Nightmares tell the best stories

"I love you!" Exer's voice cracked as he confessed, his hold tight on the other's shirt collar as his head hung low tears streamed his face, Jackson stared blankly at him.

Despite the confession; the situation was nowhere near romantic.

Jackson had randomly decided to ignore Exer, and Exer couldn't take it. And so he chased down the other demanding for some sort of explanation, before either of them knew it the conversation got heated and they trailed off. Somehow along the lines it lead to Exer spilling his heart out and confessing way ahead of when he planned to.

"No" Jackson whispered his response after a solid five minutes of silence between them except for Exer's soft whimpers.

"You don't actually love me, you can't" and at that Exer's head shot up and he stared at Jackson with wide eyes.

"Wha-" "You know me too well to actually love me. You probably just feel bad for me and maybe think you can save me. But you can't. Nobody can save me" Jackson let the words fell out with ease a small sad smile creeping into his face before quickly washing it with away with a more neutral expression.

The shorter boy felt his eyes pop out as his face grew pale. Jackson's words felt like poison which made him feel lightheaded and nauseous. He did expect Jackson to reject him but to completely deny his feelings? Now that's something he didn't see coming

The worst part is that in that moment dread washed over Exer as he found himself doubting his own feelings.

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Laying in his bed, Exer stared miserably at the ceiling. It had been three whole days since his argument with Jackson and confession. And ever since then he refused to move out of his bed unless for necessary reasons like using the bathroom,

This being the second time he acts like this, his dad of course was worried for him but Exer couldn't tell him what happened even though he already guessed his son's current depression had something to do with Jackson.

Jackson

Just the thought of him made Exer feel like he's going to cry again.

was he right?

Was Exer really wrong about his feelings? Did he really feel bad for the Latino boy and nothing else? That didn't sound right but his feelings have been really confusing lately.

Exer's stare at the ceiling hardened as he thought of all the reasons he might not like Jackson.

He's full of himself, stubborn, irreconcilable, indecisive, childish, and too damn petty.

He had so many negative traits.

Exer frowned at the thoughts that were swimming through his mind before closing his eyes and clearing his brain. An image of Jackson pouting face appeared in his head and he giggled softly.

'He is kinda cute honestly'

With a smile settling on his face, Exer's body slowly relaxed itself at the thought. The memory of Jackson's laugh graced his ears causing his face to grow hot,

Before he knew it, good memories of Jackson flashed through his mind.

He opened his eyes slowly and pondered on Jackson's words once more.

You don't actually love me

But he does,

He really does.

So maybe he can't pinpoint what he exactly likes about Jackson but damn if he doesn't like him than maybe the grass isn't actually green and they are all in fact, fishes dreaming of being humans.

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The next day, Exer made a trip to the Smith's house. He made sure to ask Ron beforehand; Jackson's uncles were at the shop and Ron had a hangout at David's house, one which Exer lied about joining. His friends will have to forgive him but he had a more important thing to do.

If luck was on his side then no one would be home except Jackson for at least two hours. Perfect for him to say what he has to say. Even if it's something the other boy doesn't want to hear

"So, what did you want to say?" Jackson stood towering over Exer with his arms crossed; he had a serious look on his face, one that couldn't fool Exer. He can see the nervousness through Jackson's composed disguise. In the way his palms sweat. The way he refused to meet his eyes. And in the way he spoke with too much pressure.

"I love you"

Jackson's mouth gaped open his eyes widening at hearing Exer repeat the words from that day. "No! I know you're stubborn as hell but you need to stop this" the brown-haired boy's face reddened as he stormed towards the door opening it wide for exer to leave "Get out! We've already been through this."

Exer sprang from the chair he was sitting on and shouted his bottled up frustration "We haven't been through this! You just decided my feelings are not real because you didn't want to deal with them" the shorter boy stalked closer as he glared with determination.

He felt almost like a predator stalking his prey; except he wasn't. Not anymore, and especially not to Jackson.

"My feelings are real even if you don't want to believe them"

At that Jackson pressed his quivering lips tightly together, he blinked away the few tears gathering in the corner of his eyes.

Before the taller boy could gather himself, Exer's arms found themselves around him, holding him tightly affectionately. It felt comforting enough that the tears returned, now stronger than before and he couldn't blink them away. So instead he let them fall.

"I do-" the younger boy whispered softly as he pressed his face against Exer's shoulders "-I love you too"

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He doesn't know how long they spent holding each other like that. His arms went numb and it was starting to hurt, but he refused to let go until Jackson pulled away first.

