17. The Cheat Code
The morningafter was like waking up in a fanfic where the author had finally given their readers everything they ever wanted. There I was, the main character in my very own living room turned Broadway stage, swathed in an oversized T-shirt that had seen better decades and the kind of underwear you only wear when you’re certain the only audience is your cat. Armed with my trusty hairbrush microphone, I was belting out love ballads off-key, my dance moves more enthusiastic than coordinated.
“Who’s got two thumbs and just got the kiss of her life?” I shouted to no one in particular, spinning around with a flourish that nearly sent me crashing into my coffee table. It was the kiss that fanfic dreams are made of—bold, breathtaking, the kind that promises more chapters filled with delicious, heart-thumping angst.
Everett, of all people, had done it. He’d kissed me, not just a peck, but a grand finale kiss that could have rolled credits on any rom-com. It was the kiss that made you think maybe, just maybe, all those romance novels with their ludicrously perfect men had a point.
He didn’t just kiss me; he liked me. Rachel. The girl more likely to trip over a power cord than walk a red carpet. The girl who debates in forums about the best Star Wars movie and writes fanfic where the girl awkwardly ends up with the hero. Not just Huntra, the cool, collected gamer persona I slipped on like the perfect cosplay outfit.
I mean, come on. It was like suddenly discovering you’re the chosen one in every RPG you’ve ever played, but in real life. Exciting? Absolutely. Terrifying? Heck yes. Like, what’s the next level? Do we fight dragons, or do we start picking out curtains?
As I danced around, replaying every moment of last night, a smile was permanently plastered on my face. The way he looked at me, the words he said, the warmth of his hands… it was like a dream. But it wasn’t a dream, it was real, and it made me feel hopeful for the first time in a long while. Maybe now, I could finally tell him the truth about Huntra. Maybe now, we could be more than just friends or colleagues.
My phone pinged, snapping me out of my reverie. I glanced at the screen, still humming a tune. It was a message from EverDemon023—Everett’s gaming alias. My heart skipped a beat. Even after such a perfect night, we were still playing this dual game, and part of me loved the thrill.
EverDemon023: Hey Huntra, saw this spot today and thought of you. Bet you’d look beautiful here.
Attached was a photo of a quaint little nook in a park, the serene setting perfect for a quiet afternoon. The thought was sweet, touching even, but a knot formed in my stomach as he continued.
EverDdmon023: Can’t stop thinking about your smile when you game. How’s your day going?
My fingers hesitated over the keyboard. Was he flirting with Huntra now? Last night felt so real, so right—had I imagined it all?
HuntraTheRed: Ha, that’s funny. Day’s good. Just busy. How about you?
EverDemon023: Nothing much. Thought about you all night.
I paused, my heart sinking. He thought about Huntra all night? After everything with Rachel?
HuntraTheRed: Oh, that’s…nice. What did you end up doing last night?
EverDemon023: Just hung out with some friends. Wished you were there.
Was he serious? My thoughts raced as I tried to piece together his game. Was he just playing with me? With us?
HuntraTheRed: Cool, cool.
EverDemon023: I miss hearing your voice. Wanna game tonight?
The invitation hung in the air, heavy with implications. My fingers trembled as I replied.
HuntraTheRed: Think I’ll be busy tonight.
EverDemon023: Oh, got plans?
HuntraTheRed: Yeah. I have to feed my cat.
EverDemon023: Stop being so cute.
HuntraTheRed: Guess cute is my default setting.
EverDemon023: Come be cute in my bed. TTYL xoxo
The absolute nerve of this guy! My phone pinged again, and like a masochist, I glanced at the screen. Another message from Everett, but this time, not hidden behind our avatars—straight to Rachel. Direct. Personal. As if he hadn’t just been digitally flirting with half of my split personality five minutes ago.
I tossed the phone onto my bed. It landed with a soft, unsatisfying thump. Honestly, I needed something more dramatic—like a gong.
Snatching the phone up again, I stared at it. “Oh, what now?” I hissed, as if it could transmit my ire through the digital ether straight to Everett. His message popped up, all casual and chatty, like he hadn’t just scrambled my brain with his digital Casanova routine.
Everett: Hey Rachel, what are you doing today?
Pacing now, I muttered to myself, “Really, Everett? You think you can juggle me and me?”
Was I just a consolation prize if Huntra didn’t pan out? I stopped mid-pace, glaring at the innocuous phone like it had personally offended me. Jealous of myself—top that for a plot twist.
Rachel: I’ll be busy today.
I threw the phone down, disgust mingling with a bitter sense of betrayal. How could he do this? How could he not see that Rachel and Huntra were the same, that they were both me?
