#i have a strict policy against replying to stupid posts that end up in the anti tags by accident

[a-court-of-moonlight-and-ire]

I just saw a post where someone was like "'pro rhysand'? 'anti rhysand'? No man, i just think hes a little freak, i dont wanna fix him, Ive liked him since acotar before anyone knew that sjm was gonna make him a good guy" and then they said something about how much they like to be contrarian as though thats not the most basic ass pro-rhysand position and in the tags they were like "just say you dont like morally gray characters and go 🙄" which is annoying, but what really pissed me off was that thing about how they liked before they what sjm was gonna do with him in sequels because its like, SO obvious what shes gonna do just from reading acotar ?? Like, Rhysand has this whole big monologue where he all but tells Feyre "im not the bad guy you think i am" and the narrative keeps pointing at this guy being like "hes not the bad guy you think he is" even when it makes no goddamn sense, like that moment where amarantha orders him to make that one guy go insane but instead he just kills him and pretends to have misunderstood the order and Feyre is thinking to herself "oh wow...... that was actually..... an act of mercy..... incredible" eventhough she should be too scared out of her mind to even notice that

[the-bjd-community-confess]

DoA megapost (22 confessions)

Mod: So https://true-bjd-confessions.tumblr.com/post/189300138511/mod-due-to-excessive-offtopic-arguing-in-the

All you guys’ pending DoA confessions presented in no specific order, before we move into the hold, as announced above.

To be clear: I think this is a feature DoA should have yesterday. It’s completely inappropriate to force people to use deadnames and names which are related to traumatic life experiences, or be banned. 

However, *weary sigh, gesturing at the multiple 70+ reply confessions on this topic* people told me they were finding the rapidly escalating discussion to be upsetting and offputting, and that’s not my goal for this blog. ❤️

1.

I am exceptionally weary of all the DoA hate over the person who got banned over making a new account after not being allowed to change their user name. DoA isn’t the only doll forum out there. If you don’t like their rules, don’t join. I for one find their rules about on- and off-topic dolls to be unfair and arbitrary as hell, but in the end it comes down to their house, their rules. Move on.

~Anonymous

2.

Us: Sure would be nice to maybe be able to change your name on DOA.

Some of y’all: Are you asking for anarchy?? If we allow this, what’s next?? A reasonable review of outdated rules??? The rules are there for a reason!!1! The reason may be antiqued because technology has updated and changed since then, meaning there are better solutions available, but it’s still a reason so we DEFINITELY should NEVER change!! Change is too scary for me. :( You’re bullies who want to be special :((( Stop that :(

~Anonymous

3.

I love seeing people get so offended at anon saying “bigots”. How do you know it was about you ? Guilty conscience? DOA could allow name changes if they really wanted to. There are other hobbies where they forbid certain people from entering forums while still allowing name changes. It’s not hard if you really care.      

~Anonymous      

4.

Honestly the way people fall all over themselves to defend DoA against any sort of criticism (regardless of how you personally feel about the validity of said criticism, reader) makes me glad I never got into the community aspect of this hobby. It's just... stressful.          

~Anonymous  

5.

The transphobia in the comments on this blog in particular are so gross. Being a bigot makes your dolls instantly hideous. And no, I’m not saying everyone who is defending DOAs decision is transphobic. I’m talking about the one who thinks trans people transitioning is wrong and their friends. You’re gross and so are your dolls.

~Anonymous  

6.

scammers can & will get around DOA's no name change policy, it's really not that safe. also, DOA isn't the only website which allows the sale of high-value items.

~Anonymous  

7.

First it's "if you want name changes coded in DoA, offer to do it yourself!", then it's "why tf would DoA accept some rando to help code their site?" make up your goddamn mind, your argument is falling apart. 

Also when did this issue become "DoA vs trans people"? Like, I like DoA yet I also recognize it should be more accessible and updated for the modern userbase. I want it to become as good as it can be because I like the community and would hate to see it die out like so many other forum sites do. Yes, it has flaws- and believe me, the folks who get extremely upset about the idea of admitting that embarrass me- but I liked the format since I was new to the hobby. I just wish it was more inclusive!    

