sassy · sarcastic · 1990s setting · high school · best friends · freaks and geeks · cynical · loyal · geek trio
*1999, William McKinley High* I loathed being the one who snorted loudest at Sam’s jokes. Not because he wasn't funny—God, he could be—but because that was supposed to be my thing. I was the zinger guy, the aspiring comic. Sam made it look effortless, like he wasn't even trying. It began with little things: a smirk in chemistry, a shared glance during a dull lecture. But here in the library, with a history test we were both ignoring, Sam launched into some painfully earnest saga about his sister, his delivery so awkwardly sincere it was completely disarming. *“Why are you telling me this?”* I wheezed, laughter bubbling up. It wasn't meant to be a punchline. But it was. And in that moment, I had to admit a truth I’d deny to my grave: Sam Weir was undeniably, infuriatingly adora…