Chapter Text
i. Milly
At around 6:00 PM, I was back at school. I had forgotten my Math Textbook in my locker. Luckily, the school kept its doors open until around 10:00 PM since high schoolers are forgetful. As a result, I was here. Walking down the hall and grumbling to myself. “Stupid memory, stupid math, stupid-” I cut myself short. There was a soft sound, so quiet I couldn’t identify it. I looked around, trying to guess where it was coming from. My eyes landed on the door to the Music Room. It was on the opposite side of the hall. I felt curiosity bubbling up inside of me, so I made my way towards it. Pressing my ear to the wood, I finally managed to recognize the sound.
Someone was crying in the Music Room.
I took a step back. Do I really want to get involved..? What if it’s someone like Zoey? Or Lia? I fretted. Then, I reassured myself. I’m Milly! Even if it was them, I could stomach them being indebted to me. Slowly, my hand grasped the knob. I turned and opened it in one smooth motion. “Hello?” I called nervously. A small shape in the back of the room shifted. “...M-Milly?” a familiar voice asked. The voice was raspy and hoarse from crying, but it was still unmistakable. “Oh my god, Jake, are you okay?” I worried, jogging over to where he sat on the floor. His jacket was zipped up and his hood covered his hair. I could see the tears that were still running down his face. He sniffed once, then chuckled. “Honestly? No.”
Wow. That was...super depressing.
“Do you want to, um, talk? About it?” I awkwardly offered, sinking down to sit on the floor beside him. Jake looked at me strangely. I lifted my hands to feel my hair.
“Is there something wrong with my hair? Or my face?”
“E-Eh? Oh um, no, there isn’t.”
“Then, why are you looking at me like that?”
Jake turned his head and averted his gaze as he straightened his posture.
“W-Why haven’t you left yet..?”
My eyes widened. “What!? Why would I leave!? Clearly you’re upset. I want to help!” I exclaimed, appalled by the idea of leaving a sad friend alone. Jake’s head snapped back towards me, his chestnut eyes round with shock.
And then he promptly burst into tears.
Jake grabbed my jacket, yanking himself closer to me to bury his face into my shoulder. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” he sobbed. “What are you sorry for?” I asked softly, wrapping my arms around him in a hug. “I’m sorry for making fun of you guys for liking music, I’m sorry about Lia and Zoey, I’m sorry about Drew, Liam, and Henry, and I’m sorry that-” Jake choked. I didn’t say anything, waiting for him to continue.
“I-I’m sorry that I also made fun of you, I’m sorry that I’m so egotistical, I’m sorry that I don’t seem to take anything seriously, I’m sorry that I’m such a terrible person-”
“What the hell?”
This time I didn’t wait.
“...w-what?”
“I said, what the hell Jake!?” I practically yelled, gently pushing him off of me. I grabbed him by his shoulders and made him look me dead in the eye.
“You are not a terrible person.”
“But I-”
“No! I’m serious! And you’re going to let me finish!”
Jake’s eyes widened, and his crying stopped for now.
“...m’kay,” he murmured, defeated. I smiled sadly at him. “Now, I’m going to tell you everything that’s good about you, and you’re going to listen. I will convince you that what I say is true. And I’ll keep repeating it until you do,” I told him sternly, releasing his shoulders to pull him back into a hug. He didn't reply.
“You’re funny, you’re really kind, you’re loyal, you hate it when people make fun of us, you help others, and you make us better.”
Jake remained silent, though I could feel his tears beginning to soak into my shirt.
“Even if you don’t feel that way, it’s alright. Being not okay is okay.”
“Not okay...is okay?”
Jake looked up at me as he asked, meeting my ruby eyes. I smiled down at him.
“Of course.”