Chapter Text
Avery got up from bed, moving sluggishly to the bathroom to get ready for college. It was only 8 am and he was already feeling down and drained, or at least that's how it's always been for him these days. Ever since that event, he couldn't get it off his mind, everyday felt the same and even getting up feels like a chore. Even tho it really wasn't the best for him before the incident, but he wasn't always like this.
He lazily started putting on his shoes, wearing his jacket and picking up before putting his bag over his shoulder. Soon, he walked out of the house to go to the bus stop and wait for the bus there. Sounds of the dried leaves being stepped on continued as he walks through the streets, then he finally arrived at the bus stop as usual. . Sounds of the dried leaves being stepped on continued as he walks through the streets, then he finally arrived at the bus stop as usual.
He sat down at one of the seats and zoned out, keeping his head down. There were multiple people passing by and occasionally talking and stuff, but everything was muffled out by his mind. And finally, the yellow bus arrived and stopped in front of him, he casually got up and entered it. Avery noticed that almost all the paired seats were filled in, except one. So, he decided to just sit down next to a random guy which he was a bit surprised to see since he'd never seen this specific person ever since he started taking this bus, but he didn't mind it that much.
He casually sat down during the whole ride, he thought that maybe the guy next to him was new and decided to make out a conversation with him, it's been a while since he had a normal talk with someone since he kept to himself these days.
"Heya man, are you new here?" He asked
The guy that was looking at the window faced towards him, seeming calm and collected.
"Oh, yeah, i just got here."
"Ouh, I see! That's why I've never seen you around here, fella!"
"What's yo name?"
"Just call me Derek." He smiled
Avery's eye widened a bit, Derek? He only thought of it as a
coincidence, but it still hurt to hear that name once again. He immediately tried settled down after that.
"Ooh i-i see..."
"Is something wrong?"
"Uh, nah-nah, I'm fine, you just have the same name as a friend of mine, y'know the feeling?"
"Heh, yeah I get that, what's your name, huh?"
"Oh right, my names Avery! I know it's usually a name for girls tho b-but I like it!" He'd stammer a bit with his words
"Avery, huh? It's a nice name, it can be used for guys too."
"It can? Well I'm glad! I love my name!"
"You should..."
"So, are you a freshman like me??" Avery asked again
"I'm a sophomore."
"Ah, I see-"
Without realizing, they've already arrived, Avery felt like he genuinely enjoyed the conversation with Derek. All the students started getting up to get out of the bus.
"Aw man, well I'll see you again, Der?"
"We can walk together if you want."
"Yeah, sure! I'd like that..."
Both of them got out of the bus and started walking together side by side towards the entrance of the building , occasionally talking while they did.
"So, what's your first class?" Avery asked
"Ehh, I got science, you?"
"Science?? Sucks to be you! *he chuckled* I got English.."
"Hey, I'm not bad at science..." He'd act annoyed jokingly
Then, Avery eventually arrived in front of his class and sent his goodbyes to Derek. He'd face towards him and pat him on the shoulder, it was a habit he used to do with friends.
"See ya later?"
"I'll see ya,"
"Bye-bye!"
"Bye."
Avery then entered the room, he felt a bit more positive than usual this time after making a new friend. He took a seat at his usual place around the corner, next to some friends.
At first, he didn't think of the same name coincidence too much since I mean, there's probably millions of Derek's out there, right? He couldn't possibly be the one. Since he was feeling in a good mood today, he decided to talk with some of his friends that were sitting behind him. Without realizing, he's been smiling the entire time he was in the classroom.
"Hey fellas, what you guys up to??"
They'd look at him with quite unexpectance
"Oh, yeah? We're just planning on hanging out somewhere this weekend, why?"
"Oh, nothing, I was just curious what you guys were yapping about!"
"What? You wanna come?"
"Well, I mean su-"
"Hah! We wanted to invite you but you were like- acting totally depressed these days dude, and you won't even tell us why..." They'd joke
"Oh yeah, I wasn't really-"
"Now suddenly you're all happy and finally talking to us first, you wanna join in that bad, Aves??"
Avery's expression slowly softens and his smile slowly disappears from what they said.
