You've Got Mail!

*TW mentions of suicide, homophobia, and mental health*

[Thursday — 9:42 PM]

PeppermintMattie2323: Okay, serious question.

unsunghero80: This already sounds dangerous

PeppermintMattie2323: If a substitute teacher dies during attendance, do we still have to stay for class?

unsunghero80: What kind of opening message is that?

PeppermintMattie2323: I panic under pressure

unsunghero80: Apparently so does the substitute

PeppermintMattie2323: wow

PeppermintMattie2323: So, this is Sung from 6th period, right?

unsunghero80: yeah

unsunghero80: Mattie?

PeppermintMattie2323: Unfortunately.

unsunghero80: How did you even get my screen name?

PeppermintMattie2323: Connor gave it to me after I paid him in vending machine Cheez-its

unsunghero80: That’s a depressing currency

PeppermintMattie2323: We’re public-school students. This is the economy.

unsunghero80: fair

PeppermintMattie2323: Anyway, I needed the history notes because Ms. Delgado writes like she’s hiding state secrets.

unsunghero80: She writes in cursive like the Declaration of Independence was just signed

PeppermintMattie2323: EXACTLY

unsunghero80: Hold on, I’ll send pictures.

[File sent: IMG_0044.jpg]

PeppermintMattie2323: Your handwriting is annoyingly neat.

unsunghero80: Sorry I respect the written word

PeppermintMattie2323: You sound like a librarian ghost

unsunghero80: And you sound like you get kicked out of IHOP on purpose

PeppermintMattie2323: Only once…

unsunghero80: ONLY?

PeppermintMattie2323: It was over pancakes, and technically, my cousin started it.

unsunghero80: I need more context immediately!

PeppermintMattie2323: no

unsunghero80: coward

PeppermintMattie2323: Listen, you don’t just HAND someone an IHOP story.

unsunghero80: You literally opened this conversation with a hypothetical substitute teacher death

PeppermintMattie2323: Okay, fair point.

[9:58 PM]

PeppermintMattie2323: Can I ask you something weird

unsunghero80: Weirder than 15 minutes ago?

PeppermintMattie2323: Why do you never talk in class

unsunghero80: I talk sometimes.

PeppermintMattie2323: No, you don’t.

unsunghero80: I answered attendance yesterday

PeppermintMattie2323: I forgot about that. huge moment for you.

unsunghero80: I peaked

PeppermintMattie2323: No, but seriously.

unsunghero80: IDK

unsunghero80: I moved around a lot when I was younger, so eventually you stop trying to be “The new kid” every year

PeppermintMattie2323: oh

PeppermintMattie2323: That kinda sucks, actually.

unsunghero80: It’s whatever.

unsunghero80: My mom got a better job here, so this one’s probably permanent…

PeppermintMattie2323: Permanent in this town sounds scary.

unsunghero80: Says the guy who talks to literally everyone!

PeppermintMattie2323: That’s because silence makes me itchy.

unsunghero80: I think I’ve noticed that.

PeppermintMattie2323: My family’s loud.

PeppermintMattie2323: Like “yelling over dinner about parking spaces” loud.

unsunghero80: Italian?

PeppermintMattie2323: Wow, okay stereotype…

PeppermintMattie2323: But yes.

unsunghero80: Lucky guess lol.

PeppermintMattie2323: My aunt once threw a breadstick at my uncle during an argument about Bruce Springsteen.

unsunghero80: That’s pretty awesome.

PeppermintMattie2323: Thank you

[10:14 PM]

unsunghero80: Can I ask YOU something weird?

PeppermintMattie2323: Always

unsunghero80: Why are you named Peppermint Mattie?

PeppermintMattie2323: My grandma says peppermint fixes everything.

unsunghero80: emotionally or physically

PeppermintMattie2323: Both apparently

PeppermintMattie2323: Bad grades? peppermint.

PeppermintMattie2323: Existential dread? peppermint.

PeppermintMattie2323: Broken arm? peppermint.

unsunghero80: Your grandma sounds powerful.

PeppermintMattie2323: She fears nothing except self-checkout machines.

unsunghero80: Valid

PeppermintMattie2323: What about yours?

unsunghero80: unsung hero because “sung” was already taken

PeppermintMattie2323: ...

PeppermintMattie2323: That’s actually kind of genius.

unsunghero80: Thank you, I made it when I was eleven and deeply annoying.

