Not in my experience, sadly But of course, I don’t have your kind of status
[or tits]
I think I will just continue keeping to myself Although I want you to know I really appreciate you keeping them off my back Honestly, Lup Not having to worry going down the hallway anymore is going to feel very nice :-)
[he turns on the sweetness out of nowhere, throwing out that smilie face with surprising sincerity, that it makes something in the girl's chest flutter. oh.]
for sure barry ill keep em off ya not a prob u can strut up and down the hallway w/o worry
but like if u ever wanna learn ill give u some lessons on standing up for urself betcha got some tough under all that nerd
Ha ha ha I sincerely doubt it I don’t think I was made tough
But thank you for the offer, Lup
[it’s distressingly hard to type anything smart or witty or profound when your stomach is full of butterflies and your head feels like it’s full of wet cotton. Barry’s face feels like it’s burning red.
Stupid. She’s probably just teasing him, alluding to some time or another she cornered him and made him feel small and weak, and Barry’s just having a hard time reading her tone over instant messaging. She doesn’t mean anything nice about it. This is Lup we’re talking about. A bully and a mean girl. Probably laughing her ass off on the other end of the screen. Snap out of it, Barry.
It’s not enough to convince the butterflies to die down.]
Should finish up the history presentation in a bit, then starting your lit essay. Just so you know.
wouldnt bet on it i always end up surprising people bet u would too if u let urself
[she's ready to keep flirting with him, to keep barry online with her and talking for as long as she can keep him there. to follow whatever this is as far as she can, to keep the wonderful fluttery feeling going. but barry is trying to slip away to finish her own homework and there's not much lup can say against that.
she wants that assignment done, alright, but she also wants to talk to him. this has to be the worst thing to ever happen in her life.]
dunk cant wait to see
[and then a few seconds later, before he can reply]
[Spoken like a boy who thinks the girl on the other end is full of shit.
That seems to be the end of it for now, Lup conceding to letting him return to her homework, leaving Barry to stew on his own and ignore how weird his body feels from talking to her. He’s not sure if it’s a nice feeling - it feels like he’s being tickled and experiencing vertigo at the same time, a nauseating panicked sucking sensation right in his gut pulling him closer to a cliff’s edge, even as his skin feels all tingly and nice. It’s confusing. Barry doesn’t like confusing.
At least it’s over... he thinks, for maybe seven blissful seconds, before the chime of a new message pulls him right back in again. What’s with her?? Can’t she take a vague conversation ender for what it is???]
Um? Finishing up your essay? And getting started on our bio project? Why?
[what is she even doing?? she should be calling him four eyes and slamming him into lockers, not feeling a little breathless that this giant nerd actually agreed to hang out with her.
no one can ever know.]
yeah whatevs if that works its chill i guess just text me whenever u finish up my essay and we can go to the mall or like hang at ur house or something doesnt matter just like u know
I’ll put up with a lot, but not you talking crap about my mom. Just to make that real clear.
[He lets that sit for a minute before he gives Lup his phone number. If she’s gonna be gross about his mom, he’ll suggest they just head to the mall instead. No cute girl is worth hurting his mom’s feelings.]
Why would she talk crap about you? I have never heard her say a mean thing about anyone or anything ever. She’s gonna like you even if you’re mean to her.
[And that’s where he leaves it for the night, his thoughts and tummy all sorts of disrupted and confused. It’s weird, both having butterflies over the cutest girl at school wanting to hang out with him, and fighting down the angry knots over someone potentially disrespecting his mother. He doesn’t like it.
It helps to crank out some homework. Sets his mind right again.
By the time Friday rolls around, Lup has received both her projects that were due, the pop quiz answers, and a project outline for chem, all sitting in her inbox. Barry’s sitting through second period physics with heavy eyelids, trying to stay awake and take notes with his brain still buzzing - he was up all night working on all his homework, which has taken the backseat for a couple days, and he’s so sleepy. The unexpected buzz of his phone in his pocket wakes him up just enough to take a confused peek at the screen under the desk. No one ever messages him in class??]
[Lup's relieved to leave the conversation there, not messaging Barry again until this very text message, even after seeing all of her assignments come trickling in through her inbox. No thank yous, no see you on friday, just silence.
