a/n: i know i say this all the time but i'm sorry that it's been a momma freakin month since I've uploaded but i'm back and better than eva B) (no eva's were shaded in the making of this a/n. eva=ever but cooler)

****

It was late at night. The wind was whirling around outside and the noise from the aforementioned wind was howling ghostly throughout the Suburban neighborhood Jeremy resided in. Stars twinkled (stars that had probably died since the light from stars take a ton of years to reach earth--) in the sky and the moon ruled over them triumphantly, the blackness of the vast sky only complimenting the dim radiance. Street lights were turned on and weak tree branches loosened and broke, only to fall to the ground and lay there until the cleaners (or rain) came to sweep the debris away.

Jeremy was sitting on his bed, wrapped up beneath the covers. His computer screen was the only light in the room that hadn't peeked in from the outside world. The brunette's blue eyes were fixated on the screen before him, focused on the virtual world in front of him. A repetitive ring echoed throughout the room, causing Jeremy's body to jolt and for his focus to shift.

He grabbed his phone and held it up to his face, squinting as his eyes got used to the newfound light. His screen was dark due to someone calling him. The words on the phone blurred for Jeremy, making it hard to read until Jeremy adjusted his glasses (he usually wore contacts... that's totally why i didn't add glasses until now) and watched as the words cleared.

Incoming call from.. Player One aka dumbass.

The words rolled across the top of his screen on a loop, the phone still annoyingly ringing. Jeremy sighed softly and swiped his finger across the little accept tab.

"Hello?" Jeremy's groggy voice made it into the phone.

"Hey, Jeremy." Michael replied, voice muffled due to the indirect contact.

"Why are you calling me this late at night?"

"Because! It's urgent. You know how my moms and I are scheduled to move, right?"

"Yeah. ."

"And how we had movers on speed dial as well?"

"Yep,"

"Well, they bailed. Last minute. And Rich, my moms, and I aren't enough to get everything out on our own. Can you help us?"

"I guess", Jeremy shuffled, mind in a sort of delirious state, "What time?"

"11am sharp. Okay? I'll pay you $20 and buy you lunch."

"I'm in."

"Thank you, Jeremy. ." Michael started, "I really appreciate it."

"Uh, no problem man. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Stay tight." Michael laughed to himself and hung up.

Jeremy sat back on the wall and let his head bang against it once. He looked up at the ominous ceiling for a second before sliding further into his bed, and getting back to a Bob's Burgers Hulu marathon.

****

The brunette's eyes slowly came out of their squinted state to the sound of a knock at his door. Jeremy lifted his body (like the exorcist, but scrawny) to find his dad standing in the doorway. He rubbed his eyes and motioned his dad to come into his room. Of course, Jeremy had been up for a while. He'd been on his phone for a while, not even paying attention to the time or to his surroundings.

"Hey, son. . ." Paul Heere reluctantly made his way into the room, "Can we talk?"

"I guess," Jeremy shrugged, "why?"

"You--" Paul interrupted himself as he sat down at the edge of Jeremy's bed, barely not sitting on one of the brunettes toes, "You just seem to be growing up so fast. . It's scary to do without your mom, you know that right?"

The brunette shrugged once again, "What about it?"

Paul's eye twitched,  "Can you not be uppity about it for once? Please? I'm trying to have a civilized conversation with you and I feel like you just push me away. . . How am I supposed to raise a son to be a strong man if all he does is ignore me and make sarcastic remarks?"

Jeremy blinked, a bit taken aback. The brunette stayed stagnant, "Uh. . I don't know what to say."

The father sighed and rubbed his temples, "I'm sorry, son. . ." His volume was nothing but a mere murmur, "I shouldn't come into your room and blow up on you like that." He paused, "I just want to raise a son who can take care of himself."

"But you're not," Jeremy laughed sardonically, "I'm basically raising myself."

"That's what I mean! Those snide comments that make me. . . That make me. ." Paul's voice trailed off slowly

"Say it. Say how I'm just so stubborn and upsetting that you want to get angry! That you just want to put me in my place and make me the son you can never have." Jeremy coaxed with a type of hunger in his tone

"Your snide comments make me so angry! I get so frustrated that all you do is blow me off and there's nothing I can do about it! A failure father, a failure husband, a failure employee. What more can I mess up?!"

"More. What else?" Jeremy leaned in closer to his father.

"She left me because of the lowlife I became after losing my job, and I became even worse once I realized she was gone for good. Why can't you be more grateful? Why couldn't your mom stay? Why does rent have to be so high? Why do pizza rolls have to be so hot when they come out of the microwave?" Paul hunched over, elbows on his knees and hands over his eyes. His body started to shake and quiver.

