The school hallway is noisy today. Like, even more than usual. Or maybe I just notice it more. The squeaking of soles on the gray floor, the doors falling shut, talking, laughter. I flinch at a noise that just turns out to be a student's bag dropping to the floor. I want to go home and hide in my room. But I just open my locker and take the English and Politics books from it.

A piece of paper falls out onto the floor. I think of just throwing it away without checking what it says – because I feel like I already know – but what if it's important? As I unfold the note, a pair of arms is thrown around me from behind. I flinch.

"Oh god, sorry, I didn't mean to scare you!" Cheeto immediately lets go of me and I turn around, shake my head with an It's fine, I'm scared easily today and hug it back.

"How are you?" My friends asks as we let go again.

Okay. How about you?

"Yeah, same." Cheeto shrugs. "And relieved to not find Dahlia at the gate."

Really? I ask. I'm glad she's not back.

"Me too." Cheeto smiles and then points at my hands. "What's that?"

I look down to see the note I almost forgot about.

If you really want to do everybody on this planet a favor, you can try dying. It says.

Alright, didn't expect it to be that bad. It's 7:52 in the morning and I'm already running low on energy, damn it. I crumple the paper and shrug.

Cheeto raises an eyebrow. "Is... Everything okay? I mean, you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to, but it's just... I don't want you to feel bad, you know?"

I hand Cheeto the paper and it opens it. As it reads the sentence, its expression drops. "Who the fuck thinks they have the right??" It asks, looking back up to me, fury in its eyes.

Not sure. I respond. But it's fine, really.

"Uhm. No. It's not." Cheeto shakes its head. "I mean, if you can deal with it, I'm glad. But it's still not okay of whoever writes these to tell you to do that shit." It pauses for a second, obviously wanting to ask something, before adding: "Have you gotten any of these before?"

I nod.

"For how long?"

Like, a few days after got here? Don't worry, I'm used to it.

Cheeto stares at me for a second, then: "You do realize how that's worse, right?"

I shrug. I stopped caring, honestly. I mean, it's just some random person, and I've heard a lot of these things before from my brain. Not this one, but other stuff they wrote. I add.

"No, that's the problem. I mean, good for you that you don't care, you shouldn't care, but these kinds of people are the reason-"

The school bell sounds through the hallway.

"Can you not? I'm in the middle of an important conversation, for fuck's sake!" Cheeto hisses at one of the speakers by the ceiling. It sighs. "Well, guess we have to go, huh?"

I guess so.

~

I'm the first to arrive at our table. As I sit on its edge and look up, I already see Lewis walking towards me. He smiles as he approaches me and out of an impulse, I hug him. I just need a hug right now. No real reason.

The boy returns the gesture without hesitation, slightly rocking back and forth as he does. I can't help but smile. I love that reaction. No questions, no awkwardness, just a long hug.

"You okay?" Lewis asks as we let go of each other.

I nod and look at him questioningly, a signal I've always used for What about you?.

"Yeah, me too." He says before sitting next to me. After a bit of silence: "I- Kind of have a question? I'm not sure if it's rude or something, though... I mean, it doesn't really affect me, I'm just... curious... I guess?"

I turn my head to look at him, and as he doesn't say anything, I nod encouragingly. I can decide whether or not I want to answer when I've heard the question.

"Okay. Well, basically... God, how do I say this without it sounding weird? Sorry, I don't think before I talk." Lewis laughs nervously, avoiding eye contact with me, and I smile. "Uh. Why are you mute? Like, what caused that? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, by the way!"

It's my turn to laugh, which seems to irritate Lewis a bit. But then I take my notebook and pencil from my pocket.

I really don't mind you asking that kind of question. Understandable that some people do, though. I write. I'm going to spare you the medical details because they're boring and I forgot about half of them, but basically, something's wrong with the part of my brain that produces speech. So technically, I can make noise, just not words if that makes sense. I mean, you've heard me laugh and stuff. I was born with it. That's it. Nothing dramatic, really.

Lewis reads my response, and his eyes light up. "Oh! Okay, yeah, that makes sense. Thanks. And sorry for asking something that... Personal."

I raise my eyebrows and underline the I don't mind you asking that kind of question part, and he laughs. His laugh is adorable.

"Right."

"Okay, fellow humans, sorry I'm late, my bio teacher decided to hold the entire class hostage until everybody finished that fucking task, but here I am!"

I flinch at the sudden sound of Cheeto's voice before looking up and smiling at it.

"Oh, hey!" Lewis says. "We didn't miss you."

Cheeto gasps and puts its hand on its heart. "Ouch."

"Aww no, I was joking! Come here!" Lewis stretches out his arms towards Cheeto, who shakes its head.

"Nope. This is the official end of our friendship. It was good while it lasted."

As it wipes away an imaginary tear, we all burst into laughter.

A/N: fuck the schedule, i'll just publish whenever i can