1: Fortnite Battle Pass

"Alex, come downstairs!" Bruh, what does she even want? 

I sighed. I got up out of my chair and headed out my door downstairs to where my mom was.

"Yes?"

"Did Daniel tell you where he was going?"

"No, he never does."

"You guys should be closer; you are only a few years apart," my mom said. She always tries to make stuff happen that can't.

My brother doesn't like me, and I don't like him.

"He's a dick. I'll hang out with Isaac. Where is he?" I asked, looking around in the kitchen.

My mom worked two jobs and had three kids. Me, Isaac, and Daniel. She's also a single mom.

"He's at preschool; you would have known that if you came out of your room," she said, and I rolled my eyes.

I looked around, and there her dinner sat on the counter in a Tupperware.

"I'm going to work, and I'll pick Isaac up, and I need your help with him, because-."

"Yes, Mom," I said, and she nodded with a smile.

She put her Tupperware in her bag and kissed my forehead.

She moved my hair off my forehead and kissed it again.

"Make sure you cut your hair; it's getting long," she said, and just like that, she was out the door.

She works too hard.

I think Dad's been dead for 4 years now or something like that. That bitch sent us into debt, so fuck him.

He treated my mom like shit and our whole family too. But my brother idolizes him, and my mom loves him so much.

I feel like I'm the only one who remembers who he actually was and not the fake memories of him that didn't happen.

I walked back up the stairs.

I sat down in my chair and stared at the bright screen in front of me.

Mom was right. I always stayed in my room. I mean, I went to school. Well, when Daniel would drive me there, I would. I don't have my license because I failed my permit test and decided driving wasn't for me, and I haven't taken it since. 

Sometimes he won't drive me because I'm not cool or something like that.

He's dumb.

I watched as the Epic Games launcher auto-opened on my PC.

Am I really about to play Fortnite? I guess.

A lot of my apps automatically open, and I have no idea how to turn them off, so the Epic Games launcher is one of them.

Video games were my escape from reality. It made me forget how fucking lonely I am.

I mean, I would wake up. Get my phone, walk to Daniel's room, use his bathroom and shower, come back, and get dressed. Probably go to school and come back. Half-ass do homework and then play video games, till I pass out and do it all again.

My life was ordinary. I was ordinary. Which is just another word for boring.

I didn't really have friends or people who cared; I mean, my mom loves me, and maybe Isaac? But he eats his boogers, so I don't know how much he actually loves me or if he knows who I am.

I have that half-ass middle child love and a face only a mother could love. Daniel's words, not mine.

I'm 17 now. I think at least. Daniel is 23 and done with college and living at home doing something weird, but he's making money and pays rent, so my mom hasn't kicked him out.

And Isaac is 5, like, what? Our age gaps were so goddamn weird.

Daniel was an only child for like 5 years, and then I came along, and I could tell he was favored over me.

He was my parent's firstborn child, and I wasn't.

Eh, that's sad. Go cry me a river.

I feel sad and alone.

I'm lonely. Of course, I'll never admit that to my mom, but I very much am.

I have bad social skills and no will to live.

I mean, at least I have Fortnite. I guess.

I looked around at the posters around my room.

And music and movies. Video games, bands, and.

I stood up.

A virtual reality headset.

I forgot I had this. I picked it up and hooked it up with my PC.

I got 14th place in Fortnite, but that's fine.

There was a game that came with the headset.

"Farmland love," I read out loud. What is farmland love? And why did I forget about this?

I put the headset over my eyes, and I grabbed the controls.

I swiped over with them and clicked start.

Holy fucking shit. The graphics in this game are crazy.

It looks like I'm actually in a field.

I walked forward.

Everything about this game just felt so real.

"Hello Alex, welcome to Farmland Love," a voice spoke, and I looked around.

"I'm not living if that's what you are looking around at. I'm here to guide you to the actual game, that is," the voice spoke.

What is happening right now? This game is so cool.

"You have to respond to continue. I hope you know how a question answer works," the voice said.

"Sorry, this is so cool," I said. The voice thing probably can't hear me, but I'm amazed right now.

The trees, the clouds, the mountains—all of it. I felt as if I were outside and alive.

"It really is cool," the voice said back. It was a little strange that it just responded to me, but it was probably an expensive game to make, so I'll give it to them. This is sick.

"Now, if you would like to, step into the portal and let the game take everything," the voice said.

"Everything?"

"Eh, metaphorically speaking," the voice said, and I nodded, walking forward.

The portal was so cool. This whole place was so cool.

I walked closer and closer, and the more I walked, the more I just wanted to jump through it.

"Before you take that step, listen to me," the voice said.

