User:Xepscern/Jeremy 4

Jeremy’s bedroom was as isolated as it could be from the rest of the house. Once you walked upstairs, you could either turn left directly into the master bedroom, or right down a hall. Going this way lead you to a bathroom to the left, Dylan’s room to the right, and at the very end, the doorway to Jeremy’s room. Unless you were deliberately going to it, which only Jeremy ever did, there was no reason for you to walk by and notice anything going on in it.

Meaning there was no reason for you to suddenly see Jeremy practice flying.

It was the Sunday after he had been given his power, and he had yet to fly again since then. Remembering the warning Monty gave him, Jeremy didn't want to risk getting in trouble.

Which didn't mean Jeremy didn't think about flying every chance he could.

Laying in bed, finishing his homework, Jeremy’s mind started to wander to that very thing. He remembered the feeling of relaxation and ease he felt when flying, and how small his problems seemed to be. His problems that day felt miniscule, as if he was soaring away from them.

Naturally, as he thought about escaping his problems, those problems crept back into his head. Trying his best to be brave and not so emotions, Jeremy felt himself almost tear up thinking of the recent string of insults his father gave him: fag, pansey, loser. These recent memories further conjured up past memories, ones that cut deeper, left longer lasting mental scars. Feeling tears roll down his face, he closed his eyes, tucked in his head, and tried to calm himself down, desperately seeking happy thoughts.

Finally, his mind urging for the ease flying gave him, Jeremy got up from his bed, locked his bedroom door, and began his new ritual.

Jeremy stood in the middle of his room, his eyes closed. Breathing rhythmically, he let go of all the negative thoughts in his mind. He let himself become unburdened by the nasty words he heard. He let go of all the thoughts that kept him in his shell, all the thoughts that made him afraid, all the thoughts that made him cry.

He could feel these thoughts float away and vanish. The heaviness from these memories became smaller and lighter, almost feeling like an actual weight was being removed from his back. Typically hunched and closed, he felt his body straighten and open, his legs fully extend, his chest pointing toward the ceiling. He never felt so light. So free.

And at this apex of bliss, he felt his feet leave his floor.

Looking down, Jeremy guessed he was a foot off the floor. His standard size room not offering much room to fly around, Jeremy concentrated on maintaining altitude. He focused on keeping himself calm and happy, with peaceful memories of the past.

”Alright, so the movie has already been out for a week. We should go there, it will be nice and empty. That way we can make as much noise and talk as much as we want.”

“Cassie, are you telling me Death Mites 4: Son of the Mite isn't a critically acclaimed blockbuster?”

“Yes, believe it or not. Especially shocking because surely you remember when Death Mites 3 swept the Oscars.”

“Well, what times does this surely overlooked gem start?”

“There's a showing at six-fifteen. If we leave an hour early, we'll be able to grab some snacks at a grocery store first, and then sneak them into the theatre.”

“Good. Eight dollars for one small popcorn can kiss my ass.”

“So we’re leaving at five-ish. The movie is an hour and fifteen long, so we’ll be out by seven-thirty. You wanna head to my place after and hang out?”

“You mean desperately try to avoid my parents?”

“I thought that was the only reason we did hang out.”

“Hey, now, that's not true, Cassie. You also pay for all the snacks my fat ass eats during these movies. You have two uses.”

“You always knew how to talk to a friend. Anyway, I better go. I'm picking up some asshole and we’re going to see a movie together.”

“Sounds like a real dick. Alright, see ya” 

Jeremy landed on the floor, his mind now calm. The painful thoughts that bombarded his mind before felt small and insignificant. Looking at his mirror, Jeremy didn't notice the things he hated, but instead a smile that he felt wouldn't leave his face.

“Jeremy get down here!”

“Coming,” Jeremy said, his smile now faded away. Leaving the room and running down the stairs, Jeremy saw his parents and Dylan sitting in the living room.

“Hey, stand back to back with your brother,” Jeremy’s father said.

Holding in every urge to sigh, Jeremy stood as instructed. Despite being younger by a year, Dylan was already taller than Jeremy, something he didn't really care about.

He didn't, that is, unless his father was going to use it as ammo against him.

“Yep, Dylan is taller,” their father said. “Now, Jeremy, go stand on that scale in the kitchen.”

Now nervous, but knowing the inevitable, Jeremy got on the scale. His father jumped up and ran right behind him just in time to see the scale land on a number.

“Two-sixty-Two! You're two inches shorter than your brother, but seventy pounds heavier! That's sad.”

Jeremy didn't say anything, his face flush with embarrassment.

“Alright, alright, I'm sorry your dad is a dickhead. No go back and hide in your room.”

Making his way back, Jeremy caught a glimpse of his brother. He was clearly uncomfortable as well, with eyes that tried to apologize. Looking back, Jeremy non-verbally told him it was okay, and bolted back to him room.

Back in bed, Jeremy finished his homework, his mind back in the funk it was before. Once done with it and put away, Jeremy laid in his bed properly, turning in for the night. Jeremy wanted the day to end, and to forget about what his father had done to him. Despite the negative thoughts, however, one positive thought bubbled in his brain.

He remembered the joy he felt just moments before. Now that he knew how to deal with these negative thoughts, and what he could do to escape them, Jeremy felt less scared of whatever his father would say to him.

For the first night in a long time, Jeremy felt a small inkling of peace.

Tossing until he found a comfortable position, Jeremy looked out his window. The fall sky was dark blue and dreary, with rain feeling like an ever present possibility. Closing his eyes, he realized the wind was blowing so hard he could hear it. Jeremy reopened his eyes, giving one last look at the evening sky.

“One day, I'm gonna fly in that.”

Jeremy closed his eyes once more, and fell asleep.