This day turned out much differently than Marcus expected.
He had only met Jess mere hours ago, at least in person.
For months, they had been corresponding back and forth via online chatroom, when Jess inquired about his user ID "Sureshooter", and Marcus casually expressed a love for the first-person shooter game "Gunner's Valor".
This simple admission intrigued Jess, who also admitted to having spent countless hours on the game and was one of the best players in her regional lobby. This piqued Marcus's curiosity as well. He asked her if she would like to hop on the server and play head-to-head sometimes.
Jess agreed, and play head-to-head they would. For several months they traded victories and were stalemated at 20 wins apiece. Occasionally they would team up against other players. And when they do they were unstoppable, fielding a perfect 25-0 record.
Then Jess made a most unusual request- she wanted to meet up in person.
Marcus originally had no plans to initiate contact in the real world. After all, "Jess" could be anybody- probably a man in real life.
But he turned out to be completely wrong, and glad for it.
Jess turned out to be everything she claims to be- and much more. He had casually agreed to meet up with little expectations. Jess lived just one town over and they had agreed to meet at the regional gamer's convention. Marcus had wanted to go anyways, but none of his colleagues or friends were interested. Even if "Jess" turns out to be a guy, at least Marcus would have somebody to hang out with.
So there he was, loitering in the lobby, glancing down at his phone with the picture "Jess" had sent him. It was a grainy photo of an attractive brunette in her early 20s. Her long hair falls over her white tank top, auburn eyes smiling at the camera. The photo was taken from an angle disguising much of her figure. Even if Jess turns out to be a real woman, there is no way she looks like the person in this photo. His thought is interrupted by a feminine voice:
"You must be Shooter."
Marcus glances up to meet a set of eyes- the same auburn eyes from the photo. He glances down again and looks up at the woman who seems to have walked straight out of the picture.