Two Player Game

~Chapter Thirty-Two~

Michael's gets to Jeremy's quickly, finding his dad asleep on the recliner in front of the TV. Jeremy throwing up so much. Michael grumbles something at the sight of Mr Heere and jogs on down to the bathroom, setting his laptop on the floor and kneeling beside Jeremy, rubbing his back.

"Michael... I've lost like 5 pounds..." he flushes the toilet.

"Jesus, Jeremy..." Jared's quiet. He's confused. Why is he losing so much weight from this? Jeremy coughs and just like that, he's throwing up again. Michael rubs his back, murmuring to him.

"That's it, let it out. Breathe, Jeremy, breathe, you're gonna make yourself heave ag- there you go." Once he finishes that one, he lays his head on Michael's shoulder. He's so tired. Michael keeps rubbing his back.

"Are you a little better?"

"I think so." He coughs again and.... He just stares at his hand.

"Michael...." He just coughed up blood. Michael panics.

"Shit shit SHIT, MR HEERE, GET UP." He sleepily walks over.

"What's going on- Jeremy??"

"We gotta get him to a hospital, we gotta- Jer, c'mon, on your feet- I can't drive, we gotta go!"

"Oh- O-Okay." He rushes to the car as Michael practically has to carry Jeremy to the car. He's so weak. He's talking so fast, tripping over words and stuttering.

"Jeremy, talk to me, talk to me player 2, are you in pain, are you light headed, stay awake for me, Jeremy."

"I'm very light headed. I feel like I might pass out." Mr. Heere gets them to the hospital and they rush him in. Michael's carrying him until they get him on a stretcher and he tries to go with him, but is told he can't, he has to stay in the waiting room.

"N-No, you don't understand - I have to go with him, that's my boyfriend, please, let me go with him!"

"I'm sorry sir, you have to stay here."

"I can't, I have to make sure he's okay!" he ends up escorted out into the waiting room, pacing and nervous and so scared. It's really late. Mr. Heere passed out in one of the chairs.

"Oh God, oh God, what if he's dying? What if he's dead?? How could I have let him go home like that, this is my fault, oh my God, hoW CAN YOU SLEEP AT A TIME LIKE THIS???"

"I'm sure he'll be fine, Marcus..."

"It's. MICHAEL. You don't even care, do you?? You don't care that he vomits everything he eats! You don't care that he might be fucking dying!!"

"He's not dying. I know Jeremy." He closes his eyes again. No one really knows how he truest thinks about him. No one would actually want to know. Michael is so. PISSED.

"THIS IS WHY HE CONSIDERED KILLING HIMSELF TODAY." He's shaking a little. He's furious. Mr. Heere doesn't answer him. He's fallen back asleep. Michael just screams. He cannot believe this man. The doctors let him come in at like 2 in the morning. Jeremy is asleep in his bed. So many wires connected to him. Michael sits by his side and doesn't move for hours and hours. He doesn't respond to Jared's calls, he's only texted his mom to tell her what happened. Michael ends up spending the night. Mr. Heere went home. The doctors said they'd give him a call when he wakes up. Michael is awake the whole time, watching him, making sure this is okay. Eventually he answers when Jared calls.

"What?"

"Dude, you left your computer in the bathroom. What's with Jeremy? Is he alright??"

"He's - we're in the hospital. They said something ruptured or something in his stomach, they had to operate, he was coughing up blood, I- His DAD isn't even here, Jared, I've been here the whole time, he's not up yet, I just... I'm scared. I'm really scared."

"Michael... I'm sorry. I wish he'd get better... how did he get this sick??"

"He- Jared, he's got - he-" he can't make himself say it out loud. "... Eating disorder..."

"Oh....."

"He doesn't eat. Or he eats and then just... Makes himself throw it back up." he sighs. "I took him to the doctor for it. Got him a medication, put him on my insurance."

"He's going to fine right?? He's going to make it??"

"I don't know!! I don't know, they said the operation was successful, but this fucker won't fucking wake up and I can't do anything about it!!"

"I'm so sorry Michael...."

"Don't say that! Don't say that like he's not going to make it!"

"I know he's going to make it. It's Jeremy. He's the most stubborn person, besides Connor, that I know of. He's not gonna let himself die."

"I can't do it without him, Jared, I can't. Not at all."

"Michael. Listen to me. It's going to be okay. He is going to make it." He pauses. "I gotta go. Just have faith in him Michael. Sounds cheesy but it's true." Then he hangs up.

"Way too cheesy.."

"Hmmm is it Jared?" His eyes are droopy and his voice is hoarse. He shoots straight to his feet.

"Jeremy!" He smiles weakly. He's still in so much pain.

"Are you okay? Please tell me you didn't have another panic attack while I was out" Jeremy's more worried about him.

"... Just a small one, but it's fine, I handled it. It's okay. We should be worried about YOU." Jeremy chuckles slightly.

"Ow. That hurts." Michael looks so concerned.

"They put you through surgery. You're gonna have a big ass scar across your stomach."

"........The fuck?" He lifts up his shirt, "HOLY SHIT."

"Dude, dude, calm down, you'll tear the stitching."

"What the fuck did they take out???"

"Nothing! They were trying to fix something, Jer, something ruptured your stomach, they were fixing it."

"Michael, I don't have a fucking belly button anymore!"

"You do! You should, they said the incision was right through it, it's there, it's just...... Stitched?"

"Look at it....... it's gone." He sounds sad

"..... Dude, you are all hopped up on anaesthisia aren't you?"

"........maybe."

"You poor thing."

"I'm still super sleepy too. I might pass out again."

"Oh God, on one hand rest as much as you need, on the other for the love of God, don't leave me alone."

"I won't. Ever. If you ever get lonely you can just hold my hand." He smiles and holds out his hand. Michael takes his hand and smiles a little.

"Jared called. I think he's concerned too. Hung up kind of abruptly though, wonder what that was about."

"Probably saying his last goodbyes to His tree boy."

"Ah, probably." Then Jeremy is out like a light. Michael sighs. He shoots Evan a text.

M: [Good luck in Wyoming, tree boy 😘😘😘]

it's a good twenty minutes before he receives a

E: [Thank you, Michael 😚]