"You're such an idiot." Jackson laughed breathlessly, no doubt his voice cords suffered a massive hit from all that crying. They looked like a mess. Their hair was disheveled, and Exer's clothes had a wet spot from Jackson's tears- not that he really minded it really. He was too happy with how things turned out between them.

Jackson said he loves him back and it made his heart want to burst out of his chest and dance around.

"At least I'm not a nerd" Exer joke-mocked back. Maybe it was the exhaustion catching up to them but they both broke into uncontrollable laughter.

They really are a mess huh

When their laughter died down they both stared at each other's eyes for what felt like a lifetime but was probably seconds as they leaned closer to each other. It was Jackson who connected their lips and kissed Exer.

The kiss was soft, affectionate, and it felt almost protective. Jackson held him like he was made of glass and could break any second if he's not careful. Exer held him back tightly, possessively like he could disappear any second, like he was the most precious thing ever (he was. He is to him).

They both reluctantly pulled away at the same time when they ran out of air.

They panted slightly, then smiled at each other and went in for another kiss- before they could do that however the door suddenly opened and Ron stood in the doorway looking in shock at the two flushed boys sitting on the living room floor.

"R-ron?!" Exer shouted at the blue haired giant in shock "What are you doing here man?!" He was not supposed to be here, Exer made sure he's with David!

"Uhh, live here? Why you on the floor?" GASP "You two-?!" Ron's eyes widened at the realization and he looked at the two with so much shock it genuinely offended Exer.

"It's not what it looks like!" Jackson snapped trying to salvage the situation. It was however fruitless, obviously. How can this be anything but what it looks like? They were both on the floor, their hands still rested on each other's arms and their faces. were as red as the color can be. Anyone can see exactly what they were doing.

"Ughh just don't tell anyone! Please" "...Not even David?" Exer shot the tall guy a deadly glare which caused Ron to look away at the ceiling and whistle innocently.

The two went back and forth with Exer throwing pleads (and threats) and Ron simply ignoring him. Jackson briefly considered chiming in but quickly concluded he was too damn tired to interfere.

Come on man! I promise to buy you lunch if you don't tell anyone." That seemed to win the blue-haired boy who eagerly agreed to keep his lips sealed at the promise of free food.

The dark-haired boy rolled his eyes at the two boys' ridiculous display of negotiation.

Flashing lights,

exaggerated costumes,

bodies slaming against each other on the dance floor,

music in the background,

laughter. Loud laughter.

And then it cut

And the terrified screams started. And he couldn't make them stop

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Exer's eyes snapped open and he gasped at the pitch dark space before him. He hurriedly looked around, searching for a glimpse of something. Anything that indicated life.

To his misery; there was absolutely and utterly nothing

The place he was stuck in was spacious, yet he felt trapped between four invisible walls. Waiting to close in on him the second he let his guard down. Devour him whole as he kicked and screamed uselessly.

Is this what mice feel when they are put in a cheese maze?

Always alerted. Always scared.

Maybe they weren't actually running to find the cheese but to find the exit and it's promise of safety

Exer hated being a mouse

Suddenly, Exer shivered and breathed out a cloud of smoke. The air around him became wet and he can vaguely feel frost biting at his fingertips. The sudden change in the weather around him left Exer torn between feeling hopeful and scared.

He wanted out

He hates this. Hates being the mouse in the maze. Hates being locked somewhere against his well. Hates feeling like a damn puppet in the hands of whoever- whatever put him here; in this damned completely isolating black space.

Feeling frustrated, Exer willed the magic on his fingertips to rise to life. The warm of it was pleasant against his previously frozen nails.

Exer smiled. Ready to put an end to this stupid charade and whisk himself away- suddenly firm hands were placed against his shoulders, grounding him in place. The sudden contact made him half jump as he snapped his head to look at whoever decided to finally appear. To his shock, he was met with a wide, playful smile

"Exer! Hey!" Jackson chirped at him with eerily enthusiasm that didn't match their last conversation, nor the current situation for that matter.

"What do you think you’re doing?" The boy's tone was lighthearted, but Exer can spot the sharp edges that threatened to cut.

"You can't use magic. That's cheating!"

Exer's breath went rigid at the statement and he stared with barley contained fear "What?" Jackson raised his eyebrow with a mock-confused smirk in a laughably half assed attempt to feign ignorance at the question. It made Exer see red

With strength worthy only of the football team's Star player; Exer whipped around to fully face the now labeled Impostor.

