Chapter Text
6:32 pm
{{ BiBiByeFelicia added impresent and slushlord to the chat }}
slushlord: what
pickledpeppers: i didn’t think you meant rn.
BiBiByeFelicia: Of course I meant right now
BiBiByeFelicia: Why would I wait?
impresent: rich whyd you put michael and i in this group chat
BiBiByeFelicia: Ummm because I want my friends to get along, duh
BiBiByeFelicia: Plus, you guys need to socialize more
slushlord: I take offense to that
JennaBoBenna: as well you should
pickledpeppers: well now we have to get everyone in here.
{{ pickledpeppers added DesdeDestiny , crymeariver , and bubblegumbinch to the chat }}
bubblegumbinch: jake wtf
JennaBoBenna: alrite lets get this party started
crymeariver: jesus theres so many people here
crymeariver: whos who??
BiBiByeFelicia: Guess
crymeariver: ok thats rich
DesdeDestiny: I’m Christine!! :)
slushlord: Michael, here
slushlord: heere*
impresent: stop
JennaBoBenna: i’m jake
crymeariver: no your not
slushlord: you’re*
crymeariver: did you just
bubblegumbinch: god this chat is already a fuckin mess
pickledpeppers: first order of business.
{{ pickledpeppers changed the chat name from trash gods to Squip Squad }}
impresent: squip squad??
pickledpeppers: yeah. It seems fitting given how we all know each other.
BiBiByeFelicia: Good choice, Jakey D
slushlord: Jeremiah Heere I know exactly what you’re thinking of typing and I s2g don’t do it
slushlord: I can see you hesitating
crymeariver: cute you guys are in the same room
BiBiByeFelicia: Jeremy don’t listen to him!
BiBiByeFelicia: Or do
BiBiByeFelicia: I’m not the boss of you
impresent: guys i m really sorry for everything
impresent: i almost got everyone here enslaved by some brain computer
DesdeDestiny: Jeremy… :(
BiBiByeFelicia: Hey
BiBiByeFelicia: If anyone should be apologizing it should be me
BiBiByeFelicia: I’m the one who told you about that brain computer in the first place
impresent: you don’t need to apologize again
impresent: i already forgave you when we were in the hospital
impresent: i made the stupid mistake of taking it
everything after that was my fault
slushlord: Even if it was a stupid mistake, it doesn’t mean everything’s your fault
slushlord: That thing fucking tormented and manipulated you
slushlord: Don’t you dare say everything was your fault
impresent: still..
crymeariver: you know what this calls for
JennaBoBenna: ???
crymeariver: a bonding and healing hangout sesh
pickledpeppers: oh yeah that’s something we all need.
pickledpeppers: anything you want to say jeremy save it for then. it’ll be better if we talk it all out in person. and in a private place
BiBiByeFelicia: Definitely
impresent: youre probably right
DesdeDestiny: That’s an excellent idea, Brooke!
bubblegumbinch: im free this weeknd if u guys r
JennaBoBenna: i offer my house as tribute
pickledpeppers: any objections to Saturday night?
pickledpeppers: no? alright cool Saturday at Jenna’s house it is.
BiBiByeFelicia: I’M BRINGING UNO
slushlord: Of course you are
DesdeDestiny: Yay! This’ll be so much fun, you guys :)
slushlord: Brb Jere and I gotta dip out real quick
slushlord: My mom just finished making dinner
BiBiByeFelicia: Oooh whatcha havin?
slushlord: Hella fancy ravioli
JennaBoBenna: luckyyy
crymeariver: lucky seconded
JennaBoBenna: EVERYONE GO EAT SOMETHING
BiBiByeFelicia: Fine, mom, we will
JennaBoBenna: good
12:26 am
{{ Squip Squad }}
pickledpeppers: oh my god michael. do you get this physics stuff at all.
slushlord: I think so?? Is there a question you need help with
pickledpeppers: please.
{{ pickledpeppers : whatevenisvelocity.jpg }}
crymeariver: oohhh my god im so glad i didnt take psychic
pickledpeppers: gravity’s a bitch.
JennaBoBenna: psychic
crymeariver: whatever
{{ slushlord : iwannacry.jpg }}
pickledpeppers: bless your soul, michael mell.
slushlord: I’ve been blessed
slushlord: physics*
crymeariver: i hate this damn group chat
JennaBoBenna: mmmm i have that to look forward to next year, huh
JennaBoBenna: maybe i should preemptively throw myself down the stairs
get a lesson in gravity
pickledpeppers: take me with you please.
