Someone asked for a Long Distance AU so I am happily delivering after like six years
TW: Mentions Of homophobia. No slurs.
•••

𝚓𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚑
@memeinginthebathroom is online

Jeremy squeals. Yes, you heard me. Squeals. Hes like a protagonist from a teen movie. He clicks the notification on his computer, immediately video calling his friend.

Jeremy and Micheal met online about six years ago, when they were 10. They started messaging every single day, which soon turned into video calling. They know everything about eachother. Every little thing.
Well, except one thing.

Micheal doesnt know who Jeremy likes.
But we can all guess who that is, can't we?

Micheal accepts the video call, his grinning face consuming Jeremy's computer screen.

"Salutations, Jeremy Queer"

"Greetings, you gay fuck"

"Hey come on I gave you a pun-name"

"And I'm grateful"

Micheal playfully leans back in his desk chair with a sigh. Jermey is his best friend. Everyone knows it. Despite the fact that they've never met, and Micheal lives in California and Jeremy lives in New Jersey, he can't imagine life without him. They're that close.

The pair talk all through the night, 2am creeping around the corner.

"Okaayyyy" Micheal claps his hands together and puts on a White Girl ™ voice. "Time for 𝒷𝑜𝓎 𝓉𝒶𝓁𝓀"

"How the fuck did you do that with your voice?" Jeremy asks as he pours Gatorade into his coffee.

"Gay magic" Micheal grins. "Okay Jeremy Queere. Any booooyyyssss caught your eye?"

Jeremy flips his non-existent long hair.
"Oh my gawd~ sksksksk~ now that you mention it . . ." He flutters his eyelashes.

"No" Jermey goes back to his normal voice with a snap. "None at all. Men are scumbags. They don't deserve my beautiful ass and I'll drink to that"

He takes a large swing from his strange drink, choking in the process. Micheal pretends to be offended.

"Excuse me. I am totally worthy of your beautiful ass you pompous asshole"

"Wow that was sophisticated" Jermey remarks.

"Oh blow me"

With pleasure.
"Oh you'd love that" Jermey smirks.

Micheal rolls his eyes. He notices the time on his monitor and nearly starts.
"Dude it's like 2am for you. Get your ass to sleep"

"Okay fine mooom" but before Jeremy can end the call, he stops. "Wait you never said if you had your eyes on any boys"

"Goodnight Jeremy"
And the screen goes black.

•••

𝚓𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚑
@memeinginthebathroom is online

Finally! Jeremy leaps into his desk, frantically calling his friend. Micheal has been offline in like two weeks. That's an eternity in Jeremy Time™.
It rings. Once. Twice. Three times. Four-

Declined

Jermey shakes his head and calls again.

It rings. Once-

Declined.

Every day. Every day for the past six years they've called eachother. Or at the very least texted. Or at the very VERY least texted the other with an excuse.
But there's no excuse for Micheal declining him.

Jeremy goes to the chat, and frantically types a message.

icanseequeerlynow: yo Mikey u ok man? It's been a while since I've heard from u

icanseequeerlynow: I no ur there. Ur online

icanseequeerlynow: MIIIICHHEEEALLLL

memeinginthebathroom: sorry jer. It's just not a great time

icanseequeerlynow: is something up?

memeinginthebathroom: you could say that

icanseequeerlynow: call me and tell me all about it

memeinginthebathroom: dude I don't want to burden u

icanseequeerlynow: ur not burdening me. Ur talking out whatever's going on. It's healthy. Now call me

@memeinginthebathroom is calling

Jeremy clicks accept with a broad smile. But the grin quickly slips from his face. His best friend- his Micheal, is sitting in is desk chair. His hoodie sleeves are tucked around his balled fists, which are wiping the tears that stream down Micheals face.

"Micheal what . . ."

Red puffy eyes plead through the screen. Now he gets why Micheal didn't want to call him. He didn't want Jeremy to see him so . . . so . . .

broken.

Micheal forces a smile onto his face. It's unnerving and plastic.
"Hiya Jer"
The words send daggers into Jeremy's heart. His voice breaks on each word, as he tries to keep it together.