"Who the hell are you?" He snarled, grabbing the other by his jacket's collar.

The thing stared in surprise for a second before throwing his head back in an unnerving laughing fit which lasted for what felt like a lifetime. At some point a crowd of invisible people laughed in with it the voices all blinding together. Clearly joyful. Clearly relishing in Exer's confusion.

Like he was the butt of their sick joke

(It distantly reminded him of a year ago when a black mouse got too confident. And he-unremorseful and cruel- stepped on her)

"Hey, S-stop! Just. Stop... please!" Tears pricked the corner of his eyes as he begged, his grip on the collar tightening. He noticed through the tear stained vision that the collar was Red, a stark contrast with the blue attire the other was wearing.

Just as he noted the color, the laughing stopped, cutting into a complete silence that was somehow worse than the previous mocking noise. The Fake's face was almost completely overcome by shadow, and he gazed at him with something akin to sadistic amusement

"Rat got too smart?" It half-whispered. It wasn’t talking about Pamela, wasn’t talking about him either. It was talking about him.

Exer's eyes widened at the realization- then something hard and metal crashed into his side. Hard. It left his left arm aching and sent him stumbling to the ground with a loud thud.

He holds his arm and looks at what slammed into him, only to be met with the same empty space. Just as before, it was only him and the fraud wearing his friend classmate's skin.

Exer stares in confusion for a second before his eyes snap back accusingly to the fake. Who was.....crying?

It let out no noise as the tears fell down its cheeks and into the black floor. And then his tears turned into a darker shade. And then darker. Darker until it looked as black as the room.

Then its eyes pushed out and fell off of his face.

Exer paled at the two balls of flesh rolling towards him. He was too scared to even scream, all he could do was attempt to crawl backwards and away; sadly he wasn't fast enough and one of the eyeballs ended up touching the tip of his shoes.

He shakily looked up at the other whose head was turned towards him, the black tears kept falling and it opened its mouth, promoting more black fluid to pour out of its wrecked body.

Exer almost stopped breathing when it brought its hands up and pierced its nails deep into its face, causing blood to seap out as it pressed harder and then dragged its fingers down. Down.

Out of the injured skin peeked out something brown. And soft-looking with black letters on it

paper

Old, elegant, paper

The sight was disturbing, it made his skin ache uncomfortably and his stomach to twist with pure fear of whatever this thing can and wants to do with him.

It turned to fully face him, nails broken and blooded with the black substance, face torn in half and underneath the flesh old book pages, eye-sockets quite literally empty.

When it took a step towards him, then another, and another, Exer finally finds his voice again and opens his mouth to scream as loud as he can.

He thinks of his dad, of Brenda, of David, of Ronald, Of Pamela, of Jackson. He begs he can see them again if only one more time to apologize...

.-- .- -.- . / ..- .--.

Exer jolted awake

The leftover scare from the nightmare had him breathing harshly, his body was soaked with sweat and he could hardly register where he was.

"Exer!" His dad slammed the door open while calling out to him with panic. "I heard shouting. Are you ok, son? What happened?!"

Exer felt bad when he saw the worry in his father's eyes. He never wanted to scare him like this.

"Just a nightmare dad, don't worry about it" He reasurred his father softly. He knows that Harry deserves to live his life free of worry; he deserves a son better than him. A son who doesn't lie and hurt others shamelessly.

A son who wasn't a magical freak

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Jackson looked at the sky out of the car's window. He tried to conceal his anger by pretending that there's something interesting in the gloomy sky; but unlike his mood, the sky was clear. The sun shone brightly at him; his lips pressed tightly in a pout in response and he cursed the stupid gas ball a thousand times. It, however, didn't get the message and only shone brighter and stronger.

Jackson's left eye twitched as he was reminded of a different stubborn asshole who was allergic to letting him have one good thing in his stupid fucked up life.

"¡Ay Cielo! Don't worry, this doctor is very good. She will help you" Carol said enthusiasm dripping through her voice.

She's sweet, and she cares about him; they both do. Which is why he can't be fully mad at them for doing what they think is best for him. Even if they were wrong.

Jackson was very much sane. It's not his fault Exer is a fucking manipulative magical psychopath!

And it's not like he really beat him that hard, the guy was a stellar football player for fuck sake. He can take a few punches. And even if he can't, Exer can just heal himself in minutes if not seconds

The no violence rule was really getting on his nerves. His tios had no idea just how awful some people can be. But Jackson did.