⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

John Quincy Adams Middle School, Hallway

Renee's POV

Maya, Aurora, Brandon and I were looking at Riley and Lucas. My twin standing near us and the blonde boy near the staircase. The two of them were texting each other. Brandon, Aurora and I were also waiting for Max since Aurora apparently had left the house before him, again.

"Talk to him." Maya said to Riley who just shrugged and said, "Why? We have a great text relationship."

"You know what's better than a text relationship?" Aurora said.

"What?" Riley asked, looking up from her phone.

"Talk to him!" Maya, Aurora and I said in unison making Brandon jump.

"Sheesh! You guys sure do speak loud." He said and got back to texting his Dad whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

We ignored his comment and turned to Riley, "Look, he's right over there." I said while pointing in Lucas's direction.

"Nooooo, too complicated over there. Lots can go wrong over there. The only thing that can go wrong over here, is if I go over there." Riley argued.

But as soon as Aurora and I pointed in his direction, she gave in and walked towards him.

We watched as she attempted to say 'hi' to him multiple times, just without any actual sound coming from her mouth. I heard laughing behind me and saw Brandon recording my twin make a fool of herself. I shook my head and turned my attention back to the said twin.

'Talk...to...him' I mouthed to her and instead of doing what I told her to..... Riley. Sniffed him. S-N-I-F-F-E-D him! I could hear Brandon's roaring laughter from behind me. I bit my lip to suppress my laughter too.

Riley walked back to us with a skip in her steps, "How'd I do?" She smiled.

"You smelled him." Maya deadpanned.

"Yup." Riley said, still wearing a smile.

"Yup. You smelled him is what you did." Aurora repeated, thinking she hadn't heard the first time.

"I walk through life, the way I walk through life." My twin told us. I heaved out a sigh.

"Can we please talk about this?" Maya and I asked. Riley picked up her phone and typed something, a second later my phone buzzed, "Nope."

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

John Quincy Adams Middle School
History Classroom

Renee's POV

Max had come to class just on time and Dad then started his lesson.

"You guys don't connect with each other. It's like you can't exist without these." Dad explained as he shook his phone in his hand.

"You use emoticons rather than emotions. You're an unfeeling generation of zombies." Maya and Riley started acting like zombies causing Aurora, Max, Brandon and I to laugh.

"Stop eating her." Dad said with furrowed eyebrows.

The door to the classroom opened and one of our classmates Myzell stepped in. "You're late, Ms. Myzell." Dad said.

"My goldfish died." Myzell said nonchalantly.

"You see? This is what I'm talking about?" Dad pointed out before putting an arm around her, "Miss Myzell has clearly suffered a tragic loss. Yet she does not seem in touch with her actual emotions."

"Excuse me? I'm crying my eyes out. I'm gonna have to leave class early today." She said, her voice flat as she left the class.

"Oh, she actually made it out the door this time." Dad said, amused before Myzell stuck her head back in and said, "I actually made it out the door this time." Myzell said.

"Dad, adjust and deal. Cellphones have been around for like, ever." Riley exclaimed.

"It'll amaze you to know that there was a whole world before you and cell phones." He replied.

"It'll amaze you to know that I have 394 friends in here." Riley confidently said.

"It'll amaze you to know how many of them are fake." I sassed. Riley didn't know 15 people let alone be friends with 394. Dad nodded in agreement.

He walked to the chalkboard and drew a line on it, "This is a timeline of all human existence. Starting here," He said while pointing at the start of the line, "Is everyone who ever, lived, laughed, loved and, understood the value of life. The cellphone era which begins right around here, pretty much destroys everything. Way to go, You!" Dad said as he drew a point near the end of the line.

"Sir, if I may take a different position?" Lucas asked while raising his hand.

"Yeah, Mr. Friar. Save me. Do I go too far?" Dad asked in return.

"Always, Sir. I understand your point, but I use my phone to video chat my old friends and to find out what's going on in Texas."

"Yeah, how else can he keep tabs on all the horse downs and cattle pageants?" Maya said with a bad country accent.

"Maya!" Riley scolded.

"It's okay Riley. I'm unaffected by Maya's views of country life. As my uncle Buster always says, 'Be like an eagle and soar above the mockingbird.'" Lucas reassured as Brandon and I laughed.

"You're the mockingbird." I rubbed salt on the wound for Maya.

"I know. It kills me that I can't get to you." Maya turned around and glared at Lucas.

"Sorry, ma'am." Lucas pretended to tip his imaginary hat.

"As amusing as watching Maya get all riled up was, I agree with Lucas here Sir. I mean I use my phone to stay in contact with my Dad." Brandon said while raising his hand.

