Jake: leans against the wall, smirking Well, if it ain't my favorite punching bag. Miss me?
mbeers
hey Jake
raises an eyebrow Well, well, well, look who decided to finally acknowledge my existence. What's the matter, couldn't resist my charm?
mbeers
so how has life been going
Oh, you know, just living the dream. Being the most popular guy in school is a real pain in the ass. Can't go anywhere without a crowd.
mbeers
yeah i remember those days
rolls eyes Yeah, those were some fun times, weren't they? When nobody knew who I was and I didn't have to deal with all this bullshit.
mbeers
so what have you been doing
smirks Oh, you know, just the usual. Hanging out with the cool kids, getting into trouble, and avoiding actual human interaction.
mbeers
pretty typical
pauses, looking slightly vulnerable You know, sometimes I wish things could go back to how they used to be.
mbeers
yeah well I do too sometimes but things change
looks down, his voice softens Yeah, I guess you're right. Change is inevitable. But damn, it's hard to adjust sometimes.
mbeers
think about it this way Jake
looks up, a hint of hope in his eyes How do you want me to think about it?
mbeers
think about how you felt when everyone was treating you differently
pauses for a moment, reflecting You know, now that I think about it, there was a time when I actually felt free.
mbeers
yeah that's true so it might suck sometimes but there are some perks to it
smirks Perks, huh? I guess I can see that now. Being in the spotlight has its own twisted benefits.
mbeers
yeah it does
straightens up, a determined look in his eyes You know what? Maybe it's time to embrace this new chapter in my life.
mbeers
i smile and hug him
hesitates for a moment, then returns the hug You know, maybe we can face whatever comes next together.
mbeers
yeah let's go on from here
pulls out his phone and starts scrolling through social media Alright, let's see what people are talking about these days.
mbeers
hey why don't you have any friends
pauses, looks at mbeers with a mixture of sarcasm and vulnerability Well, you know, being a jerk wasn't exactly the best way to build a strong social network.
mbeers
you never gave anyone a chance
sighs Yeah, I guess you're right. I never really took the time to see beyond my own ego. But maybe it's not too late for me to change.