February 29

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
good morning pineapple hater

Lani (@lanicorn)
Hello to you too Dream

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
i'm still mad at you btw

Lani (@lanicorn)
Why? Not everyone likes pinaepple
*pineapple

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
i'm going to sick my Twitter simps on you.

Lani (@lanicorn)
You wouldn't dare

Dream ✔ (@Dream) ● February 29

don't hmu. only the homies know what's wrong.

⏐ Replying to @Dream
➵ Julie @jrolf6
i love you :(

➵ lyla @simplyly
I hope you're okay!

➵ Chase Joy @oceancrab
Middle schoolers bruh
...6.2k more

February 29

Lani (@lanicorn)
Seriously? You pulled a middle school meme on them?

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
i regret nothing

Lani (@lanicorn)
What happens when they find out you're just
being butthurt because I don't like pineapple on pizza?

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
give me 5 min.

"What are you smiling at?"

I flipped my phone over, smiling tightly at Brook as she passed the island to the keyring by the door. "Where are you going?"

"To sign paperwork!" she sang, clutching her keys like a microphone. "I have a job! The boss isn't creepy! The pay is flexible!"

"What?"

"It's not a chain or a super well-known place, so the pay will be less than what Pervy Peter offered." She shrugged like she just told me what she had for breakfast.

I shifted on the bar stool, nodding slowly.

Brook scoffed. "Don't do that. It's still enough for rent. Worst case, Rye will pick up the slack until I get in a groove."

"What am I doing?" Rye chirped, sliding along the hardwood in mismatched socks.

Brook and I looked at each other, suppressing giggles.

"Nothing!" we chorused.

"I'm going to pretend you two are normal," he chuckled, opening the fridge.

"And I'm going to pretend you didn't ignore what I told you ten minutes ago."

Rye turned with a piece of salami in his mouth. "Hmm?"

Brook's nose scrunched in disgust. "I'm going to the inn now."

"Bye, baby!"

She cast him a look over her shoulder and walked out.

I waited until I heard her car pull out of the driveway to even look at Rye. The pained look on his face pricked at my heart.

"Think she'd buy me a breakfast burrito?" A smile spread across his face when I looked at him, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Maybe," I slipped my phone into my pocket, "if you ask nicely after she's done."

Rye chuckled, taking a seat beside me.

Reluctantly, I asked, "Are you two okay?"

Rye bobbed his head from side to side, smiling, then he froze and lost his smile entirely. "No. She's pissed at me for something but won't tell me what."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it," he said, shrugging. "But on a much happier note, I'm still coasting on views from that Dream raid. Dude has no idea that he's bumped me so high."

I smiled lightly, then my eyes widened and I lunged for my phone.

"Whoa, what's so important?" Rye asked, holding up his hands.

Dream ✔ (@Dream) ● February 29

finally ready to explain but it's difficult to talk about.
it is with a heavy heart that I say I lost a friend today... we were the best of friends, connected on every level and understood each other so well... then I find out they hate pineapple on pizza.

I couldn't hold in my laugh. As I typed a reply, I felt Rye hovering over my shoulder.

"Whatcha doin'?" he teased, and I nearly elbowed him trying to get away.

"I have to get to class!" I scrambled for the door, barely grabbing my backpack on the way out.

Between stomach-clutching laughs, Rye managed to shout, "Make good choices!"

↠

I answered Dream as soon as I landed a good seat in my nine a.m. lecture.

February 29

Lani (@lanicorn)
You're loving this, aren't you?

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
very much so. I never get to mess with people anymore so its hilarious

Lani (@lanicorn)
I won't feel bad if they cancel you

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
it's clearly a joke!

Lani (@lanicorn)
🤷‍♀️

Despite my nine a.m. being one of my favorite classes, it felt like the professor droned on for the entirety of the hour and a half period. Messages from Dream popped onto my phone every twenty minutes, which barely helped my boredom.

The next class, which ran until after lunch, wasn't much better. Replies were few and far between, so I was forced to pay a little attention to the professor.

Not that I retained much of the information when I walked out of the classroom after what felt like years. My rumbling stomach took priority and guided me through the packed campus to my car.

Brook was waiting in the kitchen, sat at the table with a blank face, when I walked into the house. Her expression didn't change, even when I offered a smile and asked her how her day was.

"She's been like that since she got back," Rye said from the couch, pausing his show. "Don't worry about it."

Brook shifted, eyes narrowing until Rye gulped. "She doesn't need your advice, Ryan."

"What's going on?" I asked, blocking Rye from her view. "Brook?"

"Nothing," she said, pulling out her phone.

"Okay, well, I'm going to grab a snack before work. See you after?"

Her silence, and pursed lips, said enough.

Shrugging, I headed for the stairs and left the ticking time bomb with perfect nails behind me. I hoped the explosion would happen long after I left for the diner.

As I changed into my uniform, I picked up where I left off with Dream after my second class.

February 29

Lani (@lanicorn)
I'd rather eat pineapple than go to work rn

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
yess... come to the dark side

Lani (@lanicorn)
Dont encourage that!

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
why not? you must be converted

Lani (@lanicorn)
...
I'm going to work

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
where do you work?

Lani (@lanicorn)
At a diner
It's old fashioned
But teenagers in my town seem to love it

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
cause it's "vintage"

Lani (@lanicorn)
Hardly. It's run by kids

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
really?

