The Friendship Glitch

Marcus adjusted his hoodie in the bathroom mirror, psyching himself up for lunch period. At South High, the cafeteria was basically a social pyramid, and he'd been stuck at the base since freshman year. Now it was junior year, and his best friend D'Ontae—his dog since sixth grade—had somehow leveled up toVarsity God status while Marcus remained NPC energy.

"Yo Marcus, come sit with us!" D'Ontae called from the popular table yesterday like it was nothing. But Marcus knew the truth: D'Ontae had changed. The cable that used to connect them—shared anime marathons, getting demolished together in 2K, roasting each other's fits—it had all gone slack.

Marcus found D'Ontae behind the gym after school, messing with some coaxial cable he'd jacked from the AV club. "What's that?"

"Setting up for Jordan's party. Her parents cut the wifi. I'm running a cable line from my house next door so we can stream." D'Ontae didn't look up.

"Since when do you do IT work for the popular kids?" The words came out sharper than intended.

D'Ontae finally looked at him. "Since when do you act like I'm not still your dog? You've been avoiding me all week, bro."

"You're different now. You're... up there." Marcus pointed vaguely at the invisible pyramid above them.

"Man, nobody put me anywhere. I'm just trying to survive. You think those kids actually care about me? They need someone who knows tech. That's it." D'Ontae sat against the brick wall. "I miss watching stuff with you. That's real. This performative stuff? Exhausting."

Marcus sat beside him. "I thought you chose them over me."

"We're both stuck in this pyramid, Marcus. Difference is, you forgot to bring your cable."

Marcus laughed. "That's the worst metaphor I've ever heard."

"But you're smiling."

"Yeah."

"So come tonight. Bring your Switch. We're still doing this, just... more people now."

Marcus grabbed his backpack. "Bet. But I'm bringing the good snacks. This time."