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“Jeremy.”
“Whaaaaaattt...” Jeremy whined, planting his face down in the pillow.
“What are you doing?”
The squip’s voice was stern. Did Jeremy mess up again somehow? It was Sunday and the boy woke up just a few hours ago. He was laying on top of his bed, scrolling mindlessly through social media, enjoying his day off. Sunday was the only day of the week when Jeremy didn’t have to do anything even slightly related to getting popular. They had an agreement with the squip that unless there’s a party that day – Jeremy was free to slack off to his heart’s content. However, due to how high on the school social ladder Jeremy was getting, these lazy days were becoming few and far between, so he felt really grumpy when the squip started bugging him out of nowhere. What could the computer possibly be mad about already? Jeremy turned his head to the squip and stared at it both annoyed and sorry. Just in case he actually did mess up.
“Um... Nothing?..”
“Exactly, Jeremy.” The squip crossed its arms and stepped closer. “You should be choosing an outfit.”
Jeremy looked at it utterly confused. “W-what for??”
“The junior prom, Jeremy. You couldn’t possibly be this forgetful.” The squip pinched the bridge of its nose to show annoyance. “The date was announced just yesterday.”
Jeremy’s expression changed to a mix of sadness and frustration.
“B-but I’m not going...”
“Yes, you are, Jeremy. What reason could you possibly have to miss one of the biggest school events? It’s a perfect opportunity to show off and strengthen your social connections.”
Jeremy sat up and stayed silent for a moment, choosing which one of his many reasons would convince the squip that he shouldn’t go. None of them seemed strong enough or irrefutable on their own, so he started listing everything, hoping to win the argument with sheer quantity.
“I... I don’t have a date. And nobody I actually like would be there... I don’t know how to dance and that day will be the release of the new chapter of th-“
“No.” The squip waved its hand dismissively. “Those are all bulls__t reasons and you know it.”
It then began to tear through every single one of Jeremy’s excuses.
“Firstly, if I could feel – I’d be hurt by your implication that I wouldn’t be able to get you a date in time. Truly, Jeremy. That’s literally one of my main purposes.” It looked at the boy in mock disappointment. “Secondly, I don’t care if Michael’s not going and neither should you. With enough mingling and pretending, you might learn to enjoy your classmates’ company for real. At least you should give it a try.”
The squip changed its expression to one that could almost resemble a caring one. However, that was gone the next second and replaced with annoyance again.
“Next. I don’t even want to address your web novel excuse. You absolutely do not have to read it right as it’s released. Even so, if you’re that persistent on it, I might be able to let you read it during the prom. You’d see the web page in front of your eyes while I’ll be handling all the listening and providing you with replies as you talk with your classmates. Does that sound like a plan?”
Without waiting for Jeremy to reply the squip continued.
“Now, your lack of dancing abilities really is a problem.” It paused and closed its eyes in thought. “I suppose there is only one way we can manage to fix that in time.”
It then looked right at Jeremy who was sitting on the edge of the bed, listening patiently this whole time. The squip gestured for him to stand.
“Get up.”
“Why?..” Jeremy asked, but complied, nonetheless.
“I’m going to give you some dancing lessons.” The squip said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “It should come as no surprise that you have terrible motor skills. Most of your movements are awkward and badly timed. This is why I propose to dance with physical prompting.”
“Physical… prompting ?..” Jeremy repeated curiously.
“Yes, Jeremy. I would not control your body directly, but you will feel taps and pushes that will signal you to move a certain body part. That way I’m not taking away your autonomy and you get to have fun like the rest. Of course, you don’t have to worry about practicing alone as I would be projecting myself as your dancing partner at the same time.” The squip explained. “Does that work for you?”
“Oh, absolutely!”
Jeremy practically jumped with joy. He has never really danced before. It wasn’t like he was proud of it or didn’t want to. He wasn’t happy he couldn’t dance. As the boy would say himself: it was like a birth deficit, or, rather, a defect — he just couldn’t*. Yet now there seemed to be a way.
“Excellent. Step to the middle of the room and we’ll start.”
“Don’t we need some music or something?”
“I can just play it in your head. Unless you want to alert your dad and have him check on you only to find you dancing with air.”
“Oh. Right.” Jeremy smiled awkwardly, taking a step forward.
“First, we will start with learning the basics. Let’s assume the position. There are usually two roles in dancing: leading and following. You will be learning to lead.”
“Why?”
The squip raised an eyebrow silently looking at Jeremy with an unimpressed expression.
“N-nevermind...”
Squip closed its eyes for a second, opening them again with a cloudy gaze. Its face became static and emotionless.
