*TW mentions of suicide, homophobia, and mental health*
[Thursday — 9:42 PM]
PeppermintMattie2323: Okay, serious question.
unsunghero80: This already sounds dangerous
PeppermintMattie2323: If a substitute teacher dies during attendance, do we still have to stay for class?
unsunghero80: What kind of opening message is that?
PeppermintMattie2323: I panic under pressure
unsunghero80: Apparently so does the substitute
PeppermintMattie2323: wow
PeppermintMattie2323: So, this is Sung from 6th period, right?
unsunghero80: yeah
unsunghero80: Mattie?
PeppermintMattie2323: Unfortunately.
unsunghero80: How did you even get my screen name?
PeppermintMattie2323: Connor gave it to me after I paid him in vending machine Cheez-its
unsunghero80: That’s a depressing currency
PeppermintMattie2323: We’re public-school students. This is the economy.
unsunghero80: fair
PeppermintMattie2323: Anyway, I needed the history notes because Ms. Delgado writes like she’s hiding state secrets.
unsunghero80: She writes in cursive like the Declaration of Independence was just signed
PeppermintMattie2323: EXACTLY
unsunghero80: Hold on, I’ll send pictures.
[File sent: IMG_0044.jpg]
PeppermintMattie2323: Your handwriting is annoyingly neat.
unsunghero80: Sorry I respect the written word
PeppermintMattie2323: You sound like a librarian ghost
unsunghero80: And you sound like you get kicked out of IHOP on purpose
PeppermintMattie2323: Only once…
unsunghero80: ONLY?
PeppermintMattie2323: It was over pancakes, and technically, my cousin started it.
unsunghero80: I need more context immediately!
PeppermintMattie2323: no
unsunghero80: coward
PeppermintMattie2323: Listen, you don’t just HAND someone an IHOP story.
unsunghero80: You literally opened this conversation with a hypothetical substitute teacher death
PeppermintMattie2323: Okay, fair point.
[9:58 PM]
PeppermintMattie2323: Can I ask you something weird
unsunghero80: Weirder than 15 minutes ago?
PeppermintMattie2323: Why do you never talk in class
unsunghero80: I talk sometimes.
PeppermintMattie2323: No, you don’t.
unsunghero80: I answered attendance yesterday
PeppermintMattie2323: I forgot about that. huge moment for you.
unsunghero80: I peaked
PeppermintMattie2323: No, but seriously.
unsunghero80: IDK
unsunghero80: I moved around a lot when I was younger, so eventually you stop trying to be “The new kid” every year
PeppermintMattie2323: oh
PeppermintMattie2323: That kinda sucks, actually.
unsunghero80: It’s whatever.
unsunghero80: My mom got a better job here, so this one’s probably permanent…
PeppermintMattie2323: Permanent in this town sounds scary.
unsunghero80: Says the guy who talks to literally everyone!
PeppermintMattie2323: That’s because silence makes me itchy.
unsunghero80: I think I’ve noticed that.
PeppermintMattie2323: My family’s loud.
PeppermintMattie2323: Like “yelling over dinner about parking spaces” loud.
unsunghero80: Italian?
PeppermintMattie2323: Wow, okay stereotype…
PeppermintMattie2323: But yes.
unsunghero80: Lucky guess lol.
PeppermintMattie2323: My aunt once threw a breadstick at my uncle during an argument about Bruce Springsteen.
unsunghero80: That’s pretty awesome.
PeppermintMattie2323: Thank you
[10:14 PM]
unsunghero80: Can I ask YOU something weird?
PeppermintMattie2323: Always
unsunghero80: Why are you named Peppermint Mattie?
PeppermintMattie2323: My grandma says peppermint fixes everything.
unsunghero80: emotionally or physically
PeppermintMattie2323: Both apparently
PeppermintMattie2323: Bad grades? peppermint.
PeppermintMattie2323: Existential dread? peppermint.
PeppermintMattie2323: Broken arm? peppermint.
unsunghero80: Your grandma sounds powerful.
PeppermintMattie2323: She fears nothing except self-checkout machines.
unsunghero80: Valid
PeppermintMattie2323: What about yours?
unsunghero80: unsung hero because “sung” was already taken
PeppermintMattie2323: …
PeppermintMattie2323: That’s actually kind of genius.
unsunghero80: Thank you, I made it when I was eleven and deeply annoying.
PeppermintMattie2323: Were?
unsunghero80: Blocked.
