Chapter Text
Molly Mcgee sat on her bedroom floor, one minute scribbling passionately into a notebook and next sobbing uncontrollably into a quilt. Her best ghost friend dashed in terror to her immediately and without a second thought hugged her close.
“Are you alright? Did you get a papercut or something?” He did a quick glance for blood but she only shook her head and cried. If Scratch had a pulse it would have been racing, if he had a mouth it would have been dry, and if he had a heart it would have sunk to see his dear friend shuddering and shaking with sobs.
“It’s okay Moll, I’ve got you, Scratchy’s got you.” Scratch whispered in his best attempt at a soothing voice. He had never seen her weep like this, he had honestly thought she wasn’t capable of really breaking down. She convulsed against him with tear-choked coughs and he held her a little tighter.”It’s ok sweetheart, you’re okay, you’re okay.”
“S-so-sorry Scratch.” She hiccuped and rubbed the flood of tears from her face. “I’ll stop crying, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...” she hiccuped and rambled sobbing apologies, the tears hardly slowing down.
He looked into her panicked eyes as his mind slowly churning what she had just said.
“What, no don’t apologize, you can cry, you’re allowed to cry sweetheart, Molly, please, it’s okay,” He pulled her face over his ghostly shoulder so she couldn’t see the heartache across his face.
“I’m trying to stop Scratch, I’m sorry, i’m really trying.” She pushed him away with such a sudden force that he wheezed in an instinctual imitation of air, flabbergasted Scratch sat down on the floor, feet and all. His hands mirrored his mind, confused and grasping for a clue.
Molly let out an abrupt muffled scream into the quilt and tumbled fully onto the floor shaking with misery. At the sight Scratch could put his palm to his mouth and try to think, he hadn’t known anyone to have a breakdown like this, though if he was being serious with himself, he didn’t know much of anyone at all to begin with. Her apparent misery cut him deeply, He felt lost until realization hit him like a truck, the only person Scratch has ever known to have a breakdown fit like this was, himself, and the only thing that ever made him feel better was- “I’ll be right back!”
When Molly was finally able to calm down a little and catch her breath she peaked over her quilt and saw Scratch floating there, a worried but encouraging look on his face and a very large serving of chocolate pie and a glass of water in his hands. She sat up wearily feeling empty and exhausted.
“I’m sorry I freaked out and made a huge mess and-”
“SHH-SH- SHHHHH” Scratch took a forkful of chocolate pie and shoved it into her mouth, “No more of that now.” Scratch handed her the water “You’re allowed to cry Moll.”
“I don’t know, I’ve been so…” She took a chug of the cold water.
“Overwhelmed? Scared? Discombobulated?”
“Discombobulated.” She smiled weakly and twirled her fork “And yeah, overwhelmed.”
“Tell me about it please.” He put an arm around her and she leaned in still munching on pie.
“There’s so much to do and I can’t get it all done. And I don’t know what to do or if I'm even doing the right thing. And there is so much unhappiness in the world,and I need to enhappify but how can I do that when I don’t feel happy? And I think about everyone and everything and it’s so impossible and I’m already messing things up and, and, and Is this crazy?” Fresh tears fell and Scratch wiped them away with a ghostly cold hand.
“Not at all, no. That seems normal if you ask me. Especially at your age. Geeze, you're still growing up and you take on so much. You know, you’re not responsible for everyone’s happiness, and you’re doing a great job as is enhappifying this whole dang town.” He pulled her close again, sometimes even being a little bit away from her felt painful to him, Like a band-aid being ripped off. And to have her so wildly upset was the most frightening thing Scratch felt that he had experienced in a long time. “And another thing.” He turned to face her and pressed his forehead to hers, “Don’t apologize for crying anymore, it bothers me. Just go to town with it, it’s okay.”
“Okay, thanks Scratch.” Molly finished off the water and sniffled. “I’m exhausted… Sorry again for- I mean…” She gave him a guilty look and he booped her nose and smiled.
“Yeah, why don’t you hit the hay, it’s been a heck of a day,” He gently patted her head before taking the dishes down to the sink.
“Goodnight.” Molly and Scratch sung in unison.
“JINX!” Molly laughed,
“Dangit!” Scratch laughed back