"Jesus Micha, what happened to you?" Jeremy manages to say.

Micheal chuckles weakly, despite the tears streaming down his cheeks.
"I guess there's no point in saying 'I'm fine', huh?"

Jeremy swallows, trying to fight back his own tears. Micheal shifts in the dark room, not quite meeting Jeremy's eyes.

"My . . . my Ina was driving home from work about two weeks ago. It was dark and it was late, but she's always careful, you know? A, uh, a car sped through a red light and . . . smashed right into her. The driver was drunk. She was there for hours before anyone found her and took her to the hospital"

Micheal pauses as he tries to pull himself together. Tears finally spring from Jeremy's eyes.

"Oh my god. Is she. . ."

"No. No no she's alive. Broke her leg though. Has a few other injuries. But when she was in hospital- rhis was a few days ago, my dad came home"

Jeremy's heart sinks. He was told about Micheals biological father, Aaron. He and Micheals Ina got divorced shortly after Micheal was born, when his mom came out as a lesbian. He told her that it's a phase. That she'll come crawling back. Apparently it got. . . violent.
She just took Micheal and left.

After the wedding, Aaron reached out. He said that he's sorry for how he acted, even though he still believe that it's a phase. He wanted them to move past this. He wants to see his son again.

The Mell's cut ties with Aaron completely. To quote Micheals mom, "we don't have time for that homophobic asshole"

"He wanted to make sure Ina, his ex wife, was okay. Mom got pissed. She told him to leave since he has no business here. He spotted me watching them fight from the top of the stairs. He looked . . . so happy to see me. Jesus he looked like he was gonna cry. Until . . . he noticed the pride patch on my hoodie"

Micheal shows his sleeve, tapping where the pride patch used to be stitched.

"He got mad. He got mad that his son is openly gay. He got mad that his son was 'flaunting" his sexuality. He got mad that the pride patch was from another boy"

The Filipino bursts into sobs, his body raking with tears. Jeremy wishes that he could reach into the computer and wrap Micheal in his arms.

"I'm so sorry Micheal" he whispers.

Micheal looks up at the ceiling, and laughs. A weak, strangled laugh. The laugh of someone who has given up.
"You know, I wish he disowned me. At least then I'd know that he's gone. Out of my life forever. But no. He's convinced that I'm in some weird phase, forced upon me by my lesbian mothers. He thinks 'there's still hope'. He wants to send me to a fucking conversion camp or something"

Micheals eyes scan his dark room, not baring to look at Jeremy's crying face on the monitor.
"But he's gone. Mom and Ina kicked him out. Threatened to call the police. He's gone, Jeremy"

His red rimmed eyes finally lock with Jeremy's. His friends eyes plead all sorts of apologizes, empathy thick in the air. The pair don't say another word. Just being in each others digital presence is enough.

After god knows how long, Micheal sniffs, noticing the time.
"I gotta stop keeping you up so late" he chuckles. "Get some sleep"

"Micheal" Jeremy interjects, before he can end the call. "You are, the most amazing, funny, kind, hot, awesome guy I've ever met- if you can count FaceTiming as meeting someone. Nothing is forced upon you. You are you, and that is perfect. Maybe being gay it's a phase. Maybe you'll wake up tomorrow with a new thirst for boobs, but no matter what, you'll always being Micheal fucking Mell. And I personally love that guy"

Micheal smiles, and with that, Jeremy ends the call.

•••

𝚓𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚢 𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚝𝚑
@memeinginthebathroom sent you a message

memeinginthebathroom: do u celebrate the Fourth of July?

icanseequeerlynow: did you seriously just text me to ask me if I celebrate the Fourth of July?

memeinginthebathroom: well I'm in school I could hardly call you

icanseequeerlynow: do you no what, I won't ask

icanseequeerlynow: i guess I do. Dad and I eat Burger King burgers and watch the fireworks but that's it

memeinginthebathroom; that's it?!

icanseequeerlynow: okay keep your cool

memeinginthebathroom: all due respect, Jeremiah, but that sounds boring as shir

icanseequeerlynow: I'm flattered

memeinginthebathroom: you need an exciting Fourth of July. I mean it's Independence Day for chucks sake!

