The Answer Lies in the Truth

Chapter 15

"One more week till my party, you found someone to go with haven't you?" Rich boomed as I stepped into the school building. He was asking Jenna who was typing on her phone.

"Psh, as if I'd risk my life to go you your dumb party." She said.

"Jake's got the catering, and I promise there will be no fire hazards." Rich sighed, I could tell he had had to say that a lot.

"Wait, Jake's catering? Fine I'll go, but there better be alcohol." Jenna said dismissively. She walked away from him and he looked upset.

"Just like fuckin' freshmen year..." he mumbled and walked off.

I was having a mental break down, okay, so, I have one week and STILL no one to go with! It will be the biggest party of the spring, and if I don't go my social status will dump back into a high school nothing. I can't even count on going with Red, because I don't know who they are!

I walk down the hallways in an unconscious effort to find Michael and tell him about my misfortune. Maybe he'd have some advice. He's always been pretty chill around girls. Except for that one time, but I blame that on myself.

"Hey Michael!" I yell out when I see him. He's sitting in the cafeteria and playing on his DS.

"Hey dude," He said sticking out his tongue. He paused his game. "Dude, you look like a sad dolphin, what's wrong?"

"How do you even know what a sad dolphin looks like?" I asked, he shrugged and looked at me expectantly. I sighed, "Well, I don't have a date to Rich's Valentine party, and Red said they were going to stop talking to me, and I don't know how to handle that. You have any advice," I paused and thought a moment. He looked like he was about to say something, but I cut him off hurriedly, "about girls and figuring out how to talk to them, not about the party, I know how to party." He shut his mouth and thought.

"I don't know dude, maybe, like I said, Red isn't a girl, or maybe she's just messing with your head for fun. I wouldn't worry about it. Besides parties are parties, in college they'll probably be a million more." He said. "Just go with any girl, what's so special about Red? Why do you care so much?"

"I don't know." I said pausing, "I just feel like I know them somehow. I feel connected to them. I don't want to call it love, but Mike, dude, it's something real. I don't even know who they are and I feel like if they stop talking to me I'll never forgive myself for not figuring out the mystery I could have gotten. Besides Michael, this is the BIGGEST party that's going to happen until Spring Break! This determines if we get shoved into lockers or stroll the halls ignored. You got to help me man!" I pleaded.

Michael looked uncomfortable. "Fine Jeremy, I'll help you, but you owe me."

"Thank you!" I said relived.

The bell parted our pact and we walked to our classes. Later at lunch we created a game plan. Mike would interview the girls and see if any of them expressed any interest in me. So far the only girl that seemed to know of my existence was the lunch lady.

Oh god I hope it's not the lunch lady.

It's times like these that I miss my Squip. The ability to not look like an idiot in front of girls was truly magical. I hesitated and thought about what Michael had said about it being a guy. I looked around the lunchroom. Michael was interviewing some girls. I looked at him instead of the girls this time. I glanced over his back and his hair. It looked nice, and I felt a blush rise to my cheeks as I looked lower down.

Holy shit, I'm totally Bi! Where's Rich when you need him? I felt something in my gut shift as I felt realization dawn on me. I waved Michael over when he finished talking to the two girls. He walked over, "Well, it doesn't seem that Ver-" I grabbed his face in between my hands.

"Dude," I stared into his eyes. He started turning red. "I'm Bi." I said, his eyes widened. "I mean..." I cleared my throat and let go of his face. "It's okay if you think it's weird. Us both being dudes, but I swear it's totally no homo between us bro."

Michael nodded slowly. "Actually that's not weird at all, I've been trying to tell you this for a while but I'm g-"

"DUDES YOU DID NOT JUST MISS THAT!" Jake yelled at us and came over to our table. "Rich just ate an entire hamburger with no hands!" He was practically jumping. His face read excited boyfriend all over it.

I looked over to Michael, and his face read annoyed all over it. It was kinda funny. Jake was too busy gushing to notice which made the whole situation even more hilarious.

Rich waddled over to Jake with burger all over his face. "Yo dudes," he slurred.

"Are you guys drunk?" I asked looking at the funny swaying couple.

"Sshhh," Rich said and giggled. Jake went pale.

"Babe they know, they're gunna call the cops." He started crying. I fought back giggles. I would have never pegged Jake to be an emotional drunk. Rich wiggled his eyes brows and walked Jake away from us.

Michael's annoyance had melted into a half-smirk. "My God, they're freaking smashed. Why didn't we bring our stash?"

"Michael! We're at school!" I laughed and rolled my eyes.

After lunch the rest of the day was pretty uneventful. Jenna said that Rich and Jake got detention for three weeks. It was lucky they didn't get a weeks suspension.

"Jeremy," the Squip said as I left the school and said goodbye to Jenna. (Michael and I usually take the bus, but I had rehearsal again, and he said he was swamped with work.)

"Do I have a message?" I asked trying the keep the hope out of my voice and sound disinterested.

"Jeremiah, I am in your brain, I know how desperate you are." The Squip quibbed.

"Fine, please tell me if I have a message!" I asked worriedly.

"You do." I felt myself breathe. I didn't even realize I had stopped.

"Tell me." I demanded.

"My love,
Why do you insist to find me? You don't even know who I am. If you ever found out you'd be disgusted. I'm so sorry. Please let me go, I don't want to hurt you.
Love,
Red

I thought for a moment. I wonder if I could send messages through the Squip?  "You can," It helpfully replayed.

"Okay, then send a message to Red."

--BEEP--

Michael yawned and looked over to his computer. It still had the message program running. He'd forgotten to turn it off. It beeped again and he sighed. He had just got finished crying in the shower. He really needed to find a better way to spend his time.

He looked over to his screen. In big red letters there was a message.

'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON YOU'

New tears filled his eyes.