Infinitely Anxious (Sanders Sides Fic)

Chap. 1

  Warnings: A few curse words (maybe), negative thinking, I think that's it tbh.

   Summer break was coming to an end, and that could mean only one thing: Pure torture for 180 days. More specifically, the start of middle school. I, for one, dislike school. But all the things I've heard about middle school have riled me up to the point that I can barely think of it without getting some kind of an attack.

   I'm Virgil Moore, and I plan to spend the entire school year in the background. But we both know that won't happen.

   "How about this one?" A voice broke me out of my thoughts. I turn my head slightly towards a familiar figure in front of me with some kind of bag in their hand. "It fits you a lot, hun," I recognized this voice and their figure as my mom.

   I gave her a small smile. "It's alright, mom, but how about I pick this time?" I mumbled out. My voice usually doesn't get higher than a mumble or a whisper, but I can speak louder if I ever wanted to. Which, most of the time, was never.

   She smiles and nods, moving out of my way before looking down towards something in the cart. I turn towards the backpacks and, honestly, I don't think I could be more disappointed. The one my mom had shown me looked a little... girly, if I could be more honest. I looked down the rows, hands in my hoodie pocket. Nothing here really sparked my interest besides one way down on the bottom. I've seen the design a few times, but not enough to make it too popular. It was black with a pocket sticking out on the back, brown leather on the bottom and a brown rhombus with two vertical lines in the middle. I'm pretty sure they're called heritage backpacks, but you can never be sure.

   I reached down and grabbed the bag, barely glimpsing the price and not caring much about it. I brought it over to my mom, holding it by my side before setting it in the cart. She looked up at me then back down towards the bag. "Is that the one you want?" She asks. I nod, swiveling my head to look around. I couldn't see anyone else in the store, which was quite surprising, but that didn't matter. There are only two to three weeks until school starts, and by now the stores would be packed with people trying to get school supplies.

   "Do you have the list with you, sunshine?" My mom asks, getting behind the cart to start pushing it out of the row of bags. I grimace at that nickname but don't say anything about it.

   I reach into my back pocket, unfolding the list and marking off "backpack". There's a whole lot more to go. "I've got it..." I reply, looking up through my semi-pink bangs.

   Surprisingly enough, we walk through the entire store gathering supplies and things for dinner tonight. I'm mentally drained by the time we're starting to go to the check-out. My feet are dragging on the ground and I barely have enough energy to look up from the floor, but whenever I do, I notice something in the clothing aisle.

   My head swivels around to the piece of clothing, stopping me completely in my path as I turn to look at it. I keep my eyes on it, turning my head slightly. "Hey. Mom?" I call out a bit louder than anyone's normal talking voice. She starts and turns toward me.

   "Yes, Virgil?" She asks, heading towards me with the cart in tow. I'm already maneuvering around the clothing racks to get to this jacket I see hanging from one of the racks higher than the others. It's got stitched purple patterns on it and inside the hood, as far as I can tell.

   I turn around and point up at it, eyes actually open for once. "Can I... Is it okay if I get that?" I whisper out.

   "Of course, sunshine." She smiles, tilting her head to the side. "Of course you can. Let me grab it for you." I move out of mom's way as she reaches up to grab the article of clothing. I don't think I've ever been so glad I came shopping before. I smile greatly as she hands me the jacket, asking me to try it on, and I gladly do so.