She turned to asked Garrett another question. But before she could say anything, he splashed her, soaking the front of her dress. She sucked in a breath, and then lowered her brows, giving him a narrow glare. “You started a war, buddy.” She slapped the water and nailed him right in the face.
It was on. For a few moments, Ari forgot about the fear and panic and just enjoyed being with Garrett. They ran and played in the low waves. At one point, Garrett picked her up, threatening to dump her all the way under.
“No, no, no,” she begged as he headed into deeper waters. Of course, laughing while telling him to stop didn’t help her case. Finally, he threw himself in the water with her in his arms.
Thoroughly exhausted and soaking wet, they returned to the shore. Ari took off the wet dress to ring it out, but then realized how exposed she was in her bikini.
Relaxing into the sand, she wrapped her arms around her knees. Unease gathered in her stomach, but she was unsure if it was due to the VR or being alone with Garrett while wearing so little. Garrett plopped down next to her, shaking out his hair. They faced forward, watching the low waves, but close enough for their shoulders to touch.
“You haven’t left yet?” He nudged her with his shoulder, a sly grin on his face. He hadn’t shaved in a couple days, and despite her generally liking boys clean-shaven, she had to admit it looked good on him.
“Nope.” She rubbed a hand over her arm. Her emotions revved up a notch, playing pinball inside her head. “It’s amazing. Too bad it’s not real.”
“It’s real in our minds. When we come out won’t we remember this conversation or our water fight?”
“I suppose ...” She straightened, his words not settling quite right.
“A VR is a set built for whatever our imagination wants.” His hand reached over to brush sand off her arm.
A shiver crawled up her skin, despite the sun. “I wish I could dry off my dress.”
“Now why would you want to do that when you look so great?”
Ari shoved his shoulder making him tip over in the sand. Her face suddenly grew hot, like the warm sand beneath her feet.
“Hey, I was only asking why you would want to. Only a warper could do that, anyway.” He dusted off the sand.
“A warper? I didn’t think those were real.” Ari had heard the old wives’ tales about people who could manipulate or create VRs with a wave of their hands, but no one really believed in them. If one believed the conspiracy theories online, warpers were responsible for everything from government hacks to alien landings.
“I knew a buddy online that claimed to be a warper. He supposedly made millions but disappeared. I haven’t heard from him since.”
“Then how do you know he was telling the truth?”
“I guess I don’t. He just didn’t seem like the type to brag or lie about stuff. He was something else.” He shrugged. “I’m glad you’re sticking around.”
Ari took another breath. “I’m surprised I’m actually able to stick around in here.”
“Most phobias just take constant exposure to overcome.”
She looked at him sideways, narrowing her eyes. “When did you become an expert?”
He smiled. “The school has a fabulous computerized counselor.”
She cringed in embarrassment. She was the crazy girl. But part of it made sense. She tried a virtual at the beginning of every school year, and when she freaked out, the teacher let her opt out for the year. She learned to loathe the first day of school.
He reached for her hand. “I think I’ve been a nice distraction too.”
Taking his hand sent her heart racing. Her other hand restlessly adjusted her swimsuit. While she definitely was improving, she was far from comfortable here. The fabricated world could hold anything or nothing. After being held at bay for so long, her panic pushed to the forefront of her mind.
Sensing her panic, Garrett turned her head with a gentle hand. “Hey, Ari, look at me. I’m real. You’re real. That’s all that matters.” He cupped her face with his hands. “Look at me.” His dark eyes were calm and his breathing even.
She tried to mimic it.
“I’m real. You’re real,” he slowly leaned forward. “This is real.”
His salty lips pressed against hers, and she lost all focus. This wasn’t real. None of it. In a second, her world blackened.
Ari stared at the ceiling, struggling to catch her breath. Garrett’s hand hung open and empty by his side as his eyes fluttered open.
Her hands reached behind and slowly unplugged herself. Now awake, Garrett unplugged himself, and then came over to help her. She knew how to do it, but without years of experience like everyone else, it took her longer.
Even the dim lights couldn’t hide the disappointment in Garrett’s heavy eyes.
“Thanks Garett,” she said. “I’m sorry, I just ...”
“Don’t worry about it.” He spoke in a brisk manner. “It’ll take a while. I get it.”
She stood, and they both headed outside. The cool wind brushed against her skin, and for the briefest moment, she wished she was back on that beach. Instead, she tugged her cardigan around her body to block the chill. They walked back, an awkward silence settling between them. He stopped at the door to her building. She kept the distance between them, not ready to relive that moment in the VR. Not that he wasn’t cute or nice for helping her. It just messed with her mind, having reality and the virtuals mix so closely. Her feeling swirled in her mind, unsure of how she felt about him. He was a great friend, but as a boyfriend? Maybe that was her answer right there.
CHAPTER 10
Tessa shoved Ari’s shoulder repeatedly. “Hey, are you going to class? You slept through both of our alarms.”
“What?” Ari bolted upright, though her mind took a bit longer to catch up.
“You slept through breakfast and have about ten minutes until class.”
