Nic's High School Online Friendships - Key Points

Nic is a hyperactive Black girl in a predominantly white neighborhood; raised in a church environment; valued for being respectful and inclusive, but keeps her guard up because not everyone is trustworthy.
She aims to be a good friend to those who reciprocate; bully experiences in grade school due to being a minority; transfers schools but remains committed to genuine friendship.

High school starts online in 2020 due to the pandemic; Nic makes initial friends via class chats and side conversations.
The group uses coded names: Wannabe, Serial Dater (SD), Snow, Mr. Huffy, Mrs. Huffy; they text outside school but have not met in person for about six months.
In person, Wannabe asserts more life experience and starts bossing others around; Nic finds this odd but tolerates it.
Nic attempts dating in the second half of the year; every boy ends up dating SD after breaking up with Nic, creating tension.
Nic tries to remain cordial with SD, but SD denies instigating the issues; others continue to befriend SD and participate in group conversations and outings.

Snow proposes a group chat to be used across the day via school computers; Nic has an interest in technology and uses her personal cellphone to stay connected with the group.
In arts classes, Nic gives 150% effort and feels a sense of control; outside those classes, friends are frequently on their phones.
Nic experiences FOMO dating back to preschool days; she replies with minimal context to fit in with the group.
Nic’s church background describes her as buoyant and analytical; she is not constantly on her phone during class unless listening to music that helps concentration.

Near the end of the term, during 5th period, Nic receives many messages and notices a phone flash but stays focused on class.
After lunch, she sends a quick text about the volume of messages, unaware that the group conversations have triggered school security.
The page ends with a teaser: to be continued…