“Stand facing your partner about a foot apart. You can stand closer together if you already are dating your dance partner. But that’s a good distance to start with if you’ve just asked someone to dance who you don’t really know. Then they won’t feel uncomfortable.” Squip narrated dispassionately. “Place your hands on your partner’s waist or shoulders. You should start off in a closed hold position. Traditionally, a guy will stand with his hands gently on the girl’s waist. A girl will put her hands on the guy’s shoulders.”
“Are you... Are you just reciting some article to me?” Jeremy guessed, narrowing his eyes at the squip in suspicion.
“Oh?” The squip blinked, the glaze from its vision clearing and its expression returning to the usual condescending one. “You’d rather I went off script?”
“Well... Yeah?” Jeremy shrugged. “If you’re going to teach me, at least do it yourself. I could’ve read an article without you.”
“Okay then.” The squip nodded. “Put your right hand on my side and bend your left hand slightly as if holding something up at your mid-shoulder level.”
Jeremy did just that, now looking slightly nervous and unsure. The squip placed its left hand on its host’s shoulder, pulling them a little closer together, while its right hand slipped into Jeremy’s outstretched one.
The boy felt his face getting hotter. He was probably looking like a blushing mess right now, but he would argue there was a fair reason for that. He was getting to dance! The guy part! Who wouldn’t be nervous not to screw up a chance like that? Who wouldn’t get all shaky and sweaty?.. Oh damn, his hands were sweaty... And the right one was a bit low on Squip’s side... Almost at the waist level. Was it even in the right position? Well, Squip didn’t seem to correct him, so maybe it’s fine?? And he said it was okay to put your hands on your partner’s waist... D-dancing partner! F__k, is it weird to think like that? Oh no, the shaking is becoming more noticeable...
“You’re doing fine.” Squip smiled reassuringly. “But you’re going to have to try and control your facial expressions as well. You need to appear calm and collected so that your partner would also feel relaxed. You don’t want them to worry the whole time about you stepping on their feet or fainting. Act confident.”
“I-I’m not going to faint!” Jeremy frowned, pouting slightly. “It’s just awkward... You know, having my hands there... A-and you’re really close, s-so, um...”
“Stop stuttering.” The squip cut him off, making it’s host feel a tap on his calve so that the boy would take a step to the side. It then stepped too, beginning to sway just the tiniest bit. Jeremy followed its movements, relying on the pressure of the squip’s hands to guide him to which side and for how long to move to. “We discussed this. Your indecisiveness is not attractive. You have to learn to take charge, be more dominant.”
“Uhhh um, yeah...”
“Six.” The squip stated, continuing to sway gently.
“W-wha..?!” Jeremy stopped and frowned in protest. “It wasn’t like that! You set it up! That shouldn’t count.”
“Jeremy, we agreed that I’m tallying every time you think about sex.” The squip stated with a hint of something akin to amusement in its voice. “Don’t argue. Now keep moving, you can’t freeze in the middle of a dance, no matter what your partner says or does.”
Jeremy just huffed in annoyance, not appreciating being lectured right now. On a damn Sunday. His “day off”!
The squip in turn let out a soft snort at its host’s thoughts. At least Jeremy assumed it was at his thoughts and not at the way he was dancing. The computer gave Jeremy’s side a slight push, urging him to continue to move, and they resumed their swaying.
After a few minutes of carefully moving side-to-side, Jeremy finally relaxed somewhat. The music was calm and pleasant, not too loud or distracting. Jeremy also noticed that the room seemed somewhat different. Dimmer? Cozier? More... Intimate. But at the same time grand and enchanting. Like an actual proper ballroom instead of some school gym with just silly streamers and balloons that Jeremy was used to at other dances he had to be at. It felt like the two of them were a small planet floating around in the vast and empty universe.
“The universe is very much full, Jeremy. And planets don’t just ‘float around’. You might want to use ‘a spark in the dark’ if you’re going for a lonely yet warm metaphor. Thought, the notion is appreciated. If your partner doesn’t know anything about anything, it might work on them.”
“Do you really have to do that every time?.. I wasn’t even thinking to you.” Jeremy frowned, annoyed and a tad flustered.
“I am merely doing my job. In order to get better at romance, you need not only to try stuff out, but receive and factor in objective criticism.”
“Well, I think that you just like showing off how much of a smart__s you are.”
The boy scoffed, feeling much less out of place after the small banter. They argued like that all the time and the familiarity of the action soothed Jeremy’s nerves somewhat. Quite a lot, actually... The teen blinked at Squip and then smiled with a soft huff. Surely, he did that on purpose. That sneaky tic-tac. Jeremy was willing to bet that Squip didn’t actually find his earlier metaphor lame.
“If it makes you feel better — sure.” The squip rolled its eyes.
They swayed like that for five minutes or so, Jeremy’s face gradually etching with more concern. Then he finally decided to speak up.
