Jeremy took a shaky breath as he read through the argument that was growing faster than he could scroll. Rich and Jake looked at each other worriedly.

Chloe: BOTH OF YOU STOP! This isn't the place for this kind of fighting!

Christine: Chloe's right

Michael: you giving up then?

Christine: YOURE UNBELIEVABLE!

Michael: well maybe if you'd let people finish their sentences you'd be more open to believing them!

Michael: you think you understand Jeremy but you don't. You don't even TRY to understand him. Guess there was a REASON things didn't work out.

Christine: fine. If you're so sure about what Jeremy wants why don't you say it to my face then!

Michael: I'm going to the park. Not that I think you'll show up anyways.

<Michael left the group>
<Christine left the group>

"What.... just HAPPENED?" Jeremy's breathing was frantic.

"I'm so sorry, Jeremy, this wasn't supposed to happen," Rich said, frowning deeply. "Do you want us to do anything for you?"

"Yeah," Jeremy responded. "Can you drive me to the park?"

"Wait, Jere, you're not seriously going to-!"

"Please, Rich," Jeremy said, his expression painful.

"Alright, Jeremy," Rich responded, recognizing this as something Jeremy needed to do.

＊＊＊

Michael slouched on a park bench, his brain whirling with thoughts of what he wanted to say to Christine. His anger was clouding every form of reason he had, and it stressed him more than he wanted to admit.

Kicking a rock in frustration, he heard an angry "ouch!" as he looked up at the cause of his anger.

"Oh joy, you're not as much a wuss as I thought you were," Michael said bitingly.

"Oh please, says the one who wouldn't even let me and Jeremy have a simple private conversation yesterday," Christine retorted.

"Did you SEE him? He was shaking like crazy! There was no way I'd leave him in that state, unlike SOMEONE who left him alone in one of the worst squip attacks he's had since the play," Michael growled.

"Always bringing that up! What was I supposed to do?! I was scared-!"

"YOU were scared?! Think of how HE felt! He was acting off even BEFORE he went on that stupid date with you."

"Oh so now it's all MY fault, isn't it?" Christine asked, looking hurt.

"Seems you finally get that now," Michael responded angrily. "The way you keep going on, I could almost believe you don't even love Jeremy! You just don't want another person to leave you-!"

"MICHAEL!" Michael turned slowly, his heart stopping. Jeremy was storming over to the two of them, wearing an expression neither of them had seen on him before. "Why the FUCK are you screaming at each other?!" Michael's breath caught; Jeremy rarely cussed.

"Jeremy, thank goodness, tell Michael-!" Christine started, tears in her eyes, but Jeremy looked at her coldly.

"You're to blame here too, Christine!" Jeremy exclaimed. Christine inhaled sharply, clutching her shirt. "You never let me finish my sentences, do you know how much it HURT me to have you misunderstand?"

"No, I didn't mean-!"

"No, stop, you're not going to interrupt me. Not this time. And you-!" Jeremy turned to face Michael, but the anger drained from his face, only replaced with a deep sadness. "Michael, I don't need you fighting my fights for me. Christine hurt me, but seeing my friends fight hurts even more," he said quietly.

"Jeremy?" Michael started quietly. "Then... Who do you choose? Who's your player two...?" He tried for a small smile, but he could feel his heart breaking as Jeremy looked back at him once more, the life drained from his eyes.

"I'm sorry," Jeremy said, his voice getting quieter than before. "I don't think I can choose that right now. Not after this." He looked down, realizing he was still wearing Michael's jacket and smiled brokenly. "Here, you can have this back," he said, throwing it to Michael.

He turned away and made his way to the park entrance where Rich had dropped him off, but neither had the heart to stop him anymore. Instead, both turned away from each other, silently going home without another word.

Michael gripped his jacket as he fought back tears. He slipped on his headphones instinctively, but his arms dropped, too defeated to even turn on his music. Only one phrase rang in Michael's head as he walked away, "I fucked up."

___________

Oml you guys I'm so depressed angst has taken over my writing I'm so sorry.
-May