The Neighbor Next Door

Visiting

Baking was always a good distraction. That's what MePhone was up to after his brother left. As awkward as it had felt most of the time, just being in the same room, he still greatly appreciated the company, and now that it was gone, well... He couldn't help but feel a little lonely. Of course, he knew his brother couldn't stay forever. He had his own life to get back to, and MePhone would feel horrible if he put all of that on pause just to hang around a bit longer. It still kind of sucked though. Just when it felt like he was starting to feel normal around him, he left.

MePhone just sighed, sliding the tray in the oven to cook, setting a timer. This time it was cookies again. His go-to when it came to baking, and what he would consider himself best at making, even if it had taken years of trial and error. Now that the fun part was over, he was just back to waiting. That's all he really could do. His cat was outside currently, and he had nothing else he wanted to be doing today, routine or not. He figured he might text OJ, hoping he'd be available.

'brother left early today how r u doing

'im doing fine btw before u ask too'

'also sorry for not texting much'

And he waited. But that was also just getting boring, so he looked at the other contacts in his phone. He wasn't going to text his brother right now. Not right after the guy just left. Maybe he'd try texting Fan again. He had gotten a very late reply the last time he texted the other, but he figured he'd try again.

'hey', something simple that could lead to anything. If he actually got a response sooner than last time, at least. He was warming up to the idea of talking to Fan more, anyways. Being social was helping. At least, it felt like it did. Being around his brother, occasionally hanging out with OJ, or even just texting him, it helped. It gave him time to feel normal, and not think about... Everything, really. He was finding the company of others really helped. He honestly just wished he could have realized that sooner. Maybe he wouldn't be so sad these days if he actually still tried to talk to his few friends from school. That was what was pretty much ten years ago now though, so he knew it was too late for that. He supposed he could only go forward.

He was still going to be cautious about things though, of course, but... He couldn't help but be eager to at least... Try a little harder than he had been.

About ten minutes left on the timer is when he got a text back from Fan.

'Hey! What's up?'

'what r u up to'

'Just watching my kids for the weekend, my roommate went off to visit her mom'

'oh cool'

'hows that going'

'Pretty decent. They're well behaved enough. I'll probably be taking them out to dinner though because TestTube said I should probably avoid anything that involves the oven'

'Idk why though haha it's not like I've done anything to prove I'm irresponsible'

MePhone just raised an eyebrow at that. Honestly, he could believe him not being a great cook. That wasn't something he meant as an insult, but he just seemed like the guy who'd accidentally put a fork in the microwave or something.

'that sounds like something someone who had a problem w an oven befoer'

'It wasn't even my fault!'

'riiight, so somethign did happen then' MePhone joked, hoping this wouldn't just come off as him being an ass. Before he got a response from Fan though, he received a reply from OJ, checking that instead immediately.

'Hello! I'm doing well, going to visit my Mom, so I won't be around in person for a few days, but I can text. Hope things went well with your brother by the way!'