[004. HEY PHEOBS !]

Jules was up early, around 8 a.m., already dressed in a green crop top with the word "Brazil" and its flag, paired with shorts and white sneakers. Her mom, Cassandra, shuffled in wearing her pajamas, hair disheveled.

"Why are you up so early?" Cassandra asked, rubbing her eyes.

"I'm going to help Mr. Grooberson with his class," Jules replied, grabbing her bag. "Which, speaking of, I'm late. Bye!"

She dashed out the door, leaving Cassandra shaking her head with a sleepy smile.

Gary Grooberson wheeling in an old cathode tube television into the classroom. Phoebe was already at her desk, notebook open.

"Good morning, class. How's everybody doing today? My name is Mr. Grooberson. And here is my assistant, Juliana," Gary began, nodding at Jules as she entered the room.

"Um... I know. You don't wanna be here. I don't wanna be here either. Now, apparently, your, uh, school is still operating on VHS but, um, I found this gem in the teacher's lounge. It's great. It's called 'Cujo.' It's about a rabid Saint Bernard that—You know what? I don't wanna give too much away but," he glanced at Phoebe, who looked unimpressed, "imagine Beethoven if he contracted rabies and just started mauling children."

A red-headed boy in the back smirked.

"You'll get the idea. Enjoy," Gary said, turning on the TV before heading into another room connected to the classroom.

The ominous soundtrack of "Cujo" began playing, filling the room with suspenseful music.

Podcast, a boy with Sony headphones around his neck, moved his boom mic closer to Phoebe, who sat quietly.

"Speeding. Three, two, one," Podcast began narrating. "She sits alone. An outcast, rejected by her peers. But what is her secret? Perhaps she's on the run. On the run... from herself. And go."

Phoebe glanced at him, mildly amused. "Actually, my grandfather died. My mom says we're just here to pick through the rubble of his life."

"So you're here to uncover the mystery of his death?" Podcast asked, intrigued.

"No. It was natural causes," Phoebe replied.

"Are you sure it wasn't unnatural causes?" Podcast pressed.

"Yes. Pretty sure it was just a heart attack," Phoebe said calmly.

"Ah. The silent killer," Podcast mused. "I'm Phoebe."

"Oh, cool. Uh, I'm Podcast," he introduced himself, extending his hand.

They shook hands.

"Why do people call you Podcast?" Phoebe asked.

"Oh, I call myself Podcast. Because of my podcast," he explained with a grin.

Jules entered the room, spotting Phoebe. She made her way over and sat down next to her. "Hey, Phoebs," she greeted warmly.

"Hello Juliana ," Phoebe replied, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Jules glanced at the TV screen, raising an eyebrow at the movie choice. "Cujo, huh? Interesting pick for a science class."

"Mr. Grooberson's idea of educational content," Phoebe said with a slight shrug.

Jules laughed. "Well, it's definitely not boring." She looked at Phoebe and Podcast. "So, what are you guys talking about?"

"Just discussing the mysteries of life and death," Podcast said dramatically.

Jules chuckled. "Sounds deep. Well, I'm here to help if you need me."

"Thank you," Phoebe said

The three of them sat together, the unusual trio forming an unexpected bond as the eerie soundtrack of "Cujo" continued to play in the background.

The "Cujo Attacks Car" scene played on the TV, but the students' attention was pulled away as the room began to shake with an earthquake. Gary rushed to an instrument, eyes focused on the readings. Phoebe walked in, curiosity piqued by the research pinned to the wall.

"What is this?" Phoebe asked, her voice cutting through the confusion.

Gary stood up, trying to regain some composure. "Hello. Um... You know there's a highly entertaining movie about a killer dog happening right over there."

"Is this a seismic map?" Phoebe continued, ignoring the distraction.

Gary looked surprised. "Yes. H-how did you know that?"

"Because it's a map of seismic activity," Phoebe responded matter-of-factly.

Jules, who had been observing quietly, stepped forward, her eyes sharp with interest. "Yeah, and it's not just any seismic map. Look at the frequency and amplitude of the waves."

Gary glanced at Jules, impressed. "Right. But—"

"You're a seismologist?" Phoebe interrupted, her tone incredulous.

"Does that seem so hard to believe?" Gary asked, raising an eyebrow.

Phoebe shrugged. "Figured you for a football coach."

"Oh. Um... Thank you," Gary replied, a bit flustered.

Phoebe looked over some papers on the desk. "These don't look tectonic or volcanic."

"Exactly," Jules added, pointing to a chart. "The patterns are too regular and intense to be natural seismic events."

Gary smirked, then grabbed a marker and started drawing on the whiteboard. "Okay, smarty. Here, check this out. This is a volcano, all right?"

He drew a diagram of a volcano. "It builds and crests. But this is a tectonic earthquake. Notice a little P-wave followed by a large S wave."

"Yeah, I'm not an idiot," Phoebe said, rolling her eyes.

"Clearly," Gary said with a chuckle. "Well, this—" he erased the waves and drew new ones, "is the pattern in Summerville. Large P-wave, small S wave. Like an explosion."

"Where is it coming from?" Phoebe asked, leaning closer.

"I don't know. I don't know. I set up geophones, but I can't triangulate," Gary admitted.

"Are you using three?" Jules asked, crossing her arms.

"Yeah. I know how many sides there are in a triangle," Gary replied, a bit defensively.

Phoebe gave a sly smile. "I just thought you were being obtuse."

Jules gave her a little laugh to which Phoebe opened her eyes wide

" you just laughed at my joke ?" She said

" ya cause it was funny , nice one phoebes " she said nudging the younger girl

" I love you " she said hugging her

Gary stared at her. "Was that a geometry joke?"

"Yes, that's why I winked," Phoebe said, winking again for emphasis.

Gary sighed, shaking his head. "Ah. Uh, that's terrible. No, I loved it. Look at this. I mean, somehow, a town that isn't anywhere near a tectonic plate, that has no underground volcanic activity, no fault lines, no fracking, no loud music even, is shaking on a daily basis"

Phoebe turned to Gary very slowly " maybe it's the apocalypse "