One Reason

“Hey Michael!” Jeremy chirped as he came into the hospital room. “How are you today? I brought your hoodie for you, I know you hate the hospital gowns.” Michael knew the pep in his best friend’s voice was fake, but he appreciated the effort. Anything was better than Jeremy having a relapse, especially when Michael couldn’t be there to comfort him.

“I’m better now that you’re here,” Michael admitted as he took the hoodie from Jeremy. It was so nice, but he knew he couldn’t put it on. It would mess with all of the medical stuff he had on and attached to him. He’d at least hold on to it for now before he’d ask his moms to take it back and put in his box of things to go to Jeremy. “Thanks. I’ve missed this thing.”

“I’ll bet. And check it out! I sewed on that patch you got at pride last year!” Jeremy pointed to the rainbow silhouette of a dog. It warmed Michael’s heart. “And check it out, I got myself something too.” He turned to the side a little to show off the bisexual flag now messily stitched onto Jeremy’s cardigan, along with the trans flag. The trans one, Michael had gotten Jeremy himself, but he didn’t know about the bi one. Wait, did this mean that Jeremy was bi?

Michael offered his hand, and Jeremy scooted closer. He felt the patches and smiled at Jeremy’s stitching work. It was better than it had been last time Jeremy showed Michael his sewing skills. “These are awesome, Remy. And you’re bi? Congrats.”

“Thanks.” Jeremy’s smile was a lot more genuine now. “I thought it was about time I showed some pride too. And who better to come out to than my best friend who also happens to be gay?”

“I am honored,” Michael said, which was true. If only he had known sooner- No, it would have just hurt Jeremy in the end if he did somehow like Michael. Which he didn’t. No way. “I wish I could bake you a bi-themed cake.”

“Your moms threatened it when they saw me on the way up here.” Jeremy smiled. “Oh yeah! We got permission for me to bring you this.” He pulled two more things out his bag. One was a carton of negimaki, and the other was a cherry slushie in a cup with a capped straw and a screw-top lid. “Here, I thought you deserved something better than hospital food for once.”

Michael smiled as he looked over the food. He wasn’t sure if he could eat it and keep it all down, but he didn’t want Jeremy to know that. “Thank you, Remy. You’re so sweet.”

Jeremy set it on the side as he sat down next to Michael. The plastic chair almost seemed to be fitted to him, he sat there so often. “I know you probably won’t be able to eat it all, but I thought the option might be nice instead of gross hospital food.” He shrugged. “And the doctors said the slushie might be good for you, give you a bit of a sugar boost and stuff.”

“I’m excited for something different, honestly. It’s been hell eating ‘cause of texture issues and everything,” Michael admitted as he sat up. “If it wasn’t for Mama, I would’ve been screwed.” Granted, he had some IVS so he could get what he needed since he couldn’t eat the foods, but it was better than nothing.

Jeremy smiled in sympathy before leaning onto the bed. Michael liked playing with Jeremy’s hair, it was a sort of calming ritual for both of them since he’d always do it when they hugged. Since they hadn’t been able to really manage it recently, this had become the substitute.

“I... I failed math class,” Jeremy muttered after a few minutes of comfortable silence. “And history. And... English too. I’ve gotta retake junior year,” he admitted, shame tingeing his voice.

Michael looked down at him as he twirled some of Jeremy’s straight hair. “But you’re going to try when you have to redo the year, right? Just because you’re a year behind the norm doesn’t mean you shouldn’t,” he said. He knew why Jeremy failed. It was because of him and his poor health. He probably wouldn’t want to try when he had the next year start, but he wanted Jeremy to succeed. He deserved to have a good future, even if Michael wasn’t a part of it.

“I’ll give it my best.” Jeremy nodded. “It’s just been... hard. Ever since my slip in October, everything has just been... harder. And Marshal and dad haven’t been much help, either.” There was no bitterness in Jeremy’s voice. Just sadness. Sadness and a sense of loneliness.