Until now.]
sup its me meet me behind the gym
[no mention of their last conversation, just direct and to the point]
[Barry blinks blearily at his phone, not recognizing the number, not quite connecting the dots - until he googles the number and sees Lup’s name. This is actually happening, huh.
He glances quickly up at the teacher, who has his back turned to them, writing down formulas on the whiteboard with his illegible handwriting, the squeaky marker almost echoing in the otherwise silent classroom. Good. A window of opportunity.]
Lup? You want me to come now? I’m in class, I’ll be there after the bell.
[Whatever kid is sitting next to Barry shoots him an exaggerated look of surprise at how recklessly he's texting right in the middle of class, so completely out of character, but leaves it at that.
Lup's response flies back almost immediately.]
what a wet blanket u should just sneak out who even cares doubt anyone will even notice
[He doesn’t pay the look Jason gives him (Jason? Jason. Barry’s pretty sure his name is Jason.) any mind. If he knew Barry was texting Lup of all people, he wouldn’t be so quick to judge.
It’s a slow process, texting back. He has to keep glancing up at the teacher, occasionally take notes, answer when called on, all while carrying out a text convo. Multitasking is so hard.]
Unlike some people, I have perfect attendance. Mr Mars would notice if I suddenly disappeared, trust me.
The world will still be out there when I graduate Then I can explore Until then I can learn a ton about it in class so I can appreciate it better School isn’t just about grades you know
I don’t know how you do it Mom would never let me get away with skipping so much school
no subject
those fucks?
not really much to be scared abt with them my guy
they are all total wussies
no matter how tough they act
all u gotta do is get em alone and they totes crumble
thats why they travel in packs
they aint shit
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But of course, I don’t have your kind of status
[
or tits]I think I will just continue keeping to myself
Although I want you to know I really appreciate you keeping them off my back
Honestly, Lup
Not having to worry going down the hallway anymore is going to feel very nice
:-)
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for sure barry
ill keep em off ya
not a prob
u can strut up and down the hallway w/o worry
but like if u ever wanna learn
ill give u some lessons on standing up for urself
betcha got some tough under all that nerd
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I sincerely doubt it
I don’t think I was made tough
But thank you for the offer, Lup
[it’s distressingly hard to type anything smart or witty or profound when your stomach is full of butterflies and your head feels like it’s full of wet cotton. Barry’s face feels like it’s burning red.
Stupid. She’s probably just teasing him, alluding to some time or another she cornered him and made him feel small and weak, and Barry’s just having a hard time reading her tone over instant messaging. She doesn’t mean anything nice about it. This is Lup we’re talking about. A bully and a mean girl. Probably laughing her ass off on the other end of the screen. Snap out of it, Barry.
It’s not enough to convince the butterflies to die down.]
Should finish up the history presentation in a bit, then starting your lit essay.
Just so you know.
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i always end up surprising people
bet u would too if u let urself
[she's ready to keep flirting with him, to keep barry online with her and talking for as long as she can keep him there. to follow whatever this is as far as she can, to keep the wonderful fluttery feeling going. but barry is trying to slip away to finish her own homework and there's not much lup can say against that.
she wants that assignment done, alright, but she also wants to talk to him. this has to be the worst thing to ever happen in her life.]
dunk
cant wait to see
[and then a few seconds later, before he can reply]
what r u doing tomorrow????
no subject
[Spoken like a boy who thinks the girl on the other end is full of shit.
That seems to be the end of it for now, Lup conceding to letting him return to her homework, leaving Barry to stew on his own and ignore how weird his body feels from talking to her. He’s not sure if it’s a nice feeling - it feels like he’s being tickled and experiencing vertigo at the same time, a nauseating panicked sucking sensation right in his gut pulling him closer to a cliff’s edge, even as his skin feels all tingly and nice. It’s confusing. Barry doesn’t like confusing.
At least it’s over... he thinks, for maybe seven blissful seconds, before the chime of a new message pulls him right back in again. What’s with her?? Can’t she take a vague conversation ender for what it is???]
Um?
Finishing up your essay? And
getting started on our bio project?
