Ari kept up next to him. “I had my reasons to leave, but I shouldn’t have ignored you. You deserved more.”
“And those reasons?”
Ari didn’t reply at first. She watched the ripples on the lake as they curved alongside the rocky shore. She swallowed and continued, “I wasn’t sure if I was ready for a relationship, and I heard about your reputation with the first-years. I didn’t want to be another first-year. Not that way.” She couldn’t look at him. Her face burned.
He nodded and continued on the path. “You were right. If you weren’t mature enough to talk to me, it was probably better that you left.”
“Well,” Ari stumbled over her words as he surprised and offended her in the same breath.
Garrett stopped and turned to her. “What do you need?”
“I was hoping you could get me into an unsupervised virtual.”
He watched her, as if dissecting more than she said. “Is this about what happened in the game?”
Ari nodded.
“You freaked me out, Ari. After the game I went to complain about the glitch. Of course, they ignored my protest and gave me a discount for the next game, but they were worried about it for sure. I’m surprised they haven’t contacted you yet.”
“I signed into the game as Tessa’s stepmother.”
“Nice. I wonder if they contacted her?”
Ari remembered how angry Tessa’s father was when he came over. “I think so.”
“I’m surprised you’ve flown under the radar for so long, but most people don’t have a fear of virtuals.”
“Lucky me,” Ari said sarcastically. “So, can you help me?”
He looked her up and down, making her skin crawl. This was the part of him that Ari couldn’t trust, the part of him she didn’t like.
“We’ll need Reed. Instead of changing the time, he’ll have to find a way to get you off grid.”
“I’ll talk to him.” Ari shifted slightly.
Garrett noticed her hesitation. “You mean you haven’t told your boyfriend yet?” He guffawed at the idea. “Okay, I think watching this might be worth it.”
“Whatever.” Ari started to leave.
He caught Ari’s hand. He seemed to be trying to make her uncomfortable and squirm under his grip. Instead, annoyance and anger grew in the pit of her stomach. She was done playing the scared little first-year. She tugged hard and he let go. “When can we do this?”
“My part is pretty easy, letting you in. You need to make sure you cover your trail if you don’t want everyone to know. You won’t be able to keep this quiet for too long, not in your program.”
She ignored that last part. “I’ll let you know after I talk to Reed.” Ari walked away from the lake. A chill ran up her arms, and she wanted to leave.
“I’ll miss having you around,” Garrett said.
Ari paused for a moment, her back to him. In an alternate universe they could have been friends, but not in this one. Garrett pushed too many of her boundaries. She left, not bothering to answer.
Ari wrapped her hands around a peppermint hot chocolate as she sat across from Reed in his room. Marco had never come home the previous night. Reed convinced her that it wasn’t unusual for her brother to sleep in another room for the night. Ari shouldn’t be sidetracked with her brother. Instead she focused on telling Reed how she saw the code and about the recruiter on their date last week.
Reed’s countenance fell at the news. “Why didn’t you tell me this last Friday?”
“I didn’t tell anyone. I don’t think I was ready to believe it myself.”
He set down his drink and leaned back. “Wow ... you’re a warper. You’re sure?”
“Well, no, that’s why I want to go in one more time.”
“And you can’t use the VR lab because ...?”
“Because then the school will know I’m a warper, and who knows what will happen next.” Ari sighed in exasperation. They’d already gone over that before.
“I’m stupid, I guess. When you first asked about scheduling a VR on-site, I thought you wanted an unsupervised VR to be with me.”
The thought had never crossed her mind—even though it was common for most couples.
The next second Reed acted as if the words had never left his mouth. “I thought warpers were a myth. If they worked for the government we would have heard about it, just another specification in our schooling. Maybe that Dave guy was making it up.”
“Maybe, but something is going on with me, and I need to figure it out.” An uneasy feeling turned her stomach as she thought of her unusual abilities.
“I understand. Maybe we could ask someone?”
“Garrett once said he knew a warper that went missing. He’s ready to let me in. I need you to make sure the VR trip isn’t being watched.”
Reed sat up, and Ari realized it was the wrong thing to say.
“You already talked to Garrett?”
“He was there in the game with me when it happened at the Strip. I knew I needed him to get me in.”
“Still ...”
Guilt settled in. In retrospect, she should have talked to Reed first. Things were going so well between them. She wanted to figure this out before it messed things up between them. Guess it had anyway.
Reed turned to face the screen on his desk. “It will take a little bit of work to run an off-grid VR. They have built-in program alerts when we go off grid. It’s easier to change the time or date, but I might be able to work something out.”
“Thanks.” Awkwardness settled in between them. “Do you want to do anything tonight?”
“I’m working with Garrett. Marco hasn’t been around much, so I get the late shift tonight.”
Ari bit her tongue as she almost asked if he wanted her there. If he did, he would have asked her. Reed focused on his computer.
It hurt to leave things between them like this, but it didn’t seem like there was anything she could say. “I’ll see you around.”
