SPENDING THE MAJORITY OF MY TIME in the OASIS wasn't exactly what I had in mind about my future. But there wasn't much I could do about it either. I live in the stacks. What else can I do? I got the short end of the sticks and lost the chance of being born as a next heir of some loaded family.
At least, I was smart enough to get into some decent college, but it didn't mean colleges were going to pick me. I live in the slum with the highest crime rate. Which meant, half of the people here were too busy trying to find an easy target to rob rather than trying to find a way to turn their life around. And we don't exactly have the best reputation here either. Even, the jackasses, here, were a bigger douchebag than I can be, and that says a lot, considering how talented I am at being a little shit.
So I can't really blame colleges for picking someone who was born with a silver spoon.
But in the OASIS, I didn't have to worry about that.
Ever since James Halliday announced the biggest and greatest contest to his fortune, I've been devoting every single day trying to get my hands on it. I mean, who wouldn't? He was worth billions. Do you even know what you can do with that money? A lot and that money was my only chance to get out of this hell-hole. If that meant, I had to stay all night and morning to find that damn key, then charge me guilty, I'll become a full-time gunter like everyone else.
You know, for a while when no one could figure out the riddle Halliday's announced. Everyone thought, he was just some crazy old man trying to play some cruel joke. I mean, the guy didn't have anyone. No friends and no family. I even thought it was fake, but ever since some kids cracked the first code to the first key. A portal appeared out of nowhere, leading it, here, to this race track.
The only problem was that it was a nasty piece of work.
Don't get me wrong, Halliday was the man. He was great. Talented. Smart. Gorgeous. You name it. And I like a challenge, but the race was just impossible to beat. But, the thing is, once you get close enough, this big fella appears out of nowhere and tries to stop you, which is a pain in the ass.
And trust me, King Kong wasn't only one who was a pain in the ass.
Because the Sixers stood first for that.
A group of scumbags who works for Nolan Sorrento—the CEO of being an asshole.
I admit, I earned the spot of winning the award called 'Being The Biggest Dipshit', but he was on another level I can't even compare. If you rank me first, then he was above all others.
Thinking about it, for some Sixers who were willing to join IOI, I can't say it's entirely their fault. The world was already falling apart, and the pay was good and living in a world that didn't give much of an opportunity to earn money. It sounds like a dream come true.
Feeling a little guilty, but even I had thoughts about the life I would have if I had signed the same contract too. There would be so many things I won't have to worry about. I won't have to starve, and I could even buy things I couldn't buy before. But if it wasn't for that asswipe's philosophy of monetizing the OASIS, then obviously, my choice is all for Halliday.
Still, there's another reason why the Sixers were a pain in the ass. And that had to do with the fact that half of the people in the race were Sixers.
Though it wasn't all too bad.
Because there was Aech
The big purple avatar that looks like a cyborg orc that carries a Master Chief's gun.
Yeah, he's one of my best friends. And I guess... he's one of the few who I can actually stand in the OASIS. But that only, because he's one of the few people who have a brain to understand my remarks, or what he likes to put it, 'I put up with you because you're a decent asshole. No offense'. None taken.
You know, it didn't take much to be an asshole. But I just had a talent for it. And surprising Aech was one of the reasons why I like to hang out with him. It's hilarious to see such a big avatar like him being scared over someone who was half his height.
And coming just a little bit earlier than scheduled, and seeing that none of your best buddies weren't here yet. I got to admit, it has its perks. Because I couldn't just give up the golden opportunity to sneak up right behind one of them. Especially Aech.
I tried not to make a sound at first, but it was a lot harder than I thought it was, especially when I was trying to hold in my laughter. But I couldn't help it. Imagining the reaction of his face. The wide-eye fear washing over his face the second I stepped onto the asphalt road of the race.
"Boo!" I popped right in front of him.
And right on cue, just like how I predicted, he jumped a few feets away from me with one of his hands over his chest. And what came next was the loudest scream I had ever heard from him. And I wasn't sure which one of us was louder, my laugh or his scream. But, all I can say is I hadn't heard him scream that loud since I got him to watch that horror film with Parzival and me.
People were giving us the look, and that was enough to make his recovery a lot faster than the usual cry for help. And every single moment was priceless.
"Seriously, dude" He glared at me, but it was a lot harder to see with tears in your eyes, "You gotta stop doing that!"
"You should've... " I couldn't even say it properly, not when my stomach was hurting from seeing such a priceless face. I was practically holding my stomach now, " ... seen the look on your face"
"Why are we friends you asshole," He shoved me with a scowl on his face.
And the answer was simple, I'll always be one of the people that will have his back when he needs me. He's my best friend, so, of course, I'll always be there for him. The other reason why we're best friends is that he would never hate me no matter how much of dick I am.
