Kaeya never thought that he would be the odd one out in the friend group. For all he knew, he was the laughs, the lively one, the one everyone came to for a good time. But now he stood alone in the subway station, the train had already departed, getting cut off by the closing doors. Did they even realize that he wasn't with them?

He checked the group chat on his phone, hoping to see the inundation of text messages from them, screaming and button mashing, wondering where he was.

Nothing.

His phone has never been so dry.

Letting out a sigh, the boy sits down at the bench and waits impatiently for the next train. He wanted to text them, saying that he was left behind. How else would they know? His fingers danced on his keyboard, typing; OH MY GOD I WAS LEFT BEHIND LMAO.

He waited and waited for a ding, but the train came first.

Maybe he didn't get a notification, so he checked his phone again. No reply.

The boy sighed and got on the train, emptier than the one his friends left on. Perhaps he was overthinking it, that they simply couldn't hear his text or that the train before them was simply too crowded to realize that he was missing.

Accepting defeat, he slouched on the chair and looked up at the flashing lights going by the windows of the train. Pitch black. Quiet. This has happened before, way too many times, but as of recently. Not even a month ago since that stupid ginger showed up to steal his spotlight. He clutched his backpack in realization. It was he who took his friends from him, he who fucked up his chances of getting class president, he who ruined the rest of his senior year.

At least he had one thing going for him, he was lead trumpet, Brass Captain, too. First chair trumpet. The best trumpet player in the band. Did he mention that he was good at trumpet?

That ginger can take his friends and his goals, but he can never take his trumpet.

Oh but who is he kidding? He was lonely, and he hated being lonely. Yes, he enjoyed being alone, but being forgotten rubbed him in a bad way- just as it does anyone. The boy choked back tears. He shouldn't cry over something so trivial. Amber and Albedo- friends he has had since primary school- didn't seem to mind him either, though.

They were planning to go to the movies last minute, summoning up the money from their thin pockets for the tickets, and planning to smuggle snacks into the theatre. It had been a long Friday at school. He was with the marching band during the football game, playing his heart out, cheering on. Amber was a cheerleader, doing stunts and smiling wide for the players. Albedo, taking AP Art, postponed his project to watch the game. Lisa; she put down her book to watch a game she knew nothing about. Jean was in the Leadership Class, so she was obligated to volunteer and help out.

He had his eyes on this one cheerleader, Zhongli, one of the few males in the team. He was extremely smart and involved, there was nothing he couldn't do. The boy had invited him into their friend group in hopes of getting close to him- and maybe even dating him someday.

But that stupid fucking ginger is getting too close for comfort.

Ajax. His name was Ajax. He played... football. Disgusting. Ever since he transferred from another school at the beginning of the year, the boy started to regret getting friendly and introducing him to his friends.

Well, he was barely with them anyway.

He always had practice in the mornings and in the evenings. He even had some lunches be taken away due to pep rallies and performances. He was the most inactive in the group chat, but whenever he finally said something, it was enough to make them go batshit laughing.

Now Ajax was the one entertaining them.

Including Zhongli.

The boy gets a text all of a sudden, hoping it was one of them from the chat, but it was actually just Diluc, his older brother.

They hated each other during grade school, always bickering back to back, but now that Diluc was in college out of state, they barely saw each other, but once in a while they did check in. Short and dry conversations, it was better than simply ghosting.

Diluc: How was your game? Did you guys win?

He chuckled and replied with a snarky remark.

> It went great, and to my surprise we did win. The team actually doesn't suck this year.

Diluc: That's good to know. I'm tired and I have exams soon, have a good night.

He nodded and greeted him back then closed his phone. Yeah they hated each other, but the care was still there.

Maybe he'll just surprise them at the theatres.

When he got up from the station, the cold midnight air hit his face. He smiled at the sensation, almost forgetting that he was to find his friends at the movies. The boy walked a few blocks to the brightly lit building, billboards illuminating the streets, promoting special deals and whatnot. He went up to the ticket salesman and asked if they saw a group of high schoolers, a ginger, two blondes, two brunettes, and a beige. They asked their coworker who also shook their head. They apologized to him and he thanked them for their trouble.

How can that be? They were just discussing that this was the venue they'll be at. This was the only Dandelion Theatre in this city. He quickly checked the group chat again. Nothing.

He felt like vomiting his heart out and his throat was closing in on him, stifling back a cry.

Where did they go? What are they doing? Why are they not here?

It was the ginger bitch, wasn't it? He persuaded them to change their minds and change their plans. They did so without telling the boy himself. They were having fun while he was left behind. The blue haired boy stood in the middle of the busy street, suffocating the locked device in his hands. He saw his pathetic reflection on the pitch black screen.

What about me?

Kaeya trudged home; taking the train back, walking past the maze of houses, and finally arriving at his house. He fumbled for his keys until he heard the door being unlocked from the other side. Mr. Ragnvindr was the one who answered.

