I forgot I wrote this but I fucking love this
•••

The two am train is always empty.

Maybe the odd John sitting silently, taking up one seat out of a few hundred. But most of the time, I have a whole compartment to myself.

I take the two am train every single night. It's the only way I can get home. The streetlights zoom by. The city skylines outline the inky sky. Tonight I sit in the usual spot (next to the window). Im not quite alone. One boy sits opposite me, a couple rows down. He's new.

How can I tell?

Well 2 am trains have a type. The sad Sams who look minutes from dying. The drunk Daves who are creeping up on a hangover. Majestic Micheals (that's me) who take this train every night.

This kid is none of the above. He seems scared. He pulls his blue cardigan around him and stares at his phone. His legs are pressed together and slightly pulled up. He looks like he wants to curl up into a ball.

I advert my stare from the boy, and back out the window. One earplug in my ear sings Cool by Jonas Brothers. I let my thoughts drift into the view. Billboards are illuminated by spotlights, advertising new BBC programs and Netflix series. I've fallen into a mental rabbit hole so deep I'm not sure I'll resurface, when theres a halt.

A juddering, screeching halt. The skyline freezes. The lights stop blurring. The train has stopped right on top of a bridge. The train has stopped. I snap back to reality quick enough to hear an announcement over the Comm.

"Sorry folks....if there are any of you there......There seems to be some trouble on the line so we'll probably be held up for a while............get comfy take a nap whatever.......I'm going to finish The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina"

I chuckle to myself. This situation is almost funny- until I see the boy. God if he looked scared before, he's practically dead now. He's as white as a ghost, trembling like jelly. It's like his brain can't possibly process what just happened.

I slip off my seat, taking the one opposite him. "Hey" i say softly. I'm not even sure that he hears. He just stares at the ground. "You okay?

He licks his lips, nodding.

"I mean, no offence but you look like shit" I say.

He laughs. Really, really sweetly. He relaxes a bit, and meets my eyes. "Sorry I just never took a train this late. Let alone one that stopped"

"Well I'm here most nights so I assure you, it's nothing" I smile, sticking out my hand. "I'm Micheal. Mell"

"Jeremy Heere" he shakes it cautiously.

"So Jeremy" I lean back in my seat. "You scared of trains?"

"Just broken ones" Jeremy laughs nervously, fear creeping back into his face.

I swallow a lump in my throat. I know the fear. Who knows would could happen to you, alone, in the middle of the night. Being left alone with your thoughts can be terrifying. Especially if the only reason you're on this train is because everyday after work, is because you're determined to visit your step brother in a psychiatric hospital. You take the train into the city, visit him, check how he's doing, and take the two am train home. The thoughts can get dark.

What if he tries to kill himself again?

What if he tries to set another fire?

What if you get a call saying that he's gone?

What if he doesn't get better?

What if he gets worse?

I whip out my phone, and open Spotify. I'm not letting Jeremys head go dark. Said boy watches in wonder as I quickly scroll through my playlist. There it is.

The opening notes of The Heat Of The Moment echo through the empty carriage. I catch his eyes, and smile. My right arm juts out. Then my left. They start to move in time with the music. I'm on my feet, and I'm dancing.

I hold out my hand, which Jeremy reluctantly takes. He's quickly pulled to his feet, my hand holding his waist and his hand on my shoulder. With a laugh, we badly waltz around the compartment to the quick music.

"A look from you and I would fall from grace. And that would wipe this smile right from my face"

I twirl Jeremy, sending him spinning towards the train wall. I manage to catch the red faced boy, and pull him back towards  me. Our chests bump together and I giggle.

Jeremy places his hands on my shoulders, looking down at his feet.
"I'm not a great dancer" he mumbles.

I chuckle.
"Lucky for you-" I hold his waist with a smile. "-I'm an amazing dancer"

"Do you remember when we used to dance? And incident arose from circumstance. One thing lead to another, we were young"

We move gently to the music, trying to keep Jeremy from falling over his two left feet. The gentle compartment light hits his eyes, making them sparkle. A smile gives me away. The traitor.

"And we would scream together songs unsung"

I twirl him again with a laugh- catching him this time. I sing loudly in time with the lyrics.

"It was the heat of the moment. Telling me what your heart meant. The heat of the moment shone in your eye"

Jeremy laughs at my belting, really getting into it. He lets me turn him around, and waltz him around the carriage. We probably look like idiots, but I don't care. I got this scared boy to laugh. That's all that matters.

"And now you find yourself in eighty two. The disco hot spots hold no charm for you. You can't concern yourself with bigger things. You catch the pearl and ride the dragon's wings"

"Okay you ready?" I ask

"Ready?"

Before Jeremy can react, I spin him one more time, and drop him into a dip. He squeaks, quickly wrapping his arms around my neck.
My arm holds up one of his legs, as he looks up to me with wide eyes.

"Cause it's the heat of the moment. Heat of the moment, the heat of the moment. Shone in your eyes"

"Do not drop me" he whispers.

"I won't" I whisper back.

"You swear?"

"On the sun and the moon and all of the stars"

His back relaxes over my hand, and I smirk a little. The music seems to fade into the background, as I feel myself get lost into his eyes. His mesmerizing eyes.

There's a loud mechanical noise, snapping me from my thoughts. The train starts to whir back to life, and the skyline is moving again. I watch the world blur through the window, before realizing that I'm still holding Jeremy.

I prop to his feet with a smile.

"Well. That wasn't too bad was it?"

He grins back and shakes his head.
"That was . . . fun"

I scratch the back of my neck awkwardly. The last thing I want is to sit again in silence. I'm leaving here with Jeremy Number- or at least a memory of him.

"I'm not too excited about sitting on a train by myself until my stop. Wanna keep me company?"

His face lights up.
"Yeah- yes. I'd like that a lot"

We sit on the train. The two of us, on an empty train. I don't know if I'll ever talk to Jermey again after tonight.

But I don't think I'll be alone at 2am again.

•••
[to be edited when I have time]
Yo, I think this is cute. Should I make a part 2?

STREEETLIGJTS
PEEEEOOPLE

- Avery