iii
1140 Thoroughbred Way (The Block Estate)
3:50 PM
20 August 2014
Freshman Year
Wurld Social slowly loaded before Claire's eyes. She was greeted with a home screen similar to the ad, with several rotating stills of realistic avatars completing daily leisure activities. There was the brunet runner from before along with a redhead dissecting a cat, a small child dashing through a sprinkler and an alternative punkster dancing.
Below the images, the site proclaimed: "Free to Join & Play!" Claire clicked on the "Find out More" button beneath the slogan and read the site's blurb. Instantly, Claire was interested. The game appeared to be some sort of real-life Sims, with active players all over the world. It was funded by the product placement within the game (not that she cared) and existed to let people take a break from their real life and travel the virtual Earth in the game. It was geared towards people of all ages
The website sounded like it was exactly what Claire needed. She eagerly clicked the "sign up now" button. Her screen shifted to a complex form. The first question was Name? (Aliases are fine: other players can only see your profile if you friend them). Claire readily put in "Claire", figuring it was a common-enough name. She selected the age range (14-18) next, and filled in her real life appearance. Blonde. Blue eyes. 5' 4. 102 pounds.
At the end of the section, there was a box for screen name. Claire instantly highlighted the pre-filled suggestion, ready to type in her classic:'clairebear.' Her finger hovered over the delete key as she glanced at what username the site generator had suggested for her.
sexiblonde37.
Claire moved again to delete the suggestion, but paused. Was it really necessary she use 'clairebear?' Sexiblonde37 was cool. It also gave her anonymity, in case any of her friends joined the site that knew her by clairebear. She could have a whole new online persona. And it wasn't like she was lying: she was blonde in real life.
Was there a downside, really?
Claire clicked the next button, blood racing in her ears. Why was she so nervous? It wasn't like her parents would ever find out… and she was a freshman now. It was about time she grew up.
She was officially sexiblonde37.
It was kind of... exciting.
The next page prompted Claire to design her avatar. Still in a daring mood, she selected options that were a little outside her comfort zone. And a little bit of a stretch compared to her real life appearance.
Upon finishing, sexiblonde37 was a 5'6", 110 pound blonde with long flowing locks (no bangs) and large piercing navy-blue eyes. She wore sunglasses pushed up into her hair, a cropped tee with the words "Killin' it" emblazoned across the chest, and skin-tight, low-rise jeggings that Claire's mother would never let her out of the house wearing in real life. That was the point, though, this game wasn't meant to reflect real life.
Selecting a Monogram Louis Vuitton 'Muse' bag to drape across her arm and blue suede Stuart Weitzman "Nudist" sandals to finish the outfit, Claire clicked on to the next section of sign up.
Would you like to link your account with an email for password retrieval and site updates?
Claire immediately clicked "No thanks". She'd always remember her password. She made the smart choice to come up with a new one just for this site so Todd couldn't hack her.
With that final choice, she was released into the real game. Sexiblonde37 was dropped in Time Square, with a "Welcome booklet" from the game, $50,000 worth of e-money and an instruction to "Have fun and live a little."
Claire abided by the order, deciding to spend her first hour in the game traipsing through Fifth Avenue, picking up a new wardrobe from smiling Sales Assistants. In Max Mara, her evening dress choice was complemented by an attractive teen with a blond buzz cut, getting fitted for a tux.
Claire sent back a winky face and a heart, feeling bold.
The avatar reciprocated with a smirk and a hearts-for-eyes emoji. Claire noted his username, basketballstarrr something or other, and waved at him as she exited the shop. She encountered several other avatars throughout the game as she tore through shops, stocking up on winter wear.
As she slid her virtual credit card over the desk to pay for a Moncler puffer jacket, she glanced up and caught the time on her screen. Six fifty seven p.m.!
Claire immediately exited out of the site, chastising herself for letting time slip away from her. She had spent a whole three hours on the game! Claire had dinner to eat, homework to do…
She longingly looked back and her computer, remembering that she still had to pick her house (if she had any e-money left after her fifth avenue blitz) and try on all of her e-purchases. Claire shook her head. Prioritize. That could wait until tomorrow after school.
Maybe she could even go on during free period at school…
Claire rolled her eyes at the thought. She would not play a virtual reality game during school hours. She was not that big of a loser. Yet.
So she shut down the computer.