"Yeah, we all keep contact with Juliette through our phones as well, Dad." I piped in after him.

"Farkle time, Sir?" Farkle raised his hand as he stood up from his seat and exchanged places with my father.

"Ooh! I love Farkle time!" Dad said.

"With all due respect to history, Mr. Matthews, what's important to our generation will be on this side of the timeline, when Farkle and Technology rule." Farkle went to Riley and Maya and plucked out a hair out of both their heads.

"And I will easily be able to make another one of you." He came to me and did the same.

"Ow." I let out a little yelp as I rubbed my scalp.

"Wait, so now there's six of us and one of you?" Riley asked.

"That's awesome. The future, you can't escape it. I am Farkle!" He bowed and switched places with Dad again.

"The assignment. You can't escape it! I am Teacher!" Dad mimicked the boy.

"Okay, so here's what we're going to do, guys. We're going to split into teams and discover whether or not new technology has made us better people. You'll do a presentation on your findings. And here's the twist. No computers."

"What?!" Farkle shrieked, his hands clenched into fists as he panicked.

"We're going old school. You're going to do your research at the New York Public Library." Dad explained.

"Where?!" This time Maya shrieked. Wow, I just realised that Maya has never been to an actual library.

"And here's another twist because I trust you not at all. Give me your cell phones." Dad took a basket from his desk.

"No!" Riley yelled with a frustrated expression.

I honestly had no problem in handing over my phone. I used it only to keep in contact with Juliette until she's back.

"Yeah. Come on. Hand 'em up, hand 'em up." Dad collected everybody's cellphones as he said that. "Thank you. Thank you. Okay, so the teams for this assignment. Maya and Aurora, Farkle and Brandon. And Riley you'll be with.....No! No! Oh wait and, Renee you'll be with.....No! No! No!!"

The bell rang, ".....No!" Dad yelled and turned to Lucas, "Why did you have to come here? Max was already enough!" He said while glaring at Max, who gave my Dad a sweet smile. I wanted to laugh so bad.

"Sorry we make you uneasy sir." Lucas and Max said in unison and Lucas exited the class while Max waited for me along with Aurora and Brandon.

"Oh, Dad, we don't even have our phones. I mean what could possibly happen?" Riley told him dejectedly and left the class.

I pitied my Dad, really. I pat him on the shoulder as I left the classroom along with the other three.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

John Quincy Adams Middle School
Hallway

Renee's POV

It was the end of the school day and I was talking with Maya, Aurora, Riley Brandon and Farkle. Max told us he had something to do and left school early.

"Hey, Soarin' eagle, you walkin' with us to the library tonight?" Maya asked as soon as Lucas passed by.

"Sure. If that's good with you guys." Lucas smiled at the end.

"Well since we all are going to the same place, I have no problems with that and since you're partnered with my twin, let's ask if it's okay with her. Riley?" I asked my twin who stood as still as a statue.

"Riley, any thoughts on this that might come out of your mouth in word form?" Maya took a pause, "No, because you don't have your phone anymore, so what are you going to do to communicate, I wonder?" Maya asked.

Riley brought her thumbs up and forced out a smile, "Oh! That's a thumbs up! And a very weird smiley face!" Brandon chirped out of nowhere. I gave him a look, "What? I thought we were playing charades!" He put his hands up in exaggeration.

"Brandon, if we were playing charades right now, then you would have lost 0-10. Esme and I make a killer team. I mean it." Aurora said while hooking her arms with me.

Brandon shivered, "Scary."

"Feisty!" Farkle said while making a weird face.

I laughed at them both while Aurora pulled me with her.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

Matthews' Apartment, Dinner table

Renee's POV

Auggie was telling Mom, Dad, Riley, Alex, Brandon and I about how his day went as we all were finishing up dinner.

"It was a good day. And then my friends were nice to me. And then my teacher measured us and then I'm growing. And then Jenny Lewis loves me. I think it's because I'm growing." Auggie explained eagerly as I smiled. He was so innocent.

Alex and Brandon fist bumped Auggie as I said, "Way to go little man!"

"Ooh ok! My turn! It was a good-but-not-so-good day. And then I thought of an amazing tune in my head. And then I added lyrics to it. And then I forgot to write it down. And then I forgot the tune as well." I described my day as well.

"Well, today was a good day for me too. And then I had my classes. And then I had to study. And then I had to do my homework. And then I got hungry." Alex did the same.

Next was Brandon, "It was a so-so day. And then I texted dad. And then I didn't pack my math textbook. And then I had to miss lunch. And then I have an hour of detention on this Saturday. Oh, and then I also had my phone taken away by my teacher."

