Ari squeezed into the crowded elevator. The mix of alcohol and a variety of cologne and perfume colliding in the small space overwhelmed her senses. As the doors started to close, a familiar face slid in. Reed. He wore a dark blue vest with a fun tie and shirt rolled up to the elbows.
“Hey, Ari.” He smiled that adorable smile of his as he squeezed in next to her.
“Hi,” Ari replied.
The elevator stopped on the second floor to let people in and out. In the shuffle, someone pushed Ari next to Reed. Her drink almost spilled, and he held onto her arm to steady her.
His gaze trailed up and rested on her face. “You look nice.”
“Thanks.” Ari stepped back, heat rushing to her face.
A guy, visibly drunk, entered the elevator and slapped Reed in the arm. “Great party.”
Did Reed throw this party? Ari couldn’t worry about that right now. She focused on breathing in this confined coffin and watched the numbers rising on the display.
While Reed replied with niceties, Ari considered how getting drunk in a virtual worked. If you didn’t really believe the alcohol was real, then would you get drunk? Ari took a drink of her cranberry vodka, telling herself it wasn’t real. Once she focused on the illusion though, it continued to other things. Was she really rising with the elevator? What happened if she only believed in parts of a VR? Would she fall through the elevator?
By the time the elevator reached the top, Ari couldn’t breathe. Her fears snowballed, imagining her mind running in a program that might never end.
Reed was at her side. “What is it?”
Ari tried to push him off, searching for ... something. She struggled to stay in the present. Flashes of glitches, black and white static lines, spotted her vision.
“Breathe,” he said, close by. Close enough that she could smell him, an odd scent, a cologne that she didn’t recognize.
“Ari, look at me.” Reed’s voice was commanding.
Her eyes flicked up to meet his worried gaze.
“You’re okay. You’re with me in a virtual. One that I have control of ending whenever I need to. You’re safe with me.”
“You’re holding my hands.” Ari’s breath came in short gasps. She couldn’t think of anything else to say but couldn’t find the energy to care. He must have taken her drink at some point.
“What?” Reed gave a nervous chuckle and dropped her hands.
“It’s these damn virtuals. They mess with my head sometimes.”
“That is what they’re supposed to do.” He led her to a chair and sat down next to her.
His eyes became intense, as if he was asking for everything she never wanted to tell him.
She turned to look at their surroundings. It didn’t look like a roof at all but an extension of the club. Plants and vines hung as a backdrop with comfortable couches, reclined chairs, antique-looking coffee tables, and even a small bar.
Beyond the roof, large buildings and a twinkling of lights scattered the night sky almost like stars—a modernized galaxy in its own accord.
Reed leaned forward. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I will be.” She pulled on the hem of her dress. “Still getting the hang of these things.”
“Ari, I’m sorry about before, but you’re amazing.”
“What?”
“Do you know how many kids from our neighborhood have been placed in the VR program? None for over ten years. I checked. You’ve overcome your fears, and one day you will be creating worlds that will make this VR pale in comparison.” He reached forward and brushed the top of her hand and then lifted his gaze. “That’s why I warned you about Garrett. A lot of people will want to know you as you’re headed towards something amazing. He doesn’t have the best reputation with girls, and I worry about you.”
A warm stillness spread throughout Ari’s body. “You worry about me?
“When I was ten, your mom told Marco and me to watch over you on a school trip. She told us the same thing before we came back here.” He glanced down. “She didn’t have to though. I would have anyway. It’s a hard habit to break.”
Ari let a breath go, not sure whether to be annoyed or grateful to have an extra big brother around. “Anyway, if Garrett’s such bad news then why do you work with him?”
“We need each other to pull this off.” Reed spotted someone behind Ari.
“How do you pull this off?” Ari asked.
Before Ari could turn around, Garrett placed his hands on her shoulders. “Reed can’t give away all of our secrets or there goes our mystery.”
“Why the mystery?”
“Everyone needs a little mystery.” Garrett squeezed Ari’s shoulder hard, and she gave a little jump.