icanseequeerlynow: let me guess. You have an idea

memeinginthebathroom: ten points to hufflepuff! I think you'll FIND my idea is very clever

icanseequeerlynow; you make no sense

memeinginthebathroom: maybe not to you you pleb

memeinginthebathroom; Heere in the Mell residence, we tend to go big or go home with things like this

icanseequeerlynow; I noticed

memeinginthebathroom; so, I've decided that you're gonna celebrate this holiday the Mell way

icanseequeerlynow; explain

memeinginthebathroom: Nope. But I will be sending a care package with all you need for a birching Fourth of July.

icanseequeerlynow: are you serious?

memeinginthebathroom; is the day long?

memeinginthebathroom: holy shit I forgot that I'm in class I need to go

memeinginthebathroom: c u later loser

Jeremy closes his phone with a smile. Not one of Joy, but one of confusion. Micheal has sent gifts on occasion before, but this, is terrifying.

•••

𝚓𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝
@memeinginthebathroom sent you a message

memeinginthebathroom: dude stop calling I can't really talk right now

icanseequeerlynow: can u text?

memeinginthebathroom: clearly

icanseequeerlynow: good because I remembered that we didn't finish our 'girl talk' from a while ago

memeinginthebathroom: dude that was like a month ago how in the name of fuck did you remember that

icanseequeerlynow: my memory is weird

icanseequeerlynow: now

icanseequeerlynow: tell me who you like

memeinginthebathroom: no

icanseequeerlynow: why not?

memeinginthebathroom: you won't tell me who you like

icanseequeerlynow: I'll show you mine if you show me yours

memeinginthebathroom: take me out to dinner first but okay

icanseequeerlynow: you know what I mean

memeinginthebathroom: okay okay okay I'll play

memeinginthebathroom: the guy I like is very funny

icanseequeerlynow: is that all I get? I probably won't even know the dude it wouldn't hurt to give me a name

memeinginthebathroom: I don't like your tone. Maybe I'll just stop describing him...

icanseequeerlynow: okay I'll shut up. Be more specific with him tho

memeinginthebathroom: well he's funny, sweet, naïve yet dirty minded, he has brown curly hair and a very Jewish face

icanseequeerlynow: how can someone have a Jewish face

memeinginthebathroom: don't ask me questions I'm frightened of questions

icanseequeerlynow: ?

memeinginthebathroom: it's a musixal deference you pleb

memeinginthebathroom: *reference

icanseequeerlynow: what else can it tell me?

memeinginthebathroom: he's smart, but he's super fucking oblivious. Like it's painful

icanseequeerlynow: pshhhh what a dumbass

memeinginthebathroom: I know right. I won't be speaking to him for a few days cause I'm gonna be busy. Hope he doesn't die without my company

icanseequeerlynow: I'm sure he'll survive

memeinginthebathroom: probably not. He's kind of awkward and an introvert

memeinginthebathroom: shit I gotta go

icanseequeerlynow: bye

memeinginthebathroom: but the last thing I want to say is

memeinginthebathroom: I'm properly head over heels for this guy

memeinginthebathroom: and this guys name is Jeremy Heere

•••

𝚓𝚞𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚑
𝚊.𝚔.𝚊 𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚢
𝚊.𝚊.𝚔.𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚋𝚒𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚍𝚊𝚢

@memeinginthebathroom is offline

Apparently checking someone's status every five minutes won't miraculously make them he online. Jeremy hasn't spoke to Micheal since the text chain- and not because of lack of trying. Jeremy has been messaging him like every day.

But no reply.

Micheals probably embarrassed. Like he just told his best friend that he likes him. Jermey knows that he'd been embarrassed if he told Micheal how much he likes him.

And he likes him a lot.

Jermey almost laughs when the Fourth of July rolls around. The day that he apparently celebrates in a too boring way. He throws on his striped t-shirt, not bothering with his cardigan since it's 600 degrees outside.

He plods down the stairs, and is greeted by his pantsless father making bacon.

"Happy Fourth of July!" He smiles, flipping the food over in the sizzling pan.

