The Dependable Online Friend

Emily was in a great mood when she went down to the parking lot. The sun was shining, the air was sweet, and she had gotten a good morning text from her crush, a business major named Brandon who had been in her project group with two other people a few weeks ago.

They really hit it off to the point where they started hanging out in between classes and he had recently offered a standing ride to work. She still rode with Justin in the mornings because they were coming from the same place but she figured he was probably happy that he didn't need to wait for her after school anymore.

Her friend seemed to have a pretty busy life. Whenever she saw him out and about around the apartment complex, he was either on the phone or seemed in a daze.

He was probably tired. They had compared homework loads before and she was amazed by how many hours of coding he had to do on top of regular assignments for his general classes.

But this particular morning he seemed even more dead than usual. Not just tired…he looked like he had his soul sucked out of him.

"You okay?" she asked as they were pulling into the school's parking lot. The silence in the car had been tangible the whole ride.

He didn't even look at her. "Not really."

"Do you…want to talk about it?"

Emily was concerned. They had been car buddies for nearly nine months and she had never seen him like this.

"What is there to talk about?" he sighed heavily. "I got some bad news yesterday. I'll get over it."

She persisted. Maybe there was something she could do to cheer him up. Talking about her problems with RoboCat always made her feel better.

"What was the news?"

"Is it any of your business?!" Justin snapped.

Emily was taken aback. He had never talked to her like that. Justin was always so soft spoken and sweet even when he occasionally teased her like with his Christmas present.

She realized that in all their time together he had never talked to her about anything remotely personal. She had always thought of him as a good, dependable friend but it looked like he didn't feel the same way.

"I guess not."

He cursed under his breath. "Why do people have to get other people involved in their business, anyway? It's annoying! People should just keep things to themselves!"

Tears sparked in Emily's eyes. "I thought we were friends. That's what friends do. But I guess I was wrong. Excuse me for caring about you!"

She stormed out of the car, not bothering to look back. What was wrong with him today? Did he really not think of them as friends?

If he thought that, why would he bother getting her a Christmas present and the occasional pizza? That was friend territory!

They were definitely friends…but why did it hurt so much that he didn't trust her enough to talk about anything in his life? Every fact she knew about him was superficial! Did she even know him at all?

Furiously brushing away at her tears, she stalked into literature class. Brandon smiled and waved, gesturing that he had saved her a seat.

His face fell when he saw her. "What happened?"

"I think I got into a fight with my friend," Emily said in a small voice.

"I'm sorry," he commiserated. "How about I buy you a smoothie after class to take your mind off things?"

She blinked at him gratefully. "That sounds perfect right now. Thanks, Brandon."

With the promise of cheer-up food she was able to focus through the rest of class. She even managed to enjoy herself as they hung out and sipped their smoothies. But thoughts of guilt and sadness crept back in throughout the day and by the time she got to work she couldn't think of anything else.

Logging into Blogr, she decided to message RoboCat. Even if he didn't have the best advice, he was good at cheering her up.

'So this idiot messed things up with one of her only friends today. Could use a funny gif or a virtual hug'

He didn't respond for over fifteen minutes, which was unusual. RoboCat was usually online this time of day.

When he did respond it was a gif of someone in a tyrannosaurus rex suit doing ballet. 'I could use one too. Your turn'

Emily smiled. She knew messaging him was a good idea. She sent over a gif of a parrot walking away from an explosion.

They went back and forth sending weird gifs for about ten minutes without actually saying anything before she dared to ask 'Am I annoying?'

The response was immediate. 'Of course not! Why do you think that?'

'Remember the friend I mentioned? Earlier today he called me annoying. Well…not directly but he said that people were annoying for getting into others' business right after I asked a personal question. He probably hates me'

The three dots buffered for quite a while before he responded. 'I'm sure he didn't mean it. Maybe he was having a bad day and was talking about something else entirely'

The thought cheered her. He did seem pretty out of it.

'He didn't seem like his usual self today. But it occurs to me that I don't really know him that well because he doesn't talk to me about things. I've seen him several times a week for about nine months and I hardly know a thing about him. Maybe I'm the problem and he's keeping me at arm's length for a reason'

'He could just be shy. Don't take it personally, Grape Juice! I'm sorry it made you sad though. Should I send you another gif?'

'Yes please'

True to form, he sent one of a cat doing a backflip off of a couch trying to catch a toy. She laughed. It reminded her of Midnight.

'I feel better already'

'Well, I don't so feel free to shower me with compliments. I'm kind of feeling like a terrible person today'

'Terrible person, you?! You've got to be one of the nicest people I know. Not that I really know you, but you get my drift. Only robots are perfect all the time'

'Look at my username'

She rolled her eyes. Did he have to be so literal? 'If you're a robot I'm a literal bottle of grape juice'

'A lot of people have called me a robot. I'm not so good with the whole talking to people thing. You probably know me better than anyone and I've only talked to you through a screen'

Emily was curious. 'Robot as in perfect or robot as in emotionless?'

'Emotionless. The first time my cousin saw me flustered she almost had a heart attack'

'How can someone with such a great sense of humor be considered emotionless?!'

'I don't really laugh in front of other people either, Grape Juice. I'm about as lively as the computer I spend all my time on'

She was reminded of their previous conversation about the girl he loved who brightened his life. 'No wonder you like that girl so much'

'I don't want to think about that right now'

He was chatty enough about her before. Did something happen? Her curiosity burned but she refrained from asking. That had gotten her into enough trouble today.

'Fair enough'

There was a long pause before his next message. 'Grape Juice, why do you like that guy?'

'He's nice to me and I like talking to him'

'That's all it takes for you to like someone?'

She shrugged. What else was there? Her crush was still in the early stages. 'I guess so. I haven't had a crush in a while. Why?'

Another long pause. 'Because I'm nice to her and she likes talking to me but she likes someone else'

Emily's brow furrowed. 'Her' must refer to his long-time love but… 'I thought she didn't know you exist?'

'I did say that, didn't I? It's…complicated'

'I'm always here if you do want to talk. I should probably go to bed now though. Night, Robocat'

After Emily logged off she felt better about her predicament with Justin but her heart ached a bit for RoboCat. Poor guy.

The next morning she wasn't sure if Justin was still willing to give her a ride so she took the bus. It was a little weird, to be honest.

She had gotten so used to seeing him in the mornings. Her whole day felt off because of it.

Emily took the day off work to watch several movies in order to write a paper comparing them. Halfway through the second movie, the doorbell rang.

Nobody was there, just a pizza on the doormat with a note that said 'Apology Pizza' with a smiley face. She couldn't help but grin. Looks like Justin missed her this morning too.