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Chapter 5 - Antivirus Software

"What is up my Cranky Crew? It's Ethan from CrankGameplays and today we're here with my awesome friend, Jesse. Say hi, Jesse!"

"Hello everyone!"

"As you probably know (cause I say it every frickin' video) Jesse's been making a lot of my thumbnails recently, and boy-oh-boy do they look awesome!" Ethan laughed. "Okie dokie, so Jesse, tell the people what we're playing today."

It was Jesse's first proper time in front of a camera, which made her very nervous, but according to Ethan she did a great job. She kicked his ass in a Mario Kart Gran Prix before they signed off together. 

"That was awesome," Ethan laughed, leaning back in his chair. 

"Really?" Jesse raised her eyebrows. "You're serious?"

"Yeah! That was more fun than, like, all of my other Mario Kart videos." 

"...I thought you played Mario Kart with Mark, though," Jesse said slowly.

"I, uh, I did," Ethan said slowly, sitting back forward. His face was turning red. "This... I had more fun with... with you." 

Jesse opened her mouth to thank him, though she couldn't fathom a good reply. 

Luckily, Ethan's computer pinged at that moment and he spun around to face it, so neither of them had to explain themselves. 

"Antivirus software update..." he muttered, sighing. "This is gonna take a while."

Jesse glanced at his computer screen. "Whoa," she muttered. "That's a lot of software. Why are you using so many antivirus programs? Doesn't that slow your computer down?"

Ethan's eyes widened a little. "It does," he conceded. "I just- just- I mean, it's good to be secure, you know?"

"That's fair," Jesse said, raising her eyebrows nonetheless.

"Dammit!" Ethan snapped, shoulders drooping. "The recording from yesterday got corrupted."

Jesse didn't know enough about computers to weigh in, so she said, "Is there anything you can do?"

Ethan sighed. "No. Not now, anyway." He opened Task Manager, scrolling through the open Tasks. Jesse looked away, thinking to herself. She had to get home within the hour, in order to have enough time-

"Shit!" Ethan yelped suddenly, driving his finger into the power button on his monitor. 

"Whoa, whoa, what happened?" Jesse asked, jumping. 

"N-nothing," Ethan said quickly. His eyes darted across the room. "I- I've got to go, Jesse- I just r-r- remembered something." He sprung up from his chair, slipping as fast as he could through the living room and to the front door in a matter of seconds. 

"Ethan!" Jesse yelped, but the door clicked shut behind him and he was gone.