Chapter Text
December 2005 - Ottawa, ON
Shane wasn't sure why he continued listening to Rose's suggestions. Somehow, despite having the best of intentions on both of their parts, her idea of a good time always ended in disaster.
Like when, during this past summer break, she tried to give Shane frosted tips, claiming that it would make him look "super cool" and "really tough". In reality, he ended up with a head full of orange hair, like he was slowly transforming into a cursed Tony the Tiger, Animorphs style. His parents made him shave the whole thing off, and honestly, he didn't blame them. He sometimes still had nightmares about it.
Or, there was the time when they were nine and Rose peer pressured him into signing up for the school play, The Princess and the Frog. He'd thought that having a non-speaking role would mean he could get through the whole experience without causing permanent damage to his ego. That was until his parents showed him the home video they'd recorded of him on opening night, wearing dog ears and a red bow tie, running around the stage on all fours and barking at cardboard cutout frogs.
Frankly, these were just the tip of the iceberg of chaos which ensued when your one (and only) friend was Rose Landry.
Shane supposed that it was precisely because she was his only friend that he continued to listen to her and go along with her ideas. If he didn't have Rose, then he didn't really have anyone. Which was fine. Shane honestly didn't mind. At ten years old he was already starting to become too busy with after school hockey practices to properly maintain more than one friendship.
Anyway, this all goes to to explain that when Rose, hopped up on sugar and clad in bright fleece pyjamas, woke him up at 1:00 in the morning (even though they were supposed to stick to a sharp 11:00 bed time on sleepover nights) and suggested that they sneak down to his family's computer to play Club Penguin, he had no choice but to agree.
The game was so incomprehensibly stupid, but – eyes crusty with sleep – he allowed her to walk him through designing his Penguin and show him all the different parts of the virtual town. He played it a few times after that night, but he quickly learned that the online community was full of complete and total asshats. Like, they were so much worse than the kids at school. They would make fun of other penguins for not having rare costumes, ignore new players who were just asking where everyone got their stupid fluffy things with eyes, and add weird symbols and stuff to their writing so they could swear, which really, really went against the rules of the site.
Shane had essentially sworn off the game entirely. Or he had, until Rose told him about a winter update that came with a blue or red jersey and turned the Soccer Pitch into an Ice Rink. He thought it might be cool, although he assumed that all the other kids playing on the rink would be dicks and block him or swear at him or whatever.
What he didn't expect however, was that he would actually, miraculously, make a friend.
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81ilyA says:
lol metro skid? lyke skid mark? xD
Metr0sKid24 says:
Wat? Ew. NO!!! Its Metros KID because I rlly like the metros
Metr0sKid24 says:
the metros are the best hockey team EVER!
81ilyA says:
i kno who the metros r lol
81ilyA says:
but they r not best hockey team
81ilyA says:
best hockey team is DYNAMOOOOOS
Metr0sKid24 says:
idk who that is
Metr0sKid24 says:
Is that a team u play for or some thing?
81ilyA says:
the r team from RUSSIA in the khl
Metr0sKid24 says:
Oh cool. That makes sense
Metr0sKid24 says:
Are u from Russia?
81ilyA says:
u r not suppose to ask ppl questions like that
81ilyA says:
wat if u r creepy old man
Metr0sKid24 says:
Well I'm not...
Metr0sKid24 says:
my user name literaly has KID in it
81ilyA says:
sounds like something a creepy old man wud say
Metr0sKid24 says:
I'm 10!!!!!! Geez -__-
Metr0sKid24 says:
My name is Shane
81ilyA says:
ok shane i will bee leave u 4 now
Metr0sKid24 says:
Thank u :D
Metr0sKid24 says:
Wait... how do i know YOU arent a creepy old man????
81ilyA says:
i am waaayyy 2 kool 2 b a old man shane! duh!
81ilyA says:
i am also 10 :DDD
Metr0sKid24 says:
Oh wow cool!
Metr0sKid24 says:
Is ur name Lily?
Metr0sKid24 says:
Sorry I am not a stalker I promise haha
Metr0sKid24 says:
Just ur user name is 8 lily so I thot maybe that is ur name
81ilyA says:
ya :) my name is lily
Metr0sKid24 says:
Cool! Nice to meet u Lily :D
81ilyA says:
do u wanna play hockey with me?
Metr0sKid24 says:
Sure :DD
Metr0sKid24 says:
What does the winner get? >:-)
81ilyA says:
ok first 1 to get 5 goals buys the other pizza @ the Pizza Parlour
Metr0sKid24 says:
lol what?? You know u can't rlly buy pizza there right?