“Damn.” Ari stumbled to her desk, shoved her tablet in her bag, and slung it over her shoulder.
“Your clothes?” Tessa watched her in disbelief.
Looking down, Ari realized she still wore her pajamas, gray sweatpants and a purple tee. “Ugh!” Ari headed to her dresser.
“Don’t mention it. Here’s a coffee, you’re going to need it more than me.” Tessa placed the drink on her desk and headed out the door.
Ari made a mental note that she owed Tessa big time and rushed to finish getting ready.
Ari slipped into class a few minutes late. Wake and his friends snickered in the back as Professor Speltman reprimanded her. Warmth flooded her face as she mumbled her apologies and took her seat.
The caffeine had not hit Ari’s system effectively enough for her to comprehend Professor Speltman’s lecture on the common templates for coding. Although she’d better figure it out by that afternoon, since she had to create a template herself. By the time she found her seat in programming, she had wiped the sleep from her eyes and the caffeine had kicked in. With thoughts of the previous night, a nervous energy kept her sitting up straight in her chair as Professor Tollingston lectured on the seven basic plots in storytelling. He claimed that there were only seven stories ever told in history, and those were retold with different variations.
Despite her interest in the topic, Ari’s mind wandered back to her night with Garrett. Part of her found hope in remaining in the VR for as long as she did. Yet leaving mid-kiss had made things a bit awkward in the lab with Garrett. Though, as they texted through the day, he had guaranteed her that he didn’t take offense at her fast departure.
While trying to keep up with her notes, thoughts of Garrett and his almost-kiss twirled around her mind. He was cute, nice, and ready to help when no one else seemed to care, but something was off. Maybe it was his objectionable methods of helping by slipping a tab in her drink or sneaking into school property in the middle of the night? That kiss wasn’t anything like she imagined her first kiss. Did that even count as a kiss if it was electronic?
S
he shoved the memories of the night away and focused on the lecture. Professor Tollingston was giving examples of stories told throughout history.
The red-headed kid, Rand, raised his hand. “Why does it matter if history falls into the regular stock stories?”
Gutsy to ask, Ari thought, or just stupid.
“There is a high demand for periodic pieces amongst educational institutions, and the study of military strategy and wars is extremely important to our country. Yet people want to be constantly entertained, so you must follow the plots given to you. You students are storytellers, every single one of you, and virtuals are a story taken to the ultimate platform.”
As her professor assigned homework, Ari realized why she might have been chosen for the scholarship. She loved stories, relishing the characters and intricate plots. The only problem was she preferred them on her tablet where she had more control over the experience.
The bell rang, and Ari headed to lunch. Her shoes hit the warm pavement, and she welcomed the sun as she continued on her way to grab a bite to eat.
She was surprised to find Reed approaching and wondered what he was doing near the Virtuals building. It was on the other side of the campus for him.
“Hey, Ari.” He looked good with his perfectly mussed hair and green eyes. She nervously touched her hair, currently wrapped in a messy bun, and wished she’d fixed it after class.
“Whatcha doing on this side of the world?”
“Not much. I had to run a couple of errands.” He looked around for a moment.
She wondered if he was meeting someone, maybe the blonde she remembered from his dorm.
“Can I talk to you for a second?” He moved to the grassy area next to the Virtual building, and Ari followed, a bit curious as why he would need to talk to her.
“Is this about Marco? I haven’t seen him for a week, and I thought he might be avoiding hanging out with his first-year sister.”
“No, it’s not about Marco.”
“Then why hasn’t he called or returned my texts?”
“He’s busy lately, studying, and he’s been in the virtual lab a lot this semester.” A chill ran up Ari’s spine at the mention of virtuals. She still needed to get used to the fact that they were a part of her daily life.
“You better tell him to text me soon.” Ari’s stomach grumbled, signaling time to go. “I’m heading to lunch.”
“No, wait.” He stopped her.
She glanced at his hand on her arm. She’s known Reed for a long time, and his touch shouldn’t affect her so much. Looking back up, she noticed color flooding his face. She’d never seen him flustered before.
“What is it?”
“It’s Garrett.”
She pulled back slightly. How could he know?
He must have seen the surprise on her face. “I saw the both of you the other day and I was a little worried.”
“What about Garrett?”
“I know Garrett. We work together.”
“Where?”
“We do a side business together to make some extra money.” Reed dropped his hand and his eyes. “It’s just that I know what kind of guy he is, and I don’t think you should be hanging out, especially with you being a first-year and all. He has a reputation with girls.”
“Really?” She bit back her frustration at being left in the dark. Why didn’t anyone tell her? She waited until Reed met her eyes before she continued. “Garrett has been the only one in this whole school to help me out and even care what’s happening to me. I can’t even get my own brother to text me back, never mind give a damn about how I’m doing.”
“I give a damn.”
“Until the next pretty blonde comes along.” Ari didn’t mean to say it. The words slipped out. She had no reason to be jealous, and she didn’t think she really was. It just felt like ammunition.
A momentary flash of surprise crossed his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“The girl in your room.”
