Luke leaned back against the chainlink fence behind him, face tight. He focused on his breathing, in through the nose, out through the mouth. He couldn’t help but clench his jaw tight, his palms sweaty, clammy. With a soft gasp, his eyes stinging, he couldn’t keep the tear from sliding down his pale face, falling swiftly from his sharp chin. Using his forearm he rubbed at his eyes, wiping his tears on the sleeve of his ratty red hoodie. breathing deep again and calming himself. Running his fingers through his lengthy chestnut hair, he sighed. Sitting at the top of the empty bleachers with him, a thin youth huddled against the fall chill, pulling his army-surplus jacket tighter with one hand, taking a swift draw of his crinkled Marlboro. Both looked out over the empty football field, russet leaves cluttered about patchy grass. A casual lifting of the arm, and Luke plucked the lit cigarette from his friends icy fingers, taking a deep inhalation himself.

“I’m sorry,” Shaun said, his own voice a tad hoarse. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”

Luke lifted his left leg, casually shoving Shaun in the back with his dirty converse, almost pushing his huddled companion off his seat. “Its ok,” he said, “Its ok.” Shaun glanced over his shoulder seeing the wide, strained smile on his friend’s face, Luke’s eyes still shining and his brow still pinched, struggling against another tear. After closing his russet eyes tight for a moment, he slapped his face with both palms, and stood tall. His bangs rose gently in the cold wind.. The small, still smoking butt falling from his fingers, forgotten, smearing ash on his torn blue jeans. “Things are going to be different now, but that’s life. Shit happens.” He scratched casually at his new stubble, still fresh. “I’m not going to wallow in it.” The two looked out over the grey field for a moment longer, smelling the acrid tang of nicotine and tobacco, the sharp metallic pinch of the bleachers and the softer cinammon of fall. Leaning against the chain links behind him, one foot raised to brace himself, Luke heard the beginning of a gentle acoustic melody sounding from his back pocket.Sliding out the T.Mote, he glanced at the alert.

“Is it…?” asked Shaun, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah.” said Luke, “I can’t talk to her yet. I have no idea what i’m gonna say to her tomorrow either.”

“Well, no rush. I’m sure she understands, but don’t put her off too long man. I’m not so sympathetic I won’t steal her if you're not careful.” Shaun said, winking over his shoulder, trade-mark half smile making its first appearance in a while. “Besides, if you're still up for it, you hafta Dive tonight. I’m telling you man, this thing is light years ahead of VirtuGear. Nothing like it for clearing the head.”

Still watching the alert flicker on his Mote, ‘Kayla’ flashing in time to the soft melody, Luke meandered his way down the bleachers. “Yeah, I’m still down. I’ve had everything set up in my room for two weeks. I was feeling pretty out of the loop, before… y’know. I hope it’s as good as you’ve been bragging.” He glanced back, “and seriously bro, just keep trying. You know you don’t have a chance with a girl of this caliber.” His grin was wide, his chuckle soft and his eyes clear of grief this time. “I’ll see you in-game.”

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…

Stepping softly through the front door, Luke glanced about the dim lit house, shadows draped over everything. He could hear the mindless drone of the T.V. from his let, muted by the thick door, neon lights flashing garishly from the narrow crack at his feet. He hesitated, grabbed the back of his neck and stared at the door for a moment. His heartbeat sped up, his stomach dropped. With a sigh and a shake of his head he strode past the door, not bothering for quiet. Slipping through the hallway he crinkled his nose at the stale smell of smoke and old paint. Sliding through the kitchen, grabbing a cold mug of coffee and a bowl of Kraft mac off the counter, where he had left them this morning, he stuck both in the oven, pulling up the holo-screen, and cycling to recook. Instantly a far more pleasant smell wafted to him, dark ground roast, cheese, buttery pasta.

Plopping both down on the cracked plaster table, he grabbed half a J still in the ashtray, lighting it as he relaxed before the table, drinking deep from the dark bitter caffeine. As he ate, Luke pulled up a Cyber access screen, logging in as NOTSOFASTKAIBA!! and flicking his fingers across the screen. He slid the 29 unread emails to the side, checked through the household ledger, confirming auto-signed bills, notices and functions. He confirmed his schedule, modifying it heavily for the week. Sooner or later he’d have to make the permanent changes, now that he’d quit his job and initiated the online-school exchange. He had a lot of people to talk to soon too, friends and concerned parties. He’d get to it…

The screen now emptied, his homepage flared back up. It was a photo of him and Kayla from last year. The tan, straw haired beauty was caught mid-laugh, her heart shaped face pinched in a blush as a Luke had tossed her into the lake. Her long arms were draped around his wide neck, his stomach taut as he twisted, flinging her shoulder height over the dock. His soft velvet brown eyes were crinkled, curled up at the edges, his grin wide and his teath glimmering white. His his near-shoulder length chestnut hair was frozen behind his head. Standing at the edge of a pier, him in trunks, her in a string bikini under her soaked white-T, the young couple were frozen in a wonderful moment in time. Luke stared at the photo for a moment, not seeing it… his thoughts started to drift to the person behind the camera.

“Nope!” He thought. “Time to check out The World.” Luke leapt to his feet, empty dishes and smoldering roach lying forgotten on the table. Head high, Luke sniffed hard, and strode out the kitchen and into his room. Not even glancing at the accumulated minutia of years, Luke pulled his hoodie up and over his head, revealing the two prominent lower abs under his black T-shirt, before he flung the red cotton shirt on his bed. Kicking his shoes off, Luke leapt into the large la-z-boy, recently holo-fitted. With a few simple flicks of the finger, his vision went dark.