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"B-Boyf? What does that even mean..." Jeremy said quietly, as Michael suddenly but gently set his backpack next to the other boy's.
"It says boyfriend, Jeremy." Mell stuttered. "Will you be.. mine?"
Jeremy froze. "What am I- What? Yes? What do you expect me to-"
"My mothers will be thrilled!" Michael interrupted, giggling slightly, as Jeremy stared like a deer in the headlights.
"You- You planned this?" He asked, raising his voice. "Is this your idea of a joke, Michael?"
Jeremy's eyes teared up, squeezing the hem of the sweater he was wearing as his vision blurred, before turning sharply and sprinting away.
"Wait!" Mell yelled, reaching out to catch Jeremy's backpack but missing at the last second.
He paused, thinking through the haze his brain was, before deciding to stumble after his friend.
Jeremy shut the stall door and ripped the taped on sign off his backpack, yelling out random words such as, "Mell?!" and, "Gay??" and, "Fuck!" as he dropped the torn up pieces to the ground, sobbing audibly. Tears streaming down his cheeks, he threw his backpack onto the ground as well, putting the lid down before sitting heavily and cupping his face.
"I can't do this." he muttered.
"Can't do what, Heere?" A deeper voice said above him.
Jeremy jolted, yelping, "Rich!?"
"No." the voice said sadly. "It's Player Two."
Looking up, Jeremy met Michael's eyes in anger.
"What the fuck man," he yelled, standing up and pushing Michael backwards, with every syllable, "I am not gay! I don't-"
Michael leaned in until his lips met Jeremy's, kissing him softly and for as long as possible before he would inevitably be pushed away. Heere's eyes widened, before leaning in automatically. Not that he'd ever been kissed before, but it was instantaneous, the way he deepened the kiss. Michael placed one hand on Jeremy's hip, which snapped the taller boy out of the trancelike mood he was in.
And then Michael was on the ground, winded and gasping for breath.
"Fuck you Mell, don't- don't come near me again!" Jeremy kicked out at Michael, connecting the toe of his Converse with the other boy's cheekbone, hard. Michael choked out a sob as Heere grabbed his backpack and ran out of the restroom, slamming the door.
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Jeremy flopped onto his bed, wrapping himself up in the covers and sobbing softly. He didn't understand why he kissed back, and he didn't understand why Michael asked him out. Michael isn't gay either. He would have told Jeremy, wouldn't he? They're best friends... They were best friends. Jeremy sobbed harder into his sheets, realising what he had done. He had ruined a friendship that had lasted years, over what had to have been a joke.
"Jeremy! Michael's here, I'm sending him up after I get him some ice!" His father suddenly called out. Jeremy had fallen asleep, drooling onto the teary puddle before being jolted awake by his dad's yelling. He quickly jumped up, before thudding to the ground. The sheets had wrapped around his legs.
Michael was soon standing in front of him, his shoes right next to Jeremy's face, and holding ice to his black eye.
"I should kick you right now, Heere." He said softly, poking the other boy's cheek with the toe of his Converse. "But I don't wanna stoop to your level."
Jeremy wiped his eyes before looking up, staring at the dark mark around the other boy's eye and cheek.
"Do it, Mell. I deserve it." he whispered, laying his head on the floor in defeat.
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Jeremy was sat on the edge of his bed, ice held to his face as Michael cradled him gently.
"I'm-"
"No," interrupted Jeremy, "Don't apologise. This is my fault."
"No, I'm gonna take the ice back." Michael laughed awkwardly, running his hand through his hair.
"Oh." Jeremy blushed, embarrassed, as he handed the plastic bag back, before rubbing his own cheek softly. His eyes watered, but he blinked the pain away. Michael paused before decidedly pressing the ice back to Jeremy's cheek.
"My bruise has been there longer, the pain isn't as bad." He paused for a short moment. "I'm sorry I kis- er, kicked... Kicked you."
"Michael, I'm sorry I kicked you too. I was in shock, and scared." Jeremy whispered, sitting up and leaning in towards the other boy. He kissed Michael's cheek softly, before sighing and pulling away.
"I'm sorry, Michael," he said softly, "I'm sorry I hurt you and.. And I'm willing to try being bisexual."
Michael sat in shock before laughing a little.
"Jeremy- I'm sorry but you can't try being bi, you are or you aren't... But maybe being with me will show you that you are."
"We can go slow?" Jeremy whispered, blushing slightly and pulling the ice pack out of the other boy's hand before holding it to his own eye.
"Of course we can, Jere." Michael said softly, smiling and leaning in, kissing Jeremy's forehead.
Jeremy breathed in, before quirking his head to the side.
"Were- Are you high Michael?"
"Uh." Mell pulled back, looking away. "I had smoked, like, a bit of a joint to get the courage to ask you out...." He said, embarrassed.
"Figures, you tasted like weed earlier." Jeremy grinned playfully.
Heere paused for more than a moment, as Michael analyzed the flirtatious tone. Getting bored of Michael's in-depth thought process, Jeremy kissed him.
As he leaned back, Mell's face was about seven different shades of red. Sputtering, he strategically keeled over onto Jeremy's thighs.
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"Dad!" Jeremy yelled down the stairs," can Michael stay over!"
Of course, his father said yes, as Micheal often stayed over. He giggled softly, hugging Michael close.
"I can't believe I'm dating you, Micheal Mell, and all it took was a black eye..."
“Well, if it had taken any less you wouldn’t have been so keen of me, eh?”
Jeremy paused.
“I would have eventually realized you like me, even without violence..” He teared up slightly, feeling bad yet again over the situation he accidentally caused. He lashed out, hurt his best friend- and the only boy he’s ever loved, really.
Jeremy had a lot of internalized homophobia.