It was the year 2026, yet nothing really changed in the last 10 years. Technology continued to advance at a rapid pace. Afterall, cellphones had done the same since the early 2000's. And the latest technology was taking the world by storm now. For five years now, Virtual Reality had gone from basic 3d glasses to full immersion headgear that utilized brainwave technology. This was just the latest advancement in human civilization. Of course, the price was high and the latest software and games always pushed the limits.

Thats where we find ourselves now, with the Recca 6 Headgear. I bought one last month.

I had planned to buy 2 and gift one to Kirsten, but we broke up. Actually that asshole broke us up. I always knew he wanted Kirsten all for himself. But never would I have imagined the girl I knew for four years would suddenly be out of my reach. Well, he didn't actually break us up because we weren't really going out together, but we would be soon. We practically were!! In fact all of my friends referred to her as my girlfriend, and I bet hers did too. I just never really said it to her. And of course, we mostly just hung out and did things together. The most intimate I ever got with her was a piggy back ride.

I hope Kirsten doesn't fall for him. Actually, I never would of known what he was like if he didn't approach me that one day. Byron, his name was Byron. A slick young fellow who could really talk and had quite a few girls interested in him. In fact, Kirsten was the only girl in our class who wasn't always hanging out with him.

I guess i've always been a rebel. Only Kirsten saw something in me. Of course I had friends, but none got too close 'cuz I beat that one dude silly for hitting on Kirsten. He actually dared to touch her while asking her to go out with him. That was three years ago when we were in middle school. The rumours were that I was violent. Nobody really knew why I beat that kid up, not even Kirsten, since we weren't really good friends yet. It was before I ever even talked to Kirsten, but that boy.... what was his name? Teko, kinda forced himself on her and pressured her. It might of been nothing, but to me, Kirsten was the first person who noticed me. She had only just said one sentence to me since I started middle school. "Your hair would look better if you grew it out just a little." And I grew it out a little. It's a little wavy now I guess, and I guess it makes me better looking.

I'm pretty fit for a guy, but I have sort of a brutish personality. I guess it shows in my face. And I'm not so much the fun loving kind of guy, you could say I'm a little aloof.

Anyway, if it was just a fight, I think I could whip that asshole Byron who broke us up. Of course, guys like him are good at lots of things, and he didn't look like a wimp necessarly. Still, I got more on the line.

So fast forward to my last year of junior high, and that asshole Byron approaced us.

"Tristan, hello. I have something important to discuss with you. Can you meet after school at the ballpark?" He said.

"If it's important you can tell me now." I had no plans to rendezvous with some guy I barely knew but who always looked at Kirsten with that evil eye.

Right now, he was looking at Kirsten and practically flirted with her right in front of me. In fact he never even looked at me when he spoke. Typical center of attention kind of guy. Wants it all.

Kirsten was friendly with everyone though. She didn't even take notice of Byron's action, or if she did, she didn't let on. Kirsten was sitting on the desk next to mine, swinging her legs. Byron glanced down and looked at her whole body. I was about to get up and pummel this asshole right here and now.

"It's personal." Byron said, still not deigning to even look at me. Then he just turned away and walked back to the crowd of boys and girls he hung out with. Or more like it was him who they hung out with.

Kirsten jumped off the desk and faced me. "Oh, you got personal things? Stuff you can't tell me?" She poked fun.

"I have no idea, but I guess I'll hear him out." I quelled my anger. The beauty in front of me could have that affect on me.

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"Tristan, lets go to the movies tonight. There's that Sharknado 12." Lol, this girl.

Her taste in movies was bad, but I didn't mind. Maybe it wasn't bad, but she liked these B movies with sharks and some scifi stuff. She didn't really let society dictate everything for her. Except she loved the VR games. It was back then half way through the last year of junior high that I decided to use some of my savings and get her the Recca 6 when it came out. It was going to be a surprise.

After school, I went to the ball park and the asshole made me wait for 10 minutes before he showed.

"So what's this about?" I asked.

"You are going to break up with Kirsten today."