“Are… Are you okay with doing the female part?..” Jeremy suddenly asked, a genuine worry in his voice. He would’ve stopped dancing as well to show how serious his question was, but the squip kept simulating the guiding touches which made Jeremy’s body continue move on its own. “I just… We don’t have to do it… I-if.. I mean… I wouldn’t want you to feel like… Uh… Well, bad. …Wrong.”
The squip looked at the boy, raising an eyebrow. It kept silent for a moment, analyzing his words before smiling softly.
“I don’t have any gender issues, Jeremy. Nor do I have a gender for them to appear in the first place.” The AI explained calmly, putting the boy’s worries to rest. “Now be a man and try to go for a dip.”
The last part came out almost teasingly, yet Jeremy felt a surge of intense happiness rush through him.
That’s right.
He was a man.
He was a man.
“Okay there, Mr Man, stop grinning like a madlad.” The squip chuckled. “Are you dipping me or what?”
“Yeah!” Jeremy beamed, still smiling wide. “I... Wait, how?..”
The boy tilted his head and furrowed his brows slightly, trying to imagine how to dip Squip without making them both fall over. After all, Squip was a bit taller and-
“My avatar doesn’t weigh anything, Jeremy. Sure, I will simulate a feeling of you holding another person, but nothing you couldn’t handle. You really have no reason to be so anxious. Just go for it.”
With a calming breath Jeremy nodded and gripped the squip’s waist a bit tighter.
“Sooo... I just...?” He stepped one foot forward and leaned down, making the squip bend backwards. The weight on the boy’s hands felt like he was holding a real person, thought much lighter than Jeremy would imagine someone like Keanu Reeves to be. The simulation of the squip’s grip on its host’s shoulder also intensified, playing into the realism of the dip. “Like that?”
“Hey, not bad!” The squip smiled. “I do have a few pointers, but that a very decent first try. I’m almost impressed.”
“I can let you go at any moment.”
“No.” The squip smiled innocently. “This is a hologram, Jeremy. Not an actual body. It just won’t fall.”
Jeremy reluctantly reclined back, pouting like a child.
“Not fair.” The boy huffed in annoyance before suddenly realising something. “Oh! But I could-” Jeremy started, his expression turning mischievous.
“Shut me down? Oh nooo~! I’ll miss out on so much of your incompetent courting! Woe is me!” The AI exclaimed dramatically, putting the back of its hand to its forehead.
“I wasn’t!.. I’m not!.. Oh, screw you!” Jeremy pouted once again, crossing his hands over his chest and stepping back. “I’m only incompetent because you don’t teach me s_it.”
The squip raised its eyebrow, a small grin tugging on its lips.
“Alright then.”
In a blink of an eye, the squip stepped forward, putting one of its hands on Jeremy’s waist and the other on his back, and dipped him. Jeremy now stood a bit awkwardly, reclined backwards in a way that was just barely enough to keep balance. Obviously, the squip helped its host with that. The boy instantly uncrossed his hands instinctively reaching out to grip the squip’s shoulders, seeking some support. His arms, of course, went right through the hologram, yet Jeremy stayed dipped without falling.
“W-what?! How?..”
“Muscle control. I am stimulating your legs and back to keep you steady while you’re bend in such a way. I’m not actually holding you. But I could let you go at any moment~” The squip’s voice was low, melodic and playful. It was clearly enjoying showing off to its human.
“D-don’t! Please! I got it.” Jeremy chuckled nervously.
“I won’t. I wouldn’t want you any harm, Jeremy. Not to my precious, precious host. ”
Only now did the boy realise how close the squip’s face was to his. If he didn’t know any better, he would say that he could even feel its breath against his.
But before Jeremy could fully process that, the squip already pulled them upright once again and stepped back.
“Now this is how you do a dip.” It announced proudly.
Jeremy just stood there, flustered and speechless. Then he finally came back to his senses, the room was back to normal, and the music was gone. Even Squip looked somehow less fancy even though nothing about his appearance had changed.
“The atmosphere is a powerful thing, isn’t it? It can make even a simple everyday suit seem luxurious.” The squip said, adjusting his sleeves as if they were somehow not already perfect. “However, the same won’t apply much for your dancing skills. Go rest now, but we’ll practice again in the evening. And tomorrow. And every day until the very prom night. Got it?”
“Oh...” Jeremy sighed, not sure if he’s relieved or disappointed. “Okay... So I...?”
“Sure, go do whatever, I won’t bother you. It is Sunday.” The squip waved its hand dismissively. “I remember our deal.”
“Thank you.” Jeremy smiled, sitting back onto his bed. “That was actually pretty fun!”
“Of course it was. You always make things fun.” The squip said quietly, before disappearing, a faint smile playing on its digital lips.