PeppermintMattie2323: Were?

unsunghero80: Blocked.

[10:31 PM]

PeppermintMattie2323: Can I confess something?

unsunghero80: Depends on how criminal

PeppermintMattie2323: Not criminal…

PeppermintMattie2323: Probably…

unsunghero80: MATTIE

PeppermintMattie2323: Okay, so

PeppermintMattie2323: The first week of school, I thought you hated me.

unsunghero80: what why

PeppermintMattie2323: Because every time I talked in class, you looked away.

unsunghero80: Oh my god, no

unsunghero80: I just thought you were funny and then got nervous.

PeppermintMattie2323: Nervous?

unsunghero80: don’t make it weird

PeppermintMattie2323: I’m going to make it EXTREMELY weird!

unsunghero80: please don’t

PeppermintMattie2323: Sung.

PeppermintMattie2323: Are you telling me you had a tiny little crush on me?

unsunghero80: I’m logging off

PeppermintMattie2323: SUNG

unsunghero80 signed off at 10:33 PM.

[10:36 PM]

unsunghero80 signed on.

PeppermintMattie2323: HAHAHAHAHA

unsunghero80: My internet disconnected

PeppermintMattie2323: liar

unsunghero80: okay maybe a little

PeppermintMattie2323: wait

PeppermintMattie2323: Seriously?

unsunghero80: Maybe I just think you have nice eyes.

PeppermintMattie2323: oh

PeppermintMattie2323: wow

PeppermintMattie2323: Hold on, I need a second

unsunghero80: why are YOU nervous now

PeppermintMattie2323: Because I kinda hoped you liked me.

unsunghero80: wow

PeppermintMattie2323: yeah, don’t “wow” me back. I was here first.

unsunghero80: fair

PeppermintMattie2323: This is insane because in class, you act like a haunted Victorian child.

unsunghero80: And you act like if a golden retriever became a person.

PeppermintMattie2323: That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me, actually

[10:48 PM]

unsunghero80: So, what now?

PeppermintMattie2323: Now, tomorrow in 6th period, you have to acknowledge my existence 😊

unsunghero80: TERRIFYING challenge.

PeppermintMattie2323: Baby steps.

unsunghero80: What counts as acknowledgment?

PeppermintMattie2323: Maybe sit next to me.

unsunghero80: Maybe.

PeppermintMattie2323: Maybe hold my hand during the pop quiz.

unsunghero80: Slow down, Romeo

PeppermintMattie2323: sorry

PeppermintMattie2323: The peppermint is making me emotional.

[Sunday — 11:07 PM]

PeppermintMattie2323: I just ate six peppermint patties in a row!

unsunghero80: Medically, I think that turns you into toothpaste.

PeppermintMattie2323: Worth it!

unsunghero80: This explains your screen name way more than the grandma thing

PeppermintMattie2323: Oh yeah, no, that was only half the lore.

unsunghero80: HALF the lore?

PeppermintMattie2323: I’m a complex character.

unsunghero80: Debatable.

PeppermintMattie2323: Peppermint patties are literally the perfect candy!

unsunghero80: They taste cold.

PeppermintMattie2323: THAT’S THE POINT

unsunghero80: Candy shouldn’t feel like mouthwash.

PeppermintMattie2323: blocked and reported

unsunghero80: to who

PeppermintMattie2323: the government

unsunghero80: Good luck with that!

[THE NEXT DAY] [11:15 PM]

PeppermintMattie2323: It was good seeing you today.

PeppermintMattie2323: But are you okay?

unsunghero80: It was good seeing you too.

unsunghero80: Also, why do you ask?

PeppermintMattie2323: You seemed…haunted a little.

unsunghero80: My dad was in a mood this morning.

PeppermintMattie2323: Oh.

unsunghero80: Yeah.

PeppermintMattie2323: I’m sorry.

unsunghero80: It’s fine.

PeppermintMattie2323: You don’t have to do that with me btw

unsunghero80: do what

PeppermintMattie2323: The “it’s fine” thing.

unsunghero80: lol

PeppermintMattie2323: I’m serious.

unsunghero80: It’s easier to say that.

PeppermintMattie2323: My mom says “easier” and “better” are two different things.

unsunghero80: Your mom sounds emotionally stable.

PeppermintMattie2323: Don’t be ridiculous, she watches crime documentaries to relax.

unsunghero80: okay that tracks

PeppermintMattie2323: What happened

unsunghero80: He just gets weird about stuff.