Jeremy sighed softly and placed a hand on Paul's back, "I'm sorry. . I should've been more considerate."

Paul sniffed and tried to wipe his nose, attempts futile, "I shouldn't have blown up."

The brunette pursed his lips and tried to straighten his father's back. Paul looked over at Jeremy with watery eyes before sniffling one more time and embracing the younger male with in a hug. Jeremy let his eyes close comfortably and hugged back, inhaling peacefully. Jeremy rubbed his father's back, the two remaining in the same position until Paul's arms got tired and he went downstairs to make a weird protein shake Jeremy always made fun of him for (but would try to stop making fun of him for in the future).

****

Jeremy had finally made his way over to Michael's (while being fashionably late -- 11:45). His eyes were tired and his hair was a bit messy, but he was feeling good. He was feeling a lot better than he'd felt in a while. After that reconciliation with his dad, a certain pep in his step became natural and lnot as forced.

Once Jeremy showed up, Michael was hauling a few boxes with sweat forming at the brow. Rich was behind him, making snarky remarks while carrying a lamp. Michael was trying to swat Rich away with his foot, but ended up losing his balance and falling. Rich laughed before quickly realizing that he should probably help Michael up before their moms got back.

The blonde hoisted Michael up,  Rich laughing and the Filipino rolling his eyes. The two got the boxes (and lamp) off the ground before making their way towards the moving truck in comfortable silence.

Once the boxes were in the truck, Michael turned his head and noticed the brunette standing and observing. Michael's face lit up and he bounced over to his friend, a grin on his face.

"Glad you could come nearly an hour later than you committed to."

"I-- Uh, good to see you too, Michael!" Jeremy's arms flailed out in a mocking 'give me a hug' motion thing that people do.

Michael laughed, eyes wrinkling slightly as he did, "I'm just messing with you man," Michael nudged his shoulder, "come inside. I'll show you what you can help with."

And with that, the two males went inside.

****

It had been multiple hours since Jeremy had shown up to help move, and since then they had gotten everything into Michael's new house. As a celebration (and an excuse to not pay Jeremy $20), the two males were at a diner awaiting the rest of the Mell-Goranski household to show up (they were returning the U-Haul... which was unanimously named Gilmore— that was Rich's idea). They were in a Ma and Pa 50's themed diner where waitresses roller skated around and a jukebox was in the corner. The floor was checkered and the seats had red cushions, the windows having designs (promotions, paintings, etc) plastered on them. With Jeremy on the left and Michael in the right, they were about to have a moment to themselves before the rest of Michael's family came to crash their peace.

"Thanks for helping my family and I out," Michael's hands were folded on the table, "I know we all really appreciate it." The Filipino's shoulders bounced softly as he smiled, faint dimples showing up at his lower cheeks.

"No problem!" Jeremy responded, "It's better than spending all day with my da—" The brunette cleared his throat, "uh, it's better than just staying at home all day. . . But I think I may have twisted my ankle."

"Gah, that's the pain of working." Michael waved a hand, "You'll be fine."

"[Are] you sure?" The brunette cocked a brow, "I could be seriously injured, Michael."

The comment caused Michael to roll his eyes sarcastically, "A twisted ankle is not a 'serious injury'."

"You don't know that, Mell!" Jeremy leaned in slightly, "This could be life altering!" He joked

The Filipino laughed again, "Wow, I'm sorry. I didn't know moving would be so taxing on you."

"If I have to be hospitalized, you get to pay the bills." Jeremy said, slouching back to his natural position on his side of the booth.

"Fine, fine. I will. . .  Or my moms will. I guess." Michael's brows furrowed for a moment and he grew silent with a puzzled look on his face, "Yeah! My moms will." His expression lifted.

Out of the corner of Michael's eye, he could see Rich and their moms walking through the front door of the diner. They were laughing about something and Rich was elbowing the taller woman lightly. Michael's body perked up and his expression brightened as he laid eyes on them. The Filipino raised his hand and waved, catching the shorter woman's attention. The shorter one waved back, then caught the attention of the taller one and Rich, motioning to Jeremy and Michael one they had looked over.

The three made their way over to the booth. Michael and Jeremy slid closer to the wall, the moms sitting next to Michael and Rich swooping close to Jeremy.

"Whew! That was a lot of work," the taller one (named Laura) wiped her brow, "thank you for your help, Jeremy. Can we pay you in any wa—"

Michael elbowed Laura and glanced over at the Hispanic woman (who gave him a weird look) with wide eyes that screamed 'don't bring it up'. Laura rolled her eyes at her son and turned her attention back to Jeremy.

