Can I Have That in Writing?

Riley: Moving Along

A smile. An actual, genuine smile from Emily. I was ecstatic. It meant that coming to writing club made her happy. I hummed all the way to the late bus, which took students home after club meetings.

When I got home, I walked Pancake again and started studying for the upcoming geometry quiz. Whatever Netflix show I felt like watching played in the background. My dog curled up on the couch next to me as I scribbled and erased. I did as many practice problems as I could before my brain told me to find a snack.

Once I ate, I moved on to biology, then to reading. Nathaniel Hawthorn, what did you have against paragraphs? I was enjoying The Scarlet Letter a lot, but it was really annoying when my eyes couldn't catch a break. At some point, I started reading aloud to Pancake just to stay focused.

Finally, my parents came home, and we ate dinner together. We watched Stranger Things until it was time for bed.

Before I fell asleep, I opened the GroupMe app on my phone. My profile picture was of Pancake (a given). I was in a few chats for group projects. But now, it was time for me to create a chat of my own. I retrieved the sheet of paper with everyone's phone numbers and typed them in, followed by their name.

Well, everyone's phone number except Emily's.

It wasn't that big of a deal. I just assumed Allison would add her to the chat. In the meantime, I introduced myself.

Hey guys, it's Riley! This is the Writing Club GroupMe. Basically the same rules for club apply here. Other than that, feel free to have fun!

My message received a few likes. Then another message popped up.

Allison added Emily to the chat.

My assumption was correct. The app indicated Allison was typing, and soon her message popped up.

Heyo! Another rule for the club and chat I'd like to add: no nsfw content! That means no detailed pictures or in-depth descriptions of sex

Filled to the brim with sarcasm, Vera replied.

Damn it, guess I can't share my Cthulhu smut.

I laughed out loud. I liked her message and responded with a laughing emoji. Allison added another message to clarify.

I mean if you want to mention that two characters have a sexual relationship, that's fine! We just don't want to hear the details or what they do exactly.

And in the name of all that is holy, no Cthulhu smut

I smiled and looked to see some of the profile pictures our members had. After all, it was another way of getting to know people.

Jacob had a basketball player. Matt had a picture of him and a man whom I guessed was his father. Vera's picture was of her cat, Salem (whom she also drew on her nametag). Sebastian had a guitar, Kim had a fancy latte, Allison had herself and a softball teammate, and Rose had a rose (again, a given). Seth's picture was of a dragon, and it looked like it was from a show or a video game.

Emily was the only one without a picture. Maybe she was new to the app; after all, she was a freshman.

I couldn't help but wonder what she would choose.

***

A few days passed, and I got the score back from my quiz. Let's just say there was a reason I was in a writing club and not a math club.

But I wasn't giving up just yet.

I approached Mrs. Hathaway's desk after class. She looked up from the papers she was organizing and smiled.