"I'm listening."

"This world is not what it seems or what you think it is."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"You need to be ready. Things will never be the same."

I nodded again.

"I'm ready," I said.

A drop-down tag showed.

There was this giant tag, and I clicked agree. I ain't reading all that.

And it sucked me into the portal.

I looked down at my hands and my legs. It was me. Not the shitty graphics floating head; I was wearing the same clothes I had on in real life.

I looked around me.

There were a bunch of different floating islands, and the forest went on for miles and miles. 

I bent down and touched the grass. It all felt so real, oh my god.

There were crazy giant creatures with giant wings. I couldn't even put my finger on it.

They were mythical creatures and nothing like I had ever seen in a video game before. They were gorgeous, this whole place was gorgeous, everything about it.

The colors were very pretty and amazing.

Birds were chirping, and as I walked, I felt the calm of the wind hum by, and it was all so cool.

The sounds were nice and sounded so real. 

Nothing against my bedroom, but this is way cooler than my ordinary, mundane life. 

I could feel everything, see everything, and hear everything.

It's like I wasn't even controlling the headset anymore, like this wasn't a game.

I feel like this is a wonderland, like a dream. It was very cool.

There were vibrant hues and dynamic environments in all of the virtual worlds. The colors were bright, beautiful, and amazing.

Not dull like the normal world. I feel happy. 

There was a school that looked like my own, but it looked cool. And no way in hell was I going to go to school in a video game when I barely go to school in real life.

Everything was cool and made me want to leave my room if only real life was like this. Maybe I would have friends and not lock myself in my room all goddamn day. 

"Alex!" a voice called out. As I got closer, there were more and more people near the school. 

I looked around. Who was calling my name? 

"Alex! Come over here, what are you doing?" The voice said it again.

I got closer and closer, and there a guy stood with his friends waving at me. He had curly hair, green eyes, and dark skin. He was really tall and fucking sexy. Va va vroom.

He waved at me.

I waved back at him.

He had on Jordans, a pair of washed-out dark blue jeans, and a varsity jacket with baseball, basketball, and football on the front of it.

He had so many patches on his jacket, it was crazy.

He put his arm around my shoulder and put me in a headlock.

His friends also had on varsity jackets, one didn't, and he had on shorts and a t-shirt.

Who even were these guys?

Two of them, well, three, including the guy who had his arm around my neck, had these pins.

I have no clue what the pins were for or who these guys even were. 

The guy kissed my cheek and continued to talk with his friends.

Who does this guy think he is?

I mean, he's sexy, and maybe even the man of my dreams, but who does he think he is?

His mouth was gorgeous, like the tips of his mouth were pinched upwards. That's oddly specific, but he's so attractive.

He kept glancing at me, and his eyes sparkled in the glistening sunlight. Is this what they call being delusional?

"Why didn't you let me pick you up?" the hot man asked me.

I don't even know what to say.

"Who are you?" I asked, and he tightened his grip and laughed at me along with his friends.

Am I the only one who has no idea what the fuck is even happening right now?

"That's Elijah, your boyfriend, dumbass," one of the guys said.

Boyfriend? Damn, good for me. 

I can go along with whatever fake reality this is. 

"Oh, uh, I woke up late," I said.

"I could have still come to pick you up," he said, kissing the side of my face again.

"It's okay, babe." Why am I smiling at a virtual man?

"What are you smiling at?" Elijah asked me.

"Oh, uh, nothing," I said, and he went back to talking with his friends. 

I felt happy; it all felt so real, and everything looked so real, besides the floating islands and the mystical creatures, but it was me and I was at school.

I didn't recognize anyone, but at the same time, I had no idea who even went to my school, so it was okay. 

Ignoring the fact that my boyfriend has me in a chokehold and ignoring the fact that I am tuning him and his friend out completely. 

"Babe." I looked up, and Elijah smiled down at me.

He brushed my hair out of my face

"How can you even see with your hair in your eyes like that?" he said. Again, with the blushing over a virtual man.

"He does have glasses, so maybe he can see through his hair with those," one of his friends said, and they started laughing. Elijah looked irritated.

I touched my face. Why the hell was I wearing my glasses? I wear contacts 24/7 and when I don't wear them, I would rather go blind than wear my glasses.

"I think they look cute on you," he said as I smiled. I felt the awkwardness start to fade. I actually have a boyfriend. That's crazy.

I didn't even know there were gay guys at my school. 

I felt his arm let go of me, and he placed his hand on my back.

Why did it all feel like it was happening in real life?

I feel happy and like people actually care.

This was nice.

I heard the bell ring.