Reed couldn’t cover the look of disgust that crossed his face. She wasn’t going to feel guilty though. She had seen him with countless girls himself; he was in no position to judge.
“Right. I’ll head off. Ari, you sure you’re okay?” Reed asked one more time.
“Promise.” Something inside of her sunk as she watched Reed walk off. She realized she missed him, but he wasn’t hers to miss.
Garrett pulled her up from her seat. “Do you need anything else to drink?”
“Do I?” Ari returned the question. “It’s all fake anyway. Can’t I tell my brain to release the chemicals that make me act like the rest of the stupid drunk girls?”
“Some people might call you a buzzkill, ya know?” Garrett pulled her into a hug, his mouth brushing against her neck. His lips sent a tingle throughout her body.
Ari scanned the balcony to see who else was up there. There were a few couples lying down on the couches making out, while others were drinking and talking. Garrett would probably expect something like that, being up there. Her stomach tightened, wishing she would have stayed at the bar.
Stepping back, he led her to a plush reclined chair. “Have a seat, and I’ll grab a couple drinks.” Ari watched him cross the rooftop to the other side of the bar. She took a seat and wondered how many other girls had he brought here? She was letting Reed and Marco get in her head, and they had occupied too many of her thoughts already. It was time for her to live her own life.
Garrett returned and handed Ari a green concoction. She took a small sip and the taste of apples flooded her mouth.
“Sweet apples.”
He lifted his drink, a dark amber color. “Here’s to you and your educational success.”
Ari took another drink and inhaled afterward as the sweet liquor warmed its way down her throat. She set down the glass, remembering her last incident drinking—virtual or not.
“Anything wrong?” Garrett asked.
“No, my mind’s all over the place, taking in the fact that this is my new life.”
“It is only beginning,” Garrett said as he leaned forward, kissing her softly on the lips. It was so gentle and warm, she melted against him. His mouth tasted of alcohol, warm and rich. Soon his drink was put down, and they reclined against the couch with Garrett on top of Ari, pushing her into the back of the couch. It wasn’t long before Garrett’s hands were all over her body.
Ari tried to close her eyes and enjoy being with Garrett. But soon Reed’s annoying voice crept into her head. She couldn’t help but wonder how many girls, in how many places, he had done this with before. And despite what everyone said, this felt all too real.
Garrett’s hands were warm as he touched the bare skin on her leg. As his fingers traced it higher, Ari froze.
“I’m not that drunk,” Ari said, trying to keep the panic out of her voice.
“No, you’re not. Just like that wasn’t real liquor, this isn’t real either.” He went to kiss her neck, pushing the limits of her dress.
“Garrett there are people up here.” Ari eyed the other couples who didn’t seem to notice anything beyond their partner.
“They aren’t real.” He waved them off with a free hand. “Just part of the simulation. Most people headed to the virtuals.”
He ki
ssed Ari again with more determination. Her thoughts flew a mile a minute. Was this wrong? She never had gone beyond kissing before. She hadn’t known Garrett for long, but he had saved her butt. She owed him.
She wasn’t going to do this because of obligation though. She tried to push her way free of Garrett, but he wasn’t giving up easily. Since he could do this with any computer animation here, she failed to see the appeal. He kept murmuring things about her body that made her feel like she needed to shower. His grip tightened on her body, his tongue a dead slug trying to invade her mouth.
She couldn’t take it anymore and wasn’t sure if she could fight her way out of his hold. Her heart raced with a panic which had nothing to do with the VR and everything to do with Garrett. Without a second thought, she left.
Chapter Twelve
Ari sat at her computer, retyping the same code into her programming interface for the sixth time. She was supposed to be working on the physical world for her first virtual. At least she’d decided on her setting. That had taken an hour in itself.
It didn’t help that her interface ring, which was securely stowed in her bag, was flashing with unread messages. Garrett.
