Chapter Text
Jeremy sat on his chair, his hand on his chin as in rested upon his desk. He had the new demo that he had made, playing in the background to ease his mind and clear the silence. Despite that, it made him think about Jake again.
“…a song that can save JD..?” He whispers to himself. After that failed attempt, he still had to try to save Jake. But he couldn’t think of anything. Chloe’s words still hung in his mind.
We know nothing about how JD really feels but.. “i’ll keep composing.” He says under his breath, determined. He looks at his laptop, leaning back on his chair.
I said that out of desperation but i still don’t know what I’m doing wrong.. or even, what kind of song can save him. He stops slouching and he sits tall. He wasn’t confident and yet despite that, he had this surge of motivation.
I have to compose one. I have to make a song that saves him.. that saves JD..
“I have no purpose if I don’t.”
Before Jeremy could get back to working on his piece, he hears the doorbell ring. At first, he’s confused. No one had ever visited him. Ever since his dad.. He shakes his head, pushing that aside.
The point still hung over his head, though. His mom, his aunt Linda, her husband Ray, his cousins, the rest of his extended family, friends.. who? Oh.
God, Jeremy thought he was the biggest idiot to ever grace mankind. To be fair to him, it had simply crossed his mind until he thought about it hard enough.
Right, today’s the day Michael comes over.
If Jeremy was being honest, He didn’t know why Michael came over. He’s stopped playing video games ever since… yeah, Heere, don’t go there.. Trying to shake off his nerves by standing up and walking out his room (a rare occasion, he’s aware), he tried thinking of possible reasons as to why Michael showed up.
The easier- and the one he was most certain was the truth- was that him (and by extension, his moms) were worried about him. Jeremy hadn’t gone out in a while. He hadn’t done basic necessities that he should have. Hell, one look at him and you could already tell.
Therefore, Jeremy assumes- well, more like knows- that Michael wanted to help him somehow. Whether by just being there or helping him clean the house, Michael makes an effort to show Jeremy that he cares and he appreciates that.
He can’t help but feel guilty, extremely guilty in fact, with how Michael helped him. Jeremy should be able to do his own things, clean his own house, take care of his own mental well-being.
And yet, he eats the same microwavable food everyday to calm his hunger.
Christ, he was pathetic.
Putting those thoughts briefly to a pause, Jeremy opened the door. A soft smile came onto his face when he saw Michael. It disappears as he felt a slight twinge of guilt seeing Michael with his cleaning supplies.
“Hey, Michael.”
Michael grins. Jeremy hadn’t seen it in a long time (a month to be precise but who’s counting?). “Hey, dude! Today’s clean up day, right?” He chuckles. “Where would you be without me?”
Jeremy didn’t answer that. He didn’t say the millions of answers he knew to be the truth. Unhappy, miserable, dead. He kept quiet until speaking up again. “Sorry to ask this, man… But can you do the kitchen and the bathroom?”
“Huh? Oh, sure. Just so you know, this is coming straight out of your bank account.” Michael does a salute, mockingly yet without malice. “I’ll get started right away, player 2.”
Ah, haven’t heard that in a while.
“By the way, you know the 7-Eleven down the street?” Jeremy nods while Michael smiles. “You want a Slushie? I’ll get the Raspberry while you get blueberry. You know, like old times. Or you wanna pass?”
“Sure, thanks. I’m kinda thirsty, anyway.”
“Cool! Be right back!” Michael ruffles Jeremy’s hair and exited the house, leaving his supplies by the bathroom. “I’ll let you know when I get back!”
Jeremy went back to his room. Alright, break’s over. Back to composing.
I must.. I must…
——
Jeremy let out a huff. He wasn’t getting anywhere. He was working on the bass section of the song yet it still didn’t strike a chord for him. It was tolerable, great even. Yet not even close enough to save JD.
It was frustrating to say the least, working hours one end only to end up with a disappointing result. It made him want to slam a head against a wall.
Wonder how Michael’s doing? He thought. Michael should have been done by now. The music (Bob Marley, was it?) that he usually played while cleaning had stopped. It probably meant that he was either done or looking for another song to play.
Jeremy stretches in his chair. He appreciated Michael’s help immensely. He was honestly shocked when his Aunt Linda had hired Michael to be a housekeeper. It made him feel guilty despite knowing that Michael and his moms probably offered (for possible less pay too, family friends and all that).
Though since I’m living with myself, I guess the extra work could help. Jeremy knew he should have done the work to live comfortably alone. His mom left during his freshman year, his father.. was in a tough spot at the moment but even throughout childhood he’d sort of be the parent who’d only listen to his wife despite how.. controlling she was.
Still though, Aunt Linda was all the way in Hachetfield, wherever that was, and couldn’t raise him as she dealt with four sons already. Aside from that, distant relatives didn’t have the resources nor time to care for him.
Jeremy already rejected the Mells’ offers to stay at their place as all his equipment was here and it felt like home.
Technically, it is home.
Maybe that’s why they offered to help, they just wanted to be there for him during this tough time. My work efficiency would’ve lowered so maybe it’s for the best.
Besides, Michael sure knows how to cook.
“Hey, Jeremy!” Michael’s voice makes him direct his attention at him. “I’m done cleaning! Come on, get your slushie!”
“Coming!”
——
Breaking awkward silences was a skill Jeremy never had. Him and Michael were just silent, sipping their slushies as they avoided looking each other in the eyes.
Yet he had to try, right? Anything’s better than staying in silence. Just say something!
