Looking Into Your (My) Eyes* -BE MORE CHILL

Chapter Nine: Bathrooms, Breakdowns, and Love

CHAPTER NINE

   Shit.

    For a good minute, no one had risked moving or shattering the silence. The absence if noise itself is deafening, pushing the teens' spirits back down to zero.

    It's too much for Jeremy.

    He bolts out of the room, his chair clattering to the ground, causing everyone to jump. He's trying to hide sniffles as he frantically stumbles down the hall.

    Michael isn't far behind, dropping his glass to the floor, breaking into a million pieces upon hitting the tile.

    "Ugh, Jeremy!" He calls after him, running off as well.

    The other six are left to stand in the kitchen, still glued to their seats. Christine starts to get up, but Chloe stops her, shaking her head.

    "Let's... let them work it out. We- uhm, we can plan something from there,"

    Micheal twists his head between the two pathways of the hall, and decides to run down the one he hears a muffled cry escape from. Eventually, the sounds lead him to Chloe's guest bathroom. Jeremy must've been in one hell of a rush, because he forgets to lock the door.

    "...Jere?" Michael pushes the door ajar, just barely peering in.

    Jeremy curls up into himself, trying as hard as he can to keep quiet. The shower curtain provides a great cover from Michael's view. Jeremy shudders when he can practically feel his brain going a thousand miles a minute. He wants to do nothing more than disappear.

    Chloe made them admit their issues to their friends. Rich helped prove their point. Christine was the group cheerleader, caring so deeply about everyone's happiness and well-being. Jenna suggested the SQUIP and ordered the Mountain Dew Pitch-Black. Jake convinced the SQUIP to give them answers, claiming it fell under their instructions to 'better Jeremy's life'. Brooke was subtler in her efforts, but offered her car as a way to get the Mountain Dew and kept Chloe from bossing them all to hell last night. And Michael. Michael was so understanding, and put up with Jeremy's anxious ticks and overblown worries.

    What did I do?

    Michael didn't deserve any of this. Michael didn't deserve to be thrown out of my life. Michael didn't deserve to be left in the-

    Jeremy hasn't cried yet, not willing to let himself. He holds back his tears, staring down at the porcelain white of the bathtub clashing against the darker caramel of Michael's skin. Is this how Michael felt?  Such broken, confused anger melting into sadness and aching.

    "Jeremy, get outta the tub," Michael speaks into the bathroom. At first, Jeremy thinks its his own conscience, telling him what he should be doing. He doesn't want to get out of the tub. He wants to sit there for eternity and die there. But Michael clearly wants him to come out and face the music. Michael doesn't deserve to be stuck dealing with me.

     So he stands. Jeremy slowly opens up the shower curtain and steps out, eyes still bloodshot from keeping any and all tears behind his eyelids. Michael is leaning against the counter, having closed and locked the door behind him. Michael holds out his arms, a weak smile etching its way onto his face. It's quickly overcome, though, and falters upon taking in Jeremy's appearance. Jeremy can't swallow the sob that rips through his throat.

    I've broken him. I don't deserve Michael.

    He trips forward, accepting Michael's embrace, sobbing the whole way to the ground. Michael falls over with him, sitting on his knees and holding Jeremy even tighter. Michael himself falls onto Jeremy's shoulder, a few tears escaping his own tightly shut eyes.