1 Chapter 1: The Friend Request
Melanie Webb's Point of View
Hi, I'm Melanie Webb and this is my first time I've signed up on Jabberwocky. In fact, this is my first time I've ever signed up on a different social media other than Facebook. No, not Jabberwocky as in a monster from Alice in Wonderland;Jabberwocky is one of the most popular social media and lots of people uses it. It was the only social media I was ever allowed to be on, which doesn't help with getting my written work to get noticed and, not to mention, my social problems. I had trouble making friends in person, so I figured I might have a better chance on the Internet which I'm okay with because I spend a lot of time on the Internet anyway. After begging my parents to let me sign up on a different social media, they finally let me but it was on several conditions. They made this contract that lists all these conditions such as don't post inappropriate photos online, be courteous to others, and so on and I signed it.
I got on my computer, typed down Jabberwocky on the browser and created my account under the username of ComputerWallflower21. As soon as I created my account I've started to decorate my page and posted a bunch of my poems and short stories I've written. Then I just sit back and waited to get noticed. A few days had passed and not a single person had followed my blog. Weeks had passed and still nothing. I know it's not healthy to be so obsessed about it, but I can't help it. I just want to know if people liked my work. Finally a month has gone away and still nobody has with noticed my works or followed me. Maybe this was a mistake, I shouldn't have signed up to this website.
Just when I was going to close down my account, two notifications had just popped up; I clicked on both. It was a friend request from someone called WriterJohnny and it wants me to join a chat group that's called The Situational Relief Division. I don't know who is this WriterJohnny or what is this Situational Relief Division. Normally I don't make friends with strangers, especially on the Internet. I clicked on the username and its profile page popped up. The profile picture is a boy who looked like he's in his late teens. I've definitely never seen him before, not even at my school. Apparently his real name is Johnny Edwards. He has neatly brushed hair, lively blue eyes and milky white skin. He was also dressed like he was some supermodel and has a nice smile. A very nice smile. And he's so handsome too. A little too handsome for me.
Why would someone like him would want anything to do with someone like me? Compare to him, I'm not exactly a boy magnet. I wear glasses, I wear my hair in a ponytail and I wear rather dull clothes. Not to mention the fact that I'm a complete wallflower, an invisible girl. No boys would ever be interested in a girl like me. Should I reject this friend request? I scrolled through his page to learn more about him. Apparently he likes literature too and his favorite author was Edgar Allen Poe, just like me. He also likes anime and Scooby-Doo. Should I accept his friend request? After all, he is a stranger. I think I'll give him a benefit of doubt and give him a try.
I clicked on the accept button, placed my hands on my lap and waited for WriterJohnny to respond. While I was waiting a ball of uncomfortable feeling started to form inside my stomach. Was this a bad idea? What could happen? Instantly, WriterJohnny responded. I wasn't expecting for him to respond this quickly.
WRITERJOHNNY: Hello.
He said hello! What should I do!? Okay, Melanie stay calm, don't get all worked up. Just acknowledge. I took a deep breath, lifted my hands from my lap and typed down that response.
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: Hello.
WRITERJOHNNY: Yay!!! You've accepted my friend request! I'm so happy!!! I was hoping you'd say yes and be my friend!
My eyes widened at the response. He was hoping I'd accept his friend request? This was intentional? I licked my lips nervously and typed down another response.
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: You were?
WRITERJOHNNY: Of course. :)
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: Well, um, thank you for following my blog and for the friend request.
WRITERJOHNNY: My pleasure. You write pretty amazing stories. You're pretty talented.
I blushed at the compliment. No one has ever made a nice compliment about my stories or about me other than my parents who had read my stories. Other than that, I'm actually pretty happy about it. Finally someone has noticed my works.
WRITERJOHNNY: My personal favorite is this poem you wrote called Demons Hiding Within Me.
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: You really like it? To be honest, it wasn't the best I've written.
WRITERJOHNNY: Ah, don't be so modest. I've told you, you got talent.
I blushed a shade of pink darker.
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: Thank you. O//////////O
WRITERJOHNNY: My pleasure. ;) So have you always write stories?
