Life is Not a Game

CHARLOTTE

Since I was so rudely awoken, I decided to go ahead and shower and get ready for the flight. Mom and Dad had hired people to pack up all of our stuff and move it, so I didn’t have to do anything.

They’d told me I didn’t even have to pack toiletries or clothes for the flight, since apparently Mom had had a shopping spree earlier this week when they’d gone to finalize the house purchase.

I was a little worried about her picking out clothes for me, but I guessed I’d survive for a few days until the rest of our things arrived.

“Charlie! Time to go!” Mom yelled up to me from the front door.

“Coming!” I replied, rushing down the stairs, wearing a throwback Watchtower shirt and some leggings. ~Watchtower~ was the game I was playing seven years ago, when Jupiter and I first met, and it was still one of my favorites.

We all three piled into the rental car and headed to the airport. Our flight left at twelve, so we planned to grab lunch at the terminal before boarding the plane. We were flying first class, but they didn’t offer a full-service meal on the flight.

“What do you want to eat, dear?” Dad asked.

“Why don’t we go to the food court? I could get pizza, and you guys could get whatever else you want,” I replied.

“I like that plan. Then I can get Chinese,” Dad happily replied as we made our way to the little food court inside the terminal.

After we finished eating, Mom and I ran into the all-purpose shop next door and grabbed some candy and water for the almost five-hour flight. I knew they provided drinks, but I liked a bottle so I could put the top back on and not spill.

Being in first class, we were able to board first. I had a window seat with Mom beside me and Dad across the aisle from her. Since I couldn’t play my online games, I pulled out my phone and brought up a book app so I could spend the flight reading this fantasy book that I was really into.

After a few hours of reading, I began to feel tired, thanks to Jup’s early morning text. I decided to put my phone away and nap for a little bit.

I was awoken sometime later by the flight attendant telling us to prepare for landing. That nap had worked well to kill time. Once the plane landed, we walked out to the arrivals section of the airport where a car was waiting for us.

I noticed the huge crowd of people waiting at the baggage area and was glad we got to skip that. I would not have enjoyed being around that big crowd.

I climbed into the back of the car with Mom, while Dad sat up front and gave the driver directions to our new house. On the way there, we passed by the hospital where Dad would work, and I was shocked by how large it was. I guessed there was a reason this was the top hospital in the nation.

About twenty minutes from the airport, we pulled into a gated community. Dad said something to the guard at the gate, and he opened it, letting us go in. We drove for a few more minutes before pulling up to a nice two-story house.

The front door opened up straight into the living room, whereas my old house had a hallway separating the door from the living room.

I liked this more open floor plan better, since you could see the kitchen and dining room from the front door, just past the living room. The kitchen had granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. It was really pretty.

On the right side of the living room, where the front door was, there was also a sweeping staircase that led up to the second floor. The banister going up the staircase was wrought iron in delicate swirls.

At the top of the staircase, there was a balcony so you could look down into the living room, with several doors just past it. Dad let me know they led to two guest rooms and my room. All three rooms had en suites. My parents’ room and offices were downstairs beyond the living room and kitchen areas.

“Sweetie, go check out your bedroom!” Mom said excitedly.

I did as she asked and headed upstairs to the third door, which she said was my room. As soon as I opened it, my jaw dropped, and I turned around to stare at my parents, stunned.

“Do you like it?” she hesitantly asked.

Rather than filling my room with my old furniture, she had bought all new stuff. I had a king-sized bed with teal and black bedding, a new dark wood nightstand and dresser, and a beautiful upholstered bedroom bench at the end of the bed.

All of that was amazing, but what really took my breath away was the large desk in the corner with a brand-new high-end desktop computer, six monitors mounted three across in two rows, a top-of-the-line gaming chair, and a full VR setup.

Strike from Above could be played on a regular computer, but I enjoyed being fully immersed using the VR option.

“Like it? I’m completely stunned! I mean, I love it—but why?” I was still in a state of shock.

“Your old PC was starting to get out of date, and you spend all of your time on it. You never ask us for anything, so we wanted to spoil you. We had the people who installed it download and set up Strike from Above and that audio chat client you use, so you would be able to play quicker,” Dad told me.

“Oh my gosh! You guys are amazing. You really didn’t have to, but I appreciate it so much!” I exclaimed, giving them both a big hug.

“I know you guys are doing well in the rankings right now. I’d hate for you to drop because of inadequate equipment,” Dad chuckled.

“Honestly, you probably could have gotten new stuff for free from your sponsor, but we wanted to make sure you had the absolute top-of-the-line, regardless of brand,” Mom said.

“I love you guys!” I told them.

“We love you too, sweetie. Now, we’ll leave you alone. I’m sure you have some people waiting for you online,” Mom said.

With that, my parents left me to explore my room and play on the new computer. I first went to check out the bathroom. It had black granite countertops, a walk-in shower, and a separate jetted tub. It was immaculate.

Leaving the bathroom, I went to look in the closet. It was completely full of new clothes. I skimmed through them and saw that they were cute, but a little tighter than what I would normally wear. They looked more like what the cheerleaders would wear. Oh well, it was only a week or so, and then I’d have my own clothes back.

Once I finished checking out the room, it was time to check out the new computer. I walked over and sat down in the new chair—Oh my, is it comfortable—and booted up the PC. I logged on to my voice chat client and downloaded the voice modulator that I used, picking my favorite setting.

“Hey, hey, guess who’s back online?”

“Yo. How was the flight?” Plut asked.

“It wasn’t bad, just a little long. Where is everyone?” I asked back.

“Nep got off about thirty minutes ago when some girl came over, and I haven’t seen Jup online today,” he replied.

“Jup was drunk texting me at six o’clock. I wonder if he’s still asleep. I better wake him up,” I said.