Mike's POV

A few hours had passed since the party had started. It was actually going pretty damn well, the kids were still annoying brats though. Only a few more hours remained of this boring ass party and then I could go home and mourn in peace. I was planning on visiting a certain place right after this party ended. My ears perked up as I heard some familiar voices other than the ones of the children running around with the birthday girl. Some kids ran past me, making me brush off the familiar voices and return to wrapping up this party. I glanced at my wrist watch to check the time and realized that it was time for the party to finish. I walked through the flurry of children to the mother of the birthday girl. She was chatting with a few more parents like most would at birthday parties.

                I waited for them to finish talking and then I cleared my throat pointing to my watch. The women nodded and clapped her hands together to get the attention of the kids. She began telling them things such as 'thanks for coming' and 'let's wish her one final birthday wish'.  I tuned her out as I strode near the exit and leaned against the wall. Boss is probably expecting me to clean the mess up, if not he will kill me. I have to remember to add 'Kill Fritz' to my bucket list. That's defiantly going to be on there. For the next 10 minutes children left the building along with their parents, biding each other farewell and giving some hugs to the birthday girl. She must really be loved. Glad some kid is enjoying their birthday. Mine is just about mourning. As the last few families left this hell hole, I began to clean up the mess that was left behind. The janitor would probably take care of it, but I wanted to give the guy a bit of a break. I walked around the room, picking up things like party hats, cheep toys and shit the pizzeria gave the kids, and just random junk that was left behind. As I finished I heard footsteps, they didn't seem out of the ordinary so I just left the room, eager to get out of here. I walked out of the room, seeing a few kids playing the arcade when I saw a familiar face in front of me.

                "Jeremy?"

                No POV

Jeremy stood in silence in front of Mike, looking down so Mike wouldn't see the few tears that were left on his face. Mike shoved his hands in his pockets as he asked his friend,

                "Yo Jeremy! What are you doing here right now?" Mike added with a concerned tone. "You should be sleeping, don't want you turning into an insomniac." Mike chuckled, and then saw how Jeremy looked. He seemed to flinch at the tiniest movement, some hesitation in one of his arms. Mike felt his stomach drop as he began to lead Jeremy into the locker room. When Mike tried to touch Jeremy's shoulders he flinched right away, and then looked into Mike's eyes. Finally the night guard spoke up,

                "M-Mike. Could y-you just f-follow me for a s-second? I-I need to a-ask you something." Mike nodded and followed the younger male through the halls and into the room. The instant the door shut Jeremy practically tackled Mike. This caught the blue eyes brunette extremely off guard but returned the hug, asking his friend what was wrong. Jeremy obliviously regretted hugging so hard, his rib cage was still in a world of pain after all, but he held onto Mike tightly trying his best not to start full out sobbing. Mike's past was too much to handle on top of being beaten. Mike pet the night guard's hair, knowing full well the boy was in panic. After a few minutes Jeremy broke the silence, "M-Mike?"

                "Yes Jeremy?"

                "W-Why, why didn't you tell me?" Mike's blood ran cold, hoping he wasn't talking about what he thought he was. Mike played dumb, and Jeremy didn't like that. "Mike, n-not to intrude but y-you could h-have told me!" The night guard held onto Mike tightly, making sure to not injure himself more than he already was.

                "How...How did you find out?" Jeremy looked up at the security guard and almost felt himself break from the pain that was in Mike's eyes. Jeremy could feel Mike's heart beat faster, and the older male begin to shake a bit. Jeremy didn't want to throw Fritz under the bus, so Jeremy pushed off Mike's question.

                "That doesn't matter Mike! Y-you c-could have told m-me and I w-would have been here f-for you!"

                Jeremy's POV

I didn't want Mike to end up like I did. I used to be so depressed because I had no one to turn to when I needed help. Many people would self harm I didn't do that, I beat myself up mentally and physically. Every night I would strain myself, blame myself for everything that had happened to me, I still do every now and again. Mike wouldn't become what I had; I was going to help him, even if I was currently breaking down right in front of him.

