Misfits Like Us (Like Us #11)(89)

Yep, true.

I have the notebook open, and I jot down any numbers or observations Harriet has, but I’m not exactly helping with the experiment. I don’t really blame Harriet for dubbing me the secretary. I fucked up our first lab by mixing up the reagents. It ruined our numbers and we both got zeroes on it.

I had to go to the professor and explain it was my fault, and that was enough to get us a redo.

But ever since then, I’ve been stuck with note-taking.

I’m okay with it. Harriet is here on an academic scholarship, and I don’t want to mess it up for her.

“Can you write down that the substance is clear in color?” Harriet asks, her face etched in an unapproachable scowl.

One day, Eliot saw her coming out of the lab when he met up with me, and she shot him a withering glare that would’ve made Kinney jealous. “What was that?” he asked me.

“My lab partner.”

“Your lab partner might be possessed.”

“No, that’s just her.” Now, in the lab, I’m scribbling the note, and then I adjust the goggles over my eyes.

She checks her watch. “And now we wait.”

“How long?”

“Fifteen minutes.” She leans back against the lab bench. “I didn’t mean to be a dick, earlier. If you’re sick of note-taking, you can do some of the pipet stuff.”

I shake my head. “You’ve got it.”

“Harriet?” A girl on the other side of our lab bench peeks over. “Um…” She’s scared of Harriet and Harriet’s monster scowl, but she licks her lips and quietly asks, “…could you help us, possibly, please? We’re so lost.”

“Yeah, sure.” Harriet leaves our bench.

Did I mention that she’s a genius? She skipped fifth grade, making her the youngest in the lab. Plus, she’s trying to be a doctor. She belongs here in a way that I don’t. I’m not exactly sure where I’m supposed to be yet.

A notification pings my phone.

A new Fanaticon DM.

My heart races as I pop it open. SB is still kind of a mystery, but it’s nice to have someone to talk to about the things I like. Someone who isn’t Donnelly.

StaleBread89: saw you followed We Are Calloway on Fanaticon. You a fan?





My palms go clammy. Stomach sinking.

I’m so dumb. Of course he’d notice I recently followed We Are Calloway. Why does he even care? I bite the inside of my lip, confused and uncertain. On the flip side, maybe this is good? I can also pry deeper into his feelings about my family.

I type out my message and hit send.

Illyana_Dallas222: I don’t watch the show that much. But I think the families are pretty cool. No hate. Are you a fan?





Waiting for his response is pure torture, even though it’s only like thirty seconds before he replies.

StaleBread89: #1 fan





Oookay. That’s not bad. But it doesn’t mean it’s good either. There are people who say they are our number one fans and do some invasive stuff.

He messages again.

StaleBread89: not in a creepy way tho. Hate when ppl claim to like them and then send them shit like pizza with messages in pepperoni.





That must have been a WAC episode I never saw. But I do remember living in the townhouse and Jane once got a pizza that said Marry Me written in pepperoni.

It was creepy.

I calm down a little.

Illyana_Dallas222: Same. That stuff is super creepy. No pizza messages from me ???♀?





StaleBread89: Glad we’re on the same pizza page ????





I can’t help but smile. Talking to him just makes me feel good. And lately, being around Donnelly causes more hurt than happiness. Unintentional hurt, at least.

All I want is to lean into these new feelings, and so I send another message.

Illyana_Dallas222: I’m rethinking the whole Fanaticon convention ?? The actress who plays Callie will be at a panel there. Showing up in support would be cool





He replies within seconds.

StaleBread89: If u go, I’ll go





I reread it again and again.

“What’s with the smile?” Harriet asks, returning to our lab bench. “Did the exam results come back?” She immediately whips out her phone to check. “You get an A?”

“No, I don’t think they’ve released the scores yet. I’m just on a fandom site. Someone said something funny.”

“Which fandom?” Harriet asks.

“Beneath a Strong Sentiment.”

She looks at me like I just spoke Klingon. “Never heard of that one.”

“It’s a cool show.”

“Oh yeah, I don’t have time for much TV these days.” She says that super fast. A strand of blonde hair escapes her pony, and she quickly redoes it. We’re supposed to wear our hair up during lab. I have mine in four buns at the top of my head.

I don’t want to leave SB on read, so I reply quickly.

Illyana_Dallas222: I’m doing it then. Going to get the ticket tonight ??





Harriet checks her watch and then looks to me. “What other classes are you taking?”