(A/n: Here's a Jeremy Jordan version too:

https://youtu.be/WxxGnMI-n6g

May it bless your ears.)

~~~

"Goodness, (Y/n), drool much? You basically left a puddle, slobbering over that new kid." Stalyan said. Kiera and Catalina force out a laugh.

I was now hanging out at my house with the Populars. We were playing croquet.

"Come on, I don't even know his name." I rebutted. Stalyan then hit the ball over towards my parents.

"Mr. and Mrs. (L/n), watch out!" she called out.

"Oh! Haha, there you go, girls. Care for some pate?" my mom asked, holding out a plate with liverwurst on it.

"That is not pate, it's liverwurst." Stalyan commented. My mom laughed, nervously.

"I'm aware of that, Stalyan. It's a family joke."

"Oh... funny."

"So girls, any big plans for tonight?" my mom asked.

"Yeah, there's a big homecoming party at Eugene Fitzherbert's house," I responded, "So I'm gonna catch a ride with Stalyan."

"Speaking of which." Stalyan said, then placed the croquet ball on the plate of liverwurst, and walked away with the other Populars.

"Okay, uh... great pate, Mom, but I gotta motor if we want to be ready in time for this party." I said, then tried to follow the Populars, but my mom grabbed my hand.

"Don't let these popular girls change you."

"I need them." I replied.

"What for? You have other friends. You have Rapunzel and Cassandra."

"Maybe I want more out of life than liverwurst, Mom." I said, then ran off to join the Populars.

~~~

Soon, we had pulled up to a 7-11, and I was sent in to get something for Stalyan.
As I entered, I heard the car honk.

"(Y/n)! Don't forget the corn nuts! It's not a party without corn nuts!"

"BQ or plain?"

"BQ!"

I rolled my eyes, and walked the rest of the way in, letting the door shut behind me. I found the isle with the corn nuts on them, and picked up a package of barbecue ones.

"Greetings and salutations. You want a Slurpee with that?"

I turned around to see mystery boy from school. He held a Slurpee in his hand.

"No, but if you're nice, I'll let you buy me a Big Gulp." I smirked.

"That's like going to Micky D's and ordering a salad. Slurpee's the signature dish of the house. Did you say cherry or lime?" he insisted, turning to go to the slushie machine.

I chuckled a bit at his simile.

"I said Big Gulp." I retorted, "I'm (Y/n), by the way. Are you ever gonna tell me your name?"

"I'll end the suspense." he said then turned around and stepped towards me. He stuck out his hand. I took it, and he introduced himself, "Varian Dean. VD for short."

"So, VD. That thing you pulled in the caf' was pretty severe." I said.

"Well, the extreme always seems to make an impression." he replied with a smirk. I gave a small laugh.

"So, what's a Baudelaire-quoting, tough-guy like you doing in Corona, Ohio?"

"My dad's work. He owns a deconstruction company."

"...Deconstruction?"

"Well, the old man seems to enjoy tearing things down. You seen the commercial?" he said, then began quoting the commercial, mocking his dad's voice, "'My name's Quirin Dean, if it's in the way, I'll make your day.'"

"Then he pushes the plunger and the screen blows up?" I laughed, remembering the commercial, then realized that he might take offence to my laughter, "...That's your dad?"

"In all his wonderful glory." he said, a sadness in his eyes, but obviously trying to hide it.

"Ya know, everyone's life has got static." I said. Coincidentally, Stalyan took that moment to honk the car horn outside.

"(Y/N)!"

"For example, I don't really like my friends." I huffed.

"I don't really like your friends either." he said, "Bag the party. Hang here."

"Oh, 7-Eleven. Swanky first date." I joked.

"Hey... I love this place." he smiled a bit.

"No offense, but... why?" I asked.

~Cue musical land~

"I've been through ten high schools. They start to get blurry. No point planting roots, 'cause you're gone in a hurry. My dad keeps two suitcases packed in the den, so it's only a matter of when." he sighed, turning away from me, pretending to look at the items on the shelves.

"I don't learn their names. Don't bother with faces. All I can trust is this concrete oasis. Seems every time I'm about to despair, there's a 7-Eleven right there." he turned around with a smile, and his eyes seemed to shine with wonder.

"Each store is the same, from Ingvarr to Boston. Linoleum aisles that I love to get lost in. I pray at my altar of slush. Yeah, I live for that sweet frozen rush..."

He then took a long sip of his icy treat, and his face proceeded to scrunch up at the cold. I gave a laugh. This kid was just too cute!

"Freeze your brain. Suck on that straw. Get lost in the pain. Happiness comes, when everything numbs. Who needs cocaine? Freeze your brain. Freeze your brain..." He smiled and and extended the Slurpee to me, "Care for a hit?"

"Does your mommy know that you eat all that junk?"

"Not anymore." he said turning around once more, and taking a few steps down the isle.

My face twisted up in confusion, and he continued.

"When Mom was alive,"

My eyes went wide...

"We lived halfway normal. Now it's just me and my dad, we're less formal. I learned to cook pasta, I learned to pay rent, learned the world doesn't owe you a cent."

 He turned back around.

"You're planning your future, (Y/n) (L/n). You'll go to some college, and marry a lawyer."

A lawyer, really?

"But the sky's gonna hurt when it falls. So you'd better start building some walls." he stared deep into my eyes, a frown on his face, when he said that.  Then he spun around a few times, his arms out, as he continued.

"Freeze your brain. Swim in the ice, get lost in the pain. Shut your eyes tight, 'till you vanish from sight. Let nothing remain."

He then went to the Slurpee machine.

"Freeze your brain. Shatter your skull. Fight pain with more pain." he said, dancing and getting a cup, "Forget who you are. Unburden your load." he continued as he poured blue slush into the cup, "Forget in six weeks you'll be back on the road." he said, letting go of the Slurpee machine handle, and dropping his head "When the voice in your head says you're better off dead, don't open a vein!"

He paused for a moment, then turned around to me with a fake smile. The tear stains visible on his cheeks.

"Just freeze your brain. Freeze your brain. Go on and freeze your brain..."

"Try it." he handed me the Slurpee he had just made. Giving in, I took a sip.

"Yeah, I don't really see-"

Then it hit.

"Oh, goodness gracious!" I threw my hand on my forehead. I guess he didn't say freeze your brain without a valid reason.

"(Y/n)?"

I turned and saw Stalyan standing there with her hands on her hips.

"Oh, uh, I gotta go."

"So I see." VD nodded.

"Corn nuts?" Stalyan glared.

"Yeah, yeah, they're right here. Sorry, sorry." I said, grabbing the aforementioned snack.

"Wave bye-bye to Red Dawn here and let's motor!" Stalyan taunted, strutting out of the 7-11.

"Sorry." I muttered to VD with a wave, then left.