Ho Yay / Class of '09

Warning: Spoilers are unmarked on these pages. You Have Been Warned.

Note the rainbow bracelet on Jecka's right wrist.

Class of '09 is a Deconstructive Parody of Romance Game about a sociopathic girl who Does Not Like Men trying to get by in a school full of Hormone Addled Teenagers. Obviously, there was going to be at least some subtext between the protagonist and many of the female characters she interacts with, to say nothing of how the other characters in general interact with each other.

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Nicole

With Jecka

Jecka is pretty much the only character that Nicole genuinely cares about. In the original game, no matter what route the player takes, Jecka will always become Nicole's friend in some way. Their catty banter sometimes comes off as Belligerent Sexual Tension.

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• In one route of the original game, Nicole could find herself trapped in several "hostage friendships" with nearly every boy in school and unable hang out with Jecka, who give her an ultimatum.
  Jecka: You have a choice to make. It's either me or your hostage friendships. End of discussion.
  Nicole: Fuck... well now I gotta think if I love you more than I hate being stalked.
  Jecka: If you don't have an answer by 4th period, I'll have one for you... (Turns to leave) See ya, Nicole.
  Nicole: God I wish I was a lesbian.
• Depending on what route the player takes in the original game, the first time Nicole discovers she could manipulate someone with just her looks alone is when she gets Kylar to beat up Jeffery. She will discuss the event to Jecka while trying to wrap her mind around the concept of Favors for the Sexy. Nicole will fish for compliments from Jecka during their discussion.
  Nicole: I don't know, I'm still just trying to process why he'd fist fight for someone he barely knows.
  Jecka: Cause you're pretty.
  Nicole: ...Pretty what?
  Jecka: No, you're just really pretty.
  Nicole: But like that pretty? No way.
  Jecka: If you're gonna be one of those girls who fish for compliment 24/7 I'm gonna find someone else to sit with.
  Nicole: No seriously, like what are they worked up over?
  Jecka: (sighs) You're cute, long flowing hair, and... big boobs.
  Nicole: Okay I was fishing for compliments.
  Jecka: Knew it.
• During a scene in Re-Up, Nicole and Jecka can try to skip class by going to the courtyard, only to run into Kylar who attempts to make a move on them with his "bad boy" act, which doesn't work. Nicole and Jecka then give a demonstration on the proper way to bullying a girl into liking them back.
  Nicole: Yeah we only like being treated like shit when you're creative about it.
  Jecka: Yeah let's see what ya got.
  Kylar: Shut the fuck up Jecka, pelican nose ass bitch.
  Jecka: My nose is actually perfect, nice try though.
  Nicole: (Talking to Jecka) Yeah but the way you dress shows you might be insecure and overcompensating for your introverted childhood.
  Jecka: (Shocked and then composes herself) Oh my g— see? Now I'm gonna be up all night reading into that.
  Nicole: First she'll hate me, then she'll want me.
• In Re-Up, it turns out that the Counselor is an in-story Shipper on Deck for Nicole and Jecka. In one route, he lampshades how the two of them are always together before trying to creepily get them to make out with each by requesting that they "trial some sort of affection" with each other. Although, Nicole and Jecka clearly don't want to humor the Counselor, Jecka does comment that she would be willing to kiss Nicole if the Counselor pays them.
• Of course, there is the scene where Nicole basically asks Jecka if they want give being Friends with Benefits a try after bearing witness to Ari and Kelly's Slap-Slap-Kiss moment in the school's "sex addict rehab program". But Jecka is fully aware how that relationship will end.
  Jecka: God, imagine being those girls.
  Nicole: For a week it'd be kinda fun. You wanna be sexed up abusive lesbians?
  Jecka: Fuck no.
  Nicole: Why not?
  Jecka: Cause you'd be doing all the abusing.
  Nicole: Oh like what?
  Jecka: Just weird shit. You'd like... Put a cigarette out on my neck and lick the burn mark.
