Party 3.0

The party had been well-marketed on social media. 

Many influencers had also been recruited to promote it to their followers. It was only Thursday and the original post had received more than six million impressions. The organisers were sure it would be well attended. They had worked hard to ensure it wouldn't be a flop, otherwise, this would greatly affect their upcoming company valuations. 

There were several prizes to be won just by attending. And one random winner stood to win five million dollars. This proved to be a great incentive. 

" What are you doing Saturday afternoon Josh?" Claire asked her son as he walked into the Kitchen. 

" I am going to a party at Jamie's house," he answered. " Why do you ask?" 

" Because my girls and I are going to a party too and I wanted to make sure you will be alright as I could be gone till evening," Claire answered her teenage son. 

" No worries mom. Have fun. I will be cool. What are you making?" 

Claire was just done with making dinner. She would clean up and then update her friends that she had cleared time for the party. They were determined to have fun as it had been a long while since they had gotten together and let loose. 

According to the organisers, the resort would have themed venues. You could go to a nightclub, a bowling alley, the red light district, a coffee shop, an ice bar, a tropical beach etc. The girls had decided to check them all out. It would come at a hefty price but it would be worth it. Plus they had also entered the contests where they stood to win big.  

By midday Saturday, Josh had already left for the party at his friend's. Claire had already prepared herself. She sat on her recliner, snacks on her side table, wore her headsets, clicked the start button and voila, she was in! 

She realized she had been a little late as she found all her friends had gathered at the bowling alley which they had agreed was to be their meeting point. After some greetings and final checks, changes and upgrades on their avatar outfits, they bowled a little before going to check out the red light district and the clubs. They had agreed that they would end their explorations at the beach. They had even bought some micro bikini NFTs from a digital artist. Claire's was fastened by straps and was in hot pink. She couldn't wait to have her avatar rock it at the beach. 

The party had been well attended it seemed. Claire could see thousands of avatars in the venues they went to. Many of their appearances were extremely personalized with several going in as inanimate objects such as balls or mugs. Many also came as their favourite real-life celebrities. It would be hard to tell whether a real celebrity had attended as there were too many avatars in their likeness. 

The majority of attendees like Claire and her girlfriends seemed to have gone in as prettier and younger versions of themselves. After all, with no time to go out and date in real life, she hoped the virtual world would help her with that. Hopefully, she could find someone from the comfort of her living room. 

Time seems to fly when you are having fun! Soon the girls were basking on the tropical beach checking out the handsome men passing by them, those playing in the sand or swimming in the blue waters. 

"Oh, look at that one," they would tease. "He seems to like you!" they would laugh. 

" Me, or me?" one would answer. " Who knows what he looks like in real life? It's probably some guy who has never left his mother's basement!" 

Such thoughts would dampen the mood. But not enough to make the party less enjoyable. The escape was well deserved. 

The girls were on with their chit-chats when they saw a group of young men coming in their direction. 

" Oh, Claire, the one on the left looks like Leo, your boyfriend in college," Janet mentioned. 

" Oh, he does indeed," Claire answered, " I'll holla when they come nearer," she laughed. "I still got it!"

The girls joined in on the laughter. This was fun! 

" Hey, handsome!" Claire poised when the young men came nearer. 

The men looked at the women confused and then at each other. 

"Yes, you. The one in the yellow shorts on the left. How are you darl…?" she said winking. 

The avatar of the young man in the yellow shorts moved closer to Claire. He seem to wonder why the avatar talking to him looked and sounded so familiar. He looked intently at her, then shook his head and kept walking.

"Don't walk away darl…" Claire teased. " You can't just leave me hanging…" 

The avatar took a step back and frowned. 

"Mom…!? Mom? Is that you!?"

Claire's avatar flickered for a second. She recognised the voice. 

"Damn, mom!? What are you doing? What are you wearing? What are you doing here?" 

Claire was shocked. She almost fell from her couch in her living room. Cringe filled her entire system. She was even more embarrassed. She pulled off her headset, shook her head and laughed at herself. 

She had just hit on her own son on a tropical beach in the metaverse!