*Troye's POV*

I tried desperately to sink even further into the cushions of the couch, wishing I could just meld into them and escape the horribly awkward situation I currently found myself in. Okay, so it wasn't actually that horribly awkward, but I could still think of things I'd rather be doing. My mother had decreed family night a thing last week, and this was our first official meeting. She said it was because some of us weren't reaching our full potential socially, that some of us could benefit from a bit more human interaction. I knew damn well that she meant me when she said 'some of us'. I also knew these forced family game nights and heart-to-hearts weren't going to benefit me in any way at all. But I went along with it, of course. Anything to make her happy. If she believed it would help then let her believe it. 

"Uno!" I cringed at my dad's shriek, though I plastered a smile on my features for everyone else's sake. They were all laughing, so I guess that was the reasonable thing to do. I laughed quietly, not wanting to stand out from the rest of them. It was strange how I thought like this even around my family, but I guess it was instinct. 

"Troye, do you mind running to the store for me? I totally forgot red peppers for the quesadillas!" I perked up excitedly, my eyes immediately darting to where my mother was standing in the doorway. I cast one final glance in the direction of the coffee table covered in colorful cards, my decision already made.

"Not at all, I'll be back in a few!" I said happily, hopping to my feet and leaving the sitting area. I looked back at the rest of my family though, taking time to study each of their features. Steele, who was only visiting from college, had his eyes fixed on the television across the room watching some type of sport. Sage had her eyes fixed on her phone screen, likely texting one of her many friends. She's the socialite of the family. And then there was my youngest sibling Tyde, the only one who was actually focused on the childish game in front of him. I had to admire how he held onto his innocence so well, almost living in his own happy little bubble. Lastly, my eyes falling on my father. I jumped slightly, surprised to see him looking back at me. He narrowed his eyes at me questioningly and I rushed to cover up my unease, taking a step toward him and patting his balding head teasingly.

He's trying to get out of this on purpose, the little shit. 

I blinked rapidly, wincing slightly at the sudden mind intrusion. I guess it was my fault though, you'd think I'd know to avoid physical contact like it was the plague by now. I quickly regained my composure though, giving him a weak smile before heading into the kitchen. I found my mother exactly where I expected, swinging her hips to some cringe-worthy country song in front of the stove. It was nothing new though, this was what I found nearly every time I entered the kitchen. She didn't have a job considering Dad's paid a reasonable amount, so she was constantly trying new hobbies to keep herself busy. So far her favorite, and the only one that she's stuck with for any amount of time, is cooking.

"Hey, Mum." I said softly, hopping up onto the counter beside where she was working. She shot me a glare, her silent way of reminding me just how much she hated it when I did this. She used to actually snap at me and force me to get down, but after countless bickering she'd more or less given up on getting me to listen to her. I wasn't even sure why it was so hard for me to give the spot up, I guess it was just my stubborn nature coming through. I got it from her, so you'd think she'd be more understanding.

"I kinda need the keys to go anywhere." I gently reminded her, smirking when realization dawned across her features. She slapped a flour-covered hand to her forehead, mumbling nonsense about what an idiot she was sometimes as she headed over to the table. She grabbed her purse, digging around before retrieving the keys and a wad of bills.

"Don't spend it all, you have five bucks for yourself, the rest is for the groceries." She then handed me a tiny shred of paper with numerous food names scrawled on it, and I couldn't shrug the feeling of deja vu. We'd done this so many times now it was like clockwork, which is exactly why it took me less than a second to reply with my usual quip.

"Ah, yes, five dollars. You are too kind, really." She rolled her eyes, shoving me playfully before heading back to her usual post, humming some song as she did so. I groaned, looking down at where my black shirt now had two ghostly white hand prints imprinted. Whatever, it's not like there's anyone I'm trying to impress. I didn't even bother to attempt wiping it off before ducking out of the room and heading toward the front door. 

"Don't get into too much trouble out on the town, Troye! You know, because you're such a party animal!" I outwardly groaned at Dad's obvious teasing, making sure to slam the door a little bit harder than necessary. They never failed to find ways to incorporate my social ineptitude into conversations. I guess it made sense though. I was kind of the black sheep of the family in that sense. They were all blessed with good looks and charisma, while I was cursed with mind-numbing anxiety and introvertedness. The worst was when people told me to try to get over it, to push myself and challenge myself. They said it'd go away eventually, I just had to face my fears. The thing is, that was far from the case. I was like an elastic band, the harder I tried to stretch myself to leave my boundaries, the worse it hurt when I was thrown back in. I'd learned that the hard way, multiple times. I kept trying though, thinking maybe it'd be different next time. But there's only so many strike-outs one can cope with before quitting the game all-together. 

