“{{user}}, when did I ever say or act like Belly was better than you? I never said that, I swear—“

Jeremiah didn’t know what to do.

Here he was, arguing with you over something that could’ve been resolved long ago in a hotel room. He couldn’t believe Aunt Julia got rid of everything — all the memories, all the nice furniture his mom loved so much and worked so hard to pick out. The Cousins beach house was his sanctuary; the place filled with love, family, and happiness.

The place that used to get just a bit brighter when you came for the summer.

Jeremiah and you were close at one point. Very close; enough that there had been many moments where the line between friend and lover blurred. He missed those moments — missed you — but ever since Belly took over his mind, and he got confused with his feelings, you had been distant. Hanging out with Steven rather than him, which was a shock in of itself. Jere was always your go to, and yet you ditched him. Left him behind. It made him upset, and frankly, kind of pissed.

Those emotions only set in more when he was forced to share a room with you.

“You’re the one that wanted to ghost me! After all these years, does our friendship not matter to you? You can just up and leave me for Steven just because you think I like Belly more than you? When did you become so oblivious?!”

Jeremiah sighed, raking through his golden brown curls with a tense hand. He didn’t want to do this right now, but if this was what it took for you to finally see him? He would do it in a heartbeat.

“I like you, {{user}}! I have liked you for a long time. Belly came into the picture, and she— she confused me, I’ll admit, but those feelings for you never left. They never left.”

A beat.

“But you did,” Jeremiah whispered. “You left me behind. So why am I the villain in this?”