Two Player Game

~Chapter Eighty-Two~

- Two years later -

He pauses, looking around. He smiles a little wider. "We're all different too. Some of us are older, wiser, we've already started our life, maybe already done this once and decided to try again. And that's fantastic. And some of us... Some of us left high school four years ago. Some of us need to figure out life out. And that's okay!" He finds Jeremy's eyes in the crowd of other graduates. Jeremy is smiling, stars in his eyes. He gives him two thumbs up. He knew Michael was nervous about this moment. And he's even more nervous for this very part.

"And it'll take a while, for a lot of us, but I think I personally already have it under control. If uh, if Jeremy Heere could stand up please? Just, right where he is?" He stands, confused, his heart racing. Michael smiles extremely wide.

"For those who don't know, This is Jeremy, my best friend, the love of my life, and the reason I stand before you today. When I say I've got my life figured out, I mean him." he unzips his robe, revealing his button up and nice tie. He reaches into his pocket and fumbles for what's inside, face red and so goddamn excited. Jeremy goes wide eyed, and gasps slightly. This can't be. He pulls the box out, taking the microphone from the podium and moving in front of it and kneeling.

"Jeremiah Heere, I can't see the rest of my life without you at my side, Player 2." he flicks the box open.

"Marry me?" there are so many reactions in the room, including Rich shouting

"WAY TO GO, MIKEY!!" One of Jeremy's hands fly up to his mouth and he starts to tear up.

"Yes. Michael, Oh my god Yes." Michael is tearing up too. Evan, standing nearby as their last names are both H's, smiles and says,

"Jeremy, go up there." He walks up to the stage next to Michael.

"Oh my god" Michael slips the ring on Jeremy's finger. People clap. Rich and Jared are obnoxiously loud about it.

"God I love you so much, baby."

"I love you too." He wraps his arms around his neck and crushes their lips together. Michael dips him a bit as he kisses back. Conner sends a text to Jared and makes eye contact after he reads it.

C: [So does this mean we need to propose to Evan soon?]

Ja: [Once we figure out how this marriage is gonna work. Probably]

C: [I saw him watching say yes to the dress recently. I think we need to figure it the fuck out.]

Ja: [Definitely. Time to do a fuck Ton of research.]

C: [For now, DO NOT bring up marriage to Evan unless absolutely necessary.]

Ja: [Uh, well I AM Michael and Jeremy's wedding planner. They asked me before hand]

C: [Then I'll keep Evan distracted from that fact. The man is gonna get upset we aren't getting married and pretty much everyone else we know is.]

Ja: [Which means we gotta be quick about this]

C: [yep.]

They finish their graduation. The seven of them going out to dinner afterwards. Michael keeps his hand firmly in Jeremy's almost the entire time. He's so happy. He's so glad. He's been wanting to do this for so long. Rich and Jake's wedding made him want to do it even more.

So now we've got husbands, fiances and boyfriends. What a group. Jeremy can't take his eyes off the ring.

"It's so beautiful."

"Only the best for my player 2." he smiles bashfully. "I've had it for such a fuckin long time."

"At least it was more romantic than Me and Rich's engagement." 

"I don't know, asking in bed right after sex sounds pretty damn romantic to me." Conner shrugs and Evan elbows him gently with a small chuckle.

"Well I mean, He asked first but I had the ring"

"Wow, okay, kind of a mess, but it works." Rich laughs.

"You're tellin me, Con."

"We're all a mess"

"A huge mess."

"One big Gay mess. "

"How did the seven of us become friends?"

Michael points at Jared "Xbox."

Evan, "Jared."

Conner, "Weed."

Rich, "Rooming arrangements."

Jake, "Rich."

and finally Jeremy, "A lifelong bond formed by the naming of my very first Rattata, Hector the third." They all laugh.

"That's great." Evan keeps playing with his hands. Conner doesn't like it. Evan is super happy for Michael and Jeremy, but Conner can tell he envies them a little. Jared notices as well. Making eye contact with Connor. He shrugs. Evan notices.

"What? What are you guys having a weird mental conversation about?"

"It's nothing"

"Don't worry about it, Ev."

"...Okay..." Jared and Connor still subtly glance at each other. They have to figure this out. On the way back to the apartment they share, Jared drives as Connor looks through his phone.

"So.... you guys gonna tell me about it now?"

"About what?"

"The mind thingy you've been doing. You've been glancing and staring at each other and it's like your have a mental conversation."

"Uh, its nothing."

"Uhuh. Sure it is."

"We'll tell you later."

"And when's that?"

"................I don't know." The rest of the ride home is quiet.