JennaBoBenna: anytime hun
slushlord: guys oh my god look at this
{{ slushlord : jeremysadork.jpg }}
slushlord: He fell asleep and is now literally inches from falling off the goddamn couch
slushlord: I wanna wake him up before he falls hurts himself but he needs the sleep what do I do
crymeariver: jfc that’s adorable
slushlord: I know right???
JennaBoBenna: get a room, you two
slushlord: I’m just gonna ignore that
pickledpeppers: just let him sleep. it’s his fault if he falls off the damn couch.
slushlord: When he does, the payoff will be glorious
slushlord: OH MY GOD HE’S TEETERING
I gotta get this on video hold on
{{ slushlord : jeremyfuckingfallsoffacouch.mov }}
slushlord: Priceless
JennaBoBenna: THE SOUND HE MADE
IT SOUNDS LIKE A MIDGET WHALE
crymeariver: video = saved
pickledpeppers: ohoho my god this is great. rich is gonna lose his shit over this when he sees it.
slushlord: uh oh incoming sleepy jeremy
impresent: michaeelll whydd you expose me
slushlord: bcus why not
JennaBoBenna: hes got a point
slushlord: Alright I’m gonna make him go to legit bed real quick brb
crymeariver: hes like a mom
JennaBoBenna: true thooooo
slushlord: jfc it’s 12:47 already
JennaBoBenna: you gremlins should all go to bed soon
JennaBoBenna: or youll regret it in the morning
and ill feel no pity
crymeariver: why is everyone here such a mom
JennaBoBenna: y’all are just pitiful children
slushlord: I’m sorry, did you just “y’all”??
JennaBoBenna: GO TO BED
slushlord: Fine, fine
slushlord: Gnight, all
crymeariver: night
2:11 am
{{ Squip Squad }}
{{ JennaBoBenna : itsaphysicsmeme.jpg }}
6:14 am
{{ Squip Squad }}
slushlord: Jenna, why’d you send a physics meme at 2 in the morning
JennaBoBenna: i thought it was topical
slushlord: You’re not wrong
BiBiByeFelicia: OH MY GOD THAT VIDEO I CANT BREATEH
JennaBoBenna: breateh
BiBiByeFelicia: Also
BiBiByeFelicia: Jenna: tells everyone to go to bed
Jenna: stays up until 2am
JennaBoBenna: i dont play by my own rules
11:19 am
{{ Squip Squad }}
crymeariver: jeremyyyyy i see you over there
crymeariver: come sit with us
crymeariver: jeeeereemmmyyyyyyyyyy
crymeariver: check your goddamn phone
crymeariver: jfc ill just come get you
Brooke turned her phone off, stood up, and walked as fast as she could towards the pair of boys who were currently walking away from her. “Jeremyyyyyyy!”
Jeremy very obviously flinched at the sudden shout of his name. Both he and his friend (Mike? Micha? Michael?? Michael) Michael turned to look in her direction with surprised and somewhat frightened looks on their faces.
“If you guys would’ve bothered to check your phones I told you to come sit with us. But nooooo you made me get up and come get you.” She hooked her arm around Jeremy’s and started dragging him back to where she was sitting.
“Oh- uh- Brooke you- you really don’t-” Jeremy fumbled over his words, but Brooke interrupted him before he could shut her down.
“Nonsense! We’re all friends here.” She put on a smile, even though she knew it wasn’t genuine. She doubts things will ever be the same as they were, but she wants to try and clear things up with Jeremy. Dating him was actually really pleasant, but was she really dating him? Or was she dating his SQUIP?
He hasn’t talked much about his time with that hell computer, which is totally fine. She didn’t want to force him to relive memories he’d rather forget. But she couldn’t help but wonder if he dated her because the SQUIP said to. He was the first guy she dated that didn’t treat her like an accessory, like some fucking medal to show off to his “bros”. She knew that thing messed him up and manipulated him in ways she couldn’t imagine, but she couldn’t help but want to know how he really felt about her. Everything he does, everything he says, Brooke wonders if it’s really him. She was fooled once, and she prays it’ll never happen again but she can’t help but not trust the situation. She couldn’t handle not knowing his feelings any longer, though. She decided that if she saw him after school, she’d ask him about it. For now, she hoped the pair would slowly integrate with the rest of the people at her table.
She moved her bag out of the seat next to where she was sitting, pulled up an extra chair, and pat the seat next to her, trying to get them to sit down. Jeremy sits down first, even though he was very obviously unsure of his actions. Michael followed soon after.
Rich was the first to speak up. “Yo! Jeremy! How’s it hanging?” He ended his sentence with a big smile and some stupid looking finger guns.