It had been a week since she’d talked to him. A week since she’d left the virtual in the middle of making out with him. She had woken in a panic and pulled the plug. The guy who had manned the door, had watched in a dazed stupor as she’d sprinted out of the building, not looking back.
It had been a long week.
With her grades barely above passing, she had been working hard at her assignments. She typed in the code in for a sky for the seventh time. She finally closed her tablet, which was plugged into her hard drive, in exasperation and reached for her ring. She checked her HUB and scanned the messages.
Twenty-five were from Garrett. The first few started with apologies. By the end she could see the anger dripping into them. His last one read: If you won’t call me, I can’t fix it.
Ari knew he deserved an answer, so she decided she wouldn’t finish her homework that night without talking to him. She didn’t think “I’m a scared prude” or “It didn’t feel right” was really an answer he’d understand. After everything he’d done for her, she didn’t want it to end like this.
She wrote: I need some time to focus on my grades. Thank you for all your help and hopefully we can talk soon. Her thumb lingered over the send button. The “we can talk soon” didn’t even feel right. She hit the save button instead and thought another hour wouldn’t hurt.
Another message flashed. This one from her bank. The bank received her complaint about the missing cryptos and claimed she had legally withdrawn the money. Frustration boiled under her skin. Her academic assignment covered all of her food and board, but she would need some funds for Christmas. She should have several hundred cryptos in there from her part-time jobs.
Tessa came in, arms full of bags and coffee. That girl should get a straight IV of that stuff.
“Hey, roomy.” Tessa dropped her bags on her bed. “How’s the homework coming?”
“It’s coming,” Ari admitted. She closed her messages; she would deal with them later. “I think I need a break, actually. These damn walls seem to be closing in on me.”
“You could head up to the virtual lab upstairs and send your mind to get some fresh air.” Tessa gave a sarcastic smile, knowing Ari’s love for virtuals.
“I think I’ll go for some vitamin D from the real source.” It was a Saturday, and she had been working all morning. A walk by the lake sounded great.
“Whatever. I don’t have to worry about skin cancer though.”
“If that was my only concern,” Ari mumbled as she headed out the door.
She walked the path near the lake behind the dorms. A cool breeze brushed off the lake, and she tightened her jacket. Up ahead, a bit off the path, two guys argued.
As she neared, she realized it was her brother and Garrett. Her stomach tightened, and she hurried towards them. Marco’s face tightened in anger.
“You can’t cut me out of something that was my idea to begin with.” Marco shoved Garrett back.
“I can and I am.” Garrett had a coldness in his expression that was foreign to Ari. His hair, still dark, matched his icy exterior.
Ari placed a hand on her brother’s shoulder. “Marco.”
He shook her off. “Here’s my sister you screwed over too.”
Garrett narrowed his gaze. “Leave Ari out of this. She has nothing to do with this.”
“You’re the one that brought her into this,” Marco said.
Ari’s mind spun trying to figure what this was about. Was Garrett working with Marco too? “Marco, stop.” Ari approached him and laid a hand on his arm. He was thinner. When did he lose weight? When he roughly waved her off, Ari turned to Garrett for some answers.
“Garrett?” she asked.
He finally turned his gaze to her, softening it a bit, but his cheeks remained flushed.
“Your brother is a loser, Ari. He is hooked up all—” Garrett didn’t get to finish the sentence because Marco tackled him to the ground.
Straddling Garrett, Marco punched him, repeatedly. Ari yelled at Marco and tried to pull him off. Amid the chaos, a fist flew in her direction, slamming into the side of her head. Darkness encompassed her.
Sitting on the grass with an ice pack nursing her jaw, Ari shot a passerby a dirty look. By the time she woke, Garrett had already taken off. Marco at least went to get her ice.
“Don’t you have a life to live or something? Oh wait, you probably don’t.” Marco hollered at an embarrassing level to one of the spectators.
The small group didn’t bother to look embarrassed.
“That’s all I need, more people talking about me.” Ari winced as she talked, her jaw aching.
“Don’t worry about those losers.” Marco brushed at his pants.
