Jeggie Oneshots

||Look at the stars for me||

• Reggie holding a presentation
• referenced suicide, abuse, addiction
• grieving (including not eating and slight depressive tendencies)

"What's the item that you hold dearest in your heart?" Reggie stared at the blackboard, as he had for the past five minutes.

An item.

What was the most important thing in his life?

Lately he had been lacking anything — because the seat next to him was empty, it had been for almost a whole week by now. He couldn't concentrate anymore, not ever since the seat was empty.

Reggie skipped football training after school that day because he didn't have the energy to coordinate his team. He went home and locked himself in his room, numbly sitting on his bed and watching the sky as the sun set.

When the sky had turned a dark blue and the first few stars appeared, he finally got up again, though only to light up the candle on his windowsill. He watched it for a moment before getting out his phone.

"You wanna know the astronomy fact of the day?" He asked into the empty space "The Earth is about 93 million miles away from the sun, so it takes light 8.5 minutes to travel that distance. You probably already knew that though, didn't you? It feels like you knew everything about the stars... and about me..."

Reggie forced himself to start on his math homework, still watching the candlelight though. He didn't finish it and instead went to lay down on his bed and watched some Netflix, without really paying attention to the show though.

"Honey?" His mother asked, softly knocking on his door. He hummed and she peaked inside, smiling softly.

"Didn't you look in the fridge? I had some dinner prepared for you" She said, casting a worried look at him. He didn't want to worry her, she already didn't get enough sleep from working as a nurse and taking care of three children. Normally, he would support her in the household and the twins but right now he couldn't even get himself to go to football practice.

"No, I haven't had dinner yet" She frowned.

"What do you mean, you haven't had dinner yet? It's already past ten, Reggie" He shrugged, turning his face back to his laptop. The door closed behind him and he was hoping that she left but of course she didn't — because she was his mother. Vicky sat down on the edge of his bed and reached out to softly stroke his back.

"Are you okay, honey? You've been... You've been in your room a lot recently. Did something happen?"

"No, just school. It's a bit stressful but it's okay, don't worry too much. You already have enough to do with the twins" Reggie said softly, reaching over his hand to rest it upon hers.

"But you're my son too, Reggie, and you are in a very delicate phase right now. And then the things with Ricky last year..." She sighed softly "Of course I worry about you"

"I'm fine, mom, really. Just need some sleep"

"Alright, honey. Try to get that then" His mother said, eyes soft as she stroke over his cheek. Reggie tried to muster up a smile, though it only caused his vision to go blurry at the soft touch.

"Honey, what's going on?"

"Nothing, I- I'm fine, mom. Just... Just stressed because of school" He said, voice becoming hoarse. Swallowing, Reggie tried to calm himself down again. God, crying in front of his mother. He couldn't worry her even more.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, just school" He reassured her. Vicky sighed, though then nodded. After kissing him on the forehead, she left to check up on the twins next, even though Reggie had put them to sleep hours ago.