My phone was hexed.

It was vibrating non-stop, pinging in a continuous and distorted rhythm as the screen flooded with notifications from some group on Instagram I had never seen before.

As I alternated my attention between my phone and the bag of potato chips I had stashed away in one of my drawers, I recognized a couple of the usernames. They belonged to people from school I happened to have certain classes with.

I checked the chat details at the top. The group was created just four minutes ago. And yet the notifications were steadily approaching a hundred. What the fuck were they talking about?

KevinBaller: I dont know how to even start with this stupid assignment. 

Mickyyy: When do u know to start anything Kevin?

KevinBaller: Yo what's that supposed to mean??

Marie-Biscuit: don't start here ugh.

Mickyyy: well CLEARLY we're supposed to start sumtin. Who made this grp even?

Laura.aura: I think it's Rowan.

Mickyyy: right who else would it be? Just wants us to do everything for him.

KevinBaller: just checked the group details. He added the whole freaking class.

CerealKiller: Are you talking shit about me?

Mickyyy: we're about to. You made this group for your benefit, right Rowan?

Marie-Biscuit: my notifications are blowing up. I'm muting y'all.

KevinBaller: No one cares.

Mickyyy: wait whats the assignment abt?

CerealKiller: Weren't you in class today? Because I'm pretty sure you were around

Laura.aura: You know all he does is sleep. Don't bother asking😂

Mickyyy: Laura I used to think u were kul.

KevinBaller: it's cellular respiration and then genetics and inheritance. Maybe you gon learn why your brain's so small 

Mickyyy: maybe you'll know y your dick's so tiny mf

Laura.aura: Guysss. Chill

Laura.aura: Have you finished, Parker? Parkerrrrrr?????????

Forever_Parker: havent started yet. those questions are a mess, and it's not a hot one.

Forever_Parker: what about you?

I got to the end of the chat, and I figured the least I could do after all the lurking, was to contribute to the conversation. My eyes skimmed the last message before I typed in a reply.

Me: Me neither. It's a freaking dumpster fire and I know it's all going to shit. Worst part is, Mrs. Smith probably won't read it before grading. Slaving our asses off for the low score she'll no doubt give us anyway.

I dropped my phone, munching on a potato chip h. It crunched and crackled like the fire that ignited in me when I realized what I had just typed– When I finally realized I’d replied to Parker, and his question wasn't even directed at me.

For some reason, I hadn't noticed his name, and I don't know why it surprised me when the realization finally dawned. Of course he'd be in the group, we had the same Biology class. 

And holy fuck, I'd just talked shit about my teacher in the group meant for a project she gave out.

My hands scrambled around for the device, and I mistakenly knocked over the bag of chips. Shit. But I didn't stop until I found my phone, buried between creases in the comforter. The time I would spend cleaning up the chips was more than enough time for the class to see my message. I couldn't risk that.

As soon as the screen came to life, Parker was there. I saw evidence of him in the text bubbles that popped to show he was typing, the same ones that began to taunt me when my gaze flitted over the text I sent.

I didn't know how I would feel if Parker replied, particularly because I didn't know what his mind breathed into the fingers that were going to type my ruin. In that moment of panic, I listened to the only reasonable voice in my head as my fingers slid against the screen once more.

You deleted a message.

For a while, I stared hard at the screen. Hard enough for it to erase any indication that Parker won't let the matter go. It worked... for a while. 

Forever_Parker is typing...

My breath caught in my throat, forming a lump I couldn't swallow no matter how hard I tried. I should have been gathering the chips that still lay in wait on my bed Instead, I watched the bubbles jump up and down in a subtle dance, disappearing, then reappearing. 

Forever_Parker: i saw that

Me: No you didn't.

Forever_Parker: yes i did

Laura.aura: Saw what

Parker and I responded with the same answer, within milliseconds of each other. It made my heart do a backflip in my chest, made my face heat up from the toasty feeling of replying in unison.

Forever_Parker: nothing

Me: Nothing.

Mickyyy: You two are super weird.

Forever_Parker: We two are not. You're just bitter cos we won't let you in on our secret.

I read over his text. Once. Twice. It was too much.

Phone pressed to my chest, I fell onto my bed, the chips crumbling beneath my body. I should have been more concerned with the little creatures I was inviting in bed if I didn't get the crumbs off, I should have cared more about my hair swallowing a good number of chip pieces. But I couldn't. I was too full, overflowing with an unexplainable feeling, flooding my lungs, and eliciting a content sigh from me.

Parker had acknowledged me, had implied that we shared something. A secret. We. I couldn't process my thoughts enough to think of a reply, and I ended up closing the groupchat altogether and muting it just to be safe.

Standing up, I tugged the ends of the sheets and bundled them up, intending to dispose of the chips as I wasn't sure I could stomach any more with how everything churned inside. Or maybe I could give them to Jellybean. Cats can eat potato chips, right?

Just as I was leaving my room, my phone pinged. It was an odd phenomenon because I was sure I’d disable the notifications. Nonetheless, I hopped onto my bed and reached for the device.

My heart no longer seized, it was doing freaking back flips, and I can’t even do a cartwheel.

I fully understood why the most recent text had caused my phone to sound out upon its arrival, but it didn't make any more sense than if the group chat had been the reason. He’d messaged me directly.

Why was he texting? Why was his username displayed in big bold texts I couldn't look away from. Why was my heart hurting so good with the realization that Parker had slid into my Direct Messages.