Chapter Text
They were in the middle of a conversation, literally in the middle of a sentence, when Michael’s hand flew out and covered Brooke’s mouth as Jeremy walked past them. Really, this was a normal thing. Michael had a tendency to not even breathe in the presence of Jeremy Canigula, though whether he actually realized it or not was uncertain to Brooke. She sighed softly, removing Michael’s hand from her face, and giving him an exhausted smile, “Dude, he didn't even see you.”
“I know!” Michael responded, tone desperate, eyes still locked on the back of Jeremy’s jean jacket. Only once the male was completely out of sight, Michael turned back to his best friend - well, technically, his /only/ friend.
Michael Heere and Brooke Mell had been best friends since kindergarten, but they always felt like they’ve known each other even longer than that, going as far as to joke about having been friends while in the womb. They've been inseparable since then, which never seemed to be a problem. Michael’s family loved Brooke, and Brooke’s family loved Michael. And, as if not already clear, they loved each other in the most queer-platonic way possible. After all, they both had their own, highly unlikely to actually end up with, crushes, and they were more than happy to just stick with that. Neither of them had ever been popular and, honestly, they never really had the desire to. Of course, they could have a better chance at winning over their so called “love of their lives,” but that seemed to be the only winner to it. It took too much effort to climb up the social pyramid, and they were completely happy with spending their evenings and weekends cooped up in Brooke’s basement playing video games. It sounds sadder than it actually is, they’d assure you.
“Mike, just talk to him-”
“Brooke, you /know/ I can't do that. I’d probably have an anxiety attack right there in front of him.”
Brooke giggled, playfully tossing her hair to the side. “Guess that means you're stuck with me for forever, then.”
Michael only groaned playfully in response, grabbing Brooke’s hoodie sleeve and dragging her along as they followed the path that led to the school. There were nearly five minutes left before the first bell would ring, and it was better to get inside early before other people arrived. They passed the usual group, that Brooke often referred to as the ‘Dream Team’ because they were the ‘dreamiest’ people in the school – Jake Valentine, Rich Lohst, Chloe Rolan, and Christine Dillinger – only half-hearing about whatever news was floating around the school currently. News wasn't really the correct word, it was more like gossip. Jake and Rich always refused to call it gossip, though, so everyone else adapted to calling it ‘news.’
Brooke rambled on as they walked the nearly empty hall, something about an update to some classic game that she liked and how it wouldn't be nearly as good, but Michael’s mind was elsewhere. Why? Because, there he stood.
Jeremy Canigula. The most perfect guy in the entire school, in Michael’s eyes at least. Michael’s had this silly schoolgirl-like crush on the guy for years now, and he was sure that Brooke was tired of hearing about it, but he literally couldn't stop himself. Jeremy was everything that Michael could ever want, yet he was too far away for Michael to ever wish to have.
“Shh, shh,” Michael interrupted, gaining a none-too-threatening glare from his blonde headed friend. It went unnoticed, anyway, as Michael kept his gaze locked on the boy at the end of the hallway. “Look! It’s-”
“Jeremy, I know,” Brooke answered, stuffing her hands in her hoodie pockets. “He’s signing up for the play.”
A light seemed to go off behind Michael’s eyes, and Brooke already knew that he’d be making a plan that would almost instantly fall through. “The play!” Michael had exclaimed, “Brooke! If /I/ sign up for the play, I’ll be closer to Jeremy!”
And that's how Brooke ended up stranded in the middle of the hallway, watching as Michael practically ran across the hallway to sign the paper. The action was instantly followed by insults, which were then followed by the school bell ringing.
“Good luck,” was all Brooke said, as she patted Michael’s back before they parted ways for class.
---
The day was oddly quick. It was fine for classes, but the lunch period was way too quick. It seemed like they only had a few minutes to talk, rather than the full hour. Before he knew it, Michael was standing outside the school’s auditorium. At some point, Jenna Goranski, one of the school’s bullies, came by and ruffed Michael up a bit before she ran off for the girls’ basketball team. He had sighed to himself, adjusting his backpack after the blows, going to clean his glasses. Next thing he knew, the literal love of his life was at his side.
“Are you lost?” Jeremy had questioned, not at all unkindly. (Or, if it actually was meant to be unkindly, Michael wouldn't have noticed.)
“Nnnn– Uh.. What?”
“Oh, well, you were just standing there.” The taller boy offered a shrug, then smiled gently. Michael felt like he could die right there. “So, uh, are you?”
“No? I- Yeah, no, I’m supposed to be here! Yeah, haha, I signed up for the, um, play.”
Jeremy’s features instantly lit up. “You signed up for the play! I’ve never seen you here before, you’re new to theatre.” Michael only nodded, and Jeremy laughed lightly. “Ah, you’ll have a blast. Play rehearsal is the best part.”
“Of your day?”
“Yeah, right. Of my life! C’mon, let's go, instead of just standing here!”
There was a slight bounce in Jeremy’s step as he opened the auditorium doors and stepped in, Michael following along behind him. This had been easier than he had ever expected, seeing as Jeremy was excitedly going on about how much he loved play rehearsal. Of course, Michael couldn't relate, really, but the fact that Jeremy was sharing all of this information with him was a sign that he was doing /something/ right, and that was more than enough for him.