“Like I’m one to talk,” Ari said. Most of them, except Tessa, avoided her, online and in person. “Yesterday, Dr. Coleman’s version of a compliment was to tell the class that I was pretty good for someone who has logged fewer hours than his dog.”
“Don’t worry about it. His dog is pretty damn good from what I hear.”
Ari chuckled, and pain shot up the side of her face. “Who hit me? It hurts like hell.”
“Sorry, that was me. I didn’t see you,” Marco said. But he didn’t look sorry enough for Ari.
“Figures.” The running joke in their old school was “How do you know what block kids come from? How hard they could hit.” Rich kids who only fought in the VR, fought like crap in the real world.
“Marco?” Ari asked, waiting for him to look her in the eye, “Are you going to tell me what’s going on? I haven’t been able to really talk to you since school started.”
He didn’t reply, and she turned her gaze to the lake, waiting for an answer. The wind brushed the top of the water, sending slight ripples across the pristine surface.
“Reed, Garrett, and I started the underground VRs at school last year,” Marco gazed out over the lake. “Garrett has access to the lab from his job, Reed watches out for us while we’re in the virtuals, and I hack the system to cover our tracks.” Marco played with a piece of grass, avoiding her gaze. “I’ve been busy lately, and we’ve had a couple of close calls.”
“So, the fight wasn’t about me?” Ari couldn’t help but feel a little relieved.
“Garrett’s pissed about business, but it’s partly about you. Garrett deserved having me beat him down either way. Everyone heard you jumped ship on him at the last party—which I was glad to hear.” Marco leaned into Ari, bumping her shoulder playfully. “But this argument has been going on for some time, so don’t stress about it, sis.”
“Easy for you to say. What if the school finds out about this? I thought virtual-in-virtual programs were banned here since they’re so dangerous.”
“We don’t do much V-in-V, but we still make good money. The advanced students sell the programs at half
the cost.” Marco looked proud of his business venture.
“Oh.” Ari didn’t know what to say. She’d spent most of her life quietly chastising her brother, like her mother had, but he did what he wanted anyway. She couldn’t muster enough energy to reprimand him anymore. He’d told her enough times that she wasn’t his mother, and he was right.
“Do you do them?” Ari already knew the answer but had to ask.
“Sometimes.” He kept his eyes on the grass in front of her.
Ari bit her lip for a moment. “Aren’t you afraid that you’ll get stuck and end up like Dad?” For the past five years Ari had been angry at her father, whereas Marco had never said much about it. Yet sometimes, especially after visiting their dad, Ari could see the pain in Marco’s eyes.
Marco spared her the briefest of glances before turning back to the lake.
“Ari, virtuals aren’t so bad. Life ends up being a boring movie.” His usual sarcasm laced his words, but his eyes remained cold and serious.
She was about to question him when his HUB pinged.
He looked at it briefly, reading the message. “It’s Reed.” Marco huffed as he stood up. “I’m going to have to clear this mess up.”
Ari stood, grabbing her bag. “Please, be careful.” Marco was pressing his luck by fighting on campus and running virtual parties. Maybe going to the same school as her brother wasn’t such a good idea.
“I’m not the one with a shiner.” He smiled.
“You owe me, ya know.” Ari would have to get this taken care of before people asked questions. Hopefully, the first-aid kit in the dorm was well stocked.
“Yeah, I do.” Marco said, the smile completely leaving his face.
Ari hated watching him leave. He might not be the best brother, but he was family. She wiped at a tear, flinched at the pain in her face, and went upstairs to try to contact her mother.
Chapter Thirteen
For the next few weeks, Ari threw herself into her studies. Now that she could somewhat handle a VR, she had to work to pull up her grade. Watching herself improve and thrive in the program, felt nice. The only downside was the nagging feeling in the back of her mind that she’d handled things poorly with Garrett. She’d never claimed to be experienced with guys—at sixteen she’d never had a boyfriend—and walking that fine line between friend and boyfriend was harder than she thought.
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