It's fine", Zephyr replied, waving off her concerns, "And yes. There is".

"Sweet", Luke muttered, walking away from them.

Entering the living room, he was met with the sight of everyone talking to each other. Clapping his hands, Zephyr snapped everyone's attention to him. "Now that everyone's paying attention, I need you to form an orderly line so I can install the game on your phones and connect it to the TV, where it will display your scores".

Hearing his words, everyone nodded, quickly forming a line. Unsurprisingly, Desiree, Matt and Phil were at the start while Luke, Claire and Haley were at the end. Nodding his head, Zephyr rapidly installed the game on everyone's phone, allowing them to start playing.

A smile appeared on Zephyr's face as he looked at the content and happiness on the faces of everyone playing. "OMG! This is so fun!", Haley exclaimed, fully engrossed in the game.

"Hahahah", Matt laughed, "I'm ahead of you by one level".

"So what?", Desiree retorted, "You started earlier".

"Yes!", Claire exclaimed, "Finally finished the level". Unfortunately, upon seeing the leaderboard, the smile on her face disappeared. "Damn it. How can I be last?"

"You took so long with the starter level honey", Phil explained, not looking up from his phone. "By the time you finished it, everyone had done at least 3 or 4 levels".

"It's not my fault", Claire argued, "I'm not good at this tech stuff".

"Mom. It's just a game", Luke countered.

The doorbell was rung again, causing Zephyr to snap out of his stupor. Opening the door, he was met with the sight of Manny, Gloria and Jay.

"Zephyr!", Gloria greeted, giving Zephyr a quick hug.

"Hey kid", Jay said, giving Zephyr a nod as he walked past him.

"Is Luke here already?", Manny asked.

"Yep", Zephyr answered, his answer causing Manny to run to the living room. Similar to the others, Zephyr quickly downloaded the game onto their phones, and within a few seconds, they started playing.

"Ayyy Jay", Gloria complained, "It's not working".

"It's because you're using your nails", Jay explained, "You have to use your finger".

"Ha. I'm ahead of you", Luke gloated.

"I'm going to beat you loser", Manny countered.

"As if", Luke retorted.

"Hey", Melaina greeted as she walked into the house.

"What's up squirt?", Nikos said, trying to ruffle Zephyr's hair.

"I'm so excited!", Elena squealed as she entered.

"You won't be disappointed", Zephyr claimed.

Soon enough, the trio became immersed in the game like everyone else.

"How comes you're ahead of me?", Elena complained.

"I'm just better", Nikos smirked.

"I'm 4 levels in front of you", Melaina interrupted, "Don't get cocky"

"Huh", Nikos muttered in shock.

"How?", Elena begged.

"I'm just better", Melaina answered, rubbing salt into their wounds.

Half an hour passed, and everyone was enjoying themselves, playing the game to their hearts' content. Unlike the normal Candy Crush where you only had 5 hearts, the one on their phones was one with unlimited hearts, allowing everyone to enjoy the game for as long as they wanted, something they didn't hesitate to take advantage of.

"This game is so good", Mitchell remarked, his fingers moving rapidly.

"I know right", Cam agreed, "And I think Lily agrees too".

"How on earth did you make this awesome game!", Raul exclaimed, shocked by how much he liked the game.

"It's rad", Paolo said, agreeing with Raul.

"How did you have time to make this with all the exams we have?", Michael asked.

"I just didn't bother with the homework", Zephyr answered, shrugging his shoulders.

"Aww man!", Michael complained, "It's not fair. The teachers let you off so easily"

"That's because he's not an idiot like you", Raul intervened.

"Hey. I'm not an idiot", Michael argued.

"You failed the calculus prep test we had last week", Paolo added.

"There are so many symbols", Michale defended, "It might as well be another language".

"You got 13 out of 100", Zephyr deadpanned.

"I don't know what you're on about?", Michael stated, looking away from them.

Snorting, Raul added, "If you fail calculus and history, the coach said you won't be able to play on the soccer team".

"What?!", Michael exclaimed, "Noooo! My life's over".

"Stop being so dramatic", Paolo interrupted his dramatic monologue, "Just ask one of us to help you, like Zephyr"

"But Zephyr's so busy with Alex", Michael complained.

"I agree", Raul voiced, "I thought the saying was bros before hoes. Was it a lie?"

"No", Paolo disagreed, "I think it's just that Alex and Zephyr click".

"You're right", Michael agreed, sagely nodding his head.

[Time Skip]

"Bye", Zephyr waved as everyone who had come, bar Alex, left. Closing the door, he leaned his back against it, muttering, "That was so exhausting".

"Everyone had fun though", Alex commented, receiving a nod from Zephyr.

"Who'd have guessed that things would become so chaotic?", Zephyr asked rhetorically.

Walking into the living room, they looked at the TV, some surprise on their faces. "I'm surprised Haley got the top spot", Alex remarked.

"She kinda lives on her phone, so I'm not too surprised", Zephyr said.

"When you think of it from that angle, it does make sense", Alex commented after thinking about it for a few seconds.

"Do you want to watch a movie?", Zephyr asked, "My Dad, Desiree and Bella went somewhere".

"Sure", Alex said, a smile on her face.

[With Matt and Desiree]

"Do you think it was a good idea to leave them alone?", Desiree asked.

"This is Zephyr we're talking about", Matt answered.

"True", Desiree replied, nodding her head.

"That was so fun Mommy", Bella said, holding Desiree's hand.

"That was", Desiree agreed.

"I'm still shocked that he developed such a good game at the age of 13", Matt commented, "Most kids his age are more focused on sports and stuff".

"He's different from normal kids", Desiree stated.

"Indeed he is", Matt agreed, nodding his head. Deciding to liven up the mood, he looked at Bella and asked, "Who wants to get some ice cream?"

"I want ice cream!", Bella exclaimed, raising her hand and jumping on the spot.

"Then let's get you some", Matt stated.