[Getting on the same page should be pretty easy, right? They're both nerdy dudes, both hyperactive. They should be able to sync up! Just so long as Michael isn't too smart for Rich. He laughs and rubs the back of his neck.]

Aw man, really? You seem like the more awesome one... I wouldn't even be able to kill it at the friendship thing if it wasn't for you.

[Still, hugs! Rich eagerly returns it and even lifts Michael off the ground for a second.]

That does sound awesome, dude! What kind of games? And wait, we're like, all friends? You like, made it in with the popular dudes? And like, what about the whole fire thing...?

[He was pretty sure the rumours at school were disastrous. Jeremy had looked pretty pitying about that.]