Your name is Jeremy Murphy Sanders and you enjoy your alone time. At the moment you were sitting at your desk with Fall Out Boy ringing in your ears and an antiquated ditty playing redundantly in the background. It was one of the old records Benjamin had given you that you often used as background noise.

Knock, knock.

"..."

Knock, knock, knock.

Maybe if you ignore it, it'll go away.

Knock, knock, knock, knock.

"Jer, it's me!"

You slip your headphones off and let them hang around your neck.

"It's open." Your voice was soft, monotonous. Sometimes you were shocked by your own mannerisms.

The door opens and you're greeted by the smiling face of your brother Jason, silly triangle sunglasses pushed up to his forehead. Hooked on his arm was a red bag bearing the logo of the latest convention he had been invited to be a guest for; Shade, that was his stage name. Really, he was living the life.

"How you doin', Jer?" In spite of cold shoulder you often subjected him to, your brother was as bright and friendly as always. First thing he did whenever he got home was greet you, every day without fail.

"I'm fine. Had fun?"

He nods, inviting himself in to sit at the edge of your bed. Despite the dramatic cape he was sporting, a vampire he was not.

"Would've had more fun if you were there."

You hold back a sneer. You wouldn't want to get in the way while Shade was surrounded by fans. Besides, conventions weren't your thing. Not anymore.

"Maybe next time."

"Oh, by the way! Remember Queen from down the street? Moved away a few years ago?"

Of course you remember Queen. She had the biggest crush on you in grade school and tried to kiss you behind the bleachers. Not fun.

"The one who dyed her hair pink and got in trouble with her mom."

"That's the one. She's a cartoonist now. I asked her to draw something for you."

He takes a sheet of cardstock out of his bag and holds it out to you. An impressive ink sketch of...huh, she remembered. Looking at the drawing in your hands, you feel conflicted; you weren't too keen on having this on display, but it would be selfish and uncalled for if you refused. Turning it over, you see a little doodle of Queen herself and what you're assuming is her phone number. "Let's catch up!" is scribbled in curly lettering.

You prop the drawing up in front of your box of vinyls, alphabetized and in mint condition.

"Thanks, Jase."

It was a bittersweet gift. Just when you thought you purged your room.

"Oh, I got you a keychain, too. You kept losing your dorm key last year, so I thought it might help."

Jason tosses you a shiny metal charm; a bunny-looking creature. Pursing your lips, you close your fist around it.

"You know I'm not into this stuff anymore."

The disappointment in your brother's face was apparent, just for a moment.

"I thought of you when I saw it, is all. You don't have to use it."

You shake your head and shove it into your pocket.

"Are Chloe and Benjamin coming home for dinner tonight?" You unapologetically change the subject. Jason shakes his head.

"Office and on call. I'm cooking dinner tonight. Is lasagna okay?"

You shrug and slide your headphones back on.

"Anything's fine."

"I guess I'll get cooking then."

Ah, the awkward drop of a conversation. Abrupt and unwarranted, but unfortunately far from unfamiliar.

"...thanks for the stuff, Jase."

If there's anything you have to stop doing, it's mumbling.

"You're welcome, bro. I'll call you when dinner's ready."