The Mask That They Wore

The Beginning

It had been sometime since the Squip incident and the boys have only gotten closer as friends. After Jeremy was able to leave the hospital, things were a bit awkward between the two. That's what you would expect when you haven't spent time together thanks to Keanu Reeves. Even if each chip was mostly destroyed thanks to Michael and his research, the voices were still there. Jeremy was still getting used to the voices in his head that seemed to dull more each day, unless it was a really bad day, where he would be tired or stressed by a situation and the squip would try to use it against him. Michael would supply him with Mountain Dew Red though, what did he do to deserve a guy like him anyways. After breaking the connection, the whole group just kind of seemed to get along, probably since the ones that had it before were more true to themselves and others had spent enough time with said kids.

About a year had passed and the Halloween party was right along the corner. It was at Jake's house again. He just doesn't seem to understand that horrible things always happen to the house that has the party , I guess that it's just a curse for being "cool" you know. After some arrangement, a.k.a deciding on the theme, Christine decided that it would be an awesome idea to make it masquerade themed, you know, where no one knows anyone, no one invites anyone to go with, you just go and dance with whoever.

***

Jeremy was at Michael's basement playing Apocalypse of The Damned, their favorite video game. They were just doing small talk and screaming here and there while munching on some snacks and vintage sodas. After a while they decided to take a break and talk about the party that was going to happen later that day.

"Michael are you going to the masquerade later today?", asked Jeremy with a hopeful smile.

"Jere we already went over this yesterday,", answered Michael with a fake pissed off look, suddenly turning into a gigantic grin. "I have a contact with this dude, he is going to hook me up with a Gamecube, a GAMECUBE, I just can't miss this shot, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity."

"I know, but it's also our first Halloween party with the whole gang as friends."

"I doubt that it's going to be the last Jeremy, it's probably going to become a tradition.", he stated in a matter of fact voice. "Isn't the plan anyway to just not go with anyone."

"Yeah, I was going to ask Christine since she had to take a rain check for our last date, but decided against it.", to be entirely truthful, their dates become more like friendly outgoings, not that he would tell Michael though.

Jeremy missed the look in Michael's eyes when the supposed date was announced, he covered it fast though. They aren't official yet, but they did go on dates every so often, they were just taking it slow if you asked them. Or at least that was what Michael thought.

"Don't worry, she probably won't be hard to miss. We both know how she is when it comes to performing a roll or dressing up. She would be crazy if she didn't go out with you. You're a great person." He had to stop before he went into a full on monologue which he tended to do when talking about his best friend.

"Thanks dude."

***

Jeremy wasn't going to lie, he was disappointed that Michael wasn't going to go. He had spent every second with Michael to make up for ignoring him and the situation that happened in the bathroom. He probably had apologized more than a thousand times, but what he did to Michael was unforgivable, which leaves him dumbfounded that he did it without a second thought.

"It wasn't you Jere, I know that now." or "Don't beat yourself about it, it's in the past.", Michael said along with a hug or an invitation to spend time together.