-Jeremy-

My dad stares at us, hand frozen halfway to his ass, wearing nothing but checkered boxers, a dress shirt, and a loose tie. His mouth hangs open at an odd angle. "What's wrong with this guy?" his hand, preciously poised to scratch his buttocks, points to Squip.

"Jesus," I frown, "don't you know how to knock?"

My dad shrugs, crossing his arms, waiting for me to answer his question.

"He's a...friend. He just had a very... life changing experience and is just a bit upset."

"Okay," my dad says, "so who is he?"

Squip pulls himself away from me, standing and extending his hand, "I'm Super Quantum In-"

"Eric!" I interrupt, "his name is Eric."

"Okayyyy," he claps his hands together, "well, I'll leave you two to your gayness in privacy."

He turns to leave and I call out, "I'm not gay!"

"Yeah and I'm wearing pants," he says, closing the door.

With that, he leaves.

I look at Squip who blinks at me, tears still slipping through his lids. He looks pitiful. I slide next to him on the bed, fiddling with my hands. He wipes his eyes and gives me a tiny smile. Weak, not quite real. Swallowing down the tightness in my throat, I give him a hug. He takes a little while to reciprocate, but his arms snake around mine. We sit like that for a long time, until I fall back on my bed and with his arms still around me, holding me close. Or am I holding him?

I pull away from him and sit a little distance away, one hand in the blue comforter, the other on my striped pillow.

He's still crying just a little bit, more sniffling than anything else. I inhale his fresh lemony scent. "I'm sorry about my dad," I finally say into his chest.

My heart swells with some sort of inner calling, as if I need to hold him. Like some flipped a switch inside my brain. Squip makes a small noise. "It's okay, I should have left anyways."

"No," I lift my head, glaring at him. "I'm glad you came."

He smiles again, his bright eyes sparkling brighter. I can stare at those eyes forever, glowing at varying brightness, pure blue. I can barely see his lids or lashes, the inner light too bright. I blink, looking away after it begins to hurt my head from staring at the glowing orbs too long.

They match his emotions, I realize. When he was crying, his eyes dimmed. Now they shine too bright to look at. I made him happy, I realize. I smile a little more, hugging him more tight. "I don't know if I can just forgive you, but I want to. I think," I lift my head up again, pulling myself away from his arms and sitting Indian style, "I think you've actually changed. For the better."

I have to Avery my gaze his eyes shine so brightly as he tackles me with a hug. I squeal as he wipes me out with his embrace. "Thank you so much! You have no idea how much this means to me. I don't know why, or how, but I can care. I can feel things."

I feel a small tear fall down my cheek. Until now, I never realized how much what happened with the play affected me. Now, a weight that I never knew was on my shoulders disappears with his apology. A make a tiny smile.

"This probably looks really gay," he says.

"Hugging another dude doesn't make one gay," I say, heart racing.

"Actually," Michael closes the door behind him, "I think it does."

----

He raises his brows at the unfolding of the scene. The Project has started very well. He can't believe how well things started considering how bad thy would get.