[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
have u EVER seen him in class????? p sure hes actually allergic to it
yeah yeah go play teachers pet see u soon
[And surprisingly, she's right where she says she'll be whenever Barry finally makes it behind the gym, fully engrossed in scrolling through her phone, leaning casually against the building, one foot planted on the ground and the other pressed to the concrete wall. She's wearing a mini skirt and an oversized, cropped sweater, baggy sleeves scrunched up to her elbows, headphones over her ears with her music just loud enough to be faintly heard even with the distance between them.]
[Barry can’t quite shake the feeling that he’s being punked. It’s just something about it, the fat nerdy kid shyly approaching the gorgeous popular girl leaning against the wall behind the gym, her outfit definitely not meeting school dress codes, her demeanor that of someone who’s way too cool to ever be seen with someone like him, someone who’s too good for the air she breathes.
Standing there, distracted by her music and her phone, she looks like someone out of a movie. Not someone Barry chats with online and knows the name of, not someone who knows his name, let alone wants to hang out with him.
It’s surreal. Like he’s dreaming.
Nervously clutching his book bag, he gets close enough that she should be able to see him, trying to make eye contact with her. It’s... way harder talking to her IRL than online.]
[He edges closer to her, tries to catch the young woman’s eye, but she’s too deep into a conversation now, her back pressing more against the wall while she leans so her fingers can fly over her phone screen, quick in a way that shows how little she second guesses herself. She smiles to herself while she types, lifting her phone just a touch closer to her face.
Barry’s close enough to hear an incoming message vibrate in her hand, the clack or her perfectly manicured nails against the screen, the fast-paced beat of whatever she’s listening to.
[Well, dang. He’s gonna actually have to talk to a girl right now, huh?
Barry tries to summon the courage to approach, to get close enough that she’ll see him, but no such luck. Lup is completely ignoring him in favor of her phone screen. How do people do this?? When he’s sitting at his keyboard, it’s different. It doesn’t feel like he’s talking to a real person then, he just punches words into a window and words come back at him. He feels more in control then. Like the inherently unpredictable nature of humans doesn’t play a factor at all. But now that she’s standing right there, flesh and blood and clacking nails, Barry stiffens. He’s almost close enough to smell her now.
He chokes. Can’t do it. Impossible. Can’t go through with it. He’ll just go back to class and pretend he never spoke to her and finish their chem project and that’s it, that’s it, he’ll never have to speak to her ever again, they will graduate and he’ll move to a big city and go to university and get his degree and the memory of the cute but scary girl who made Barry feel so so small will become distant and fleeting, ]
E-Excuse me?
[Fuck. He must be a glutton for punishment. Stepping forward, Barry taps the girl on her shoulder, giving a nervous little wave once she looks up at him.]
[For how difficult it was for Barry to work up the courage so approach and call out to her, Lup turns to him with the kind of ease it takes years to learn, her phone stuffed down the front of her shirt and her headphones pulled down around her neck.]
What took you so long? Stay behind the kiss Mrs. Mars' ass?
[But she smiles wide, like it's a harmless tease, before she's reaching over to shove his shoulder. Not as hard as she might if she was shoving him into a locker, just enough to jostle him.]
So what are we doin'? Headin' to your place? Can we grab a snack there?
Oh, u-uh— i-it’s Mr. Mars, but uh— no, I left as soon as th’bell rang... Took a while t’find ya, heh...
[Lord above, strike him dead. He’s so awkward.This crazy hot girl is actually talking to him like he’s an equal, teasing him, touching him, and Barry looks like he’s going to sink into the ground with shame. Is it hard to believe he’s the same boy she’s been talking to online? Maybe.]
Y-Yeah, I think that’s— yeah. My house is closer than th’mall. [Barry doesn’t like malls anyway.] Mom’s probably out with some old work friends, so we can hang out... W-We have ice cream in th’fridge if y’want.
[Hands wringing nervously around the strap of his book bag, the boy hesitated before speaking again.]
Do y’have a sneaky shortcut outta th’school grounds, or..?
[That is definitely going to be what she focuses on after everything he's just said. What a total weirdo.]
Duh, I know all the best ways off the property without getting caught. C'mon, thug. Just follow me.
[Before she gets seen from across the field and dragged back to the detention she's been avoiding for at least two weeks now. Lup spins in place, her long hair fanning out behind her and whacking the young man, before she's striding away with her usual confidence, expecting Barry to follow. Her 'secret' way off of campus isn't that secret - a whole in the fence beyond the track field, just out of sight because of the bleachers. When they arrive, she just ducks through it without waiting, like she's been using it consistently for the last four years.
