A/N: two chapters in under 24 hours? it's more likely than you think. Thanks for 200 reads, have a slightly longer chapter. Also slight tw in the middle of the chapter bc self-harm and yeah...

After crying for a while, Jeremy officially broke it off with Christine the next day. Her response?

"Fine, he's better than you anyways. by the way, your little boy toy wasn't actually lying about the text, have fun explaining that to him."

So, Jeremy decided to take a stroll through town to clear his mind a bit, the thought of Michael nagging at the back of his mind.

He stopped at the 7-Eleven for his slushie fix. It's been awhile because Christine thought it wasn't "classy" enough. Now that Jeremy was free, he could do whatever he wanted. He also did things he didn't want to, however, because he missed Christine and he sure as hell didn't want that.

While filling up his slushie, Jeremy stopped for a moment. He put a lid on his almost overflowing cup and grabbed a second cup, filling it with the blue raspberry drink. He knew that he needed to apologize to Michael, realizing that the boy might not accept the apology.

Jeremy purchased the slushies and was on his way out the door when he bumped into somebody, drinks unharmed.

"I-I'm so sorry, sir." Then Jeremy realized.

"Michael? I- uh actually I was on my way to yours, I got you a s-slushie," Jeremy was just rambling at this point.

Not wanting to make a fuss in the store, Michael grabbed the slushie and took Jeremy outside.

"Don't you think your girlfriend is missing you right now?" Michael practically spit at Jeremy.

"I- uh no. I kinda broke up with her." Jeremy paused. "The funny thing is that I didn't break up with her for being abusive to me because I denied that. I broke up with her because she was cheating on me and she told me that she sent the texts and-" A look of realization crossed Jeremy's face, which then proceeded to fall. "-Oh my god it was her who beat you up wasn't it? No wonder you didn't want me to call her and help and she's a really good actress, I'm an idiot I am so, so sorry, Michael. I believed her instead of you and I've known you for 12 years! I'm such an awful person I understand if you don't accept my apology.

Jeremy only now realized that he was crying, but he didn't particularly care. He couldn't cry in front of her without being called weak, so it would almost feel refreshing if it weren't for the current scenario.

Michael struggled to take all of the information Jeremy was telling him in. "Sh-she abused you?" He then remembered the bruises he saw on Jeremy the other day and it clicked into place. Michael had a tendency to put other people, especially Jeremy before himself, which was a problem in situations like this.

"Let's go to mine," Michael told Jeremy while sighing.  He wasn't sure if it was a good idea. "This doesn't mean I forgive you- what you did to me was horrible- but we can talk it out I guess."

The two got into Michael's car which was enveloped by an incredibly awkward silence, at some point, Michael turned the radio on, but Jeremy's thoughts were too loud for him to notice. A few minutes later Jeremy followed closely behind Michael to his basement.

Before they started talking, Jeremy went to the bathroom because he could only go so long after drinking a huge slushie. The first thing he noticed was a razor blade and a small bloodstain on the bathroom sink. His eyes were brimming with tears knowing that it was his fault his friend relapsed. He did his business and ran out of the bathroom, hugging his friend, who winced in return considering his bruises. "I'm so sorry Michael I saw it on the sink and it was all my fault I didn't know what I was doing it was my fault," Jeremy sobbed.

At the mention of the blade, Michael went pale. He completely forgot he left it out. Obviously, he didn't expect Jeremy to be there but still. "I-I'm sorry man, what you did sucked! I didn't mean to relapse I was just having a panic attack an-" Michael was cut off by Jeremy shushing him. "It's not your fault Michael, it was mine. You don't know how much it hurt me when Christine was rude to you and the reason you don't know is because I didn't stand up for you like the idiot I am."

"I haven't been treating m-myself properly either. Christine said I was too fat so I haven't eaten much recently. S-sometimes she had me throw up what I ate because I was never good enough, so I just kinda stopped eating altogether. I just wanted to be per-perfect for her," Jeremy confessed

Michael looked at Jeremy "But Jeremy! You're a stick! You're already underweight. Christine is a sick, sick person. I bet she took pride in hurting you, no, I know she did!"

Silence filled the room. Jeremy scratched the back of his neck, wanting to change the subject, so he pulled the "Player 2" keychain out of his pocket. "I kept this before Christine burned some of the old stuff you gave me, I understand if you want it back.

"Y-you kept it? You kept all of the little notes I gave you too?" Michael was pretty shocked. He thought Jeremy just threw away the stuff he gave him.

"I'm too tired for emotions right now, video games?"

Jeremy just slept over that night. Michael didn't fully forgive him though, which was understandable. Nevertheless, Jeremy and Michael were spooning when they fell asleep.

That night, both Michael and Jeremy got better sleep than they had in months.