Michael ran to his house. He couldn't believe he just said 'no'. To his Jeremy! Why did he do that?

It's because of his stupid Squip. His stupid Squip who looks like his Jeremy. 

He ran into the bathroom and locked himself in. His Squip appeared. 

"Why are you distressed? I did you a favour. Stop crying." It said. Michael refused to call it anything other than 'it'. 

"I can't stop crying! Why would you do that!? He probably hates me!" Michael yelled. His Squip smiled which looked weird because it had Jeremy's face. 

"I did that because you want to get popular. And stop crying! You are not some weak little girl! Tear ducts de-activate." Squip calmly said. Michael stopped crying. 

"What the hell!? You can't even let me express my emotions!? Why did I ever take that damned pill?" Michael asked. His Squip shrugged. 

"Because you wanted to be popular? Michael, you have to obey me if you want your life to be perfect. And a perfect life doesn't include Jeremy." It hissed. Micahel wanted to scream at it. Scream about how much he hates it. 

But he couldn't bring himself to do it. Not when it had Jeremy's face. 

So, he suffered in silence. 

"Have you found anything yet?" Jeremy asked Squip. Squip shook his head.

"Not yet. I'm trying though, Jeremy. I really am. But I can't find anything about how to get rid of a Squip." Squip admitted. 

"Well, why don't you take a break? You could probably use one." Jeremy said. Squip nodded. 

"Can I ask you something?" Squip asked. 

"Sure. What's up?" Jeremy asked.

"What's the rest of your family like?" He asked. Jeremy blinked. 

"What?"

"You know- you have your dad, but where's everyone else? Are you an only child?" Squip asked.

"Shouldn't you know?"

"I've blocked all the really personal stuff about you from my data. It's not my right to know things about you that you might not be willing to share." Squip admitted.

"Well... I have my dad. I had a mum and a brother." Jeremy said. Squip sat cross-legged on the bed. 

"Where is your mum? And your brother?" Squip asked. Jeremey lied down next to Squip, sighing.

"Well, my brother died when I was six. He and my dad went out to the store and a drunk driver hit the car. My brother... he died. My mum blamed my dad and they got a divorce. My dad got custody of me. That's my story. My brother would've been fourteen this year had he survived." Jeremy said. 

"I'm... so sorry. What was your brother's name? If you don't mind me asking." 

"It was Samuel. I apparently called him 'Sammy' all the time." Jeremy said. Squip looked as if he realised something.

"What is it?" Jeremy asked. 

"Nothing, just... Do you know who I look like?" Squip asked. Jeremy shook his head. 

"I don't recognise you. Why? Do I know you? Like, do I know who you look like?" Jeremy asked. 

"No... I'll tell you later. Maybe. Well, I'm sorry about your brother. If it makes you feel better, I think you're like my brother." Squip said. Jeremy sat up.

"Really?" He asked. 

"Yeah, you're pretty chill." 

"Wait, I am?"

"Well, to me, anyway. Also Michael. About being chill. Not the whole brother thing. That would be weird if Michael saw you as a brother. Thankfully he doesn't." Squip said. 

"WHY CAN'T I HUG YOU!? JESUS CHRIST I'M GOING INSANE!" Jeremy shouted. Squip laughed. They sat in silence for a little bit.

"Well, I also think you're like a brother," Jeremy said after some time. 

"YES! I'm excited about two things! One, you see me as a brother which is awesome, two, I found something that could help you with your Michael problem." Squip said.

"Wait, really!? What is it?" Jeremy asked. 

"Well, it's kind of silly, but it's Mountain Dew Red," Squip said. 

"That's it? I just need to get him to drink it? And that'll be that?" Jeremy asked. Squip nodded.

"But... it gets rid of all the Squips in everyone in a 100-mile radius. All of them." Squip said. Jeremy frowned. 

"But that'll mean..." He trailed off. 

"Getting rid of me. It's fine, though. You deserve to be happy." Squip said with a smile. Jeremy shook his head.

"There has to be another way. We just admitted that we're like brothers, there's no way I'm getting rid of you. Isn't there another way?" Jeremy asked. Squip tilted his head.

"I'll see. But if there isn't..."

"I-I know. I'll get Mountain Dew Red."

Rich spent the day giving everyone Squips. 

"Almost everyone." His squip said. 

"Rich!" A voice called out. Rich turned his head to see Jake running towards him. He couldn't stop the smile forming on his face. 

"Jakey! What's up?" Rich asked. Jake came to a stop when he reached Rich. 

"Are you okay? You've been really distant lately and I'm getting worried." Jake said. 

"You... are?" Rich asked. Jake nodded his head. 

"You're my best friend. Of course, I'm worried about you. And I won't ever stop worrying about you. I need to look after you, you're short." Jake said. Rich rolled his eyes. 

"I may be short, but I'm still as fierce as a bear," Rich mumbled. Jake laughed. 

"Yeah, as fierce as a bear cub who gets distracted by butterflies. You have to be protected and I am the protector." Jake said as he put his arm around Rich's shoulder. 

"Wow. My hero." Rich sarcastically said. 

"See? I knew you'd get it. I am the prince and you are the princess." Jake decided. 

"Wow. Halloween costume planned." Rich said. Jake gasped softly. 

"Oh, my goddddd I just imagined you wearing a poofy pink dress. Okay, that totally has to be our Halloween costume." Jake said. 

"What. I was just kidding." 

"I know. But now it's serious. Plans have been made." Jake took out his phone to check the time. He groaned.

"Shit, I'm going to be late. I have to go, but Rich? If you need to talk about something, I'll listen." Rich nodded and watched as Jake walked away. 

"Let's continue with passing out the Squips, shall we?" Rich's Squip asked. Rich solemnly nodded. 

Why couldn't his life be easy?