"Because I'm an asshole," I nudged him just when he was starting to walk away from me, flashing him the smile I knew he couldn't hate.
And there was that iconic eye-roll I love seeing, and the tiniest grin I knew would come back.
"Save you a spot, you dick" I saw the faintest of the smile on his face, while he pointed a spot right to another empty spot. Oh, that warms my balls. He saved a spot just for me and Parzival.
"Thanks, pal" And my only response was another eye-roll which I chuckled too.
You could tell by our size, that our preference for cars was different. While I was someone who liked a car that was a little more childish on the side.
His car was massive compared to mine. It was a 1993 Ford Bigfoot monster truck. The only difference between the original one and his was that the rooftop was cut off and the windshield was cut in half. And he purposely had saws installed, so he can cut through crashed cars.
Looking through my inventory, there was my favorite. Lightning Mcqueen. The fastest car from Disney. A Classic. A little childish I know, but I like it. It reminded me of a much happier time when I was my mom before she got into that whole drug thing, you know. A little upsetting, the car couldn't talk back, but at least every shade of red to the seats was detailed perfectly.
Looking over at the spot right next to me, I knew exactly who that spot was reserved for, Parzival.
The last person for our musketeer group.
Our whole group started, when I met Aech first, and when I got to meet Parzival through Aech... I guess we just clicked then and there. Weird, I know, but it's true.
Parzival. We're best friends, there's no doubt about that, but... I guess... I like him. Like I really like him. A lot more than I have for anyone.
There are plenty of reasons why, but the most obvious reason had to be that he's the only one who knows who I am, the-me-in-real-life. I've told him so many things about me that I don't think I had ever told anyone before. Things... I guess, I was too scared to tell Aech, because... well, who would want to hang out with someone who still had a stack of debt to pay, because of her coke head whore for a mom.
But when it comes, Parzival.
Well, he understands me, but, I guess that's only because we're in the same situation.
Living in the stacks. Rough childhood. And we're both too scared to meet up.
We were supposed too, once, but we both back out. And we didn't even need any excuse to know that we were too much of a chicken to do it. And too much of wuss to bring it up. Mutually, in a way, We both agreed to not meet up until we were both ready.
It was for the best anyways. Because the bottom of the stacks wasn't exactly a nice place to visit. The people here were either drug addicts who were trying to escape reality or thieves who needed money. I think I'm the only one who hasn't fallen into their corrupted system.
We had reasons, but he never told me why he didn't follow through. And I didn't want to pry too much into it. It was only fair since I didn't want to tell him mine.
I hate to admit it, but I was too scared of how he would react if he saw me.
Stupid, I know. And I'm not usually the type to care either, but when you have someone you like... I guess you want them to see the best in you, you know. I don't exactly have the best life, and I'm not... how I should put it—full-figured. Because where I lived meant you had to at least go a day or two without food sometimes. And my mother... Well, I don't want her to ever meet Wade.
At least, that was the only good thing that we got out of it. Our names. Wade Owen Watts. It's a name he always thought it was stupid, but I like it. It fits him.
I know... you hear it everywhere and all over.
That there are thousands of online predators, that's why you don't ever reveal your identity in the OASIS. But, when it comes to him, I feel like there isn't anything to hide. Whenever we talked, it's genuine and honest enough that it made it easier for me to trust him. And it was nice for a change that he wasn't like the rest of the jackasses in the stacks. He was different, and he's everything. He was fun to hang out with in the OASIS, and amusing to make fun of, and he was smart.
Maybe, that was one of the reasons why I was such a sucker for him.
Because guys like him were always the kind that makes you fall harder than you think you did.
"Where's Buttercup?" I glance right back Aech just when the Lightning Mcqueen slowly started to expand in size, right in between the white line, at the front of the start line.
The thing about getting right behind the line was usually impossible. Since the Sixers were always there first. But, I didn't have to worry about them, since they were a group of dumbasses who can't drive for shit. And I can't say it was too bad since it was nice to skim their coins when they bust their ass against some booby trap Halliday set up.
"How'd you guys get here before me?" And there he was, Parzival.
He had the same silvery hair I was used to seeing. And it was new with the blue streaks, but I think it was pretty cool, especially with the wind effect that he has going on. His avatar was gray with a hint of blue diamond patterns on the side of his cheek and down at his arms. And he had these charming blue eyes that I was irresistible to look away from.
"Oh, I didn't make a pit stop at the hair salon," Aech joked, and I couldn't help, but rolled my eyes at what Aech had said.
Aech had his arm crossed. The grin was a lot wider, seeing that Wade was here. And I knew that smile. He was happy, over the fact, that he had at least one best friend who wasn't an asshole. Dick.