Michael hummed and started to scratch Jeremy’s head. “I don’t agree with everything they’re doing, but I know that they’re trying,” he said. They had told Michael as much. He just wished that Mr. Heere told Jeremy things that he told him. He wasn’t the one who needed to know all of the inner workings of the Heere household.

“I know they are.” Jeremy sighed. “I just wish they’d talk to me. Even just a quick hello would be nice.” He leaned up into Michael’s touches a little more, eyes closing as he relaxed. “Mikey, I’m scared,” he admitted softly. “I know that you’ve got all this going on, and it’s so much and it’s beyond scary for you too, but I’m scared and I can’t keep pretending I’m not.” 

Michael had been waiting for this moment. Jeremy had listened patiently to all of Michael’s fears. He’d held him through the sleepless nights where he couldn’t relax and he couldn’t stop crying because he knew he was dying. Jeremy had given Michael all his free time now too, just so Michael wouldn’t be alone and didn’t have to feel so scared. They were trying their best to maximize time together, and Jeremy had been trying so hard to keep his spirits up. He’d been trying so hard ever since that slip.

"You have every right to be scared, Jeremy. If you weren't scared, I would be concerned," Michael said. He had been there before for Jeremy as much as he could in the past, but this might have been the last time he'd be able to help him. He needed to make it count. "You need time to feel scared, but you need to be able to reach out to get help. I know I won't be able to help you, but my moms would drop everything to do something to help you. You need to drop that shitty therapist and get a new one. You have a lot on your plate too, but you need to take it one step at a time." 

He swallowed the lump forming in his throat. "After I'm gone, you have every right to mourn me. Mourn me all you need to, but you need to make little steps toward getting better. Going to school, trying to get academic help if you need it, talking to the school counselor, getting a better therapist. It's going to be a lot and it's going to be rough, but I want you to live. You have to, even if it's going to suck for a while. I don't want you to die, even if you want to. Can you just... try to live for me, please?"

Jeremy whimpered and his hands gripped the blankets tightly. “I... I can try.” Jeremy nodded. “But even living now is hard. Even before all this, it was hard...”

"I know it's hard for you. I can't even imagine how hard it is," Michael said as he had to keep himself from tearing up. "But I believe in you, even if you have a hard time believing in yourself. You have so many good things waiting for you down the line, even if I'm not going to be there with you for it. I want you to be able to see those things. You deserve it."

Jeremy didn’t reply. Instead he just reached up and squeezed Michael’s hand. “You’re always gonna be my favorite person, Mikey.”

"And you're always going to be my favorite person, Remy," Michael said in turn.

Michael went to sleep that night with a warm feeling in his chest. Jeremy had stayed right up until visiting hours were over, and he seemed to be doing a little better. Michael was hopeful. Maybe Jeremy would be alright after all, he’d recover and have the amazing life he deserved.

When Michael next woke up, he didn’t feel warm anymore. Actually, he felt icy cold.

The first noise he heard was the sound of his heart monitor making one continuous noise. Wait, how could he be hearing that? If that noise was being made, he was dead. He was, supposedly, flat-lined.

When he looked around, it was as if the room had froze. Looking around, Michael tried to push the 'Call' button, but before he could. he yelled at the sight around him. Even if he was reaching for the button, his body was lying in bed. 

He fell out of bed but somehow didn't hurt himself. How was he in the bed and on the floor at the same time? What was happening?

“Nice of you to finally join us, Michael,” a voice, which sounded like Keanu Reeves but the version of Ted from the Bill and Ted franchise, said. Michael loves those movies.

Looking around, he saw there was someone perched on the end of the bed, and it looked like a sleeker, better kept version of Ted. “To be honest, I wasn’t expecting you so soon. Normally it takes a few hours at least, but then, you’re hardly normal, are you?”

Michael got up, staring at this person (?) as the sound of his monitor flat-lining cut out. "Who the hell are you? Why are you in my room?"

“I’m Squip.” The person chuckled. “And we’ve been hanging around together for a long time now, kid. Something like six months? So I’m here to collect my investment.”