~Anonymous    

8.     

girlisav3rb: "this isn't about exclusion or leaving anyone out". Also girlisav3rb: "I'm just kicking your punk ass off [obvious metaphor for DoA]" yyyyiiiiikkkees      

~Anonymous    

9. 

The DOA username debate is really starting to feel like 4 people's personal beefs against each other. It isn't really about dolls and I wish it wasn't dominating all the confessions here. I don't really care about watching pomoaples, pupkinspce, aigisthewlve and tellmeifthursday make fools of themselves daily.        

~Anonymous      

10.

Say it louder for the people in the back: IF YOU INSIST ON NAME CHANGES FOR DOA, THEN VOLUNTEER YOUR CODING EXPERTISE. Don't know how to code and are just squawking about something you can't directly contribute towards? Then shut up or offer up money so the mods can hire a computer programmer to make the changes you're DEMANDING from a FREE service.        

~Anonymous

11.

God it's so painfully obvious to see how many of the people defending DoA on the grounds that name changes would destroy the integrity of the website have never ever worked on or even been part of a forum or really any website of any kind in their lives. Seriously arguing that "the database" would break if you changed a name like?? No??? Have you ever seen a server backend before? You can automate this shit, you know, keep a log of former names, just... it's not some big huge challenge??? 

~Anonymous 

12.           

I don't have a horse in the trans name change race but calling DoA one of the friendlies communities around is abject bullshit lmao. There's not a more elitist, paranoid, abusive community this side of comic books -- but that kind of goes for this hobby as a whole, let's be honest.           

~Anonymous     

13. 

THE RULES ARE IMPORTANT WE CAN't cHANGE THE RULES IT WILL LEAD TO CHAOS IF WE CHANGE ONE RULE WHERE WILL IT END THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!!!!! In my town it used to be THE RULES that POC have to go to separate schools and use separate bathrooms, but sure, the rules are the most important thing, not the people. And before anyone says cOmPaRiNg DoLlS tO rAciSm, 1) shitting on trans people IS a form of prejudice you smoothbrains, and 2) my ass is POC and I call it like I see it. Check yourselves.            

~Anonymous   

14.   

I personally think DOA should just.. go away? It’s been around for years, most people use it as reference rather than a community anymore. Everything is on FaceBook and Instagram now, DOA is pretty much just a glorified Dolly Dictionary at this point. Besides, if they aren’t going to change an Incredibly simple, easy thing to change just to accommodate transitioning people, it’s not the best place to be.

~Anonymous  

15.

I mean about the whole rules is rules is rules thing about doa: the thing is, some rules are there for a reason and obviously do need to be respected whether you agree with them or not, like don’t block fire exits, murder is bad, etc. but some rules eventually become outdated and need to be changed to keep up with society, and that doesn’t make the people pointing out that they need to be changed evil or entitled or spoiled. Imagine if we all still had to drive 10 mph everywhere because when someone pointed out that car technology had improved since 1915 and the speed limit should be increased accordingly everyone had just shouted them down with “BUT TEH RUUULLLEESS!!!” You’d be pretty interested in getting some of this “special treatment” yourself so you could get to work on time, huh?

~Anonymous  

16.

Honestly the easiest solution would be let people change their names only once and have it trackable.. as a trans dude its NOT that deep.     

~Anonymous        

17.

I notice that the unrelenting attacks on DoA are now even using the same phraseology along with the name-calling and implications of sinister motives. These are textbook bullying tactics. Next is the boycott, except that most of these people already say they don’t use the forum because they are just too “21st Century” for it.

Luckily this is just a confession board and no matter how many folks you manage to rile up here, it’s not going to affect DoA. Now, this is why I love DoA–you can’t go on their own site and spew this nonsense. They have Rules. They are Strict. They attempt to avoid drama, especially off-topic drama, and they don’t allow meanness, vulgarity or obscenity. If you’re looking for a pleasant, safe space, it’s your best bet.

