Imagines

If The World Was Ending-JP Saxe/Julia Michaels

Jeremy drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, stuck in traffic, and his mind wandering. He personally hadn't been affected by the recent earthquake, but for some reason he couldn't help wondering about Lance. Jeremy couldn't help but think about where he was when the earthquake hit. Was Lance at the bar or at home watching tv? Jeremy thought he figured out how to let him go and to be okay with no more communication. Neither of us were to blame for what happened. Does that mean we weren't meant to be forever? Were we doomed to fall apart? Sometimes Jeremy wondered what would happen if the world was ending. If he knew the world was gonna end, would Lance come over? And just forget everything that happened for the hell of it? Everything that happened could be irrelevant. The thought of whether Lance would come over if the world was ending continued to plague him as he entered his apartment building and went to the elevator.

Lance sat on his couch and turned on the tv, trying to watch. But he wasn't paying attention. The recent earthquake had him thinking about Jeremy. What was his reaction? He began thinking about the good old times they had together. Like when they were in high school and snuck out when they were supposed to be spending the night at Jeremy's house. Lance smirked at the memory of him and Jeremy trying to get in the house, but they were so drunk they couldn't even make it past the kitchen without falling over. It's been a year since they talked; and Lance thought he figured out how to think about Jeremy without heartache. When they were kids, Lance had imagined they would be best friends forever. Maybe it wasn't meant to be forever like he thought. Another part of Lance used to think they would get over this fight that just seemed so stupid now. Lance had been battling the thoughts of calling Jeremy, but what if Jeremy brushed him off? He couldn't know anymore. What if the world was falling apart? Would they be together just for the hell of it? I mean, if the world was ending, he would come over, right?

"Come on, Lance you've gotta help me out," Jeremy insisted. He knew his best friend's facial expressions. He knew Lance would rather be anywhere but here.

"No I don't," Lance scoffed. This felt like the 100th time Jeremy had asked him for something and he had no idea what was even going on.

"You're not even letting me talk."

"What is there to say that's different from what you said the past a thousand times you've asked me for something?" Lance's voice was sour.

Jeremy recoiled, as if he was struck. "That's why you're upset?"

"Yeah! That's why I'm upset. You're asking me to do things for you all the time, Jeremy! I'm trying not to sound like a jerk, but I can only be spread so thin."

"You could've just told me," Jeremy whispered.

"No. You don't get to make yourself the victim here." Lance's voice was firm. He was tired. Tired of spending all of his energy helping Jeremy when he didn't even know what he was helping him fix.

"I'm not. Don't you ever stop to think about why I might need so much help? I don't need to make myself a victim." Jeremy's voice was pretending to be calm.

"You won't talk to me Jeremy!" Lance's voice cracked. He hated this-his best friend suffering and having no idea why.

"You're not being very approachable, Lance."

"Stop making me the bad guy." Words were flying out of Lance's mouth before he could even process them.

"Stop thinking of only yourself. I thought we were best friends."

"Don't play that card." Lance crossed his arms.

"Dang it Lance! I'm not trying to manipulate you! Just shut your mouth for five minutes and let me talk!" Jeremy's voice indicated he was on the verge of tears. He felt like breaking. "You won't let me talk, so I don't talk. But I still need help so I figured you would be there for me, like best friends are supposed to. I shouldn't have to explain everything to you. And I would open up to you if you would just let me talk without demanding an explanation for everything. And if you had just told me it was too much, I would've listened. That's all it would've taken."