"The young colt's mother's voice came from the room, 'Don't go out there honey, I heard it too...'"
>Thunder cracks outside and lightning lights up the house through the windows, making the end of your spooky story perfect.
>Coco jumps and squeezes a throw pillow close to her body, "Eri, can we stop telling scary stories, p-please?"
>Anonymous seems to have enjoyed your story.
>"That was pretty good!"
>You feel a swell of pride.
>Coco's table is littered with snacks and lit candles.
>The three of you sit around it.
>After the power went out, you suggested telling scary stories.
>It was the only thing you could think of to keep yourself from completely embarrassing yourself in front of Anon.
>But Coco looks like she's going to wet herself.
>Anon holds up a candle under his chin.
>The effect makes you nervous to look at him.
>"Have you ever heard the story of Slenderman?"
>The wind howls and makes the house groan.
>Coco slaps the pillow over her face, "Oh please, no more! I'm ever so frightened!"
>Anon chuckles and sets down the candle, "I'm sorry. We can stop."
>Your pulse is still racing.
"Anonymous, could you tell that story to me some other time? If that's cool?"
>He nods, "Sure. It's cool."
>It's cool.
>Anon said so.
>What is there to do now?
>Anon fiddles with his hands.
>Coco is still shivering against her pillow.
>Anon is getting bored!
>He's going to think you are boring!
>"Hey Eri?"
>You jump and look at Anon.
"Y-Yez?"
>"Are you going to school on Monday?"
>You had completely forgotten about school.
"Um, Yeah... I am."
>Back to where Trixie and her friends can grab you out of the halls...
>"I know you and Coco walk to school together. I actually live pretty close to your house and I've noticed you walking to school."
>He lives close to you?
>A predator lives within stalking distance of you?
>Don't they have to announce that sort of thing to the neighborhood?
>"Would it be cool if I walked to school with you guys? I usually walk alone."
>So, he is planning on moving his stalking of prey to the next level...
"I don't-"
>Coco interrupts before you can say something stupid, "That sounds wonderful! The more, the merrier, right Eri?"
>You feel your muzzle scrunch and you nod vigorously.
>Coco seems satisfied, "So Anonymous, do you live alone? I didn't know you lived close by."
>Suddenly the lights come back on.
>All of you look up.
>The sounds of the storm seem to have died down.
>Anon stands up and straightens his hoodie, "Seems like the storm has let up enough. It's getting late, I should head home."
>Coco jumps up, "We'll walk you home! That way we will know where to come get you for school."
>Anon looks a bit uncomfortable, you notice.
>"Are you sure? It looks like it's raining still. Besides, we can just meet at Eri's before school."
"M-My house?"
>He wants to come inside.
>Inside your house.
>Coco persists, "That sounds like a good plan, but I insist we walk you home. It's ever so gloomy a night to be walking alone."
>Anon shrugs, "Thanks. Do you have any umbrellas?"
>While Coco goes to get coats for you and her as well as some umbrellas, you help Anon clean up the living room.
>Both of you work in silence, gathering up the snacks and blowing out candles.
>As you reach for a candle, your hoof brushes against Anon's hand and you snap it away quickly.
"Sorry!"
>Anon chuckles, "Eri, you don't have to be nervous around me. I promise I don't eat ponies."
>Would he change his mind if it were just the two of you in the house?
>Would he eat you?
>The image comes to mind of Anon lowering his head between your legs as you lay on your back.
>Your front hooves push his head back, but not very forcefully.
>His mouth opens and that pointed tongue snakes out between his sharp teeth.
>His hands are parting your legs.
>You're not even trying to push him off...
>"I only have two umbrellas, I'm ever so sorry."
>Coco trots back into the room with two rain jackets and two umbrellas on her back.
>You nod and carry a plate of snacks to the kitchen, trying to cover as much of your shame as you can with your tail.

~~~

>It's dark outside and still raining steadily.
>The three of you walk out to the road and begin the trek back toward your house.
>Coco carries an umbrella to herself.
>Anonymous holds one over the two of you.
>Though you have the hood of your rain coat on, you stick close to Anon under the umbrella.
>This is the closest you have ever been to a boy.
>You watch your hooves tramp through the puddles as you walk.
>Thunder is still roaring in the distance.
>Coco starts small talk with Anon about school.
>Every reminder of school feels like opening a wound.
>Now that you were on speaking terms with him, maybe you could hang out with Anon at school?
>Trixie surely wouldn't try anything with him around.
>As you pass your house, you see that there are no lights on inside.
>Your mom must be asleep already.
>Did she care that you didn't come home?
>"Well, here it is..."
>The three of you stop.
>You look up, then back at your house.
>What?
>Anon's house... It's two houses down from yours.
>And you always thought it was the garage of your neighbors.
>His 'house' actually looks more like a shack.
>Anon looks embarrassed, "I uh, I live by myself. It's a pretty sad place, but it's pretty comfy inside."
>Coco pats his leg, "How cute! It's very impressive that you live on your own."
