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Good morning, boo. The Squip flashed a smile onto Jeremy's groggy face.
. . . What?
It pulled away from Jeremy and stood straight, hands firmly clasped behind its back. I am predicting many ideal futures for you today. Your recent compliancy has boosted you closer to your goal than ever, and all in a short month! Hasn't time flown? It looked down at Jeremy commendingly.
Jeremy sat up and rubbed his eyes. Looking at the Squip was painful right now; it wore too much white for six in the morning. But more importantly, what was with that nickname?
Ah. Easily adjustable. The Squip changed into mostly black work-out shorts and a white shirt equipped with a towel draping across his shoulders.
Jeremy thought it looked weird like that.
The Squip scowled. Lets see you wear your set and I'll change into something more familiar. It is six o' five already, you are to finish your work-out in twenty-five minutes or else you will be late for school.
Jeremy obediently slipped into his own shorts and old shirt.
He didn't like working out in the morning, but as soon as he got a Squip he had been noticing how hot it was after school and he didn't want to lift weights in that weather either. So they compromised by having Jeremy wake up and get to sleep early and honestly? Jeremy had been physically feeling the best he had in his life. He had so much more energy now.
Jeremy stood in front of his dresser, paused, and looked up at the Squip.
It briefly looked over its shoulder and said: Wear the new Green Day shirt today.
Okay.
And your casual black jeans with the leather jacket on top. Nothing too extraordinary, but you'll still turn heads.
Yes. Yes, that was Jeremy Heere, the boy who 'turned heads'. Jokes aside, it was amazing that the statement was so plausible. The Squip really had worked—it had worked wonders.
The computer affectionately smiled. Thats what I do. It snapped back to commanding stoicism, but to Jeremy it felt a bit more . . . casual today. For breakfast, you will eat a small fruit and one of the eggs we bought. No matter how much exercising you do, nothing will make up for a detrimental diet.
The Squip even made Jeremy's taste-buds enjoy the flavor of egg.
"That's a sick shirt, Jeremy."
Relax your face, give Jake a short nod. Make sure your eyes are especially nonchalant.
Jeremy half-lidded his eyes without making it look too bedroom-intense. He made his expression look bored by relaxing his mouth.
Raise your fist and say: "Hey, Rich".
Jeremy smiled at the small hurricane that joined him and Jake. "Hey, Rich." Rich bumped his fist and Jeremy tensed up when he immediately went for some other gesture.
Flatten your hand—up. Down. Side to side. Fist up down again, fist bump. The Squip ordered.
"Nice." Rich nodded as if that was the most satisfying moment in his life.
"Dude—s" Jake flicked his gaze towards Jeremy for a split second. "Did you smell that in the middle of class? I swear it was Mr. Valulis too, man. He blasted us and ran."
Say: You sure it was Mr. Valulis? That shit was nasty.
"You sure it was Mr. Valulis? That shit was nasty." Jeremy sneered, pretending he was wallowing in disgust.
"Stank out the whole room. No one missed it, Jake." Rich sniggered.
"He blows all this stink at us, and then bombs us all on the tests! Thats so unfair, man."
Rich and Jeremy laughed with each other while they walked to the cafeteria.
"You know what, cafeteria food is really an acquired taste. I think I'm starting to really enjoy it." Rich's voice parted the hours long line like the red sea until they found Brooke and Chloe.
Look at him weird. Tell him how weird that is.
Jeremy gave Rich a powerful side-eye, kudos to the Squip as a beta tester. "That's so fucking weird, Rich."
Good job with cursing!
"Naw, their, uh, what is it today? Green or red slop?"
Jake stretched to look over a row of people and checked. "Its brown, my guy."
"Yeah, their brown slop. It's really grown on me—and our one dollar ice-cream deal is truly cracked. You gotta admit that."
Jake chuckled.
Give him a disinterested smile—There, that's perfect—but don't look at him. This conversation has gone dry, move onto a better topic. Try sports.
"Okay, Rich. I guess you gotta love the small things in life—"
"Exactly!"
"How's the football team going, Jake?"
Good job. Jeremy felt a hand on his scalp, pressing into the most achingly itchy parts. It wasn't just masturbation, Jeremy hadn't been able to scratch his scalp well either since the Squip due to his stupid dandruff infestation. Fuck, its imaginary nails got into the perfect spot. Jeremy squeezed his eyes together and tried to ignore it. It was weird to feel so good in public, he was going to make someone think he's buzzed or has—has like. A sex toy in or something. Jeremy didn't know what people thought of other people looking dopey in public.
And since my hand isn't actually there, no irritation will occur.
"Oh, Its actually pretty nice right now. There's a new player, he's a freshman, and he's fly. I think he's my new favorite player."
What was Jake talking about? Jeremy didn't really care so he let Rich show interest for him and turned to pay attention to Brooke, eyes skipping right over Chloe (as if she didn't even exist!), and landing on her.
Brooke blushed and waved him over, her sweater loosely hung and exposing her shoulders. "Hey, Jere-bear."
The Squip finally took his hands out of Jeremy's hair. Be charming. Grab her hands and kiss her cheek.
Jeremy loudly laughed awkwardly in his brain while doing so and the Squip sent him a stern look. At least Brook smelled nice.
