One week passed by in a flash. Ellen hadn’t seen the rude guy since their encounter in the bathroom. Not that she wanted to see him again. It was the morning of her first day at CC High and Miranda was standing at the door opening of Ellen’s room.

“Good morning Ellen!” said Miranda with a wide grin.

Ellen quite liked Miranda’s cheerful side.

Miranda walked into Ellen’s room holding what looked to be a female school uniform.

“Good morning Miranda!” said Ellen smiling back.

“I’ve brought you your uniform I hope I got the size right.” Said Miranda as she handed over the uniform.

The uniform consisted out of a dark blue skirt, a white blouse and a dark blue pullover with the initials CC printed on it.

“Thank you!” said Ellen

“I’ve packed your lunch, it’s on the kitchen counter.”

“You remember what tram to take right?” Said Miranda.

“Yep I remember, and thanks for making me lunch I really appreciate it.” Said Ellen.

Half an hour later Ellen left the café. She crossed the street and entered the tram. There were still more than enough places to sit. She quickly sat down and placed her black schoolbag on her lap. The doors were about to close, when a hand stopped doors from closing. It was the rude guy from the café. He was wearing the male CC uniform.

The male CC uniform had the same dark pullover as the girl’s uniform. He was wearing dark blue pants with the same kind of silky material as the skirt Ellen was wearing.

The rude guy was looking around the tram when he noticed Ellen.

“Well look at that, she might actually end up in my class.” He said with that arrogant tone of his.

Trying to seem uninterested Ellen leaned back in her chair and looked away.

There was more than enough space in the tram however Mr. Rude decided to sit opposite of Ellen. All the while staring Ellen down with those piercing eyes of his. Ellen couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.

After enduring ten minutes of Mr. Rude’s stare, the tram arrived at their destination; CC High.

Ellen and Miranda had visited the school the day before, so Ellen knew exactly where it was.

Ellen quickly stepped out of the tram and started the five minute walk uphill. Mr. Rude not far behind her, she arrived at the school gates. The school was a massive L shaped building, behind the building lay a large sport field. In front of the school were several cherry blossom trees, it looked really pretty.

Ellen spotted Anja walking towards the school building, she hurried after her. When Ellen had caught up, she tapped her friend on the shoulder.

“Hey Ellen!” said Anja with a big smile.

The two friends give each other a quick hug.

“I really hope we’re in the same class!” said Ellen upon entering the school building.

“I think the class listings are over there.” Anja pointed towards a large group of students that were standing around a list of names on the wall.

Ellen and Anja walked towards the group and squeezed through the gathered students. Ellen searched for her name.

“I’m in… class 4B.” said Ellen looking up at Anja.

“Ah… I’m in class 4A.” said Anja with a disappointed face.

Ellen was disappointed, but she knew the odds were small to begin with. There were three classes for their year, Class 4A, Four 4B and Four 4C.

That’s when they heard a female voice coming from the school speakers. The female voice started giving directions for all the new students. Pointing out where the A, B and C halls were.

Ellen waved Anja goodbye and headed towards the B hall. It was on the far left of the building and looked across the sports field. Ellen walked through the open door of the classroom. Several faces looked up as Ellen passed by the seats and headed towards the back. She immediately heard whispering.

Ellen was the only girl in the classroom. However she hoped it wouldn’t stay that way. Several minutes passed and more boys flowed in the classroom. Ellen started to lose hope, especially when the last face she wanted to see, entered the classroom.

“You got to be kidding me!” said Mr. Rude while glaring at Ellen.

“Dude calm down it’s just a chick.” Said a guy who seemed quite familiar with Mr. Rude

Mr. Rude stormed out of the classroom his friend followed him shortly after.

The guys now all wanted to know who this new girl was. But before they were able to calm their curiosities, the classroom door opened once more. In the door opening stood a girl with black hair and dark brown eyes. She looked just like Anja yet… she wasn’t, there was something different about her. But Ellen couldn’t place it.

The girl looked around the classroom, when she spotted Ellen she immediately smiled. Even her smile looked the same. Her smile however felt different, not necessarily bad just… different.

The girl walked towards Ellen’s table and sat in the seat next to her. Before the girl could introduce herself, the homeroom teacher entered the classroom.

