chapter 7

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Seein' you tonight...
it's a bad idea, right?

Olivia Rodrigo - bad idea right?

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I wind up my MP3 player's audio as I play some sketchy-looking-but-not-really online chess. Derek always asks why don't I befriend other online chess players, but I'm pretty sure I'm the only high school student in my region that is on level 380 out of 400 of said game. It's only now started to get challenging.

Eventually, my final possible move in the game session comes about. My mind scrambles to think about any moves that can make me win over "iodinegator73", who's on level 380 as well. A light bulb in my head flickers on, realizing I can hit this player with a smothered mate. I rearrange the pieces as so, and my computer screen flashes with "CHECKMATE!"

'Yea!" I celebrate with my usual 5 second arm-waving dance. My level finally rises to 381, my screen popping up 5 stars and some virtual confetti. Suddenly, during my dance, the direct inbox sound  plays through the speakers. I turn around, butterflies immediately fluttering in my stomach, and not the good kind. I move my arrow to the inbox symbol to click on the message.

"You have won again, buddy! Teach me your tricks! XD" the message reads.

a heavy bubble of fear fizzes up in my stomach. i slowly type my response, with the bubble growing bigger and bigger.

"well what i usually do is..." i manage to type a few words before the user replies.

"don't be shy, you can tell me." iodinegator73 tells me. "i know you like to keep secrets, spence."

my soul nearly leaps out of me when my eyes catch my name... spence. how does this person know me? i never put my name out on social platforms... my real atleast .

a few minutes of me staring at the profile goes by, but the dots connect soon after."iodinegator73" is penelope, the tech girl on the quantico clique.

"how... how do you know me?" my hands finally reach the keyboard.

"im penelope garcia... you know i know everything about everyonee... including you."

she quickly sends an essay long paper with my personal information. grades, id info, and more is spread on this normal-looking e-doc.

i don't even know what to type anymore, my inner voice says as my fingers scatter on the keyboard, not even forming words anymore.

when i do get to write one, the computer goes black. my room lights go black. eventually, the whole house fades into a dark abyss.

You've reached the end of published parts.

⏰ Last updated: Apr 21 ⏰

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