Chloe Knight stared at the ceiling, her headphones resting on her lap. Her brother's house was unusually quiet, save for the occasional creaks and groans of the old floorboards underfoot. Lockdown life had become a strange rhythm—one she hadn't quite adjusted to yet. Jason, her twin brother, was holed up in his room, probably going over game footage or texting his London bound girlfriend. Chloe, however, was lost in her thoughts.
Her mind drifted to David Jones, Jason's teammate and, unknowingly, her online friend. She had first met him while playing Fortnite. Back then, she was just "NotZoeyBlack," a faceless pro gamer with a knack for trash-talking and winning. But as they played more together, their conversations had become less about gaming and more about life. David had shared things with her, his hopes, his struggles, and his dreams, without ever realizing she was sitting just a few rooms away in his teammate's house.
She didn't know how to tell him the truth. It wasn't just awkward; it was terrifying. How would he react if he found out?
Chloe shook her head, trying to push the thought away, and stood up. The headphones clattered onto the desk. She wandered down the hall to find Jason sprawled on the couch, his phone in one hand and a bottle of soda in the other.
"Don't you ever do anything besides laze around?" Chloe teased, leaning against the doorframe.
Jason glanced at her and smirked. "Says the girl who spent three hours streaming herself building a digital castle."
Chloe rolled her eyes. "That's called content creation. It's different."
"Sure it is," Jason shot back, his smirk widening. "You're as much of a snob as I am, Chloe. Don't pretend otherwise. You're literally a pro gamer. You probably spend more time with your online buddies than actual people."
"At least I don't ghost everyone I know in real life," Chloe snapped.
Jason put his phone down and looked at her. "What's with you today? You're more annoying than usual."
Chloe crossed her arms. "I was just wondering about David."
Jason raised an eyebrow. "David? What about him?"
Chloe hesitated before asking, "What was the last thing he said to you? You know, when you guys spoke on the phone."
Jason shrugged, his nonchalance infuriating her. "What's it to you?"
"Just tell me," Chloe pressed, her voice sharpening.
Jason sighed. "He asked me what I thought he should do if a top club came after him. You know, the usual stuff."
Chloe's heart skipped a beat. "And? What did you tell him?"
Jason tilted his head, looking at her like she'd asked him to solve a calculus problem. "What do you think I told him? I said he shouldn't leave. He's our best player. Of course, I'd tell him to stay."
Chloe's eyes widened. "You told him not to leave?"
Jason blinked, clearly confused. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I?"
"Fool," Chloe muttered, turning on her heel and storming out of the room.
Jason sat there, stunned. He watched as she stomped down the hallway and slammed her bedroom door so hard the walls seemed to shudder. He frowned, muttering to himself, "What did I do now?"
Moments later, Chloe reappeared, her face red with frustration. "You really are insensitive, you know that?" she yelled, pointing an accusing finger at him.
Jason opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off. "No, don't even try. You're a big fool, Jason. A colossal, unbelievable fool!"
She stormed back down the hall, slamming the door again for good measure. The sound echoed through the house, leaving Jason sitting in stunned silence. He glanced around the room, half expecting someone to explain what had just happened.
"What did I do?" he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Back in her room, Chloe flopped onto her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her mind raced, replaying Jason's words. "He shouldn't leave." Did Jason even understand what David was going through? The weight of a decision like that? She felt a pang of guilt.
David didn't just need advice. He needed someone who actually understood him—someone who could help him see the bigger picture. And maybe, just maybe, that someone was her.
Chloe sighed, reaching for her headphones. She placed them over her ears and logged into Fortnite, waiting to see if David would come online. As the game loaded, she thought about all the things she wanted to say to him.
For now, she would be NotZoeyBlack—his faceless friend. But one day, she'd have to tell him the truth. And she wasn't sure who would be more shocked when that day came—David or herself.