Jeremy's expression turned to a horrific one as he looked from Christine to Michael, though as he looked at Michael, he was unable to read the other boy's expression due to his face being turned away at the moment.

"Those words were so sweet and true and- aw, you're such a romantic!" Christine giggled, stepping back to grin up at Jeremy.

"I- th-ank you, I-" Jeremy began before he noticed Michael walking away.

"I'll see you guys at the lunch table then." Michael commented, giving a peace-sign before heading out of the hallway.

"I- Christine, I, uh-"

Christine paused before smirking.

Jeremy looked down at his feet awkwardly, "That note..."

"Was meant for Michael." Christine finished.

Jeremy shook his head in confusion, "Wh- wait, what? How did you- why did you-" Jeremy began to choke on his own words.

"You accidentally slipped it into my locker, it's next to Michael's." Christine handed Jeremy the note.

"How did you know though?" Jeremy looked at Christine in a baffled manor.

"It's addressed to Michael's locker and has your locker number as the sender, it was a hunch- oh, that plus the fact that you're always giving him the look." Christine wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"I-" Jeremy's face was bright red with blush, "Th-that's besides the point but- then why'd you come busting out claiming the note was for you...? Now- Michael thinks-"

"It was for safety-measures, Jeremy, I was giving you confirmation- ya' know, stealthily- I'm a fabulous actor, aren't I?" Christine winked dorkily.

"...How was that...?"

"Well, is he had congratulated you and made fun of us liking each other then, most likely, he's not into you," Christine pointed out.

Jeremy's face flashed with hurt.

"Hold on now, but," Christine smile widely, "Did you see how hurt he looked!?"

"You seem too excited about this."

"No, no, no, I mean- Jeremy, he's jealous." Christine was bouncing up and down now.

Jeremy's heart felt like it did a summersault, Michael Mell? Jealous of him? "You- you think so?"

"I know bad acting when I see it, he was trying to play it cool but that boy is crushing on you so bad right now!" Christine stuck out her tongue happily.

"Wh-what should I do?"

"Well, for starters, don't give him a note." Christine suggested.

"What?" Jeremy looked confused.

"Tell him in person."

Jeremy began to violently shake his head, "I can't- I- just- n- uh- er- uh-"

Christine winced, "Not with that stutter you can't..." She sighed, handing Jeremy the note, "At least give it to him in person, deal?"

Jeremy looked down at the note, bitting his lip nervously before slowly grabbing it and snatching it into the pocket of his sweater, "Okay, Okay...just...fine, don't tell anyone that I-"

"That you've got the hots for Michael Mell~?"

"Christine!" Jeremy yelped.

"It's just the truth." Christine shrugged, "Now go get yourself that boy!"

Jeremy looked at Christine and felt a fraction of determination make its way into his chest, he could do this.
He could do this.

He most definitely could not do this.

When Jeremy found his way to his friend group he found that Rich and Jake were sitting beside Michael with their arms over his shoulders and the rest of the group were looking at him with pitiful glances.

"Uh...Guys...?" Jeremy approached them and saw that Michael noticeably shrank down while Jake and Rich looked at Jeremy guiltily and the girls gave a slight glare.

Jeremy slowly walked to the other side of the table and sat down across from Michael. Brooke and Chloe moved away from Jeremy when he sat down beside them as if he had the plague.

Michael had his hoodie over his face and everyone was absolutely silent.

Jeremy felt as awkward as ever as he tapped his finger against the lunch table in front of him, "So...how are...th-things?"

"Where's your girlfriend?"

Jeremy looked up at Jenna but Jenna was looking down at her phone.

"E-excuse me?" Jeremy cocked an eyebrow.

Jenna glanced up at Jeremy with an unamused look, "Ya' know, Christine? You two are dating now, or what?"

Jeremy saw Michael flinch and felt pain ebb into his being.

"I...don't know..." Jeremy muttered.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Brooke scoffed.

"I'm...what?" Jeremy's voice was tiny, "Did I do something...wrong?"

"Not...necessarily...someone had to get hurt." Jake murmured before Rich slapped his arm and told him to shut up.

Jeremy was silent for a bit longer as the tension in the air practically began to materialize until he finally let out a sigh, "Could someone please catch me up on exactly what I screwed up?"

The entire group was surprised and baffled at how straight-forward and firm Jeremy was being.

Chloe rolled her eyes, "You didn't have to confess your love to Christine in front of him when you knew he liked you."

"Yeah, what the hell?" Brooke crossed her arms.

"Hashtag, dick-move." Jenna scoffed.

"Not really your best plan there, Jeremy..." Jake winced.

"Exthactly." Rich glared.

"Wh...at?" Jeremy felt his heart twist

With that the entire group erupted into yells and curses against Jeremy, minus Jake who seemed pretty neutral about all this and Jenna who was too busy posting about it.

"Dick!"

"Inconsiderate!"

"Thoughtful my ass!"

"Ass in general more like it!"

"Why are you here?"

"You should've left by now!"

"Get out of here, Heere!"

Jeremy felt his breathing hitch as all the words came crashing down on him and his mind swirled before he finally abruptly stood up and slammed the note down in front of the still-hiding Michael.

"Michael! Mell!" Jeremy shouted above the accusations, causing them to slowly quiet down.

Jeremy panted slightly from all the stress of the last few minutes before he slowly sat down, "I...the note was meant for you, Michael, not Christine..."

Michael didn't move.

"Just trust me on that one."

"How do we know you're not just saying this to clear your name?" Jenna huffed, looking up from her phone before snatching the note, "I say, it's garbage."

Jeremy looked nervous as Jenna held the note in front of her.

"Prove it." Jenna shrugged, repeat exactly what was on that note so I know it's not rubbish and then we'll believe you, right?"

The group murmured in agreement.

Jeremy knew the note by heart from how many times he had read over it to make sure it was perfect, but the last thing he wanted to do was share it with his entire group of friends...

No.

The last thing Jeremy wanted to do was lose Michael, and he sure as ever would do that if he didn't do this...

"...Fine." Jeremy sighed.

Jenna smirked with amusement, "Okay, lover-boy, let's start it up then."

"Michael..." Jeremy sighed, already regretting this, "I want to start with, I'm going to naturally assume you don't like me back- and that's okay, really, it is, I just don't want to continue pretending like I don't like you, more than just this friend thing we have going on, that is. I've heard so many times, from you, that you don't enjoy how you look, and I usually shrug because I can't respond because if I did respond I would say that I think you are the most attractive and beautiful person on this entire campus,"

Michael began to look up slightly from where he sat.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you how I felt...though I am right now...but damn, I-I just...you're so amazing and sometimes I wish you weren't s-so I could move on and not have to face r-rejection from the single most respected person that I know...you're such a beautifully flawed human being that I've fallen so hard for from your genuine personality to the ups and the downs and everything with and about you, I really do like you, Michael Mell...signed, Jeremy Heere."

The entire group was silent.
It stayed like this for a few more minutes before Jenna spoke up, "...Well, it matches with the note..."

Jeremy stared down at his lap where his hands were neatly folded and trembling.

"...Jeremy...?"

Jeremy forced himself to look up at Michael's who met his eyes with bewilderment, "You mean it?"

"...E-every word."

Michael softly smiled, "I like you too."