Step-Brothers

~Chapter Forty-Three~

Michael is quiet. They return to the Heere/Hansen home and Evan and Jared are waiting for the news.

"So..?"

"I'm not pregnant... but..."

"....But?"

"I do have bulimia.."

"Bulimia??"

"You have-?? Oh, Jeremy..." Jeremy goes quiet and looks over to Michael. Michael is looking right back so concerned. Jeremy wraps his arms around him, holding him so tight. Michael holds him just as tight.

"...I'm sorry I didn't notice."

"I made sure you didn't notice."

"Six whole years, Jeremiah..."

"six...?"

"Oh my..."

"Mhm..."

"I know..... I need to tell Rich-"

"Monday. Not now." Jeremy nods. Monday comes sooner than they would like it. Going back to school. Now Jeremy knows that he's sick, he feels more like it. Michael has taken it upon himself to make sure Jeremy takes his meds when he and Evan take theirs. He started them today and they haven't kicked in. Rich jogs right up.

"So?" Jeremy jumps.

"Good news, I-I'm not pregnant....."

"But the Bulimia? That's a thing?" Jeremy nods.

"That sucks..."

"The Doctor's have me on-" Jake walks up behind Rich. He has no idea what's been happening. No one tells him anything.

"Jake. Uh..."

"Is everything alright?"

"I mean... Not exactly? But... no baby, so that's good."

"Yeah... At least it's not like Evan."

"Evan? Like Evan Hansen?"

"Yeah. New kid."

"Why, what about him?"

"People are sayin' he's preggo."

"That wasn't his fault."

"How do you know?"

"He's my step-brother."

"Who in their right mind knocked cast boy up?"

"Well one, he has a boyfriend. two, he was sorta..... R-A-P-E-D by someone at his work.."

"Oh fuck..."

"Please don't pass that on. I shouldn't of told you either."

"My lips are sealed, string bean."

"same here." Evan walks by then, escorted by Michael who has the next class with him. Evan stops to lean in toward Jeremy's ear.

"hey all know they're staring, I can't take it, Jeremy."

"Ev, it'll be alright. You can make it. If anyone asks, it's just a rumor."

"But they KNOW, they- people are calling me a whore, Jeremy, a slut, they- and they stare and-"

"Evan, they don't KNOW. It's okay. We gotta get to class, dude."

"Listen to me, Kids are gonna be bullies. They're gonna be mean and say things but that doesn't mean that they're right."

"But I. Can't. Take it. And we all know what Jared's gonna do when he knows everyone is talking about it..."