Creature Extinction—a game that took the world by storm after its debut for being an innovative product enjoyable for all ages amongst consumers.
The objective of the game is simple. Each player is given one-hundred health with three card types. Monsters, spells, and trap cards all designed around one goal. Reduce your opponent's life to zero, and win the game. Basically, a card game that requires great memory while combining luck, skill, and strategy.
However, a stack of unique cards isn't the sole reason for why C.R.E grew so popular.
Moving on, it was particularly noisy during this time as Ashton began packing his belongings. His final class for the day had ended right on schedule, and now he was ready to get a move on. That was until his eyes glanced over to Saber, seeing his best friend once again analyzing his entire deck as if he was trying to spot a weakness inside the build. A roll of his brown eyes came first before he tapped Saber's shoulder. It got his attention quickly, and his smile was the first thing to hit Ashton's vision.
"Class ended dude. Pack your stuff so we can head out."
"Heh, my bad. Just double checking my cards is all."
He watched as Saber pushed his cards together in one perfect stack. The latter began rising from his seat as he placed his cards away, being sure to grab his bookbag from the ground. One of the straps was then slung over his arm, showing he was ready to head out. Ashton was first to move as he headed towards the right side of the aisle of their class seats, making way for the stairs leading down to the classroom door.
"Just to let you know, I spent all class writing down notes for you alongside mine. We have that test with Ms. Adver tomorrow, so we need to hit my dorm and get to studying."
"Ugh! I don't want to. I always zone out when it comes to long periods of studying."
"Hey, we both chose the same major so it would be easier for our schedules. The least you could do is study for a test."
"Sure, sure. By the way, there's a new burger joint that opened up on Waller Dr downtown next to Anderson's arcade. Wanna check it out before heading to your dorm?"
"Seriously," Ashton began, "the arcade is already a forty-five minute drive from here. You really wanna check out a burger spot next to one of the busiest areas downtown?"
"I'm a burger guy man." Saber replied as they exited out the classroom door, making their way through the mostly crowded white halls of their college. "I'm tryna see if it's gonna be a good investment for the future."
"... Sure, we can check it out. You already said I need to get out more, and then I shouldn't let my dislike for C.R.E get in the way."
"Yes! I promise you won't regret it."
"Knowing you, I won't. Unless the food is trash, then I'm regretting everything."
Ashton leaned to his right to keep from bumping into someone, him and Saber turning the corner of the left hallway as they continued toward the exits of their school. The numerous people around were either walking to another location, or crowding the hallway with their many conversations. However, there were few amongst the crowd who stuck out like a sore thumb. Typically, those people were usually trouble, unless you were close to or on their level.
Unfortunately, Ashton was nowhere close to them. And as he spotted two of those people who were trouble from the get go, all he could do was curse under his breath. The reason why? The moment he spotted the checkered tiles of the halls talking to someone, it was too late for him and Saber to spin back around and go into another direction as they immediately locked eyes with them. Well, locked eyes with—
"Saber!"
"Just great." Ashton grumbled, his shoulders slumping as the in unison scream violated his ears.
"Yana, Kacey!" He exclaimed back, stepping toward the two girls and giving them hugs.
Yana and Kacey Avenue, twin sisters that've done almost everything together, including vying for his best friend's attention. They were brunettes with brown eyes, their fair complexion heightening their beauty alongside a key difference. Yana was a short-haired chick who dressed to impress, always having accessories on her no matter where she stepped. As for Kacey, her hair reached her lower back with freckles staining her cheeks while she smiled. Despite her way of dressing being more lowkey, you could see her liking for fashion as she always stuck out like Yana wherever she went. That's besides the point.
Ashton could only stare at three of them, watching them speak so casually without him as if this were an animated short. His brain ended up tuning out the conversation the more he watched, and his annoyance for the two women could easily be seen on his face. From what he could recall, it's been a while since the duo last engaged with Saber, leaving him out of the convo. All a calculated plan on behalf of the sisters every time their paths crossed.
While they chatted it up, Ashton's attention was caught by the vibrating of his jacket pocket. His right hand removed the device from his pocket, sliding a finger upward to click the power button on a side. It was a message. A roll of his eyes came naturally before he entered the pin number of his phone to unlock it. With a click of the enter button, his phone unlocked itself immediately, and he found himself staring at the message board to see what was sent.
All it did was make things worse.
"Mason's roommate is throwing a party?" Saber's curiosity overtook his face.
"That's right. He's celebrating his rank going up on C.R.E, and wanted to get some of the best players who could entertain the crowd." Yana answered, pressing a finger to her lips as she slightly bent forward to close the distance between them.
"There's gonna be drinks, lots of food, and many games as you heard. Also, you could see this as an opportunity." Kacey spoke, keeping her distance while giving him a wink that was more… Subtle.
"Opportunity for what?"
"Unfortunately, we can't ruin the surprise on that. The party's happening tonight at the Lakewood house, starting at exactly eight on the dot. While I would say "be there on time," we don't mind if you're fashionably late." Yana chuckled, taking a step back.
"Seriously though, please be there on time if you can. You really don't wanna miss it." Kacey said afterward, taking Saber's hand as while giving a look that sought to beg for his arrival if necessary.
"No need to worry you two. Me and Ash will both be there."
"Huh?" The sudden saying of his name broke him from his thoughts, his eyes breaking contact from his phone before he hastily placed it away.
"Oh, great!" Yana exclaimed, but the way she responded with such a short statement was clear as day about how she felt concerning Ashton's arrival.
"Then we'll be seeing you both there. Come on Yana, let's get going."
"Alright sis. Bye Saber." The sultry sounding of his name was obvious to pick up on her intent as she stepped past the blonde with a content smile.
"Later Saber. We'll see you tonight." The last few words to leave Kacey's mouth before Saber responded back with a nod.
The former stepped around to meet her sister, continuing on their way until their eyes began to lock with Saber. Brown eyes from the three of them met, but each reaction was different. Yana scoffed before annoyance shaped her features, turning her afterward to avoid looking at him any longer. Kacey on the hand gave Ashton a small smile, but no words were exchanged as she stepped alongside her sister. Then there was Ashton, his eyes sharp and filled with dislike for the both of them as metaphorical daggers pierced their skulls.
"Yo Ash, we gotta hit Lakewood tonight for that party. I was personally invited, so that means you're coming with me."
He casted his vision upon Saber once again, greeted by the smirk of man that seemed all too common for those who got into mischief, or just chasing the high of a dream beginning to take off. Ashton's face began to twist slowly, an eyebrow raised in mere seconds before Saber finally realized that the former was confused.
"We have a test tomorrow, and you wanna head to a party tonight?"
"A party that I was personally invited to, that I'm gonna use as an excuse to bring you along with me."
"Nah man, no way. College parties are not my thing, and we have bigger fish to tackle. Like the test that we gotta study for."
Ashton began walking ahead of Saber, the latter quick to catch up to his side before letting the statement "We can study, and make it on time for the party" slip past his lips.
"It was two-nineteen when I put my phone away. I agreed to a burger joint only, which is a forty-five minute drive, and then another forty-five back."
"Look, I get it, you don't wanna go to the party because of how you feel, and then because of the test tomorrow. However, think about it man. Food, drinks, I'm playing against some of the people there, and it's supposed to be a good opportunity if I show up. Meaning it's a good opportunity for you too, then we can leave whenever you want."
"... Fine, only because it's you. However, I'm kicking your ass if we fail that test tomorrow." Ashton made his words clear, but the threat behind them felt empty.
"Done deal." Saber smirked, digging into his pocket before taking out a key with a keychain attached. "Now then, let's get some burgers."