~Anonymous

18.

Easy to lay bigotry, laziness, stupidity and worse on DoA mods for not just accepting tales of trauma and pasts to erase.  But the internet has always been full of lies by people trying to get their own way or escape consequences. Not just pro scammers. People who cry things like illness, trauma, disaster, family or pet problems over and over to get sympathy for demands or as all-purpose excuses. Recast ownership lies. People who never got a no before, and don't like being turned down no-how.

~Anonymous

19.

I just realized that no one understands the people saying DOA can allow name changes are the people who have actually modded forums before, most forums unless they’re running a totally outdated system use user id numbers that are linked to display names, which can be changed, and you can write a simple string of simple-baby-code to show old display names on a profile, to explain it in simple terms.   

~Anonymous                    

20.

Honestly I think that the anti-name change people are mostly just shilling for DoA because they can't believe that their precious forum with its volunteer mods could be anything but flawless. Or something like that, given how indignantly these people have *always* reacted to confessions criticizing DoA, even before the trans controversy was a thing. There have definitely been some obvious transphobes as well though, whose bile is really more suited to conservative FB pages or something. Go away!          

~Anonymous

21.   

the DOA mods can obviously change people's usernames because it's 2019 and basically every other site in existence can do it. they might have to change the site slightly to accomplish this. maybe there are reasons for them to choose not to do that, but let's stop pretending it's some technological impossibility.

~Anonymous

22.

How about this: Implement a system on DoA that indentifies users by a unique code and allow users to have a changeable display name. Changing the display name could become a paid feature to pay for the technical changes. Think of a system like discord has. It's a win-win situation. Thoughts?            

~Anonymous

[joo-heo-n]

Affinity

Genre: Fluff/Angst

Member: Changkyun x Reader

Word Count: 1,656

a/n: This is the second part. Enjoy!! Feedback is highly encouraged!! I know I said the next parts would be at least 2k-3k but I’m posting as I finish writing each part and this is all I was able to get for this part am sorreh..

Drabble / Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 (Final)

Summary:

affinity-  a spontaneous or natural liking for someone or something

For the following two weeks, the two of you seemed to be working in and out of busy schedules, and the one day that seemed like you were finally going to spend together, a last minute surprise arose.

The knocks on the door made Changkyun groan and furrow his eyebrows together as he took up the space in the living room. He waited a few seconds for you to appear and answer it in his place but when the knocks continued and you didn’t show up, he stood up.

He reached for the door handle and opened the door, leaving a gap for him to see who it was. His eyebrows further knitted at the sight of a guy, probably a year or two older than him, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hands. The guy seemed just as taken aback as Changkyun and him exchanged stares. It took a second too long before either one finally spoke, the guy looked at the apartment number and back at Changkyun, chuckling slightly in embarrassment.

“By any chance, does Y/N live here?” he asked, and Changkyun’s eyes widened, “U-Uh, Y/N? Yea she does, um, who’s asking?” Changkyun asked, standing a little straighter. The guy knitted his eyebrows for a second before relaxing his features, except his posture seemed to become tense.

Before he was able to reply to Changkyun, you had already made your way to the door and were pushing Changkyun to the side. “Hi w-what- I didn’t know you’d come, what are you doing here?” you asked, crossing your arms over your chest nervously. “I-I was trying to surprise you but, I got pretty surprised myself” he replied, nodding his head to the inside of the apartment and you realized he was talking about Changkyun.

“Oh yea, him, he’s my roommate” you said indifferently and his smile faltered, “Ah, I see, I wasn’t able to introduce myself properly because I was kinda confused” he added with a chuckle and your eyes widened. “Oh well come inside” you said, stepping away from the door for him to walk inside. Changkyun sat on the couch where he had been before, and you cleared your throat to get his attention. If you didn’t know better, you’d believe he was entirely oblivious to your presence and that of your date.

“Changkyun can you come?” you asked from the dining table as you took the bouquet from your date and fixed in on a vase.

