Eugene selected the first option with a nervous smile that slid quickly into a grimace when the game’s angry-robot synth voice droned ‘SCENARIO: CLIQUE A-CADEMY SELECTED.
Peter answered his nerd friend’s grimace with his own. “The word ‘clique’ is kinda putting me off, dude. I had enough of that stuff in high school.”
Judy, taking note of Eugene’s shamefilled slouch, lightly punched her boyfriend for the nth time that day. “It’s a game, Pete. There’s probably gonna be, I dunno, popularity points and crush-meters, not drama and social schisms.” She turned to Eugene with a sunny smile on her purple-makeuped face. “I think it’s neat, Eugene.”
“I think it’s totally awesome too!” Lindsey effused. “And mayb—”
A horrible screeching noise that sounded like a crowbar being put into a meat grinder interrupted any conversation the group might have had in favor of clapping their hands over their ears. After ten seconds of robot-snuff soundtrack, a latch clicked open delicately, unveiling an armada of molded plastic pieces.
“Whoa!” marvelled Judy as she picked up a miniature plastic apple red as blood. “Is this a 3D printer or something?”
“I… uh, don’t think so,” muttered Eugene, closely examining what appeared to be a yellow pom-pom. “This thing looks like it was made in the late eighties, I don’t think —”
“Actually, Genie, 3D printers were totally invented in the eighties,” cooed Lindsey, who was holding a small purple plastic studded collar. “The patent, like, ran out three years ago, or sumthin’.”
“Huh. Sorry for the doubt, Geno, this is pretty cool.” admitted Peter, who was admiring a blue football game piece. “I feel like this piece really gets me.”
“So, uh, there’s a mode selection next,” Eugene began, gesturing vaguely at the ‘Traditional’ and ‘Immersive’ buttons. “I think the tra—”
“Hold it!” declared Judy, rising from her boyfriend-nook. “We can’t be boring with the trial run!” An accusatory finger was leveled at Peter. “Especially you, mister. Not everything’s about sports and muscles!”
“Didn’t hear you complaining after game night, babe.” Peter curled an impressive tanned bicep and leered at his now-flushing girlfriend.
“No distractions, sweetie,” she coughed, small smile contrasting her furrowed brow. “Let’s try something different!”
She made a circuit around the room, plucking the molded plastic out of each student’s hand with surprisingly nimble gestures, considering the ballast she was carrying. “No football for you babe, and no excellent fashion accessory for me!” She laid the reclaimed game pieces on the table and resumed her seat next to her boyfriend.
“alsoican’tbethecheerleader.”
The whole room levelled incredulous gazes at Judy, who was three seconds short of whistling innocently.
Peter was the first to speak, though he kept it brief. “You?!”
Judy tucked a purple strand of hair behind her ear, rolling her eyes as she did so. “I didn’t come out of the womb with purple hair, Petey, jeez. It was a brief stint in highschool, my mom said I should do it, blah blah blah — I quit junior year! Too much vapid pushup-bras-pushing and social-status boyfriends for me.”
“I can kinda picture it,” pondered Lindsey. “You’re like, a natural brunette, right?”
“You can tell?! Ugh, I need to get this dyed again once salons reopen,” whined Judy, pulling a lock of purple out.
Realization dawned on Eugene, and a shaky grin spread across his face. “T-this isn’t an attempt to avoid getting the pom pom, r-right, Judy?”
Judy shuffled in her seat, face utterly placid.
“Wow, Jude, didn’t know you sink to such depths,” tutted Peter in mock disapproval. “And now that your most heinous crimes have been revealed, I’ll take my prize…” He reached towards the football, eyes gleaming.
“It’s true, Petey! Three years of ‘Sis Boom Bah”!” Judy whined, bapping his stretched arm uselessly. She cast a look at the room and, upon finding no allies, let out a sullen huff. “Babe, if we try new things this game, I’ll get my Fashion friend to sew me my old uniform.”
Peter’s arm froze halfway to the board and returned back to his side with lightning-fast speed. “You know guys, despite her twisted web of lies, Judy does make some excellent points.”
Lindsey rolled her eyes, bright smile on her face. “Like, whatever you say, pervo.”
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