HOME,HOME AT LAST;THE WORD itself is very simple,yet the meaning behind it is so much more complex- a home,some might describe it as a familiar place that brings comfort,but to some, it's where you feel safe and sound.

Jeremy collapsed on his bed,dropping his bag on the floor along with his blue cardigan,exhaustion taking over him- both emotionally and physically.

He looked up to the ceiling,rethinking the possibilities on why Michael is cautious with him,almost as if he was distant with him these past months;it was only today he completely ignored Jeremy.

The brunet decided to reach out for his phone to check if anyone was available to talk to because he was certain that if he didn't have somebody to talk to in the next hour, he'd surely go insane.

'Hey. You have some time to talk?'

Send to:

'Playertwo' ?

Definitely not an option.

'TheatreDork ❣' ?

Nope,probably busy. But Jeremy was confident that if she knew that he needed someone to speak with; she would gladly listen to him.

'Rich' ?

After that news? I think they're both stuck in the same situation.

'Chloe' ?

No.

'Jenna' ?

Nope.

His hand reached the end of his contacts,finding no one to talk to. Some were busy,and some wouldn't even bother to listen.

He sighed, realizing how Michael was the only one always available when he was in his downs. Just like that one time where he and his dad had a big argument,resulting to the brunet getting kicked off the house. Minutes later,Jeremy was witnessed in Michael's doorstep, wailing like a child.

And the raven-haired boy, without hesitation,accepted his friend with open arms—letting him stay until he and his dad sorted things out.

His eyes perked up in an unusual number at the bottom of his contacts. It had no name,making it even more mysterious.

'Send Message to 'Unknown'?'

Confirm.

Sending...

He blankly stared at his phone for a second,until all of a sudden,he remembered the number like a bullet through the head. It was the number he was texting with last night.

When he gained his full grasp into reality back,he leaped out of his bed,cursing words in the air as he buried himself on the sheets.

The brunet was terrified,just the idea of their messages last night;exposed in the eyes of the students in the school. Of course, it wasn't anything personal or scandalous but if it goes through the wrong eyes and ears his words might be twisted.

“Jeremy! Are you talking to your self again?” The voice of his father downstairs,made him snap back to reality,stopping him from freaking out even more.

He ran his fingers through his hair as he shouted back the quickest lie he could think of.

“Oh! That was m-my computer!”

Jeremy Heere,at this point,was curled into a ball in his bed—staring into his phone as he waits for a reply from this unknown number.

His stomach rumbled,either from nervousness or hunger; probably a bit of both since he didn't have a chance to sit down and eat during lunch because he was busy roaming around trying to find his friend.

The brunet knew well that this could go bad since he was basically talking to someone who he doesn't even know—who probably knows who he is. Yet here he is,awaiting a reply.

Ring!

'Ok then? I'm listening.'

'It's about this one friend. He's been ignoring me these past weeks.'

'Well,that sucks man.'

The brunet scrunched up his eyebrows in annoyance,so much for being helpful. He placed his phone beside him,as he thought of something else to distract him.

He couldn't play videogames without a player two; or else it'll be tedious and even more impossible to beat. And besides,he was grounded on using one anyway. He can't hang out with any of his friends,he knew all of them were already doing their own things. Well, turns out he doesn't have anything to do rather than stay in his bedroom.

Jeremy turned his head beside him,seeing his phone lit up.

'Heyyy I didn't mean it like that. Look,we're both having problems of our own. That's just how life goes man.'

'Well why not start simple first? I ask you questions,you ask me.'

'Uh, are you asking me out on a date lol :P'

'You wish.'

'Wowww that's harsh. y' know,you kinda sound like that valentine girl'

'hold on, all this time. you think I'm a girl?!'

The brunet rolled his eyes in annoyance. He was already informed countless times by random strangers that he does look feminine. First, it started with people mistaking his squeaky voice to a girl's voice, then it progressed to people mistaking him for his mannerisms.

'Yea? wait u arent? :o'

'no! do I even sound like a girl?'

'Oh man...'

'wait brb.'

He stood up from his seat, pacing around his room as he thought on visiting Michael—or maybe Rich? He seems like he knows the raven-haired boy the best at the situation. He couldn't help but feel quite hurt about his friend reaching out to Rich rather than to him. It's not like he doesn't trust him, right? Or maybe he is the problem,that's why he couldn't approach him about it.

What was he thinking? Maybe he did need to eat already. He was being delusional enough because of his empty stomach.

He started to walk towards the door, with his phone at hand.

“Jeremy,your friend is here!” Jeremy furrowed his brows, not recalling texting anyone to come over.

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