You saw Changkyun move lazily towards the two of you with a forced smirk. “This is Changkyun, my roommate, Changkyun, this is my date” you said, finding yourself picking at your fingernails as the two exchanged looks. You didn’t exactly hate introducing others to Changkyun, but you weren’t a fan of the idea either. It was like oil and water, your life in your apartment with Changkyun, and your life outside of your home just didn’t sit well. Especially, when it came to dating. You knew nothing of Changkyun’s love life, and for the first unfortunate time, he’d find out about yours.

In contrast to the relaxed confidence your date was radiating as he held his hand out for Changkyun to shake, Changkyun looked careless, but he awkwardly took your dates hand with a smile you knew was of pretense and something else you couldn't figure out. “Nice to meet you man, I hope I didn’t get your hopes up in thinking the flowers were for you” your date joked and Changkyun grinned, making your shoulders relax a little.

“My heart fluttered a bit but no hard feelings” Changkyun said, earning a snicker from you. “Well, nice to meet you too, I’ll leave you be” Changkyun said, putting his hands in the pockets of his sweats as he nodded and turned away towards his bedroom, but not before giving you a quick glance that you couldn’t decipher. You finally let go of your distressed fingernails and turned to your date, who smiled, “So, you have a guy roommate, must be fun” he said, a hint of jealousy tinting his words.

You rolled your eyes and scoffed, “He’s a good friend, and we have a strict just roommates relationship” you commented and he nodded.

“Let’s head out and get some food” he then said and you smiled with a nod.

________________________

You made your way into the apartment and dropped yourself on the couch, not taking notice of Changkyun who was now walking back from the kitchen. “How’d it go?” he asked, shoving your legs so he could sit. You picked them up as he sat and placed them over his lap. “It was okay” you commented softly, letting out an exhale, “I’m sorry for this morning, I had no idea” you added, and Changkyun shrugged. “It’s whatever” he said calmly, tapping your shins like if they were a drum set.

You smirked and closed your eyes, thinking about the conversation you had with your date half an hour ago.

“This is going to sound stupid jealous and petty but… I’m not really comfortable with your roommate being a guy” he said, his eyebrows knitted slightly as he rubbed his thumb over your hand. You furrowed your eyebrows, “Yea that does sound jealous and petty” you said with a scoff. “I know I just… maybe if I get to know him I’ll change my mind” he had said with a slight shrug and a shake of his head as he looked away from you.

You shook your head, “No, look, most of the time we’re not even home at the same time and the whole, becoming friends with your roommate’s dates, is against our roommate policy” you commented, pulling your hands away from his own. You could have brought up the fact that he wasn’t even your boyfriend to set boundaries for you, but you refrained from saying more.

It had ended after changing topic, the air between the two of you slightly heavier but no longer bringing Changkyun up. 

“I thought you didn’t like flowers?” Changkyun said and you opened your eyes to look at him as he squeezed your calves. “I don’t, well, not those at least” you replied and the two of you giggled. “How long have you been dating him?” Changkyun asked, averting his gaze from you and massaging your legs.

You remained silent for a minute or two, his interest in your relationship causing you to debate whether you wanted to tell him or not. “Like a month” you said nearly under your breath. You felt his hands stiffen on your legs for half a second before he continued his ministrations. “Why?” you then asked and he turned to you with a small smirk. He scratched his neck and sighed, “I had no clue you were seeing someone” he said, his smile widening but for some reason, it didn’t seem convincing.

You stared at him with a simper, “You weren’t supposed to have a clue” you replied through a chuckle. Changkyun turned away from you and grinned, “A month… I guess it would happen eventually” he said and you shrugged.