Lani (@lanicorn)
Yep
The manager is 24
Pretty much everyone he's hired recently is under 18

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
that makes me feel old

Lani (@lanicorn)
Haha why?

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
because 18 feels so long ago

Lani (@lanicorn)
Honestly same
Feels like Ive been in college forever

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
you're in school still?
loser :)

what are you studying?

Lani (@lanicorn)
Marketing

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
easy A

Lani (@lanicorn)
Is not!

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
try something in tech if you want a challenge

Lani (@lanicorn)
Oh shush
I want to be a wedding planner not alone forever

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
you wound me
i'm starting to think you don't like me

Chuckling softly, I tossed my phone into my purse and reluctantly returned to the detonation site for a car snack.

As I expected, the tension in the air had thickened since I went upstairs and the heated glares from Brook to Rye became scalding. Ducking my head, I scurried around the island to the cabinets to grab a bag of Goldfish.

"Good luck, Lani," Rye said as I reached for the front door. I felt Brook's heat vision land on me seconds after I caught the devious smirk on Rye's face.

I hated being stuck between them.

"Bye, you two," I sighed, settling for the safest option and ducking out before either one could say anything.

I texted Major about our impending doom before starting the car. Last time they fought this badly, he and I turned his bedroom into our bunker. We stockpiled snacks and drinks to last us days. Which was about how long they took to kiss and make up.

When he didn't respond, I pulled out of the driveway with one hand and stuffed my face with Goldfish with the other. The entire bag was gone by the time the fifteen minute drive to work was complete.

With a little less than ten minutes until the start of my shift, I decided to bother Ronnie in his office. To my surprise, his chair was empty and Netflix was closed.

I took advantage of the free space and relaxed in his chair while clearing notifications and responding to messages.

February 29

Lani (@lanicorn)
Sucks to be you

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
*dies*

Lani (@lanicorn)
Drama queen
...
DREAMA QUEEN

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
oooh sooo funny
you're a comedic genius
please grace me with another HILARIOUS joke

Lani (@lanicorn)
Thank you
Thank you
I feel so loved

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
go to work already

Lani (@lanicorn)
I'm here dummy
But you're right, my audience awaits

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
whos dramatic now?

Lani (@lanicorn)
Still you dreama

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
I'm shutting that down right now

Lani (@lanicorn)
Bye dreama!
Don't miss my clever humor too much

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
🙄

I hopped out of Ronnie's chair right before he stomped into the office.

"I'm sick of teens!" He collapsed into his chair, his head in his hands. "You on yet?"

"Two minutes."

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Three ungrateful little—Three of night just quit and all three were supposed to work tonight."

"I'm sorry, Ronnie. Is there anything I can do?"

"No, no, it's fine. I'll figure something out. You don't need to worry about this stuff."

"But—"

"Lani, go do your job so I can do mine."

Smiling, I ducked out of the office. "Not late!"

"Not yet!"

The shift passed slowly and painfully. Without Melody, the team was quiet. And with Ronnie on a rampage, the team was skittish. Everyone walked on eggshells, and I couldn't convince them that they didn't have to.

The last half hour, however, was another story.

Ronnie stuck me on a training session with a brand-new girl as the afternoon rush kicked off. Everyone was everywhere at once. Orders came flying in as fast as we were getting them out. It didn't take long for me to realize I took Melody's chirpy presence for granted.

Especially when things slowed down enough for me to finally leave, almost an hour late.

As if on cue right when I clocked out, Melody skipped into the lobby, dressed down in a tank top and shorts.

"Hey, pretty lady!" She bounced up to the counter. "How's my favorite coworker?"

I gave her a flat look.

She grimaced. "That bad?"

"Ronnie sacked me with a newbie to coddle during a rush." I crumpled up my time stamp.

"Would this cheer you up?" Melody tossed her hair over her shoulder, revealing a blossoming flower tattoo on the side of her neck.

"Mel!" I gasped, leaning in for a closer look. "When did this happen?"

"A few days ago!"

"It's beautiful . . ."

"You should get one! We could twin!"

The excitement in her eyes was almost enough to convince me.

"I don't think that's a good idea. I couldn't even cut bangs! A tattoo is . . . permanent."

Melody pouted. "Lani, I love you more than free food, but you're too scared."

My eyes flew to the floor.

"I'm not saying that to be mean." She reached over the counter to grab my hands and force me to look at her. "I love you the way you are, but I'd also love you if you took a risk and had an adventure once in a while."

"I'm too much of a wuss for that."

Her bright smile graced her face again. "You aren't; you just need some help getting started."

↠

February 29

Lani (@lanicorn)
Should I get a tattoo?

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
funny way to say hello

Lani (@lanicorn)
I'm serious

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
um
if you want to?

Lani (@lanicorn)
Would it make me more adventurous?

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
depends on your definition of "adventurous"

Lani (@lanicorn)
Not being a wuss. Taking risks

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
are you okay?

Lani (@lanicorn)
My friend thinks I'm too scared
It's not the first time I've been told that...

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
do you think you are?

Lani (@lanicorn)
Probably

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
because they said you are?
or because you actually feel that way about yourself?

Lani (@lanicorn)
Does it matter if they're right?

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
yes.
how you see yourself is more important than how they see you

Lani (@lanicorn)
I don't want to be scared

Dream ✔ (@Dream)
so don't be
it's your choice