Reality

Chapter 11

"Okay, then all you have to do is press that button to shoot," says Ethan.

He's teaching me how to play a video game.

"Oh look!!! I killed that guy!"

Ethan shakes his head. "No, that guy killed you, and now you're out of lives."

"So then restart it so I can keep playing," I say.

"No! I'm on like level 7 already. Chris? Don't you think that's unfair?"

"I think you are both so amateur," he says. "Zack got any more beer?"

"I do, but it's not for you," Zack says.

Ethan looks up at them with disgust. "If you only knew what that stuff can do to you."

"Only if you drink too much," Zack replies.

Ethan shakes his head and keeps killing random soldiers.

"Hey, Zack? Do you have a restroom?" I ask.

"No," says Zack sarcastically. "I dump in the back yard."

"He does," says Chris. "I've had the rotten luck of seeing him."

"Shut up," Zack says, punching Chris's arm. "That was one time. It's upstairs, at the end of the hall."

I get up and walk out of Zack's basement.

His mom is in the kitchen.

"Oh hello, Catherine. Do you kids need anything?" She asks with a wide smile.

"No thank you, just need to use the restroom."

"Oh, do you know where it is?" She asks.

I nod and walk towards it.

Even though I'd been to Zack's house before, I'd never used his restroom.

I step out and walk towards the basement again, but Chris is in the kitchen.

"Hey, need anything?" He asks.

I walk to the kitchen. "No thanks," I say.

"A little water won't hurt," he says.

I don't know why but I take it.

"So how come such a pretty girl like you is single?" He asks.

I nearly choke on the water.

"I'm not sure," I reply.

He moves closer to me, and I back away, but I'm already against the wall.

"That should be arranged," he says slowly.

Okay, this is getting weird.

"It could, but not at the moment," I reply nervously.

Then he leans toward me, and tries to kiss me.

Where in the world is Zack's mom?

But just then, Ethan walks in.

"What the hell?" He yells as he punches Chris.

"What was that for?" Chris says, his nose bleeding. Maybe it's broken.

"For kissing Cathy!" He says.

"Attempting to kiss Cathy," I say.

Ethan glares at me.

I look down.

"It's not like she's your girlfriend, or is she?" Says Chris.

"Well...No, but that doesn't give you any right to-"