Sorry, it took a little longer than I had hoped for.

Chapter 25

Curious Minds

(Melissa's p.o.v)

Jeremy wants to know who the guy Tyler cheated with is. I can't say that I blame him. Tyler did seem like he was genuinely guilty for what he did and it's obvious how he feels for Jeremy but he cheated. Jeremy never did anything wrong and all of a sudden he's told that his boyfriend has been with someone else? How does one get over that? He's stronger than I thought.

But then again, wouldn't him seeing the guy make things more difficult for him?

(p.o.v over)

"Is it the dumbest thing I've ever said?"

Jeremy's question snapped Melissa back to their conversation.

"No. It's normal for you to want to see who he is. Even if you've forgiven Tyler, which I know you have, it's perfectly okay to be curious."

Jeremy focused his eyes to his twiddling fingers. There was something that had been on his mind for a while and since he had confided in Melissa from the beginning, Jeremy figured she'd be the best to tell.

"You okay?" Her hand lightly touched Jeremy's and she glided her thumb delicately over his smooth skin.

"Maybe I forgave him too easily." His eyes studied Melissa's.

She paused momentarily to think of what she should say in response. What could she say?

...........................................................

Jeremy: How ya feelin'?

Tyler's phone buzzed.

He got sick from the changing weather and wasn't getting any better. Anytime he'd catch something it'd take him what seemed like forever just to get over it. An apple a day keeps the doctor away is so untrue, Tyler thought.

Tyler: Terrible. I'm staying home today.

It was a new day yet Jeremy's mind was still thinking about the day before. When he told Melissa about him forgiving Tyler so easily. He felt bad for thinking it but on some level he couldn't help but wonder if it was true. There was no doubt about it that he loved the kid, but it was the fact that if it had crossed his mind... should he do something about it?

As always, Jeremy pushed the thought to the side and came to a conclusion.

He was going to see who this Michael person was. Jeremy's never been the confrontational guy and he really wasn't planning on starting now. His goal was to just cure his curiosity. And maybe, maybe he could get past it some how.

If that was even possible...

...........................................................

Melissa and Jeremy sat at lunch talking about anything that passed through their minds.

His bag was closest to Melissa and while Jeremy wasn't looking she grabbed his sketchbook to see his latest master pieces. She always adored his art work. It'd been a while since she'd seen any of it because Jeremy rarely liked anyone to flip through the pages.

Melissa however, did. And when she did she was amazed. He had gotten better from when she last saw them and was almost a little jealous when she got to the last picture.

"Hey, you said you didn't like drawing people. For one thing this is amazing, and secondly... you should totally draw me," she said all bright eyed and grinning.

Jeremy finished his bite and smiled as she "ooooh-ed and aaaw-ed" over his sketches.

"Oh, well that was just a random quick sketch that I did. If I ever try and draw one of you, it'll probably in paints." He chuckled lightly and said, "It's kind of funny because I don't even know who he is."

Melissa looked at the drawing once more and said casually, "Oh, his name's Michael."

With the food still in his mouth and in the process of swallowing the contents, Jeremy choked from the name that slipped from Melissa's mouth.

"Wh-what?" He barely managed to choke out.

"Yeah, I've got Spanish with him. He's on the football team, Tyler probably knows him. He didn't give you his name?"

Whoa! Football, Tyler, what the fuck man?

"Are you okay? Jeremy what's the matter?" Melissa asks concerned.

"I uh... um, that- that's...", he paused momentarily. "Nothing, no. I'm-I'm good." He says while clearing his throat. Smooth.

Once the lunch bell rings and his next class awaits him Jeremy grows quiet and the rest of the day goes by like a blur. A migraine-inducing, head throbbing, bitch of a day.

...........................................................

Jeremy gets home and walks past his Aunt Jenna. Monotonously greeting her and saying that his day was fine.

He doesn't know what to think. If he was right and that guy that he was so friendly to was the Michael and Tyler said nothing, then he wasn't sure what he was to do. Jeremy twisted the door knob open and it was like déjà vu.

