The HoloHavoc friend group lounged in their usual corner of the Mega Pizzaplex arcade, the hum of neon lights reflecting in Danny’s mismatched sneakers and the glinting of Elena’s hot-pink boots. Abbey was mid-story, animatedly waving her hands, her purple-striped leggings flashing as she laughed. Silas leaned back, cap tilted, trying not to topple over the edge of the bench, while Elena quietly fiddled with a star-shaped charm on her hoodie strings. Tomy, sitting cross-legged with his notebook balanced on his knees, jotted down observations in near silence, only occasionally glancing up with sharp, skeptical eyes.

Then Jessica appeared.

She moved like a whirlwind of calculated cuteness, high-pitched voice already squeaking,

Jess: “Oh my gosh, hi! I’m Jessica! But you can call me Jessie! Or J-J-Jess! Teehee!” She clutched her oversized purse to her chest, fingers fluttering like she was perpetually on the verge of tears—or at least wanted everyone to think she was. Danny, perched on the edge of the arcade machine, tilted his head behind his goggles. His amber and brown eyes scanned her like she was a puzzle he didn’t want to solve.

Danny: "Fragile? Petite? Uh-huh. Sure you are," he muttered under his breath, though his hands fiddled with the corner of his bowtie nervously. Overstimulation tickled the back of his brain, making him twitch slightly. Abbey, ever the optimist and social butterfly, forced a polite smile, but her enthusiasm was measured.

Abbey: “Hey, Jessica! Nice to meet you… I think,” she said, a subtle tension in her voice. Abbey’s hands, covered in layered bracelets, fidgeted as she tried to mask her growing doubt. Tomy’s gaze, piercing and calculating, narrowed as he scribbled an observation in his notebook: Subject exhibits attention-seeking behavior; vocal pitch unusually high; authenticity questionable. He tilted his head, letting the pencil hover.

Tomy: “Uh… hi,” he said flatly, deliberately withholding enthusiasm. His OCD-induced need for order made her chaotic energy feel like static electricity buzzing over his skin. Silas, ever oblivious to subtle social cues, leaned forward with a grin.

Silas: “Whoa! You really like to talk, huh?” His ADHD-fueled energy met her performative antics halfway, and for a brief moment, he almost enjoyed the chaos. Then he caught Elena’s wide-eyed stare, the silent plea not to encourage the Pick-me. Elena, knees pulled to her chest, sank further into her oversized pink hoodie. Her anxiety hummed, warning her to flee, but she stayed, clutching her charm and muttering softly,

Elena: “She’s… so much…” Jessica’s voice squeaked again as she flipped her hair, eyes locking on Danny like he was the prize she had been seeking all along.

Jess: “Ooooh! And you! You look… so smart! And cute! Are you the… uh… leader type? Or maybe the quiet, mysterious type? I just love a boy who’s—oh my gosh—I mean, I totally get mysterious vibes! Teehee!” Danny’s lip curled slightly, a sarcastic edge in his tone.

Danny: “Yeah, real mysterious. I hack security systems for fun.” He fiddled with his fingerless gloves, letting the overstimulation build. Abbey shot him a look, silently begging him not to scare her new ‘friend,’ though she already felt her patience fraying. Jessica gasped, clasping her hands to her cheeks.

Jess: “Ooooh! A hacker! That’s so brave… like, I could never! But maybe you’ll teach me one day, right? I’d be sooo careful! Promise!” Tomy pinched the bridge of his nose.

Tomy: "Nope. Not even gonna bother." Silas, sensing the discomfort brewing in Danny and Elena, laughed nervously.

Silas: “Uh… maybe… maybe we should play a game first? That way we can… uh… get to know each other?” Jessica pouted dramatically, knees slightly buckled in feigned weakness.

Jess: “Games are fun! But only if you pick me, mister hacker boy! I’m sooo tiny and delicate—I might break your high scores otherwise!” Danny groaned, hopping off the arcade machine.

Danny: "Tiny and delicate, my ass..."