Love irl, p.1
Love, IRL, page 1
Love, IRL
Tracy Goldfarb
James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Publishers
Toronto
Table of Contents
Love, IRL
1 Perfect Match
2 Dorky in the Best Way
3 Friends
4 Love in the Air
5 One Chance
6 Good Advice
7 Lucky
8 Still Here for You
9 Falling
10 Lost and Found
11 Talk to Him
12 Our Place
13 Guys in Real Life
14 Chance Meeting
15 Attraction
16 Double Vision
17 Meeting Cute
18 Crush
19 Feeling Guilty
20 Can't Wait
21 It Can't Be
22 Betrayed
23 Cold Shoulder
24 First Date Redo
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Copyright
This book is dedicated to all those teenagers, past and present, who had to turn to a screen to find a home for themselves.
01
1
Perfect Match
Saturday, September 1, 8:26 PM
You’ve been connected with a stranger. Say hello!
Stranger: hi
You: Hello!
Stranger: pics?
You: Really? That’s the first thing you ask?
Stranger: isn’t that what people do here?
You: Not if they want to have a real conversation . . .
Stranger: who actually wants a real convo on this site?
You: I do. Why, you don’t? Why are you here?
Stranger: if I said sexting would you judge me?
You: Yes.
Stranger: well then . . . I’m here to talk to random people
You: Nice catch.
Stranger: I thought so
so why are you here?
You: I dunno. I’m just bored, I guess? I like talking to strangers online. It doesn’t matter what I tell them, we’ll never meet again.
Y’know?
Stranger: yeah I get that
so is there anything in particular that you want to talk about?
You: Oh, I don’t know.
What kind of things do you like?
Stranger: I like reading I guess . . .
You: What do you like to read?
Stranger: well . . .
have you heard of the timetale series?
it’s about these kids at a magic school
You: Oh my god, that’s my favourite! I love the Timetale Series!
Stranger: books or movies?
You: The books, obviously. Don’t get me wrong, the movies are fine. But the books are SO much better. They go into more detail, you actually get to learn about the characters and what makes them tick.
Stranger: and I thought I was a dork
You: Haha, sorry. I get a little nerdy when I’m talking about things I like.
Stranger: don’t be sorry
tts is my favourite
You: Who’s your favourite character?
Stranger: seith
You: Oh my god, SAME! I love the way they’ve developed his arc. And the fact that they weren’t afraid to make an openly gay character!
Stranger: I think the main guy is still gonna end up with a girl though
that’s how books like this work
You: I dunno, I have faith that the author will be willing to change things up a bit . . . Imagine a queer couple as the main love interest!
Stranger: it’s not gonna happen
when book seven comes out I’ll get to say I told you so
You: How? We’re on RandoChat. It’d be impossible to match with me again . . .
Stranger: you could always give me your email address
that is
if you wanted to continue talking
You: . . .
that was pretty smooth :P
Maybe at the end of the chat . . .
Stranger: cool
You: So . . .
What do you do? Are you in school?
Stranger: I’m in high school
what about you mr timetale
what do you study?
You: How do you know I’m a guy?
Stranger: just a hunch
You: Well, I am, but you shouldn’t assume that.
Stranger: but I was right
You: And how do you know I’m in school?
Stranger: another educated guess
You: Do elaborate, please. How did you make an “educated guess” about my age?
Stranger: well you like tts
if you were that much older than me you probably wouldn’t have read the books
if you were that much younger than me you wouldn’t have grown up with the books and would probably like the movies more
so I’m guessing you’re 17–18ish
I bet I can even guess where you live
You: How?
Stranger: well
you added a u to favourite so you’re not american
I’m gonna guess you’re in canada like me
because if you were in australia or uk or something it would be pretty late
tell me if I’m way off base
You: . . .
Stranger: yeah that’s what I thought
so mr teenager in canada
what can I call you?
other than stranger, of course
You: . . .
You first.
Actually . . .
Can we use nicknames? Is that okay? I just . . .
It’s weird giving out my name to someone on the internet, y’know?
Stranger: sure
I’m . . . dorian
19
I live in ontario
your turn
You: I’m Tristan. 17, turning 18. Also Ontario. Please don’t stalk me.
Stranger: I promise I won’t
anyway you have as much information on me now as I have on you
You: So the name Dorian . . . where’d that come from?
Stranger: based on a book I used to like in middle school
thought it was cool at the time and it just kinda stuck
my email address is even dorian_green@gouglemail.com
how’d you get the name tristan?
