Two Player Game

~Chapter Thirty-Three~

"Hey, Jar-"

"MICHAEL MELL WHY DID YOU DO THAT TO ME??" He sounds like he's been crying.

"Okay, I know it was stupid, I -"

"Yeah it was stupid!! Michael I-I thought that I'd lost you! And did you even think about what would happen to Jeremy??"

"I thought I was losing HIM, Jared, I'm not the brightest or the most mentally healthy, okay??"

"What? Because he wouldn't wake up? Michael it's HEALTHY for him to sleep that much after a surgery! It means he's healing!"

"He was out for a week and a half!! It was NOT normal!!" Jared's quiet.

"How is he now?"

"... He sat straight up and smacked the bottle of of my hand. He's getting his stitches repaired. He's probably going to be out again."

"......he did what? How did he-? If he was-?"

"I don't know. I don't know anything and I'm so confused and scared."

"Wasn't he like..." Jared is so confused.

"Jared, I don't KNOW. I don't know anything, one second he's out, I've got his hand in mine, it's limp, it's cold, it's scaring the hell out of me, the next he's up smacking my preferred method of kicking the bucket out of my hand and telling me to call a doctor!"

"Man...."

"I don't know what to do. W-We gotta get packed, we gotta head up to Princeton, he's gotta get better!"

"He will! You still have a lot of time until you have to be there."

"... You're right. I gotta chill out."

"Just takes deep breathes. He's going to be okay."

"You're right. You're right." Jared doesn't hang up. He keeps talking to him. They talk on the phone for a really long time until Michael finally says

"How's Evan?"

"He's, uh, he's doin' good. Doin' what he loves.... studying trees.."

"That's good. Adjusting to Wyoming well?"

"Yeah. He's made friends with his roommate. So that's good."

"Yeah? Is it just the two of them? Have you met him? Or her? Them?"

"It's just the two of them and I have yet to meet him."

"Mm. Why's that?"

"Because he's never there when I skype Evan."

"huh. Know what major he's in? Has Evan said?"

"I think he's a thespian."

"Mm. Evan likes the theater."

"You're NOT helping."

"Sorry. I'm just saying it's good he made a friend."

"Yeah. I'm trying not to assume anything."

"I'm sure it's fine, Jared."

"I hope you're right. And when you bozos get down here, I'm gonna be stuck in a room with you."

"Are you already there?? Why didn't you tell us!"

"Because the last times Ive tried to talk to you, something bad has gone wrong."

"........oh yeah."

"But yeah. After Evan left, I had no reason to be there."

"Huh. Is the room nice? Do we have a fourth?"

"We do. He's pretty chill. Names Richard."

"Hm. I knew a Richard in high school."

"Well the name is pretty popular."

"Fair enough. He was kind of a dick though. Had a thing for Jeremy for a while too. It was awkward for me."

"Dang. Well let me tell you somethin' he's SHORTER than me! Like I didn't think there was anyone like that!"

"....... Single streak in his hair? Kinda obnoxious? Bi and loud about it?"

"Yes?"

"Yep, that's Rich."

"Well he's our fourth. So good luck I guess."

"I'll deal. He can't be that bad anymore, can he? We're in college now, he's friends with Jeremy, he won't be THAT big of a dick."

"He's not that bad. Justin chillin'"

"What's he there for?"

"I don't know. We haven't really talked much."

"What's yer friend wanna know, J?" Rich looks over at him. Michael can hear him.

"Dude, you didn't tell me you were still around him."

"You never brought it up." He looks to Rich. "What are you mastering in."

"Sports therapy."

"Shit, makes sense I guess. " Michael adds.

"Should I say that you two know each other or should it wait until you get here." He grins. Rich raises an eyebrow. Michael sighs.

"go ahead."

"Ayyyeeee it's Michael."

"Michael..?" he grins. "Jeremy's boy!"

"Mhm. Our new roommates."

"Seriously? Jeremy too?? Fuckin sweet!"

"You hear that Michael?"

"I do. I do hear that. Starting to feel welcomed into the cool club actually." Jared laughs.

"I gotta go, as much as I don't want to. I have some things I still need to unpack. Hope Jeremy gets better in time. Text me when he gets out of his surgery."

"will do." Rich is confused.

"Jeremy's gettin surgery?"

"Yeah. He, uh, something ruptured in his stomach. Had to get surgery on it. Then the stitches opened and he had to go back in."

"Oh shit dude, that's awful."

"Yeah. I feel bad for the guy."