"..well, uh, you guys don't have to accept me..."
"Yeah, we thought about that, you'd probably make the whole vibe gloomy and depressing anyway, so."
"Ouh, alright.."
He then turned to face forward after that, Completely dejected after that. He couldn't focus on anything during class, he's been fidgeting with his stuff the entire time with his head down. Sounds of students chattering were muffled by his mind once again as he dissociates, minutes felt like hours as he waited for the class to end.
Eventually, the class ended and he started to pack all his stuff while the tense feeling was still stuck with him, then he walked out of the room. He walks around the halls, continuing to have his head down and avoided eye contact, when he suddenly noticed someone calling out his name and jogging slightly towards him from behind.
"Hey, Avery!"
"Huh?"
It was Derek again, it was a bit of a coincidence to meet again in a big place like this, but he didn't think much about it.
"Oh, hey Der! How was your class? And how'd you even find me here??"
He'd still try to put up a smile since he didn't wanna seem like a sad person to anymore people.
"It was alright, and you're not a hard guy to catch. Also, you okay?"
"Well, uh I'm fine, thank you." He'd smile
"You sure, dude?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Alright, just keep your head up, okay? Wanna walk together?" He noticed Avery's change in mood, but didn't want to be too direct with him, so he decided to keep him company instead.
"Oh, sure! I'd like that!" It did in fact lighten up his mood a bit.
They both started walking side by side once again.
"So, where you heading too?" -Avery
"Uh, I dunno, wherever you're going, I'll come with ya."
"Really??? Oh, okay..- *he scoffed* I'm just heading towards one of those benches infront of the building to chill."
"Then I'll come too."
"Alright, alright."
The both of them walk towards the entrance of the building and sat down on one of the benches together. Derek picked up a lunch box he brought from home and started eating, he noticed that Avery didn't bring anything to eat and decided to offer him some.
"You want some?"
"Really? Is it okay?" His eyes lighten up a bit by the sudden offer, he never has breakfast before college since he doesn't like eating in the early mornings or doesn't have time to.
"Yep, just take some."
"Thanks! I'll take one okay..."
"You can take more, I'm not much of a big eater, so."
"Right, thanks Derek.. Sorry if I seem greedy..."
"Don't sweat it, I'm the one who offered you."
"Heh..."
They sat together the whole time while they waited for their next class to start, occasionally talking and joking around whilst being on their phones sometimes. They seem to have the same humor and frequency and it was pretty fun for em.
Timeskip to when college finally ends, both of them went to the same bus togetherr, casually chatting during the whole ride. Suddenly, the sky seemed to darken, as if it was about to rain. And eventually, it actually did startes raining, but Avery didn't bring an umbrella or a raincoat, and the bus is almost arriving at the bus stop Avery stops at.
"Oh shi, it's raining? I don't even have an umbrella or anything on me."
"I brought a raincoat with me."
"You did?? But then how are you gonna walk home??"
"You can have it, it's no big deal, I rarely get sick and I don't
mind getting wet anyway."
Avery contemplated a bit at his offer.
"You've done a lot for me today and we just met.. I think you
should have it."
"No-no.. It's fine, alright? You can have it, I don't mind at all,
Aves."
"...Is it really okay?"
"It's okay, take it."
Avery eventually took the raincoat in his hand before patting Derek on the back as a thanks.
"Thanks man! You're like- the nicest person I've ever met! And we just met too, how can I repay you?"
"Repay me? *he scoffs* ...give me your phone number." He pretty much knew what Avery's phone number was, but he didn't wanna seem like a creep, so.
"My phone number? I'd give it to you for free anyway! Alright, here, I'll give it to ya."
"Thanks."
Both of them exchanged phone numbers, then Avery went on
to put on the raincoat Derek had given him, it was just slightly bigger on him.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Der."
"See you tomorrow too, Aves."
Avery gave him a big wave before exiting the bus, then giving him another wave as the bus drove away from the bus stop. Derek smiled a bit at the sight tho.
