"Why do I get called tall ass," Jeremy began, "when you're like... five inches taller than me."

Michael giggled, holding Jeremy in his lap. "Probably because half the time people see me I'm hunched over playing on a handheld or something," Michael answered.

"Touché... but I could say the same for how much I slump when trying to avoid eye contact..." Jeremy pouted.

"Hmmm..." Michael hummed. "If it's the nicknames that bother you... I could call you my little pipsqueak if that makes you feel better."

Jeremy turned a dark shade of red. "W-what?" he squeaked.

"Well," Michael responded, "you're shorter than me, and you squeak a lot. So... pipsqueak works out, right?"

"I guess, but..." Jeremy looked away slightly, his face hot.

"Of course, if you don't like it-"

"N-No!" Jeremy exclaimed, growing quieter once he realized what he was saying. "I... kind of like it..."

Michael grinned. "Dork."

"Sh-shut up," Jeremy responded, burying his face in Michael's chest.

"So, Mr. Sleep-Drunk-Jeremy... got any other urging questions?" Michael prompted, pecking the top of Jeremy's head to induce a small squeal from the tired boy.

"Tell me the story of when you first realized you liked me?" Jeremy asked quietly, slightly muffled by Michael's shirt.

Michael chuckled. "How many times have I told you that now?"

"Don't care," Jeremy urged.

"Alright, alright," Michael assured. "It was probably somewhere around seventh grade..."

"How many classes do we share?" Jeremy asked excitedly, bouncing in his seat in the cafeteria. They had just been released from their orientation.

"Lemme check," Michael said, sticking out his tongue a little in concentration as he dug through his crowded backpack.

After pulling out a slightly crumpled piece of paper, Jeremy grabbed it, scanning it intently.

"Aww." Jeremy frowned.

"Anything?"

"Just two."

"Hmm..." Michael considered, taking both his paper and Jeremy's from the other boy. It was true, the only periods that matched were...

"First and last," Jeremy sighed.

"Could be worse," Michael said shrugging, though he secretly knew he would dread the three periods he had alone. "We'll see each other at lunch everyday, so that's three." He grinned, causing Jeremy to smile.

"Guess that's right," he said happily.

Sure enough, the next week was hell for Michael. His only saving grace was the few times he saw Jeremy. If he ever found himself in a bad mood, it would seemingly disappear when he saw Jeremy's smile.

Pretty soon, Michael found that he had begun relying on Jeremy. He had been the one to tell Jeremy that they would be able to handle it, but it seemed that he was getting the worse end of the stick.

He found himself wondering if Jeremy had made more friends in his classes without him. But he tried his hardest to hide how he felt when he saw Jeremy. And for a time, it wasn't hard. In the time they spent together, Michael shelved his worries, happy just to see Jeremy. As if Jeremy was a drug Michael had a hard time going without.

However, one day Jeremy noticed something off about the usually cheery boy. Feeling determined, he made a decision to ask Michael what was wrong when they got to the cafeteria.

Michael seemed drained when Jeremy walked to their table. "Hey Michael?" Jeremy asked, waving his hand in front of Michael's face.

"Hm? Oh," Michael remarked, finally looking up at Jeremy. "Sorry... I've been kind of lost in my thoughts."

"I've noticed," Jeremy replied, frowning a little.

"Y-You have?" Michael asked, his expressions holding both hope and regret.

"Of course I have," Jeremy sighed, sitting down across from Michael. "If anyone knows you well enough to recognize when you're having an off day, it's me. Did something happen?"

Michael looked relieved before turning away suddenly, a light blush dusting his cheeks. "It's kind of embarrassing," he admitted.

"Michael," Jeremy stated, unimpressed. "I've known you for eight years, and NOW you get embarrassed?"

"You've got a point..." Michael grumbled. "I'm just not used to feeling like this..."

"Feeling like what?" Jeremy pressed.

"I feel like I'm the only one who... Do I really have to say it?"

"No," Jeremy said loosely, shrugging. "But I'll bug you forever if you don't."

"Oh, fine... Lately I've just been wondering if... I'm the only one who sort of... depends on seeing you to get through the day...?" Michael buried his face in his arms. "That sounded lame," he said, his voice muffled.

Jeremy began to giggle despite himself, earning him a glare as Michael looked up miserably. "Sorry, sorry, it's just that," Jeremy started, wiping his eyes. "Has this been worrying you all along?"

Michael grew a darker shade of red. "And if it was...?"

"Well..." he began, standing and walking around the table to take a seat beside Michael. "I suppose I'd have to admit that I do that too." Michael watched as Jeremy laid his head on his hands to be at eye level with him.

"Really?" Michael asked in slight disbelief, flinching lightly when he realized how close Jeremy had gotten.

"Of course," Jeremy replied thoughtfully. "When we compared our schedules, I was actually really worried when I saw that we wouldn't be with each other too often..." He smiled sheepishly. "How's that for embarrassing?"

"Gotta admit, that was pretty embarrassing," Michael managed to joke.

"Oh, shut up, I'm being serious," Jeremy retorted, sticking his tongue out. "But... seeing you being so chill about it made me want to try to- be like you, I guess?"

Hearing this caused a spark to ignite in Michael's chest, and he suddenly felt a million things all at once, his heart beating ever so slightly faster.

"So... don't worry so much, okay? You'll always be my best friend." Jeremy smiled warmly, unaware of the ache he had just induced in Michael's heart.

"Thanks, bud," Michael told Jeremy, fighting the urge to tackle him in a hug. Jeremy Heere, what have you done to me...? he thought to himself, covering his face in his arms once again.

Jeremy giggled, half-asleep at this point.

"Hey, don't laugh," Michael flicked his forehead playfully. "That was a hard time for me..."

Jeremy looked up at the pouting boy fondly, hugging himself to his chest.

"I know," he said. "Thank you for loving me enough to wait for me."

Michael groaned. "How is it that I can never stay grumpy with you?"

Jeremy hummed happily. "I wouldn't stand a chance if you ever did."

"Damn straight you wouldn't."

"That statement is invalid. We both know neither of us are straight."

"Alright, you dork, time to go to sleep," Michael finalized, picking Jeremy up bridal-style, bringing out a happy squeak from the tired boy.

"Michaaael," Jeremy slurred.

"Yes, love?" Michael replied.

"I love you," Jeremy said, grinning as Michael's face flushed dark red.

"Sleeeep," he insisted, dropping Jeremy onto his bed.

As he was walking to the couch, however, Jeremy let out a sad sigh. "You're so far," he cried softly.

"And you're a child when you're sleep-drunk," Michael noted. He shuffled back over tiredly before pulling down the covers. "Scooch," he told Jeremy, who was happy to comply. "Now will you sleep?"

"Yes," Jeremy responded joyfully, burying his face in Michael's shirt. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, pipsqueak."
______

Sorry for the lack of activity, loves! I've been out for the most part of this past week, but I began writing this on a whim on my way back home :') it took me a while to finish because of distractions (*cough The Lightning Thief Musical I'm looking at you *louder cough*) and slight unmotivation. Because that's a word. Totally didn't make it up.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed? I'm quite sleep-drunk myself, so I hope this turns out alright.

Also thank you for 150 followers? Wtf? We love you all.

-May