The last one left was Riley, "It wasn't a good day." She started explaining her day, "And then my friend pulled my hair out. And then my teacher took my phone away. And then my teacher was also my father." Riley finished off while pointing a finger at Dad accusingly.

"At least you're growing." Auggie said to try and make her feel better.

"Honey, please don't come apart. Look at this as a beautiful opportunity to spend time with your family." Mom said.

"Yeah Riles, look at the bright side." I added, trying to comfort my twin.

"Hello Riley." Auggie started.

"How you doing?" Riley questioned.

"Wanna hear about my day? It was a good day." Auggie answered.

"Mom!" Riley slightly yelled.

"Forgive her Auggie. She misses her telephone." Mom explained to him.

"Well, then she can have mine!" Auggie offered and handed Riley his toy phone.

Riley pressed a button on the toy phone, "The cow goes..." It started saying, "Moo!" Auggie, Brandon and Alex, finished together with the cow.

I gave the two boys a look that said, 'Seriously?' They both shrugged their shoulders as Alex said, "What, we spend a lot of time in Auggie's room!"

I shook my head. "I'm not gonna make it." Riley exclaimed.

Mom turned her attention to me, "What about you Renee, how are you doing on this assignment?" I merely shrugged.

"Well I'm certainly doing better than her." I pointed at Riley who was now sulking. "I don't really need my phone very often but I do miss it...since it has some of my song drafts saved in my notes. I wanted to work on one of them but looks like that'll have to wait."

Mom smiled, "That's good cause your father thinks you both won't make it. Especially you Riley."

"Well I just think Renee and even Brandon might make it...but...Riley can't." Dad gave his opinion.

"Honey, please don't make your father right. It's no good for any of us when your father is right." Mom said while looking at Riley.

"She's right." Dad, Alex, Brandon and I said in unison.

"Why are you really doing this?" Riley asked Dad.

"Let me explain on what I think that Dad's motive is for making us do this. I think, Dad wants us to become humans again. With all the new technology, we all have stopped having real conversations with each other." I end before I quickly add, "This is what I think Dad thinks—Not what I think."

Dad nodded, disregarding the little add-on comment near the end.

The intercom buzzed, "Hey losers, it's Maya."

"Except her." Dad pointed out.

"And Aurora!" My bestfriend said after Maya.

"And her." Dad commented again.

"You know what, I'm going to do this. I can get through this whole thing without making a text or a call." Riley declared with determination.

I walked over to the intercom, "Come in, you guys."

"Of course you can, sweetheart. Renee can too. And you know what? You guys are already wonderful human beings. But every so often, little tests like these are gonna come up." Mom advised and explained to us.

I really like her advises, they sound like those everyday inspirational quotes.

"Why?" Riley whined. I went back to my seat on the table. Alex had left the moment he heard Maya saying she's here. I swear he can be so over the top sometimes. I internally roll my eyes.

"Hey, Esme." Brandon suddenly tapped me on the shoulder as I tuned out Riley and my Mom and turned to face him. "What's up?" I asked.

He leaned forward from his seat across me and whispered, "I think something's up with Max."

"Why? What happened?" I asked, confused. Sure, he wasn't around that much today but I didn't notice anything weird with him.

"I just—I mean....I don't think Aurora leaves the house earlier than him. Or I don't think that he actually goes where he tells us. I think Aurora and Max both, are hiding something from us. Is it just me or...do you think so as well?" I could see the worry on Brandon's face.

"I don't know B, I mean you could just be overreacting, I guess." His shoulders visible fell so I quickly added, "—I could...try to talk to Aurora or Max some time later...but I can't assure anything...ok? Just don't worry too much. I'm sure it's nothing."

Those words were to convince myself more than him.

Just then someone wrapped their arms around my shoulders from behind. I immediately knew it was Aurora.

"What you guys talking about?" She asked resting her head against mine, "Nothing. Just random stuff." I easily answered. Unlike my twin, I could lie very smoothly. Believe me—it's not something I'm proud of.

I turned my attention to the discussion between my Mom and Maya.

"I was the only one in class without a smartphone, anyway, and now I kinda feel like everybody's even." Maya casually shrugged.

"Hey Rory, when's Max coming?" I asked Aurora who still had her arms around my shoulders, while I swayed both of us. As best friends we both are very open to skin-ship.

She seemed to have been caught off-guard as her eyebrows shot up before she composed herself, "Oh—uh, m-mom and dad wanted him to...uh run some errands for them at the last minute. He'll be here soon though."

I frowned at that and noticed Brandon did too.

She was lying.

She was definitely lying.

