A/N -
Just as a disclaimer... I obviously don't own the characters mentioned in this one shot. Anyway, thank you!
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Michael's PoV -

The school day was winding down, I impatiently watched the clock. Five more minutes till sociology is over then I can go home. Sociology is okay I guess, I like understanding why people are the way they are, but the class is nearly two hours long and I can't sit still in class for that long. I look over at Jeremy, he seems interested in what the teacher's saying. I tune in. "You will have to write a four-page essay on your experiment, essays will be due a week from now so get your experiment done soon so you have time to write."

I should have paid more attention, what's this project about? I'll just ask Jeremy.

The teacher excuses our class and I meet up with Jeremy. I drive him home from the college extension, when we're out of the class I ask, "What's that project about, I wasn't paying much attention?"

Jeremy looks tired, I feel bad for him. He gets picked on at school all day and works nearly every day trying to help his dad. He scarcely gets any sleep. "Uh- we're supposed to create a social experiment and perform the experiment in public to see how people react, then we're supposed to write an essay over it," we're at the car so I duck into the drivers seat, Jeremy sits passenger, "Do you want to work together on the experiment?"

I back out of my parking space then put the PT cruiser into drive, "Sure, what should we do?"

"I don't know. I'm up for ideas?"

I've waited my whole life to mess with people for a school assignment, this should be fun, "We could try to get people to sign a petition for something stupid, or maybe we could low key insult people and see how they react..."

Jeremy interrupts, "No, dude, we need something that strikes the core of people's morals."

Then the perfect idea hits me but I'm scared to suggest it, I take a deep breath and ask, "We could pretend to be a couple somewhere, maybe the mall?"

The idea lingers in the air for a moment. "Michael, that's a good idea but I don't think I can do that," Jeremy seems nervous, suddenly.

     I've known I was gay for a while now but I haven't told anyone except my moms, not even Jeremy. This would be quite the opportunity for me, I'd get to try being openly gay. Maybe this could help me make my decisions about whether to stay in the closet or not. "Come on, we're best friends, we could fake it," I try to convince Jeremy.

     "I'll think about it," that's the best I could hope for.

I pull into Jeremy's driveway, he lives in the middle of town so it's a short drive. "See ya tomorrow," Jeremy waves as he gets out of my car.

I wait till he gets inside before I leave. On the way home I think about the project. I need to talk Jeremy into this, I need this opportunity.

Later at night, I call Jeremy to try to talk him into it but I get a text back: At work now, call you later.

He doesn't call back.

The next day I pick Jeremy up for school. The moment he gets in the car I ask, "Why didn't you call me back last night?"

"Sorry, I got home around midnight and I went straight to bed, I forgot," Jeremy replies and I feel bad for asking.

"It's fine, I was just gonna ask if you thought about our project anymore."

I back out of Jeremy's driveway, the school is only a few blocks away.

"Michael, I'm sorry, I can't go through with it," I feel deflated, "I get bullied enough as it is, this would just make it worse."

     He has a point but this means a lot to me so I take a deep breath and continue before my anxiety convinced me otherwise, "I'm gay," it's out there, I finally told my best friend, "I just want to see how others will react before I come out of the closet."

We were at the school now, I put the car into park. Jeremy's taking a long time to reply. I'm anxious, maybe I shouldn't have said that. Maybe Jeremy thinks I like him! I mean I do but he can't know that... Maybe Jeremy's secretly a homophobe and hates me now! "I didn't know this meant so much to you, Michael," Jeremy finally replies, he doesn't seem mad, "I'll do it."

All my worries melt away, "Really, you'll do it?!"

"If it means so much to you then yes, I'll do it," Jeremy flashes a quick smile and I feel my heart melt.

We get out of the car and grab our book bags in the back seat. I park pretty far away from the school because sometimes I like to skip music class and smoke weed in my car and I don't want the teachers to catch me. We start our walk to school from the farthest parking lot. "When should we start our project?" I ask.

"I'm off tonight, my only night off this week, will tonight work?"

"Sure." I readily agree.

     The entrance to school looms ahead of us and we part ways. I won't have another class with Jeremy till college classes after lunch and then we'll go work on our project. I hope everything goes okay.

