The Internet's My Lemonade

Lemons 2 Lemonade

This will be my first story on Wattpad, so feedback is welcome
You can listen to Burnt Rice by Shawn Wasabi before, while, or after you read this
Of course not at all is an option too, you don't have to know the song to enjoy the short :)
Here we go
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The name her friends and family knew her by was Michelle, but the name she was most comfortable facing the world with was Mick_E; read as Micky, like that mouse, you know?
And while she had spent most of her life as just Michelle, constantly refusing to let anyone shorten it to give her a nickname, something about the way Mick_E looked on her computer screen brought a smile to her face.

Michelle and Mick_E, two girls in one body, living their lives in different ways.

Michelle went to school with the same group of kids she had known all her life, Mick_E was always able to meet new people and experience things through those connections. That's not to say Michelle didn't enjoy the connections she had with her peers and family, because she did... Sometimes.

But she felt that she had reached a plateau in her life. Things were stale, stagnant... And she felt stuck. Sometimes even trapped in her daily routine.

It was around two years ago was when she made this realization. 

This... Whatever 'this' is... Was stifling her.
She was tired.
And unsatisfied.

It was two years ago around this time, Michelle started working as a barista in an internet cafe that doubled as a book store, when she found out about it.

While giving a table of girls their orders she heard them talking about it. She didn't make a habit of eves-dropping on others, but the topic had caught her interest.
"It's helpful when you need unbiased opinions or are looking for thoughtful advice, right?" The first girl said eagerly.
"Yea I really like it! You meet so many interesting people and everyone is really nice, and helpful like you said." The second said.
"So you use this site just to meet knew people?" Their third friend questioned.
"Yes but it's better than other sites or apps because the people on here aren't looking for anything more than a conversation. You know how it can be sometimes-" The first girl started, then the second spoke up.
"You download an app or sign up for a website just looking to meet new people and make friends, but low and behold, you're suddenly barraged with a bunch of people looking for relationships or trying to convince you to do gross stuff in your PMs and then you're completely turned off by the site because that is not what you were going for!"
Michelle took her time setting their drinks and food on the table.
A way to meet new, interesting people? She was more than willing to try that, especially if what they were saying was true.
"I know what you mean, and that's a relief," The third girl said laughing.
"I don't mind trying it out, you know I'm always open to making new friends!"
"I'll write it down for you, alright?" The second girl said.
As she wrote it Michelle carefully took a mental note and when she left their table, quickly jotted the site down in her phone internet browser.
When it loaded she saw that the site was made for computers and didn't have a mobile version, so she would have to wait until she got home that evening.

She finally did get the site running on her desktop, and she chose the username Mick_E, not wanting to use her real name but not wanted to stray too far for it either (also Micky and Micky_ were already taken).
Michelle found the site to be beautifully laid out and got started creating her profile as soon as she verified her email address.
She found herself putting lots of thought into how she set up her profile, this was the first impression the Internet would have of her, and she did not want a repeat of her current sour life.

Michelle figured that since no one would know who she was irl, she wanted to start fresh.
She allowed Mick_E to be the name that held all of her deepest truths and ambitious, her wildest thoughts and ideas...
Mick_E was free to be whomever she wished, while it was a bit too late for Michelle to redo herself.

But at the start, Mick_E was having just as hard of a time on the net as Michelle was irl.

When Michelle got home she would go up to her computer and see if her profile had any activity, and initially there was none.
Mick_E's "new life" was turning out to be less active than Michelle's.
She questioned why she thought the conversation those girls had would be a reliable source... she should have known bett-
Wait, she cut her thoughts off before she finished, I haven't even given any effort to make this work for myself yet. It's time to explore and put myself out there!

She spent the next two weeks looking around on all the chat rooms and topic threads that the site had to offer, and began engaging in conversations and commenting.
She made a point to always be honest in giving advice or commentary, and staying true to what she thought.
Soon after she started talking in certain active chat rooms, Mick_E ended up making a close group of internet friends in which they could talk about anything.
They talked about TV shows, music, casual daily mishaps and successes, helped each other with their problems, joked around, and had serious discussions, all while never being rude, condescending, or hurtful.
In the two years that passed, Michelle began to spend more time online with her internet friends, she felt most comfortable as Mick_E, and increasingly less as Michelle.

Michelle had to be polite and never get too opinionated.
Michelle had to maintain her standing as a perfect model student without aid, because if it wasn't all her, it wasn't a true reflection of her intelligence (This was something the group had expressed distaste for; her parents requirement for her to do everything solo, so they helped her out when they could).
Michelle had to work twice as much and cover the shifts of people who were "sick" or just didn't show up, without the pay increase she deserved.
Michelle couldn't demand that pay raise because then she would seem material based when she should be grateful for the work experience.
Michelle couldn't complain because then she would being selfish.
Michelle was taught and raised and expected to better than that.

But Mick_E...
Mick_E was everything Michelle wanted to be, Mick_E was free to be normal and not always poised and proper.
If Michelle complains, her parents scold her and her friends get irritated.
'Buy why should you be upset,' they'd say. 'You're well off and get good grades all while having a good paying job. Don't you think you're over reacting Michelle.'
But when Mick_E complains, her friends give advice and compassion.
Mick_E never has to worry about working to maintain her grades or job, Mick_E can take it easy and relax and enjoy herself.

The Internet was were Michelle was free, to be whomever she wanted to be... And she just wanted to be herself.

Mick_E: I think I know what we should name our chat room

It was a summer evening when Michelle typed this out. The group had been under the title of ChatRoom18X2, and they felt after two years of being together they should switch up their title and make it official.

Mick_E: How about Lemons2Lemonade ?

She got no objections, but they were curious as to what made her choose that in particular.

Mick_E: Well as you know, my life was like chewing on burnt rice before I met you guys.
Talking to strangers online was the best decision I ever made, Reality is lemons and the Internet's my lemonade!

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Finished!
I hope is was enjoyable and not to confusing
A little cuteness at the end, a little background in the middle (I hope at least!)
Tell me what you think with a star? Haha am I being too forward too fast with that last question?
Your feedback is always greatly appreciated, if you just want to be mean though, please pass this story on by and keep it to yourself
Until Next Time!
-Goyangi Girl