Survival

When I wake up the next morning, the first thing that that comes to my mind is 'I played Minecraft with Kara yesterday!!!' even though it wasn't the first time. Then I remember about how I'm supposed to make a video with both Amelia and Kara today, and I suddenly get nervous. What if Amelia tells Kara about my…condition…despite her promise? I probably shouldn't let Amelia join in with us, should I?

No, I tell myself. That would be wrong. The best thing I can do if she ends up trying to tell Kara is either kick her out of the server or distract her with something.

I press my lips together. Letting Amelia join in on one of our videos was probably a bad idea.

I rub my knuckles into my eyes and start pulling away my tangled blanket from around me, even though I want to stay in bed. I should text Amelia about the video, but knowing her she's probably texted me already. And when I take a look at my phone after brushing my teeth, I find seven messages from Amelia. A pang of worry shoots through me when I don't see Kara's usual 'wake up' message, but I shrug it off. She's probably busy. I tell Amelia to send me her Discord username, and I add her on Discord to call her.

'Hey. Woah. I've never used Discord before.' Amelia says.

I blink in surprise. 'You've never used Discord? Seriously?'

'Stop being so surprised. It's because I spend all my time on Reddit.'

'Yeah, and because you don't have any friends.' I smirk to myself.

'Well, I guess you don't exist, then.' I can visualize Amelia rolling her eyes like she always does. 'Now, how do we talk to Kara? Do we make a group chat or something? How are we gonna play Minecraft together?'

'Woah. Yes, we can make a group chat. And haven't you ever heard of multiplayer?'

Amelia sighs on the other end. 'I meant, how are we gonna talk while we're playing? Do we make a call and leave it running in the background?'

'Duh.' I say. 'What did you think?'

'I'm just new to Discord, okay?' she says. 'Meeting Kara might be a little weird.'

'Oh, really?' I say. 'And why is that?'

'Well, seeing that you have a crush on her…'

'Amelia!' I yell. 'You promised!' My mind conjures an image of Amelia's phone flying away from her hand and barking at her like they do in cartoons. Despite my nervousness and anger, I smile at the picture.

'I know, I know!' She hastily replies. 'I won't tell her! I'm just saying it would be awkward!'

'Good.' I pause. 'I'll let Kara know, but I swear, Amelia, if you tell her, I'm never gonna talk to you again.'

'Yeah, yeah.' Amelia grumbles. 'I'm just trying to help you.'

'That does it,' I move to hit the end call button. 'I'm blocking you.'

'No! Wait!' Amelia yells, and my finger involuntarily pauses. 'I told you I won't tell her!'

'Promise again?' I say, and she does after a long sigh.

'Good.' I move the phone closer to me. 'I'll tell her now.'

'Okay. But don't block me!' Amelia puts in before I end the call.

I message Kara about Amelia, even though my brain is screaming at me that it's a bad idea. I even create a group DM, and Amelia messages us immediately. Kara comes online, and we talk for a while. I introduce Amelia and tell Kara that she'll be joining us for a video, and Kara seems okay with that idea.

I've almost never started recording a video as soon as I wake up, but I do that today. I'm a little less talkative and energetic than usual, but Kara and Amelia seem to notice no change, which leads me to believe I'm like this all the time. We start a new survival world, and it's soon clear to me that Amelia has little to no experience in Minecraft despite her watching my videos.

'How do you make a crafting table again?' Amelia says, and I groan.

'Don't make one, I'll make some tools for you.' Kara says, and I feel a little jealous, even if it's over wooden tools.

'Oh, thanks.' Amelia replies, and resumes punching trees.

Since this is a survival world instead of one where we speedrun, I choose a nice spot in the middle of a plain and start laying down blocks for a house. Amelia comes over and helps me with it, while Kara goes out to collect some iron for all three of us. We make commentary for the viewers' benefit, and I can already tell the video's going to be funnier than usual because of Amelia.

'You should go get some food for us.' I tell Amelia, placing blocks for the roof. 'And some wool for the beds.'

'Okay, how much wool?' Amelia stops placing blocks and switches to her wooden sword.

'Uh, nine.'

'OH MY GOD!' Kara yells, and I accidentally hit Amelia in panic. She lets out an 'ow!' as if that hurt her in real life.

'Sorry Amelia – what's wrong, Kara?' I say, turning to the place where I last saw Kara. At least, the place where I think I last saw Kara.

'There are – so many – AAH – stupid skeletons here!' she says, quickly followed by an 'OH MY GOD IT'S A CREEPER!'

I burst out laughing, and Amelia joins in. The whole situation seems ten times funnier than it actually is. Kara tells us to shut up, but she screams again as something attacks her, and we laugh louder.

'I said shut up!' Kara says, and then sighs in relief. 'I did it. I killed them – will you guys please shut up!'

'Okay, okay,' I say, building a tower for myself to get up on the roof for our house. 'Do you guys want a second floor?'

Amelia says, 'I guess,' while Kara huffs and doesn't reply.

'Dude, you're angry at us laughing at you?' I say, referring to Kara.

'I mean, duh. Do you like it when someone is laughing at you?'

'Of course not.' I say lightly, not wanting to start an argument. Kara thankfully doesn't remain angry for too long, and she soon returns with a full stack of iron.