Y/N POV:

-Look Aech, I know you're a bit pissed off at Parzival right now but c'mon, you two are best buddies, I say, nudging him a bit as we just walk through a fantasy version of the nightlife in Japan, other avatars surrounding us. My feet rolls softly in the concrete below as Aech's feet stomp, making a heavy thud noise as he walks.

-He can't just go off and trust anyone on here. I mean he's nothing compared to her, she could be using him for all we know, he says upset.

-Besides if they'd ever meet in real life? Huh? It could be a guy named Bob living in his moms basement! He says and I giggle.

-And this is supposed to come from the right person? The corner of my mouth twitches upward before I look at him.

-What's that supposed to mean now missy? He asks. I look at him in disbelief.

-We've been online dating for nearly a year and a half. Cut the guy some slack he doesn't know what he's doing, I say and stop at a fun arcade like machine on the street and put in a coin.

-Yeah but we're different. We didn't meet under these circumstances, he says. I roll my eyes.

-I saw that! He says as the game starts.

Me and Aech had been friends for a long time. I've seen him change his avatar completely 3 times overall. And then he asked me out on a digital date and we've been a thing ever since. In this world it was honestly hard to find someone to relate to. Especially since I live in the most well known tourist trap in the country since after the apocalypse. Everyone spoke a different language, not much different from the oasis actually.

My internet name was "weird" at first but now it's something that no one even cares about because the oasis is full of weird people. It's something I made when I was 12 and just continued using and never changed because it made people turn their heads. Chairuser1.... Yup. I begun my oasis life by sitting by my dinner table and playing instruments before I finally got my treadmill. My internet friends usually call me:

-C1, c'mon let's go, it's boring standing here watching you play, Aech says and I purposefully die and step away from the game.

-Ok grumpy pants, I tease and we start walking again.

We just walked for a while. Then I look at Aech. He just looks ahead as he's walking. Then he feels my eyes stare into his side and he looks down at me.

-What? Do I have something on my face? He asks and puts a hand on his cheek. I shake my head.

-No. I'm just happy to be here, I say. Aech smiles and grabs my hand.

-Trust me C1, when I win this game I promise you that I will search the globe for you, he says and I giggle.

-You're so sweet. I don't care if you win or not, regardless of what happens I will always be here, I say.

-You're too good for me, he says.

-I'm really not, I say.

-Of course you are. You're smart AND you're pretty. Well at least you have good taste, he says and mentions to my avatar.

-Well... I'm scared that if you met me in real life you'd be... disappointed, I sigh.

-And why would I be disappointed? He asks confused.

-Because I do not look like this in real life Aech, I remind him.

-You're my girl. I could never be disappointed in my girl, he says and stops, making me look up at him and I begin tearing up.

-Jesus Christ Aech, I sniffle and grin.

-Did I make you cry? I'm so sorry baby I- I cut him off laughing. Aech looks incredibly confused at me.

-You're so clueless.... I kiss him on the cheek.

-I- huh? He says confused.

Later on:

-I've never seen the shining, is it scary? Aech whispers to Sho beside me.

-Are you kidding? I had to watch that movie through my fingers, he mocks. Aech gulps.

-Oh c'mon Aech it won't be that bad, just stick with us and you'll be fine, I say and grade my hand on his.

-Oh ok, he just says. I wasn't a gunter like the others but I loved tagging along on their ideas and weird shenanigans which involved this. Besides how would they keep track of Aech without me?

-Aech? Artie asks.

-C1 where's Aech? Z asks. I look beside me where that big man stood just a couple of seconds ago. I look at the pair with wide eyes.

-Shit! I say and run towards one of the corridors. Well there I see Aech frantically pressing the elevator button.

-Aech no! Z yells... but too late. Blood comes gushing out through the doors and I run away as fast as I can.

-Guys run! I yell at Sho and Daito. They just follow me, no questions asked. As they look back they see a wave of red and they finally understand why we're running and start running a bit faster. We run up a flight of stairs where the blood hits and stops. Z and Artie comes floating towards us and I help them get up the last couple of steps before the sit down and pant heavily.

As we all catch our breath, the blood seeps away and we can step down.

-Well we better get looking for the key, Z says.

-And Aech, I remind him.

-Right, him too, Artie says and we start scouting the famous hotel. I find the kitchen and hear screaming and weird creepy noises from it.

-Hey guys what could be in here? I ask. Everyone stops and walk into the kitchen as we search for the sound. Suddenly Z opens the freezer door and grabs our Aech.

-What we're you doing in there? I ask.

-I don't know! I got flushed away, went into the room where there was a naked lady and- a naked lady? I ask, feeling a bit self conscious.

-Yes, a naked lady, now let me finish, and she turned into a zombie and started chasing me! He says and I purse my lips.

-There's no zombies in the shining! Artie reminds us as we start running to where we met the others last.

-I don't think it's supposed to be like the movie! Maybe it has something to do with Kira! Z yells.

-I saw Kira! Aech announces and we stop, making him topple over us. We all grunt and I let out a cough of discomfort.

-Where? Z asks.

Later when they get kicked out:

-So, we're you jealous? Aech asks.

-Hmmm? Of what? I ask.

-I got to see a naked lady, he wiggles his eyebrows and I frown.

-Stop, I say seriously.

-What's wrong? He asks, immediately turning confused and concerned.

-Nothing, just.. I don't want to talk about it, I say.

-Ok if you're sure, he says and we keep a distance until Artie comes back.