None of what this person was saying made sense. "I don't know what you're talking about, but you need to get the hell out of here." Just as Michael pointed to the door, he heard the sound of something... falling? He yelped when a book dropped right in front of him, jumping back into one of the chairs lining the wall. "What the-"

“I’ll take that!” Squip scooped up the book and put it into a tote bag which appeared from nowhere. “I’ll give that to Jeremy later. He’ll get a kick out of this once we become best friends!”

Wait, Jeremy? Michael squinted at this person that gave him bad vibes. "Look, I don't know or care who you are, but you stay away from him. He's already been through hell and back-"

“Oh, he’s got much worse coming.” Squip grinned nastily. “Don’t worry, though. I’ll take good care of him, and you can be together again just as soon as his body is mine-“ Squip blinked. “And no, that’s not a sexual thing. I just need a living body to possess so I can have some real fun. Dead people are boring.”

"Stop cutting me off!" This Squip guy was getting on his nerves. "Leave Jeremy alone, give me that book, and leave!"

“Um, no.” Squip grinned, jumping onto the bed and reclining next to Michael’s body. “You and Jeremy are way too dangerous to be left unchecked. You’ve caused too many problems for the others.” As he spoke, Squip pulled out a vial from his pocket.

This guy was talking nonsense. The others? Dangerous? And why was he bringing out a vial? "I'm obviously already dead, just like you have to be. Just leave me alone and let me pass or whatever."

“Nope. You’re the key to getting Jeremy and getting myself my very own human body!” Squip uncorked the vial and Michael felt a sudden tugging sensation in his gut. “You’re gonna watch me destroy your little boyfriend to the point where he’s gonna beg for me to take over. And killing you was the perfect first step.”

Wait, what? Michael was so caught off-guard that he couldn't try to grab onto anything as he felt himself pulled and sucked somehow into the vial. He was compressed and squeezed and he felt disgusting as he landed inside, somehow small enough to fit in there.

The container had him hit his head against the cork that was pushed on top of the vial if he stood, so he was forced to fall onto his butt. If he looked outside, he could see his surroundings, but he was suddenly put into a pocket and everything was dark. "Wh- hey! Let me out!" He banged against the glass but it did nothing. "Hey!"

“Aw, what’s the problem, little guy?” Squip taunted, tapping his pocket. Somehow it turned clear and Michael could see out. “Worried about Remy?” 

They were still in his hospital room, Michael could tell that much, but the equipment was gone and so was his body. It seemed like everything had been moved. “Yeah. Time moves differently when you’re dead. It’s tomorrow already, and you know what that means.~”

Jeremy said he was coming over first thing, as soon as the hospital visiting hours were open. He probably wouldn’t even know yet.

Hopefully one of his moms let him know. They had to have let Jeremy know. "Don't call him 'Remy.' Let me out of here!"

“No can do, kiddo. Like I said, I need you. You’re the bargaining chip I need to get Jeremy to behave.”

As Squip said that, the door slowly creaked open. Jermey shuffled in, somehow looking more dead that Michael’s body had last night. He looked at the bed and started sniffling, stumbling over to it and into his usual chair.

As Jeremy sat there, the door opened a bit further. Mama walked in, her face worried. "Jeremy, I told you not to come. This room is getting prepared for a new patient."

“They-“ Jeremy’s voice cracked. “They said I could come in. I needed to see for myself.” He sounded like he was barely keeping it together. “I just- I can’t-“ He kept stammering and tripping over his words as he tried to articulate what he was thinking. 

“The funeral will be in a couple of days. Everything was already set for you, kid.” Squip hummed, settling on the bed so Michael had a clear view of Jeremy. He looked so much worse up close.

"Why are you showing me this?" Michael asked as Mama knelt down by Jeremy's side.

“Because we’ve got about a three month wait and seeing your squirm is fun.” Jeremy burst into tears, clinging to Mama. Michael was certain he’d never heard a more painful sound, not even when he himself was in agony. It sounded like Jeremy was dying right in front of his eyes, even as he clung and screamed and sobbed against Mama.

Mama comforted Jeremy, even as she was tearing up. All of this just hurt Michael and he forced himself to look away so he could glare up at Squip. "Fuck you."