"Seriously!" The shorter one (Mai, a 5'4 Filipino woman— Michael's biological mom) started, "Is there anything we can do?"

"It's fine, don't worry about it." Jeremy told them with a meekish tone in his voice. Though the Mell moms were nice, they scared the crap out of Jeremy.

"Didn't Michael promise you money?" Mai looked over Laura and directly at Michael, "You told me you did!"

"I did!" Michael said quickly, "I offered it. . . I just haven't given it yet. . I was hoping I wouldn't have to?" His statement turned into a question.

"Of course you have to!" Mai crossed her arms stubbornly.

"Oh really, it's fine—" Jeremy began, but got interrupted.

"He really helped out today." Laura added.

"I know he did, I just haven't gotten to it yet." The Filipino replied assertively, "I will soon."

"Okay, if you say so." Mai leaned back in her seat and looked forward, marking the end of her conversation with Michael.

Michael rolled his eyes in Jeremy's direction, causing the brunette to snicker softly.

****

In the midst of dinner, Jeremy snuck off to the bathroom. He was sitting on a toilet (with his pants on) and was on his phone, texting swiftly. He'd used the bathroom as an excuse to text Brooke and Christine for a fat second.

big doofus: guys!! i need your help

Chriss: Why?

Brookie Cookie: What did you donthis time lol

big doofus: ididn't do anything >:( anyways im w/ michael and i ant to make a move.. how???

Chriss: Be nice!!

Brookie Cookie: finess like Bruno Mars

big doofus: you guys aren't helping

Brookie Cookie: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

big doofus: should i just gondor it when I have a moment alone w/ him?

big doofus: go for* typing suuuucks

Brookie Cookie: Get the bread Jeremy

Brookie Cookie: Yeet the wheat!!

Brookie Cookie: Okay that sounds wrong, don't actually yeet Michael But uh, you understand the sentiment

Chriss: Make sure it's consensual!

big doofus: WE ARENT GOING TO HAVE SEX CHRISTINE

Chriss: That word doesn't have to be associated with sex! It just means a feeling being mutual or something

Christine sent a screenshot of the definition of the word 'consensual' to the group chat. Jeremy rolled his eyes.

Brookie Cookie: Churning butter

big doofus: OWHWLAUWBWOWYEBSOU

big doofus: wow ok uh that's explicit

Brookie Cookie: No it's not

big doofus: lol what it literally means sex

Brookie Cookie: Wanna smash?

big doofus: BROOKE NO

Chriss: Ahhhhh this has gone dOWN HILL

big doofus: AHH

big doofus: ok hoes i should probably go back, or else Michael's going to be texting me about why I'm not back yet

Right as Jeremy hit send, his phone dinged with a text. He clicked on it in the matter of a split second.

Player One aka dumbass: Did skinny ass fall into the toilet???

Player One aka dumbass: sorry that was rich lol

Player Two aka the cooler dumbass: I'll be out soon

Player One aka dumbass: ok! see u in a sec

Jeremy sighed and got up, adjusting his shorts (which were baggy cargo shorts that made his legs look even more birdlike than they already were) and walking out of the stall. When he left without washing his hands, the person at the sink stared at him oddly but didn't say anything.

****

"Who are you texting?" Chloe asked sneakily as she saw Brooke smiling at her phone.

"No one," the bald girl replied while pushing up the bill of her ball cap.

"Uh, obviously someone." The brunette cocked her head.

"Is there tea I need to know about?" Jenna's head perked up and she turned away from her phone to look at Brooke.

"Just my mom." Brooke fibbed.

"No one smiles at texts from their mom, Brooke. I'm not dumb." Chloe crossed her arms with a suspicious expression on her face.

"Well I do." She said.

"Give me that," Chloe snatched the phone out of Brooke's hands and looked at it, "Who's 'big doofus'?" The brunette clicked on the contact, holding the phone farther away from Brooke as she tried to reach for it, "Is that Jeremy's number?" Chloe gasped, "You whore! You're texting Jeremy!" She turned to Brooke with an open jaw, arms falling to her side with phone in hand, "I didn't take you as the type to go back."

"I'm not going back. . We're just friends." Brooke clarified.

"Yeah, that's what Dustin told me as he bent me over on a table. That's one of the oldest lies in the book." Chloe tossed Brooke's phone on the bed softly

"Ooh! Spicy." Jenna added, laughing at her own comment.

"Not the time, Jenna." Chloe abruptly interrupted, "Anyways, you totally got the hots for Jeremy still!"

