Wrong Number.

Vent

Ashlyn laid in her bed, covering her ears. The phantom noises were acting up again today. She knew that they were just hallucinations but she hated them. She hated it. Hate hate hate hate. Her phone binged

Annoying rat:
Ms. Kevin? Are you awake?

Ashlyn sighed. Him again. She wouldn't lie. She kinda grew attached to her online friends. But...would they be disappointed? If they knew who she was? And besides, it's not like she actually cared for them. They were just a way to pass the time.

Ms. Kevin:
Why are you texting me in private?

Annoying rat:
So you ARE awake

Ms. Kevin:
What do you want?

Annoying rat:
Can't I talk to my friend without needing something?

Ms. Kevin:
Knowing you?
No

Annoying rat:
Sigh

Ms. Kevin:
Did you just fucking type sigh?

Annoying rat:
Anyways.
Yeah
I needed something

Ms. Kevin:
Get on with it.

Annoying rat:
I just.
Been having a rough day I guess
I needed to get my mind off it

Ms. Kevin:
Rough day?

Annoying rat:
Yea
So if you wanna just like
Talk or something
Or like
Listen to me ramble
Please
I need a distraction

Ashlyn contemplated it. So he was having a bad day to? She wasn't one to open up about her problems—but maybe. Just maybe.

Ms. Kevin:
I've been having a shitty day too

Annoying rat:
Do tell

Ms. Kevin:
If you tell the others I'll drop your middle name
But
I have like
Really sensitive ears
And they've been bothering me all day
So

Annoying rat:
Oh.
Sensitive ears?
So what everything is like

Ms. Kevin:
Dialed to 11
Yeah

Annoying rat:
Oof.
That's rough.
Uh.
If you wanna like
Talk or something to me about it
You can
I know I'm usually
A lot.
But I'm not lying when I say I care about you

Ashlyn didn't know how to respond. She didn't have friends before—and Aiden? Aiden was...different. He felt different. She didn't know how to describe it. He was annoying but—she had to admit this side of him was....ok. She could deal with it.

Ms. Kevin:
Thanks..... :)