Michael's POV

Okay, that boyfriend joke was a bit too specific, wasn't it? I mean, I don't think Connor's ever made a joke like that before. Obviously, he's made jokes before but I don't think they've ever been the 'if I was your boyfriend' type. I know I'm probably just over analyzing something that doesn't actually really mean anything and I should stop. It could just be what it is, a joke, right? But, I also somehow feel like maybe Connor was flirting with me. At least, trying to. I know it's probably just my mind playing tricks me, I've had crushes before I think I can tell when my mind is doing that. But, now, I can't help but wonder if I'm Connor's crush.

Oh God. Apparently, Michael Mell really is that pathetic. The over analyzing pathetic. God, I probably sound more like Jeremy right now. I should probably just calm down it was probably just a joke anyway. I mean, if I was the crush surely I would've known about it? We're living together so surely I would pick up on it? Then Mother's words flashed in my mind, I guess I can't really assume that. For all I know, Connor could be hiding them or just doesn't like me like that. I don't know. And most likely won't know unless I ask him, and that, well, still need to decide if I'm gonna ask him at all.

Also, Jeremy's been acting strange. He seems to be almost secretive about something, what I don't know, but it's making me suspicious. I suffered through Jeremy abandoning me all those years ago, I know when he's been suspicious. The strangeness seems to appear when I talk about Connor. It almost makes me wonder if he and Jared are hanging out. Obviously, that doesn't explain the suspiciousness at all.

Huh. If I knew any better, I'd say he was trying to set me up with Connor. That's what Jeremy's suspicious behaviour seems to tell me at least. But I'm just going to ignore it for now.

I was working on my laptop, Connor was in his room. I could hear him humming to Somewhere I Belong, and smiled. I assumed he was drawing, as he usually did when he was humming. Connor was acting like the boyfriend comment never happened, at least I think he was. Maybe it was just me who was so hung up on it, I mean, it could have just been a joke. It could've meant nothing, and I'm just over analyzing something that meant nothing. I shook myself and focused back on my laptop. I pressed on the run button to see if I needed to fix anything. When I did, it told me that there was an issue with the 'enter name' line. I attempted to fix it and when I pressed the run button a field of green showed on my laptop screen. There were streams flowing through a fairly flat field with trees scattered here and there. It wasn't my project for my major, this game wouldn't have any zombies, it was something different. I hadn't thought of a story or anything, but it was good so far.

I continued coding for a bit, just working on it. When I felt I was happy with it for the day, I closed my laptop. I walked over to Connor's room to find that, yes, he was in fact, drawing. Connor looked up when he noticed me and smiled. "Oh, hey Mikey." I smiled back at him.

"I want to ask you something," I said, fiddling with my glasses and gazing at him.

"Okay."

"You know the game I'm making?" Connor nodded. "Well, I need someone to do the like concept sketches for everything. Now, I haven't really reached that point yet, I'm literally just doing the scenes right now, but... but I was wondering if you'd like to be the person who does that." Connor blinked at me, before looking away as if thinking about the offer. Then he smiled again.

"Sure, but you're gonna have to tell me what the characters are like and whatever so I have a like, good idea for what they're like doing or whatever," he chuckled and so did I.

"Noted. I guess maybe I should've waited until I had more of an idea, huh?" I joked and Connor laughed again. "But yeah, I will tell you, when I get a good idea." Connor gave me one last smile before returning to the drawing pad and I returned to the lounge before walking out the door to meet with Jeremy.

~~~

"That was totally a date," said Jeremy and Christine in unison, causing me to nearly choke on the orange juice I was drinking. I stared at them both. Please tell me they're not going to be like my mothers.

"Guys, it was just a roommate hang out, we went to an ice cream place," I said, fiddling with my glasses. Christine looked at me with a confused smile.

"Why does the place say whether it's a date or not?" She asked genuinely confused. "Jeremy's and my first date was at a local production of Les Mis."

"And that isn't really your typical date place. Plus, the Valjean was flat and the Javert's voice cracked in Confrontation," Jeremy added. I smiled with amusement at my best friend.

"You say that like you're any better," I teased. Jeremy playfully glared at me. He then laughed slightly.

"I am well aware I'll never be Javert or Valjean, Michael," he laughed. "Anyways, the point is the date place doesn't always mean that it's not a date."

"It was just an ice cream place, that really isn't anything special right? I mean, watching Les Mis is special for you guys, right? Since you're both into theatre." Jeremy narrowed his eyes but raised one eyebrow.

"Well, did Connor say it was special to him?" It was Christine who spoke though. I shrugged.

"Well, he said he's been there since he was little and that he often goes there with his friends. But that doesn't really mean it's special to him, does it?" Connor had told me that he'd been there since he was little after the whole Miguel conversation we had. Both Christine and Jeremy looked frustrated, Jeremy more so.

"He's 'been there since he was little', he 'goes there with his friends'? He took you there? Michael why are you denying it?"

"Why are you suddenly so interested in mine and Connor's relationship? Don't tell me that parasite is back," I didn't mean for it to come out so harshly. Jeremy's eyes widened. "I'm sorry, I.. I don't know why I said that."

"There's no parasite..." he looked up. "But Jared and I are so goddamn tired of you two dancing around each other!" He sighed frustrated. I blinked. Jared? As in, Connor's friend? He and Jeremy had actually been hanging out?

"Michael," Christine's voice was soft. "Connor likes you."

"It was just a roommate hangout, it didn't mean anything." I insisted. Christine just sighed.

"Well, we tried," Jeremy said with a frustrated tone. I don't know why they're so frustrated. Connor's boyfriend comment probably was just a joke, so why are they insisting it was a date? Connor doesn't like me like that...

...Does he?