“That was work,” Reed protested.
“The work you do with Garrett?”
“Yes.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I never knew you needed help.”
“Don’t worry about it, Reed. You don’t have to tell me anything.” Tired and hungry, she wasn’t in the mood to fight anymore. “I’m going. Thanks for your concern. Tell my brother I say ‘Hi’.” Ari walked off, leaving Reed behind.
She made it only a couple steps into the cafeteria before Garrett found her. She smiled, relieved. He lightly brushed her arm as he approached, and, just like that, the anger dissipated. Reed worried like an older brother, or like an older brother who actually was around, nothing to be taken seriously. She wouldn’t have been able to make as far as she had without Garrett, and she still had a way to go.
“Ready for tonight?” he whispered in her ear.
“Depends.” Ari’s phobia of VR hadn’t died after one night.
“Depends? A date with me isn’t something to look forward to?” Garrett smiled with mock sincerity.
“You do make virtuals bearable.”
“I have to run a couple errands, but I’ll try to be more than bearable tonight.” He squeezed her hand and headed off.
Ari’s face warmed, and she hoped her tanned skin hid any blush.
She grabbed food and headed back to her room. Over lunch she scanned a message from her mom, checking up on her. Ari took it as a reminder that as bad as school was, things could be worse, like working in a warehouse for the rest of her life.
Ari kept her return message brief, not wanting to say much when the threat of coming home still hung in the air.
A message flashed from her advisor, Dr. Williams.
Your VR teacher, Dr. Coleman, has reported your recent behavior, and I decided it would be best to place you on academic probation. We have high standards and expect all students to follow the school’s code of conduct. I will be periodically sitting in on your classes to see if any further action is needed.
Ari let her breath escape in one big rush, and she leaned back in her chair. Probation. What did that entail? She had until Friday. She felt sick.
Tessa entered in a bustle of energy, tossing an empty coffee cup in the trash.
“Thanks again for this morning.” Ari closed her screen and spun in her chair.
“No worries. You going to Coleman’s class today?”
“Not sure.” Ari bit her lip, not sure if going today would help or hurt. Freaking out might make her situation worse. Maybe she should get her fear under control before returning, and she had until Friday to do it. Would Coleman buy the excuse that she was sick? “I’m not feeling great. I’ll probably skip Coleman’s class today.”
Tessa kicked off her shoes. “Not to pry, but I don’t get your problem with virtuals. You do great in all of your other classes.”
Ari shrugged. “Not sure. I just prefer to read pages than live them.” She didn’t feel like going into the problem with her dad. That would take a therapist to truly understand.
“Then why did you come here?”
“Beats the alternative.” The memory of her advisor’s message tightened her gut as she considered that alternative.
Thick clouds promised rain and blocked out any chance of moonlight. The campus’s emergency lights lit the path a pale orange as she left her dorm to meet Garrett. The perfected landscape took on an eerie frozen appearance in the shadows.
Despite the quiet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they weren’t alone. With all the technology and cameras on campus, how could they be getting away with this? Yet, they were.
“Ari.” Garrett’s shadowed figure stepped onto the path and continued walking by her side.
“Where to tonight?”
“If I told you, then you wouldn’t be surprised.”
“I’ll fake it. I swear.” Ari smiled. Her mind traveled the globe of possibilities. If she was going to risk her mind and body to these contraptions, it might as well be worth it.
&nbs
p; “Sorry, still not telling you.” Garrett opened the door and led her through the empty building.
The quiet darkness curdled the fear lurking in her stomach, and she focused on her breath. In and out, nice and even. She took the same seat as the previous night and gripped the arm rest.
Leaning back, Garrett helped her plug into the device, and then leaned over. “You ready?”
“No, but since when does that matter?” She smiled and nodded for him to continue.
She tried to remember the glint in his eyes when she turned to face the ceiling and shut her eyes tightly. This time he didn’t have to pry her eyes open. Water roared in the distance as the air turned hot and heavy with humidity. Her eyes flew open to find a waterfall. It fell over a rocky cliff face into a small pool of water. In this tropical forest, greenery grew everywhere while flowers of every color dotted the landscape, so wild and beautiful in its own unique way. Turning in a circle, she found green jungle surrounding them.
Her breath picked up, nerves fighting their way out. This place seemed so real, so visceral. “Where are we?”
“Another island.” He pointed to the mountain in the distance. “This one even has a volcano.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, but we’ll save that for another time. Come on.” Garrett took her hand and pulled her towards the waterfall.
“One minute.” She held up a finger. Like in the previous VR, she searched for the errors, digging past the surface. She bit the inside of her cheek. There had to be something. A new pair of hiking shoes hugged her feet. She scratched a shoe along the rocky path she was on, but nothing moved. Not the rocks, not even the dirt moved. This isn’t real. Above, the sun shone bright in a clear sky, but as she looked at it, it didn’t burn her eyes, it just stayed a fuzzy yellow color with no true warmth. There was more still off about the world, she could feel it. Before she could investigate the deep vegetation, Garrett pulled on her hand.
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