Tyler was lying on his bed with his eyes shut. His first reaction was to lay next to his boyfriend. But reality hit him like a splash of water and all at once Jeremy was flooded with anger and pain.

Jeremy shut his eyes and fought back what was bound to come sooner and later and went over to tap Tyler on his shoulder.

With his sleepy eyes Tyler awakened to find Jeremy standing above him.

"Hey," Tyler smiled at Jeremy and soon after realized the tension in the room.

"What's up?", he asked.

Jeremy sucked in a deep breath and went to find the drawing. As soon as he found it he tossed the book to Tyler's side and like a ton of bricks, Tyler too snapped back to reality.

...........................................................

"Well?", Jeremy asked impatiently.

Tyler rubbed his eyes with his hand and stood up from the bed. It was all his fault and he knew it. He had his chance to tell Jeremy who it actually was but Tyler let the opportunity slip away. And now it caught up to him and all he wanted to do was apologize until Jeremy forgave him; sick and all.

"I'm sorry." He didn't waste any time.

"So it's him? That's the guy?" Jeremy knew it was true. But that still didn't mean that he had hopes that it wasn't. That Michael was just a common name and Tyler wouldn't have kept that from him.

As Tyler nodded his head slowly and shamefully, he heard something fly across the room.

Jeremy threw the sketchbook against the wall and sat at his computer desk. He leaned over his knees and propped his elbow against one of his legs and buried his face into the palm of his hand. He managed to mask his few tears with his jacket sleeve and finally looked up to see Tyler sitting on his bed.

"And you didn't say anything," his voice began to elevate, "Why the hell not?"

With his voice starting to tremble Tyler tried to answer him.

"I don't know, I-I'm sorry." Silence came after he croaked out another apology. Tyler looked up to Jeremy but he only saw that he was in the same position as before.

"Jeremy?", he wasn't crying but guilt had overcome him and took over the strength in his voice. Him being sick didn't help at all in his case.

Even through Tyler doing what he did in the first place and now... not telling Jeremy the truth, Jeremy still wanted to be with him. He knew it was foolish and he knew that he deserved better but he fell in love with the stupid Lockwood. His mind wasn't functioning properly anymore.

"What?", Jeremy asked. Pain still thick in his voice. He dried his tears and looked up.

Tyler gulped hard and studied the younger boy's face. How his eyes were red and his lashes were still damp. Tyler caused that. He was the reason for Jeremy looking the way he did and that broke Tyler completely. His emotions spun into a whirlwind and quickly enough, Tyler went in for a kiss.

It was emotional and he could taste the tears that had stained Jeremy's lips. He could feel his own shiver in the touch of the other boy's. It had gotten cut off by Jeremy and as a reaction Tyler tried to grab a hold of Jeremy's waist to remain holding onto him. He wanted to feel Jeremy's warmth. He wanted Jeremy to kiss him hungrily and he wanted to taste his mouth as he craved the other boy completely. Only for a moment, Tyler got what he wanted.

But most of all Tyler just wanted Jeremy to forgive him. For Jeremy to look at him the way he used to; to touch him the way he used to. Tyler knew how much he messed up and he wondered if he even deserved anything at all.

After a few more seconds the kiss was over and the two were left standing in the middle of Jeremy's bedroom. As they stared at each other Tyler apologized again. After doing so he boldly kissed Jeremy with more passion than last. He sucked gently at Jeremy's neck and began to lick massagingly.

"Is there anything else?", Jeremy asked.

Tyler nuzzled against Jeremy's neck and eventually brought his eyes to face him. Slowly he shook his head from side to side looking downward. Sighing heavily Jeremy stood up, retrieved his sketchbook, and ripped the newest drawing from it's spine. Jeremy slowly crumpled the paper and tossed it into the waste can.

All with out speaking Jeremy reached for his phone and simply... left.

A/n: Okay, Jeremy is pissed, as he should be. But I couldn't help myself. I love a little Jyler lovin'!
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