Arthur was incredibly bored. He had spent his free morning sitting on the Internet, looking at species of antelope. Only once it was the afternoon did he realize that he had just squandered several hours of his weekend half-heartedly looking at antelope. He did not want to go outside, because he was feeling incredibly lazy. After his antelope-looking time, he checked to see if he had any new e-mails. There was one about a sale on cat food back home. Huh. Why the hell did I subscribe to this pet store's sale alert? Deleted. He checked to see if anybody had responded to his question about string gauges on a guitar forum. I should burn it? What the hell is that going to do, set me down the path of the thousands of Hendrix imitators? Ugh. Then he sat back for a minute. I could type stuff into the calculator and turn it upside-down. That's... Never amusing. He emitted a sigh. Then it struck him: I'll talk to somebody on IM! This revelation led him to the disappointed discovery that none of his friends were online. I never added anybody to my buddies on this username... I know, I'll make a group chat.

He made the chat under the name "AA General." I wonder if anybody'll find this. I hope so.

BlimeyLimey: Anybody on?
BlimeyLimey: ...
BlimeyLimey: I have cake!

A computer is a pleasant luxury when you’re in school isn’t it? At that second, Phoebe Stavros would have to agree as she searched for information on e-coli for her science class. Typically, Phoebe was never very fond of computers and even now she was quite suspicious of it shutting down right before she finished it. After every two words she’d save it, expecting the computer to crash unprovoked. Then again, it may not be unprovoked…there were technopaths in this school that didn’t like her. It was amazing that her computer was virus free. Even so, Phoebe liked computers a heck of a lot more than libraries and those were her only two choices. For the convenience that hr computer provided, even she couldn’t complain.

Unfortunately, the computer has its evils too, one being distraction. As Phoebe sat there at the computer, she was becoming rather bored. She wished that she was done with the project already but unfortunately she wasn’t and it was already afternoon. Anyway, Phoebe was bored but she had very little to do within her dorm with Audrey gone and she couldn’t think of anything to do on the computer. Actually, she didn’t know how…she wasn’t an idiot, she just rarely used the computer even though her parents purchased her one for class. She knew of all sorts of games that seemed fun to play but never thought of remembering the sites.

Phoebe reached her last paragraph of her assignment before getting symptoms very similar to writer’s block. Only a real scientist would recognize her condition as the Idonwannadothis flu. Without thinking, she began to click on random desktop icons and eventually followed a link to a list of group chats. She had been in a chat room before but the last one she had been in got a little wild and it made her wary to enter another. She scrolled through all the names, ignoring those that were potentially dangerous or potentially disturbing and finally caught sight of the innocent looking: “Interesting talk is a byproduct of boredom”. Curious and bored she clicked on it and saw that only three messages were there.


PS_IMvevrywhere has just joined the chat.

PS_IMeverywhere: Hello? Anyone still home?

PS_IMeverywhere: Oh, hi.

PS_IMeverywhere: I like cake. It gets me in trouble a lot though. :(

PS_IMeverywhere:...Is this chat still active?

(I literally can not think today, but I wanted to reply.)

Arthur was glad for the response. One person, admittedly less than I wanted, but a good start.

BlimeyLimey: Nah, we're all dead in here
BlimeyLimey: "We," of course, referring to me
BlimeyLimey: Sooooooooooo
BlimeyLimey: Are
BlimeyLimey: you
BlimeyLimey: a
BlimeyLimey: student?
BlimeyLimey: >_>

Phoebe was just about to click on the Microsoft Word tab at the bottom of her screen to get back to work, when someone in the chat responded. She smiled as she immediately recognized the other person as someone with a sense of humor. Sure, it was disappointing that only two people took up the chat room space but who cared? Phoebe was looking for an interesting discussion to distract her.

PS_IMeverywhere: Aww, to bad.

PS_IMeverywhere: Not the talking to you part, the dead part...sorry if thats sounds wierd.

PS_IMeverywhere: My english is quite good but sometimes a little off.

PS_IMeverywhere: Anyway, in responce

PS_IMeverywhere: Yed I'm a student,

PS_IMeverywhere: *Yes

PS_IMeverywhere: I type like I'm retarded >_>

PS_IMeverywhere: So I'm assuming that you are a student too (?)

PS_IMeverywhere: Cool IM name by the way.

Arthur was spinning around the room in his chair. He rolled back up to his desk. He opened up Wikipedia to look up a type of apple. After a few minutes, he checked back into the chat room. He racked his brain to see if he knew this person. He began to type.

BlimeyLimey: Yeah, I'm a student
BlimeyLimey: sOwHOaREyOU
BlimeyLimey: ARGH WTF
BlimeyLimey: Mah formatting got all messed ups for a sec, sorry
BlimeyLimey: Let me try that again, maybe without butchering the English language this time:
BlimeyLimey: Who're you?

Phoebe was patient this time. Mybe the student on the other end of the chat was busy doing something really important. He gave him time for a delayed message and sure enough one came open. The Caps lock accident was just about an historical acident in IMing. Phoebe had done it on every occasion that she's used the computer and she cannot help but wonder why someone would want the caps lock button. She remembered when she first pressed it, she felt like an idiot. She ran to Evander telling him that she broke it and he showed her the button making her feel very stupid. Phoebe tapped the button a bit before typing, to make sure tht it would type normaly.

PS_IMeverywhere: My name is Phoebe Stavros.

PS_IMeverywhere: You probably don't know me yet even though I'm a junior.

PS_IMeverywhere: We can play twenty questions if you want. I bored out of my mind!

PS_IMeverywhere: I can find out who you are but that'd be an invasion of privacy.

PS_IMeverywhere: So I'll just ask you your name.

Arthur recognized the name instantly. He opened up an online AA directory and plugged the name in just to be sure. "Aha." He wondered what she'd meant by the whole "invasion of privacy" thing. He spun for a minute, racking his brain. After a little, he shrugged and turned back to the computer. He began to type.

BlimeyLimey: I think...

BlimeyLimey: That I know

BlimeyLimey: your brother.

BlimeyLimey: I be Arthur Flynn

BlimeyLimey: Freshman

BlimeyLimey: What be wit da who' "invasion of privacy" ting?

Immediately, Phoebe recognised the name Flynn. How could she not? One of the four majestics was a Flynn, there was no way that she couldn't go to the school and not know the name. This was not Simon Flynn though but a name a bit less familiar while still familiar. Arthur, her brother's roomate who Evander had mentioned to her on occasion. Interesting how she had stumbled upon him so randomly. She had tried to remember what Arthur was but figured that it wouldn't matter.

PS_IMeverywhere: You know Evander?

PS_IMeverywhere: Ohh, Arthur, yeah you're his roomate right?

PS_IMeverywhere: He isn't too mean to you is he? I'll set him straight if he is.

PS_IMeverywhere: He wouldn't pick on a freshman though, no matter what clique the kid was from.

PS_IMeverywhere: I think... : P

PS_IMeverywhere: How is he anyway?