The lecture hall buzzed with the low hum of students typing on laptops, punctuated by the professor's droning voice explaining object-oriented programming principles. Nathan sat rigidly in his seat, his enhanced senses picking up every tiny sound and movement around him. The once-familiar concepts now seemed trivial, almost laughably simple compared to the complex systems he'd interfaced with during his time away.

Celeste Rawlins pulled her jacket tighter against the evening chill, grateful she'd thought to bring an extra layer. October nights in Millridge were unpredictable—sometimes clinging to late summer warmth, other times plunging into winter's preview. Tonight was definitely leaning toward the latter.

A group of people wake up in a video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

The festival.

Chapter 36.

After a bit, the plates are empty, and the table is covered in nothing but scraps and empty glasses. The food was undeniably good, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I feel full in a way that doesn’t come with the weight of stress or exhaustion.

“Do you know how totally weird it is that you have a boyfriend?”

Pete's Vagina
66. Bleachers
by Erin Halfelven

CHAPTER 73
Eventually, Neil found some equilibrium, and Maz and I managed to shuffle hm into the spare room he was using, before finally settling into our own bed. Maz was unsurprisingly rather pensive as she cuddled into me.

“So many triggers in him, love. How the hell has he survived?”

The company I worked for was planning a talent show to help raise funds for a day care center for the employees. The CEO had promised to match any funds raised, dollar for dollar, so the enthusiasm to put together a good show was shared by all. Most of the people that worked for the company were middle income, so a day care facility would help the majority of the employees.

There are five completed books of this story, with a total of 114 chapters. I figure that if I post them every few days, it will take the rest of this year to complete. Hoping that you all stay with it.
Marianne

Chapter 6

From the San Gabriels to the Mexican Border, Southern California is people. Anglos and Chicanos, Asians, Blacks, Slavs, Armenians – heaps of Armenians! – you name it. They come from everywhere, and they bring their languages, their foods, their feuds and their passions with them. It’s wild and dynamic and scary, and I love it.

It’s home.

CHAPTER 72
The cruise was a delight, right from the start. We hadn’t moved more than a short distance from the jetty when Maz was pointing at one of the smooth granite outcrops near the port.

“Cape Barren geese, Mike! Bloody good start to the day”

PART 5
Brian had a little bit of time before his appointment, so stood us another round of tea, or rather I did, as Diesel was clearly in her favourite spot. Once we’d supped up, Marion and I walked out to the van.

“I came up by bus, Jules. Could you shove that stuff in the back, and I shall cadge a lift”

“Home or work?”

“Left the car at work, so no need for a detour. You did well there, love”

Chapter 5

“Are you all right, Mum?”

“More than all right, by precious daughter. When you were playing, it reminded me of my wedding day. Where did you learn to play one of those organs?”

“Right here, right now, Mum. Basically, it’s just a more complicated version of what I played last night, but the music is a lot simpler, which allowed me to learn what it does. There’s a lot of buttons and knobs that make changes to the sound, but I didn’t want to touch anything.”