Even later:

-Hey guys I know I'm not physically there with you but can you please fill me in on what's going on? I say as I see Aech and the others, except Artie, log on. They had sent me an urgent message and I immediately went in to see what was happening.

-Artie got taken by the IOI, and they're chasing us, Z fills me in.

-Ok great so what can I do? I ask.

-Right now I don't know but we'll figure it out... Aech? Z asks.

-Were hacking into Sorrentos rig right now, trying to get her out, he says.

-You're all there? Without me? I tease.

-Yeah no time to explain, but we have to stop Sorrento from getting the last key and save Samantha in the process, Aech says.

-I'm sorry, who? I ask, an itchy feel in my throat starts to form.

-Dang, I'm sorry C1, Samantha is Artie, Z says.

-Oh ok, gotcha. Need me to make a guest appearance? I ask, trying to shake the itchy feeling off.

-Yeah actually, could you....

The battle is raging. Everyone who has ever owned the oasis is playing, waging war between IOI and us regular folks who don't want Sorrento as the guardian of the oasis. Aech uses his commission of the robot to smush the IOI droids.

-Hey Aech, gimme a lift! I say as I bike my way through metal bits and coin.

-Sure thing, Aech says and lowers a gigantic hand. I accelerate and drive all the way to his other hand, flying off and kicking down a droid in the meantime. Suddenly I see a group of IOI soldiers run my way.

-Shit, I wheeze. There's no weapon near me and I only have a sword in my inventory. I grab it.

-Aech... I say as I stand still, looking at the IOI soldiers drawing closer and closer to me.

-Yeah? He asks.

-When I zero out... promise me you'll at least give me 10k coin when you win? I ask as the soldiers are raising their guns my way.

-What? C1 what are you- bye Aech, see you on the other side, I smile. The soldiers put their hands on the triggers and I start to slash my way through them, their avatars crumbling one by one. I did think I was going to die a lot sooner than this. As I finish off the last soldier I get a new machine gun in my inventory.

-Nice, I whisper to myself and exchange my sword for that instead. I then look to my right where a tank is pointed at me.

-Oh Fu- and it shoots me.

I decide to stay in, seeing if something happens. And soon enough, I can see a live broadcast of Parzival on my screen. I scream out in glee. I watch as he struggles and drop kicks the air before finally placing the last key in and disappearing. The screen goes dark.

I wait in anticipation, but nothing happens.

Suddenly I hear a voice in my headphones.

-Hey C1! C1!

-Artie? I ask.

-Yeah! Listen, Wade won! She says.

-Nice! I say.

-He wants you here, she continues.

-Me? Why? I ask.

-To sign the contract, she says.

-What contract? I furrow my brows in disbelief.

-He won the oasis but you helped. He wants you to be part owner of it, she explains.

-R-really? I ask, a smile slamming up onto my face.

-Yes! We're sending a plane to get you and fly you here to Ohio, so that you too can sign it, Wade joins in.

-Aw guys, I say with tears in my throat.

-Don't cry or else I will begin to cry! Artie says.

-Alright, I'll be ready, I say.

Aech POV a couple days later:

-Guys what's going on? Aren't we supposed to be signing a contract right now? I ask as we walk through the airport.

-Yes but we have a surprise for you, Wade says. I sigh and grumble. I really just wanted the contract signed as soon as possible.

Some arrivals start flooding in. A girl walks our way but just walks past us. There's family members and partners coming off their flights. The sight of them makes me miss C1. We hadn't talked since the day Wade got the egg, not even on the oasis. I sure hope she's ok. Suddenly Wade and Samantha walks towards a girl, who hugs them back. I look confused at her. She was so... pretty. I can hear a small giggle and it reminds me of something but I can't put my finger on what. Thoughts start nagging my brain as Wade and Samantha brings her to the group. I can only stare wide eyed at the girl.

-Guys, this, is C1, Wade announces and it clicks.

-C1, this is Sho, Wade introduces her to the youngest member of the group and she marvels at him.

-And Daito, Wade continues and they greet each other. Then she looks at me. I look at her back. A sinking and gurgling feeling foils my throat and it was almost as if nothing would come out if I spoke any words.

-Aech, she says and my heart stops. She looks down at her feet. I feel ashamed that I never told her I was a girl. I guess I just never believed we'd meet in real life.

-Heh- surprise, I say weakly and she looks back up at me.

-I'm sorry, I should've told you earlier that I... you know that I'm a- a girl? She finishes. I nod.

-Yeah, I nod.

-I understand if you're disappointed, I say and look down at the ground. Suddenly the tiles were more captivating than the rest of the room.

Y/N POV:

-But you're my girl. How could I ever be disappointed in my girl? I say, repeating his- I mean her words from a few days before. He looks up at me smiling. I open my arms for a hug and she immediately takes the offer. She grabs me under my arms and lifts me and spins me up in the air before wrapping her arms right around my torso. I wrap my arms tightly around her head.

-You're so pretty, she says muffled.

-Thank you... I say, happy tears filling my eyes.

-Don't cry, or else I'll begin to cry, she says, letting go.

-Sorry, I dry the few tears that are escaping my eyes. As I do, she looks at me with awe.

-I knew I had good taste but wow! I never thought I'd score this, she says and I sheepishly smile and blush.

-Thank you. Not that I could score any better than you either, I say. She smiles proudly and reaches out her hand.

-My real name's Helen, she says. I grin.

-Y/N.