You: It’s from Arthurian legend. He’s one of the knights of the round table.
Okay, enough about my nerdiness. Let’s talk about something less humiliating!
Stranger: lol okay
You: Oh, shoot . . . I just noticed the time. I’ve gotta run.
Stranger: oh
it was really awesome talking to you
honestly
if you wanna keep chatting later you can always give me your email address
or add me to instachat
but only if you want
You: Oh! Yeah! I forgot that! I’m tristan-ofthe-roundtable@gouglemail.com
It was awesome talking to you, too! I hope we can do it again sometime.
Stranger: yeah same
You: Bye!
Stranger: bye
You have disconnected from the chat. To start another chat with a stranger, click here.
02
Stuck in
Class
Wednesday, September 5, 8:45 AM
Alex surveyed the classroom and chewed his lip in contemplation. He had thought the class would be full. But it was already 8:45 and there were only ten other students in the room, scattered around on uncomfortable chairs and their too-small desks.
Alex grumbled as he squirmed in his seat, trying to write with his left hand on the offensively right-handed table. His mind wandered briefly to the conversation he’d had on RandoChat the previous night and debated whether he wanted to contact Dorian when he got home.
As the teacher droned on, Alex picked up his pen. He chewed the end of it and glanced around the room, taking in his classmates.
On one side of the room was Man-Bun. He and his friend were talking in hushed voices. Man-Bun’s friend didn’t notice when the teacher glared at her before continuing his introduction.
On Alex’s right was Ponytail. She had glasses and was furiously writing notes in a little pink book, her pen scratching back and forth across the page.
Sitting at the back of the classroom, far from the teacher, was Too Cool for School. His feet were up on the desk and his arms crossed over his chest. He was probably asleep behind his sunglasses. He had long, dark hair tied back in a ponytail, and a smirk lingering on his lips.
“. . . Now then, I am Mr. Hammond. Welcome to my class.”
Mr. Hammond looked to be in his mid-thirties, with short, greying hair and laugh lines beginning to crease around his eyes. He had a pair of glasses that he would sometimes take off and wave around while making a point. Then he would notice them in his hand and place them back on his face. He sat on the edge of his desk and made pop culture references that Alex didn’t understand, before joking about dating himself.
As the class went on, Alex found he enjoyed listening to Hammond and his introduction. English had never been Alex’s favourite subject, but the teacher made it slightly more interesting than he had expected. One thing Alex did not enjoy, however, was the rest of the class. Man-Bun asked obvious questions about things that Alex considered common knowledge. Ponytail’s hand would shoot up as soon as Hammond asked the students anything.
The worst classmate of all was Too Cool for School. The guy argued about everything, which Alex found immensely annoying. It also got the lesson off track, and Alex was hoping this first class would end early.
“Just shut up,” Alex muttered under his breath the third time Too Cool for School interrupted the class.
“Sir, I realize Shakespeare is commonly taught in English courses,” Too Cool for School was saying. “But don’t you think it would be better to discuss a writer who’s less . . . dead?”
Alex let out a groan as he leaned back in his chair. Too Cool for School was good looking, but not nearly enough to make up for his attitude.
“Would you ask me to teach a music course without covering Bach and Mozart?” Hammond responded with a grin. “Does Beethoven not get an honourable mention?”
Don’t encourage him, Alex thought. He hated that the teacher validated Too Cool, playing along with his ridiculous questions.
“If it was a course in Rock and Roll, then yeah, probably,” said Too Cool.
“Ah, yes. I understand your confusion.” Mr. Hammond smirked and removed his glasses. “This course is meant to introduce you to the history of literature. Here, you’re getting an overview, from early authors to the most recent ones. I’m giving you the Cole’s Notes version of English writing. Anything else you want to learn, you’re welcome to study on your own time.”
Too Cool for School crossed his arms again and rocked onto the back legs of his chair. He was apparently satisfied with the teacher’s answer.
“Any other questions before I continue?” asked Hammond.
Ponytail’s hand shot up. Alex knew, right then and there, that it was going to be a very long term.
03
2
Dorky in the Best Way
Wednesday, September 5, 5:17 PM
Tristan: Hey stranger!
Dorian: hey
Tristan: What’s up?
Dorian: nm, you?
Tristan: You know, you’re making it really difficult to have a real conversation.
Dorian: lol sorry
has your school started yet?
Tristan: Yeah, it just started today.
Dorian: same
how was your first day
Tristan: Meh . . .
Dorian: that good eh?