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: As a matter of fact, yes. I've been writing since I was 7 years old. That when I wrote my very first poem.
WRITERJOHNNY: No Kidding!?
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: It's true. At first I didn't think I'd be interested in writing stories. But when I think about it back when I was younger, I have written a few poems and short stories. It was like second nature. As it turns out, I am meant to be a writer.
WRITERJOHNNY: Well, when you create something awesome, that's how you know you've got talent. It's totally great that you've decided to make use of it, otherwise it would have been a waste of life.
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: You know what? You're absolutely right.
CUTIEMAIDEN has logged in.
DIGIPYTHON has logged in.
BOUNCINGMACAW has logged in.
DREAMIRIS has logged in.
DIGIPYTHON: Hey Johnny, has ComputerWallflower21 joined yet?
DREAMIRIS: Obviously she has, Benny. If she hasn't, we wouldn't have found Johnny talking to her in the chat room.
DIGIPYTHON: Oh, right.
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: Who are these people?
WRITERJOHNNY: These are my friends and members of Situational Relief Division.
CUTIEMAIDEN: I'm CutieMaiden, I'm also known as Emma when I'm not online. I'm the cute one.
DIGIPYTHON: I'm Benny, I happen to like snakes.
BOUNCINGMACAW: I'm Ethan. I don't know why I picked this username. Just random.
DREAMIRIS: I'm Iris. I just thought this username sounds pretty.
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: It does.
DREAMIRIS: Thank you. :)
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: You're welcome. :)
BOUNCINGMACAW: We're glad you've decided to join us.
CUTIEMAIDEN: Oh, yes! We are!
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: Wait. You've been expecting me?
CUTIEMAIDEN: Why, yes.
WRITERJOHNNY: When we first saw you and read your writings, we felt you were lonely and needed a friend. So we decided to have you in our group.
CUTIEMAIDEN: Oh, yes! I love your work! It's so Stephen King!
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: Why, thank you. Stephen King is my favorite author, along with Edgar Allen Poe.
CUTIEMAIDEN: WOW!!!
DREAMIRIS: It's a shame nobody else seems to appreciate your works.
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: I know, right? :(
WRITERJOHNNY: Well, it doesn't matter, because you've got us, friends and fans.
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: Yes. So anyway, what is this Situational Relief Division?
WRITERJOHNNY: In this group, we go around on Jabberwocky seeking those who need help, some advice.
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: So you're an online support group.
WRITERJOHNNY: Exactly.
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: So, not only do you want me to join your group just because you like me or my work, but because you want to help my problems?
WRITERJOHNNY: Actually, I never really thought about it. Do you?
I stared at the screen and looked away for a moment. As a matter of fact, I do have some problems, just never really talked about it to anyone. Although I've made some friends just now, but they're still strangers. That would be weird if I'm talking about my problems with someone I don't know.
WRITERJOHNNY: ???
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: Actually...yes.
WRITERJOHNNY: Do you want to talk about it? That's what this group is for.
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: I don't see why not.
CUTIEMAIDEN: Oh do please tell us all about it.
DIGIPYTHON: Tell us how you decided to become a writer.
DREAMIRIS: Actually, we weren't there when Melanie told Johnny how she wanted to be a writer.
BOUNCINGMACAW: Tell us all about yourself.
They all started asking me a bunch of questions. They were asking what kind of stuff I write this and do I do anything else besides writing that. They actually want to get to know me. No one has ever wanted to get to know me. I can't help but feel flattered about it, but also overwhelmed by these questions.
WRITERJOHNNY: Whoa!!! Chill people! Let's not throw a bunch of questions at her all at once.
COMPUTERWALLFLOWER21: I'll answer one question at a time. Starting with WriterJohnny's.
WRITERJOHNNY: Alright, here's my question: What is your life like? Tell us everything about you.
I removed my fingers from my keyboards and stretched them out. I thought about it for a moment. Hmm...Let's see...where do I start? Oh I know. I replaced my fingers back onto my keyboards and started typing to my friends/ fans.