"No I don't!" Brooke denied, straightening her back.

"Don't deny it. You do!"

"Yeah, just like you had the hots for Dustin." Brooke snapped.

"Don't talk about Dustin! We don't discuss him."

"Why not? Why do we have to pick at me and not you too?" Brooke's eyes narrowed and she leaned forward, "Why don't we don't talk about you cheating on Jake with Dustin when I was completely faithful to Jeremy the whole time we were together?"

"Because! It was all Dustin's fault that we got together." Chloe crossed her arms, "He seduced me and made me believe it was fine! It's all his fault!

"But you did stuff too! It wasn't just Dustin." Brooke approached Chloe.

"She's kinda right, Chlo." Jenna contributed, still in a spinny chair with her phone by her side.

"Do not get into this, Jenna! This is between me and Brooke. Not you." Chloe's eyes narrowed at the African American.

Jenna gulped, "Why not? I'm here too."

"What did I say? Don't get involved!" Chloe snapped.

"But—"

"Jenna! Shut. Up!" The brunette growled.

"You should get ahold of yourself, Chloe. It's not all Dustin's fault. You had a part in it too! You lost a really good guy like Jake. I wouldn't be surprised if Madeline or someone else swooped in and took him." Jenna said, "Don't get mad at everyone else for your mistakes."

"It's not my mistake!" Chloe defended stubbornly, "Like I said, he seduced me! He made me think it was okay. It was Jake's fault too. I wouldn't be such a bitch if he could get it up." She cocked a brow with a sassy expression.

"Yes it is!" Brooke screeched, "Dustin had a part in it too, but it was a dual thing!" She stood up.

"Brooke's right." Jenna agreed, nodding her head softly.

Chloe groaned and stomped her foot on the ground, "As my friends, why can't you guys agree with me? I'm the victim here. This all happened to me. You guys are insane to think I'm not. Besides, you guys should definitely agree with me because you two had a part in it."

"Woah, woah, woah, what?!" Jenna cocked her head closer to Chloe, "How did we have a part in you cheating on your boyfriend?"

"Neither of you stopped me! You both knew about me and Dustin and didn't stop me." Chloe accused.

"It's not our fault that you cheated on your boyfriend." Jenna said.

"I didn't know about you and Dustin." Brooke commented.

"Yes you did!" Chloe exclaimed.

"No, I didn't!" The shortest woman reiterated.

"I knew about Dustin." Jenna interrupted sheepishly.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Brooke turned her head over to the African American.

"Because! I didn't know what to do. Chloe told me she'd spill the beans about Miles and I if I said anything. I couldn't risk that getting out! My parents would die!" Jenna explained.

The smallest one groaned and rubbed her temples, "Jenna. . . Let's just go. I don't want to argue with either of you anymore, and you're my ride home."

"But—" Jenna started

"Please?" Brooke had a certain desperation in her voice that caused a sympathetic feeling to brew in her soul.

"Okay. . Chloe, we're gonna go." Jenna said.

"You guys can't leave me!" Chloe's eyes were welling up with tears, "After everything, I trusted you guys! You both are backstabbers if you leave me at a time like this." A tear rolled down her cheek.

"Brooke, lets go." Jenna grabbed Brooke's hand with a solid expression on her face and walked out the door hastily, the shorter woman trailing shortly behind.

****

"She's so manipulative!" Brooke exclaimed as the two of them hopped into Jenna's 2006 Toyota Corolla, pushing her ball cap up and wiping her eyes, "I can't believe her!"

"I know. . ." Jenna sighed softly, "I'm sorry."

Brooke's eyes were puffy with tears, "She shouldn't have cheated, but then she shouldn't have blamed us or Jake!"

"It was a really bitchy thing to do." Jenna started the car engine.

"Why didn't you tell me about Dustin and Chloe? You know I wouldn't have said anything." Brooke looked over at Jenna.

"You know why. . I just didn't want to risk it." She started driving, hands gripped tightly on the steering wheel. Her knuckles were lightening.

"I-I understand." Brooke let her head drop as a few tears slipped out of her eyes, "Chloe just makes me so angry sometimes!" She clenched her fists, "She's so mean to me, but I keep going back because I don't know what I'd do without her."

Jenna exhaled empathetically, "That's how I was."

"Hm?" Brooke's head rose.

"That's how I still am." Jenna confessed, "I still don't leave some of my toxic friends because I'm afraid of losing them. . . Because I have so much history with them and they're so funny and nice. . Until they don't get their way or go on tangents and make it miserable for everyone else."

"I'm sorry, Jen. ."

