Page 9 of The Casanova Complex

I tuck my phone back into my pocket and start unpacking my backpack behind the front desk when I feel it vibrate.

That was quick.

Pulling it back out, I swipe my finger across the screen.

BUTTNUG2000: Super wild concept I know… but I can take care of myself. I’m eleven weirdo. Not two.

BUTTNUG2000:

BUTTNUG2000: Don’t need a babysitter!!!!

ME: Hey, forgive me for wanting to keep you ALIVE. If it were up to you, you’d survive on pickle chips and Dr. pepper. Plus, you love Annabelle so try and keep the buttnuggetness to a minimum, k?

BUTTNUG2000: How else do you think I got this smart? Dr. Pepper and Chicken Nugs

ME: Idk, probably the fact that I make you do your homework, or you don’t get to play Xbox? Whatever you wanna call it though

BUTTNUG2000: Gotta go. Lots of homework to do

ME: Mhm. Love you Elly Belly

BUTTNUG2000: Love u too Merry-go-round

My little brother is the only person on the planet who can get away with calling me anything other than my actual name, and he knows it.

I have some weird pet peeves like… when people give me nicknames.

I loathe it.

And with an uncommon name like mine, people do it constantly, like my full name is too hard for them to remember, or it’s just easier to shorten it.

Even Stella and Maddie call me Merritt, and they’re my best friends.

Elliott’s just been calling me that since he was a baby. It was easier for him to say Me-rry than Merritt, and it kind of just stuck. I’ve always been Merry to him.

Now, he tries to come up with a thousand different ways to use it.

Today’s is apparently Merry-go-round.

I laugh as I pull up the group chat with Stella and Maddie before I get to work, attempting to catch up on the messages I missed.

There is an ungodly amount, per usual, so I quickly read through them.

Majority are talking about how we’re counting down the days till we’re all able to be together again, and Stell’s new piercing.

STELL-Y: I can’t even believe I got my belly button pierced. imagine when my parents find out lol

MADS: Your dad might have a coronary. He’s def gonna turn that shade of red like when you got a D in math our freshman year. Remember?

STELL-Y:

STELL-Y: Don’t remind me

MADS: Fuck it. It’s so hot, and you rock it babe

STELL-Y: Thank youuuuu. Imagine if he found out I like boys and girls

MADS: Sooooo scandalous