On the other side, she turns and taps her foot, waiting.]
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
no subject
:-0
How are you two not expelled?
Oh crap hang on
[There’s silence for a while, until another text ticks in ten minutes later.]
Mr Mars almost caught me
See you after the bell
no subject
p sure hes actually allergic to it
yeah yeah go play teachers pet see u soon
[And surprisingly, she's right where she says she'll be whenever Barry finally makes it behind the gym, fully engrossed in scrolling through her phone, leaning casually against the building, one foot planted on the ground and the other pressed to the concrete wall. She's wearing a mini skirt and an oversized, cropped sweater, baggy sleeves scrunched up to her elbows, headphones over her ears with her music just loud enough to be faintly heard even with the distance between them.]
no subject
Standing there, distracted by her music and her phone, she looks like someone out of a movie. Not someone Barry chats with online and knows the name of, not someone who knows his name, let alone wants to hang out with him.
It’s surreal. Like he’s dreaming.
Nervously clutching his book bag, he gets close enough that she should be able to see him, trying to make eye contact with her. It’s... way harder talking to her IRL than online.]
no subject
Barry’s close enough to hear an incoming message vibrate in her hand, the clack or her perfectly manicured nails against the screen, the fast-paced beat of whatever she’s listening to.
Might have to try a little harder, Barry.]
no subject
Barry tries to summon the courage to approach, to get close enough that she’ll see him, but no such luck. Lup is completely ignoring him in favor of her phone screen. How do people do this?? When he’s sitting at his keyboard, it’s different. It doesn’t feel like he’s talking to a real person then, he just punches words into a window and words come back at him. He feels more in control then. Like the inherently unpredictable nature of humans doesn’t play a factor at all. But now that she’s standing right there, flesh and blood and clacking nails, Barry stiffens. He’s almost close enough to smell her now.
He chokes. Can’t do it. Impossible. Can’t go through with it. He’ll just go back to class and pretend he never spoke to her and finish their chem project and that’s it, that’s it, he’ll never have to speak to her ever again, they will graduate and he’ll move to a big city and go to university and get his degree and the memory of the cute but scary girl who made Barry feel so so small will become distant and fleeting, ]
E-Excuse me?
[Fuck. He must be a glutton for punishment. Stepping forward, Barry taps the girl on her shoulder, giving a nervous little wave once she looks up at him.]
I uh— I’m here.
no subject
[For how difficult it was for Barry to work up the courage so approach and call out to her, Lup turns to him with the kind of ease it takes years to learn, her phone stuffed down the front of her shirt and her headphones pulled down around her neck.]
What took you so long? Stay behind the kiss Mrs. Mars' ass?
[But she smiles wide, like it's a harmless tease, before she's reaching over to shove his shoulder. Not as hard as she might if she was shoving him into a locker, just enough to jostle him.]
So what are we doin'? Headin' to your place? Can we grab a snack there?
no subject
[Lord above, strike him dead. He’s so awkward.This crazy hot girl is actually talking to him like he’s an equal, teasing him, touching him, and Barry looks like he’s going to sink into the ground with shame. Is it hard to believe he’s the same boy she’s been talking to online? Maybe.]
Y-Yeah, I think that’s— yeah. My house is closer than th’mall. [Barry doesn’t like malls anyway.] Mom’s probably out with some old work friends, so we can hang out... W-We have ice cream in th’fridge if y’want.
[Hands wringing nervously around the strap of his book bag, the boy hesitated before speaking again.]
Do y’have a sneaky shortcut outta th’school grounds, or..?
no subject
[That is definitely going to be what she focuses on after everything he's just said. What a total weirdo.]
Duh, I know all the best ways off the property without getting caught. C'mon, thug. Just follow me.
[Before she gets seen from across the field and dragged back to the detention she's been avoiding for at least two weeks now. Lup spins in place, her long hair fanning out behind her and whacking the young man, before she's striding away with her usual confidence, expecting Barry to follow. Her 'secret' way off of campus isn't that secret - a whole in the fence beyond the track field, just out of sight because of the bleachers. When they arrive, she just ducks through it without waiting, like she's been using it consistently for the last four years.
On the other side, she turns and taps her foot, waiting.]
Freedom's just on the other side, my guy.