Tristan: Yeah, it wasn’t quite what I expected.
Dorian: howso?
Tristan: I don’t know. I’m in a new school . . . I just thought everyone here would be like me, you know? There to actually learn. Instead, they’re just . . . there.
Dorian: I’m sure some of them are there to learn
Tristan: Not really. I mean, yeah, there seem to be a few students here and there that wanna study and stuff but . . .
Okay, so, my first class this morning, not a single person was listening to the teacher.
Dorian: you were
Tristan: Yeah, I was, but no one else.
I just expected grade 12 to be more . . . intelligent?
Dorian: intelligent?
Tristan: Yeah. Intelligent. A lot of the kids in the class have no idea what they’re talking about and it’s annoying.
Dorian: did you ever think that’s why they’re at school?
Tristan: What?
Dorian: they don’t know what they’re talking about
maybe they’re there to learn, yknow?
Tristan: Hey! Whose side are you on, anyway?
Dorian: I’m sorry
please go on about how everyone in your class is an idiot
Tristan: I never said that.
Dorian: you were thinking it
Tristan: Ugggh. I just . . .
So there’s this guy in my class who keeps trying to argue with the teacher and I just . . . I just want to yell at him to shut up and let the class happen!
Dorian: some people like to argue
I do
Tristan: I can see that!
Dorian: ouch
my poor ego
it hurts
Tristan: Oh, shut up. :P
Dorian: I can never go on
the pain
Tristan: I don’t get why they won’t just listen to the teacher.
Dorian: calm down tris
Tristan: Anyway . . .
How was your first day? Do you like your classes?
Dorian: they’re fine
I took a year off last year
so it’s kind of weird to be back
and it’s only the first day of class
not like you learn anything on the first day
Tristan: I suppose not.
Dorian: ask me in a few weeks I’ll probably know by then
Tristan: Will do. We just have to hope you haven’t stopped talking to me by then!
Dorian: why would I stop talking to you?
Tristan: Because I’m a dork? I don’t know . . .
It was a joke!
Dorian: but I enjoy talking to you
Tristan: Well, thanks. :)
Dorian: don’t get cocky
you’re just the only dude I know who’ll actually talk about tts with me
might as well keep you around a bit longer
Tristan: And he’s back.
Dorian: ?
Tristan: The Dorian we all know and love.
Dorian: oh yeah
the one who’s a complete dick
Tristan: That’s the one!
Dorian: lol
hey random question . . .
do you watch basker?
it’s that new cartoon about this kid and his quest to discover magic
Tristan: Yes! I love that show!
Dorian: did you see the latest episode?
Tristan: Oh my god, I’ve had nobody to talk to about it!
It was awesome, wasn’t it?!
When they killed his brother, I was all like “WHAT?!?” Could NOT believe they did that!!
Dorian: lol
you’re such a dork
Tristan: Hey!
Dorian: I mean it in the best way
Tristan: Haha . . . Okay, fine.
Dorian: so what’re you up to now
Tristan: Making dinner. Apparently I have to do that these days.
Dorian: these days?
Tristan: Mom’s been super busy so I have to actually feed myself. :P
Dorian: oh
what’s for dinner
Tristan: Pasta. It’s easy. The sauce comes in a can. You can’t really go wrong with it. And I’ll have lunch for tomorrow, too. Hooray, leftovers!
Dorian: lol
Tristan: Okay, I’ll be back. Gonna go eat.
Dorian: actually, I g2g
sorry
Tristan: Oh! Okay.
I guess I’ll talk to you tomorrow?
Dorian?
Okay . . . Well, bye!
Thursday, September 6, 6:11 PM
Tristan: Hey, what happened to you last night?
Dorian: hey sorry about that
roommate needed me for something
Tristan: That’s fine! Just glad you’re okay!
I didn’t realize you had a roommate. You don’t live with your parents?
Dorian: nah
live with my friend
he took me in when I ran away from home
he used to go to my school but he graduated last year so we share a place near his university
Tristan: What?!
Dorian: yeah, he’s been great
Tristan: You . . . ran away from home?
Dorian: oh yeah
Tristan: I’m so sorry to hear that.
I didn’t realize.
Dorian: it’s fine
it happened a while ago
Tristan: I’m sorry.
Dorian: don’t apologize
you didn’t make me leave
Tristan: May I ask what happened?
Dorian: oh the usual crap
shitty family shitty life
went to my best friend’s place and now we’re roommates
Tristan: I’m sorry . . .
Dorian: don’t be
it’s the past