“See ya.” Reed faced his screen. Ari walked down the hall in stunned silence. She hadn’t realized Reed would be that mad. Garrett had been right. That idea frightened Ari in more ways than one.
CHAPTER 22
The days went by uneventfully with homework, virtuals, and the usually derisive comments from Wake. Studying proved difficult as her mind kept traveling back to Reed and her supposed abilities. By the way Garrett acted, she felt like she might already know the answer about her being a warper. But what could she do about it? As much as she had initially hated the VR, she was slowly growing used to the idea of designing virtuals as a career. Dave’s warnings rang in her ears though. She wanted a life on her terms, not anyone else’s.
On Wednesday, Reed finally messaged her. He wanted to meet at the cafeteria for dinner. Ari agreed and went down early, thinking she could use the time to catch up on some reading.
She had her tablet out reading through an article with a drink in her hand when Reed slid into the chair beside her. His shoulder brushed against her, sending a chill down her spine. She had missed him.
“Hey.” She smiled up at him.
“I think I found a way, but it will be tricky.”
Ari swallowed. “I can work with tricky.”
“We can try this Friday night. I’ll work out some of the details with Garrett.”
He pushed his chair back as if to leave, but Ari caught his arm. She wasn’t about to let the uneasiness between them grow.
“I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you sooner. I was scared. I don’t want things to—”
“It’s Garrett,” Reed spat out. “He’s driven me crazy this year. I couldn’t stand you being with him whether we were together or not. And you went to him before me.” He turned his fiery stare at Ari. “I don’t know what drives me crazier, that I’m actually jealous of him or that you are with him.”
“Were,” Ari corrected him. “It’s been past tense for some time, and it’ll stay that way. I needed his help. I know he was a jerk
before—”
“Still is,” Reed added. “Remember I work with him.”
“Yes, but I need him, okay? This is sort of a big thing.”
“I know.” Reed reached across and grabbed Ari’s hand.
His warm fingers tightened around hers. Her chest ached at the pain she caused him, and for the first time, she let herself acknowledge the fear that their relationship might end. Reed had been the one thing since coming to school that felt right, and she couldn’t imagine a future without him.
“So, this Friday, you and me?” she asked hoping they could do this together.
“Yeah, this Friday. But I don’t think I can wait for Friday for this.” Reed leaned in to kiss Ari in a way that was probably inappropriate for public display, but neither of them cared.
Friday night there was another party starting later than usual, at one in the morning. They needed the party to be later for Reed, who was planning on deleting the footage in the system’s weekly clean up. He also wanted several other students plugged in, just in case it didn’t work. They were planning on switching the feeds, so it wouldn’t track back to Ari even if they were caught.
Garrett told Ari he didn’t like that part. He didn’t like the chance that his whole business could be at stake. It had taken him two years to set up and some things he wasn’t willing to sacrifice. Ari couldn’t blame him.
Ari brought Tessa, because she could use the extra support, even if Tessa believed she was sneaking into another VR party. They walked off the trail, crunching over frozen grass. The bright moon helped to light their path.
“Sometimes I think these parties are all a big ruse,” Tessa said as they approached the student center.
“Really?
“Yeah, think about it. You really don’t think the faculty notices twenty kids sneaking off to the virtuals every week or so?”
“We block our tracers though, and the bribe—”
“I know, I know. Truthfully, I think the faculty doesn’t care. They want us to push the limits in the virtuals. Either way, I’m not complaining. But I don’t think they are as naive as we think they are.”
Ari hoped it wasn’t true. She was counting on them being blind to what they were doing. She glanced at Tessa and wondered if she should tell her about being a warper. It’s not like Tessa would say anything, heck she would probably give her advice. They arrived at the lab before Ari had a chance to talk to her. They went inside to find Garrett and Reed waiting at the door.
“Make it okay?” Reed placed an arm around her.
“Yeah.”
A couple slid in behind them and went to pay Garrett. “Go ahead and pick your machines. The virtual is loaded if you want to start. Others will join you soon.”
Tessa handed him a fifty.
“You don’t have to—,” Reed said, but Garrett interrupted him.
“Sorry, chap. I’m not really a good friend of your dear Ari anymore, and I’ve got bills to pay.”
Ari rolled her eyes and before Reed could argue, Tessa cut them off.
“No worries. I got it,” she said with a shrug and headed to a machine.
“You can plug in, Ari, but don’t start getting freaky without me,” Garrett said with a slight wink.
Ari knew he only made the comment to get a rise out of Reed.
“You aren’t going in with her,” Reed objected.
“You have to stay out here to wipe the files, and someone should be in there with Ari to make sure no one else notices.”
“Tessa is in there,” Reed pointed out.
“Does she know about Ari yet?”
They both looked at Ari, who shook her head.
“Sorry, dude. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of her.”
“That’s what makes me worried.”
“I think I can take care of myself,” Ari interrupted. “Don’t you remember who ended up on top of our last fight?”
“Oh, yes, I remember.” Garrett’s smile grew as Ari realized what she had said might not have come across right.