  Nicole: (Beat) ...So you wanna try it?
  Jecka: No!
  • The rejection could even be interpreted as her testing if Nicole would either deny her claim or offer to lessen the "abuse" to an acceptable amount. It should be noted that Jecka didn't reject Nicole's offer out of any stated lack of attraction.
• In Re-Up, if Nicole and Jecka try to skip class by hiding in the girl's bathroom, Emily and Kelly will walk into what they think is a lovers' spat:
  Nicole: It'll be fine, okay? So what's this about me needing SSRIs?
  Jecka: Like you're cool and everything but you're just like.. fucked up.
  (Emily and Kelly walk into the bathroom)
  Emily: Ooh drama.
  Kelly: I never knew you guys were dating.
  Nicole: What??
  Jecka: No it was something else.
• Re-Up reveals that Jecka memorized all of Nicole's interests and what she likes after they bullied Karen about her supposed weight, making it clear how well the two have gotten to know each other by the time they reach senior year.
  Nicole: I'm a whore for the cheesy biscuits.
  Jecka: You say you're a whore for everything.
  Nicole: Oh yeah like what?
  Jecka: Bottled water, massages, internet, Burts Bees, McDonald's french fries, percocet, American Spirits, blink-182...
  Nicole: We need to hang out less.
• Jecka and Nicole making up after Nicole chooses not to call out Jecka for objectifying Karen as childhood memory as they left the girl open to sexual manipulation when Nicole misinformed Karen on what the slang "skeeted" means:
  Jecka: You're a good friend.
  Nicole: I thought I was Hitler.
  Jecka: You're a really pretty brunette Hitler with a drug problem.
  Nicole: See if guys came up with that I'd actually try dating them.
• If Nicole and Jecka decide to skip school by going to Nicole's home, the two awkwardly try to figure what they should do next with Jecka comparing the experience to a bad date.
  Nicole: (nervously) ...You wanna watch MythBusters?
  Jecka: This is like a really bad date.
• Nicole and Jecka could accidentally views CP on Nicole's Brother's laptop after he has been arrest, and get caught by a police officer who came back to collect the laptop as evidence. In one option, through Insane Troll Logic, Nicole would claim the police officer would get into bigger trouble by lying that he walked in on her and Jecka as they were making an underage lesbian porno. The scenario for the fake story they were supposedly going to act out is that Nicole is the "butch pizza delivery girl," while Jecka is the Lipstick Lesbian who has no money for the pizza. It kind of funny of all the lies they could come up with, this what they think up.
  Cop: I've never heard such BS in my life, you were standing here fully clothed.
  Nicole: Yeah cause you walked in on the start of the video.
  Jecka: Right? What's porn without buildup?
  Cop: You had a pizza in your hand when I walked in!
  Jecka: Oh shit.
  Nicole: Well no cause... I was playing the butch pizza delivery girl.
  Jecka: And I was playing the Lipstick Lesbian with no money for the pizza.
  Nicole: Yeah and I'm like "Bitch how you gonna pay for this pizza?"
• In the animated short, Nicole was able to swipe Jecka's last xanax that Jecka keeps in her left breast cup without her even noticing. Funny enough, Jecka was more upset that Nicole stole her last drug, than Nicole somehow getting under her bra.
  Jecka: Bitch, that was my last xan, how did you take that?
  Nicole: (Swallows the xanax) Quick hands. Titty and xanax, what a combo.
  Jecka: (Sad that her last drug is gone) Goes together like peanut butter and percocet.
• If the player goes through the text messages they receive after completing a route, they will find that Nicole only ever bothered to save the contact information for Jecka in the original game. Everyone else will come through as a number without a name. This does change in Re-Up where Nicole saves Ari's contact information in the route where they were dating. Not even Nicole's other close friend, Emily, got this "honor." One might come to the assumption that Nicole will only put in the effort to save a person's contact information on her phone if they happen to be one of her "girlfriends."

