Your hands had been itching to reach down your pocket and text him. The sweet and thoughtful boy occupied the mere corners of your mind. Ms Coleman even had to snap you out of your daydream when she found you zoning out on what she was saying and instead staring intently on that tiny notebook, tracing over the numbers.

There was this mistrustful whisper buzzing in your ear.

He's just out to get your body. That boy... you barely know him. What if you were just his side chick? What if he's just using you? What if—?

Steady your beating heart.

From the very beginning, you were too anxious to speak at all, thinking that if you ever spoke a single word, you would receive backlash or disapproval. Elementary and middle school was hell. Silence was your best friend, you did not wish any psychological harm on anyone through words. The tongue is a dangerous thing, especially if you lose control of it.

It was safer this way and easier to make friends by saying what they want to hear, right? Not really, there were some moments when you really wanted to express your feelings or thoughts but they never listen anyway, so what's the point? The point is to stay quiet, that was your final answer.

Time passed by so fast that you barely noticed it. Walking back home, you felt...disappointed by how uneventful this day was. Nothing much happened except for Gladyss failing to push you into the pond. You had finally reached a gloomy (f/c) painted building that you called 'home'. Sadly, your parents were not at home because they worked overseas, usually returning to Boston every once in a while. Look on the bright side, you could show them that you can take care of yourself. You heard distant footsteps in a fast rhythm. Looking over your shoulder, you saw the last person you thought you would see.

"Oh, hey (Y/N)!"

----------

Jeremy. Him of all people? God damn it, this is already getting awkward!

He flashed a gentle smile as he stood on his house's doorstep, parallel to you. He was your neighbour. You glanced at his house, it was the same building but painted in a bright, pastel red, it was like a mirror was placed on the fences separating both houses with some glaring differences. Quickly waving at him, you entered your home. You were not annoyed of him, it was the complete opposite. In fact, you had a 'small crush' on him. Him being this close to your home was dangerous for your 'friendship' with him. You reassured yourself, don't worry! Don't talk to him at all! Though he is like that previous crush of yours, I'll be different this time and approach this differently.

You climbed up the stairs to your room and flung your bag onto the floor carelessly. Flopping onto your bed after a long day was what you were looking forward too. Then, it dawned on you that the curtains weren't closed and that your window is basically parallel to Jeremy's! You peered around the window and closed the curtains violently before Jeremy could even look up from his homework.

What a long day it was...