I can't help but remember when Jeremy and I were this age, and he would hug me the exact same way.

I feel a tear slip down my cheek. No, not again you poor, pathetic, loser! This is the fiftieth time you've cried. You're so weak! I don't try to wipe it as I slowly feel myself get dizzier and dizzier.

"Is he okay?" One of the kids ask, but I barely take notice as I feel myself slip and fall to the ground. The ground is hard and cold, reminding me of the similar tile in the bathroom, where Jeremy had called me a loser, where I had sat, considering my death, wishing that I would just die, and I almost got my wish...

You should have died there. You deserve death. Why did you let Rich and Jake save you? You didn't deserve that. Jeremy was right. You are a loser, a nerd, a geek. You don't deserve anything good.

"Mommy, he died! We were hugging a dead person!" One of the overly excited kids yelled, and the mom came rushing over in a panic, but before she can check if I'm ok, or I can get up, I hear the calm, kind, kid whisper, "Please, Be okay." before the world of consciousness fades from around me.

•••

I open my eyes to a bright light shining in my face. My eyes are slightly sore, but I suspected that was just from crying.

"Anti-th'socal-headphone'ths-kid!" I jump from the sudden sound but turn to see Rich and Jake looking at my excitably, but I notice something is off. And of course something is. Rich is wrapped from the shoulders down in bandages, and Jake is in a wheelchair, with casting around each of his legs. He, unfortunately, looks like he has some severe burns as well. But they're holding hands? I should ask about that later.

"Are you guys... okay?" I ask, almost cautiously. The two boys glance at each other, noticeably sadder. Jake stares at his cast, and Rich looks almost... ashamed?

"I'm fine," Rich says, "but Jake, he br-"

"Okay, so first of all," Jake interrupts, "That's bullshit, you are not 'fine." You literally have third and fourth degree burns." He glanced at me, "I just broke my legs."

"I ju'thst broke my leg'ths." Rich mimics. "Jakey-D here, ran into the fire, and pu'thshed me out of the way, right before the roof collap'thsed!" Rich shouts, his lisp showing though.

The two continue playfully arguing, bickering like an old married couple.

"-How long have I been asleep for?" I interrupt, and the two stop bickering.

"Three days." Jake says, paying attention to me instead of Rich, "You kept waking up though, from nightmares. Do you not remember it?"

I shake my head, and he turns back to the other boy, who looks he win delighted to be back in his attention, so I let my thoughts drift.

I look out the window. Outside it's cloudy, and slightly raining. I guess that's fitting, even if it is cliche. A sad and dark day sums up how I'm feeling pretty well.

I remember when I was happy to have days like this.

ooo

"Micha! Look outside!" A young boy excitedly stares out the window. "It's raining!"

"Wow, good job, Jeremy." The filipino boy answers sarcastically, not looking up from his video game. "You can tell the weather by looking outside. I'm really proud of you."

The smaller boy, Jeremy, rolls his eyes, "Yeah, but Mikey, it hasn't rained in years." He whines, jumping on top of the older boy from behind, squishing him and his remote. "Turn off Mario Kart, and tell me. It's raining. Do you know what that means?"

Michael pauses his game, still placing first despite Jeremy slowing him down, and pushes the younger one off of him, slightly snickering when he falls to the floor, "What?"

"We can go play in the rain!" Jeremy shouts, getting up. Or attempting to, considering he just feel back to the floor.

"Jere-bear, we're thirteen and in eighth grade." He says, laughing as Jeremy tries to stand, but consistently falls back onto his behind.

"And?" Jeremy says as he tries to get up for a third time, but just falls back down. He blushes as Michael bursts out in laughter, "Shut up, Mikey, just help me up."

Michael, still laughing, reaches for the others hand, and pulls him up, but they immediately lose their balance, and fall backwards onto the bed, Jeremy on top of Michael.

The two blush bright red, and Jeremy hides his face in Michaels sweater.

"I'm sorry." Jeremy says, and Michael laughs.

"It's all good."

"Michael?" Jeremy looks up at the older boy.

"Yes, Jere-bear?"

"Can we please go play in the rain?"

Michael laughs again, and shoves Jeremy off of him, standing up.

"Of course, nerd. Let's go."

Jeremy grins, and jumps up, running out the door.

Michael smiles, and takes off his legendary sweater, and turns off the t.v.

"Michael, you coming?" Jeremy yells up the stairs.

"Yeah!" He yells back, and slowly walks down the stairs.

Jeremy smiles at him.

"Mama, Ina," Michael yells, "Jeremy and I are going out." (A/N Ina is Mom in Filipino, because hell yes. Michael has two moms. Deal with it.)

Okay, Michael," Ina responds. "Please be careful."

"Yes, Ina."

"Okie dokie Michael," Jeremy grabs my hand, "let's go!"

He pulls me out of the house and into the rain. He smiles and takes a deep breath, but Michael was blushing because he hadn't let go of his hand.

He races down the street, running to the park that was about a block away from the Filipino's house. He smiles as he pulls the older boy, who was running behind with this nerd that he was absolutely in love with.

As they made their way into the park, Jeremy's smile grew bigger. Michael laughed at his joy, his heart swelling from his smile, but all of a sudden He feels something pull him to the ground.

Jeremy had tripped. He blushed, and the other one starts laughing.

"Sorry." Jeremy looks away, and Michael smiles even wider.

"Jere, it's fine."

"I know."

There is silence, before Jeremy speaks up, "I'm cold."

Michael doesn't answer, just rolls his eyes. "Hi, cold. I'm Michael. Nice to meet you, and also, by the way, you were the one who wanted to go play in the rain."

"Shut up."

"Come here." Michael says, opening his arms.

"Yay!" Jeremy says happily, settling beside him, enjoying the warmth radiating off the other.

"No homo?" Michael asks the boy lying on his chest.

"Dude," the other one says, slightly giggling, "we are all the homo."

The older boy chuckles and hugs Jeremy closer to him, kissing the top of his head.

"Mahal kita." Jeremy whispers.

"Sorry?" Michael sits up, and Jeremy rolls off him. "What did you just say?"

Jeremy blushes, and stares at the ground, "Mahal kita."

Michael doesn't say anything.

"Did I pronounce it wrong? Did I say something else? Oh, god, Michael, I'm sorry."

Michael suddenly pulls him back to his chest, before whispering, "Mahal din kita."

The two just lay there, in a park, on a cold and wet day, in the mud, and even though anyone who saw them would have thought they were two weirdos, they couldn't have been happier.

ooo

I snap back into reality, starting to get upset again, but push the feelings aside when I hear something Rich said.

"It was telling me to 'save the pitiful children' and that's why squips are overrated." The two were laughing, but both look upset. I noticed they were still tightly gripping each other's hand.

"Wait, wait, wait," I say, "go back, you're making fun of your squip? It lets you do that?"

"Well, no, it didn't." Rich answers, "but it's deactivated, so I can say what I want about it. Why?"

I get out of bed and walk over to him. "How?"

"Mountain Dew activates, Mountain Dew Red deactivates." Jake answers, and I walk towards the exit.

"Where are you going?" Rich asks, staring at me.

"Spencer's gifts."

Word count:1366 words

ooo

Hi. So this has been a rollor coaster. Sorry for my shitty iPhone writing. Not much plot. I lied. Sorry, not sorry. But here's some cute young boyfs. you're welcome. Also tomorrows my birthday!! Yay. Ugh. Lol. No one ever remembers my birthday. Anyway, I hope y'all have a wonderful day, you are loved by me.
-Madi <3
April 7th 2019