“It tastes good.” Wow, good job, Heere:
“Yeah, told ya. It’s Sev Elev’s famous blueberry. You can never go wrong with that.” Michael stayed silent for a moment. “You enjoying it?”
“Yeah, thanks. It’s really good.”
“You practically said that already.” He says, drinking more on his slushie. “Glad you like it though.” Jeremy did so as well, only stopping once he got a major headache.
“Ow! Dammit..!” He chuckled, rubbing forehead as if to massage it.
“Brain freeze?” Michael asked. Jeremy nodded, still chuckling despite the pain. “What a relief, right?”
“Relief? You like seeing me in pain?”
“Depends.” He teased, sticking out his tongue. “But no, I meant since you’re so.. well, you seemed stressed. Glad you’re smiling again.”
Jeremy paused but he was still smiling. It wasn’t a big but it was a smile nonetheless. “Is that why you’ve been weirdly quiet?” Michael nods. “Thought you were starting to hate me or something.”
“Why would I? You’re my best friend.” He said. “I couldn’t hate you even if I tried. Unless you like, caused the apocalypse or some shit.”
Jeremy laughs. “You’re a great person, Michael. You’re good with housework and you care a lot about me.”
“Nah,” Michael snorts. “It’s more of the fact that I like helping you, that’s all.” Before Jeremy could ask more, he continued. “I admit I was kinda hesitant of being your housekeeper and whatnot. I mean I thought you needed some space with everything that was going on. But i’m really glad I helped you out.” He smiles to himself. “It’s fun in a way.”
“It is?”
“Obviously. Helping a friend and cheering them up is something that cheers me up as well. Plus, it’s cool, isn’t it? It’s like not focusing on the bad things but helping someone get over them.”
Jeremy was quiet. For a moment, all you could hear was the breathing of the both of them. That was until Jeremy decided to speak up. “Hey, Can I ask you advice on something?”
“Depends on what it is.” Michael said, honestly.
Jeremy took a deep breath and began to explain the situation without necessarily mentioning anyone from Nightcord. “There’s this guy. I’m trying to help him but.. I don’t know, man. It’s hard. I’m trying to help him but sometimes, I just don’t know how to.” He looks at Michael. “What would you do?”
“Well, I guess I’d listen to what he has to say.” He says, fiddling with his now finished Slushie. “Different people work in different ways, you know? That includes how they want to receive help.”
“What if he doesn’t know how they want to be helped?”
Micheal paused, pondering the question for a while. Was there even an answer for that? He then began to speak up again. “It still applies, i guess. I’d listen harder. Get to know them more. Their likes and dislikes, how they feel appreciated or heard, all that kind of stuff.” He shrugs. “Sometimes what helps a person is if they feel understood or if they let out what’s bothering them. There are times where people tend to keep that inside. They don’t wanna burden others by lowering the mood and being a burden.”
“When it comes to that,” He adds. “Just being there for them and be like their positivity or hope when all they see is nothing but pain really helps someone enough. It might not be a lot but it’s a step.”
Get to know the person…? What do I know about JD? I know that he’s Jake Dillinger. Star Athlete of Middleborough, President of Model UN, had a ton of relationships and extracurriculars.
Though, who is he as a person?
Jeremy stopped his train of thought when Michael spoke more. “Listen, dude. I’ll be real and say this probably isn’t groundbreaking or anything. Even if it usually is.” He chuckled a bit. “But just a word of advice, don’t go questioning people into the point where you’re forcing them. It isn’t good, to say the least. Trust me.”
Jeremy opened his mouth to speak but closed it. He wanted Michael to expound on that but maybe that was a sore topic that he didn’t want to share. So instead, he’ll say something else. “Thanks. That helped a bit. I’ll try to get to know him a bit more.”
“Glad I could help. Hope you could help your mystery guy.” Michael says, somewhat teasingly as he was heading to leave, throwing away his empty cup in the process.
Jeremy follows and does the same thing. “I hope so too.” For JD’s sake. I have to save him. I have to compose. What would I be if I couldn’t?
“See ya, Jeremy. I’ll try to meet next week, okay bud?” Michael turned to leave before stopping in his tracks. “Shit, almost forgot.” He turns back. “You interested in puppets or dolls?”
“What?” Dolls? Why would I ever be interested in that? “Why’re you asking?”
“Yeah, there’s some doll exhibit going on. I got complimentary tickets from my moms who booked it ahead for us and my brother but we have a family gathering that popped up so we can’t go.” Michael hands Jeremy the tickets. He stares at the envelope they were contained in. He sees four tickets.
“It’s pretty close to the.. hospital… if you still visit that is…” Michael winces at his wording. “But there’s this art gallery that’s hosting it so maybe you could go on your way back. My moms would prefer it if the tickets aren’t wasted.”
“Maybe you can use it for your songs. You were always the artistic type. Well, that and mashed together with a geek.” He shrugs. “Don’t know who you’ll be going with but maybe they could be used as reference. It’ll be better to get out of the house once in a while.”
Jeremy continued to stare at the tickets.
~HELD BY A STRING: AN DOLL EXHIBIT~
At the Claremont Museum of Art
[One Ticket]
“I’ll take it.” Maybe just maybe… this could help…
“Oh? Great! Thanks, Jere! See ya!”
The door slammed shut. Jeremy continued to stare at the tickets. His mind running wild. Could this really help? Sure, I can find inspiration but what are the chances it could help.
No, that isn’t it.
Jeremy sit down on his chair, he opens up Nightcord, thinking about Michael’s words that he said a few moments ago.
Hm, a doll exhibit, huh?