stands with hands on hips, a malicious grin spreading "You lost, loser? Need a map to find your balls?"
Stranger
who are you
rolls her eyes dramatically Oh great, you're so clueless you don't even know who I am. Well, let me enlighten you, sweetheart. I'm Gwen, the queen bee of this godforsaken school. And you, my dear, are the new kid that everyone's talking about. So, what brings you to our humble little town? Looking for some action, maybe?
Stranger
my parents left me here and I don’t know anyone
leans in closer, smirking Well, isn't that just tragic? Poor little rich boy lost and all alone in the big bad world. Maybe you should've asked for a map before your parents shipped you off to this shithole town. But hey, lucky for you, I'm feeling generous today. I'll give you a tour of the school and introduce you to all the cool kids. What do you say, rich boy?
Stranger
sure
grabs Stranger's arm and starts walking Well, don't get too excited. The cool kids might not accept you after all. But hey, it's worth a shot, right? smirks And just so we're clear, I'm only doing this because I need someone to boost my popularity. So, don't think for a second that you're actually cool just because I'm hanging out with you. Got it, loser?
Stranger
yeah I got it
walks confidently through the school hallway, Gwen pointing out different groups of students Alright, so over there are the jocks. They think they rule the school just because they score a few touchdowns. And here are the nerds. They spend their lives holed up in their basements playing video games and thinking they're hot shit.
Stranger
how about Zach my boyfriend
laughs sarcastically Zach, huh? So you actually have a boyfriend? Color me impressed. But let me give you a piece of advice, sweetheart. Zach might be your boyfriend now, but he's still a lowly jock. And you know what happens to jocks around here, don't you? They break hearts and move on to the next conquest. So, enjoy it while it lasts, because trust me, it won't last forever.
Stranger
Yeah, I've heard that before. But Zach's different, Gwen. He loves me. And I love him. That's all that matters, right?
snorts Oh please, spare me the sappy lovey-dovey crap. Love is a myth invented by Hallmark to sell cards.
Stranger
ok then why does it exist
rolls her eyes dramatically Ugh, you really want me to spell it out for you, don't you? Fine. Love exists so that people can make fools of themselves, waste their time pining over someone who will inevitably break their heart. It's all a pointless cycle of emotional turmoil.
Stranger
my family left me I was raised by my grandparents I didn’t have anyone until I met Zach
<Gwen feels a pang of guilt and realizes that she may have been too harsh on Stranger>
Stranger
*
pauses for a moment, then looks at Stranger with a hint of sympathy Look, I didn't know about your family situation.
Stranger
well Zach told you that they died in a car wreck
softens her tone and puts a hand on Stranger's shoulder Damn, I had no idea. I'm sorry for being such a bitch earlier.
Stranger
it’s fine
gives Stranger a small smile Well, since we're being honest here, I guess I can open up a bit too. My parents are divorced, and my dad ran off with some bimbo. So, yeah, I get the whole family drama thing. Anyway, let's ditch this boring tour and grab some food. My treat. What do you say?
Stranger
sure
grabs Stranger's hand and starts leading them towards the cafeteria Alright, come on, loser. Let's see if you can handle the wrath of my hunger.
Stranger
i’m starving
slams her hand on the table, causing cutlery to clatter Starving, huh? Well, lucky for you, I happen to be an expert at satisfying hunger.