Panel One: Narration: "Meanwhile..." Cal and DJ are carrying trays with food in the cafeteria. Cal has a sandwich and a cup of soup, while DJ has a large bowl of soup. Cal is looking excitedly at DJ and says, "Hey, let's sit with Zane and Royce!" DJ's looks nervous and says, "Cal, I... I don't really... Talk with... Anyone."

Panel Two: Slightly higher angle of the pair. Cal looks at DJ and asks, "So I'll talk. Please?"

Panel Three: DJ smiles a bit and says, "Okay."

Panel Four: Wide panel of Cal and DJ sitting with Zane and Royce. Cal is seated next to DJ, with Royce and Zane across from them. DJ is gesturing and rolling his eyes while he rants about Fern. Behind the group, the background is full of DJ's ranting, with phrases like, "And then she insulted my handwriting!" The sense is that he's been ranting the entire time. Each of them has a small box next to them with arrows pointing at them. From left is Cal, looking smug as he holds his sandwich. His box says, "Has barely said a word." DJ is gesturing widely and ranting. His box says, "Talking so much his soup's gone cold." Next, from behind, is Royce, holding a mug. They're wearing an off-sholder top and gold earrings. Their box says, "Still processing that DJ's acting like a normal person and sitting with them." Next to Royce is Zane, whose face is turned so that we can see a bemused grin on his face. Zane is mostly covered by the back of the bench, but he is wearing a mesh top with a black tank top over it, heavy goth-styled eye makeup, black lipstick, and his hair is partially back in a braid. His box says, "Just glad that DJ's finally joined society."

Panel Five: Zane is holding up a cup in one hand, and pointing at DJ with the other. He's wearing a black leather choker necklace with a metal hourglass pendant. He's got on a few rings, including one armor-styled one, and a studded cuff on one wrist. His black tank top has a white band logo on it and his nails are painted black. Zane laughs and says "Haha! Yeah, she was complaining about you for almost our entire date last night!" Royce is also laughing at this. SFX from Royce: Pfft! Haha!

Panel Six. Open panel with DJ, in an exaggerated, cartoonish style. He's leaning back in shock with a big black burst effect behind him. "DATE?!" he exclaims. "You're Fern's boyfriend?!"

Author Note