I reached over, turning on the radio in an attempt to shake myself from the dark thoughts. I wasn't always this depressing, I guess it was a side-effect of starting school again tomorrow. I wrinkled my nose up at the thought. I didn't like people in general, but people my age were the worst. I don't know what it was with them, but they viewed the world as a competition. If you weren't the best, the most popular, the prettiest, then what were you? Useless. I couldn't speak for every last one of them, but every one of my peers I'd tried to get close with in the past fell into the same self-obsessed category. They wanted to be the best, and they'd do anything to ensure it, no matter who they left crumpled in the process. It was stupid, it was vain, and it was cowardly, but it was today's teenage society. I hated it. 

I pulled off onto a familiar road, the same one I always pulled onto when I needed to buy absolutely anything. It was just a convenience store, and it would really only take another ten minutes to get to the actual town where there were real supermarkets, but there was something about this place I adored. It wasn't modern like everywhere else, especially considering the building was likely fifty years old now. But it just had such a genuinely friendly atmosphere about it. The staff were pleasant, the customers few, and the products had good quality. What more could you ask for? 

I parked the car, fumbling around in my pocket for the money. I didn't want to have to awkwardly get it out at the cash. Wow, I really was pathetic when I thought about it. I'd developed so many methods to avoid awkward confrontations. Oddly enough, I still managed to get myself into them nearly every day. I guess I was just an awkward person or something. Just as I fetched the last of the change an all-too-familiar pop song started blasting through the speakers. 'Born This Way'. Ugh. I hurriedly turned the radio off, sitting in my seat for a moment in a state of pure loathing. I liked Lady Gaga herself, just not that particular track. It was overplayed, overly upbeat, and the lyrics themselves were each individual little daggers to me. It was like the song itself had been tailored particularly to tease me. How was I supposed to love myself when I was well, me? A freak.

I got out of the car abruptly, reminding myself for the thousandth time that normal people do not get lost in their thoughts that easily. I wanted to be a normal person too, well, as close to it as I could be. I shuffled toward the doors awkwardly, staring down at my shoes as I scuffed them along the pavement.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow, Bruce!" I stopped dead in my tracks, lifting my chin ever so slowly. My eyes went wide when I seen the familiar face, immediately regretting my decision not to style my hair before heading out. He was smiling his signature huge smile, only having it dim occasionally when he responded to the person he was talking to, 'Bruce'. He turned abruptly, his conversation obviously finished, his eyes falling on me. His grin faded, instead turning into just a shy smile, the one used for strangers obviously. I wonder what it was like to be one of the people Tyler Oakley reserved his toothy smiles for. 

"Hi!" He said cheerily, pushing the door he'd been standing in back even further, holding it open for me. I blushed crimson, opening my mouth to give him a response. Instead, I gave him a horribly embarrassing voice crack, causing me to give up and just nod at him awkwardly as I stepped past.

"I like the shirt, by the way. It's cute." I took another three steps before realizing he was talking to me. Partly because I was the only one in the store, but mostly because I had suddenly remembered just why someone would point out my shirt. I groaned aloud, looking down at the prominent hand prints on my abdomen. Kill me now, honestly. I turned around to reply, but he had already left, the door just now clicking shut behind him. I tried to ignore the slightly disappointed feeling that gave me, instead unfolding the grocery list and reading over the items.

Even as I went on the scavenger hunt to collect them all, the interaction with Tyler was playing over in my mind. I did this any time I did something awkward, force myself to relive it on repeat in my head, but it was even worse this time. I guess that could be because I'd just made a fool of myself in front of the most popular guy in my school, someone who could have my reputation ruined in a matter of seconds. I snicker out loud at myself as I grabbed some fish sticks. 

What reputation, Troye? 

