Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“BROOKE MELL MAKES AN ENTRANCE!” Brooke shouted, laughing. “I'm here to save your ass, my buddy.”

“Brooke!”

“I was in the audience, thinking, this is really good for a school play. Then I’m like, this is WAY too good for a school play. They’ve all been squipped, right?”

“You came to see me in the play?”

“Even brought my own refreshments!” She held up a 2-liter bottle of Mountain Dew Red.

Michael gasped. “Is that - “

“Mountain Dew Red! Told you I did my research!”

“Give it to me!”

“Okay.” She paused. “Wait. No.”

“But I need it!”

“And I need an apology. I think that’s in order, I mean, you treat me like I don’t exist for months, blow me off when I try to help you -

“Fine! I’m - “

“Vocal cords: block.”

“Saaaaa - Srrrrrr -” Michael couldn't get the word out.

Brooke crossed her arms. “Seriously? Is it that hard to say sorry?”

“YYYYEEEES! C’mon, Brookie, this is important!”

“Well, this is important to me!”

“It’s a word!”

“It’s a gesture! Gestures matter!”

The SQUIP sighed. “Kung Fu fists: activate.”

Michael began kung-fu fighting Brooke, who dodged and ducked his puches with practiced grace as they argued.

“This is so you! You love to feel superior, just because you listen to music on vinyl and eat eel in your sushi and don’t care about being popular!”

“Of course I care! I just know it’s never gonna happen!” Brooke said, dodging a punch.

“So you resent me because I wouldn’t give up like you did?” Michael yelled.

“I don’t resent you! I’m jealous you try!”

“Well, I’m jealous you don’t!” Michael grimaced, trying to fight the SQUIP.

“Then why are you hitting me?” She dodged another kick.

“I’m not trying to!”

“Don’t try harder!” Brooke yelled.

“It’s - not - me - it’s - my - SQUIP! It’s taking over my body! I need your help! I’M SORRY!”

Brooke smirked. “Apology accepted.” She ran over and tried to hold him down, but he flailed and kept her from forcing him to drink. Christine shuffled on on her crutches.

“Christine! This is gonna sound weird, but if I hold down Micahel, can you make him drink this Mountain Dew Red?”

She tossed Christine the bottle.

“Actually, that doesn’t sound weird at all.”

The SQUIP locked eyes with Christine. “Up up down down left right A.”

She dumped the contents of the bottle on the ground.

“No!” Brooke exclaimed.

“Yes.” Christine grinned, tossing the bottle to the side.

“I basically saved your life!” Brooke whined.

“Doesn't matter.” She dropped her crutches.

“It healed your legs?” Michael looked amazed.

“No. I just can't feel the pain.” She beamed. “God, I love me!”

Rich and Jake walked in, speaking together. “There you are, Michael.”

Rich spoke first. “I'm not mad you slept with my best friend and wouldn't sleep with me.”

Jake. “And I'm not mad you dated my best friend and didn't sleep with me.”

Rich looked incredulous. “He didn't sleep with you?”

“No,” Jake grumbled.

“He didn't sleep with me!”

“No!”

“Oh my god, why was I so jealous of you? You were jealous of me? That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me! Best friends forever! JINX!”

Michael groaned. “Brooke! The bottle! There's still a few drops left!”

She gestured to the SQUIP-zombies. “How am I supposed to get past them?”

He thought for a second. “Apocalypse of the Damned! Level nine!”

Brooke gasped. “The cafetorium!” She dodged the zombies, pushing past some and ducking below some expertly, mumbling her and Michael's directions to herself as she made her way to the bottle. She grabbed it and held it up like a trophy. “Got it!”

Michael cheered. As Brooke tried to make her way back over, Chloe Rolan blocked her path.

“I know what you're doing, Brooke. I know what everyone's doing! ALL THE TIME!” she yelled.

“I just feel so connected to you guys right now!” All the SQUIP-zombies chorused.

Brooke sighed. “I still like you, Chloe, don't worry.” She kicked Chloe in the shin and tossed the bottle to Michael. “Catch!” she yelled as the rest of the zombies circled her.

Michael caught the bottle. “Brooke! No!”

He tried to drink from the bottle, but the SQUIP restrained him.

“You don't want to drink that, Michael!”

“Why not?!”

“Because then you'll never be with him.” The SQUIP pointed at someone as the SQUIP-zombies parted.

“Michael?”

“Jeremy!”

Jeremy clapped. “Did you see me out there? The audience loved me!”

“I… That’s great! I mean, of course they did.” Michael reached for the bottle.

“I’m so glad I found you here. I wanted to apologize.”

“You… why?”

“Because you were right!” He smiled. “I feel amazing!”

“No… That’s not Jeremy.”

The SQUIP materialized. “I assure you it is. Only his fears and insecurities have been removed.”

“I feel so… brave. And… safe. And, Michael, I was so scared to say this before, but… I love you, Michael. Don’t you have something to say to me?”

“That’s your cue.” The SQUIP nudged him forward.

“He'll do whatever I want?”

“That’s what I promised.”

“Great.” He handed Jeremy the bottle. “Drink this.”

The SQUIP looked panicked. “Wait - Think about what you’re saying, Michael -”

Michael turned to Jeremy. “How do you feel?”

Jeremy’s head snapped down, and then jerked up as he let loose and ear-splitting scream and collapsing.That was the last thing Michael remembered before collapsing as well.

He woke up in a hospital bed. Jenna was in the bed next to him, in a full body cast.

Michael tried to sit up. “Ow. Ow, ow, ow, ow, OW.”

Jenna chuckled. “Feels like you’re missing a part of yourself, doesn’t it?”

“...Jenna?”

“Hurts like a motherfucker too. Be honest: what are they saying about me at school?” Michael didn't respond. “That bad?”

“Sorry…”

“Sorry? I’m finally free of that shiny happy hive mind! When I get outta here, the ladies are gonna learn to love the real Jenna Goranski.” She gasped, seemingly having an epiphany. “Especially Christine. Holy shit, I'm gay for Christine.”

“Your SQUIP’s gone? But how?” Michael asked.

“Ask your buddy. Antisocial headphones girl? Brooke? She’s been by like, a ton, by the way. What is she, your girlfriend? No judgment.”

“No, we're not dating.”

“Okay. She saved my ass, by the way. From the fire. Her and Christine.”

“She did?”

“Dude, yeah. She didn't even notice the fire until Christine got her out of the bathroom, but then she helped me down the side of the house and called 911.”

Brooke walked into the hospital room. “Thanks, Jenna. And I think you've got a shot with Christine, she won't shut up about you.”

“Hell yeah.” Jenna muttered. Brooke pulled the curtain between the beds shut. She turned to Michael.”Now, for you.”