Chapter Text
Jeremy lets out a breath as he slips into the second-floor bathroom. That had been insanely close. He slides his backpack off his shoulders, setting it on the edge of the sink. A glance in the mirror proves to be the wrong move when he sees Rich behind him. Well, he guessed it wasn't that bad anymore since their revelation, but Rich was still a wild card, soulmate or not.
Rich approaches him, standing next to the sink and looking everywhere except for Jeremy. But that wasn't right. He seemed to be looking at something that Jeremy couldn't see. Then Rich does look at him.
Rich takes a chance, glancing at Jeremy. Jeremy seemed to know he was there, but he wasn't paying Rich any mind. Or he was ignoring him. Which, in hindsight, did make sense for him to do. Rich had never exactly been "nice" to the other boy.
Make eye contact. Tell him.
Rich hesitates at the instruction. Did he really want to rope Jeremy into this mess? Even at the cost of being punished? And would he even buy the spiel?
Leave that to me.
Wha- there's a dull shock that runs up his spine then, a reminder not to talk back. He can feel the computer start to pull the strings of his limbs, manipulating him into position.
" Are you okay?" Jeremy turns towards him, suspicion in his eyes, but thankfully he doesn't look like he'll run away at the moment, so that's good.
"I- I ran into Jenna." Watching Jeremy talk is painful as his expression shifts as he thinks and the number of times he goes to say something but then goes back and changes his words. "She asked about you- I mean, about us, and I- I didn't know what to tell her." Jeremy looks away, letting out a breath like he was ashamed. "So, I ran."
"I don't think it matters if people know." Rich doesn't bother protesting that decision. He had already known of his sexuality a while ago, even if the squip didn't let him admit it to himself. But the turnaround was surprising, especially with the computer's past behavior.
Jeremy looks back over at him, surprise written clearly on his face. "Really? I- I mean you don't seem-" The squip cuts off his rambling before he spirals away.
"You'd be surprised." Honestly, he would be. "You know, I wasn't always like this." Was this the actual plan? Baiting him? Yeah. That would totally work.
Richard, the computer warns. Yeah, yeah, he got it, don't mess with the plan.
"What- what do you mean?" Rich smirks.
"I mean, that there's something out there that can help you." The squip rattles off a few more things before surprisingly relinquishing control. But, unfortunately for him, Jeremy looks interested in the offer.
"What are you talking about?" Figures one of the only times Jeremy doesn't stutter is when he's asking about a manipulative computer. A slightly sharper shock goes down his spine.
Don't.
The tone of her voice is enough to dissuade him from talking back.
He takes a breath before he starts Jeremy on the path to doom.
"It's a grey oblong pill..."