Your pov,

The game crashed at the very inconvenient moment.
"No,no.Not now!If I don't get back there soon,my avatar will die!"I said,sighing.
And my chance to earn money will be wasted.

I wonder what went wrong.
My laptop was still working and the equipmen was properly set up.

There is only one thing that would ruin me like that,which was a commection break.
The interenet connection was broken!
*sigh*

Of course,only this could happen to me.
What should I do now?
Hmm...maybe,I should call Anna?
I can thank her for the map and maybe she  can help me with this.

I decided to all Anna.
Hmm...she is not answering?
Maybe,she is sleeping already?

I shouldn't bother her anymore then.
I put my phone on my bed and went to check my laptop.
Everything was the same as before.

I was nervously pacing up and down the room,thinking what to do.
Maybe I can play Shadowtime at Anna's place.I am sure she wouldn't mind.

But...how will I explain to mom?
Why would I be spending so much time with Anna?

Oh,damn it.Why did this has to happen just when I met Jack?!I sighed as I threw myself down on my bed.
Luckily,he doesn't have any clue about who I am.

I sighed once again,it was so quiet.
Once again,I finally remembered that I was alone in the house.

And even if I ask mom about it,she will probably just say,"we don't need the internet".

And that is one of the bills SHE  has to pay.
I was deep in dark thoughts until I noticed there was a new notification on my phone.

Anna texted me back.

Anna :Hey (n/n),you called?Sorry,I was playing Shadowtimes.You awake?

Wait,Anna play Shadowtime?

I decided to call her we chatted for a while,then,when she asked me how I was doing in the game,I told her about my problem and Anna gave me a very simple solution.

She shared her password with me.
I entered myself and found myself i  the world of Shadowtime again.

I felt very excited,putting on my equipment thinking about how Anna has always been there for me and that I am gonna be spending more time with Jack from now on in the game.

As soon as I logged in and opened my eyes with me leant against a tree.
The first thing I heard was that my health was its minimum and then,some heavy footsteps.

I slowly got up and tried to walk but,I lost my balance and fell down.
"You ok,snowflake?"

Snowflake?
I looked up and my eyes met with the ocean blue ones.I blushed when Jack flashed a smile at me.
"Good!You are moving again!I thought the fire took its tolls,"he said.

Omg,Jack is still here and he is watching me rolling in the dust helpless.This is so embrassing.I started blushing.

Jack knelt down amd smiled st me gently as he offered me his hand.
"Allow me,"he said.

I smiled a bit,feeling my heart skipped.
The sun was shining perfectly.
"Thanks,"I said as I took his hand.

He smiled and pulled me up with ease,making me stumbled on my own feet and bumped into his chest.

Feeling so close to him makes me dazzaled so much that I almost forgot why I was here for.
I pulled myself away from him.
"Oh no,I forgot to take my stuffs!"I said in a panic.

"Don't worry.I took care of it.Well..at least of the part that Emma left you and...sorry about the food I had to eat it,"Jack apologized,scratching the back of his neck,smiling nervously.

"Hey..."I said,pouting and he laughed.
"Trust me,snowflake.I saved you from food poisoning,"he said and I couldn't help but giggled.
"But,really,where did you get it?It's disgusting!"Jack said and dear Cupid,his face was so adorable right now.

"Haha,it was from the inn,where else I could get it?"I said,smiling.
He shook his head,smiling sweetly.
"Every beginner does the same,"he said.

He picked up my bag on the ground and passed me a restoration potion.I thanled him and drank all of it.
I got most of my health back.

I took a deep breathe and tried to take a step but,I just recovered so,I stumbled again but,Jack caught me,holding my arms.

"Careful,snowflake.How are you feeling now?"he asked,smiling down at me gently.
I smiled at him.
"As good as new!I feel much better than before,"I said and he smiled at me.

Be still,my dear heart.
He took the empty bottole from me and smelled it sightly.He frowned and quickly threw it away.
"It seems that the inn keeper is in for a talk with me,but,until then,don't buy anything else from him,"Jack said,narrowing his eyes.