81ilyA says:
we just play pretend, its fun
Metr0sKid24 says:
Oh ok! Sure :D Im gonna win so much pretend pizza mwahaha
81ilyA says:
ya rite lol i am best club penguin hockey player the world has EVER SEEEEENNN!!!
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Metr0sKid24 says:
Thanks for the pizza miss best club penguin hockey player EVER
81ilyA says:
ohhh ok i see how it is
81ilyA says:
metros kid shane likes to bully girls on internet
Metr0sKid24 says:
Sorry ur right...
Metr0sKid24 says:
Thank you Lily
Metr0sKid24 says:
You are VERY sweet and VERY nice and a club penguin MASTER
81ilyA says:
hmmm that was better
81ilyA says:
i guess we can still b friends
81ilyA says:
this milkshake is rlly good :P
Metr0sKid24 says:
So is my pizza
81ilyA says:
rlly? becuz it looks like there is no cheese on it
Metr0sKid24 says:
Ya u r right I was just trying to be polite haha
81ilyA says:
i am poor little orphan penguin and i have no money to buy pizza with cheese
81ilyA says:
my papa went out for milk and never came back :'(((
81ilyA says:
then my mama fell into ocean and drowned
81ilyA says:
can u imagine?
81ilyA says:
my mama? a panguin who cant swim?
81ilyA says:
so sad :'''(((
Metr0sKid24 says:
Wow ya that sounds really hard
Metr0sKid24 says:
Please stop crying into ur milkshake tho
Metr0sKid24 says:
It is kinda grossing me out
Metr0sKid24 says:
This is really fun :-)
81ilyA says:
do u play on here a lot?
Metr0sKid24 says:
Not rlly
Metr0sKid24 says:
Last time I came on here sum kids asked me to play with them and they added me as a buddy and said we should go play in the forest. But then they left me there all alone and unfriended me... haha
81ilyA says:
what r there user names???!
81ilyA says:
I WILL GO FIND THEM AND [Filtered Word] THEM!!!!!!
81ilyA says:
AHH GGG [Filtered Word] PENGIN GAME WONT L ET ME TALK
Metr0sKid24 says:
It is ok Lily haha
81ilyA says:
it is NOT okay :-(((
81ilyA says:
but maybe i can be ur buddy?
Metr0sKid24 says:
Just dont ditch me in the forest plz its kinda scary in there
81lilyA has added Metr0sKid24 to their buddy list
81ilyA says:
i wud NEVER do this to u
81ilyA says:
but i am very very brave for a girl ok so i will go to forest with u next time and it wont be scary
Metr0sKid24 says:
Is that wierd? Like i think boys r supposed to be braver then girls
81ilyA says:
uhhh ya usualy that is true i think
81ilyA says:
but i am russian girl and we are VERY brave
Metr0sKid24 says:
Oh cool! That makes sense i guess :))
Metr0sKid24 says:
Do u live in Russia? That is crazy ur like so so far away from me
Metr0sKid24 says:
And ur english is REALLY good
Metr0sKid24 says:
Wait maybe that is rude ahhh. do u speak English in Russia or is it Russian or something
81ilyA says:
hahaha u r funny when ur freaking out
81ilyA says:
haha srry but it is tru
81ilyA says:
but no i do not live in russia
81ilyA says:
i did when i was a little baby but i dont remember a lot
Metr0sKid24 says:
Oh thats cool :))
Metr0sKid24 says:
Thanks for playing with me Lily
Shane leaned back in his family's computer chair, the motion rolling him away from the screen.
He studied the last few exchanges between him and Lily, wondering if he said something wrong. She didn't seem upset when he'd said the stupid stuff about Russia; she'd even called him funny. But what if she meant funny in like, a laughing at him kind of way instead of with him?
He didn't think Lily was mean like that though. She'd even said she would do something to the other kids who had ditched Shane, and whatever the threat was it was bad enough to get blocked by the chat system. But then again, he didn't really know her at all. Maybe she was actually a 75 year old pervert from Alberta or something. Although she kind of did type like a kid.
Or maybe she really did just have to go. Maybe it was dinner time wherever she was. She said she didn't live in Russia, but that didn't mean it was the same time wherever she was.
Shane sighed and logged out of the game, making sure to close the window and turn off the computer. Whatever, it didn't really matter. The game was stupid and it's not like he was ever even going to go on it again. He had other stuff to focus on. He'd started French Immersion this year, so between that and hockey, he really didn't have time to be playing computer games meant for, like, babies.
One Week Later
It was time for Shane to face the cold, hard truth. He was a liar.
To be clear, Shane hated lying. It made his palms sweat, which was the absolute worst feeling in the world. Actually, that wasn't true. Here he was, lying to himself again.