“Whatever,” she mumbled, trying to blow off his innuendo. She turned to Reed who didn’t look happy. “I’ll be fine, okay?”
He nodded slightly, unease obvious on his face. Ari leaned in and kissed him, ignoring Garrett’s offhanded comment. Reed responded to her kiss with enthusiasm.
Ari reluctantly pulled back. “I’ll be back soon.”
Reed kissed her lightly on the lips. “Get in there and work your magic.”
Her insides melted, and she didn’t want to leave reality. Knowing Reed was here for her meant the world. The fact that they were in a relationship made it even better.
Ari hadn’t had the chance to talk to Marco or her mother about her problems yet. Marco was off busy doing whatever it was he did—which Ari worried would give her an ulcer. They texted back and forth several times, but their school schedules didn’t offer a lot of free time, and messaging over the school’s service made Ari nervous. But her mom? Well, Ari didn’t want to have that conversation until she had a plan.
She hooked herself up. As the cold wire slipped into her port, the world around melted away.
She opened her eyes to a familiar ocean. It was the first VR that she took with Garrett. Although the moon was bright in the sky, unlike the last time she’d been here. She gritted her teeth, annoyed at him for picking this place.
Ari appeared in the same bikini and white sun dress as before. As she looked around, she noticed something new: a cabana and dance floor lit with tiki-torches. Other students were already ordering drinks and starting to fill the dance floor. She closed her eyes again and dressed herself in shorts and a shirt but kept her feet bare.
“I like the other outfit better,” Garrett spoke close behind her, too close. “Let’s go for a walk.” Garrett headed towards the island away from the loud dance floor.
“Why this way?” Ari asked.
“So, no one catches you. They’ll think we’re looking for privacy for other reasons.” He winked at Ari.
She gave him a dirty look. “I don’t want them to think we’re together.”
“Don’t worry. After that little exhibition kissing Reed, I’m sure they won’t know what to think.”
Ari kicked sand in his direction with her bare feet. “Very funny.”
The vegetation thickened as the darkness settled in around them. The temperature dropped drastically, the cold seeping through her light shirt. Even the sand under their feet morphed into something new. Heavy palm branches littered the ground, cutting into her feet.
“Isn’t this far enough? I can barely walk, let alone see where I’m going.” Ari stopped, placing a hand on a nearby tree.
“Then why don’t you do something about it?” he asked, his voice full of an arrogance that grated on Ari.
She had to remind herself he was doing her a favor. As she searched for code in the VR, the darkness covered anything she might see. “Why is this virtual so dark?”
“It was designed to keep you near the shore with the party. If we don’t head back, we’ll keep wandering and end up at the same spot.” That made sense to Ari. These were called comeback loops in class. Every program had to have its limits.
She focused her attention on searching for the characters and numbers that lay beneath the surface of the VR. There they were, dark characters running all around her. As she focused on the code, it became clearer. The numbers and letters created the cold breeze blowing by, the shadows falling on the sand, and she could even read the branches under her feet.
The next task proved more difficult, since she wasn’t sure how she’d done it before. A branch snapped nearby and broke her concentration. It was Garrett drawing near.
He lightly touched her arm. “Do you need help?”
Ari brushed his hand away. “Back off, Garrett.”
“I remember last time we were in a slightly heated position when it happened.”
Ari didn’t need his help. “I remember you trying to kill me.”
She closed her eyes, trying to ignore Garrett. The code still floated there in her mind, the sequence running faster than she ever thought possible to read. As her mind searched the code for the branches underfoot, it seemed to zoom in on what she needed. There it was. She mentally tore at the code, and it scattered. She found the code for the beach sand, and she copied and replaced it as if she had a computer screen in front of her.
Looking down, she wiggled her feet in the soft sand.
Garrett’s feet appeared in front of her. “Nice.”
“Stay put for a moment. I want to see what else I can do.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said in mock salute.
Ari closed her eyes again, Garrett’s presence still warm in front of her. The code for his warmth skittered across her vision, and then she remembered Garrett was plugged into a machine and really not that close to her. She started tearing down more code. It was as easy as deleting numbers on a screen. The hard part was putting something in its place. She brushed away some clouds, dismissed bush, and even took off Garrett’s shoes.
“Hey, if that’s how it’s going to be, it’s only fair if you undress yourself too,” he said.
Ari ignored Garrett and kept searching the code. She had to know it well enough in her brain to add it into the sequence. The most she could do was put grass under their feet. She had completed that task countless times in school, so it was easy enough to recall.
When she opened her eyes, she found Garrett reclining shirtless.
“I didn’t take off your shirt,” Ari said.
He shrugged his shoulders and gave her a guilty smile.
“Whatever. We can leave. I think I have my answers.”
Garrett stood up, shirt in hand, and they headed towards the party. “So how does it feel to be a super freak?”
“I don’t know ... scary.” Ari decided she needed to talk to her mother and figure out what was next. Maybe even Tessa would have some ideas. Ari had barely gotten used to school, and now this. The only silver lining would be the cash, and it sounded like a big lining.
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