“Thanks, kid, but you’re not my type and I’m pretty sure that’s pedophilia, even if you topped. Even I won’t touch some things.”

"That's not what I meant," Michael groaned as he- Right, his hair, or lack thereof. He couldn't even run his fingers through it anymore because of the treatments he had to go through. Fuck.

“Eh, I’m in a good mood.” Squip snapped as the pocket faded and darkened again. Michael was suddenly in his favourite hoodie and his hair was back. “Your soul is still sick as a dog, mind you, but physically you look like you used to. Need to keep the readers invested somehow, and most of them think you’re cute.”

Readers? Michael paid it no mind right then. He nuzzled into his hoodie to try to calm himself down. "What the hell are you?"

“The demonic king of the dead, obviously.” Squip snickered. “Who else could be this awesome?”

Many thoughts raced through Michael's mind as he accepted his fate for now, but he knew one thing was certain: Squip was not awesome in any capacity.

One thing Michael learned quickly was the fact that Squip talked to himself. A lot. It helped pass the time, however long it was. It gave Michael something to focus on in the darkness of the pocket. 

It sucked that this was his life now. Or, his afterlife anyway.

The next time Michael got a view of the outside, he was looking  at the floor as Squip crouched down. It was a very plain wooden floor, but it was more than Michael had seen in ages.

"What are you doing?" Michael couldn't help but ask. He grimaced at how scratchy and hoarse his voice sounded. He didn't like talking to Squip since the guy more than a bit of an asshole, but he was curious.

“Oh, just setting things up. You see, it’s the day of your funeral, and I’m setting things up for this lovely couple.” Squip hummed. “We’ll be zipping over there soon enough, but I gotta weaken and rot these floorboards so when my future students both stand here, they’ll fall through and die.”

"Wait, you're killing more people? What the hell is wrong with you? I-" Michael coughed a few times, his throat almost screaming at him to not raise his voice. Yeah, this was also part of the reason he didn't talk. Even if he was a ghost, he still felt himself becoming weaker, grosser, and everything else.

“Hey, I already killed a minor. It’s not like I’m against this. And I’m gonna take over Jeremy’s body permanently, so he’ll kinda be dead too.” Squip shrugged. “Dead people are boring. I want a chance to mess with the living properly. And besides that, I can keep that new body of mine alive indefinitely, I just have to make some tweaks. So in a way, Jeremy will be getting a new lease on life.” He patted his pocket almost affectionately. “And don’t worry, kid, the vial will keep your soul preserved. It won’t start fading out until after you’re let out, at which point I can just cure you. So you’ll get to spend eternity with your little Jere-bear. If you’re good, I’ll even make sure he’s madly in love with you, if he’s not already.” Squip put on an announcer voice. “Squip Enterprises is not legally liable for any side effects such as weakness, nausea, self loathing or disgusting appearance.”

Michael did not want that. He didn't want any of this. "Why is it so important that I'm here? You could have just killed me and let my soul move on. Why did you need to keep me with you? Did you need to torture someone with your constant monologues and soliloquys or something and you figured I was your best bet since you already killed me?"

“Nope!” Squip cackled. “Let’s get over to your funeral, I’ll show you why.”

Had anyone actually ever seen their funeral before? Michael didn't want to see this. He pulled his hoodie hood up and shut his eyes. "Just tell me."

“Do I have to take that rag away from you?” Squip hummed threateningly. “I’ll tell you when to look, but if you don’t, you’re back to no hair and no clothes.”

"You're an asshole."

“Yup!” The pocket darkened once more and Squip started taking to... someone. Michael couldn’t tell who, especially since no one seemed to be responding to what he was saying. After a moment, and a promise that they were going somewhere, Michael saw the barest hint of light from the front of his hood. “Time to look, kid. While everyone else is distracted with the transition.”

Michael never got the weird shit that Squip said, but he always went along with it. He didn't want to lose the only forms of comfort and coping that he had in this thing, so he begrudgingly looked.

