For months, I had waited . . . possibly longer. To be honest, I couldn’t remember when I had found out about the approaching release of VERGE. The advanced VR tech was defying the odds of what the industry thought possible. This had me skeptical as an avid gamer. I couldn’t count how many times new tech boasted advancements only to fall backwards into an unexpected grave.

 

I was a bit hesitant even now as I stood in line outside Best Buy. The line had taken form at midnight; people came from all over to secure a spot and get their hands on the game of the year. The crowd had tripled since I had gotten here, and the air was filled with excited chatter as people milled about wrapped in blankets.

 

Pulling my coat tighter around my lean torso, I watched my breath form a puffy cloud. I was the twelfth person there, and my lids felt more like sandpaper with every blink. I needed coffee or something. Glancing around I notice the family behind me. The father had his wife wrapped tightly in his arms and their twin boys were practically bouncing on their toes. One of them caught my gaze and held it. I looked away feeling uncomfortable; I strongly disliked little people.

 

Trying to focus on anything but the boy’s gaze burning into my back, my patience began to wear thin. Not being able to ignore it any longer I whipped my head around to give him the stink eye. He jumped, but his eyes only grew wider. A groan slipped past my lips as I turned back around wondering why I was so interesting to the kid. Kids usually hated me, keeping their distance. I decided to ignore him and began trying to put together a strategy for my avatar in VERGE. Did I want the avatar to be true to me? I could potentially be anything I wanted in a world like that, however, I knew that I couldn’t fake an optimistic attitude or a bubbly personality. I almost gagged at the thought of happy people. I cringed at my thoughts; Zeke needed to get here already – I couldn’t be out in public for long without him. Terrible things always happened.

 

I eyed the young teenage boys in front of me warily, the crowds were starting to get to me. I could feel the anxiety start in my throat, but I fought it. I desperately wanted to be invisible most of my life, but right now the desire to be ignored was almost unbearable. Social interactions on any level were always just a ticking bomb. Besides, people get offended so easily, and everything always comes off so fake. I’m not interested in fake relationships where people use each other to groom their egos. Only one person had ever been real with me and took the time to be a friend. To be honest I was happy with my one friend.

 

“Aaron?”

 

The loud voice would have annoyed me if I didn’t recognize it. I glanced behind me to find Zeke walking up with an arm full of coffee and a bag from Dizzie’s Donuts that had steam rolling off of it in the morning chill. I waved at him and my stomach growled ferociously. I remembered the bagel I had forgotten when I left the house. Mom would probably think I left it for her. I didn’t mind if she ate it, she had been so stressed out from work lately. As an ER nurse she was always working and coming home late. Sometimes she had to sleep in the break room there between shifts. I didn’t have any siblings, so it was just the two of us, making it easy to split the household responsibilities. I tried to make things easier on her, and she tried to be there for me when she could. It wasn’t an ideal situation, but we made it work.

Zeke was already grinning as he hustled over. “Hey! I got you some donuts and a mocha.” He says as he gets in line next to me.

 

“Thanks.” I say – grabbing my share of the food. Immediately, I tear into the maple bar and take a few burning gulps of the coffee.

 

Zeke eyes me, obviously amused, “I’m guessing you forgot breakfast.” I give him a look and continue scarfing my food down. He laughs, shaking his head. The movement of his arm as he sips his coffee strains his leather jacket getting the attention of some girls ahead of us who had been eyeing him since he walked up. I rolled my eyes, knowing he had no clue how easy he had it.

 

“They open at 10:30, but there is a rumor they are gonna let the first 30 people in at 10.” I say after swallowing the last of my donut. I’m hopeful of this because I knew it would be hell in there with so many people.

 

“That would be good. . . less stressful.” I look over his showered hair and fresh clothes and glanced down at my dark jeans and wrinkled t-shirt. I hadn’t even looked in the mirror this morning and I was sure I had a really attractive bed head. I felt like a hobo next to him. Not that I cared much – I was more interested in why or how he always appeared so put together. He gives me a stern side glance, “No fights today, please.”

 

I blinked and took a grudging gulp of my coffee, “I just finish what other people start.”

 

Zeke rolls his eyes and I sigh, “I won’t.” It was barely audible, but he smiled.

 

He looks at his watch as I shift my weight to my left foot. “Looks like we have ten minutes left until 10.”

 

I peer up at the front of the store to gauge if they might be gearing up, but with no luck as the windows are tinted. I shrug, “We shall see.”

 

“How was your food and coffee?” He asks as I take the last gulp of my coffee.

Continue Reading