FROM: w-rosenberg@sunnydale-high.edu (WitchiePoo)

<Lucretia> hey willow u still up?

<WitchiePoo> Yep, I'm up - pretty quiet here. Just Birky & me.

<Lucretia> hey birkhoff long time no type. busy?

<Birkhoff> School & stuff. Keeps me off the net except for very rare occasions.

<WitchiePoo> I thought you worked with computers?

<Birkhoff> I do. It's my major, so I have to figure out all kinds of tricks. I just rarely have time to hang out & chat.

<Lucretia> where do u go to school

<Birkhoff> It's a pretty small school. I doubt you've heard of it.

<Lucretia> i might have

<Birkhoff> Will, how are things at your school these days?

<WitchiePoo> You know, the usual usual. Always some gangs or crazies trying to make trouble for everybody else...

<Lucretia> u could always move 2 colorado pretty quiet there

*Lucretia gives a lopsided grin

<WitchiePoo> Very funny, Lu. It's sad. Why are there always some kids who get picked on all the time, but nobody ever stops the bullies?

<Lucretia> maybe some people just accept that they are outcasts & dont want to be part of the powerful group

<WitchiePoo> What do you think about Littleton, Birky?

<Birkhoff> It's bad, but was bound to happen. People who get stepped on by people in power sometimes have to learn to step back.

<Lucretia> *step* back or step *back*?

*Lucretia raises one eyebrow

<Birkhoff> You know what I mean. The little people can't sit back & keep being abused by bigger, stronger groups.

<WitchiePoo> But how do you know who's right? I mean the bad guys don't *always* wear scary faces...

<Lucretia> and the ones who think they're doing the right thing for the biggest number of people might not do things that everybody thinks is right

<Birkhoff> I know. That's where it gets tricky.

<Lucretia> what bugs me is not knowing if im on the right side sometimes. i listen to my teacher, the guy who's supposed to tell me what to do, and it almost seems like if i do what he tells me, ill just be another victim.

<WitchiePoo> Can't you confide in your parents, especially if your teacher is telling you to do bad stuff?

<Lucretia> its just my mom now and it's like shes on another planet. i wonder if shes got stuff going on that shes not telling me. i know she probably is so i cant go to her.

<WitchiePoo> That's rough. Birky, are your parents open to talk about stuff?

<Birkhoff> My dad would kill me if he knew I was talking about stuff this way. No, he'd probably tell my mom, and *she'd* kill me.

<WitchiePoo> Wow. I feel stupid now. My parents don't know what I'm up to all the time, but at least I think they're supportive of what I want to do. At least my best friend's mom is cool about stuff. She knows what we get up to, which I think freaks her out a little bit, but she's there for us.

<Birkhoff> It must be nice.

<Lucretia> im sure you get up to all kinds of crime and stuff, dontcha?

<WitchiePoo> Not crime, exactly. My friends and I have gotten hurt sometimes, though.

<Lucretia> at least you have yer friends. friends are useful things to have. have u got anybody birky

<Birkhoff> Not real friends. There's this older guy

<WitchiePoo> A senior?

<Birkhoff> Yeah, a senior. He builds stuff and tells great stories. He cares, but he's careful, too. He listens.

<Lucretia> have u got a girlfriend

<Birkhoff> Well, there's this girl

<WitchiePoo> I knew it

*WitchiePoo winks at Lucretia

<Lucretia> is she in your class

<Birkhoff> She's in a class by herself.

<WitchiePoo> Ha ha. He's in love.

<Birkhoff> No I'm not. She's pretty special, though. Are you in love, Will?

<WitchiePoo> Yeah. My boyfriend's in a band. He's cool.

<Lucretia> what happened 2 the guy u told me about? the 1 from down the street

<WitchiePoo> He had another girlfriend for awhile. I don't know who he loves now.

<Birkhoff> But it bothers you.

<WitchiePoo> I never said that.

<Lucretia> it does bother you

<WitchiePoo> Just for that, it's your turn! Do you have a boyfriend, Lu?

<Lucretia> well this guy kissed me once

<Birkhoff> That's all?

<WitchiePoo> Shut up. Maybe that's enough. Does he like you?

<Lucretia> i dont know. i used to give him shit whenever i saw him

<WitchiePoo> So you like him, then.

<Lucretia> i dont know if i can trust him

<WitchiePoo> What do your friends think of him?

<Lucretia> my best friend hates him

<Birkhoff> Would you ever choose that guy over your best friend?

