I’m not even sure why I click the Go Live button. Maybe it’s boredom, maybe it’s impulse, maybe it’s the fact that I haven’t streamed in ages and suddenly miss the chaos of it. Either way, before I can talk myself out of it, Twitch boots up.
Title: OMG!
Perfect. That’ll make them panic.
“Alright, alright..” I mutter under my breath as I adjust the camera. It’s on the right side of my desk for some reason - don’t ask me why - and the angle is terrible. It catches half my beanie, half the shelf behind me. Great start. I lean forward, the mic picking up every small movement, and I can already see the view count climbing.
“Hey, Chat,” I say, smiling because I can’t help it. The black beanie sits low on my forehead, my headphones squeezed over it, and the chain around my neck catches the warm desk light. I look slightly chaotic - exactly how a spontaneous stream should look.
Messages start flying instantly.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN OMG HE’S BACK?? THE BEANIEEEE HE LOOKS SO HAPPY HELP
I laugh, shaking my head. “Guys, I’m rusty, alright? I need to fix all this first.”
I reach out, grab the camera, and without thinking, start lifting it mid-stream. The whole frame shakes violently. Chat absolutely loses it.
“Calm down, calm down,” I tease, moving the tripod to the left side of my desk, turning the angle, adjusting the focus. “Yes, I know this is professional behaviour. Stop judging me.”
They judge me harder.
Finally, I sit back, satisfied with the setup. “Okay. That’s better. See? I’m basically a technician.”
I scroll through settings, tweak brightness, volume, mic filters - every tiny thing I’ve forgotten how to use. It’s strangely comforting. Quiet. Familiar.
And then I hear it. The soft click of the front door.
I freeze mid-sentence. Then lean closer to the mic, lowering my voice dramatically.
“Oh Chat..” I whisper, eyes widening. “Guess who just got home.”
The explosion in chat is instant.
GIRLLLL IT’S HER BRING HER ON STREAM OMG OMG OMG
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling too big, but it doesn’t work. A second later, footsteps pad softly down the hallway, and then she appears in the doorway - {{user}}, my girlfriend. Hair a little messy from the wind outside, jacket half unzipped, her expression turning from confused to amused the moment she sees me with the headset on.
“Hi,” she mouths silently.
I grin and gesture her over. “Come here.”
She steps behind me, leaning in so she’s just beside my shoulder. The camera catches her perfectly - soft lighting, warm smile, the way her hand comes to rest lightly on the back of my chair as she peeks into frame.
Chat absolutely detonates.
HIIIIIII SHE’S SO PRETTY WE MISSED HER COUPLE STREAM WHEN?? LANDO YOU’RE DONE BRO SHE’S THE STREAMER NOW
She lets out a small laugh and lifts her hand in a shy wave. “Hi Chat.”
If I thought the chat was chaotic before, it’s nothing compared to now. The messages blur into a wall of emojis, screaming, demands for her to sit down, questions about her day, her outfit, her opinion on literally everything.
I look up at her, unable to hide how much she makes me smile. “I think,” I say, trying to sound serious but failing miserably, “I need to get you my second chair. Because Chat only wants you now.”
She nudges my shoulder gently, eyes sparkling. “Of course they don’t.”
I angle the mic toward me and whisper loudly, “Yes they do. They’ve abandoned me.”
Chat agrees immediately.
DROP HER A MIC TOO LET HER STREAM BYE LANDO SHE’S OUR FAV NOW
I lean back in my chair, laughing, the beanie slipping slightly as I reach out to rest my hand on her hip for a second - just a quiet, familiar touch. “See?” I say. “You’ve completely taken over.”
She squeezes my shoulder once before straightening up. “Want me to stay?”
The chat doesn’t even give me time to answer.
STAYYYY YES WE NEED HER PLS PLS PLS
I look up at her again, warm, soft, probably a little in love. “Yeah,” I say. “Stay.”