Fuming, I collapsed onto my couch, staring blankly at the ceiling. Everett’s words echoed in my mind, a cruel reminder of the tangled web I’d found myself in. How could I untangle this mess without losing him entirely? How could I make him see that Rachel and Huntra were the same, and that they both deserved honesty and respect?
As I paced my room, the irritation and confusion roiling inside me reached a fever pitch. I couldn’t believe the situation I found myself in. “How dare he?” I muttered to my cat, who meowed back sympathetically, or so I interpreted. “Just when I thought there might be something real between Everett and me as Rachel, it turns out I’m just the backup plan for Huntra,” I ranted to the indifferent feline.
Unable to contain my frustration, I grabbed my phone and FaceTimed Sadie and Emily. Sadie appeared on the screen, holding her head, clearly suffering from last night’s escapades. “I am never drinking again,” she groaned, squinting against the light.
Emily looked equally miserable. “You think that’s bad? Spencer made me run a 5K this morning. I’m dead.”
“We have bigger problems,” I declared, capturing their immediate attention.
“Uh-oh, spill,” Emily urged, her curiosity piqued despite her hangover.
I launched into a detailed recount of everything—from Everett’s flirty chats with Huntra to the heart-stopping kiss he shared with me as Rachel. My words tumbled out in a hurried stream. “So, he’s been sending these really flirty messages to Huntra, right? And then last night, he’s all romantic with Rachel, and I just… What does that even mean? Am I just the backup plan?”
Both Sadie and Emily reacted in unison, shock written all over their faces. “Are you shitting me?” Emily gasped, then glanced around suspiciously and whispered, “Hang on,” before disappearing into a closet for privacy. “I’m going to kill him.”
“And he was like, ‘Oh, I’ve been thinking about you all night,’ to Huntra, after that kiss with Rachel! Like, who does that? Who flirts with one while thinking about the other? I mean, they’re both me, but he doesn’t know that!”
“That asshole!” Sadie exclaimed, slumping into her chair with the force of her indignation.
“I can’t believe it, you know?” I said, pacing back and forth in my living room. “He kisses me—like, really kisses me. It was magical! And then the next day, he’s flirting with Huntra like I’m just… some side thing.”
Emily’s expression hardened as she peeked from the closet. “I thought better of him, Rach. This is such player behavior.”
“I know, right? It’s like he has this split screen where Rachel is on one side and Huntra on the other, and he’s just toggling between us!” I threw my hands up, frustration bubbling over.
Sadie rolled her eyes dramatically. “And let me guess, he thinks he’s being smooth? Like some kind of Don Juan of the digital age?”
“Exactly!” I continued, my voice tinged with disbelief and a dash of hurt. “He tells Huntra he misses her voice. Like, what am I supposed to make of that? After that kiss, I thought… maybe there’s something real here.”
Emily’s voice cut through my rant, sharp and protective. “He’s messing with you, Rachel. He’s trying to have his cake and eat it too. Playing the field. It’s classic two-timing!”
“But it’s weird, because it’s like I’m jealous of myself. How messed up is that?” I stopped pacing, the absurdity of the situation sinking in.
“Super messed up,” Sadie confirmed, nodding vehemently. “You shouldn’t have to compete with yourself. He should be falling over himself for the whole you, not just parts of you.”
“Right? Maybe I should just come clean. Tell him Huntra and Rachel are the same person. But then, part of me wonders, why even bother? If he’s this flaky now, what about later?” I sank into my couch, feeling deflated.
Emily’s fiery curls tumbled as she shook her head. “No, don’t give him that power, Rachel. You should confront him, yes. But on your terms. Make him understand he messed up and can’t charm his way out of it.”
“You’re right,” I admitted, the fight reigniting within me. “I need to put some distance between us. Figure this out without him clouding my judgment.”
Sadie, ever the supportive friend, offered a smile. “Whatever you decide, we’re here for you. And honestly, him being clueless about you being Huntra might just show you the real Everett.”
I let out a half-hearted chuckle. “Yeah, maybe seeing him fumble might just be the reality check I need.”
Emily, always ready for battle, added, “And if he doesn’t shape up, he’s got another thing coming. He can’t just play with people’s feelings like that.”
Their words, filled with fierce loyalty, steadied my resolve. I nodded, feeling a little braver, a little bolder. “Thanks, guys. It means the world to me.”
“No matter what, you’re our girl,” Sadie said with a smile, and Emily nodded in agreement.
Their words hung in the air, heavy and unresolved. I ended the call feeling no more decided than before, but at least validated in my confusion and frustration. As I set my phone down, it pinged with a new message from Everett, asking what I was up to. Ignoring it, I flopped back onto my bed, the emotional exhaustion finally catching up with me. The dilemma of Everett, Huntra, and Rachel continued to spin in my mind, a puzzle with pieces that just wouldn’t fit.