With Emily

Emily is Nicole's closest friend after Jecka, and the two have their moments of homoeroticism despite Emily already having an adult boyfriend. In Re-Up, the player could actually get Emily to fall in love with Nicole by doing her route, but it isn't made fully clear if Nicole reciprocate her friend's feelings, especially considering how that route ends.

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• To initiate Emily's route, Nicole would have to agree to skip class with her after being sent to remedial English. The lead up to the choice implies that Emily might have already been attracted to Nicole.
  Emily: Yeah, so you wanna go with me?
  Nicole: Why can't you just go yourself?
  Emily: I'm not gonna skip alone. That's like a step above reading at lunch alone.
  Nicole: Just ask some other psycho remedial kid.
  Emily: No they're all shitty, I wanna go with someone cool.
  Nicole: Are you hitting on me?
  Emily: Wha- No! I got a boyfriend.
  Nicole: But do you actually love him?
  Emily: Yeah... No...
• Their sleepover in Emily's route has several moments, such as Nicole being not sure how to react to Emily's compliment.
  Emily: You're actually like really cool and smart and you should be treated as such.
  Nicole: Wow that's uh...
  Emily: What's wrong?
  Nicole: Guys tell me that all the time and I just say "I know". But now that a girl's saying it- I forgot how to take an actual compliment.
  Emily: We're friends, don't worry about it.
  Nicole: Are you trying to have sex with me?
  Emily: Not really.
  • Then it is followed up with this:
    Emily: If I ever see her talk like that to you again I will rip her beating heart out and hand it to you on a silver platter.
    Nicole: ...And you don't wanna have sex with me?
    Emily: No.
    Nicole: Are you sure?
• After Emily pressures Nicole to be a part of a suicide pact, we are treated with this oddly adorable moment when they go to bed together:
  Emily: ...You're not gonna kiss me goodnight?
  Nicole: Oh my god, mwah. (kisses Emily off-screen)
  Emily: Thanks, I love you.
  Nicole: Yeah.
  Emily: (In a worried tone) Are you gonna say it back?
  Nicole: Okay now I do wanna kill myself.
• In the animated short, Nicole and Jecka express their admiration and appreciation of Emily for destroying Jeffery's pictures of them, which leads into this moment after Emily leaves:
  Nicole: She's like the hottest bitch ever.
  Jecka: And I love her hair.
  Nicole: What is gayer, dating a girl or wanting a girl to have sex with your dead body?
  Jecka: (A little disturbed and takes a second to think) Dating a girl?
  Nicole: Still straight. (sighs)

With Principle Lynn

Although Nicole often butts heads with Lynn due to Nicole's trouble making ways and Lynn's uselessness as an authority figure, a lot of Nicole's snarky comments implies that she might have a Precocious Crush on her principal.

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• During the scene in Re-Up where Braxton accidentally drops a brick of cocaine for Nicole to collect as he was being chased by their principal, Lynn will double back to check on Nicole. After suspecting Nicole is skipping classes again, Lynn tells Nicole that she will be escorting Nicole back to class. Nicole cracks a joke about Lynn asking her on a date afterwards.
  Principle Lynn: I'll walk with you.
  Nicole: Nah that's okay, you don't have to.
  Principle Lynn: (Gets very physically close to Nicole) I insist.
  Nicole: Wow, are you gonna ask me out after?
  Principle Lynn: On a date? Why would I do that?
  Nicole: Wait you're not a guy teacher, sorry let's go.
• There is this moment in Re-Up when Lynn fills in for Mr. Katz for civics class and goes over the community service assignment.
  Principle Lynn: We operate under the honor system, but don't think I won't keep my eye on you.
  Nicole: (sarcastically) Oh I'm wet.
  Principle Lynn: What was that?
  Nicole: Nothing, here let's see you fail one of these other losers.
  • Then later in same route when Lynn suspects there is something fishy with how Nicole is doing her assignment, and asks Nicole why she is so motivated to do school work. ^note As her "charity," Nicole was selling drugs.
    Principle Lynn: The community... You love the people that much now?
    Nicole: (Turns away from Lynn and starts to walk away) Yeah?
    Principle Lynn: Look me in the eye and say that.
    Nicole: (Turns back to Lynn) What're you my dom?
• When Lynn not-so-discreetly reveals that Mr. White has compromising photos of her covered in baby oil, Nicole asks if she can see the pictures.
  Principle Lynn: Actually, I may or may not have been covered in baby oil.
  Jecka: Ugh.. well I guess racism wins.
  Nicole: (Beat) ..Can we see the pictures?
  Principle Lynn: Get out of my office.

With Megan

Out of all of Nicole's female classmates, Megan is the one that Nicole seems to get along with the least. Despite frequently coming into conflict with each other throughout the different routes, the two seem oddly fixated on one another as some their interactions goes into Foe Romance Subtext territory.