The worst feeling in the world was whenever he had to sit on his grandma's living room furniture in the summer, because for some reason, that nobody could explain to him, she covered her sofas in plastic, and then she didn't turn on the air conditioning, so his legs would be all sweaty and stick to the cushions. But sweaty hands were a close second.
That's why hockey was the best sport. It was cold, so you didn't really feel the sweat in the same way.
Anyway, Shane needed to accept that he was a liar, because maybe if he could accept it his stupid hands would stop sweating. He was lying to himself, for starters. He told himself that he was going to stop playing the penguin game, because it was dumb and it was for babies and everyone was mean. Yet, since meeting Lily, he'd tried logging on every day when he got home from practice, telling himself it was to play the hockey mini game, but really he would just check his Buddies list to see if Lily was online, wait a couple of minutes, and then log back off.
He was also lying to his parents. Usually he didn't use the computer so much, and there was no way he was going to tell them he was going online to try and talk to a girl. Like, sure, Rose was also a girl, but he'd also known her since they were both in diapers, so it was different. Not that he liked Lily or anything, he didn't even know her, but he didn't want his parents assuming he did. So, naturally, he told them he had a project that he needed to use the computer for.
By the end of the week he started to lose hope. Maybe Lily had quit the game altogether. But then, Friday night after practice and dinner, he opened the game and was greeted with the little green icon next to her username that meant she was online. He clicked on the location button to see what room she was in, and then, feeling only a little bit like a creepy stalker lurking in the bushes, he travelled to the Snow Forts.
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pikeyb0iii says:
OMG BRO STOP THROWING SNOWBALLS AT ME I’M TRYING TO GET A PUFFLE!!
81ilyA says:
sorry lol ur hat is so [Filtered Word] i cant help it
pikeyb0iii says:
:-( y r u so mean
81ilyA says:
y r YOU such a baby pikey boi???
81ilyA says:
baby want wittle puffle??
81ilyA says:
oh :)))) hi shane :))
Metr0sKid24 says:
Hi Lily :-) What are u doing?
81ilyA says:
playing game with pikey boi
81ilyA says:
it is SO fun wanna be on my team? goal is to hit pikey boi with as many snowballs as u can
pikeyb0iii says:
What the [Filtered Word] we are NOT playing a GAME
pikeyb0iii says:
you r just BULLYING ME!!!
Metr0sKid24 says:
Woah y are u swearing
Metr0sKid24 says:
That is against the site rules :((
81ilyA says:
ya see?? he is RULE BREAKER so we gotta hit him
Metr0sKid24 says:
Ok :)) How do i throw them?
81ilyA says:
just clik on snowball next to chat! it is eazy peazy
Metr0sKid24 says:
Like this?
81ilyA says:
ya!! good job shaney!
Metr0sKid24 says:
Oh :) thank u Lily
pikeyb0iii says:
WHY ARE U BOTH SO MEAN?? I'M OUTTA HERE
81ilyA says:
hahahaha ok come on lets go follow him and throw more snowballs lol
Metr0sKid24 says:
Oh... Are u sure that is okay? He didnt seem to wanna play...
Metr0sKid24 says:
I dont wanna be a bully
81ilyA says:
nono it is okay because i am a girl so i can hit boys and u are on my team :-))
Metr0sKid24 says:
Oh ok! That makes sense.
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pikeyb0iii says:
R U FOLLOWING ME???
81ilyA says:
ya obviously... wat u think we are here to buy puffle?
81ilyA says:
unlike u we r not little babys
pikeyb0iii says:
I AM NOT A BABY!!!! I AM 11!!!
81ilyA says:
shaney can u hear sum 1 talking?
Metr0sKid24 says:
No Lily all i can hear is baby going goo goo gaga
81ilyA says:
ROFLCOPTER xDDD
pikeyb0iii says:
UHHHG U R BOTH SUCH [Filtered Word]!!!
Metr0sKid24 says:
Hey!! >:-( Dont say that about my friend!!
Metr0sKid24 says:
Eat snow u big baby!!
pikeyb0iii is now offline
Metr0sKid24 says:
Are u ok? I dont like pikey boi he was saying mean stuff about u
Metr0sKid24 says:
Did his parents not tell him that u dont say mean stuff 2 girls?
81ilyA says:
haha ya i am GREAT! I had u come to rescue me <3
81ilyA says:
thank u shaney u r my hero now <3<3<3
Metr0sKid24 says:
Oh haha. You are welcome Lily :)))
81ilyA says:
hey do u wanna buy a puffle together 2 celebrate?
81ilyA says:
i only said they r lame to bother pikey boi haha i actually think they r really cute
Metr0sKid24 says:
You mean like we could take care of it together?