     The school day drags on but I'm looking forward to seeing Jeremy tonight. I feel like I don't get to see him anymore now that he has a job. I have a job at 7-Eleven but I only work every other weekend so I still have tons of free time. Finally, the day comes to an end.

     Jeremy and I walk to my car after college. "You ready?" I ask.

     Jeremy nods.

     We decided it would be best to start our social experiment as soon as school got out so we can get the most reactions. I drive to the mall on the other side of town. Jeremy and I haven't been here together since Jeremy bought the Squip in the back of a Payless store. Jeremy stares straight ahead. I follow his eyes, he's staring at an old discolored advertisement for Payless. I need to change the subject. "So, babe," I chuckle at the pet name, "let's go inside."

     Jeremy's face heats up with a pink blush, "Alright."

     There are only a few cars in the parking lot. If this was ten years ago it would be packed but not nowadays with internet shopping. Regardless, I lock the car and trot over to Jeremy who walks slightly ahead of me. I slip my hand around his so we're holding hands. I gently squeeze his hand and smile hoping to comfort his nerves. Jeremy's face heats up again.

When we get to the pristine glass double doors I break away and hold the door for my 'boyfriend'. "Thanks," Jeremy mumbles as he walks inside, I follow.

We reconnect our hands once we're inside. Large hallways branch off from this main lobby and the tile floor shines in front of us. I guide Jeremy and we take a left. An old man sitting on a sofa in the lobby eyes us from behind his newspaper but he doesn't say anything. I glance over at Jeremy and I can tell he notices the old man too. We continue.

We pass Claire's, Hot Topic, GameStop, and Earthbound. A few older shoppers eye us with disgusted looks. Some don't seem to notice, mostly teens and young adults. Some young girls blush when they see us. Another gay couple nods at us, a sign of respect. I nod back and Jeremy nervously stares at the ground.

I lead Jeremy to a Starbucks, it seems like this is the only busy place in the mall. I order a large pumpkin spice frappe.

While we wait Jeremy breaks his hand away from mine. He wipes the sweat on his jeans. His head still hangs down, staring at the floor anxiously, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone. I give him a moment. Jeremy seems on the verge of a breakdown and I want to avoid that. I brush my hand against his wanting to provide comfort but he forcefully pulls his hand away and folds them over his chest. The coffee's done, I put two straws in and Jeremy finds a table for us. We're sitting in the corner, scarcely anyone can see us. I pass the drink to Jeremy who takes a cautious sip. His lips are still on the straw when I lean forward and sip from the other straw, our foreheads touch for a moment before Jeremy pulls away. A string of saliva trails from his straw. He wipes it away quickly. "Michael, I'm sorry, I can't do this," Jeremy's crying.

Jeremy hurries away from the table and runs out of Starbucks still crying. I forget the coffee and run after my best friend. I quickly look around the mall and can't find him so I head to the parking lot. Jeremy's sitting on the ground next to my car with tears in his eyes. It's cold out and he's not wearing a jacket. I remove my hoodie and toss it to him, "You look cold."

Jeremy doesn't respond but he pulls my hoodie on. I sit next to him, "I'm sorry, Jer, I should have never forced you to do this."

"I... l-liked it," Jeremy hesitates.

I couldn't have heard that right, "What?"

"I liked it... the hand-holding, pet names, all of it," Jeremy's wipes his tears away, "I like you Michael but I don't like all the looks we get from everyone else."

     I've waited a long time to hear those words, I just wish it was a better circumstance. I scoot closer to Jeremy and I reach for his hand. He lets me hold it. "I love you, Jeremy," our legs touch, "who cares what everyone else thinks?"

     Jeremy exhaustedly leans his head on my shoulder. "I love you, Michael..."

     I kiss his forehead. "If you're going to kiss me do it right," Jeremy looks up at me and connects our lips.

     Everything feels perfect for that moment. Then we pull away. Jeremy's blushing a cute pink blush, "Michael, don't tell anyone about us okay, I'm not ready yet."

     "Okay, whenever you're ready," I kiss Jeremy again.

     Late that night Jeremy and I cuddle on Jeremy's bed. Jeremy sits on my lap with his laptop on his lap. Between kisses we type our essay about our experiment and I already know we're going to get an A.