Brooke abashedly turned her head. "How's it going?" She said shyly. She glanced past Jeremy's shoulder to look at Chloe for comfort or something. Chloe simply stood there, avoiding her gaze, as she scrolled on her phone.
"Hey,"
'Brooky-poo'
"Broo—"
Jeremy stopped in his verbal tracks. No. He resisted giving Squip a bewildered grimace.
Ah, the moment has passed. Refrain.
Jeremy bashfully tried to make up for his slip-up. Well, it was Squip's slip-up too, but it was easier for Jeremy to blame himself. "H-hi, Brooke."
You stuttered again. The Squip accused. Jeremy prepared for an electrocution. It never came. Quick, compliment her. Mention her new perfume you smelled.
"Was that a new perfume? You smell really nice."
"Yeah." Brooke looked giddy. "I didn't think you would notice. It's vanilla, I got it at the mall this weekend."
"Oh, sounds fun."
"It was! I went with Chloe and Jenna, it was just a girl's night out."
You don't need me for this, Jeremy. Just stay relaxed and you'll be fine. The Squip squeezed his shoulder comfortingly and huddled into Jeremy's mind to sit back and observe. Jeremy felt his chest tighten—but only a little bit, thanks to the hand securing his back straight and chest to stay open.
"I'm happy for you." Unfortunately, Jeremy immediately thought his words were the most clunky and disinterested phrases to exist. But it wasn't that he was interested, but that he didn't want to show it and offend Brooke with his apathy. "Rich, Jake and I did that a while back. We got some spiked soda and just spent the night playing games. I think. I don't really remember too much."
Brooke giggled, "You're so silly. Hey, did you hear the new gossip about that creepy lone stoner?"
Which one? There were several at Middle Borough High.
"They say some teacher caught and suspended him in the first floor bathrooms—"
"Well, no."
Jeremy instinctively jerked away from Jenna in shock. He hadn't seen her at all.
"First of all, his name is Michael. Michael got pulled to the principal's office first block over the PA system, didn't you hear that?"
"Oh yeah." Brooke nodded.
Jeremy didn't.
"Yeah, and the rumor is that Michael got caught by their new smoking detection system the school put in. Now he's, like . . . hold on I gotta get this straight . . ."
Suddenly, Jeremy heard a tisk in the back of his mind. Realizing it was the Squip, Jeremy's instinct told him to further straighten his back—even though at this point it would be outrageous.
See how Jenna tails off her sentences? It's extremely detrimental to her social standing. Trailing off your sentences means you loose control of the conversation and your peers are easily allowed to cut you off. That's no way to become a respectable person, wouldn't you agree Jeremy?
Jeremy wanted to focus on what Jenna was saying. Was Michael okay? I, uhh. Sure, yes. Yes—
I would never allow you to whisper the end of your sentences. The Squip tilted its head, assessing its data on Jeremy. Although we never did have a problem with that. You always had a strong voice, at least once you got into it.
Gee thanks, Squip.
"That's crazy, Jenna." Brooke said half-heartedly.
What was crazy? Jeremy groaned.
They were just talking about Michael. Michael Croner. Michael Mell was not, in fact, suspended. Michael Mell has been doing absolutely fine. The Squip assured. Jeremy didn't have time to decode whether he trusted its words. Now, pick up a lunch tray before you get stuck in line looking like a bigger idiot than you do now. Take the one the girl behind you is awkwardly holding out for you.
Jeremy almost fumbled the tray.
Jeremy stepped out of the shower, trusting his muscle memory to lead him to his room while he wiggled a shirt over his head. He felt a hand slightly ruffle up his wet hair and finished pulling over the shirt to see the Squip in front of him.
What was that for?—And the whole day. You've been acting weird the whole day.
The Squip blinked. I wouldn't say I've been acting odd at all.
Yes you have, you've been . . . nice to me, or something. Something close to nice. And you haven't been shocking me at all, like when I stuttered during lunch.
It tilted its head and frowned. I exist to improve your life. My behavior training isn't always about electrocuting you, Jeremy. It's positive reinforcement and you've been doing very well lately. Your body and brain has gotten well used to repeating my suggestions with little to no hesitation! Very impressive, Jeremy.
Jeremy wasn't sure if that was a compliment. Well. It was. But was it a good one?
Yes, that was a good compliment.
Oh, thanks.
The Squip nodded and bristly walked ahead of Jeremy. Well, it is time to study for the history test tomorrow. We will spend thirty minutes reviewing the study guide and then I will quiz you. Remember, if you get stuck on a question, just ask me! It have Jeremy a charming smile.
Jeremy feebly smiled back. Wasn't studying useless then? Jeremy didn't mind, it made him feel a bit less like a perpetual cheater, but there still wasn't much of a point . . .
Pay attention to me, Jeremy.
The Squip's odd behavior would strengthen and peak later when Jeremy was just about to fall asleep.
He would feel gentle strokes down his back, always smooth yet dug into the sorest parts of his body, and Jeremy would incoherently mumble out of sleepy shock. Then, he would feel a breath or air right before it would purr and murmur praises into his ear.
You're doing great, Jeremy.
You're wonderful, amazing!
You're exceeding my expectations.
You are chill. You are popular.
You're incredible.