Why?
no subject
[she kind of gave him a lot to do. didn't she?]
what abt fri afternoon??
we should like
skip class and hang
no subject
IS THIS REAL LIFE]
I
um
I was going to spend Friday doing my own homework.......
[NO BARRY YOU IDIOT SAY YES SAY YES SAY YES—]
no subject
THIS IS NOT ALLOWED]
so what
homework is more fun than chilling w me???
is that what ur saying
no subject
I
That’s
I never said that!!!
But!!!
[BUT. W.H.A.T.]
Maybe we can hang after I finish your essay..? Before I start our chem thing! I can finish my own homework night before no prob!!
no subject
no one can ever know.]
yeah whatevs if that works its chill i guess
just text me whenever u finish up my essay and we can go to the mall or like
hang at ur house or something
doesnt matter
just like
u know
[stop TYPING]
cool
no subject
Yes
Okay
Cool
I will need your phone number then I suppose
[Did he actually just ask for a girl’s number?? The boys on the forum are never gonna believe him!!!!]
If you come to my house, we can just tell mom we’re working on the chem thing
I guess
We can play board games or um
watch tv
no subject
home all of the time
thats so lame
shes not gonna hover over us is she
i dont chill well w parents
also like gimme urs first
no subject
And she’s NOT lame.
I’ll put up with a lot, but not you talking crap about my mom. Just to make that real clear.
[He lets that sit for a minute before he gives Lup his phone number. If she’s gonna be gross about his mom, he’ll suggest they just head to the mall instead. No cute girl is worth hurting his mom’s feelings.]
no subject
yeah yeah
im not a total bitch calm down
if shes doesnt talk crap abt me i wont abt her either
i can be nice sometimes
no subject
I have never heard her say a mean thing about anyone or anything ever.
She’s gonna like you even if you’re mean to her.
I won’t like you though.
no subject
ugh whatever
i said id be nice get off my ass
do u wanna hang or not
no subject
AFK got homework to finish
[And that’s where he leaves it for the night, his thoughts and tummy all sorts of disrupted and confused. It’s weird, both having butterflies over the cutest girl at school wanting to hang out with him, and fighting down the angry knots over someone potentially disrespecting his mother. He doesn’t like it.
It helps to crank out some homework. Sets his mind right again.
By the time Friday rolls around, Lup has received both her projects that were due, the pop quiz answers, and a project outline for chem, all sitting in her inbox. Barry’s sitting through second period physics with heavy eyelids, trying to stay awake and take notes with his brain still buzzing - he was up all night working on all his homework, which has taken the backseat for a couple days, and he’s so sleepy. The unexpected buzz of his phone in his pocket wakes him up just enough to take a confused peek at the screen under the desk. No one ever messages him in class??]
no subject
Until now.]
sup its me
meet me behind the gym
[no mention of their last conversation, just direct and to the point]
no subject
He glances quickly up at the teacher, who has his back turned to them, writing down formulas on the whiteboard with his illegible handwriting, the squeaky marker almost echoing in the otherwise silent classroom. Good. A window of opportunity.]
Lup?
You want me to come now?
I’m in class, I’ll be there after the bell.
no subject
Lup's response flies back almost immediately.]
what a wet blanket
u should just sneak out who even cares
doubt anyone will even notice
but fine w/e
see u then dorkus
no subject
It’s a slow process, texting back. He has to keep glancing up at the teacher, occasionally take notes, answer when called on, all while carrying out a text convo. Multitasking is so hard.]
Unlike some people, I have perfect attendance.
Mr Mars would notice if I suddenly disappeared, trust me.
Why don’t you just go to class??
no subject
dont need it
can keep up my grades w/o wasting all day every day
lifes too short to spend it all sitting in class
too many things to do
theres a whole world out there bluejeans
u should be out there experiencing it
no subject
The world will still be out there when I graduate
Then I can explore
Until then I can learn a ton about it in class so I can appreciate it better
School isn’t just about grades you know
I don’t know how you do it
Mom would never let me get away with skipping so much school
no subject
than listening to nobodies drone on and on abt stuff theyve only read in books
and how do u know if u never try ;)
guess im just lucky that my brother skips more than me so theres no one to tattle
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