"I'll see you guys at lunch; come on, babe, let me walk you to class," Elijah said, and the two of us started to walk. Am I really going to school in a video game? That is crazy. 

Why don't you exist in real life, king? Where is my tall 3 sport varsity athlete who will walk me to class?

We continued to walk in comfortable silence.

I looked down at his hands; the one that was on my now lower back had a backpack in it, and he also had a backpack on.

Did I not come to school with a backpack on? Now that's crazy.

"You never wear jeans anymore; how come?" he asked as we walked down the hallways. 

I looked down.

"I don't know; I just don't," I said, and he nodded, content with the answer.

We were definitely late to class, and he was going to be even more late to his class because he was walking me to class, but this was oddly romantic, and I felt my heart warm on the inside.

He opened the door for me and handed me the backpack in his hand. That was mine? Oh, sick.

"Bye, babe, I love you," he whispered and smiled as I walked to my seat. 

I sat down, and the guy next to me laughed.

"You and your boyfriend too busy talking to come to class?" the person asked, and I raised my eyebrow. Who is this?

"Stop looking at me like that. I'm joking. I'm glad you actually showed up today. Your best friend was getting lonely without you," the guy said, smiling at me. Best friend? I smiled again.

I like this reality a lot more than my actual one.

"Nate!" the teacher yelled, and the guy next to me apologized to the teacher.

Okay, in this world, I have a best friend whose name is Nate, and Elijah is my boyfriend's name.

I picked my phone out of my pocket. It is a picture of Elijah shirtless as my screensaver for my phone. Good for me to be honest. That is a sexy picture.

I swiped up, and my phone opened. 

"Hey babe." I saw Elijah's message pop up. 

"Big Daddy is a crazy contact name," Nate whispered, looking at my phone. For real, what was I thinking?

Does my mom not check my phone in this? I mean, she doesn't do that anyway, but that's fine.

"Hi." I texted back.

"Mrs. J's class is so boring, so I thought I would text you."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's fine, and I miss you. I can't wait to see you during the passing period." and I smiled as I read his text.

My fake boyfriend was a huge flirt, and I am all here for it. I need this validation in my life.

I felt the loneliness lifting. All of my memories of being alone in this school with no one to talk to besides the teachers were replaced with memories of Nate and Elijah and memories that I didn't have before.

All of those times I dreaded going to school were replaced with the happy feeling that comes with being in love and being loved.

I have wanted this all my life. This is what I was missing. I was missing friendships—people who cared but were forced to care because they were family members. Love. I am missing love. 

"It's real," I heard Nate whisper.

"What real?"

"Dude what?"

"You just said it was real?" I asked, and he gave me a side-eye. Okay. That's weird. 

"You are crazy, dawg," Nate said, laughing. Apparently, I am.

The bell rang, and I saw the door open.

It was Elijah.

He grabbed my backpack, and the two of us walked out of there.

"Oh, hey, Kegan," Elijah said, and he dabbed up this random guy in the hallway.

I have no idea who Keagan is, but that's this guy's name.

"Elijah. Alex," the guy said.

"You need to be ready. Things will never be the same."

Kegan is the voice at the start of the game. 

That was a not needed wake-up call.

"You signed a contract; I hope you know," he said, leaning into my ear.

"Dude? That's my boyfriend; what do you think you're doing?" Elijah asked, laughing.

Kagan backed up with his hands up, and he smiled. 

"I'm just his old friend, that's all," he said with a scary smile. And I watched as he glitched.

Scary.

"I hope so if you get close to him again like that-."

He interrupted Elijah. "I won't, dude, chill," he said. He was lying.

"I'll see you tomorrow, dude."

"Dude, school is not even over; where are you going?" Elijah asked, laughing as he rested a hand on my lower back again.

"Nothing, nothing. Bye, Elijah; text me if you need anything. Bye, Alex, I will see you tomorrow," he said, and he glitched again. Okay, bro what the hell?

"Sorry about that, honey. We are good friends, but he can be weird from time to time," Elijah said, laughing.

Kegan was the only one who had been glitching like that.

I understand a videogame can only be so real and so good, but no one else has glitched like that.

God, this place is so weird.

I felt a smack on my ass and looked at Elijah.

He smiled at me.

"You're crazy," I said, and we continued to walk in the hallway.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I said to my left, Kegan. I nodded. I don't know what he meant by that, but good for him? Fucking glitch.

I feel like that could come off as derogatory. Uh? Mistake? No, that's worse. Bug? I guess that will have to do.

"You should wear your glasses more; they make you look cute. I mean, you are always cute, but they make you look extra cute," Elijah said, and I smiled at him.

He was extra cute.