But I can't say much. I didn't even realize I was grinning like an idiot, until Aech playful pushed me, which only made me roll my eyes at him. I can't help it. Seeing Wade makes me all weird and wonky. Even my own heart was betraying me. He was walking over here with that grin on his face. God, when he's like that I can't even think straight.
"What up, Z," Aech went for the handshake.
"Wassup, Aech" He greeted, reaching over for their handshake.
My eyes couldn't help but drift over towards his hand. I know I sound like a pervert, but sometimes, I like to think about what his hand can do. I don't want to get into too much detail, but you get the story. I was completely infatuated with Wade.
"Ace," He turned to look at me, and I swear my heart stopped for a moment. Even my mind was going haywire just seeing him.
"Buttercup," I gave him a fistbump.
There wasn't a big meaning behind the nickname I gave him. I just like the sound of it.
I can see Aech roll his eyes at the corner of my view. He knows. Aech always knows when something was up with one of us. And when I asked him how he found out, the only response I got was how I made it obvious. But I like to believe that's only because he confronted me about it.
You know, at first, I tried to make up excuses at first, since I didn't want anyone to know. But when he took out the piles of evidence he gathered and to shove it into my face. That's when I realized there wasn't any point in trying to hide it anymore, I 'fessed up.
And sometimes, when Wade wasn't around, he'll always use every little chance he got to tease me about it. But I guess, that's karma for those times I told him we weren't going to watch a horror movie when actually I was lying.
"Save you a spot," Aech pointed to the spot right next to mine.
"Thanks, bro," Wade grinned.
When he opened up his inventory and made that face. The one when you're in deep shit. Yeah, there was only one reason he would make that face like that just when we were about to race. He was low on fuel. Which meant he had to go all the way to the back to skim coins from crash cars.
"I gotta go to the back"
And there goes the typical Aech, "Oh, so you can skim coins from crash cars," He shook his head, letting out the tiniest of a chuckle, I don't anyone could hear, "That's just a sad man."
Wade shrugged his shoulders. Flashing the 'I can't help it' grin when he slowly made his way towards the back of the line, "Fuel's low"
"Oh, but you still had enough to pay for that 'Something About Mary' hairdo," Aech yelled out towards him which only made me chuckle.
I playfully shoved him, "Shut up, you dick"
"I don't wanna hear it from the asshole." He chuckled just when he got into his car.
And seeing how I pulled McQueen back into my inventory. It was pretty obvious to him that he knew exactly what I was about to do. I know it was best to be at the front of the line, but glancing back at over Wade. And knowing I couldn't be with him. Well, it kind of sucks.
"Hey, Aech. I'm going to the back too," I called out towards him as loud as I could since his engine was on, while I gave him a quick glance to see if he was okay with it.
I didn't want to waste such a good spot that Aech saved for us, but he knew I prefer being with Wade. But I don't think Aech minded too much, because he just shrugged his shoulders. And the second, he had one of his arms prompt against his door and grinned back at me, I knew I wasn't gonna get the last of it once the race was over. I know that look. I've seen it about a hundred times.
"You're starting to look like a love-sick puppy, dude," He teased.
Only I rolled my eyes at him. Okay, he was right. I did make it a little obvious.
"Can't help it," I shrugged my shoulders, and I pointed my finger back at Wade, "I gotta be with loverboy, back there."
And he only shook his head and gave me the sign that I could go. I made my way towards the back, practically sprinting all the way there. The engines of the other racers grew louder as I got further back. While my adrenaline was pumping through the roof, realizing I only had a minute left to get there.
"Ace?" I heard Wade call out my name, but I didn't even have time to look at him.
Not when I needed to toss the car out of my inventory, and into the spot right next to Wade's.
I quickly yanked the handle of the car and threw myself inside. The uneven pants that escaped my lips were the only thing that felt pleasant against the rock weighting on top of my chest. I made it. It was stupid to do the last minute, but it was worth it. Because I got to be with Wade.
"That was a show" I hear Wade chuckle, which only made the blood rushing in my head just a lot worse. Yeah, it was too worth it. Hearing him laugh was worth it.
"Why aren't you up there?" He asked.
"Fuel's low," I lied through my teeth, but every word stubbled on top of each, since I still needed to catch my breath.
But he only chuckled at my response. And I know I should've been embarrassed by the sprint and not being able to smooth my way through the talk, but I don't think anything can be embarrassing when it comes to him. I've already shown him my worse, how bad can I get?
"The race is about to start, you ready?"
I glance back at him. Were my hands on the wheel? Check. Weapon? Check. Trust me, I'll need them. Especially with all those the Sixer upfront.
"As ready as you are"