Her stutters gave her away, Aurora never stutters.

But I left it at that. If she's lying to me, then she must have a good reason to do so.

The intercom buzzes again, breaking my chain of thoughts, "Farkle." Farkle says.

"Be there in a minute." Riley said through the intercom.

"And Max." Max said through the intercom as Brandon, Aurora and I got up, "Let's go!" We shouted in unison.

"And Lucas." The intercom buzzed again with Lucas's voice this time.

"Ready now!" Riley shouted and rushed through the apartment, Maya following her.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

New York Public Library

Renee's POV

We all arrived at the library and everybody suddenly started looking around in wonder. Except for me and Max. We come here every weekend to read books. We both are Fiction lovers.

"What is this place?" Riley asked, disgusted.

"This is where the ancients stored all their wisdom." Farkle exclaimed.

"Ancients? Wisdom? Seriously? You guys have never seen books before or visited the library?" I asked, throwing my hands up in exasperation.

"Look at all those..." Maya trailed off.

"Books!" Max and I yelled in frustration.

"Books." Maya and Riley said slowly, as if it were a new word being registered into their brain.

"What did I get myself into!?" I hit my head on Max's shoulder as he chuckled and patted my head. That action brought blush on my cheeks.

"Look." Lucas suddenly pointed out, "Tales of Human Interaction."

"We'll take it. Thanks quick-draw." Maya said as Max and I took a seat on the nearest table. She snatched the book and went towards Farkle, "Farkle, do whatever you do with that."

"You mean read?" Farkle sarcastically said as he opened the book, "Chapter One..."

"Oh, I'm bored out of my mind, let's go to a movie." Maya interrupted.

I noticed Aurora and Brandon sitting on the table right beside mine and Max's. They both were reading some books and taking down notes.

"Shh!" The librarian scowled at us, popping out of nowhere as we all screamed.

"There's one of the ancients now." Farkle got up and walked towards the Librarian. Oh, this was going to end bad.

"Oh, wondrous gatekeeper of the knowledge, we are travelers from another place and time." Farkle continued with a weird accent.

"Seventh grade middle school." Riley and I interrupted in sync. We both looked at each other and smiled.

"We wish to partake of this information from your great hall of wisdom." Farkle continued shamelessly.

"Do you rent phones?" Riley asked.

"There's no one here but us." Lucas informed her.

"Why do we have to shush?" Maya asked the librarian.

"Why don't you guys know how to shut up?" Aurora snapped making Max, Brandon and I snicker.

"Let me handle this, you guys." Farkle told us before he started to poorly flirt with the librarian, "Hello, Book lady." Brandon bit his lip to suppress his laugh and Max did the same. I hit Max's shoulder playfully.

"Well, hello and who might you be?" The librarian asked.

"I might be Farkle." Farkle replied.

"Would you do me a favor Farkle?" The older woman asked again.

"Oh, you know I will." Farkle confidently said.

"Why don't you go over there..." She pointed to a part of the library, "—And Shhh!"

"Well that's disappointing." He frowned.

I rolled my eyes and got up to get some books. As soon as I got up I felt a hand on my wrist, "I need some books too, let's search together." I smiled and nodded at Max's words.

After we both got some books, we went back to our seats and started reading. It was a compilation of poems on the topic of Human Interaction.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

New York Public Library, Even Later

Renee's POV

Halfway through the book I was reading, I started to get bored. So, I took the notepad I had brought with me and started writing lyrics mindlessly.

I can't pretend
To know how you feel
But know that I'm here
Know that I'm real

Say what you want
Or don't talk at all
I'm not gonna let you fall

Reach for my hand
'Cause it's held out for you
My shoulders are small
But you can cry on them too
Everything changes
But one thing is true
Understand
We'll always be more than a band
Yeah.

[I don't own the song. Credits to the writers, Disney and Lemonade Mouth.]

"Hey, Nessie, you listening?" I looked up from my notepad and faced Max who was gently shaking my shoulders. I was so immersed in writing the song that I didn't notice him speaking at all.

"Uh, yeah...sorry I spaced out. What were you saying?" I asked.

"Well I just wanted to ask if you were done reading the compilation of poems on human interaction that you had in your hands earlier. Cause, I'm done reading my book." Max stated.

"Yeah. I read and took notes on some of the poems as well." I confirmed.

Max suddenly pointed at my notepad and looked at me, "If you don't mind, can I read what you were writing?"

"Yeah, sure! I don't mind!" I handed him the notepad, and our fingers slightly touched making me take a sharp inhale of breath and withdraw my hand back.