"No, no, it's fine. I do it to myself." She shrugged, "But that's my thing to figure out. . ." She paused, "I guess you and I both have stuff that we need to work through. But I'll be here for you no matter what, okay?"

Brooke smiled genuinely, "Okay. Deal. I'm always here for you too."

"Thanks," Jenna smiled as well.

Brooke's tears had ceased and they continued driving, bopping to the music playing on the radio.

****

"I'll meet you back at the house," Michael started as the five walked out of the diner, "I gotta drop Jeremy off first."

"Okay!" Laura bounced her shoulder softly, a happy grin on her face. Dimples appeared in the same spot as Michael's did.

"We'll see you soon." Mai said.

The two moms walked out, Rich staying behind for a moment. Jeremy had already gone out to the car, so it was just Rich and Michael. Rich glanced at Michael with a cocky grin on his face.

"What?" Michael asked with a small chuckle lacing into his words.

Rich slipped something into Michael's hand as he walked past, "Stay safe." He clicked his tongue and wiggles his brows, exiting the diner.

Michael looked down and saw a golden condom in his hand. The Filipino's face went red and he stuffed it in one of his pockets, walking out with obvious wide eyes.

****

"You seemed flustered when you walked out," Jeremy laughed, the two in Michael's car, "Why?"

"Just Rich." Michael replied, trying to shrug it off, "Rich being Rich."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Jeremy questioned.

"Oh y'know," his neck scrunched, "being his annoying self."

"No, I don't know." Jeremy persisted.

"Uh, he just was being sexual."

"To you? Gross!"

"No, no, no," Michael started laughing uncomfortably, "insinuating that you and I were going to be sexual!"

"How?"

"He handed me uh," Michael cleared his throat, "he handed me a condom."

Jeremy started cackling, "That's rich!"

"Literally."

The brunette gasped, "I didn't even think of that!" He continued to chuckle.

****

Eventually the two pulled up to the Heere household. Michael and Jeremy had found themselves in spurts of conversation and comfortable silence. Right now, they were experiencing a comfortable silence.

"Well here we are." Michael said, interrupting the stillness, "Thanks again for helping today. I know my moms really appreciate it, and I do too."

"Oh, no problem. You won me over with lunch and $20." Jeremy chuckled, grinning softly.

Michael's shoulders bounced, "Yeah. That's usually what I win my hoes over."

The brunette rolled his eyes, "Because you have so many." He retorted sarcastically.

"Not many. Only one." Michael replied. 

"Who?" Jeremy glanced away from his house and over at his friend.

"You."

"Me?" He blinked.

"Yeah, you." Michael continued, a snarky smirk plastered on his lips.

The brunette shrugged, "If you insist."

A familiar quietness fell over the two males in the car. They were looking at each other, examining their counterparts features until their eyes eventually fell over the others lips. An unsaid agreement passed through the two and they started leaning in.

Their lips touched and a bustle of emotions started to explode within both of them. A certain hunger that longed for them to be closer to the other started to ache from deep in their stomach, and their bodies started to gravitate closer to the others. Jeremy placed his hand on Michael's cheek and himself fully embrace the moment.

With one eye open, Michael put the car into park and then got closer to Jeremy. Michael heart twisted and all the aggression he had felt for Jeremy in the past seemed nonexistent. All the pent up anger and all the ugly emotions released from Michael's system.

The two pulled back, a glimmer in their eye that spoke more languages than words literal themselves. A content smile rested on both of their faces and a newfound peace fell within the car. Everything felt different than it did before, but in a good way. In a way that brought the most childlike part of them out to see the light of day.

Michael started laughing, Jeremy following in his (metaphorical) footsteps. The two embraced each other with a hug.

"I forgive you." Michael muttered, resulting in Jeremy holding onto the Filipino tighter.

"I'm sorry." The brunette responded.

And with that, a new chapter of their friendship started. A new era of their lives began.

and then Jeremy woke up from another wet dream IM KIDDING IM KIDDING it was real

****

a/n: and that's the last chapter of WD!! woooo. dw, there will be an epilogue so there will be a little bit more content coming.

if you loved this book, please let me know, and leave me suggestions on what I can do to make it better (through the process of editing)! i may set up a paypal soon so I can commission writing to people who are interested.

if you want to see oneshots from the WD world, let me know! give me a plot and I'll deliver! (in my oneshot book).

anyways, keep this in your library if you want to read the epilogue and a short scene that i left out of this chapter (bc i started it with this, but the chapter went in a different direction)

thank you sooo much for reading! this book has been a ride yall❤️❤️

-Car