Chapter Text
There were many times when Jeremy’s brain short circuits. When the doctor asks during the yearly check-up if he has been masturbating. When he runs out of food in the house and there is no money to buy anything so that his dad doesn't starve. When a teacher asks him for the answer to their question and he has to look at Michael to give him the answer only to realize he doesn't know either. When Dad walks out of the bathroom and says, "Hey, son." to Jeremy, who has to remember that's his actual blood-related parent. When he's having a panic attack and Michael says something so absurdly stupid he gets snapped out of said panic attack.
Despite the many situations that temporarily freeze him, none like this ever happened.
***
It happened on a Tuesday afternoon, but started before school that same day. He had spent the night at Michael’s house for the second week in a row. Dad hadn't been answering any of his texts but that was to be expected. The man never had energy for anything, much less enough to reassure his biological son that he was alive. Which was whatever. Jeremy should be used to it. Dad does it all the time.
He worried at his lip as he sat on his beanbag with his phone in hand. The basement was cold today. The outside world was bound to be colder. He thought about asking Michael if he could borrow a hoodie. He considered whether or not his teachers would send him to the principal's office if he brought a blanket. Probably. Maybe if Nanay had a large scarf he could use it for warmth. That would work. Hopefully.
"Still no texts?" Michael asked as he walked into the basement aka his bedroom. He was drying his short hair with a hand towel. Jeremy’s not sure if that's what the small towels are for but he'll let it go. Michael throws the towel into his laundry basket that Ina bought in an attempt to keep her son's and basically her son's room clean.
Jeremy shook his head. "No. He hasn't even read the ones I sent. Do you think I should go check on him?" Michael shuffled around the room, looking for his school supplies. Jeremy stood up and quickly searched for his backpacks, finding his personal one tucked under Michael's bed and his school bag by the door to the stairs. He hasn’t taken much out of them since he started sleeping over here, just sticking to the essentials that he needs. Which isn't much since Ina and Nanay insist on buying the things he needs for him. "What if something happened to him? And since I wasn't there to help, he's might be in danger or- or hurt badly and-"
Michael dropped his notebook and glasses cleaner into his backpack. He walked over to his best friend and carefully grabbed his hands, cupping them with his own. This successfully shut Jeremy up as the warmth radiating from Michael calmed him down. He could smell the lingering weed stench from last night’s “study session” and a faint vanilla smell. Michael no doubt had Flan this morning.
"Bes, he's fine." Michael had no right to have this much power over him. Stupid child neglect making him want to feel the love that his parents never give. Stupid Michael for being able to willingly give him that. Michael probably doesn't even know how much this affects him. "Your dad is probably sleeping or something. He’s okay."
Jeremy stared at their hands. Michael’s probably right. Dad sleeps a lot and it makes sense that he's doing it right now. He sleeps all day, anyway, so Jeremy doesn't have anything to worry about. "Okay," he relents quietly. "You're… probably right." Michael smiles softly and Jeremy’s heart soars. He made that happen. He made someone happy. He made Michael, his best friend forever, happy.
"Damn right I am." Jeremy laughs. "Are you ready to take on high school today?"
"Always."
"Mm. Did you get everything you need for class?" Jeremy nodded. He mentally went over his list but quickly disregarded it for fear of doubting himself. He knows he's ready because he triple-checked everything. And after he freaked out about not having everything the first time, checked another three times. "Did you eat breakfast? Ina and Nanay will freak out if you didn't."
Jeremy waited a beat."Uhh …No." He hasn't been eating breakfast or lunch for the last four days. Michael has been trying to coax him into it but Jeremy’s not used to it yet. He knows he should be with all the food Nanay and Ina feed him but a lot of the time it makes him feel sick. He’s spent too many years skipping meals to go back to having three a day.
"'Miah," Michael said in a scolding tone. "It's not healthy to miss so many meals."
"I know but it's hard to… you know." Michael seemed to want to sigh but for some odd reason he didn't. Fuck, Jeremy hates making his friend worried. He'll make it up to him. He'll… he'll eat today at lunch. Not just drinking a sip of water from Michael’s water bottle but actual food. He'll… he'll eat some of the shitty school food or pick off of Michael’s 7-Eleven snacks. Michael wouldn't mind because he's trying to get better. So he can deserve Michael’s, Nanay's, and Ina's love and affection. So he can prove that he isn't a disappointment. So he can prove he’s worth anything.
Michael's voice brought him back to the present. "I do know and I'm so fucking proud of you for trying." Warmth spread from Jeremy’s chest followed by guilt. He shouldn’t let Michael’s approval affect him this much. It was pathetic how he chased after something that shouldn’t matter. "Love you, Player Two."
"Love you too, Player One," Jeremy mumbled. Michael moved to hold Jeremy’s hand and dragged him along to grab their stuff. Today Jeremy would complete the challenge of eating at lunch. Today he won't be afraid to ask to use the restroom and be forced to hold it in until the bell rings. Today he will answer at least half of the questions on his math test without asking Michael for the answers. Today he fights God in a hand to hand battle and wins.