"Why?Did you smell something in the bottle?"I asked,gasping.
"It seems that somebody wanted to sabotage other palyers.You were new here so,you were an easy target,"he explained.

"Do you suspect anyone about it?"I asked and he shrugged.
"What about you?Who would you suspect?"he asked back.

"I haven't been in the game long to make enemies,"I said.
"I kinda disagree with that.I was present when Emma robbed you,who knows what would have happened if I hadn't been there?"Jack said and it finally hit me.

That's right.Jack saved me.He is truly my hero.But,I was still afraid to admit it.

I would have gladly hugged him as a thank you and ask him if he would like to join me on the Shadowtime adventure.

But,how was I to get the courage up for something like that?
"I am grateful that you came on my side when Emma came,"I said,
smiling.

Jack looked away,kinda red.
Was it just me or was he blushing?
"Your welcome,"he said,coughing.

"I am impressed by what you've pulled through,"he said and I smiled.
"Thanks,it was rather reckless but,I really needed the weapon,"I said.

"Nice catch,snowflake.You got yourself a Shadow Wind Longbow,that's the best longbow you can find in this realm,"he expalined to me.

Wow,Jack already knows so much.

"So...thay's why it was heavily guarded but,it's worth the risk,"I said,looking at the bow I have earned through my hardwork proudly.

"Yep,and besides,"Jack said and I turned back to him,wanting to know what he is gonna say.
"It suits you perfectly,"he said and I blushed.

I looked away,trying to hide both my blush and my happy smile.I got everything that Emma left on the ground.

She took a few gold coins from my bag but,she missed one thing.
There was a little red stone shining in the grass.I picked it up and put it in the inventory.

I turned back to Jack.
"Umm...thanks for staying by my side.I will see you around...I hope.Bye,"I said as I waved at him and started walking away.

But,Jack grabbed my wrist,stopping me and making me blushed.
"Hey,wait a moment.You're gonna leave just like that?"he asked.

"Why not?"I asked.
"Well...let's just say it's not polite to turn your back on your friends,snowflake,"he said and I blushed.

Did he just say friends?
"Are we friends?"I asked as I looked down,thinking about how I have never got any friend beside Anna.

"We could be if you care to introduce yourself,snowflake,"he said,smiling warmly and I could feel the heat burning up my cheeks.I prayed so hard wishing that,my avatar wouldn't show that.

That's right.I may know who he is in real life but,he doesn't.
I took a deep breathe and smiled as I looked back at him.
"I am sorry.My name's (Y/n),"I said and Jack smiled as he getnly kissed the back of my hand like we first met.

"Nice to meet you,(Y/n).I am Jack,"he said and in my mind I secretly said it to myself.

Yea,I know who you are.

After a few moments later,

I reached to the village after 10 minutes and thirty boars later.As soon as I got to the square,I was surrounded by the noise from the blacksmith's and the yells of peasants bargaining.

Looks like I came just in time to apply for special quests.I have weapons and I have the necessary experience,but,I don't have enough money for potions.

I opened my inventory and took another good look at the red stone I found in the grass.
My eyes sparkled up,seeing how beautiful it was.It totally gotta worth something.

Even if I sell it below its market value,I should get a few gold coins.
I walked to a trader and showed him the precious stone.I was holding it between my fingers and I was waiting for his evaluation.

He offered a handful of coins and pointed to the precious stone.
Only a few coins?!
"You are offering me only a handful of coins?I want a hundres gold coins for this stone or else I won't sell it,"I said.

I noticed the trader looking over my shoulder all the time and as if he was commanded to do so,he took out a bag full of gold coins and gave it to me in exchange for the precious stone.

"Thank you,that's a fair trade.I accept it.I am rich~"I said,happily.

While I was jumping for joy,cuz,I could now afford a better equipment,I heard someone clapping their hands behind my back.

