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He woke up in Michael’s room, and he had no idea how he ended up there.
Alone. He was alone, in Michael’s room, with no Michael in sight.
What the Hell happened?
Slowly, he rose from the floor. Sleeping bag. He was lying on a sleeping bag.
The Squip had taught him to notice every detail. Count the milliseconds, count each step, and sing fucking happy birthday twice while washing his hands, amongst many other dumb things.
Jeremy looked around the room, contemplating what to do, before he heard footsteps going down the basement stairs.
Michael.
“Michael? What am I… Doing here?” When he turned around, his best friend was holding a bottle of Mountain Dew Red, staring at Jeremy like he had two heads.
“Care to explain why your dad had to call me over to get your ass out of your room? You were going batshit crazy, talking to yourself, just like you did when you had the Squip,” He paused, “... Is it back?”
Jeremy just sat there and averted his gaze from Michael’s, “I… Don’t remember that, o-or anything before right now…”
Michael sighed, kneeling to sit beside Jeremy, “Here, drink some just in case.” As Michael handed him the bottle, Jeremy noticed how his hand ghosted the other boy’s for a second.
Jeremy tilted the bottle and drank. He saw the ceiling. The old popcorn style, curves slightly browned with age and marijuana. He had never noticed it before.
Damn Squip.
He didn’t even notice when the soda dribbled down his chin and onto his shirt, and Michael quickly took the bottle. “Uh, Jeremy!”
He snapped out of his daze and brought his sleeve to wipe the soda off himself, “Ah… S-sorry, Mike-Michael… I got distracted.”
Michael raised his eyebrow, noticing Jeremy’s correction of his name, “It’s okay… It is back, isn’t it?” He pathetically nodded, and Michael inched closer. “Is it… Saying anything?”
“N-no… It’s just me. This is who I am now, someone who pays too much attention to time, or too much attention to details. How your ceiling is discolored from all the weed we used to smoke down here, or how the carpet is slightly out of its usual place, or how the blanket is folded a different way,” He slowly turned his gaze to Michael, “Or how you’re fidgeting with your sleeves as we speak, which I rarely ever noticed before.” Jeremy took another deep breath, “I’ve already been awake for ten minutes, forty seconds, and twenty milliseconds.”
The other boy sniffled and, without warning, pulled Jeremy into a hug. “I’m so fucking sorry you’re going through this.”
Jeremy pulled away and placed his hands on Michael’s shoulders. “N-no, I’m sorry for doing what I did to you. I-I never meant to hurt you, M-Mike. I never w-want to hurt you again. Never.”
“I already forgave you, Jere… You’re my best friend, and I love you.” What?
Jeremy was about to ask before Michael cut him off, “Uh! Forget I said that!” He covered his mouth and faced away.
He took Michael’s shoulder again, noticing his shiver, and forced Michael to look at him. “You know what? The Squip thought it was really uncool to like another boy, even though I also like girls. I really only took the Squip because I was ashamed of liking another guy, especially my best friend, and it really only helped me go deeper in my denial.”
Michael’s pupils were blown, “Jerem-” He was cut off.
“So, I lied and told myself I wanted Christine. Don’t get me wrong, Christine is a great person! But we’re too different, and I can’t see myself being anything more than her friend.” Jeremy noticed Michael get even closer, “You know what? It also electrocuted me whenever I thought or did something it didn’t agree with. Masturbation? Shock. Thinking of you in any way? Shock. At the party, I just wanted to take you and shower you in apology kisses, but I couldn’t. It took over all of me.”
He finally realized he rambled and turned to see his best friend staring at him in shock and admiration, “I-What? Jere, are you being for real?”
Jeremy placed a hand on Michael’s cheek, “Yes, I’m being for real. I fucking love you, and I’m sorry that it had to take almost killing myself and the whole school for me to admit it.”
Michael couldn’t even respond. He took Jeremy by his shirt and smashed his lips against his. Jeremy yelped before melting into the kiss. It was raw and uncomfortable. Definitely not what first kisses were in movies. Their noses clashed together, Michael’s glasses pressed against Jeremy’s face, and both of them had no idea where to put their hands, but neither could pull away.
Until they needed to breathe.
Jeremy pulled back first and stared at Michael like he was a god, “W-wow…”
“Wow indeed…” Michael panted. They dove back in again, and for a few moments, it was just them. Michael and Jeremy. Jeremy and Michael. Just like how it used to be. They broke apart again, and Michael put his hands through Jeremy’s hair. “I’ve been thinking about that kiss since seventh grade.”
“I’m so glad you didn’t move on, then.” Replied Jeremy, and noticed how Michael’s lips were slightly separated, feeling his chest rise, the way his lips quirked up into a soft smile. Maybe something good did come from the Squip.
He got to notice every detail about Michael.