PeppermintMattie2323: stuff meaning

unsunghero80: Me not being “manly” enough, I guess.

PeppermintMattie2323: That’s stupid.

unsunghero80: He thinks I spend too much time drawing and reading and not enough time playing sports.

PeppermintMattie2323: Sports are literally just organized sweating.

unsunghero80: Tell HIM that.

PeppermintMattie2323: Gladly! I fear no man.

unsunghero80: I think you should maybe fear my father a little.

PeppermintMattie2323: ☹

[11:29 PM]

unsunghero80: Can I tell you something, and you can’t make it weird

PeppermintMattie2323: Of course.

unsunghero80: I’ve never actually said this out loud before.

PeppermintMattie2323: Okay.

unsunghero80: I think my dad already knows I’m gay.

PeppermintMattie2323: OH.

unsunghero80: Or at least suspects

unsunghero80: and I think he hates me for it before I’ve even said anything.

PeppermintMattie2323: Sung

unsunghero80: Sorry, that got depressing fast

PeppermintMattie2323: No, don’t apologize.

PeppermintMattie2323: That actually sucks.

unsunghero80: I try to stay invisible at home mostly.

PeppermintMattie2323: You shouldn’t have to.

unsunghero80: Maybe.

PeppermintMattie2323: For what it’s worth…

PeppermintMattie2323: I like who you are.

unsunghero80: yeah?

PeppermintMattie2323: yeah

PeppermintMattie2323: Even if you insult peppermint patties like a criminal.

unsunghero80: Thank you, peppermint batman.

PeppermintMattie2323: You’re welcome, unsung homosexual

unsunghero80: wow okay

PeppermintMattie2323: Sorry, sorry.

PeppermintMattie2323: That was too much.

unsunghero80: No, it was funny

unsunghero80: I almost laughed loud enough for my dad to hear.

PeppermintMattie2323: Mission Accomplished

[11:44 PM]

unsunghero80: Why do you always act happy

PeppermintMattie2323: ouch

unsunghero80: Sorry, I didn’t mean to be so blunt.

PeppermintMattie2323: No, it’s okay.

PeppermintMattie2323: Honestly?

PeppermintMattie2323: When I stop acting happy, people ask questions.

unsunghero80: What kind of questions?

PeppermintMattie2323: The kind I don’t know how to answer.

unsunghero80: Mattie…

PeppermintMattie2323: I’m fine right now

unsunghero80: “Right now” is a terrifying sentence.

PeppermintMattie2323: Yeah, I know.

PeppermintMattie2323: Sometimes I get really tired of being me.

unsunghero80: Do your parents know

PeppermintMattie2323: God no

PeppermintMattie2323: My family thinks that if you make enough jokes, you can survive anything.

unsunghero80: Can you

PeppermintMattie2323: I don’t know yet

unsunghero80: Maybe you should tell them. I think they would listen.

PeppermintMattie2323: Maybe I should.

[11:51 PM]

unsunghero80: I’m glad you messaged me last night.

PeppermintMattie2323: Even with the substitute teacher death question?

unsunghero80: Especially because of that.

PeppermintMattie2323: You really do have a crush on me, huh

unsunghero80: Don’t ruin the moment.

PeppermintMattie2323: Impossible

unsunghero80: Seriously though

unsunghero80: I mean it

unsunghero80: I know we don’t know each other that well yet but

unsunghero80: I’m glad you’re here.

[11:54 PM]

PeppermintMattie2323 is typing...

PeppermintMattie2323: Hey Sung?

unsunghero80: Yeah?

PeppermintMattie2323: I’m glad you are too

unsunghero80: :)

PeppermintMattie2323: Okay, who gave you permission to use emotions

unsunghero80: Don’t make me take it back!

PeppermintMattie2323: Too late, I’ve archived it forever!

unsunghero80: You would.

PeppermintMattie2323: It’s midnight btw

unsunghero80: Whoops!

PeppermintMattie2323: You should probably sleep

unsunghero80: probably

PeppermintMattie2323: and for the record

PeppermintMattie2323: I hope tomorrow sucks less for you.

unsunghero80: I hope tomorrow sucks less for you, too.

PeppermintMattie2323: Look at us being emotionally vulnerable and responsible.

unsunghero80: Disgusting, honestly.

PeppermintMattie2323: Goodnight Sung 😊

unsunghero80: Sweet dreams, Mattie 😊