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Jeremy wakes up in confusion.
What did the actual hell happen?
He struggles to get up, not noticing he's in a hospital and-
“Ow. Ow ow ow ow ow.”
“Feels like you're missing a part of yourself, doesn't it?”
Jeremy snaps his head towards the voice, it sounds like...
“..Rich?”
Rich grins with delight, Jeremy isn't used to him looking so.. Genuinely happy and-
Fond..?
“Hurts like a motherfucker too.”
Jeremy grimaces, nodding in agreement, looking over Rich. His whole body is in a cast-
But his face looks fine.
Well-
More than fine but-!
Let's not talk about that, okay?
He can notice how faded the red streak in his hair is.
It used to assault your eyes with a bomb of color, kind of like Rich's personality.
It always made Jeremy smile.
When he wasn't bullying him, that is.
“Be honest.
What are they saying about me at school?”
Jeremy doesn't know how to reply. What can he say? "Oh, Yeah! Everyone thinks you're gay. And dead. And a psychopath."
He opens his mouth.
Looks at Rich again.
And he closes it.
“That bad?”
Jeremy nods, an apologetic smile snaking its way onto his lips.
“Sorry..”
Rich almost gets up, if it weren't for the cast, Jeremy's pretty sure Rich would've jumped him.
“Sorry? I'm finally free of that shiny happy hive mind-!” Rich shrieks with joy.
Hive mind..It reminds Jeremy of that online comic he and Michael tried to read.
“When I get out of here, the ladies are going to love the real Richard Goranski.”
He takes a look at Jeremy, eyes raking up and down his body.
Jeremy's cheeks light up with pink, he feels..exposed.
“And the dudes.” He smirks, making Jeremy's pink cheeks turn red.
“Oh my god.
I'm totally bi!” Jeremy chuckles at Rich's revelation about himself seemingly found out because of Jeremy.
“Your squip's gone? But how?”
“Ask your buddy.
Anti-social Headphones Kid?” Michael? Is he talking about Michael?
“He's been by, like a ton, by the way-
What is he, your boyfriend?” Despite the teasing tone, Rich looks disappointed in saying that.
Seeing the look of horror on Jeremy's face, he immediately tries to correct himself.
“No judgment! Just curious, totally bi now.” Rich smiles sheepishly at Jeremy.
It's quite cute, actually.
“M..Michael?
No, No-
He's-
He's just a good friend.” Jeremy doesn't know why he's so desperate to tell Rich he's still on the market.
“Ah, I'm sure some special someone would be lucky to have you, Jere.”
Was that a nickname?
Jeremy smiles shyly again.
“You think?”
“Of course, Man.
Christine's pretty lucky, isn't she?
Got one twink of a man drooling all over her.”
“Oh god-!” His voice cracks.
“No!
No more Christine, Please no more Christine-!!” He begs.
He heard enough of that name.
“Jesus. Alright, no more Christine.”
“How did you even know about that-?”
“You were really, really obvious, man.”
Jeremy groans.
“That'd explain her always saying we're friends.”
“Letting you down gently, huh?” He smirks, Jeremy nods weakly.
“Was your-..” He gestures to his forehead, making beep-boop noises.
“Keanu Reeves too?”
Rich cackles.
“You won't believe it-!
Mine was Evil Kermit.”
Jeremy unexpectedly laughs with him.
“Kermit??”
“So, You had a hot man telling you what to do, huh?”
Jeremy buried his head in his hands.
“If you mean shocking me until I obey, yes.”
“..You too?”
Jeremy nods, sighing. He knows he has scars.
“Really did hurt like a motherfucker.”
Rich shrugs. Or at least, tries to.
“It's over now, isn't it?”
“Yes, but if I see one more mirror I'm gonna snap.”
“He pointed out every flaw..” Rich murmurers. Maybe they're not so different.
“How did you get a squip?”
“My brother had it first.
He got to Havard, I thought it'd help me too-!
By the time he ended up in the mental hospital, I was already under its control.”
That sounds familiar.
“..Say, Do you play World Of Warcraft?”
“Oh, Yeah, How did you know?”
“Lucky guess.”
“How do you plan to ask Ch-” Rich notices Jeremy's distress.
“Whoever makes your dick hard?”
Jeremy splutters out a response.
“I-
I don't know-!”
“You should tell her that she excites you sexually.”
Jeremy thinks, looking at Rich's stupid smirk.
“Does it have to be a she?”
Rich lights up.
“Absolutely not!
Who is it? I'm great with sex-
Relationships!”
Jeremy laughs.
“Oh..It's just someone stupid that I've never really known before.”
“..Does he excite you sexually?”
Jeremy rolls his eyes fondly.
“Yes, Rich. You excite me sexually.”
Rich's grin widens.
And Jared Kleinman barges in, Looking for someone.
“Have you seen Ev-”
He looks at Rich. And then at Jeremy.
“Oh, gross, You two are totally gonna make out right now.”