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• During the expulsion route in Re-Up, Nicole could run into Megan at hardware store, with Megan clearly wanting to interact with Nicole. However, Nicole decides to be rude to Megan and calls Megan a "whore" since Nicole feels no obligation to be social with Megan as they are no longer classmates. After a heated argument, Nicole sarcastically jokes that she is interested in Megan:
  Megan: Are you threatening me??
  Nicole: No I'm hitting on you, flash me a titty, bitch.
  Megan: (Walking away) Cokehead slut!
• After their fight in the expulsion route, Megan will catch Nicole trying to offer Coach Colby an unsanctioned car wash at school the next day. Megan will then insinuate that she won't report Nicole or Coach Colby, if Nicole is willing to do the car cash topless. While Megan clearly suggested this to ruin Nicole's car wash as petty revenge for their earlier argument and likely expected Nicole to not go through with it, the tone of Megan's voice sounded like she might be interested in the idea of seeing Nicole without her shirt.
  Coach Colby: Honey you can't be here, you gotta go!
  Nicole: Why- Or else what?
  Coach Colby: Or I gotta report ya for an unsanctioned car wash.
  Nicole: Well.. I'll report you for trying to buy a wet T-shirt car wash!
  Coach Colby: Uh- - Well maybe we could just forget about all this.
  Megan: (With a smug smile) All what? I didn't see anything.
  Nicole: You were literally walking up as he said it.
  Megan: No actually as I recall you were offering him a topless car wash, right Mr. Colby?
  Coach Colby: (Realizing what Megan is up to) Oh uh um - yeah!
  Nicole: Are you actually fucking kidding me??
  Megan: Who's the whore now, Nicole?
  Nicole: (Leaving the school ground) You Jesus bitches are fucked up.
• During Megan's route in Re-Up, Megan feels the need to single out Nicole after theater class for her rude behavior, despite most of the class also making fun of Megan after she becomes student-teacher. Megan seems particularly upset that Nicole found her "ugly" and refers to Nicole as "sweetie" at one point. Nicole and Jecka also infer that Megan's dressing down of Nicole isn't too far off on how she treats her boyfriend, Hunter.
• While talking to Hunter about his relationship with Megan, Nicole will ask him some pretty invasive questions regarding his girlfriend, such as asking if Megan is into roleplay due to being an aspiring actor or if she "gives amazing head." Although this is a manipulation tactic on Nicole's part to bring up Hunter's dissatisfaction over Megan not putting out, one could get the impression that Nicole might have some underlying interest in Megan. Taken out of context, Nicole's conversation with Hunter sounds like she is gushing over Megan:
  Nicole: By the way I realized you're technically dating your teacher. Ultimate fantasy, right?
  Hunter: Um... I guess so.
  Nicole: She's an actor actor too, do you guys ever roleplay?
  Hunter: No, can't say we do...
  Nicole: I guess she's burned out after acting at school all day, right?
  Hunter: Yeah I guess you can say that.
  Nicole: But me personally, I love roleplaying.
  Hunter: Oh cool, what are some things you play?
  Nicole: (In an offended voice) You have a girlfriend and you're asking me about my roleplaying?
  Hunter: Oh no no no I'm sorry! I didn't mean—
  Nicole: Dude relax I'm fucking with you. Honestly you don't need to worry, I have a sixth sense for relationships and I can tell Megan's a lot of fun.
  Hunter: You can? How fun is she?
  Nicole: Okay don't tell her I told you this, but based on her personality I can tell she gives amazing head. Am I right?
  Hunter: Uh your sixth sense might need some work.
• Later on in Megan's route after Nicole starts putting in the effort for a theater class exercise, Megan will once again pull Nicole aside to tell Nicole how honestly very proud she is when Nicole demonstrates her acting chops. Megan is pretty quick to warm up to Nicole after assuming that Nicole developed the same interest in acting that Megan has. Afterwards, Megan gives the role of Juliet to Nicole for the school's production of Romeo and Juliet, while giving the role of Romeo to her boyfriend, Hunter. In other words, she basically made her two favorite people, at the moment, the stars of her play.
• At the conclusion of Megan's route, Nicole get her revenge on Megan by sending nude photos of Hunter, and exposing that Hunter is cheating on Megan with Nicole. This causes Megan to freak out, yell at Hunter during the start of the play, and eventually have a panic attack from the public humiliation. While Megan is obviously upset that her boyfriends cheated on her, Nicole being the one to betray Megan likely contributed to Megan's breakdown as Megan seemed to believe that she and Nicole were developing a connection. Nicole's final monologue of the route regarding Megan can come off as a very twisted If I Can't Have You….
  Nicole: Now Megan's gonna end up a cat lady cause any guy she dates will just remind her of ME. Remind her what any girl's capable of... If you push her far enough.

Others

Jecka and Ari

Despite Jecka's own claims of not knowing Ari that well, she has shown signs of being interested in Ari, while Jecka is among the girls who Ari seems to be attract to.

