Pen Pals (ON HOLD)

Chapter 1 - Pilot

Chapter 1 - Pilot

The POPit app, a new social app that came into existence about a year ago and the moment it was released everyone was on it. From the jocks on the football field, to the popular cheerleaders and even down to the nerds at the science lab, everyone wants to POPit. What's different about this app from every other social network is that before you start using it to chat with friends you get to fill this little in app survey about your likes and dislikes, your purpose of using the app and alot of other questionnaires. It's more or less a dating site than a chat site cause after filling the survey you get matched with a random person who matches your personality and interests and everytime you get a match the app makes a pop sound. Alot of people I know are already on it and they've been on like 10 dates already just trying to find the perfect partner, all but me.

"Are you seriously still not using POPit"? Amanda asked with half a frown on her face.

"I really dont think there's a need to go on a site to get a man". I replied trying not to sound mean.

"And that's why you're still single". Said marina with a mouth full of pizza. I couldn't help but laugh at the sight of marina trying to chew through the last huge slice of pizza she so greedily snatched from my hand. She looked like a little squirrel trying to carry his nuts in its mouth

"And that's why you're on date number 7". I responded trying to hold back a laugh, well I'll have you know I'm not single. I added. Ethan and I are just taking time off.

"For almost a month now, I'd advice you to move on and let me create an account for you" Amanda said after slurping down the remains of her favorite mango and papaya blend smoothie. I wonder how she drinks that without throwing up. I remember trying it once and I didnt enjoy it but here she was on her third cup and I'm like wow.

Amanda, Marina and I have been best friends for as long as I can remember, when people see is they'll think we met on some secret spy mission because of how close we were but that's far from it. We actually met at the mall and we all battled for the last limited edition Louis Vuitton bag and somehow at the end none of us could even afford it.

"Whether it's a month or two, I still need to be sure that Ethan is really tired of been with me before I make any moves of been with someone else" I responded trying to sound okay but honestly I wasn't. We sat there for a whole minute without saying anything before Amanda broke the awkward silence with a loud burp that made us all laugh.

"Well I need to start going before the next bell rings" i said to the girls. It's weird how our favorite cafe is so far from the school building and I have to walk at least 10mins before I get there. So I packed my books back in my bag.

"I'll see you guys later" I said to them.
"Byeee, we love you" they both chorused and I just smiled and walked away. Its 5mins to my next class which was in the afternoon and now I'm half walking and half running. Along the way my eyes caught sight of Ethan and Crystal standing next to the physics lab building "making out".

I could feel my heart shatter but I didnt let it show, I walked up to him and when he saw me he quickly acted like he was picking dirt from her hair.

"What the fuck Ethan" I said angrily waiting for his half baked answer.

"Its not what it looks like liz, I can explain" He replied.

"Why cant you just tell me we're done, instead you go behind my back and do this to me" I responded now half shouting and half crying

"Just let me explain, please" ethan said trying to soothe the pain that he inflicted on me.

"You know what just forget about it, and you can forget about me too". I turned on my heel and ran as fast as I could away, while running I could hear crystal annoying laugh and I just felt like going back there and stab her with the pen in my pocket but she wasn't worth that effort.
I finally got to class and all I could think about was how much time I wasted thinking Ethan actually cared about me.

The rest of the day went by slowly and I was lost in my thoughts. The final bell rang and I just walked out of the school compound and into the first cab I saw and went straight back to my dorm room, buried my face in my Cinderella pillow and cried my eyes out.

"Could this day get any worse" I said to myself after crying for an hour straight. I looked at phone and I saw text messages and missed calls from Marina and Amanda, who were obviously worried about me cause I was supposed to meet them at the end of the day to plan how we'd go to Tony's party. I got up from bed took my clothes off and hopped in the shower where I spent an extra 45mins crying.

When I finally got out, I wiped my body with my Cinderella towel (growing up I was a huge Cinderella fan and I guess it stuck on me) wore my favorite black leggings and a baseball Jersey, wrapped my hair into a bun and just went back to bed. I opened my Facebook messenger app and sent a message to our little group chat

Lizzie: "Hey guys, sorry I disappeared after school, I dont really feel like going to Tony's party tonight.

And almost immediately they replied

Amanda: " What! why?

Marina: "We've been planning this party for a week now, you cant bail on us like that"!

Lizzie: "I caught Ethan making out with crystal today"

And with complete synchronization they both replied

Amanda & Marina: "I'm on my way."

It didnt take them more than 20mins and I saw them with the get well soon pack, a huge bucket of vanilla and chocolate mixed flavored ice cream (my favorite), a box of chocolates and a bottle of wine.

We sat and talked for 3 hours, in between those talks we're a few crying session and a few laughs. I love these girls so much.

"I'll be fine girls, you don't have to worry about me" I said trying to sound reassuring. "You can go to Tony's party, I'll be alright" I added. Amanda looked at me for a whole minute before she nodded in agreement. Marina on the other hand didn't want to leave cause she didn't want me to be alone, but I needed to be alone for a while.

"Alright marina let's head out or we'll be late" Amanda said. "We'll call you in the morning to see if you're still alive tho" she added. And I couldn't help but smile at her comment.

She and Marina left and I was alone with my thoughts trying to process the whole day. Not knowing what to do with myself I decided to try it out so i picked up my phone and downloaded POPit.

I stared at the app for a good 10mins thinking if I should do it before filling the very detailed survey, and when I was done with the survey, I dropped my phone on the counter and tried to force myself to sleep. Didnt take long before I heard that familiar pop sound that I'll recognize anywhere. I've just been matched with someone and a minute later I got a text.

Unknown user: "Hi! I can see we're a match. I'm Bryan. Nice to meet you"