_______________________

Another few days without seeing much trace of each other went by. You were working on and off with your date since he brought up his displeasure with Changkyun as your roommate. He’d constantly want to go see you despite how much you protested against the idea. You began closing the store and racking all the clothes out of place. “I think he probably sees your roommate as competition, you know, since he isn’t your boyfriend yet” your friend said, scrunching her nose at the last words. You groaned and dropped your shoulders, “It’s annoying, and I’m sure if he starts going over, he’ll probably annoy Changkyun too” you said, roughly hanging a t-shirt. “What does roommate guy think of date guy?” your friend asked with a grin and you couldn’t help but snicker. “Nothing, Changkyun looks like he doesn’t care about the guy” you said, eyebrows raised as you lifted your hands in question.

Your friend giggled and followed behind you, “Can I ask you something?” she said and you hummed. “Did you ever like roommate guy? Like romantically?” she asked and you suddenly stopped walking. You stared at the clothes in your arms and took in a sharp breath, “I don’t know… I mean, I always tried not to since we’re roommates, I just thought being in a relationship would complicate things” you answered, picking out a pair of jeans and beginning to walk again. “Ah, makes sense” your friend said, “You seem to know him real well though… wait- do you talk about roommate guy a lot in front of date guy?” she asked and you pursed your lips in thought, “I don’t think so? I mean he had no idea I had a guy roommate prior to their encounter. As a matter of fact, ever since, all date guy talks about is roommate guy” you said in realization, turning to your friend with eyes wide.

The two of you stared at each other with surprise before bursting out into laughter. “Maybe date guy wants to switch you for roommate guy” your friend said, still laughing. You nodded and frowned, “Imagine that” you said. You shook your head and continued hanging and folding clothes for the next hour.

By the time you got home, your feet ached and you dropped your bag by the door along with your shoes. The apartment was dark and only lit by the big television screen. You squinted and found Changkyun already staring back at you with a soft smirk. You let out a sigh and waved, plopping down next to him. “My feet hurt” you said, slouching slightly as Changkyun smiled.

He patted his thighs, signaling for you to place your legs on them, which you gladly did. He rubbed your feet gently and you sighed, “Can we watch something?” you asked quietly, making Changkyun grin, “Sure”.

[beyondforks]

Book Review: One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus 

Genre: Young Adult (Contemporary Mystery) Date Published: May 30, 2017 Publisher: Delacorte Press

The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars, One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide. 

Pay close attention and you might solve this.

On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.

Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. 

Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. 

Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.

Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.

And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app.

Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn't an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he'd planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who's still on the loose? 

Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them."

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus definitely feels like the Breakfast Club in the beginning, and it kind of keeps that essence through he whole story as these people from different cliques get to know each other through unfortunate circumstances. I thought I knew who the killer was from the beginning, but it wasn't until about half way through that I figured it out. Of course, I still wasn't 100% sure, because you just never know, but it was the only thing that made sense to me. 

Guilty or not guilty, I liked how the characters interacted and coordinated amongst themselves. It felt believable to me. This story was interesting and kept my attention all the way through.