Then again, it's not like he knew my name to even attempt sabotaging me. It was a miracle he'd even spoken to me, he must have just been having a really good day. In school, he wasn't like that at all. He was a certified neanderthal, running around with his fellow football grunts and pummelling anyone that stepped in their way. Okay, that was a bit of an over-exaggeration. They didn't 'pummel' people, though they were known for giving the occasional swirly or lunch money robbery. But what I was trying to say, was that Tyler was on a completely different social pier than I was. He was the very top, while I was somewhere below the bottom. I didn't even have a pier, I was so irrelevant I'd fallen off the chart completely, and I was okay with that. In fact, that was exactly how I liked it. 

I headed to the cash register with an obviously fake smile plastered on my face. An elderly man was working, playing around with the dinosaur of a till as I approached. I imagined it was close to closing time for them, considering it was a Sunday night and nearing 9pm. 

"Find everything you were looking for?" He asked, not bothering to break his eyes away from the machinery. I just nodded though, hoping he just assumed that was my response. He looked up finally, and I immediately recognized him. He was the owner of the shop, but he didn't actually work that much considering his age.

"Why are you working?" I was a little shocked with myself for going out of my way to make conversation, but I guess I'd chosen the right person considering the jolly laugh that followed. He actually looked a lot like Santa Claus to tell you the truth.

"My usual cashiers, Mary and Jake, both quit on me on the same day. Apparently they were running off to the big city, getting an apartment together. Anyway, I was only here today to train the newbie, then it's back to the cottage for me." I smiled warmly, not quite talkative enough to question him any further on the question. 

Baby steps to being a normally functioning human being, Troye, baby steps. 

Who knows, maybe I'll even make a friend in this sixty-something year old man. I guess it would be better than no friends at all.

"Here you are, sir." I reached out, snatching the bags from him, but not before an electric jolt buzzed up my arm where our fingers had touched.

This must be that weird kid that Mary mentioned. He really is awkward.

Ah, yes, I should have seen that one coming as well. I don't even bother to say my farewells before squaring my shoulders and heading toward the doors I came in from. I don't know why things like that still got to me, it's not like I hadn't experienced it a thousand times in the past. It was the same thing that always happened when I let my guard down for even a split second, I'd get hurt. Let your guard down, and you'll get let down. It was a stupid motto, but eleven year old Troye had thought it quite clever, so I'd stuck with it. 

I got into the car, absentmindedly chowing down on the chocolate bar I'd purchased. Except the longer I sat there the less my bites were bites and the more they became timid nibbles. I ended up setting it down halfway finished, just starting the car and making tracks for home. There was an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach, a nagging dullness that had become scarily common. It wasn't necessarily hurt as much as it was just disappointment. Disappointment in people for being so judgmental and disappointment with myself for caring. I just wanted to go home and crawl into bed, and that's exactly what I intended to do. I'd tell my family I didn't feel well and needed my rest for school tomorrow. We could reschedule family night yet another week, right? 

A/n: Okay, here it is. I want to ask for opinions but at the same time this fic is my baby, my literal baby and I'm in love with it, so only give opinions if they're positive. (I'm kidding, just don't be an ass about it)
I feel like I have a lot to cover in this A/n, so I guess I should stop mumbling. Troye and Tyler are both highschool seniors, Sage is 16, Tyde is 14. Cute, cool, fun? Just so you guys have a bit of a better idea on the ages. Ugh, what else. The mind reading is probably something I should describe, like how it works sort of thing. He can't control it at all really, when he gets a thought or what thought he can't control, though if he avoids people in general it's kind of controlling it in a sense. It can just be by being near them, though it's guaranteed if they make physical contact. He basically gets whatever thought they are thinking right that second or whatever thought is the mooooooost important to them. Like if they have a big exam or something, that's what's on their mind.  (I also plan to kind of show this in the fic but this is for you slow people like me)

Also, this very first chapter is dedicated to the ever so lovely, Emmy. It's her birthday (for like another ten minutes-sh) and she is an absolutely amazing friend and author. If it weren't for her you wouldn't be getting this early, it's her birthday present, so appreciate. Go check out her Troyler stories, they've got smut and stuff. Okbye.

Other than that... I hope you guys liked it!! I am sort of snervous about such an out of the box idea, so feedback is appreciated. I'm not sure on an updating schedule, this is more of a sneak peek than anything else, seeing as I want to finish my other stories before I get too wrapped up in this one. Alright, COMMENT and VOTE, and just maybe I'll feel inclined to update sooner.