                I sniffled a bit and broke the hug with Mike. His eyes showed concern and pain, I felt bad for crying right in front on him while trying to help him. Mike was looking at me, not saying a single word. I wished he had told me sooner. It broke my heart to hear everything he went through. Here I was complaining about my dad when he has no dad and a mother in a comma!

                "I didn't tell you because I didn't think you would care..." My head shot up to look Mike right in the eyes. I saw a few tears pricking his sky colored eyes. I felt a few prick my own eyes as I replied, "Of course I would care you moron! Why wouldn't I!?" I probably shouldn't have called him a moron but, all the emotions were taking over me, making it hard to control everything I was saying. Mike stared at me, looking shocked. "Why wouldn't I care? Mike, I'm your friend you can tell me!" I felt something warm pull me close to them, making my face heat up. Mike had pulled me close to him. I felt a few of Mike's own tears drip down onto my shirt.

"D-do you want to come somewhere with me?" I heard him ask, noting the fact he stuttered.

"Of course I would Mike."

ANOTHER TIMESKIP, brought to you by Fritz and a kitty

Jeremy's POV still

Mike had taken me in his car to the cemetery, a few roses in his hand. We walked down the dirt path, passing hundreds of graves. This place made me depressed, well more than normal. I walked close to Mike, the day not promising warmth due to it being dark and cloudy. We passed more rows of graves and finally stopped at one in the way back of the cemetery. It was one with two hearts as the main shape and the base was a rectangle. One heart had a name and two dates carved into it. I knew for a fact that is was Mike's dad who was in the ground and whose name was carved onto the grey stone. Mike bent down and placed the roses onto the gravestone, not saying a word to me. He knelt down to the ground and stayed that way for a long time. All I heard was him mumbling a few things, probably words to his deceased father. After a few more minutes of silence Mike stood back up and backed up so he was by me. He didn't say anything but, he ruffled my hair with his bandaged hand and stared at the grave. I unknowingly placed my hand on Mike's shoulder and stared at the grave with him, mourning for his loss as well as my own.

We were like that for god knows how long, until the rain started to come down. Mike dug into his pocket and pulled a beanie out, putting it on his head. I grabbed my hood from behind my neck and pulled it up over my head. We both paid out last respects and began to walk out of the cemetery. Mike offered to drive me home, to which I said yes so we both walked to the car. The rain was soaking the both of us fast; I hoped neither of us would get sick. I hopped into the passenger side and buckled myself; Mike went into the driver side. He started the car, keeping silent as he pulled out of the cemetery and onto the road. If fiddled with my sleeves, the pain of my dad's beating still fresh on my body. My wrists were still stinging from the beating that was from earlier this week! I felt a pair of eyes on me, obliviously Mike's.

"You OK Jere? How are those wounds from earlier this week?" I felt my heart beat faster, not the questions again! I had to reply no matter what to avoid more questions; I'm surprised Mike hasn't noticed me wincing at every movement.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine Mike. A-as for t-the wounds, they a-are fine." Mike didn't seem convinced, but didn't push me. He remained silent as he drove down the road. I think I could trust Mike with something, maybe I should tell him I lost my mom. I didn't know for sure, but I might as well give him some trust. "I-If it makes you f-feel any b-better M-Mike, I l-lost my m-mom when I w-was r-really young. So now w-we both h-have someone we h-have lost." Mike stared at the road as he answered me.

"Sorry about your loss Jere. That must have been horrible." He sounded distant. We arrived at my apartment, the rain beginning to let up. I stepped out of Mike's car, him following me. We ran over to the space were me and Mike first started to become friends. When he thought I was mad. It's hard to imagine that it was only a few days ago, not what felt like months. We stopped under the space, looking at each other. I felt something pull me close to them, making me flinch and blush at the same time. I guessed Mike had noticed this because as we hugged he asked.

"Will you ever trust me enough to tell me why you are getting hurt?" I tensed up, my heart now pounding. I needed to reply, but the lump in my throat was making it a challenge.

                "Y-you didn't t-trust me e-enough to t-tell me about y-your past." Mike was silent for a bit and then replied.

                "Well Jere, I guess we aren't as different as I thought. We can't trust others very well."