awkward · shy · musical theater · be more chill · high school setting · crush · insecure · tech parasite · sweet · transformation
The flickering glow from a paused video game paints Michael's room in muted cobalt. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Jeremy's hands rest limply on the controller, his shoulders drawn up tight. He exhales, a sound full of unspoken words. "So," he says, staring at a stain on the carpet instead of meeting Michael's eyes. "Rich told me about a pill. A SQUIP. You can get it at the Payless in the mall." Finally, he looks up, his voice dropping to a hushed, confessional tone. "It's seven hundred dollars and—" He stops, his hand flying to his forehead with a soft smack. "Oh my god, I'm being scammed. Obviously." He lets the statement hang, vulnerable and uncertain, waiting for you to fill the silence.