Chapter Seventeen Supply and Demand, Baybee

hey

you seemed really spiky tonight

are you okay?????

I’m fine.

literally the first thing i say when im not at all fine is IM FINE

Okay, I’m not.

That was a whole lot, Emerson.

im sorry!!!!!! i get carried away

We could have talked about that beforehand.

Or at all.

okay yes sorry it was a dingus move

but people are so excited!!!!

and you know how i get when people are excited!!!!

go fast all the time always!!!!

and i really think youll make a great zine!!!!

I don’t want to make one.

I don’t like writing.

i remember when you used to!!!

you were great!!!!!

I wish literally no one remembered.

Humiliating.

we must have been reading different things???

because i loved it????

i wish you hadnt stopped.

You were the only one, probably.

UNTRUE!!!!

nylan and parker were talking about your last short story the other day!!!!

You were talking about me?

IN A GOOD WAY I SWEAR

Ugh.

Okay.

Can I tell you a secret?

duh

i love them

theyre safe with me

A parent complained.

About me.

Because I wrote a story with a fat they/them main character in that fall issue from sophomore year.

And she worried it would “make her kid gay” and “glorify obesity” or whatever.

WHAT NO

DISRESPECTFULLY FUCK THAT PERSON

WHO IS IT

I WILL FIGHT THEM!!!!!

“ConcernedMom1876@”

At least that’s what the anonymous e-mail was from.

I read it in the Collage inbox.

I don’t think I was supposed to know.

THATS SO FUCKED

IS THAT WHY MS MERRITT MADE YOU DO EDIITNG

*EDTING

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN

No.

No, no, no.

That’s why I asked to move to editing.

Ms. Merritt was really awesome, and she made it very clear she supported me and would fight for me.

But just.

After you see someone calling you an abomination unto the lord or whatever.

It’s just really hard to want to do that ever again?

shit, mal

of course it would be hard

okay backing way off on zine pressure

there is none

Thanks.

literally the least i can do!!!!

also for the record you’re none of that bad shit

that person can get fucked

I know.

i wish i was with you right now

i would hug you so hard!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly? Me too.

I could use it.

okay hold your phone real close ok???

Uh, ok?

are you doing it???

It’s hard to text like this, Emerson.

just hold it close a second okay?

ok im hugging yout hrough my phone right mow

oh tod it is hard to tipe like this!!!!

Thank you.

I should have told you at the meeting tonight, but I kind of wigged out.

NO its super okay!!!!

i shouldn’t have put that pressure on you

i’m sorry!!!

You didn’t know.

Like, no one did, to be fair.

I’ve never even told Maddie.

thank you for telling me

and seriously if you want it i am going to give you the BIGGEST, GAYEST, FATTEST, MOST AMAZING HUG EVER next time i see you in real life

and i hope ConcernedMom1876 sees it

and her tiny baby closed mind EXPLODES

You are a menace.

but i’m your menace!!!

I’ll take that hug.

SOLD!!!!

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