[10:31 PM]
PeppermintMattie2323: Can I confess something?
unsunghero80: Depends on how criminal
PeppermintMattie2323: Not criminal…
PeppermintMattie2323: Probably…
unsunghero80: MATTIE
PeppermintMattie2323: Okay, so
PeppermintMattie2323: The first week of school, I thought you hated me.
unsunghero80: what why
PeppermintMattie2323: Because every time I talked in class, you looked away.
unsunghero80: Oh my god, no
unsunghero80: I just thought you were funny and then got nervous.
PeppermintMattie2323: Nervous?
unsunghero80: don’t make it weird
PeppermintMattie2323: I’m going to make it EXTREMELY weird!
unsunghero80: please don’t
PeppermintMattie2323: Sung.
PeppermintMattie2323: Are you telling me you had a tiny little crush on me?
unsunghero80: I’m logging off
PeppermintMattie2323: SUNG
unsunghero80 signed off at 10:33 PM.
[10:36 PM]
unsunghero80 signed on.
PeppermintMattie2323: HAHAHAHAHA
unsunghero80: My internet disconnected
PeppermintMattie2323: liar
unsunghero80: okay maybe a little
PeppermintMattie2323: wait
PeppermintMattie2323: Seriously?
unsunghero80: Maybe I just think you have nice eyes.
PeppermintMattie2323: oh
PeppermintMattie2323: wow
PeppermintMattie2323: Hold on, I need a second
unsunghero80: why are YOU nervous now
PeppermintMattie2323: Because I kinda hoped you liked me.
unsunghero80: wow
PeppermintMattie2323: yeah, don’t “wow” me back. I was here first.
unsunghero80: fair
PeppermintMattie2323: This is insane because in class, you act like a haunted Victorian child.
unsunghero80: And you act like if a golden retriever became a person.
PeppermintMattie2323: That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me, actually
[10:48 PM]
unsunghero80: So, what now?
PeppermintMattie2323: Now, tomorrow in 6th period, you have to acknowledge my existence 😊
unsunghero80: TERRIFYING challenge.
PeppermintMattie2323: Baby steps.
unsunghero80: What counts as acknowledgment?
PeppermintMattie2323: Maybe sit next to me.
unsunghero80: Maybe.
PeppermintMattie2323: Maybe hold my hand during the pop quiz.
unsunghero80: Slow down, Romeo
PeppermintMattie2323: sorry
PeppermintMattie2323: The peppermint is making me emotional.
[Sunday — 11:07 PM]
PeppermintMattie2323: I just ate six peppermint patties in a row!
unsunghero80: Medically, I think that turns you into toothpaste.
PeppermintMattie2323: Worth it!
unsunghero80: This explains your screen name way more than the grandma thing
PeppermintMattie2323: Oh yeah, no, that was only half the lore.
unsunghero80: HALF the lore?
PeppermintMattie2323: I’m a complex character.
unsunghero80: Debatable.
PeppermintMattie2323: Peppermint patties are literally the perfect candy!
unsunghero80: They taste cold.
PeppermintMattie2323: THAT’S THE POINT
unsunghero80: Candy shouldn’t feel like mouthwash.
PeppermintMattie2323: blocked and reported
unsunghero80: to who
PeppermintMattie2323: the government
unsunghero80: Good luck with that!
[THE NEXT DAY] [11:15 PM]
PeppermintMattie2323: It was good seeing you today.
PeppermintMattie2323: But are you okay?
unsunghero80: It was good seeing you too.
unsunghero80: Also, why do you ask?
PeppermintMattie2323: You seemed…haunted a little.
unsunghero80: My dad was in a mood this morning.
PeppermintMattie2323: Oh.
unsunghero80: Yeah.
PeppermintMattie2323: I’m sorry.
unsunghero80: It’s fine.
PeppermintMattie2323: You don’t have to do that with me btw
unsunghero80: do what
PeppermintMattie2323: The “it’s fine” thing.
unsunghero80: lol
PeppermintMattie2323: I’m serious.
unsunghero80: It’s easier to say that.
PeppermintMattie2323: My mom says “easier” and “better” are two different things.
unsunghero80: Your mom sounds emotionally stable.
PeppermintMattie2323: Don’t be ridiculous, she watches crime documentaries to relax.
unsunghero80: okay that tracks
PeppermintMattie2323: What happened
unsunghero80: He just gets weird about stuff.
