Hey guys! This chapter has bullying, verbal abuse, points towards physical abuse, and being alone. Stay safe my Angels!

It was a normal Wednesday and Thomas was playing on hid phone with Mulan playing in the background. He shivered as he felt one of his Sides pop up. He looked up. "Anxiety? Why are you here? I wasn't doing anything."

"I... I just wanted to hang out. If that's okay?"

"Why don't you hang out with the others?" Thomas waved him off.

"Th-they are having a movie night." Thomas watched as the Side sank into his hoodie.

"So why aren't you with them?!?" Why was Anxiety bothering him? Why not bother the others?

"I-I... I wasn't invited. I'll go then." Anxiety sank lower in his hoodie preparing to sink out. Of course Thomas wouldn't want him around. "Sorry for bothering you."

"Oh. Um you can stay here? And watch Mulan, I guess. If you want?" Thomas felt kind of bad for the trait. He just looked so sad.

"R-really? I-it's okay?" Anxiety's voice was filled with hope.

Thomas felt his heart sink. The hope in Anxiety's voice and the way he instantly expected rejection... it was just so wrong. Anxiety shouldn't be sad. That's not who he was. He was a sassy emo who didn't express emotions other than sarcasm and anger. "Of course."

"Thank you." Anxiety practically whispered. Maybe someone cared? No, it wasn't possible.

Thomas moved over to make room as Anxiety hesitantly sat by the edge of the couch. Thomas turned the movie up some and turned off his phone. 

3 movies later Thomas was falling asleep. Anxiety thanked him for letting him stay and sunk out.

That was weird. Why wasn't Anxiety invited? Why did he come to me? Why was he so ready to be rejected?  Thomas pondered many questions that week.

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The next week Anxiety returned. When Thomas asked why, he got the same answer. Movie night. Eventually it became once a week, every week. Thomas learned a lot about Anxiety and enjoyed hanging out. 

One day though, a few weeks after the first movie night he asked why Anxiety wasn't invited. He instantly regretted it though when Anxiety teared up. "I'm sorry. You don't have to answer."

"I-I-I... They think I'm the b-bad guy. They think I hurt you. And they're right. Of course they are. The bad guy d-doesn't deserve to be happy. Or have friends. They said so. I shouldn't be here. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry, Thomas."  Anxiety sank out.

Thomas held back tears as he stared at the spot the trait was mere seconds ago. Did he really think that? Did the others really say that to him? Anxiety didn't show up for their next movie night.

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After a couple weeks Anxiety showed up again, this time, in tears. 

"Anxiety? What's wrong?" Thomas took the trembled trait into a hug.

"I went downstairs to get food, like always. Th-this time they were all sitting at the table eating together. Th-they saw me a-and started in-insulting me. Th-they wouldn't stop. They kept laughing. I-I can't, Thomas. Please. I can't. I just need them to leave me alone. Please. Please." His rants were hysterical at the end. Anxiety was full on sobbing at this point.

Thomas hugged me tightly as he listened. How could his Sides do this to someone, let alone one of their own?

As these 'family dinners' began happening more often, Anxiety began joining Thomas for dinner.

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One day, during Thomas and Anxiety's movie nights, the other three Sides came to ask Thomas if he wanted to join the movie nights. Anxiety stifled a sob as he watched the three Sides try and take away the only person to ever even try to include him. They noticed.

"Oh look. It's Anxiety." Roman started taunting.

"Look at it. Such a sensitive crybaby." Logan shook his head.

"Oh? Is the disorder upset?" Thomas was shocked as even Patton joined in, making fun of the anxious trait.

"How can it be upset anyway? It's just a disease. It can't feel anything. It's only here to make us miserable." Anxiety almost cried harder at the venom in Logan's voice and the knowledge that the others didn't even consider him a proper side.

"I'm sorry..." He whispered, looking at the ground.

"Aw it's sorry. How cute. Too bad sorry will never be enough to make up for the fact that this monster exists. It should just die." Anxiety did cry harder at the unfiltered hatred from Patton.

Anxiety flinched as Roman threw him onto the ground. "I'm sorry Thomas. Did it bother you? I'll bring it back to the mind palace and teach it a lesson." Anxiety whimpered. He knew what that meant and it wasn't good for him. Not at all.

"Please. I'm sorry. Please!" Anxiety thrased around as Roman yanked his hair harshly. 

"Quite or you'll make it worse for yourself!" Anxiety instantly froze. No no please no. Please. He didn't move a muscle as Roman began painfully yanking him back into the mindscape.

"What do you think you're doing?!?" Anxiety looked up as he heard Thomas yelling.

Roman raised an eyebrow. "Getting rid of this disorder?"

"First of all, let him go. Secondly, he's not a disorder or a monster or any of that. He's an important part of me. How dare you three treat him like that."

"Th-thank you Thomas." Anxiety whispered. Maybe Thomas did care. After all, why else would he stand up to Roman? Maybe he didn't have to be alone anymore.

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One day, Roman, Patton, and Logan would start being nice to Anxiety. They would accept him. Eventually he would even tell them his name. But for now, he was happy just having Thomas on his side.