A young man was sitting at his desk. Geometry text book open wide and laying in front of the text book was another book where this same young man was currently reading. The novel is a run of the mill fantasy for young adults, in other words it’s PG-13. The teacher kept on droning on and on about shapes, and how to find their volume. But this same boy did not care, even if his grade in the class was a D. There was only one thought in his mind as he kept reading each word. Each word playing a mental image of a glorious battlefield. Dragons and riders, breathing fire at the enemy, as more enemy dragon riders announce their presence with their own breath. The book beginning to reach its climax, this young boy can’t stop the smirk beginning to grow on his lips.

“Wade! Are you reading in my class!” Mr. Fulio shouts to the young man who just lost smirk. Disappointed he was disturbed as he began to read the climax, Wade answers simply.

“No.” Obviously a lie but Wade hates one thing more than all others, being disturbed when something is getting good.

“So, if I were to go to your desk, what would I find?” Mr. Fulio asks as he slowly walks through the isle to stand before Wades desk. With a quick snatching motion Mr. Fulio reaches for the novel. Wade is faster. Acting as if the book is a phone he quickly places his precious words into his backpack.

“Don’t touch my book!” Wade slightly raised his voice but due to his soft voice, the words were only of a normal volume.

“I can if you read it in my class! Every day we go through this, must I call your father?” Mr. Fulio asked.

“Whatever.” Is Wade’s answer. Mr. Fulio begins to go to his desk for his phone. However, just as Mr. Fulio reaches the phone Wade speaks up.

“Fine, fine, I’ll stop reading just don’t call my dad.” Wade says with a slightly worried tone in his voice. Mr. folio smiles a smile of a predator.

“Very well but if I catch you reading one more time, I will be calling your father along with a three-day suspension.” Mr. Fulio done with his disciplining goes back to his lecture. Wade for the rest of the class kept glancing at his backpack with a hungry look but if he was to get caught reading he would not be able to game tonight. Especially if his father found out he had D’s. Just wouldn’t work out well, at least for Wade who has been waiting the last year for this new game, a game with upgrades immersive value. A virtual reality breakthrough. Announced only just a year ago Wade had already made the pre-order and started the gold subscription. The immersive pod bought and just delivered a week ago, along with the first three months of game time paid.

               Wade could not be more excited. The bell rings, followed by three shrill but quick rings signaling the school day is over. Wade quickly leaves the class behind to find a picnic table. Opening his book to where he was stopped he quickly finishes the last fifty pages, smirking most of the way through until the very end where the main character gets the girl. People who passed Wade while he was reading all thought he was a nerd.

‘Who smiles while reading a book?’ Were the thoughts of the people. The same answer came to all. Nerd. They could not be more wrong.

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               Wade lived a poor life till he moved in with his father at the age of ten. Before then he could never get into reading books, all he cared for was his friends and family. Things changed once he was sent to go to school in the ghetto. Gangs ran rampant, drugs and guns were being sold within the bathrooms and fights were always imminent. Wade had to survive and at first that is all he did. Called names like fat white boy since his frame was thick with wide shoulders, and his height was barely average for his age. This middle school is where he would become not only a fighter but would forever change his personality.

               The middle school turned a kind and caring kid into a beast. His first fight he never threw a punch, too afraid of hurting the boy who drove him to anger. The second and third, followed by many more slowly etched away his kindness and the further his kindness receded the further he dug into his own mind. Within four months he became one of the most distinguished sixth graders, his friends were all popular from being funny to fighting. Wade was no exception. His nickname ran around the school even as he found a love for fantasy, no one bullied him like they did in elementary.

               In elementary his kindness was taken advantage of, he had no friends outside of his neighborhood and he dreaded school. Middle school is when he moved in with his wealthy father to soon became popular. Popularity also brought Wade insight into girls but he always struck out halfway to third; only ever touching and only with one girls. By the end of his middle school days no one messed with him besides the teachers, especially when he was reading. Wade would get lost in the realm of fantasy. His favorite stories about magic and heroes who tamed magnificent beasts, it got to the point where that’s all he did. Daydream about his action/romance fantasy novels.

               Highschool is where the change became apparent even to his father. For the longest time, his father could not think of a way to help him, he already tried beating the fantasy out of Wade but yet it did nothing. He tried controlling the books Wade read but wade would just go to a library till they closed and hide the books when he came home. That was when he found games. Virtual reality.

               Wade soon found a love for fantasy games. His father tried to make him play military games but yet, Wade found his way to the magic and sword genre that his father detests. Having a year pass by since then, Wade talked his father into buying the new pod and subscription by agreeing he would stop reading fantasy novels. Being sixteen and near Christmas the pod was delivered with the game already installed. Now all Wade has to do is wait till midnight for the server to go online.

               Flicking a lighter on and off he reads through the comments he has already read. The gameplay trailers he has already seen. Having spotted a new video, labeled as classes, Wade quickly taps on the link. Watching the thirty-minute video Wade gains knowledge on the character creation and how stats (game character capability) will work. When the video finishes Wade grabs a glass of water before preparing himself to enter the pod. All through the time Wade read and searched the sound of a lighter being struck could be heard.

               Wade tosses the lighter onto the bed before hopping into the pod.

“No more lighting fires in the outside world. Time to burn.” He says softly as he shuts the lid and allows for the neural transfer. A slight sound of the fans running could be heard in the dark but then nothing.