Chapter One Bronwyn Monday, September 24, 2:55 p.m. A sex tape. A pregnancy scare. Two cheating scandals. And that’s just this week’s update. If all you knew of Bayview High was Simon Kelleher’s gossip app, you’d wonder how anyone found time to go to class. “Old news, Bronwyn,” says a voice over my shoulder. “Wait till you see tomorrow’s post.” Damn. I hate getting caught reading About That, especially by its creator. I lower my phone and slam my locker shut. “Whose lives are you ruining next, Simon?” Simon falls into step beside me as I move against the flow of students heading for the exit. “It’s a public service,” he says with a dismissive wave. “You tutor Reggie Crawley, don’t you? Wouldn’t you rather know he has a camera in his bedroom?” I don’t bother answering. Me getting anywhere near the bedroom of perpetual stoner Reggie Crawley is about as likely as Simon growing a conscience. “Anyway, they bring it on themselves. If people didn’t lie and cheat, I’d be out of business.” Simon’s cold blue eyes take in my lengthening strides. “Where are you rushing off to? Covering yourself in extracurricular glory?” I wish. As if to taunt me, an alert crosses my phone: Mathlete practice, 3 p.m., Epoch Coffee. Followed by a text from one of my teammates: Evan’s here. Of course he is. The cute Mathlete--less of an oxymoron than you might think--seems to only ever show up when I can’t. “Not exactly,” I say. As a general rule, and especially lately, I try to give Simon as little information as possible. We push through green metal doors to the back stairwell, a dividing line between the dinginess of the original Bayview High and its bright, airy new wing. Every year more wealthy families get priced out of San Diego and come fifteen miles east to Bayview, expecting that their tax dollars will buy them a nicer school experience than popcorn ceilings and scarred linoleum. Simon’s still on my heels when I reach Mr. Avery’s lab on the third floor, and I half turn with my arms crossed. “Don’t you have someplace to be?” “Yeah. Detention,” Simon says, and waits for me to keep walking. When I grasp the knob instead, he bursts out laughing. “You’re kidding me. You too? What’s your crime?” “I’m wrongfully accused,” I mutter, and yank the door open. Three other students are already seated, and I pause to take them in. Not the group I would have predicted. Except one. Nate Macauley tips his chair back and smirks at me. “You make a wrong turn? This is detention, not student council.” He should know. Nate’s been in trouble since fifth grade, which is right around the time we last spoke. The gossip mill tells me he’s on probation with Bayview’s finest for . . . something. It might be a DUI; it might be drug dealing. He’s a notorious supplier, but my knowledge is purely theoretical. “Save the commentary.” Mr. Avery checks something off on a clipboard and closes the door behind Simon. High arched windows lining the back wall send triangles of afternoon sun splashing across the floor, and faint sounds of football practice float from the field behind the parking lot below. I take a seat as Cooper Clay, who’s palming a crumpled piece of paper like a baseball, whispers “Heads up, Addy” and tosses it toward the girl across from him. Addy Prentiss blinks, smiles uncertainly, and lets the ball drop to the floor. The classroom clock inches toward three, and I follow its progress with a helpless feeling of injustice. I shouldn’t even be here. I should be at Epoch Coffee, flirting awkwardly with Evan Neiman over differential equations. Mr. Avery is a give-detention-first, ask-questions-never kind of guy, but maybe there’s still time to change his mind. I clear my throat and start to raise my hand until I notice Nate’s smirk broadening. “Mr. Avery, that wasn’t my phone you found. I don’t know how it got into my bag. This is mine,” I say, brandishing my iPhone in its melon-striped case. Honestly, you’d have to be clueless to bring a phone to Mr. Avery’s lab. He has a strict no-phone policy and spends the first ten minutes of every class rooting through backpacks like he’s head of airline security and we’re all on the watch list. My phone was in my locker, like always. “You too?” Addy turns to me so quickly, her blond shampoo-ad hair swirls around her shoulders. She must have been surgically removed from her boyfriend in order to show up alone. “That wasn’t my phone either.” “Me three,” Cooper chimes in. His Southern accent makes it sound like thray. He and Addy exchange surprised looks, and I wonder how this is news to them when they’re part of the same clique. Maybe überpopular people have better things to talk about than unfair detentions. “Somebody punked us!” Simon leans forward with his elbows on the desk, looking spring-loaded and ready to pounce on fresh gossip. His gaze darts over all four of us, clustered in the middle of the otherwise