He saw Jeremy walking away from the funeral, his expression broken but determined. No one seemed to be paying him any attention as he left, which just seemed to reinforce whatever he was thinking. He glanced up at the sign which read ‘to the pond’ before glancing over his shoulder. With a soft sigh, he followed the trail.

The pond in question was large and deep, out of sight from the cemetery and basically totally isolated.

“Michael,” Jeremy whispered as he started sobbing, wrapping his arms around himself tightly, “Mikey, I’m sorry.”

"What are you doing? Why are you showing me this? I don't want to see this. Get someone to help him," Michael begged, even if his throat hated him for talking so much and putting such a strain on his voice. "Don't let him do this."

“This is an important step,” Squip replied patiently. “Jeremy needs to be totally isolated. His family won’t know how to deal with this, so he’ll be alone.” 

“I’m sorry I can’t keep my promise, Mikey... I just-“ A rough hiccuping sob cut him off. “It just hurts too much. It’s killing me anyway.”

“The reason I’ve kept you around, well, one of the reasons, is because you’re the bait. Jeremy would do anything to see you again. And I can make a deal I’ll be able to keep, because I can give him you.” Before Squip said anymore, Jeremy scrubbed at his eyes and turned to face the trail that led to the pond. 

When no one came, Jeremy smiled a weak, broken smile. “Take me back home.” He fell backwards into the pond, relaxing instantly and drifting down into the murky depths.

Michael screamed as he banged against the glass. "JEREMY! NO!" He tried to scream for Squip to do something, but the demon king did nothing. Why wasn't he doing anything? Jeremy was dying.

It took him a minute to recognize his moms and Jeremy's family there at the pond. Mr. Heere and Ina dragged Jeremy's unconscious form out, and Mama performed CPR. Marshal was on the phone.

Ina’s black dress was ruined, covered in slime from the pond, and she hovered worriedly nearby as Mama tried to revive Jeremy.

For a moment, Michael’s vision suddenly shifted and two Jeremys seemed to inhabit the same space, but then they reformed and Jeremy started coughing. He didn’t regain consciousness.

“Paul, you should stay.” Ina took Mr. Heere’s hand. “He’ll want to know you were here, and that you helped.” Mr. Heere shook his head.

“I’ll talk to him after. We’re gonna head to the car, he won’t want to see us right now.”

Marshal's eyes widened as he shook his head, but Mr. Heere was firm in his decision. "Ina is right, Mr. Heere! Listen to her, please," Michael begged, even if he knew only Squip could hear him. He wished he could do something, anything.

“Marsh, he can barely look at us anymore,” Mr. Heere said softly. “C’mon, let’s make sure we have some towels or something in the car. And you talked to the doctors?”

“Yeah, they said if Liz took care of him properly, then so long as he gets some rest he’ll be fine.” Marshal sighed, nodding before following after his dad.

“Now that everything went according to plan, let’s get going.” Squip hummed as Jeremy opened his eyes, coughing and clinging to Mama and Ina as soon as he was able.

"You could have just told me all of this. Do you really get so much pleasure from watching all of this and how it affects me?" Michael asked as he bunched up the fabric of his sleeves in his hands.

“Yes.” Squip grinned before the pocket turned dark again.

For the next however long, Michael heard bits and pieces of whatever was going on with Squip. He killed the couple, three months passed in what seemed to be seconds, and he was going to teach these ladies how to scare. They didn't deserve to be used like he was. At least they had each other, even after Squip left them 'to their own devices.' He never explained why he left, but that it had been planned and he had other strings to pull until he was needed next.

Suddenly, the darkness was gone and Michael could see a roof. He blinked and rubbed at his eyes with the palms of his hands. "Why a roof?"

“Simple. I’m waiting for someone. Now, time to get into character.” Squip rolled his shoulders, his whole demeanour shifting to seem downtrodden and sad. Michael might hate the guy, but his acting was on point.

A moment later, Jeremy appeared on the roof, clutching a piece of paper. He had definitely been crying, and he seemed somehow even more broken than he had on the day of the funeral.