This was Diluc's biological father, Kaeya's adoptive one.

"You're home late, my boy. I see that your game went well?"

He smiled. "We finally won!"

The man patted the boy's head and brought him inside. "Sorry I didn't make it again tonight. Next time, I'll definitely attend- and this time, I'll be there for your competition the next day!"

"You will?" The boy's face brightened.

"Of course!" The two hugged tightly. Maybe tonight wasn't bad after all. "Now go wash up, you stink."

After the shower, Kaeya brushed his long locks, reading an article about the Antarctic in a magazine. He smiled at pictures of puffins and penguins, imagining them waddling around and falling on their bellies. A simple life, really. No school, no drama, no college applications, no homework, no football players, no ginger, no...

He slowly blinked from fatigue, a tear falling down on the page.

No friends.

It was nearing one in the morning. With a little bit of hope left, he checked his phone for the group chat. He immediately closed the app altogether, locked his phone, slammed it on the charger, and turned to his side. Disappointed. Yes, he was being dramatic. He hated it. What was happening to him?

Like a little bitch he cried himself to sleep. Maybe he'll feel better in the morning.

Kaeya dreamt about asking Zhongli out to the Homecoming Dance with the sousaphones blasting their signature pep tune. During halftime at the game, he held up a board decorated with constellations and glitter. On the board, painted in big letters, read a corny proposal. The boy held a bouquet of yellow and orange Chrysanthemums, Zhongli's favorite.

His love interest looked shocked, blushing with embarrassment. He hid a coy smile. The other cheerleaders, including Amber, were cheering Kaeya on, and encouraging Zhongli to accept the invitation.

Zhongli nodded and muttered yes, getting all gushy. Kaeya dropped the poster and hugged the other. In uniform, he cannot publicly display any type of affection, but his band director allowed it only for Homecoming. Zhongli even kissed Kaeya's cheek. Something he has been longing for.

Kaeya was about to go in for a kiss on the lips-

He jolted awake.

A flooding of text messages from the group chat disturbed his dream. His sweet, sweet dream. Oh Archons, did they finally remember him?

He grabbed his phone and yanked it off the charger to look at the messages. He read from up until his message last night. He frowned. They ignored it.

Amber: Last night was super fun, we should do it again!

Zhongli: Indeed, I'm looking forward to the next hangout.

Lisa: It's a bit toooo early to discuss this y'all

Amber: shsgksjskj

Derogatory: Hey, so my plan to eat out instead did please you guys didn't it?

Derogatory: Dope

Zhongli: It was amazing, Ajax

Zhongli: I never knew you knew such great places!

The chat went on. And on. And on. Kaeya's heart wrenched at the ginger and the brunet's interactions. They texted each other in chat nonstop; Jean, Amber, Lisa, and even Albedo sometimes joined in, but it was mostly them two. The boy could feel himself flush from the anger, jealousy running through his veins... but he then realized that... he shouldn't be worried about them. They were all talking as if he didn't exist.

Not even a single text mentioning his name.

He looked at the time. 8:37 am.

He laid his head back down to sleep in. It was better than thinking. Feeling. The bluenet cursed at himself for not saying a single good morning to them, he didn't even try to get their attention. He was instead sulking. Why can't he text them, why can't he interact with them himself?

Kaeya shut his eyes, savoring Zhongli's face. One day, he'll take him out on a date.

When he woke up again, he checked the time. 1:45 pm. The boy gasped and leaped out of bed, fixing his hair and running into the kitchen. Mr. Ragnvindr was at work for the day, so he was all alone in the house. Kaeya's stomach rumbled as he looked for something to eat- he hasn't eaten since last night. When he threw together a sandwich to consume, he plopped down on the dining table and pulled out his phone. His finger hovered over the messaging app to read more of the chat.

Derogatory: Zhong, you send a picture of the math homework?

Derogatory: I forgot to turn mine in LMAO

Derogatory: So yeah, I'm kind of screwed

Zhongli: Let me guess, Albedo told you to fuck off?

Derogatory: Ye...

Zhongli: Just call my number, I'll show you how to do the problems so you actually learn

Derogatory: No way? For real? Bet.

Kaeya lost his appetite. The sandwich had only a couple bites. He rested his forehead on his hands. His mind was urging him to say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something.

His fingers once more typed away on his keyboard.

> oh my GOD i woke up late

Sent.

He waited for a response. For a few minutes, nothing happened, but then he heard a blip. His eyes glanced down at the message.

Derogatory: That's tough my guy

Derogatory: Lisa will probably wake up at like 4 so you're fine

> Bold of you to assume she'll wake up

Derogatory: For real

Jean: No Lisa slander

Jean: When was the last time you hoes read a book?

> Oh Would You Look At The Time

He exited the app, tired of conversing. His heart felt better, knowing that his friends did not really forget him. Texting them finally became cathartic, he worried himself for hours for no reason. The boy let out a lengthy sigh of relief. He loved his friends. He was glad to have them.