Asshole

12: Puzzle

Brighton, UK

He didn't want to address the issue. When his friends tried to get in touch with him to ask if he was okay, he pleaded for them to give him a bit of space, some time to process what was going on. The exact thing that he was so, so careful to avoid and worried would one day happen, happened. Part of him didn't believe it to be true, that photos of the inked smile on his wrist weren't actually circulating from one social media platform to the next. Like there weren't already two articles written about his mishap.

He muted Twitter again and, upon further thought, he did the same to any app that might have notified him of the latest hot gossip surrounding himself. He considered this to be a form of self-care. He left his texting application untouched, since he knew that his friends wouldn't blow up his inbox (his concerned mother might, if she were to find out).

The only person he willingly interacted with was Dalton. The pair spent hours logged into their alt Minecraft accounts, though only one of them was aware of the fact that they were both alts, while the other was speculating about the possibility. George had since wiped away the mass of messy hearts from his arm, which had been a test of curiosity, to see if it would have the effect that he thought it might. Clay having lost the manhunt because he just so happened to let go of the shift key at a crucial moment may or may not have been a coincidence. But even so, it was something that lingered in the back of George's mind since the moment it happened. He let his eyes wander to the current state of his arm: Dalton had slowly and carefully decorated it with neat hearts in multiple shades of blue, smiles that George assumed to be green, and finally a request to play Minecraft. It was as if Dalton knew he was upset. It made that nagging feeling increase.

SmileS: im making it pretty for you

The message brought George's attention back to the game. Dalton was placing an impressive number of blue orchids around their house, which he promised he was making into a home. It had been improved extensively since their first session together. No more was the small, dark oak structure that served the purpose of keeping them safe while containing a few disorganized chests filled with their items. In its place stood an expansive building composed of multiple levels and rooms, constructed with several types of wood and a variety of other blocks. They both clearly knew their way around the game. Especially Dalton, who only an hour into the day's session proudly placed a purple-eyed dragon's head on a podium in their nether portal room.

Goggles404: thank you

Goggles404: i have a question though

SmileS: yes?

Goggles404: how long did it take to collect all these flowers?

The planting stopped. Dalton's well-dressed character slowly inched towards him in a crouch, an orchid in each hand.

SmileS: wouldnt you like to know

SmileS: weather boi

Before George could come up with a witty, preferably meme-related retort, another line of text popped up.

SmileS: okay, so you know how you're colorblind?

He scrunched his eyebrows, a confused but amused expression on his face. How was that related, other than the flowers being the prettiest color he could see? He looked the figure before him up and down then turned and glanced to both sides. He typed.

Goggles404: im colorblind?

It took a moment for him to get a response. He hoped it was because Dalton was busy laughing.

SmileS: well, if youre not then my next question is dumb

Goggles404: whats your question?