Metr0sKid24 says:
I actually think they r cute too haha idk if that is embarrasing
81ilyA says:
its not embarresing!!! if u said they r not cute i would know u r a LIAR and then we couldnt be friends
81ilyA says:
and YA!! we could be puffle parents together :)))
Metr0sKid24 says:
Ok sure :-) meet u in the shop!
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81ilyA says:
witch puffle do u like shaney?
Metr0sKid24 says:
Ummm... Maybe blue? Because ur jersey is blue and it is also my favourit colour
81ilyA says:
wait if blue is ur favorite colour y is ur jersey red??
81ilyA says:
haha ohh nvm i know why it is red metro skid haha
Metr0sKid24 says:
Hey :(( dont call me that I dont like it
81ilyA says:
:(((( im sorry shaney plz plz plz forgive me!
Metr0sKid24 says:
Hmmmm....
Metr0sKid24 says:
Okay but only if u promise not to make me wait a WHOLE WEEK befroe u play with me again
81ilyA says:
did u miss me :DDDD
Metr0sKid24 says:
lol ya i guess a little
81ilyA says:
i missed u too haha
81ilyA says:
i log on EVERY DAY to see if u were online but u never were :((
Metr0sKid24 says:
:D so did I!!!!
81ilyA says:
:))))))))))))
81ilyA says:
haha ok lets get the blue puffle
81ilyA says:
do u wanna pick its name?
Metr0sKid24 says:
No! I picked the colour so u can pick the name
81ilyA says:
hmmm ok ok our puffle can be named anya ok?
81ilyA says:
because I ALWAYS wanted a dog and i said if i got one i wud name it ANYA
Metr0sKid24 says:
Ok! Hi Anya! I am Shane, can Lily and I be ur new owners?
81ilyA says:
anya said yes please!! :))
81ilyA says:
haha now she is licking ur face she is giving u kissies
Metr0sKid24 says:
Thank u Anya!
81ilyA says:
we r gonna be SUCH good puffle parents, okay?
81ilyA says:
we have 2 take care of her and love her and NEVER yell at her or be mean okay?
81ilyA says:
also she is a girl!!!
Metr0sKid24 says:
Okay! I promis I will never ever yell at her and i will be a super nice puffle dad
81ilyA says:
ok i g2g help my mama with sumthing but can we play agen tomorow?
Metr0sKid24 says:
Sure!!! I have a hockey game in the nite tho so r u free in the morning??
Metr0sKid24 says:
Wait wat time is it where u r?
81ilyA says:
its like 8:30
Metr0sKid24 says:
omg SAME
81ilyA says:
WOW! perfect :)) but also i have a hockey game too tomorrow but in the morning :(
Metr0sKid24 says:
YOU PLAY HOCKEY TOO!!!!!!!!!!???!
81ilyA says:
haha ya i am a center i am the best on my team
Metr0sKid24 says:
OMG I am a center too!!!!
81ilyA says:
:0 i bet u are also best on ur team
Metr0sKid24 says:
haha uhh my mom says its [Filtered Word] to say suff like that
Metr0sKid24 says:
Oh wat i didnt think that was a bad word...
Metr0sKid24 says:
But ya just between u and me i am also the best on my team :)))
81ilyA says:
ok can u play Sunday insted? maybe before dinner like 4:00??
Metr0sKid24 says:
Ya i can!! that works for me
81ilyA says:
kewL!! :P meet me at the Coffee Shop okay?
Metr0sKid24 says:
Wow it is sooo cool that u r a hockey player too Lily!!! I know girls play hockey too OBVIOUSLY but i never had a girl friend who likes hockey before.
Metr0sKid24 says:
Like a friend who is a girl. not a girlfriend. haha.
81ilyA says:
yes yes, i am a VERY special girl i kno. :)) ok BYE SHANEYY my FRIEND who is a BOY (but not my BOYFRIEND)
“Hey dude! What’re you doing?”
Rose appeared out of nowhere, popping into the office like a freaking jack-in-a-box. Usually Shane loved that her parents were friends with his parents, because it meant she would come over whenever they did. The unexpected visit today however, made his stomach sink with a strange discomfort, like she’d caught him cheating on a test. He closed out of the tab as quickly as he could, not really sure why he felt the need to hide it from her. Rose was the one who showed him the game, she would probably love that he was playing.
“Uh, nothing. Just looking something up for Science.” Shane internally cursed himself as he felt his sweat cursed palms start to dampen. Great, another thing to add to his list of lies.
“Booo, boring,” Rose said, starting to spin him around and around in the office chair. “Wanna come steal your mom’s makeup with me? I wanna practice my stage makeup skills but my mom hid her stuff because apparently I was wasting it. I can make you look like Spider Man or something.” She continued to spin him faster and faster as she spoke and Shane thought he might actually die.
“Sure,” Shane said quickly. “Just please stop spinning me before I puke!”