I turned around.
Across the trader's where I was bargaining over the price on the precious stone was Jack.
Our eyes met.
He smiled at me and I blushed.

Did he follow me?
I still don't know who I can trust so,I quickly looked away and ran into the inn,blushing.

I peeked out of the door to check if Jack was still folowing me.I saw him looking at the trader with a threatening look.
The trader is trembling with fear!

I wish I knew what was going on overthere,but,I have no time for that right now.
He probably tried to trick Jack just like me.
I was on Cloud 9 and was sure that I'd done everything all by myself.

Little did,I know that without Jack,I would never have gotten the full price for the precious stone.

I rushed into the inn and went straight to the bar.The innkeeper was standing there behind the counter,sneering at me while he wiped glasses with a dirty patch of cloth.

"Welcome back!I wasn't expecting you that soon,"he said,looking at me surprised.
I rolled my eyes.
"You were hoping I wouldn't survive,weren't you?Admit it,"I said and he snickered.

"What else would you expect from a level one player?I see you followed my advice and got yourself a weapon,"he said.

"Yes,I didn.Isn't this Shadow Wind Longbow amzing?"I said.
"Impressive.You can get a lot of gold coins for that bow,"he said and I shot a glare at him.

"It is not for sale!"

"I was just saying,I assume you are here to apply for the special quests,"he said,smiling and I nodded.
"Alright.The membership is 50 gold coins,"he said.

"Alright.I will pay for it,"I said and the  amount of gold coins neededwas immediately transferred to his account from mine.

"Thank you for your application!I wish you a lot of success in the upcoming quests,"the innkeeper said.

   Congratulations,(player name)
Your application for special quests earned you 1000 experience  points.

Yes!I am on the roll.It was about time.
I rented a room to restore my energy and my mana back.

And besides,it's important to have a safe place for the money and the bow.
I guess that's it for tonight.

I can't wait to tell Anna about how I have progressed so far today.I opened the menu and chose log out.

The following day,

School just finished and I made my way through the crowd to a shady tree whuch was a good place for a lockout.

I hope Anna will show up soon.I can't wait to share the news with her.Soon,Anna found me and walked up to me.
"Hey (Y/n)!How was your day?"she asked.

"It was great!Thanks for helping me out in Shadowtime,it wasn't in vain,"I said and she smiled happily.

"You did it?!Tell me everything!"Anna said as we hooked our arms and I started telling her about everything,about Emma and how she robbed me,about my encounters with Jack and how it will be easier for me to complete special quests.

After that,I quickly rushed back home,since I am so excited to play the game.
As soon as I got home,I rushed to my room and changed into more comfortable clothes,putring my bag aside.
I hummed happily as I opened my laptop.

Even though,all of this was happening in the virtual world,it makes me still happy.

I can't wait to start the quests today.
I reached for my virtual reality equipments but...there was nothing?
My eyes widened  and I immediately noticed that the box was empty.

But,how could this be?!
I logged out of the game and set it right here.
Oh,no,I forgot that I left it on the desk!

I broke out in a cold sweat.
I was so excited about my in-game succes thaat I left the equipment on my desk even though i knew mom was coming back today.

There was no doubt.Mom took ny equipment!Oh,no.I blew it.I only hope that she didn't throw it away.
Tears started forming in my eyes.
I was afraid of what her reaction wohlf be like and I was anxiously waiting for her to come back.

After a  hour,

Over the cold trails of tears on my face,a new one could be seen.I quickly wiped the tears off of my face as soon as I heard the knocking on the door.

It was Anna.
She gasped when she saw mw crying and ran up to me,hugging me.
"(Y/n)?!Why are you crying?What's wrong?"she asked.

I explained to her and I learnt that she was checkimg up on me since the front door was opened.

"Oh,Anna.What am i gonna tell to her?"I said,crying.
"The truth,(Y/n).You did nothing wrong.We will tell together,"Anna soothed me as she held me tight,soothing me that it was gonna be fine.