Jeremy was just as sheepish as you’d expect an introverted and insecure teen to be. Avoiding making eye contact and fidgeting with his hands in his lap, he somehow got out “I’m… good. Yeah… good. Uhhh, how are- how are you?” At least he was trying to talk to us.
“Great!” Rich replied with the same amount of enthusiasm he’s had all day. “Today’s been a pretty banging day. I just got my chem test back, and it turns out I’m evidently a chemistry genius because I got the highest score in the class. 98% baby! Those hydrogen bonds better watch out.” Brooke tried to cover up a chuckle at the same time Jake let out one hearty laugh. He was so hung up on that 98%, it was almost ridiculous.
“You just can’t get over that can you,” Jake said as he elbowed Rich in the shoulder. “I wasn’t that far behind you, was I?”
“Your 92% is worth nothing compared to me!” He put his hands on his hips like a superhero.
Ever since Rich had gotten out of the hospital, he hasn’t been the same. Not to say this Rich is worse, not at all. He was goofier, more lighthearted, more... carefree. It was nice. He seems to have gotten closer with Jake, too. They got along really well.
“Wait, Jake, I thought you were in physics?” Michael chimed in, much to the surprise of Brooke. He didn’t seem like the type to start a conversation.
Jake looked at Michael with a look of surprise, but not that surprised. (English is not Brooke’s strong suit). “I’m in physics and chemistry this year. Seeing if I can knock out the tough classes now so I can have more free classes next year.”
“Smart, smart…” Michael nodded and took a sip from his slushie. He was always drinking those. Brooke wondered what flavor it was.
“What about you? What classes are you taking this year, Michael?” Michael apparently wasn’t expecting their conversation to continue.
“Oh! Uh, I’m taking physics.” He started counting on his fingers as he listed off classes he was in. “AP English, calculus AB, band…” He was cut off by Rich slamming his hands on the table.
“You’re in the band!?”
“Y-yeah, I am.” Michael couldn’t help but start his sentence with a chuckle. Probably over how overdramatic Rich was.
“What do you play?” He was acting like a space-loving child who was meeting an astronaut or something.
“Trumpet. And a little clarinet, but it’s been a bit so I’m quite rusty at it.” Michael’s tense shoulders started to relax. Now that he was talking about something he knew, he was probably a little more at ease.
“How long have you been playing?” Jesus, Rich, question much?
He thought about that one for a little bit. “Almost 8 years now.”
The conversation between them droned on for a while. This gave Brooke the chance to study Michael a little bit. Not in the creepy way, she just liked studying people and their behavior. It helped her get to know people a little better, and it was easier than talking (if you didn’t get caught staring). Like, she just noticed that Michael has a little mole above his lip. It added a certain charm to his personality that she couldn’t quite place. His mouth had a slight tug to the right when he talked, his hair looked like he didn’t use some gaudy hair gel. His glasses were a dark red color instead of black. Red must be his favorite color because his hoodie is that bright apple red. Just then, he laughed at something someone said.
She suddenly remembered that Jeremy was right next to her. She’d already gotten to watch Jeremy while they were dating, but she couldn’t help but notice that he was watching Michael, too. He looked at ease, watching his best friend genuinely enjoy himself.
She should probably tell Jeremy that she wants to talk to him after school, but knowing him, he’d worry about it for literally the rest of the day. But if she tells him, then she has to follow through.
She took a deep breath and tapped Jeremy on the shoulder, trying to keep it as lowkey as possible. “Hey, Jeremy.” He turned and looked at her with worry in his eyes. “I wanna ask you something after school today. And don’t worry about it that much. It’s nothing too important. I just don’t wanna talk about it in front of everyone else. You know how word gets around if Jenna Rolan’s in town.”
Jeremy took a second to respond. “S-sure. Do you know what… uhh, what Michael’s,” he motioned to the chatty boy beside him (okay good his name was actually Michael), “car looks light- er- like, right?” He was tripping over his words.
“The only PT Cruiser in the parking lot? I’ve seen you two come out of it almost every day.” That was a bit of exaggeration. She’s seen them every day since she became aware of his existence.
“Y-yeah. That’s the one.” He let out a soft and almost sad chuckle. His mannerisms were slowly becoming more adorable than annoying, and Brooke wasn’t sure why. Jeremy, in general, was kind of cute. Honestly, Brooke probably date him again. But only if he asked her out, unlike last time.
“Perfect.” She tried her best to smile reassuringly, but she has no idea if it was successful or not. “I’ll see you after school, then.”
All the conversation at the table was interrupted by the end-of-lunch bell. Brooke picked up her mostly empty lunch tray and fell in line with Chloe as they walked towards their next class. Waving one final time towards Jeremy, she started figuring out how she was gonna phrase what she was going to say to him later that day.