PeppermintMattie2323: stuff meaning
unsunghero80: Me not being “manly” enough, I guess.
PeppermintMattie2323: That’s stupid.
unsunghero80: He thinks I spend too much time drawing and reading and not enough time playing sports.
PeppermintMattie2323: Sports are literally just organized sweating.
unsunghero80: Tell HIM that.
PeppermintMattie2323: Gladly! I fear no man.
unsunghero80: I think you should maybe fear my father a little.
PeppermintMattie2323: ☹
[11:29 PM]
unsunghero80: Can I tell you something, and you can’t make it weird
PeppermintMattie2323: Of course.
unsunghero80: I’ve never actually said this out loud before.
PeppermintMattie2323: Okay.
unsunghero80: I think my dad already knows I’m gay.
PeppermintMattie2323: OH.
unsunghero80: Or at least suspects
unsunghero80: and I think he hates me for it before I’ve even said anything.
PeppermintMattie2323: Sung
unsunghero80: Sorry, that got depressing fast
PeppermintMattie2323: No, don’t apologize.
PeppermintMattie2323: That actually sucks.
unsunghero80: I try to stay invisible at home mostly.
PeppermintMattie2323: You shouldn’t have to.
unsunghero80: Maybe.
PeppermintMattie2323: For what it’s worth…
PeppermintMattie2323: I like who you are.
unsunghero80: yeah?
PeppermintMattie2323: yeah
PeppermintMattie2323: Even if you insult peppermint patties like a criminal.
unsunghero80: Thank you, peppermint batman.
PeppermintMattie2323: You’re welcome, unsung homosexual
unsunghero80: wow okay
PeppermintMattie2323: Sorry, sorry.
PeppermintMattie2323: That was too much.
unsunghero80: No, it was funny
unsunghero80: I almost laughed loud enough for my dad to hear.
PeppermintMattie2323: Mission Accomplished
[11:44 PM]
unsunghero80: Why do you always act happy
PeppermintMattie2323: ouch
unsunghero80: Sorry, I didn’t mean to be so blunt.
PeppermintMattie2323: No, it’s okay.
PeppermintMattie2323: Honestly?
PeppermintMattie2323: When I stop acting happy, people ask questions.
unsunghero80: What kind of questions?
PeppermintMattie2323: The kind I don’t know how to answer.
unsunghero80: Mattie…
PeppermintMattie2323: I’m fine right now
unsunghero80: “Right now” is a terrifying sentence.
PeppermintMattie2323: Yeah, I know.
PeppermintMattie2323: Sometimes I get really tired of being me.
unsunghero80: Do your parents know
PeppermintMattie2323: God no
PeppermintMattie2323: My family thinks that if you make enough jokes, you can survive anything.
unsunghero80: Can you
PeppermintMattie2323: I don’t know yet
unsunghero80: Maybe you should tell them. I think they would listen.
PeppermintMattie2323: Maybe I should.
[11:51 PM]
unsunghero80: I’m glad you messaged me last night.
PeppermintMattie2323: Even with the substitute teacher death question?
unsunghero80: Especially because of that.
PeppermintMattie2323: You really do have a crush on me, huh
unsunghero80: Don’t ruin the moment.
PeppermintMattie2323: Impossible
unsunghero80: Seriously though
unsunghero80: I mean it
unsunghero80: I know we don’t know each other that well yet but
unsunghero80: I’m glad you’re here.
[11:54 PM]
PeppermintMattie2323 is typing…
PeppermintMattie2323: Hey Sung?
unsunghero80: Yeah?
PeppermintMattie2323: I’m glad you are too
unsunghero80: 🙂
PeppermintMattie2323: Okay, who gave you permission to use emotions
unsunghero80: Don’t make me take it back!
PeppermintMattie2323: Too late, I’ve archived it forever!
unsunghero80: You would.
PeppermintMattie2323: It’s midnight btw
unsunghero80: Whoops!
PeppermintMattie2323: You should probably sleep
unsunghero80: probably
PeppermintMattie2323: and for the record
PeppermintMattie2323: I hope tomorrow sucks less for you.
unsunghero80: I hope tomorrow sucks less for you, too.
PeppermintMattie2323: Look at us being emotionally vulnerable and responsible.
unsunghero80: Disgusting, honestly.
PeppermintMattie2323: Goodnight Sung 😊
unsunghero80: Sweet dreams, Mattie 😊