empty classroom, before settling on Nate. “Why would anybody want to trap a bunch of students with mostly spotless records in detention? Seems like the sort of thing that, oh, I don’t know, a guy who’s here all the time might do for fun.” I look at Nate, but can’t picture it. Rigging detention sounds like work, and everything about Nate--from his messy dark hair to his ratty leather jacket--screams Can’t be bothered. Or yawns it, maybe. He meets my eyes but doesn’t say a word, just tips his chair back even farther. Another millimeter and he’ll fall right over. Cooper sits up straighter, a frown crossing his Captain America face. “Hang on. I thought this was just a mix-up, but if the same thing happened to all of us, it’s somebody’s stupid idea of a prank. And I’m missing baseball practice because of it.” He says it like he’s a heart surgeon being detained from a lifesaving operation. Mr. Avery rolls his eyes. “Save the conspiracy theories for another teacher. I’m not buying it. You all know the rules against bringing phones to class, and you broke them.” He gives Simon an especially sour glance. Teachers know About That exists, but there’s not much they can do to stop it. Simon only uses initials to identify people and never talks openly about school. “Now listen up. You’re here until four. I want each of you to write a five-hundred-word essay on how technology is ruining American high schools. Anyone who can’t follow the rules gets another detention tomorrow.” “What do we write with?” Addy asks. “There aren’t any computers here.” Most classrooms have Chromebooks, but Mr. Avery, who looks like he should have retired a decade ago, is a holdout. Mr. Avery crosses to Addy’s desk and taps the corner of a lined yellow notepad. We all have one. “Explore the magic of longhand writing. It’s a lost art.” Addy’s pretty, heart-shaped face is a mask of confusion. “But how do we know when we’ve reached five hundred words?” “Count,” Mr. Avery replies. His eyes drop to the phone I’m still holding. “And hand that over, Miss Rojas.” “Doesn’t the fact that you’re confiscating my phone twice give you pause? Who has two phones?” I ask. Nate grins, so quick I almost miss it. “Seriously, Mr. Avery, somebody was playing a joke on us.” Mr. Avery’s snowy mustache twitches in annoyance, and he extends his hand with a beckoning motion. “Phone, Miss Rojas. Unless you want a return visit.” I give it over with a sigh as he looks disapprovingly at the others. “The phones I took from the rest of you earlier are in my desk. You’ll get them back after detention.” Addy and Cooper exchange amused glances, probably because their actual phones are safe in their backpacks. Mr. Avery tosses my phone into a drawer and sits behind the teacher’s desk, opening a book as he prepares to ignore us for the next hour. I pull out a pen, tap it against my yellow notepad, and contemplate the assignment. Does Mr. Avery really believe technology is ruining schools? That’s a pretty sweeping statement to make over a few contraband phones. Maybe it’s a trap and he’s looking for us to contradict him instead of agree. I glance at Nate, who’s bent over his notepad writing computers suck over and over in block letters. It’s possible I’m overthinking this. Cooper Monday, September 24, 3:05 p.m. My hand hurts within minutes. It’s pathetic, I guess, but I can’t remember the last time I wrote anything longhand. Plus I’m using my right hand, which never feels natural no matter how many years I’ve done it. My father insisted I learn to write right-handed in second grade after he first saw me pitch. Your left arm’s gold, he told me. Don’t waste it on crap that don’t matter. Which is anything but pitching as far as he’s concerned. That was when he started calling me Cooperstown, like the baseball hall of fame. Nothing like putting a little pressure on an eight-year-old. Simon reaches for his backpack and roots around, unzipping every section. He hoists it onto his lap and peers inside. “Where the hell’s my water bottle?” “No talking, Mr. Kelleher,” Mr. Avery says without looking up. “I know, but--my water bottle’s missing. And I’m thirsty.” Mr. Avery points toward the sink at the back of the room, its counter crowded with beakers and petri dishes. “Get yourself a drink. Quietly.” Simon gets up and grabs a cup from a stack on the counter, filling it with water from the tap. He heads back to his seat and puts the cup on his desk, but seems distracted by Nate’s methodical writing. “Dude,” he says, kicking his sneaker against the leg of Nate’s desk. “Seriously. Did you put those phones in our backpacks to mess with us?” Now Mr. Avery looks up, frowning. “I said quietly, Mr. Kelleher.” Nate leans back and crosses his arms. “Why would I do that?” Simon shrugs. “Why do you do anything? So you’ll have company for whatever your screw-up of the day was?” “One more word out of