Chapter Text
Jeremy hummed to himself as he walked to school, a smile on his face. Normally he’d be anxious or otherwise upset about it, but after his recent visit to Hatchetfield, he’d found so much happiness in day-to-day things. He was grateful that he’d been allowed to stop for coffee on his way out of the city that morning. That one coffee fixed all his problems.
“Hey, Jeremy, how’s it hanging? Haven’t seen you since you got back.” Michael walked up beside him, sipping a slushie. “How was your trip?”
He smiled brightly, looking at his friend. “Great, actually!”
“Really?” Michael quirked a brow. “I didn’t think there was much to do in Hatchetfield. What did you and your aunt do?”
Jeremy thought for a moment. “Well, my aunt wanted to see Mama Mia at the Starlight Theatre, but a meteor wrecked it.”
“A fucking meteor! Jeremy, that’s so cool!” Michael exclaimed excitedly. Jeremy nodded. It was very cool. He was going to show everyone just how cool.
He heard commotion ahead in the hallway and looked to see Rich harassing some people. Jeremy almost frowned. Rich seemed so unhappy. Everyone did. It would be so much better if they all felt like he did.
If they all just joined him and died.
Rich looked over at him and scowled. “The hell you so happy about, Tall-Ass?”
Jeremy’s grin didn’t falter. “Just having a good day.”
The bully stared at him for a moment, glancing to the left for a brief second.
“...Yeah, well… Quit it. Or whatever…” Rich seemed very uncomfortable all of a sudden.
Jeremy cocked his head to the side slightly. “Why?” He wasn’t bothered in the slightest by the sight of the bully. Not when he had the pod to back him up. He wasn’t alone.
Rich’s brows furrowed further. “Because its annoying!” He balled his hands into fists.
Jeremy balked. “I didn’t mean to annoy you, I’m just happy.” Rich’s face went red with anger at Jeremy’s nonchalance, glancing at the side yet again.
“Whatever. Get out of my way nerd.” The jock pushed past Jeremy and stormed off to class.
Huh. That was odd.
Michael blinked. “That was weird. Since when does Rich actually leave us alone?” Jeremy furrowed his brows. Rich was catching on. That was the only explaination. Unless he’d been warned that something was off by some kind of computer in his brain, but that was impossible.
“I don’t know. Maybe today really is our lucky-dah-dah-day.” Jeremy grinned, humming a few notes.
Michael stared at Jeremy for a long moment. “Okay…” He drew the word out for a while. “Someone’s been listening to too many musicals.” He chuckled. Jeremy laughed along as he walked into his homeroom class.
He barely paid attention, as his mind wandered to other, more important things. Like how the hell he was meant to kill and infect Rich in school. Rich was stronger than he was, or at least, he was before Jeremy joined the pod. He wasn’t so sure about now.
He doodled in his notebook while he thought to himself. Ah, well, worse comes to worse he just infects someone else first.
Everyone is a target, after all.
When lunch came, he bought the school lunch. That’s a thought. If he could infect one of the school employees in the kitchen, that would be at least fifty percent of the school within reach… He sat down, taking a bite of his mediocre pizza slice.
Michael sat next to him. “So, how was class?” He asked, tucking into the lunch he’d brought from home.
Jeremy forced himself not to sing. Later. “Class went well. We didn’t learn much though.” The shorter boy laughed
“That’s Mr. Porter’s class for you. Nice guy, just can’t teach.” Jeremy nodded, looking around. His eyes paused on Christine for a moment. She was chatting with Jake over by the water fountains. She was… Pretty. That's for sure. Sweet. And he knew she loved musicals and plays.
Still, he couldn’t quite process why he used to be so attracted to her. Why was he? Sure, he’d liked her for a long time, since elementary school, but she didn’t make him very happy so what was the point? Not as happy as music made him.
Not as happy as Michael made him- Woah. Pause. Rewind. Michael made him happy because they were best friends. Nothing more. Right? He wasn’t gay. Or was he?
Would that make him happy?
Jeremy was silent for a moment, thinking, before brushing it off and moving his gaze onto Rich. Rich was one of the quote-unquote cool kids, and he was clearly onto him. If he needed to infect anyone, it would be him. But that doesn’t mean he can’t infect other people first…
“Jeremy? Hello?” Michael drew out the second word, waving a hand in front of Jeremy. “Have you heard a thing I’ve been saying?”
“Sorry.” Jeremy laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I got distracted.”
“By what?”
Think fast. “Uh, Christine.”
Michael chuckled. “Dude, when are you going to tell her you like her?”
“I don’t know, someday.” Jeremy sighed. He didn’t think he liked her, what he had before the pod took over his body was more like a puppy crush.
He spoke with Michael for the rest of lunch, oblivious to Rich staring at him.