Vigorously packing your stuff, and squealed in anticipation.
You were moving.
It was a town in New Jersey, and you were definitely excited for that.
Well, kinda.
In reality, it was rather nerve wracking.
You knew how high school was. It's brutal.
But you had a plan.
You heard from a long line of people about a revolutionary supercomputer.
A Squip.
It helps you in your school and social life. Which, is totally great, because you were unprepared.
The plan was that you were going to pack up, move, and then stop by the Payless store in New Jersey. All before school starts, of course.
Which... was in about a week.
You made your way to the airport.
Your aunt lives in New Jersey, so it wasn't like you were on your own.
You failed to inform her of the whole Squip plan. And that was for the best.
Soon enough, you were on the plane and heading to your new home.
You watched the clouds pass by from the window. Yeah, it was pretty.
______________
You approached your aunt's apartment door, hesitantly knocking.
"Coming!" You heard a muffled yell from inside respond.
The door swings open, revealing your aunt.
"Oh my GOSH, (Y/n)! I haven't seen you since you were this little!" Your aunt made a gesture, putting her hand where your height was.
You hear that from about 99% of your family when you go see them.
It's a drag.
"Haha, yeah. It's nice to see you too." You gave a patient smile.
"Come in! Your room is straight through that hall. It's a pretty secluded room, so you have some privacy. Ya know, in case you have some guy friend!" She winked.
You mentally cringed.
But, that was also an advantage?
At least you wouldn't run into any problems-
You shook your head. You were not that kind of person.
"Ah, well, I'm going to set my stuff down, and then head by Payless in the mall. I need some ...new shoes." You fidgeted with the zipper of your bag.
"Alrighty. You need a ride?" She asked.
"No, the mall isn't that far from here. I need some exercise, ya know?" You said.
In reality, you really didn't want her to catch you with the Squip.
"Okay. See you later." She said with a happy smile.
You returned the smile, put your stuff in your room, and then went out the door.
____________
A bead of sweat was trickling down your forehead, but you made it to the mall nonetheless.
Walking in, the sound of conversation buzzed around the place. It was pretty busy.
You spotted the store you heard about, and stepped inside.
You leaned over the counter a little, to keep the conversation quiet.
"I'm hear for the Squip." You whispered to the cashier.
He nodded.
"Oh, those shoes are in the back. Follow me." He said loudly.
What?
You still followed.
He pulled a shoebox out, and grabbed a small pill.
Well it really wasn't small for a pill. It was kinda big.
"That'll be 500$." He said quietly, glancing around.
You handed him your savings from over the years.
And he gave you the pill.
"Take it with Mountain Dew. And don't ask why, because I don't know." He mumbled.
You nodded, and left.
And you walked out, a guy stumbled in.
Well, he didn't really stumble. He just walked with really bad posture?
Outside the store was another guy; red hoodie, glasses, and headphones around his neck.
He began walking off, towards the deeper parts of the mall.
You shrugged, and went the other way.
In a decision to look around the mall, you begin walking around.
Halfway through, you see a store labeled "Spencer's".
Haha.
...Someone walks out.
It's the hoodie guy.
Hoodie Guy. New name.
But he looked ....kinda down.
Should you approach?
You growled quietly. This was a tough decision.
Maybe he goes to your new school?
Clenching the pill in your hand, you hesitantly walked up to Hoodie Guy.
You tapped his shoulder after catching up to him. He turned to you with a hopeful smile, but it soon faded when he saw you. He raised an eyebrow.
"U-Uh, I'm so sorry, to, well, bother... but, is something wrong...?" You breathed.
He put his jacket hood up. "Why would you think so?" He asked quietly, signs of happiness gone from his eyes.
"I don't know, I guess I just sorta... have a feeling." You furrowed your eyebrows, looking down.
"Well, it shouldn't matter to you either way." He replied coldly, turning his shoulder to you. He began to walk away, but you stopped him before he got far.
"W-Wait..! Do you have any Mountain Dew?" You asked. Somehow, that peaked his interest.
He whipped himself around, and put his hood down.
"Does this have to do with a Squip?" He asked.
You opened your palm, and looked at the pill.
And then you closed your hand.
You didn't think he saw that, but he was eyeing you suspiciously.
"...No. The... stores are all sold out." You say.
You then realized that it was obvious you were lying.
"Right. Well, no. I gave my last bottle to my buddy." He shrugged.
"Does he have any left?" You ask hopefully.
"You don't even know this guy, and you're willing to drink after him?" He asked, his lips twitching upwards.
You kept quiet.
"Well, Miss, I would help you, but I don't know you. And my friend isn't around." He shrugged.
"I'm sorry for bugging you, then." You sigh in defeat.
He walked off without saying anything else.
______________
On the way back, you stop to get some Mountain Dew.
Ironically, they didn't have the regular kind.
So you got this blue kind.
The guy never specified, so you deemed it irrelevant.
You quickly swallowed the pill with the drink after you payed.
You down the rest of the drink before exiting the store, and throwing the empty bottle away.
You hoped this wasn't just an overrated Tic-Tac.
Walking back to your house, you noticed that Hoodie Guy again.
You squinted at him as you got closer.
"Are you following me?!" You say when you walk up to him.
He looks at you, and then looks the other way nervously. "N-No. I wouldn't ever." He sighed.
You cocked an eyebrow.
"Why are you so nervous?"
"I'm not exactly nervous, just antisocial?"
"So, like, a loser?"
"When you put it that way.."
He looked down in self-pity.
That's when the first rush of electricity coursed throughout your body, causing you to fall to your knees and let out a shrill scream.
Target 'female' accessible. Calibration in progress. Please excuse some minor discomfort.
A voice weirdly familiar echoed throughout your head, and you winced.
"Hey, are you okay..?"
You looked up at Hoodie Guy with a pained expression. "This stupid thing I swallowed is tearing up my insides!" You give a stale laugh.
"Wait, you told me you didn't have a Squip!" His expression turned to one of anger.
Discomfort level may increase.
You grasped your head in your hands in agony. "S-Shit!!" You breathed. His expression softened and he kneeled by you.
"Why do you even need a Squip?? You seem fine..?" He tried to comfort you.
Tears poured out from your eyes all of a sudden, and you started sobbing from all of the pain.
"I'm just s-scared I guess-" You shakily responded.
Hoodie Guy suddenly enveloped your form into a gentle hug.
You sniffled as you buried your face into his shoulder, the electric shocks still coursing in waves down your spine.
(Y/n) (L/n). Welcome to your super quantum unit intel processor.
Your Squip!
You looked up from Michael, still gripping his back as you noticed someone behind him. They glowed a brilliant shade of blue, but....
They looked exactly like you.