Found You in the Algorithm ~ Sam golbach

8

It was supposed to be a chill evening. Just food, games, and decompressing after watching a stranger on TikTok psychoanalyze them all to filth. But then Colby's phone buzzed.

Colby: "She posted again."

Everyone snapped their heads up.

Sam: "No fucking way."

Chris: "Wait — AGAIN? Did she mention us?"

Colby: already typing "Oh she mentioned everyone. This one's about the Jake and Corey situation. And, uh... Sam. She definitely mentioned you."

Matt: "Put it on the damn TV."

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[Melinda's third video starts. The same vibe — raw lighting, no filter, intense eyes, stiletto nails snapping as she speaks.]

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Melinda (on screen):
"Let me clarify another thing for you. Sam and Colby? They didn't stop filming with Jake and Corey because they didn't like them anymore. They stopped filming with them because they want different things."

Colby: already nodding "Bless her. Literally."

Melinda:
"You guys don't get to hate on Corey Shearer, to be exact, because he chose to film with Elton. I've always felt like there was something a little bit off about Elton, but I've never said anything — because if Sam and Colby still talk to him, made a video saying 'nothing has changed,' we're still friends and shit like that... I trust them."

Jake: eyebrows up "She's... honest. But not disrespectful. I'll take that."

Melinda:
"But one thing I do not condone about this fucking fandom is how y'all hate on Corey for filming without them after he stopped filming with Sam and Colby. Because Corey didn't wanna do haunted stuff. And then he did. I get it. It can seem a little double moral, but I don't think it was."

Corey: laughing under his breath "She's defending me harder than some of my own mutuals."

Melinda:
"I think Corey went to do it with Elton because Corey probably felt safe with Elton. Until he realized Elton probably wasn't safe. And I'm not trying to excuse. I'm just saying — Corey has his vibes. Elton has his."

Chris: "She's brave. She's so brave. I'd be terrified to even bring Elton up like that."

Melinda:
"Corey has always been the chaotic one of the group, which we loved him for."

Corey: genuinely touched "Damn. That kinda got me."

Melinda:
"Jake? Jake's clumsy, very ADHD-driven. I love Jake. Jake is always gonna be like a little brother I never got to take care of."

Jake: smiling wide "OKAY I like her now. I'm officially sold."

Colby: grinning "She called you out for being a menace and made it sound sweet."

Melinda:
"That entire dynamic of y'all hating people for not filming with each other anymore? You don't know what's going on. Who says they're not texting memes? Who says they don't still talk? No one said they aren't. Maybe they're just on different paths."

Sam: softly "Facts. Like literally. Just... facts."

Melinda:
"I didn't see any hate on Aaron when he stopped filming with them. He went to do POVs on TikTok. No hate on him. Why? Because he was quiet? Because y'all thought he didn't bring much to the table? He did. You just didn't notice."

Matt: deadpan "This woman sees everything. Like literally everything."

Melinda:
"Elton? Even though he was a little fucked up — and that's me putting it lightly — I never liked Elton. But I still watched because Sam and Colby were there. Because Jake and Corey were there."