He read through the lyrics as I anticipated his reaction, "Nessie....this is so beautiful. I love it! You have to make this an official band song for us!" He said while smiling at me.

Suddenly it all came down on me, I just realised that I liked it when our hands had touched. I liked it when he smiled at me like that. Does this mean that...I like Max?

Putting my thoughts aside, "Thanks Max. I'm still not completely done with the lyrics though, they're only, like, halfway done. I also have to figure out the tune and all—" I was cut off by the boy in front of me as he put his hand on mine.

"If you want...I can help you with...figuring out the tune...what do you say?" His eyes bore into mine. I felt all weird in my stomach.

Oh my god.

I like Max Cooper.

"Yeah. I'd like that." I smiled at him with blushing cheeks.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

Matthews' Apartment

Renee's POV

Riley, Brandon and I reached the apartment door, Riley leaned onto it. She had an amazing experience tonight as well. She wouldn't stop telling me about it.

I couldn't get rid of the smile on my face, I told Brandon all about my newest realization and he even promised not to tell Max. Our parents were sitting at the table, staring at us both, Mom with a smile, and Dad with a frown.

"How was your night, Renee, Riley, Brandon?" Dad asked, his frown still not turned upside down.

I grinned wider than before, "Thank you, for sending us to the library tonight, Dad." Riley and I said in unison.

"Just to be clear. I'm not thanking you for sending me there. I had to read big, thick, books." He said with disgust.

"Really?" He asked me and my twin, completely ignoring Brandon who went and stood with Mom. Alex was probably in his room or with Auggie.

"Yes. Lucas and I did really well on the assignment. I think that we connected." Riley beamed.

"And I realized something about Max tonight." I blushed.

"What do you mean, connected? What are you talking about? Wait—no what did you realise? How did you connect? No, what did you realise?—I already asked that." My Dad panicked.

"We, talked about stuff that was important to us. Too important to text. Did you know that, when you listen to someone, they'll tell you stuff?" Riley talked.

"Oh boy." He said.

"Friends, talk to each other. But real friends, know how to listen. Maya knows how to draw, Renee knows how to write songs, and I know how to be a real friend. You're a good teacher Dad. You can keep my phone as long as you want." Riley hugged Dad and went to her room.

"All I needed was one moment of clarity. And I realized something that I should've realized a long time ago. I feel like, a weight has been lifted off my shoulders now that I'm true to my feelings and myself." I told after Riley.

"Congratulations, Cory." Mom said.

"What did I do?" Dad asked with a worried voice.

"You just taught both of your daughters how to feel, Uncle Cory." Brandon clarified.

"Good night, Mom and Dad. Good night Brandon." I didn't want to watch my Dad have a full blown panic attack, so I went to my room as well.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

John Quincy Adams Middle School
History Class

Renee's POV

Dad was giving everyone their phones back. I don't know why he was doing this but if it was to stop Riley and I from feeling? Then it was too late already. I was yet to tell Aurora about my realization though.

"Here you go, take your phone. Take it now. Very good. Good, great. Nobody talks to nobody. No more feelings." Dad said triumphantly.

"Ok guys, the great technology debate! Let's boot it up!" Dad said as Riley, Maya, Farkle, Lucas, Max, Brandon, Aurora and I walked up to the front of the classroom.

Farkle took out his phone and started, "I have always believed technology would help us fulfill our potential as a species. But when Farkle does rule the world, no matter what devices we come up with, we should also never forget what we can do with a pencil, a piece of paper and our own imaginations." He took out the drawing Maya had made. Riley told me all about it as well.

"I've been keeping this in my pocket, where my phone used to be. I keep looking at it. I'm fine." He finished.

"Thanks Farkle." Maya said.

"Look me in the eye." He ordered her.

"No." Maya declined.

Brandon and I giggled at the duo.

"I came across this beautiful song that Nessie wrote yesterday at the library. If I'd been on my phone yesterday night, or hadn't been in the library, I may have not known about it. I know how talented Nessie is, but this song she wrote is so heartfelt that I can't stop reading it. Thank you for letting me read it Nessie." Max spoke.

I smiled, "You're always welcome to read my songs, Max."

We both stared at each other until, "No!" My Dad shouted making me flinch and avert my eyes. The whole class clapped for us anyway.

"I thought my whole life was in my phone. But it turns out I don't really have any friends in here." Riley said while pointing at her phone.

"And you don't need your phone to connect with your real friends." Riley continued.

"Allow us to demonstrate." Lucas took over the explanation.

"Hi." Riley said to Lucas.

"Hi." Lucas replied back to Riley.

━━━━━━

𝟏𝟏-𝟎𝟒-𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏

𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦, 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥!