VBL

Javier leans up against the side railing of his school’s stone staircase. (Excellence Private school) He's wearing a button up shirt, that’s unbuttoned, revealing a graphic tee underneath, followed by his school blazer and checkered pants. The temperature is a little warm, but the wind is consistent enough to balance is out, almost perfect hoodie weather. The entire front yard is inhabited with students wearing the same uniform but contending with their own business. Javier leans back further as he re-watches the match between Nora and Takeshi. Specifically, Nora's last play.

“The way you’re staring at your phone, I’d like to guess it was a woman sending you a video.”

Javier looks up from his phone to see a tall, laid-back teenager with a playful smile on his face. The teenager also has dyed red hair. This is Ren Martinez. (16) .

“You know me better than that.” Javier says.

“Of course, I do. That’s why it’s a joke, Mr. Serious.” Ren taunts.

Ren walks over to Javier’s side, leans back alongside him and peeks at his phone.

“Bro, you’re still looking at that match?” Ren asks.

“Yeah, I can’t shake off her last moves. The entire match she was getting bodied, but in the last few seconds she was able to dodge Takeshi’s attacks at point blank range. There are people that’s played VBL for years and still can’t do that.” Javier explains.

“So, she had a stroke of luck before losing. Case closed, now move on and stop being an amateur stalker.” Ren teases.

“Spoken like a pro stalker, don’t think I forgot about that girl over the summer. What was her name, Cynthia?” Javier asks.

“Her name was Samantha! And I wasn’t stalking her!” Ren yells.

“What else would you call checking all her social’s every hour?” Javier asks.

“I call it research.” Ren defends.

“Right, well come on Mr. Journalist. Class is about to start.” Javier says while placing his phone in his pocket.

Both teenagers walk up the stone staircase, and into the school. As well as the different flocks of students following behind shortly after.

**

Nora is slowly walking down the sidewalk that leads to her school. The morning is cool, but the rising sun provides the necessary warmth as it peeks through the skyscrapers. Nora’s eyes are half shut due to lack of sleep.

Nora inner thought: Damn it. I went overboard last night. I was too busy looking up all I could on the current VBL meta. I didn’t even notice that it was 3 am. I even skipped breakfast to make sure I made it to school on time.

Nora’s stomach growls, causing her to gently place a hand over it. Eventually she walks past the school sign and into the school yard.

**

Nora walks into her first class of the day. After a while she can feel a few sets of eyes on her. She tries to ignore it, sitting in her assigned seat behind Faith. Only one problem. Faith wasn’t there. Just an empty seat.

Nora inner thoughts: Faith didn’t come to school today. I wonder if it must deal with her ditching me yesterday. Also –

Nora looks over to a student on the far side of the classroom, sitting near the window. The student has half of his hair dyed yellow, with bangs being on the yellow half. Accompanied with one lighting bolt earring on his right ear. This is Rem (15).

Nora lifts her shoulder up in the air, as if to say, “what do you want?” Rem simply responds by showing her his phone. Nora sees he was watching the video of her fighting Takeshi. Her eyes grew wide. She suddenly feels a hand on her shoulder, causing her to turn to see who it is. It’s another student, a tall one.

“Nora, right? I had no idea you played VBL. Did you want to play some time?” the tall student asks.

Just then another student runs over, knocking into the tall student.

“No fair, I told you I wanted a match with her first!”

“You had your chance, and you didn’t take it!” The tall student pushes back.

A few other students talk aloud, while others murmur over the sudden ruckus surrounding Nora.

“Nora plays VBL?!”

“You didn’t see the stream?! She fought the current champion and got destroyed!”

“I’d be way to embarrassed to show my face after that match.”

“What’s VBL?”

“You’re hopeless.”

The teacher* walks inside the classroom, hearing the commotion and attempts to gain control.

“Alright class, there will be enough time to harass MS. Maxim after class. Until then, find your seat and let’s begin.”

Nora drops her head down to her desk, overwhelmed.

Nora inner thoughts: How the hell do so many people know?! I know that the short announcer said the match would be live streamed, but I figured VBL was a small indie fighting game!

“Now class, I have some news regarding Faith Storm. She caught a cold and will be out for a few days. So, let's Start our lesson.”

Nora inner thoughts: She got sick? Sure, sick of me. I wonder if both events connect. They have to. No way is that a coincidence! I still can’t believe she ditched me like that. What a bitch.

At that moment Nora remembers her father’s words. “I would call her human.”

Nora inner thoughts: humans can be bitches, so I’m still following his advice.

**

The bell rings, ending the first class. Most students quickly exit the class, but Nora sits back, waiting patiently for Rem. Rem notices this, keeping his smug smile ever present on his face. When only a handful of students remained, Nora walked out of the classroom but stood to the side the class door. Rem walks out seconds later. While walking away to their classes, a few classmates peeked over to see who Nora was waiting for.

“Was it you that spread the video of my match around?” Nora bluntly asks.

“Me? Of course not. That wouldn’t be very welcoming of me, would it? The match was being live streamed, no? Isn’t it just obvious that people tuned in to watch a newcomer get washed by the defending champion?” Rem says.

Nora inner thoughts: This guy is full of shit. Between Faith running out on me, and this asshole I can’t seem to catch a break.

“Look. I don’t know if you were trying to humiliate me or whatever. But if you were, let’s end it here. I don’t want to have this conversation again.” Nora says.

“Let’s get this straight new girl- “

“Nora”

“Whatever. You said it yourself; you don’t want us wasting our time being friends. So where does that leave us? I’m merely following your instructions.” Rem says.

“Then you won’t have a problem listening to me again when I say, leave me alone.” Nora says.

“As you wish, your dreadful-ness.” Rem says, keeping his smirk the whole time. Nora can tell while her words were strict, they didn’t stick. She angrily turns and walks down the hallway to her next class.

**

In Faith’s dark bedroom, we see a mix of gamer apparel, furry stuffed animals, and boy band posters. Followed by Faith herself, laying in the fetal position on top of her bed. She’s looking at the match between Nora and Takeshi, again.