Avery soon arrived home, he quickly took off his shoes and the raincoat and went to the bathroom to clean the raincoat up since it wasn't his, that's just the type of person he is. Once he was all finished, he folded them very neatly and put it on the table for him to grab tomorrow and give it back to Derek.
He went to his room and laid down on the bed, not bothered to even take off his socks first. His mind kept on playing those moments where his friends openly mocked and made fun of him, sometimes he'd wish people would take his emotions seriously since he was always known as the most unserious person, but to bs honest what can he do about it?
Suddenly, thoughts about "D3rlord3" Suddenly crept onto his mind again, it came to a point where he couldn't miss a day without feeling like this. Everyday, he wondered to himself if all of this happening was his fault, and that his curiosity wouldn't cause all of this to happen, the thoughts just wouldn't go away.
He'd go back to his pc and reread the same letter "D3rlord3" wrote him, reading back every single word since it was the only thing that could help him cope.
"You're capable of great things."
"You'll do great things."
"So believe in yourself."
"You are real."
"You are special."
Everyday, he kept those words in mind, it was the thing that could make him keep going. Without realizing, a tear dropped from him and softly landed on his desk, he slowly brought up both of his hands to cover his face while he cried. The room was dark with the bright screen of the pc with D3rlord3s last letter being the only light source. He brought himself towards the desk and rested his head against it, slowly falling asleep as his small and quiet sobs continue.
Morning already came by and it was 9 am, he was already late to his first class, but he decided to shrug it off since it was hard to care right now. His eyes still looked puffy and swollen from tearing up last night, he figured he should just let himself rest and settle down for a bit. He grabbed his phone from the desk and saw one notification, it was from Derek. His eyes lit up a bit and he immediately opened the chat.
[9/27, 10:24 AM] Dihrek : yo aves you didn't come to ur first class today? (Avery named him that)
[9/27, 10:24 AM] Averymayoo : nah I accidentally fell asleep at like 6 pm and I jsut wake up somehow
[9/27, 10:25 AM] Averymayoo : you good tho aight?????
[9/27, 10:25 AM] Dihrek : I'm good
[9/27, 10:25 AM] Dihrek : you coming to the next class tho right
[9/27, 10:25 AM] Averymayoo : I am dw fam infact I'll get ready now
[9/27, 10:25 AM] Averymayoo : [sticker]
[9/27, 10:26 AM] Dihrek : alr I'll see you there
[9/27, 10:26 AM] Dihrek : I'm waiting at the bench from yesterday ok
[9/27, 10:26 AM] Averymayoo : [sticker]
Avery quickly started to get ready for class, trying to be fast as possible since he didn't wanna keep Derek waiting. He then arrived at the bus and took his usual seat. During the ride, his mind drifts to Derek, Avery couldn't help but think about him, think about how grateful he was about someone willing to meet him so much after being avoided and detached these days. It felt nice.
He realizes that Derek being there was the reason he wanted to go to college today, the reason he was in a good mood today after waking up in the worst state ever possible. Soon, the bus arrived at the destination and Avery exits it, walking and searching around for the guy until he eventually spots him. He was sitting down while waving his hand towards Avery casually.
"Hey, Der!"
"Hey."
"Ya didn't wait long, right??"
"Nah, I didn't, wanna get inside? Kinda hot out here."
"Oh yeah you're right! Let's get inside then!"
Both of them casually walked inside the building, feeling the ac air touch their skin. Avery would swing an arm around his friends shoulder as they walked.
"So, what'd you name my contact?" Derek asked, he'd fake every question
Avery paused for a moment before looking away and giggling a bit.
"Ah, you don't wanna know..."
"I know what you're doing..."
"Oh, come on, I'm also curious on what you named me."
"It's just Avery."
"Just Avery??"
"What else do you think I could have named it?"
He thought for a moment.
"I dunno, my name with a bunch of heart emojis?"
"Ohhh, hell nah."
They'd joke around the whole time as they walked through the halls, laughing and cackling as they did. Random things would occur such as Avery almost slipping over or Derek bumping into stuff, and they'd laugh about that too.
"So uh, do you maybe want to hang out sometime?" Avery asked
"Yeah, sure, I'm free these days."
"Awesome, I'll plan it out once classes are over."