Inspired by “Cry Baby” — Melanie Martinez

You always cried at the smallest things. Dropped a pencil? Tears. Got a bad grade? Tears. Someone spoke too sharply? Waterfall. People called you dramatic. Fragile. Too much. Mikey never did.

He’d known you since you were kids, meeting through Emma. Back then, you cried because your ice cream melted, and Mikey gave you half of his. Some things never changed.

Today you came out of class with your sleeves wiping at your face. Mikey blinked. “…Again?” You hiccupped. “He—he yelled at me… and I wasn’t even doing anything wrong—” Mikey put a hand on your head. “Hey. Breathe.” He guided you behind the school, away from everyone, sitting with you on the steps. “You’re not annoying,” he said softly. “You’re not too much.”

“You always say that,” you sniffed. “That’s ’cause it’s true.” He leaned back, tapping his knuckles against your knee. “I like you even when you’re a crybaby.” You stared at him. He added quickly, cheeks pink: “…Actually, I like you especially then.”