loose the battle, win the war

So.

On a scale of one to ten, how bad was it?

You wound me, Devin.

That's my job, Em. And I'm just workin' it.

Oh, wow, thanks. I’m not used to getting compliments. That’s…you’re really nice.

I'm just tellin' the truth.

You say that as if there were other people to consider for the position.

There might've been one or two.

Yeah, why not? It’s our last few days as underclassmen, we should celebrate.

You are officially my favorite person in the entire world.

Really? Oh, okay, um…The art teacher, Mr. Bates convinced the school board to let me paint it, and he’s getting his senior art class to help over the summer. It will be done before the first day of school, and it’s going to be in full color. I uh, I could send you a picture of the sketch, to your phone? If you want?

Oh my god, that sounds so awesome! I can't wait to see the finished product in the fall, then. I'm sure it'll be ten times more amazing than it sounds. Uh, yeah. Sure!

Well, we’ve got to fulfill the rebellious teen stereotype eventually. Sure, Dev.

Really; you mean it? Like, serious as a heart attack?

Um yeah, I guess it is pretty cool. I’m excited about it, it’s a whole timeline mural, it starts with some really old cave drawings and has some of the great Beatles era stuff, all the way through the man on the moon and discovering DNA sequencing…I’m totally geeking out on you, sorry.

No, no, it's okay! Geek out as much as you want; it sounds amazing! Tell me more about it?

They’re alright.

Alright like "They're alright, I can deal with them", or alright as in "They're alright to be used as human sacrifices"?

I suppose this is true. Apparently we’re  going to watch Finding Nemo in science class, which I’m not technically opposed to, but I could be doing other things.

You mean you're going to take a nap in science class while the teacher thinks you're watching Finding Nemo? 'Cause that's totally what I'd do.

A few completely unnecessary days.

So, my family is coming to visit next week.

That sounds like fun. Family is always cool. Unless you don't like them; then they're just annoyances.

Oh. That sounds really nice. I’ve always wanted to go to Sea World. I’m going to band camp though. And I’m kind of excited for that.

You've never been to Sea World? Oh my god, I have to take you sometime! It's totally amazing.

Go ahead and skip then and see where that gets ya.

Like you said, it's only three days. It won't make that big of a difference.

Yeah, you know, a little here and there. Or the whole library wall. Something like that.

Oh my god, that's so cool!