"The fuck?".... "Byron is it? Have you got a death wish?" I knew this asshole had been looking at Kirsten, but now I could see just how underhanded he was. "There ain't nothing you can say to me that will get me to hurt that girl. Fuck off asshole."

"Ohh?? Haha, you are going to really hate yourself now, or me I don't know. I don't care." His eyes narrowed. "I know who your brother is. Peter Suddleworth. And last night, in the alley behind Franky's, he beat a man to death. Nobody saw it. Just me. And you know, I heard Peter has a record. If the police get wind of this....

it will be bye bye big brother!

The guy kinda deserved it,

but that's another story." My mind was reeling as this asshole spoke his words.

"So listen, you are gonna break it off with Kirsten tonight, and you are never gonna talk to her again. If you don't do it properly, I'm gonna report what I saw to the police, and you know, prison... is a hard place. In 20 or 40 years, Peter might not even be the same person..... Hahaha...."

I listened silently. He had dirt on Peter, my older brother. Peter was 23 years old, and had been convicted of assault once already. He beat the son of the mayor who was an asshole himself, and who insulted Vanessa, Peter's wife. Peter did 6 months in jail when he was 21.

Still though, I didn't say anything to Byron. I just walked away.

I was lost in my own thoughts. This was dead serious.

"Hey, are you gonna do it?" Byron called out after me.

My mind was trembling. My brother is a good person. He is my brother! Not only that, but him and Vanessa are having a kid. I can't let anything happen to him. But Kirsten, Kirsten... Kirsten!!!! My mind wanted to break.

It was 6 oclock by the time I settled myself enough to think. "I'm going to fuckin wreck that mother fucker!!" I thought to myself. But right now there was nothing I could do. I called Peter.

He gave me the short story. He knew he needed to be careful. Not only that, but he promised Vanessa. Yet some guy had it in for Vanessa, his wife! He didn't tell me all the details. My guess is that the only way he would risk his life with Vanessa is if Vanessa was in serious danger. I didn't push him to explain the details. Still though, he apologized to me. Endless apologies. He didn't want his little bro to get dragged into this.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure this stops with me." I promised Peter.

We hung up. I had to sacrifice, and I had to hurt the girl I loved. I didn't really know how much she loved me back then. If I did I might not have made the call.

Thirty minutes later.....

Ring Ring.... Kirsten pulled the phone out of her purse.. She was dressed nicely and people walking by were looking at her. A beautiful girl standing in front of the movie theater all alone.

"Kirsten, I have something to say."

"It better be an apology! We are missing the movie trailers and Sharknado 12 is going to start in 2 minutes!!!!!" She growled at me.

"Kirsten, I'm going away. I'm going to take care of my grandfather in Charleston. I'm leaving tonight."

"Charleston!!!!!!! Are you kidding? That's more than 800 miles away!!! Tristan, is this a joke? Are you watching me around the corner right now?"

"I'm not kidding. My grandmother is old, and my grandfather is getting sick. She can't take care of him by herself. And my parents are working. And my brother..... is having a kid. I'm gonna transfer to Charleston High at the start of next year."

"Are you kidding me? You still have 5 months left in junior high!! You can't leave! You can't!" By this time the pretty girl in front of the theater was sobbing and she sagged down and leaned against the pillar at the entranceway.

There was silence for a while. She suddenly jumped up! "I'll go with you! We'll have a lot of fun! I already know your grandparents from when they visited and I'm sure they'll want another pair of helping hands! I'll talk to my mom! She'll let me if I'm with your grandparents!" That was probably true. Kirsten and Tristan had been inseperable for almost four years now. Their families had long sice gotten to know eachother.

"No. To tell you the truth Kirsten, there is a girl I like in Charlestown, I met her on my last visit over Christmas vacation... It would be awkward. I am in love with that girl, I've been thinking about her this whole time."

There was a long pause.

"You are a liar!!!! Liar!!! Tristan you! Why are you lying to me?"

"Good bye Kirsten, we are friends only. We've always been friends. But you can't always be with your friends."

The phone hung up. Wild eyed and tears streaming down, the beautiful girl in front of the theater slumped back down and cried violently as people passed by.