<Lucretia> never. shes the best person i know. i told her i loved her once

<WitchiePoo> Did you mean it like friends or what?

<Birkhoff> Are you queer? I hope you don't mind my asking.

<Lucretia> thats a very good question. why does it matter?

<Birkhoff> No reason.

<WitchiePoo> Birky, were you gonna ask Lu out?

<Birkhoff> I couldn't do that.

<Lucretia> because of your mom or that girl?

<Birkhoff> Both.

*** Fibber has joined chat

<WitchiePoo> Behave yourselves. We've got company. Welcome, Fibber!

<Fibber> Hi. Is this the William Gibson chat?

<WitchiePoo> It was, but it sort of fell apart.

<Fibber> What are you talking about now?

<Birkhoff> It started out about Littleton Colorado and stuff but now it's about sex.

<Lucretia> isnt everything about sex?

<WitchiePoo> Shut up, you guys! It was really more about relationships.

<Fibber> I think the Littleton thing was about relationships.

<Lucretia> yeah. i read that the guy who shot those kids in georgia was upset cuz his girlfriend dumped him

<Fibber> No - I mean the relationships between the kids.

<WitchiePoo> That's what I was saying, because there's always bullies picking on the outcasts.

<Fibber> Do you guys feel pressure to conform to somebody else's idea of what you should do?

<WitchiePoo:> No. I mean my folks want me to be myself, as long as I get good grades and help other people.

<Birkhoff> But isn't that pressure?

<WitchiePoo> Not peer pressure. That's different.

<Lucretia> is it really? i feel pressured from lots of different people to behave the way they want, but i have to do what is important to me

<Birkhoff> Who decides what's really important, anyway?

<WitchiePoo> Do you really feel that way?

<Fibber> I know that feeling. I wish I didn't know it so well.

<Lucretia> is that because of the pressure u feel from others

<Fibber> Maybe.

<Birkhoff> I know I have to conform. I've forgotten what it's like to have the freedom to do whatever I want.

<WitchiePoo> That's sad.

<Birkhoff> That's just the way it is around here.

<Lucretia> are u in a military school

<Birkhoff> You could say that. Shit. There's my dad. I have to go. Homework. Bye, guys.

*** Birkhoff has left the chat.

<WitchiePoo> Man, that's weird. I feel sorry for the guy.

<Lucretia> i think hes got a crush on u

<WitchiePoo> Are you kidding? He was gonna ask you out!

<Lucretia> i dont even know where he is

<WitchiePoo> Was that why you said that about your best friend?

<Lucretia> u mean that i love her?

<WitchiePoo> You were serious?

<Lucretia> yeah

<WitchiePoo> Does she love you back?

<Lucretia> i wish i knew

<WitchiePoo> *Are* you gay?

<Lucretia> would u still be my friend if i was

<WitchiePoo> Oh, I didn't mean I wouldn't be! I didn't mean that the way it sounded! You can be anything you are. There's nothing wrong with that. I was just wondering. Are you?

<Lucretia> i dont know

<Fibber> Have you ever been with a man?

<Lucretia> is it ok if i dont answer that

<Fibber> OK. Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you.

<Lucretia> thats ok. you didnt scare me. not much scares me anymore

<WitchiePoo> I know what you mean, well sort of. Actually, I'm a little scared all the time.

<Fibber> Me too.

<Lucretia> me2. what scares u the most

<WitchiePoo> Dying scares me. I don't think I want to do it.

<Fibber> You're going to have to someday. That scares me, too.

<Lucretia> i dont think ill mind dying. its just dying when ive still got work to do.

<WitchiePoo> I don't think there's ever a good time. There's always more work to do.

<Fibber> I guess all we can do is try to do what we think is right while we're around.

<Lucretia> but will it ever be enough?

<WitchiePoo> You know what? I really need to go do some stuff for school. Is it okay if we wrap this up?

<Fibber> I guess so. You guys do this a lot?

<WitchiePoo> About once a week. You want me to e-mail you when I'm getting one together?

<Fibber> Sure. I'm home alone most evenings with nothing to do.

<Lucretia> real exciting guy

<WitchiePoo> Hey! Don't make fun! How about you, Lu?

<Lucretia> sure - count me in. im sorry, ok fibber?

<Fibber> Come back next week. Maybe we can get better acquainted.

<Lucretia> omigod - sounds like a date

<WitchiePoo> That's it, guys. Flirt next week! I'm outta here! Love you guys!

*** Fibber has left chat

*** Lucretia has left chat

*** WitchiePoo has quit IRC