Don't You Love Me? (Jeremy X Michael)

Chapter Fifteen

    As Jeremy walks up to Michael's hospital room, Rich and Jake walk out of his room. They both look at him, then quickly look away, as though they're disgusted with him.

    Jeremy feels panic rush through his body, he runs to Michael's room.

    "Michael?!" Jeremy basically screams, "are you okay?!"

    Michael, looking out the window again, doesn't turn to him when he says, "Oh, hey Jeremy."

    Jeremy suddenly knows he fucked up something (Pardon my French). He walks over to Michael, "What's wrong? What'd I do?" He asks much more calmly.

    Michael looks at him with a cold glare, "Well, I know about Christine for starters. Were you even going to tell me?"

    Jeremy is taken aback. Then he suddenly knows why Jake and Rich looked at him like they were disgusted.

    He snaps out of his daze, "... Well.... not really..."

    "'Not really' what?" Michael snaps.

    "I didn't really... plan on telling you.."

    Michael's glare becomes colder, "That's what I thought. I get in a car crash and you just go and call Christine behind my back!" Michael stops looking at Jeremy and turns back to the window.

    Jeremy takes a deep breath and tries to collect a way to explain himself, but he knows he's wrong. "Michael... I'm so sorry.. can I try to explain my side...?"

    "If you really think it's worth my time," he says emotionlessly.

    Jeremy hesitates, for he knows it isn't. He takes a deep breath anyways, "I got a message from this unknown number, soon to figure out it was Christine. She asked if we could meet up in a few weeks when she comes to New Jersey. I won't lie... I first felt kinda happy."

    Michael snorts.

    Jeremy continues, "but I knew you hate her, and it'd hurt you so much if I went to catch up with her. I wrote this long, mean paragraph talking about how after a whole month of nothing, she decides to message me... but I didn't have the heart to send it, so I deleted it and blocked her number. She isn't important to me now. You mean too much to me."

    "Pfft-!" Michael winces in pain, "That's the stupides-"

    "I'm not don't yet!" Jeremy yells much louder than he intended.

    Michael becomes silent.

    "I ran into the bathroom. I felt terrible. I caused you to go to the hospital-'

    "Jeremy..."

    "-then Christine has to message me after a month of moping around," Jeremy continues, "I started to wonder why she messaged me. It honestly took a long time for me to decide, but I did, and it was to call her. Only for answers though. I wanted to know who the bad guy of the story was. 

    "I was so relieved after hearing her voice, but I tried to catch up with her. After she heard you were in the hospital, she said I shouldn't be talking to her, but to be with you... then she hung up,' Jeremy takes a deep breath, "I don't know what Jake and Rich told you, but that's what happened, whether you want to believe me or them is up to you."

    "... I... I thought Christine always hated me to be honest..." Michael says slowly.

    Jeremy looks at Michael, "No, actually, she would always joke about me and you becoming a thing. She even shipped us. 'Meremy,' I think it was. I should've told you more about it, but I was awkward and embarrassed about it..." 

    "Oh... huh... I guess she was right though," Michael chokes out a small laugh, then fumbles with his thumbs again.

    Jeremy smiles at his words, but then becomes more serious, "But... do you believe me...?" He asks, unconsciously aware of his insecurity.

    "I mean... I don't have a choice, do I?" 

    "Of course you do," Jeremy reminded comfortingly, "I just need to- well... I want to know," He chuckles.

    "Well, I do believe you... just because I love you. If you do something like that again, though, I... I don't think I can handle it..."

    Jeremy smiles, "Believe me, I couldn't either."

    Michael smiles back at him. 

    "Well, you should get some sleep, Michael... and by that, I mean I need some sleep. This day has been so hectic, and it hasn't even been too long!"

    "Come here," Michael pats the space next to him with a yawn.

    "Are you sure? I mean, is it allowed?" Jeremy asks as though Michael knows.

    "Do you think I care? Now get over here!" He replies playfully.

   Jeremy, putting his arms up in surrender, lays down next to Michael on the hospital bed. Michael wraps his arms around Jeremy, smiling. Jeremy, blushing as red as a tomato, smiles back at Michael. 

    "I love you, Michael."

    "I love you, too, Jeremy."