Page 7 of Immersed
“Just thinking,”Levi replied, forcing his expression to relax.“This place feels familiar somehow.”
They emerged from the tree line to find the others gathered around the fire pit. Tylerarranged the larger logs in a careful structure while Zoe sorted smaller pieces by size. Maddie sat cross-legged nearby, scrolling through her phone, and Elliot stood with arms crossed, observing rather than helping.
“The foragers return!”Maddie announced, looking up with a bright smile that seemed genuinely warm.
“About time,”Elliot muttered, taking some branches from Levi’s arms.“Iwasstarting to think you two got lost.”
Levi watched as they assembled the fire, the way they moved around each other, the small jokes and gentle teasing, all felt so natural. Like watching real friendswho’dknowneach other for years.
“Perfect night for ghost stories,”Jasper announced as the first flames caught and began to spread.“I’ve got some new ones that’ll make your skin crawl.”
“Food first, then your questionable entertainment,”Elliot replied, pulling a cooler from beneath a tarp.“I’m not listening to Jasper’s made-up tales on an empty stomach.”
The group dispersed around the growing fire, settling into what seemed like familiar positions. Levi hesitated, unsure where he belonged in this social ecosystem. His streaming experiencehadn’tpreparedhim for navigating group dynamics like this.
Zoespreada weathered blue blanket a comfortable distance from the fire. She sat cross-legged, coating her exposed skin with bug repellent. Unlike Maddie’s stylish but impractical outfit or Tyler’s varsity jacket, Zoe wore sensible hiking pants and a long-sleeved shirt despite the warm evening.
She’s thinking ahead,Levi realized.Preparing for when it gets cold later.
He approached cautiously.“Mind if I join you?”
Zoe looked up, her expression neutral but not unwelcome.“Sure.”She shifted to make room, then offered him the bug spray.“You’ll want this. The mosquitoes get vicious once the sun sets.”
“Thanks.”Their fingers brushed as he took the bottle, and hewasstruckagain by how real the contact seemed—her hands cooler than his, the texture of her skin utterly authentic.
He sprayed his wrists and neck, watching as the others laughed and argued over food preparation. Zoe remained quiet beside him, glancing upward at the darkening sky.
“So,”Levi ventured,“have you been camping with these guys before?”
“First time with this exact group,”she replied, capping the bug spray.“I know Tyler from college. The others are friends of friends.”
Levi nodded. Shewasn’toverly chatty or pushy, just answering his questions honestly. Therewassomething calming about her straightforward nature.
“What made you decide to come out here?”he asked.
Her face softened.“The Perseids. I’ve always wanted to see them away from city lights.”
“Perseids?”
“Meteor shower. It peaks tonight.”She pointed upward where the first starswerebeginning to appear.“Should be remarkable out here.”
The idea sent a thrill through Levi. A meteor shower in a place this beautiful, rendered with this level of detail—it would be breathtaking. He found himself eager for it.
I can’t believe I get to experience this. Even if it’s not real, it feels real enough.
As the night deepened around the campfire, flames casting dancing shadows across his companions’ faces, Levi listened to their stories unfold through casual conversation. Each person seemed so distinct, with their own quirks and histories.
Tyler checked his expensive watch, the firelight glinting off its polished surface.“Meteor shower should peak around one AM. We’ve got perfect conditions, clear skies, new moon, no light pollution.”
One AM. I wonder how time works in the simulation. Is it synced to real time, or is this accelerated somehow?
“Astronomy major,”Zoe explained to Levi.“He actually knows what he’s talking about, unlike most of his opinions.”
Jasper rummaged through his backpack, producing a six-pack of beer and a small tin container. “Entertainment has arrived!” He tossed beers around the circle before opening the tin to reveal several neatly rolled joints.
Levi watched as Maddie eagerly accepted both offerings, while Elliot rolled his eyes, but didn’t refuse the beer. Zoe declined with a polite headshake.
“What about you, Levi?”Jasper extended a joint toward him.“Help take the edge off?”
