Free TMI by Patty Blount

She pressed down on the right stick of her controller to access her knife and stabbed his attacker before he could react. “Ha! Got him. No need to thank me.”
    A spray of bullets hit the ground nearby and she laughed. “Okay, hold on.”
    From: WyldRyd11
    To: Goldilx
    Holy crap, girl! You have some mad assassin skills. We should play Assassin’s Creed after this.
    â€œSure! I love that game too.”
    They played for twenty minutes or so, prowling through streets and abandoned buildings, shooting at enemies. When he took a knife in the back, she checked his next message.
    From: WyldRyd11
    To: Goldilx
    Mistakes were made.
    She laughed out loud into the headset.
    His next message showed awe.
    From: WyldRyd11
    To: Goldilx
    You got the Call of Duty joke? Impressive. Want to chat on Instant Messenger? I’m WyldRyd11 on IM too. Send me your ID. Or you could friend me on Facebook if you want. My name is Ryder West.
    Bailey nibbled a fingernail and thought about that for a moment. Meg would totally have a cow. She smiled, imagining Meg’s perfectly logical and smart and safe and boring reply to Ryder’s suggestion. First, she’d remind her of all her past mistakes. And then she’d try to scare her with things like “What if he’s a pervert?” or “What if he’s an ax murderer?” But really, what could possibly happen? It’s not like he knew where she lived or anything.
    â€œOkay.”
    She switched screens to her computer, turned on Instant Messenger, and found WyldRyd11.
    Goldilx: I’m glad you invited me to play.
    WyldRyd11: Yeah, I’m glad too.
    Goldilx: Most people hate playing with me.
    WyldRyd11: Why?
    Goldilx: I’m freakishly good at video games, and guys hate that.
    WyldRyd11: No. Guys LOVE gamer girls.
    Goldilx: Guys love gamer girls but hate when gamer girls kick their ass.
    WyldRyd11: U are a girl, right? Not some 60 year old dude in a prison cell?
    Bailey giggled.
    Goldilx: I was thinking the same thing about you. I am definitely a real girl.
    WyldRyd11: And I’m a real boy. I’m 17, not 60. :) And I won’t mind if you kick my ass.
    Goldilx: Cool! I’m 17 too. And I promise not to kick your ass that much. Or bug you for help designing my video game.
    WyldRyd11: UR designing a video game? Cool.
    Okay, he didn’t actually ask for the details, but she’d give them to him anyway.
    Goldilx: It’s called Lost Time . My BFF and I thought it up during world history class last year. You have to examine major stories in history to find the stories behind the stories, the ones that are like never in our textbooks, you know?
    WyldRyd11: Wow. Sounds complicated. How would u play?
    Goldilx: I have a bunch of character outlines. Players could choose one or create their own.
    WyldRyd11: Single or multiplayer?
    Goldilx: Single player. The whole idea was to be able to play it by myself, but I did add a subplot about art so Meg would play.
    WyldRyd11: Who’s Meg?
    Goldilx: My BFF.
    WyldRyd11: Is there a BF?
    Goldilx: No. Not anymore. I just broke up with my last BF.
    WyldRyd11: Sucks for him. UR awesome!
    Goldilx: Aw :)
    WyldRyd11: Did u break up w/ him or did he break up with u?
    Goldilx: I broke up with him.
    WyldRyd11: Good. :) U need APIs and game engine software. I can get that for u if u want.
    Good? Why was it good? Oh, my God, he was flirting with her. She almost clapped until she remembered she should be cool. Low key. She’d ignore the flirting and comment on the APIs—whatever they were. Simon had once tried to explain game engines to her. And Noah before him. And Chase the other night.
    Goldilx: No, it’s ok. I don’t know much about programming.
    WyldRyd11: u have to learn!!!!! u have to build this game so I can play it!!!
    Could he be any sweeter? Bailey’s face split into a wide grin.
    Goldilx: I’m not good at programming and stuff. I just like games.
    WyldRyd11: I can help! I’m