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Chapter 11 - One Door Opens

Jesse had a few suspicions that the BlankGameplays incident had only brought her closer to Ethan. If what that creature had said was true, that Ethan's mind put up a stronger fight with Jesse around, then his life could depend on her. 

It was a terrifying thought. 

But things were on the up and up for Ethan and Jesse- they spent hours together every day, lounging around their apartments playing video games, talking about videos, or going out to movies and musicals. Jesse became a recognizable face in Ethan's videos, stirring up excitement from the Crew with each appearance. 

"What is up my Cranky Crew?" she winked into the camera at the beginning of one such video.

"NO!" Ethan roared comically, leaping into frame behind her as she feigned terror. "That's MY intro!"

It was a hard take to get right because Jesse, despite her best efforts, burst out laughing every time Ethan jumped out to scare her. Of course, they nailed it in the end, to the delight of Ethan's viewers. 

Most impressive of all to Jesse was a scene from Ethan's latest Reading Your Comments, where Ethan read the query:

Hey Crinkgumplz :D Do you think you'll ever do a dark persona video?

Ethan looked the camera in the lens with a smile. He gave a fearless, relaxed laugh, and said, "No, no, I don't think I will. I'll leave that to Jack and Mark. That's more their thing- I wouldn't want to butt in on that." Without so much as a grimace, he moved on to the next question. 

And as the weeks trickled by and August faded into September, and Jesse started back at school, the dead-eyed virus seemed to be hiding itself away. The thought occurred to Jesse that maybe- just maybe- it was gone for good.

But she was still on edge.

Towards the beginning of September, she received an email from an upscale art showroom in San Francisco that had taken interest in a few of her abstract paintings through a contact at her school. The showroom was having a collegiate event in a few weeks and wanted to present one of her works. 

Jesse responded with a fervent yes along with all the gratitude she could offer. Her heart fluttered as if it had wings of its own. A showroom hosting her art- she could hardly imagine it!

Well- that wasn't necessarily true. She'd been dreaming of it for years- imagining it wasn't a problem. But the fact that it was actually happening...!

The showroom sent another email, extending a request that Jesse herself attend the opening day of the exhibition. This was where Jesse grew nervous. 

"I don't like leaving town like that," she explained to Ethan as they played Overwatch together. "Watch that turret, by the way."

"Shiiiiiit!" Ethan yelped, dodging frantically. "Aha! Thanks. And I really think you should go. It's a good idea to thank those showroom people in person, right? They might have connections- HEY! They're pushing right- AHH!" 

"AHHH!" Jesse agreed, "They came out of nowhere- CRAP!" She sighed as her screen went red and grew dim. "I just..."

"Hey, if you're worried about me, don't be," Ethan said kindly, looking over at her. "I've been getting better lately."

Jesse grinned. "I've noticed." Ethan smiled at her.  "You're dead, by the way," she added, nodding at his screen.

"GAH!" Ethan shouted, laughing angrily at himself.