149 Chapter 1

My name is Britney Anderson, and I have a secret. I am 100% and totally in love with my best friend Alexis Erickson. That's right, I am in love with a girl.

She has been my best friend ever since we were little. Growing up we were neighbors, and we played with each other every day. We did all the usual kid stuff, sleepovers, playing games, and driving our parents crazy.

The only thing that really got in the way of our friendship was when her parents had won the lottery. They had moved to the nice part of town, and bought one of the most expensive houses on the market.

The sudden windfall did not change Alexis, and surprisingly she still enjoyed hanging out with me. Despite all of her new rich peers we still hung out every weekend. Sometimes at her house, and sometimes at mine. She really did not change. Even with the sports cars in her driveway, and maid to clean their house, she still was the same video game obsessed girl she had been before.

It wasn't until the 6th grade that I realized that she was more than a best friend to me. We were once again having a sleepover, and our bodies were at the stage where we were beginning to develop.

We had spent all afternoon playing in her pool, and we went inside to change. Like normal we went into her room to change. I had my back to her, and we were talking about some nonsensical topic. Eventually she said something obsurd, which caused me to turn around.

At this time she was pulling up her jeans, facing me completely topless. I could only stare at her. She had begun to develop earlier than I had, and I was captivated by what I had seen. I quickly turned around, not because I did not want to continue to admire what I had seen, but I knew my face was a shade of red that would give me away.

Things became awkward between us after that. Not because of her though, I don't think she even knew what had happened. No, they became awkward because I did not understand how I felt at the time.

We stayed close after that, and we still had sleep overs and the like, but I always made sure to not dress in the same room as her. I could not stand to lose her, she was after all my best friend.

Highschool passed far to quickly for my liking, and we had eventually graduated. I had no plans for the future, and eventually Alex went off to college, but I knew I was not smart enough to join her. Instead, I did what any heartbroken youth would do. I joined the army as a special forces candidate.

Basic training had been an amazing opportunity for me. I had always been physically active, and my father was a certified member of the NRA. It would not be a lie to say I knew more about guns than most of the boys who had joined with me.

8 weeks of basic training passed quickly, and I graduated with honors. I had achieved not only an expert marksman badge, but also recieved an award for my high PT scores. Because of those I recieved an immediate promotion to Private First Class. After basic I was sent off to my Special forces Training.

The training for that was absolute hell. It lasted for over a year, and I hated every single minute of it. But I preservered, and in doing so earned the respect of my comrades. Mostly the male ones. They had tried hazing us girls who had joined, driving a few to quit part of the way through. That is not to say that none of the boys dropped out, actually more boys had failed than girls.

I ended up doing 4 years years in the army. I had spent the majority of that time deployed. The Job was interesting, and I could see myself making a career out of it.

When it came time to reinvest I recieved a call from Alexis. She had Graduated around a year earlier, but surprisingly she still did not have a boyfriend.

The call had not been good news. Her parents had died in an accident, and she had been left alone. I put my plans of reenlisting on hold, and went to her side as soon as I could. What can I say, she's my best friend, and the love of my life, even if she isn't aware of that.

When I saw her again for the first time in four years all of the feelings I had for her rushed back to the surface. Unconsciously I gazed at her face, and the word "Beautiful" escaped my lips.

She laughed as she tucked her hair behind her ear, gesturing for me to enter her house. The Goliath of a house that her parents had left her. When I looked around the house I noticed things had changed. The house was filled with the most modern of equipment, and everything seemed to be running off of an AI.

She waited as I admired the home she had made her own before speaking. "You like it? Well, I have a proposition."

I looked at her confused. Her parents funeral had been 6 months ago, I had not been able to attend due to my deployment, so her lack of overwhelming grief was not a concern. I just found it odd that she would start with those words. Regardless, she had my curiosity.

"You know that I hate being alone right? Well how about you live here with me? You don't have to pay rent or anything....But.."

I looked at her oddly, my heart beating faster as she spoke. "But...what?"

She looked at me coyly, before she began to excitedly ramble "Will you play a game with me? Its called the Inverted Tower, or I.T. for short. It is The latest VrMMOrpg. The game is supposed to be incredibly realistic, and even takes into account your real world abilities!"

I sighed and shook my head. I knew I had gotten my hopes up for nothing. This girl.. all she thought about was video games. I turned to leave. I did not feel the need to waste my time on this. It was not too late to reenlist.

As I turned I could hear a small sob from behind me. "Please stay. I know you have your own life, but you're all I have left. My parents are gone, and you're my only friend. Please, stay. We don't have to worry about money. Just stay."

I sighed. This was a waste of time. Video games were a waste of time.

But I could not leave her alone. Because.. Because she's my best friend. And because I love her.