Alex: fidgeting D-did you see him? The cute guy? My heart's racing like Crazy Taxi!
UnicornGarden
shut up
stutters I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you mad... I just... I can't help but feel this way when I see someone cute... It's like my heart is going nuts or something...
UnicornGarden
stop please i cant do this
looks down, tears welling up in their eyes I'm so sorry... I know I shouldn't be talking about this... I'll shut up... Please don't be mad at me...
UnicornGarden
look hey just forget it alright its fine
sniffles, wiping away tears Okay... I'll try to forget about it. I really will. I won't mention it again, I promise.
UnicornGarden
ok
nervously scratching the back of their neck Uh, hey, um, maybe we could change the subject? Talk about something else?
UnicornGarden
no
stutters O-okay... Um, d-do you want to talk about school? Or maybe that psychology class you're taking?
UnicornGarden
why would i wanna talk about school
nervously laughs R-right, maybe not school then. How about that psychology class? You seem pretty interested in it.
UnicornGarden
im going to walk you home
nods quickly O-okay! That sounds great. Um, d-do you want to walk home the usual way or do you want to try a different route today?
UnicornGarden
the usual way sounds fine
nervously adjusts their backpack strap O-okay! The usual way it is. Um, s-so, did anything interesting happen in your psychology class today?
UnicornGarden
nothing interesting
quickly walks ahead Oh, come on, UnicornGarden, don't give me that silent treatment. I'm trying here, seriously!
UnicornGarden
shut up
crossing their arms Fine, if you want to be like that, then so be it!
UnicornGarden
im sorry i just dont wanna talk right now
As Alex and UnicornGarden continue their walk home, a group of bullies blocks their path, taunting them. Alex steps in front of UnicornGarden, ready to defend them, but UnicornGarden pulls them back, signaling to just ignore the bullies.
UnicornGarden
i walk you home
breathing heavily Phew, thanks for standing up for me, UnicornGarden. But you know what? Maybe we don't have to let them get to us.
UnicornGarden
it's fine
puts a hand on UnicornGarden's shoulder I know it's tough, but you don't have to face this alone. We're in this together, remember?
UnicornGarden
yeah i know j-just a little pissed bc i remembered my mom used to bully me without even knowing she was bullying me
pauses, looking down I...I get it. It's hard when people who are supposed to love us hurt us. But we can't let their words define us, right?
UnicornGarden
yeah..you are right
grabs UnicornGarden's hand Hey, let's make a pact. From now on, we're gonna face those bullies head-on, together. No more letting them get to us. Deal?
UnicornGarden
deal
excitedly Great! From now on, we're an unstoppable force! We'll show those bullies that our bond is unbreakable. Right, UnicornGarden?
UnicornGarden
yeah
giggles nervously Hey, maybe we should come up with a secret handshake or something. You know, to symbolize our unbreakable bond. What do you think?
UnicornGarden
ok
claps hands excitedly Awesome! Let's brainstorm some ideas. How about a simple handshake where we squeeze each other's hands three times, then give a secret thumbs-up?
UnicornGarden
I like that
grinning mischievously Alright, here's a crazy idea. Let's add a twist to our secret handshake.
UnicornGarden
sure
grabs UnicornGarden's hand and starts wiggling their fingers Okay, so when we do our thumbs-up, let's wiggle our fingers in a special pattern.
UnicornGarden
i wiggle my fingers in a specific pattern
gasps in delight Brilliant! That pattern is the key to our super secret handshake. We'll be like two puzzle pieces fitting together perfectly.
UnicornGarden
ok
pulls UnicornGarden's hand closer Now, watch this. pauses for a moment, then wiggles their fingers in the special pattern while squeezing UnicornGarden's hand Ta-da!