>The human digs in his pocket and pulls out some keys, "I work part time at Roseluck Botany. I don't think anyone at school knows I live alone. Can you guys not, uh, let anyone know?"
>How did you never notice that he lived two doors down?
>Probably because he didn't want you to notice.
>Why was he so embarrassed?
>Sure, the place looked... Like it could use work, but Anon must be the only high schooler that lives alone.
>He gives the umbrella to you and waves, "Well, thank you for letting me hang out. See you Monday?"
>Coco waves and Anon turns around, walking up the pathway to his home.
>You give the umbrella to Coco and follow, lost in thought.
>Gotta see what the inside of his house looks like.
>What a boy's bedroom looks like.
>How soft is his bed?
>Does he keep perverted magazines under it?
>What kind of stuff is he into?
>Is he into ponies?
>Earth ponies?
>Your face collides with Anon's butt.
>You fall back onto your rear, confused.
>He turns around, his front door halfway open.
>"Eri? Are you okay? What are you doing?"
>Your face turns red and you look down.
"Sorry... I was just..."
>"Did you want to see what my place looks like?"
>He opens the door all the way and turns on the lights, "It's nothing special."
>You peer inside eagerly, your eyes taking in everything.
>It's very small.
>There are three rooms.
>A living area/kitchenette, a bedroom, and what you assume is the bathroom.
>You can see his bed through an open door.
>It looks huge. 
>And soft.
>"I'm surprised you never saw me coming out of here or going in."
>The two of you look at each other in silence.
>What if you asked if you could stay the night?
>Would that be creepy?
>His bed is definitely big enough for two...
>"Well, see ya around?"
>Anon does that odd gesture of holding out his hand again.
>It's so much different than a hoof.
>You slowly reach up.
>Coco sneezes loudly from the road.
>In a sudden burst of courage, you rush forward and wrap your legs around Anon, squeezing.

*Journal entry 16 - This is where I belong. I will make this my home and never again will I be alone. I crave this touch. Just some sort of contact. The kind my mother could never spare. I need somepony to touch. Some... One to touch me. I want to know I mean something to someone. Because I'm convinced I never have...*

>Anon wraps his arms around you.
>It doesn't matter that the rain is soaking the two of you.
>His warmth is all you feel.
>It's not awkward.
>It feels so right.
>This is where safety lies.
>In Anon's embrace, Trixie cannot touch you.
>"Eri, you're soaking wet," Anon speaks softly.
>You pull away from him and look up into his face.
>Your eyes scan him, trying to take every inch of his face and etch it into a memory.
>This might be the closest you ever get to happiness.
"Thank you. G-Good night, Anonymous."
>He smiles and your heart flutters, "See you Monday."
>With a last wave, Anon enters his house and closes the door.
>You turn and walk back to Coco.
>It feels like you're walking on clouds.
>Coco is grinning ear to ear.
>"That was the cutest thing I ever did see! Good for you, Miss Eri!"
>She gives you an umbrella and the two of you begin walking to your house.
>The feeling of Anon's arms around you still remains.
>As you walk past your house, you can't help but look at it.
>Your mother didn't come looking for you.
>Did she even care?
>You had run away from home before.
>It ended with you getting so scared at night, you came running back crying.
>Your mom thought you had been in your room the whole time.
>Coco looks at your house, "Do you think you should go home? Your mother must have been frightened when the power went out."
"No. She's probably asleep."
>Probably drunk.
"Hey Coco, do you mind if I grab some stuff and shower? I'll come back to your place afterward."
>She nods and smiles, "Oh a warm bath sounds ever so pleasant. I think I'll take one while you're at home. Oh! With candles~!"
>You wave your friend goodbye and turn to your house.
>Once at the door, you stop and look down the road to Anon's.
>The light goes off inside his shack.
>He's going to sleep so close to you...
>If only you could crawl into that big bed.
>Frowning, you open your front door and head inside.
"I'm home..."
>It's silent, confirming that your mother has gone to bed.
>Trying to be as quiet as possible, you head upstairs.
>Putting your saddle bag in your room, you go to the bathroom and close yourself inside.
>Once you turn on the lights, you look at yourself in the mirror.
>Your mane is soaked and hangs dripping around your face.
>You shake your head, flinging water everywhere.
>Looking again, you see that your mane looks messy.
>The new hot-pink dye sticks out strongly against the jet black dye.
>For once, the urge to vomit does not come while looking at your reflection.
>You smile a bit.
>Now that looks weird.
>Moving away from the sink, you start the shower and wait for it to warm.
>What a night.
>If you hadn't gone to Coco's, you never would have gotten to talk to Anon.
>You step into the shower and close the curtain, letting the steaming water pour over you.
>Anon looked so... Intense standing in the rain, looking down at you.
>His grip felt so strong when he embraced you.
>You could feel his hot breath on the top of your head.
>Your hoof reaches up and detaches the shower head from the wall.
>Sitting down, you spread your hind legs and bring the shower head down, switching it to massage mode.
>Anon's teeth are where the world begins.
>And where it ends.
"Anon... Fill your stomach... With me..."

https://youtu.be/HEA8TB5aAXk