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The time in homeroom was spent explaining the full plan for the school year. Lucky for Ellen there weren’t any tests for another two months. The morning classes all seemed to fly by as they were all introductory lessons.

At lunch break Ellen decided to have a conversation with the new girl.

“Nice to meet you, my name is Ellen.” said Ellen with a cheeky smile.

“Hey nice to meet you my name’s Emerly!” said Emerly who returned the cheeky smile.

Ellen looked around the classroom Mr. Rude and his friend hadn’t come back, since his outburst earlier that morning.

“So what are your hobbies?” said Ellen who looked back at Emerly.

Ellen wanted to get to know the girl better.

“Well I like playing video games…” Exclaimed Emerly

Several heads turned around. The two nearest guys included themselves in the conversation.

“Is that so… what games do you play?” said the two boys curiously.

“My name is Pete by the way.”

“And my name is Jack.”

“Well I’ve played Endless Maze and Zachon you might have heard of Azure but it’s not really popular around here.” Said Emerly while looking the boys in the eyes

“Ah seriously!” replied Pete

“Guys this chick is a gamer!” said Jack who turned around to his mates

The boys gathered around Emerly who seemed used to the attention. Anja had gotten popular in the exact same way. Ellen was slightly disappointed, but then Emerly said something unexpected.

“Hey Ellen plays games too!” said Emerly with a sly smile

Ellen couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.

“Haha don’t look so shocked, as a fellow gamer I’ve learned to notice the signs.”

Ellen didn’t understand what Emerly had meant with that.

“Ellen turn your head left please.” Said Emerly while reaching her hand out

Ellen didn’t understand the reason but did so anyways. Emerly lifted Ellen’s hair out of the way and pointed at a red mark above her right ear.

“Those older virtual reality head gears, are rather tight around your ears aren’t they?” said Emerly concerned.

Emerly handed Ellen a small hand sizes mirror.

Ellen couldn’t believe it she hadn’t even noticed the red marks above her ears until now. Emerly then lifted her own hair and she too showed the “marks”. The guys were impressed at Emerly’s keenness and the fact that both girls in their class played games.

Ellen’s popularity wasn’t long lived, after lunch everything had calmed down. The afternoon classes were cut short, due to it being the first day. School was over and Ellen headed towards the door.

Emerly called out to her new friend.

“Hey Ellen wait up!”

Ellen turned around to Emerly, and waited for her to catch up.

Ellen finished packing her bag and caught up to Ellen.

“Ellen you’re going to be playing Last Game right?” asked Emerly already quite convinced.

“I’m guessing you were able to see that in my eyes this time?” said Ellen with a laugh.

Emerly just never ceased to amaze her.

“Haha no I just hoped you would be playing.” Said Emerly trying not to laugh

“Yeah I was planning on buying the game this afternoon.” Said Ellen now answering her question

“Good… I’ll be named Nouna so if you feel like it, you can add me in the game.”

“Ok I’ll do that.” Said Ellen with a nod

When the two girls reached the school gates, they said eachother goodbye. Emerly turned right, Ellen headed back down the hill towards the tram stop. Ellen took the tram to the heart of Central City.

She headed straight for the closest electronic store. Ellen headed straight towards the game section. Last Game had an entire section devoted to it. Ellen reached for one of the games on the shelf. She had already confirmed the price for the game was thirty dollars and the monthly fee was, around eighteen dollars. Ellen’s parents sent her twenty dollars a month. She was going to have to work for Miranda, if she actually wanted to buy clothes or other necessities.

Putting her worries aside Ellen bought the game and headed home. Ellen opened her cupboard and pulled out her seven year old, virtual reality helmet. That her parents had bought her, for her ninth birthday. It was a whooping three hundred dollars, so she hadn’t gotten a newer version since. The newer versions were several hundreds more.

Ellen opened the game box, and clicked the game chip into the back of her virtual reality helmet. She then quickly scanned the manual. It wasn’t anything she hadn’t heard or seen before. Ellen then put the game box and manual in her cupboard. She then set an alarm clock for seven, they ate dinner at seven. It was manners after all, to come on time for dinner. Ellen laid herself down on bed, tucked several cushions under her head.

Ellen closed her eyes, then softly whispered.

“Dive mode activate!”

She heard a familiar ringing sound, and everything turned black.