(y'all if you thought the last chapter was angsty... good luck. i'm sorry -admin becca)

"Shh, Jere. It's okay, it's alright. She'll calm down, I'm sure." Michael tried to comfort Jeremy as he sobbed into his jacket. They were standing against the outside wall of the arcade, Jeremy clutching the back of his jacket as if it was the only thing keeping him sane.

"Jere, hey. Jere can you look here?" Jeremy sniffed and brought his head up. "I'm here. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

He expected this to help, but he felt Jeremy look back to his jacket and sob harder than he had before.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Jeremy let out a string of apologies as Michael held him tighter.

"Jeremy, its okay, I forgive you! Don't feel bad, I'm not upset with you at all!" Michael panicked and let out his own string of words. He could feel Jeremy's sobs quiet steadily until they were reduced to sniffles.

"Thank you," Jeremy mumbled.

Michael continued running his fingers through Jeremy's hair. "You're welcome, Jere Bear. Now how about those arcade games?"

Jeremy grinned and let go of Michael's jacket. He wiped his eyes and looked up at Michael's smiling expression. "Let's destroy some high scores."

***

"Huh." Jeremy let out a breathy sound of confusion as they left the arcade. "Rich and Jake want to hang out."

Shit. That's today. Michael thought as Jeremy looked up at him from his phone.

"Micah? Should I go?"

"What? Oh! Yes! You should!"

Jeremy laughed at his enthusiastic response. "Okay, okay! They said they can pick me up, do you want a ride back home?"

"Oh, yeah sure! Tell them I said thanks."

"Okay, they'll pick us up here in a few minutes." Jeremy looked over to see Michael looking back. A blush crept up his face as he smiled at him. "Oh wait, hey, um, a-are you cold or could I maybe-" he cut himself off in embarrassment and studied the ground. What he wasn't expecting was Michael's heartwarming laugh as he shrugged off his jacket.

"Here you big nerd."

Jeremy gave a little laugh and gladly accepted the jacket. Just as he was pulling it on, a car screeched to halt near them and Jake was yelling out of the side window.

"Yo, you gays! Hurry and get in we got places to be!"

Michael shook his head and started running to the car, grabbing Jeremy's hand as he ran. He pulled open the door, and, clambering in, Jeremy followed suit. Jeremy squeaked as Rich jerked the car forward as he was closing the door.

"Really Jake? You're one to talk about being gay." Michael joked.

"Yeah well at least we're proud of it." Jake replied and reached his head to kiss Rich, who had turned towards him.

"Gross!" Jeremy yelled, "Eyes on the road before you kill us all!"

"And what do you mean at least you're proud of it! Do you not see-" he pointed to his left arm where his rainbow patch was normally situated before remembering Jeremy had his jacket. He laughed at pointed to the patch on Jeremy's arm "-that!"

Jeremy's face flushed red as Rich turned around and raised his eyebrows. "You're right Michael, your boyfriend is pretty gay."

"Rich!" Jeremy yelled, "Look where you're driving!"

Rich chuckled before slowing to a stop next to Michael's house.

Michael pushed open the door and waved before hopping out, "Bye guys, don't do anything too crazy without me!"

Jeremy waved before Michael shut the door and walked inside. Rich waited until Michael had closed his front door before driving off.

"So," Jake turned back around, "you like him, huh?"

"W-what?! N-no I don't! Not like that!" Jeremy quickly sputtered out.

Both Rich and Jake laughed from the front, "Yeah sure okay Jere. But, may I remind you. You're wearing his jacket."

Jeremy glanced down and blushed a deep crimson. "W-whatever."

Jake shook his head and turned to face the front again. They drove in silence until Rich pulled up in front of a small ice cream parlor. The trio climbed out and settled down at a table, each with their cups of ice cream.

"Dude," Jake pulled out his phone, which was vibrating constantly, "my phone is blowing up."

Rich pulled out his, showing the lock screen. Blocked notifications were flashing down the screen. "Strange, mine too."

Jake shrugged, "Ill check later." He set his phone to silent and set it back down, chatting idly with Jeremy.

Rich, however, opened the source of notifications: the group chat dedicated to planning Jeremy's surprise birthday party.

GUYS MAKE THE NAME INCONSPICUOUS

Jake💕: alright guys we got the nerd

Chloe: gud. jenna, brooke and i are here setting up

Chloe: christine u almost here?

Christine: um yeah sorry omw

Christine: hey when is michael getting there? bc id rather not see him at the moment

Michael: ouch. sorry sunshine I just got here

Christine: sorry guys, looks like I won't be able to make it today

Jenna: aww, christine, why?

Christine: its kinda a long story

Michael: such an overused excuse lol

Christine: excuse me?

Michael: sorry its just that the whole thing happened over like 1 minute, maybe two

Christine: oh to hell you're sorry

Christine: you're probably enjoying this

Michael: you think I enjoy having to see my best friend cry?

Christine: who knows maybe you do. But I know you must enjoy looking better than me

Michael: I'm not trying to look better than you!! I'm just trying to be there for him!

Brooke: guys calm down!

Christine: why should I?! He ruined first the good thing I've had in a while!

Michael: I didn't ruin it! No one ruined it! It just didn't work out!!

Christine: oh knock off the innocent act! Everything was fine until you talked to him after our date!

Michael: I didn't just talk to him! I helped him!! Or did you just forget running all the way to my house to get my help?

Christine: because you're the only one lame enough to have discontinued mountain dew red just laying around!

Michael: I have it for Jeremy! Or did you forget I've been here for him for 12 years?!

Christine: so what you're best friends! He's my boyfriend!!

Michael: and wow what a girlfriend you were! Interrupting him and getting the wrong idea when you know you should've listened to him!!

Christine: so what?! He loved me first!

Michael: well then, gee I wonder why it ended so quickly!!

More messages flowed in as Christine and Michael continued their heated argument. "Um, Jake?" Rich held his phone up for Jake to see.

"Wait, guys, what's happening?" Jeremy asked.

Rich made eye contact with Jake. It was like they shared a silent agreement. He scrolled back up and handed his phone to Jeremy.

_______________

i want death.

please.

i have sinned.

i'm sorry.

-admin becca