Connect To Another Source Instead

What...Is It?

Third Person POV

"Hey, Jeremy! Come on and sit with us!" Rich yelled out in the cafeteria. Jeremy blushed at the immediate attention. The whole squad was there; Michael, Rich, Jake, Chloe, Brooke, Christine, and Jenna. 

Jeremy slowly walked to the circular table next to Michael and Chloe. He started fidgeting with his oversized cardigan. Everyone smiled at him and he questioned all their stares. "W-what?"

"Bud, did you forget what today was?" Jake asked. Jeremy tilted his head to the side due to the fact he totally forgotten an important day. How could he forget one of the most important days of the year to him? 

Everybody laughed and Michael brought out a bag with a bow on the corner. "This was from all of us put together. It's not much. But..."

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!" Everyone cheered at the table. Jeremy looked dumbstruck and then looked at his phone for the date. Again, how could he forget his 17th birthday?? He smiled at them and took the bag awkwardly.

"Thank you, you guys!" He opened it and saw a new switch and an animal crossing game sitting in front of him. He stared at it for a whole moment. "I. Uh. I can't accept this. This must've been a lot of money for all of you."

"Nonsense! Between... one... two... Seven of us, it wasn't much. So don't worry about it. Plus, we all know how much you love gaming. and plus, Michael has one so you two can game to all your heart's content!" Christine chirped the last part out. 

Jeremy smiled at all of them. "Thank you so much!" 

---Time skip to afterschool in Michael's basement because who doesn't love Michael's basement in stories??-- 

Jeremy took out the switch from the box. It was an Animal Crossing edition switch. He tossed the instructions and went straight for the system. 

Michael was chuckling at Jeremy when he threw the instructions. "Put your switch in the dock I have so you don't have to worry about plugging in yours."

"Alright. Thankfully I played yours enough to know what to do."Jeremy laughed. Michael stared at him as his alternate player hooked up his switch to the dock.  The startup started and Michael helped him with everything including getting his forgotten password from Michael's switch.

"And we are all done. Now lemme see ya start-up animal crossing and make your character." Michael stated. 

After the character was made Jeremy did all the tutorials and then he got off of it. 

"So, Jere, how have things been coming with...you know what?" Jeremy winced at his question. 

"It's...it's been coming. I've still been getting panic attacks thinking it's going to come back and take over my life again. I want something to keep my panic low. I've even been panicking at school."

Michael nodded at his explanation. "You know, there's always coping mechanisms you can always turn to. Like screaming into a pillow, creating stuff, music, Uhm... Here, I'll give you a whole list. Don't look at it until you get home." 

Jeremy took the list and put it in his pocket. "Thanks, Micha." Michael blushed at Jeremy's slight smile he just made. 

---Another time skip to Jeremy's room---

"Let me see here..." he looked down the list. Most of it is the basic stuff. Reading, music, knitting, talking to friends about your problems...sex. One caught his eye though. He went to call Michael. Nervously. He didn't really want to with what it said. Instead, he set his phone down. He stared at it for a long while. Wondering what to think of it. Unlike all the other basic stuff. This one had a definition. He read it and blushed a deep red. 

This time, he picked up the phone to call Michael, more nervous than before. He sat there staring at the paper until Michael picked up. "Hey, Jere!" Jeremy felt a whole lot of panicky tension. 

"H-Hi...I have a question about the paper."

"Mhm, go on." Michael vocalized for Jeremy to continue.

"I...Uh...in further detail, age regression. What...Is it?"

Alright. Here is my first chapter of this story! I hope yall like it so far!

Have a great night!