LIKE SAID BEFORE,BOTH SETTLED THE ARGUMENT with a nice stop into Michael's favored store;Seven Eleven. To ease Rich's hot head,they ordered the famous cherry slush. The raven haired boy stared blankly at the table,his hands playing with the brim of his maroon hoodie, avoiding eye contact with Rich.

“Look Dude. How—When did it happen exactly? Tell me.”Michael sighed, uncomfortably shifting in his seat.

“It's not a big deal. I'll get over it eventually,”

Rich furrowed his brows,burying his anger on the slushy as he took a sip, that stung cold on the brain. He recalled Jeremy speaking to him about Michael's stubbornness, and him thinking that the lanky boy was just exaggerating. The long pause between them was interrupted when the raven looked up at Rich,a cautious look on his face still.

➳

“It was not me! Just because I ruined like two or three lives by spreading gossip—in the past! Doesn't mean I'll do it with my friends.”

Jenna exclaimed,the dark skinned girl crossing her arms as she looked straight at Jeremy;sincerity noticeable in her eyes.

Jeremy frowned,not sure if the girl was trustworthy. She is a gossiper after all,but he knew the girl wanted to change and a part of him knew he could trust her.

“Dude. I think she's telling the truth,”Jake spoke,Jeremy nodded slowly,still in deep thought.

“Besides,it's just another gossip. Tomorrow it'll be gone,you'll see. Anyways,I'll see you guys tomorrow!” The girl walked off,leaving the two boys.

“I have to go.”Jake walked out all of a sudden,leaving the brunet even more confused.

Jeremy walked out the highschool, deciding to walk home since he didn't want to bother Michael. The brunet pulled out his phone from his pocket, checking to see if his best friend left him any messages;he grimaced,seeing nothing but a new text from his father.

‘Picking you up today son :) Michael's mom told me he's busy today’

He went to sat into one of the empty benches to kill of some time,the wind was blowing quite loudly but the sky is clear as the ocean. The weather was indeed fair today,but this did not stop Jeremy from having a bad day—well,it's not like he's not used to it.

He decided to scroll through his media.

‘Antisocial Headphones kid defended Rich Goranski!! Spread the word!’

Jeremy stuffed back his phone in his pocket,ignoring the situation about Rich and Michael being in a ‘secret gay relationship’ as one of the gossipers called them. He was not surprised if either Sweeney or Kelly was the one who helped the gossipers leak the false accusation. Knowing that the two jocks were all banter and bark towards the people they make fun of,but he was secured that neither of them will hurt them physically—hopefully.

Time will past and they will find a new victim,possibly leaving them alone.

He tried reaching out to Michael all day,a new message every 5 minutes he sent. It couldn't be his fault,right? He believed Rich knew something about Michael—something he's hiding from him,it could not be impossible since the both of them spend more time together ever since the group got united. He couldn't help but feel slight jealousy hit him,unexplainable emotions flooding his senses.

“Son?”He looked up seeing a car parked in front of him,his father inside. The brunet got up,silently entering in back of the car.

“What's the matter?”His father questioned,a worried look on his face. Jeremy sighed,knowing that his dad probably noticed his sudden paleness and sweatiness.“It's about Michael...”

“What about Michael?”

Jeremy looked out the window, immediately regretting what he had just said. He couldn't just explain something he could not even understand himself.

“Oh,he uh—I didn't see him all day,that's all.”

His father slowly nodded,starting the car's engine.

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