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“Hey, Lily.”
“Hi, Zeke.”
It was odd meeting up in person again, after so long. Ever since that incident. And to address each other by their actual names instead of just their game names – it almost felt unreal.
“How have you been?” Zeke asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
Lily stood silent, her dark brown eyes blinking. Her short black hair barely touching her peach-toned shoulders. “…alright, I guess.”
“Are you sure?” Zeke readjusted his glasses, wiping them to make sure he didn’t miss the visual cues. Any hints that it wasn’t actually okay – he couldn’t ignore any details this time. “I know I hurt you the last time, but—”
“It was just a video game,” Lily cut him off. Abrupt, fast. Her voice was trying to be firm but wavering. “I…I’m over it, okay? I don’t care anymore. It’s not like you shot me in the real world.” Even if the VR headset had been advanced enough to give phantom pains so strong, she still often rubbed her back, the very area where he had aimed and—
“I had to.” Zeke’s eyes kept darting from the ground to her, then back down. “You were…SOFDTI was…I had to choose! It was my friends or—”
“I was your friend, too!” Lily snapped. “And you chose them over me. Just when I was actually starting to feel comfortable enough—when I felt almost safe enough to—” she choked up, a sob tearing through her. “Just when I thought you were safe!”
“…I’m sorry.” Zeke’s voice was quiet. “I didn’t want to hurt you. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I only wanted to make things right.”
“You did for your little game.” Lily rubbed her eyes. “But I – I don’t know if I can bring myself to trust you again.”
Zeke looked away. “I understand, and I won't force you to forgive me. I just wanted you to know... I am sorry. I still keep reflecting on everything I've done, and I wish I could have prevented all of this from escalating to where it had.”
Lily sighed. She cursed herself for a moment, before: “... promise me you won't backstab me again?”
He looked at her, hopeful. “I swear.”
She held her hand out. “Okay, Zeke. Try not to mess up this time,” she said.
He smiled and took it. “I promise.”