Jasmine
YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE WHAT JUST HAPPENED
Nikki
you finally quit
Jasmine
I wish
SOMETHING BETTER
Nikki
What??
Jasmine
JK SAW MY CHAT ON LIVE!!!
I asked him if he liked noonas
LOL
he said that’s for him to know??
Nikki
WTF!!!
HOW
Jasmine
I KNOW
let me die now because I’ve peaked
btw did you know tickets go on sale tomorrow?
Nikk
think about what you just asked me
Jasmine
well damnnnn
okay yeah stupid question
Nikki
it’s okay you get a pass
but let’s not forget who INTRODUCED YOU to them
Jasmine
lmfaoooo
yes ma’am
Nikki
are we going to this together or what
Jasmine
I thought you’d never ask
what’s the strat
Nikki
are you sure you’re cut out for this
it’s real army shit
Jasmine
YES OMG
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Nikki
okay good because we’re getting GA
blood will be spilled
Jasmine
I crave the blood of my enemies
Nikki
excellent
SO
for the best chances we both have to try to get tickets
they’ll go QUICK
I need you nimble
Jasmine
nimble and ready, soldier
WAIT
NOT LIKE THAT
Nikki
nimble and ready for who??
I think I know
Jasmine
STOP IT
let’s talk about your obsession with RM shall we
Nikki
ANYWAY
this is going to be amazing!!
make sure you have an army membership and ticketmaster set up
so glad I can finally share this with my bestie since 5th grade
Jasmine
okay I’m so excited!!!
me too :)
You find yourself smiling at your phone. Nikki knew you in the way a sister did, the type of bond that can only come from surviving the awkward years of pre-pubescence and struggling together to find a place in this world. You still remember the first time you met her when she moved into a house down the street in the neighborhood you grew up in.
She was a bit nerdy, but that’s okay because you were, too. A fast friendship formed once you discovered a shared love for anime (especially pining over anime boys), karaoke, and video games. When you came out as bisexual at 21 years old, she didn’t judge you when everyone else did. Life has tried to create distance and diverging paths, but you’re always pulled back together by your hearts being made of the same stuff.
Remembering you have an important mission, you break out of your reminiscence and prepare for the mayhem.
? ? ?
Getting the tickets is all you can think about. You had to adjust your sleep schedule a bit to be awake for the 10 am presale time, falling asleep at about 3 am. You’ve double and triple checked your email, Ticketmaster account, internet connection, and memorized your presale code. Nothing and no one can stop you from getting these tickets.
Feeling secure without the folly of hubris, you settle into your computer chair with required coffee in hand and check the time. 8:45 am. Fifteen minutes before the virtual waiting room opens. Perfect. Your time management skills are immaculate, and it’s one of the few things you can actually thank nursing for.
Drumming your fingertips on the desk, your mind searches for something to concentrate on that’s not the quickening thrum in your chest. The best you can manage is staring at the Ticketmaster page trying to manifest the near future as it all becomes a swirl of blue and white.
As soon as the waiting room for the queue becomes available, you swiftly click to enter. The page loads.
Thank You for Joining the Waiting Room
When the sale begins, your screen will automatically refresh and you will be moved into the Queue.
59 minutes left
Why does this feel like the Hunger Games. You suck in a breath and will yourself to relax.
Jasmine
I can’t stand this
Nikki
what happened to “I crave the blood of my enemies”
Jasmine
I do!
but this is a lot
the anticipation is killing me
Nikki
welcome to being an ARMY. I told you this was real shit.
Stay. Focused.
1 minute left
You watch the countdown on the screen as your body coils.
The screen refreshes.
You Are Now in The Queue
1734
People Ahead of You
1734?? How…
You slide your presale code closer to you, praying you’ve done enough. You don’t dare tear your gaze away from the site as you watch the blue bar grow across the page.
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Have you blinked? You’re not sure, but it doesn’t matter. Blood rushes through you, flushing your face with fire.
The screen refreshes.
You’re in. Your mouth becomes paper.
You enter your presale code with trembling fingers. It’s accepted, and you can hardly hear your own thoughts. One rises above the noise:
GA.
You force the mouse to the general admission section on the seating chart. A ticket appears.
Sorry, another fan beat you to this ticket.
Tasting your heartbeat, you maneuver to another GA ticket.
Sorry, another fan beat you to this ticket.
Shit.
Another gone.
Then another.
Electricity frays your nerves and your stomach twists. As you move to select another ticket, the GA section turns gray.
The frenzy is replaced by a tidal wave of realization crashing into you.
GA is sold out. You watch in silence as more sections of the stadium are swallowed up by the same gray color.