Hey, guys! I'm sorry I'm not updating very frequently, but with school, I'm really trying to. Thank you to everyone who has even take time to read a single word of this and to everyone who is following the story and commenting, it means a lot. Anyways, I will try to update as frequently as possible with longer chapters, and remember, criticism is very much appreciated! Enjoy chapter 7!

That night, Delaney called Jean 'Jeany' and he had to keep himself from going to the bathroom and throwing up. Reiner ruined it. Reiner ruined everything. Why couldn't he just stop? Why couldn't he just leave Jean alone for just one day? Now he'll have to deal with his sister calling him that name and he'll have to deal with repeatedly hearing Reiner calling him that. He'll have to repeatedly remember everything.

"What's with the red face, Jeany? Huh? Got a bit of a crush on freckle face?"

He shook his head vigorously to get the thought out, careful to not accidently ram his car into another. He was driving to school, about 5 minutes away from being late for his first class. He wouldn't dare to show up any earlier knowing that Marco would find him and would try to talk to him. Jean scoffed silently. What was with Marco? Why the hell did he have to talk to Jean yesterday? Maybe he sensed that he fucked up, was it that? Did he actually care to gain Jean's friendship?

He shook his head again. No. As much as Jean loved being around the freckled idiot, he wasn't willing to burden the guy. He wasn't going to burden anyone, not even Connie and Sasha. Maybe if he just ignored Marco and everyone else they'd understand they were better off.

Jean walked up the front steps of the school as the late bell rang. He ignored his growling stomach as he entered the school and walked through the nearly empty hallways. Maybe he would eat today and just purge later. The thought seemed rather tempting seeing as he hadn't eaten in a day or three and he was beginning to get light headed over only eating a piece of lettuce here and there.

Walking into Mr. Smith's first period, he wasn't even noticed by the teachers. He walked to the back of the room to his seat and ignored Reiner who was whispering insulting comments to him. He swore that one day he would just punch him. He knew he would.

The rest of the day was quick and problem free other than Sasha asking about the purpling bruise on Jean's right cheek. He hadn't even had to counter Marco, which was nice. He knew he had to return him his jacket anyway, but today was going well and he didn't need any drama. He ate some lunch, only half of a hamburger. During psychology, he went to the bathroom and when he was sure no one was in there, he threw up his lunch

Marco tried to give Jean his space the day after. He did, after all, look to be having a good day. Besides, it wasn't right to pry into other people's problems. So Marco ignored the fact that Jean seemed to be purposely avoid him. He tried to not notice Jean eating small portions at lunch. He walked out of the bathroom just as fast as he had entered when he smelt throw up and saw Jean leave a stall.

After school, he got onto his bus and sat in the lone half seat in the very back. It seemed that lonely, bullied, or heartbroken kids had sat in that seat before him because all of the notes written with sharpie seemed to repeat themselves.

'It's like no one even cares '

'She called me a whore and he laughed'

'I don't want to be here'

Marco usually mourned for the strangers that had written these things. They must've gone through great pain. But it wasn't like he was able to do anything about it so he would mostly try to ignore that he ever saw them.

When he arrived at home, he was cautious around his father in the living room and quietly walked into the kitchen to talk- or rather, whisper- to his mother. His father was a rather heavy drinker. He knew it, his mother knew it, and even his little sister knew it. Still no one tried to do anything about it. They just avoided the scary, dangerous man when he was there and appreciated the nice, warm, loving daddy when he was there. It hurt Marco to know that Mina's daddy would rarely be around, but she didn't seem to mind.

Marco's little sister was a very independent nine year old and preferred to be alone anyway. It's almost like she didn't even need a father, drunk, sober, or otherwise.

"Hi, baby," Donna, Marco's mother whispered to him. She had her hands covered in flour, but she still didn't hesitate to pull him into a bear hug. When pulling away, he saw the sadness in her eyes. Sadness he knew that his father had caused. Looks like father started early today.

"I'm going to my room." He gave his mother a smile he knew she couldn't refuse. He hated being downstairs when it was this tense and silent, it made him want to do something about the situation. Something he knew would get him in trouble.

His mother nodded and he walked up the stairs to his room. He shut the door and sighed. He'd come out for dinner and then he'd return to his room, away from his household. He may even help Mina with some homework. But God knows he wouldn't fully be there.