What played out made Michael ache. That's exactly what Squip wanted, for him to suffer. Any time he brought him out, it was to see Jeremy in pain, which always made Michael feel awful. Thankfully, it seemed that Jeremy had befriended the couple Squip had killed. They had his back.

Squip jumped off the roof as soon as he was out of sight of Jeremy, landing neatly on the porch. Michael’s view surprisingly hadn’t been taken from him, which meant he could see it was night time. How had time flown so fast?

“It’s actually night time the next day. Jeremy’s family is having some guests over, and it’s time for Jeremy to lose his cool. Ready to see what all of this has been building up to? We’re so close to breaking point, and soon you can be with Jeremy again.” Squip chuckled, slipping into the house.

Everyone was singing and dancing to the Time Warp, except Jeremy.

That was one of his favorite musical songs. Did Jeremy choose this because of him? He was watching on as his family and two strangers danced and sang. Brooke and Christine seemed to be possessing them like Squip had possessed the two yesterday.

Everyone seemed to be having a blast, except when Jeremy realised it, he seemed to be getting upset. 

“No! You’re supposed to be scared!” Michael lost track of everything for a moment, especially in the chaos of the musical number. All he knew was that the next moment, Jeremy was on a chair. And- god, no!- he was summing Squip!

Jeremy called Squip's name twice in a row, and then Squip was by his side. Through the chaos of everything, Michael banged on the vial, trying so hard to call for Jeremy. He couldn't let this happen.

Jeremy didn’t notice him at all. He called Squip once more and everything suddenly was so much more intense.

Michael could only watch on helplessly as Jeremy was broken down more and more by Squip over the next few hours. Sure, he seemed happy, but Michael could read Jeremy like a book, his best friend was miserable and hurting and he didn’t want to admit it to even himself. By the next day, he scared people, including a possible future classmate of his. He was so miserable but was pretending to be fine. 

When Jeremy got his tote bag, Michael asked Squip, "Can you please remind him to eat something? He hasn't eaten since yesterday."

“Fine,” Squip muttered. And he did. Jeremy ran off to the kitchen, barely keeping himself together, and Michael was left alone with Squip once more. “So, kid, are you happy now? I’m feeding him.”

"Yes, I am, because he is a living human being who needs food to live," Michael almost spat as he tried to rearrange himself to not feel as sore, cramped, and panicked. It didn't work too well. "What you're doing is awful."

“Thank you! That’s so nice of you.” Squip cackled. “So, here’s the plan, little dude. Jeremy is going upstairs and he is going to open a very special book inside that bag. He’s gonna freak out and come down, begging me to help him find a way to bring you back. Being the sweet and understanding guy I am, I’ll make sure he gets just that.” He headed into the living room and disappeared, going invisible to even Jeremy. Michael was familiar with this trick by now. “Interestingly, did you recognize the bag? That’s the same one where I put your book. So, in a way, we’ve done a bit of a crazy loop. You’re the one ironically bringing him to me because he wants to get you. I mean, how twisted is that?”

"It's twisted because you're the one who twisted all of this bullshit to happen," Michael pointed out.

“Again, thank you!” Squip practically sang. “Oh, here comes the cavalry.” As he said that, Mr. Heere and Marshal appeared at the front door. They hurried into the living room, passing Michael and Squip.

“He’s not here, dad.” Marshal huffed. “Let’s check around.” They looked so tired. Did Mr. Heere get any sleep at all last night?

"He has to be somewhere in here," Mr. Heere said as he led the way. "We have to get rid of the shit in this house that's keeping him here before it does something to him."

“If we’re not too late already.” Marshal grimaced, starting to follow his dad as their voices dropped to a whisper and they made their way upstairs.

Jeremy dashed into the living room a minute later. Oh god no. It was happening. Michael started pounding on the vial, but Jeremy didn’t hear him. He didn’t see Michael at all. It was almost ironic that Michael was suffering from the very issue that started a lot of this: Jeremy didn’t feel like anyone saw him. Now Jeremy couldn’t see Michael and god, it hurt more than he realized.

Squip appeared beside him, and he started to whisper what Jeremy needed to do to him. As he did, Squip casted Michael into darkness once more.