Two Player Game

~Chapter Fourty~

"Thanks a lot Evan."

"no problem. Hey, uh, when Jared wakes up, can you tell him I love him?"

"Yeah. Totally."

"Thanks, Jeremy. I feel like he needs to hear that a lot right now."

"Why do you think that?"

"He... I've been so far away, and he gets worried, and I get REALLY worried, and... Maybe it's more for me, really. Maybe I... Feel like Conner."

"Don't. It's alright. As long as you stay in touch with him, it'll never turn out like Connor."

"... I guess. I don't know, it's my fault we're so split up, I didn't even think to ask where he'd applied..."

"It's nothing to worry about. Really. You still love him and he still loves you."

"You're right. I've got nothing to worry about. Thanks Jer."

"No problem." Evan pauses to kiss Jared's forehead before heading out. Rich sits up sleepily.

"He's sweet." Jeremy rolls over to where his clothes are, choosing clothes for the day.

"Seems like it. Who's Conner?"

"His ex. He was real abusive towards him. They moved to Cali senior year and he never called. Texted. Nothing."

"Jesus..."

"I know. Evans been through a lot."

"Guess that could be one reason he's so quiet and skittish."

"Also the social anxiety."

"Poor dude."

"Yeah. He's real lucky to have Jared."

"No kidding. How's he survive in Wyoming?"

"Skyping and calling him twice a day."

"Ah. Makes sense." Jeremy gets dressed only with a little bit of struggle.

"Need some assistance?"

"I can't get my fucking pants on!" He's so frustrated.

"chill out, I got you." he gets up and strides over, kneeling down to assist in pulling his pants up. Jeremy uses the arms of the chair to lift himself up. Rich slowly slips Jeremy's jeans up, being very careful. Jeremy still isn't very strong. But he's trying.

"All right, there ya go."

"Thanks Rich." He blushes from embarrassment.

"No problem, dawg." Jeremy hesitantly rolls away blushing.  Rich is blushing just a bit. Rich is probably gonna be doing a lot of that since Michael sleeps in a lot.

"... Don't make it weird, Jer, that sort of thing is only weird if you make it."

"I'm trying not to." He wheels over to Michael to wake him up. Michael groans.

"hn?"

"C'mon baby." He sits up.

".... How you get up?"

"Evan helped me."

"... Where is he?"

"Went back to his hotel."

"Oh." he yawn. Jared sits up.

"Where's Evan?"

"Hotel. Said he loves you."

"Aw, said he loves him. That's adorable."

"Jesus that's really gay Evan." Jared lays back down and just sorta stares at the ceiling.

"Really Gay."

"Soooooo." Jeremy isn't tired, Even though he didn't sleep. But you can tell that he didn't.

"Sleep okay?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Don't look like it."

"I don't?"

"Nope. You look tired."

"Well I mean.."

"Like... Did you sleep at all?"

"Uhhhh on a scale of one to ten how honest do you want me to be?"

"Ten."

"I didn't sleep a second."

"Jeremy."

"What?"

"Sleep is important, dude."

"Okay but it's not like an on and off switch."

"no, but... You gotta do it."

"And how do I do that? I slept for a straight 2 and a half weeks!"

"All right, all right." Jeremy's still holding his hand. It's soft.

"When did Evan even leave, it's so EARLY." Michael says trying to change the subject.

"7."

"Jesus, what he gotta do that early?"

"I dunno. Probably do his project."

"Sure. You think he calls Ryan while he's out here? Or that other guy, what was his name... Jer, you remember the other guy who was on Skype with Evan that one night? They seemed to get along pretty well."

"Ray?"

"That's his boyfriend." Jared replies.

"Not that one, the tall one. Big nose. Real friendly like."

"Jeez how many guys does Evan talk to?"

"Too many."

"Gavin! I like him."

"Yeah, that one. He was funny."

"Big nose British guy." Jeremy snorts.

"They all seemed really tight-knit, all his new friends were already friends with each other."

"Hm. "

"And I haven't met any of them." Jared's in that mood again.

"Get over it, J-dog."

"Actually, Gavin seemed... REALLY friendly. "

"I'm going to.... not do anything. I trust Evan."

"All right." Michael shrugs.

"I'm sure he would cheat on you with GAVIN."

"Why's that?"

"Because Evan and Gavin don't go together. They just don't."

"Sure they don't."

"I'm being serious Michael!"

"He was very charismatic, Jer, I'd be nervous if Evan was my man."

"Mike, you're scaring him." Jared's just got this looks on his face. It's pure fear.

"Shit, uh... But I'm sure it wouldn't be on Evan!"

"Not  helping. Shut your mouth."

"Probably a wise decision."

"Do you think..... well I mean.."

"No!"

"Dude, your man was nervous to even talk to me and you were with him. I think yer fine."

"But he found another guy that had an interest in him!"

"Gavin looked like he had interest in everyone he'd ever met, Jared, I think you're all right."

"How come they're never around when I call?"

""Maybe you just don't call at the right time. Far as I could tell they're there all the time, and if they aren't they're at Miles' dorm. Not Evan though, he doesn't know Miles as well."

".....I hope you're right."

"I am trust me."