**Fading into the Background**

Jeremy slumped on the couch, his eyes fixed on the wall as he stared blankly into space. The TV droned on in the background, a meaningless noise that did little to fill the void inside him. He had been staying with Cat and Laila for a few weeks now, ever since his world had come crashing down. His mom had blocked him, unable to accept his identity, and Jean... well, Jean had made it clear that he was nothing more than a convenience. The pain still lingered, a dull ache that seemed to seep into every pore of his being. He thought back to the days when he had his own place, his own nest, where he could retreat to when the world got too much. But Jean had invaded that space, used him, and left him shattered. Laila walked into the room, a gentle smile on her face as she handed him a cup of tea. "Hey, Jeremy, I made you some tea. You look like you could use it." Her voice was soft, but Jeremy detected a hint of hesitation, a slight awkwardness that made his heart sink. He took the cup from her, his fingers brushing against hers, and felt a pang of sadness. It wasn't that Laila was being cruel; she just seemed... different around him now. More guarded, more careful. He couldn't blame her, really. Jean had spun a story, told them that Jeremy was overreacting, that he was being too sensitive. And they didn't know what to believe. Cat walked into the room, his eyes flicking to Jeremy before moving on to Laila. "Hey, guys, what's up?" He plopped down beside Laila on the couch, his arm casually slung over her shoulders, and Jeremy felt a twinge of jealousy. It wasn't that he wanted to be with Cat or Laila; it was just that they seemed so... comfortable with each other, so at ease. And he was just... here. The three of them sat in silence for a moment, the only sound the hum of the TV. Then Laila spoke up, her voice light and airy. "So, Jean's coming over later, right?" Cat nodded, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "Yeah, he's making dinner." Jeremy's heart twisted, a familiar ache rising up in his chest. He looked away, trying to hide his reaction, but Laila's eyes met his, and for a moment, he thought he saw a flicker of understanding there. But it was gone before he could grasp it. "I think I'm going to go for a walk," Jeremy said, his voice low and rough. "Get some fresh air." Laila nodded, her smile sympathetic. "Okay, yeah, that sounds good." As he walked out of the apartment, Jeremy couldn't shake the feeling that he was slowly fading into the background, becoming invisible to the people he had once considered his friends, his family. The city streets were cool and quiet, a welcome respite from the tension inside the apartment. Jeremy walked for blocks, his feet carrying him on autopilot as his mind wandered back to Jean, to the memories they had shared, to the pain he had endured. And as he walked, he couldn't help but wonder: was he losing his friends, too? Was he losing himself?