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• In the Reject Ari route, Nicole half-jokingly give Ari some bad advice on how to pick up a girlfriend by telling Ari to sext all the girls in school, with Jecka being one of those girls. Jecka admits she thought the picture is hot, but still politely rejects Ari. Although, Jecka's rejection can be interpreted as her not being quite ready for a relationship with another girl, especially one who just send scandalous pictures of herself to almost half of the school, and that Ari might have a better chance with her once they are in college. After being rejected, Ari is more mad at Nicole than Jecka.
  Jecka: Oh Ari I got your picture.
  Ari: You did?
  Jecka: Yeah you looked hot as fuck in it.
  Ari: Oh my god thank you! Would you wanna try like...
  Jecka: No sorry, I'm not there yet. Maybe in college.
  Ari: (Walks away) Dumbest advice ever.
  • Immediately afterwards, Nicole ask Jecka if she can see Ari's picture, but Jecka refuses and tells Nicole to get her own. While Jecka doesn't approve of Ari sexting random people, Jecka clearly likes the image she has.
• At the conclusion of the Reject Ari route, Ari demands a kiss as proof that Nicole isn't lying about a homophobic cult coming to burn down Ari's house. Jecka practically jumps at the chance to kiss Ari. However, Ari meant Nicole and rejects Jecka due to the cold sores that Jecka got from, ironically enough, making out with girls at a pride parade.
  Jecka: What do we have to do to prove we're not making this up?
  Ari: How should I know??
  Jecka: I don't know just anything she wouldn't do to pull off a prank?
  Ari: Uh... Fine. Kiss me.
  Jecka: Oh easy. (Walks over to Ari with a big smile)
  Ari: Not you, Herpes Fully Loaded. I meant Nicole has to kiss me.
  • The implication that Jecka is experimenting around implies that Jecka might have been honest when she said that she might give a relationship with Ari a chance once they are in college.
• Hilariously, Ari's routes reveal that Jecka and Ari share the same taste in television shows as they are both fans of Smallville and Drake & Josh.

Ari and Kelly

Ari is an actual lesbian, while Kelly is at least a bi-curious Lovable Sex Maniac. Naturally, they get a few moments of Les Yay.

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• Easily their most well-known scene together is their Slap-Slap-Kiss in Re-Up in the "sex addict rehab program". Nicole can manipulate Ari and Kelly to cause as a distraction so that she and Jecka can sneak out by getting her two classmates to fight each other, which causes some hilarious unintended results.
  Kelly: Do you actually wanna fucking fight right now??
  Ari: Bitch I brought a knife to school, don't even try me.
  Kelly: Yeah right, what're you gonna do with that?
  Ari: Stab you and watch the skeet pour out.
  Kelly: (Steps closer to Ari.) Not if I choke you first!
  Ari: (Steps closer to Kelly.) I'll spit in your face!
  Kelly: (Take another step closer to Ari.) I'll spit in your mouth!
  Ari: (Take another step closer to Kelly.) I'll like it!
  (The worked up class are stunned silent.)
  Jecka: What is happening?
  Nicole: (Invested in the development) Shhh!
  Kelly: (Now blushing) Will you spit in mine back?
  Ari: (Also blushing) I'll bite your bottom lip and make you fucking bleed.
  Kelly: Promise to kiss me after - - No... (Backs away from Ari) NO! Help me, Jesus! Help me! It's not love it's just lust, it's not love it's just lust.
  Nicole: (Disappointed) What the fuck...
• In the Date Ari route, Kelly tells Ari that she thinks it is cool that Ari and Nicole are so open about their relationship, and admits to her own bi-curious interests. Ari asks Kelly if she would be interested in going "full-time", clearly looking for an alternative partner if her relationship with Nicole doesn't work out. Kelly refuses since she wants to marry a rich husband, and then make fun of Ari for driving a Camry before leaving. Although, the way Kelly said it can be interpreted as that she might being willing to "marry" Ari, if Ari is able to amass her own fortune.
• In the Reject Ari route, Kelly along with Megan will be one of the leading students to petition for Nicole's expulsion after coming to the conclusion that Nicole is homophobic due to a misunderstanding about the circumstances around Nicole's rejection of Ari. This shows that Kelly has a great deal of protectiveness towards Ari, despite not displaying an interest to start a relationship with her in this route.

One-Off Interactions

• In the suicide ending of the original game, Nicole's mom gets a call from Principle Lynn about Nicole skipping school to avoid harassment from the boys of her previous "hostage friendships". Nicole's mom gives a flirtatious "bye, sexy" to Lynn at the end of the call, something that Nicole points out.
• During Emily's route in Re-Up, she will get into a fight with Ari due to Emily's shifting moods from not taking her seroquel. After throwing some catty insults at each other, Emily will flirt with Ari to get her to drop her guard.
  Emily: Heh you're really cute, Ari.
  Ari: Shut up.
  Emily: No seriously, your eyeliner's always sharp, your lip gloss matches your hair, you're actually really pretty.
  Ari: (blushing) Thanks?
  Emily: That's why I wanna look you in the face when I STAB YOU!
  Ari: (Running away) Okay I'm outta here!