"To you to" Jeremy sits down at the table.

"I made bacon today because, you know, 'ᎷᎬᎡᏆᏟᎪ"

Jeremy smiles. Though he's here, in his kitchen, in his house, his brain is up in the clouds. Micheal keeps coming through his thoughts like roadrunner. He doesn't even notice his dad place a plate of food in front of him. He doesn't hear the doorbell ring.

"Jermey!"
He's snapped out of his thoughts.
"I'm going to take a shower. Can you get the door?"

Jeremy gently gets up from his seat, stalking over to the front door. Still completely out of it, he swings open the door.

No ones there's.

But there is a big ass cardboard box on his doorstep. With a little white envelope stuck to the top. Jeremy's eyes scan his street. There's no mailman, or postal truck. No cars lying in wait to watch him open the box. The entire street is empty.
He tears opens the envelope.

ᒍEᖇEᗰY,
ᔕOᖇᖇY ᖴOᖇ GOIᑎG ᗩᗯOᒪ, ᗩᑎᗪ ᖴOᖇ ᑭOTEᑎTIᗩᒪᒪY ᖴᖇEᗩKIᑎG YOᑌ OᑌT TᕼE OTᕼEᖇ ᗪᗩY. ᗷᑌT, I ᑭᖇOᗰIᔕEᗪ YOᑌ ᗩ ᑕᗩᖇE ᑭᗩᑕKᗩGE, ᗩᑎᗪ YOᑌ'ᖇE ᔕᑌᖇE ᗩᔕ ᕼEᒪᒪ GETTIᑎG OᑎE.
I ᕼOᑭE YOᑌ ᒪIKE IT.

ᗰIᑕᕼᗩEᒪ

ᑭ.ᔕ YOᑌ ᗰIGᕼT ᗯᗩᑎT TO OᑭEᑎ IT Oᑎ YOᑌᖇ ᗪOOᖇᔕTEᑭ. TᕼE ᗷO᙭ Iᔕ ᕼEᗩᐯY ᗩᔕ ᔕᕼIT

The care package. Of course! The care package! Jeremy sprints to the kitchen with an aching smile on his face to grab scissors. He runs back to the box. Using the blade, he slices along the brown tap that closes the flaps.

But before Jeremy can pull open the box, it explodes with confetti. Jeremy screeches, falling back onto his butt with surprise. But when he opens his eyes, he finds the real surprise.

The box didn't burst open because of confetti. It burst open because of the boy that was sitting inside of it. Micheal stands there. On his doorstep, in the box, confetti in each hand, with a smile on his face.

"Happy Fourth of July" he says.

His voice. His real voice. Not through a screen and a million miles of wire. He's right here. Right. Here.
Jeremy's jaw drops, stretching into a grin.

"Holy shit"
His brain finally processes the situation.
"HOLY SHIT!"

Jermey jumps to his feet, tackling Micheal into a hug. The Filipino manages to keep his balance, hugging Jeremy just as hard. Jeremy's face is smushed into the iconic red hoodie. It smells like weed and women's perfume. It smells like Micheal.

"You're taller than I imagined" Jeremy says into Micheals chest.

"You're shorter than I imagined" Micheal retorts.

They finally pull back, letting He reality sink in as they look into each other's eyes.

"I can't believe you're here" Jeremy smiles.

"I promised you a surprise, didn't I?"

"I can't believe you're here" Jeremy grabs Micheals hoodie, and pulls him forward. Their lips connect, and they feel complete. Micheal kisses back eagerly, wrapping his arms around Jeremy's waist. They kiss and kiss and kiss and kiss until they're completely out of air.

Jeremy rests his forehead on Micheals with a chuckle, still gripping his hoodie.

"I knew you liked me, you know" Micheal finally says.

"What? How?"

"You're shit at keeping secrets, Jeremy Heere"

Joy and love courses through their veins. In this moment, all the late nights and heartaches, all the pining and hoping, finally paid off.

Jeremy doesn't have to worry anymore. He knows that him and Micheal have a connection

•••
Wooooo that was fun.
I wrote most of this in one day! So yay
Hope you all enjoyed!
- Avery