Kye climbed off the bus and walked into his apartment building, tossing his bag into the alcove next to the doorway. He made his way to his bedroom in the back of the apartment and closing the door. Kye took his hearing aids out of his sore ears and sighed in relief. "Stupid things." Kye said as he toss the devices, in their case, onto the desk and then promptly face planted onto his bed. he groaned and felt the vibrations travel from his mattress to his face. The only sound was the dull constant ringing, at least it would fade for a while. Kye sat back up and looked around his room for something to pass the time, spotting his game console. He smiled and started up the device, putting the disk in. Kye watched the title screen play silently as he waited.

Erin walked into his father's house and gripped the shoulder strap tighter when he saw his dad sitting on the couch.

"Callie you're home." Erin cringed at his father's words.

"My name isn't Callie anymore dad, it's Erin. Mom got it changed, I have the new copy of my birth certificate if you want to take a look, again," Erin spoke the last word with venom dripping from his tongue.

"You'll always be my little calico," Nathan replied with a soft smile. Erin's anger ebbed at the old childhood nickname.

"Please dad, My name is Erin," Erin spoke firm and Nathan frowned.

"Can I at least still call you calico? You used to smile so wide when I'd call you that." Nathan's eyes held no sadness or remorse, yet Erin relented, nodding at his father and leaving the room.

Erin resisted the urge to slam the door and instead shut it lightly before looking around his room. Unopened boxes still littered the room. The only boxes Erin had opened had been his clothes, his dresser was full of his jeans and shirts. The brunette sighed and opened some more boxes. His dad allowed him to bring everything he owned and it was surprisingly a lot. He had seven large boxes in his room and five more downstairs. Three of the boxes were clothes, another two held books, while the last two held the things he had decorating the office at his old house. His bookshelves were up in the attic along with some of his mother's things, and some beanbag chairs. Erin opened the box with the decorations and stared at them. "No spare room here." Erin looked around his room and spotted his closet door. it seemed pretty big, Erin sat on the floor and stretched his legs out across the area. "Perfect." Erin climbed back out of the closet and started to pull out the Christmas lights and thumbtack them to the walls, not yet plugging them in. He ran downstairs and searched all the boxes until he found the one with his extra blankets. He carried the box upstairs and started laying blankets down and piling pillows into a corner of the closet. when he decided the small space was up to his standards he plugged the lights in and smiled.

Erin was sitting in his new safe space when his phone went off. Looking down he noticed it was a text from Mae.

Hey Did you know that blind people who became blind later in life can still see images in dreams. Erin smiled and replied

No I didn't

12% of people dream in black and white

That's cool.

The conversation went on about dreams and trailed into the human Psyche. Mae knew a frightening amount about an array of weird topics. Erin smiled to himself as another text came thought.

Did you know in ancient Greece they put people in bronze bulls and roast them to death. It was set with tubes and stops so when people screamed it sounded like the bull was raging.

Erin stopped for a second, he did not want to know why or how Mae knew that information and decided not to question it. Deciding to change the topic Erin replies.

Why do you want to become friends with Kye and Finley

Oh...I like the idea of a tight knit group of friends. A family that I chose. I've never really had that, it sounds nice.

Yeah.... i guess....

Erin sighed and figured that Mae was right, a few friends wouldn't hurt. Erin texted Mae goodbye and went downstairs to find his father cooking.

"Hey dad, what's for dinner?" Erin asked grabbing a pop from the fridge.

"Chicken and rice." Nathan answered. Erin nods at his father before sitting in the large chair, draping his legs over the side.

"Why can't you sit normal?" Nathan says from the doorway.

"Because I'm really comfy like this." Was the teen's response

Erin then proceeds to sink further into the chair to show just how comfortable he is, and to spite his father who was obviously displeased.

"Fine, just don't ruin my chair." Nathan leaves the room and goes back to the kitchen.

Erin turns his phone on and scrolls through Instagram. He likes all his friends' posts and sighs. "I miss them," He mumbles to himself as his father calls him to the table for dinner.

Dinner was quiet, Erin had decided to ignore his father when he tried to start conversation.

"How was school Callie? Nathan asked between bites of chicken.

Erin didn't answer, he chose to eat in silence. It was their first actual dinner together since the funeral and Erin wanted to be civil by at least staying at the table. Nathan doesn't ask anymore questions and Erin excuses himself from the table. After washing his plate Erin heads back to his room, shutting himself in the small space he made for himself. Erin grabbed his laptop and messaged his friends.

Hey guys- Erin

Oh hey dude what's up? How's the new school?-Denise

It's only my first day -Erin

k. Fine but I expect a full report by Friday-Denise

Suuurre, Ill make sure to do that-Erin

What are you two arguing about this time-Samuel

what'sup Sammy miss me yet?-Erin

you wish doofus-Sammy

Who invited you Sammy?-Denise

I did. I invite myself DeNICE-Samuel

Real mature Sammy-Denise

I thought it was funny, I mean we've all been calling you that since we found that video back in the third grade.-Erin

Yeah Denise we were just poking fun-Samuel

Can you three stop arguing I am trying to actually get some work done. -Gunther

Sorry Gunther-Erin

sorry Gunthy-Denise

Sorry gunth-Samuel

Why am I friends with you guys?-Gunther

Cause you can't get rid of us -Samuel

Erin logged out of the chat after a few hours of talking with his friends from Jaycen. He sighed and laid back against the wall silently. Erin checked the time, 9:32.

"I should shower soon." he spoke out loud to himself as he started gathering clothes and a towel. Once he had everything he needed Erin walked down the hall to the bathroom.