No One Deserves to Disappear {Jeremy Heere x Reader}

{1} 7/11

TW: Brief mention of suicide

Monday, August 26

I always knew I was going to die young.

My parents knew. My friends knew. Strangers at the bus stop knew.

A big countdown clock tattooed on your forearm isn't exactly discreet.

It's hard to accept the fact that I was going to die at the ripe, old age of 17. It just felt so strange knowing that everyone else's life was going to keep on going while mine came to a stop.

No one knows how they are going to die; only when. Will it be a suicide? Murder? Accident? Natural causes? No clue.

My name is Jeremy Heere. I've been homeschooled my entire life, up until now. Half-way through high school, my parents decided to throw me into public school to get some "social skills". Forcing kids to be social isn't exactly the best way to get them to talk to others.

Today is the start of last week of summer break, the last week before the never-ending cycle of school starts again. I'm going to be a Junior, and I'm not greatly excited about it, either. Being labeled as "the new kid who you shouldn't get attached to since he'll die soon" isn't exactly my biggest fantasy.

• • •

The wind blew through my hair as I pedaled faster down the street. The afternoon sun shined bright in my eyes and left a warm feeling on my back. Soon enough I reached the park around the corner. There was an orchard with gazebos and a playground, and it was just across the street from 7/11, so it was a go-to hangout spot for my old friends and I. We eventually drifted apart so now other people use that spot. Not like It was only that we could use it, but we just didn't see people there often. You know what I mean.

I parked my bike and sat in the shade under an apple tree. I pulled a book out of my backpack, and flipped to where I last left off. I had read it over three times, but it was still my favorite and I loved coming back to it. The feeling of a warm autumn breeze rushing by accompanied with the sound of children laughing and playing on the swing set turned out to be a nice match for relaxation.

I hadn't realized but with enough time, I had read about 8 chapters. The sun was now low in the sky, on the verge of sunset. I packed up my things and slung my bag on my shoulders. I kicked up the bike rest with my foot and hopped on.

I crossed the street and parked my bike on the side of the 7/11 building. I locked it to a rail on the wall. As I entered the building, a bell rang on the door, announcing my presence. The cashier looked over and gave me a friendly smile. I hate when attention is drawn to me. Mostly because of my countdown, but I often tried to ignore it. I get a lot of pity for it, I was just tired of hearing the same stuff over and over about how sorry they were for me.

I returned a small smile and wave, then headed over to the slushie machine. There was a girl using it to fill up a few cups so I stood nearby and waited while picking at the hem of my shirt. I must have moved or made a noise, because she darted her head around.

"Oh gosh, you scared me," She said, partly laughing. "Sorry, are you waiting on me?"

"Uh, yeah, but take your time! No worries," I assured her, I could feel my face heating up. When I get nervous my whole face goes red.

She smiled and finished filling up her cups and headed over to the cash register.

I got a Coca Cola flavored slushie, pulled my wallet out of my backpack, and paid. As I started to walk outside, the same girl from inside was standing out there.

"What's your name?" She said.

"My name?" I paused, sometimes it took me a second to process things.

"Mhm. My name's (Y/N), and yours is?"

"Oh, Jeremy."

"Jeremy," She tested out the word in her voice, "you sound cool. Want to hang out sometime?"

At this point, I knew my face was as red as a cherry. This is one of the few times I've interacted with people beside my friends, let alone a girl.

"Uh, sure I guess. So are we like exchanging numbers or something?" I asked.

She nodded her head and I passed my phone to her and she did the same. We entered our numbers.

"I'll text you sometime, okay?" (Y/N) said.

"O-Ok!"

"Cool, see ya!" She said as she got on her bike, shooting finger guns as she left.

I felt my stomach filling up with butterflies. An actual friend, an actual chance at life.

A huge smile formed on my lips as I tucked my phone back in my pocket and put my drink in my cup holder. I rode my bike home, dusk falling upon the town.

• • •

I flopped onto my bed, phone in hand. It was the next morning and (Y/N) still hadn't texted me. I was about to text her, starting to think this was some joke until I heard a ping come from my phone. I immediately opened it.

(Y/N) 

-is this Jeremy?

Jeremy

-It is

(Y/N) 

-so when are you free?

Jeremy

-Uhh lemme think for a minute

...

is thursday good for you?

(Y/N) 

-yeah sure, where and when?

Jeremy

-It's up to you, really

(Y/N) 

-How about honey orchards at 6?

Jeremy 

-Sure!! Want me to bring anything?

(Y/N) 

-not unless you want to. :)

I'm excited, Maybe that's an understatement. I'm thrilled.

A/N: oof this was a rough chapter, it is the first so hopefully it gets better.

Word count: 975