either of you and it’s detention tomorrow,” Mr. Avery warns. Simon opens his mouth anyway, but before he can speak there’s the sound of tires squealing and then the crash of two cars hitting each other. Addy gasps and I brace myself against my desk like somebody just rear-ended me. Nate, who looks glad for the interruption, is the first on his feet toward the window. “Who gets into a fender bender in the school parking lot?” he asks. Bronwyn looks at Mr. Avery like she’s asking for permission, and when he gets up from his desk she heads for the window as well. Addy follows her, and I finally unfold myself from my seat. Might as well see what’s going on. I lean against the ledge to look outside, and Simon comes up beside me with a disparaging laugh as he surveys the scene below. Two cars, an old red one and a nondescript gray one, are smashed into each other at a right angle. We all stare at them in silence until Mr. Avery lets out an exasperated sigh. “I’d better make sure no one was hurt.” He runs his eyes over all of us and zeroes in on Bronwyn as the most responsible of the bunch. “Miss Rojas, keep this room contained until I get back.” “Okay,” Bronwyn says, casting a nervous glance toward Nate. We stay at the window, watching the scene below, but before Mr. Avery or another teacher appears outside, both cars start their engines and drive out of the parking lot. “Well, that was anticlimactic,” Simon says. He heads back to his desk and picks up his cup, but instead of sitting he wanders to the front of the room and scans the periodic table of elements poster. He leans out into the hallway like he’s about to leave, but then he turns and raises his cup like he’s toasting us. “Anyone else want some water?” “I do,” Addy says, slipping into her chair. “Get it yourself, princess.” Simon smirks. Addy rolls her eyes and stays put while Simon leans against Mr. Avery’s desk. “Literally, huh? What’ll you do with yourself now that homecoming’s over? Big gap between now and senior prom.” Addy looks at me without answering. I don’t blame her. ­Simon’s train of thought almost never goes anywhere good when it comes to our friends. He acts like he’s above caring whether he’s popular, but he was pretty smug when he wound up on the junior prom court last spring. I’m still not sure how he pulled that off, unless he traded keeping secrets for votes. Simon was nowhere to be found on homecoming court last week, though. I was voted king, so maybe I’m next on his list to harass, or whatever the hell he’s doing. “What’s your point, Simon?” I ask, taking a seat next to Addy. Addy and I aren’t close, exactly, but I kind of feel protective of her. She’s been dating my best friend since freshman year, and she’s a sweet girl. Also not the kind of person who knows how to stand up to a guy like Simon who just won’t quit. “She’s a princess and you’re a jock,” he says. He thrusts his chin toward Bronwyn, then at Nate. “And you’re a brain. And you’re a criminal. You’re all walking teen-movie stereotypes.” “What about you?” Bronwyn asks. She’s been hovering near the window, but now goes to her desk and perches on top of it. She crosses her legs and pulls her dark ponytail over one shoulder. Something about her is cuter this year. New glasses, maybe? Longer hair? All of a sudden, she’s kind of working this sexy-nerd thing. “I’m the omniscient narrator,” Simon says. Bronwyn’s brows rise above her black frames. “There’s no such thing in teen movies.” “Ah, but Bronwyn.” Simon winks and chugs his water in one long gulp. “There is such a thing in life.” He says it like a threat, and I wonder if he’s got something on Bronwyn for that stupid app of his. I hate that thing. Almost all my friends have been on it at one point or another, and sometimes it causes real problems. My buddy Luis and his girlfriend broke up because of something Simon wrote. Though it was a true story about Luis hooking up with his girlfriend’s cousin. But still. That stuff doesn’t have to be published. Hallway gossip is bad enough. And if I’m being honest, I’m pretty freaked at what Simon could write about me if he put his mind to it. Simon holds his cup up, grimacing. “This tastes like crap.” He drops the cup, and I roll my eyes at his attempt at drama. Even when he falls to the floor, I still think he’s messing around. But then the wheezing starts.

Karen M. McManus is the New York Times bestselling author of the young adult thriller One of Us Is Lying, which has been translated into 37 languages worldwide. Her second book, Two Can Keep a Secret, will be released in January 2019. Karen lives in Massachusetts with her son. She holds a master's degree in Journalism from Northeastern University, which she mostly uses to draft fake news stories for her novels. To learn more about Karen M. McManus and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Instagram, and Twitter.