Now showing private messages between Terroriser and RoastMasterV2

Terroriser: okay we MIGHT have gone a little too far

Terroriser: i fear they may find out we're fucking with them if we bounce back from this

RoastMasterV2: we're just gonna have to get a lot more social QUICK

RoastMasterV2: tho idk what we're gonna do about the work conference

Terroriser: the what??

RoastMasterV2: i literally asked you about this like three weeks ago

RoastMasterV2: my work has this conference and its usually pretty close by or in town but its in another state this year bc we've merged with this other company in a couple departments and i need a plus one

RoastMasterV2: okay so i dont NEED a plus one but i never bring one and i cannot handle another year with my coworkers trying to find out about my life like that so i NEED you there

RoastMasterV2: also its gonna be such a power move after all these years of not bringing anyone and pulling up this year with the hottest man to ever exist

Terroriser: omg you think im hot???

Terroriser: i think u showing up at all is already a power move tbh

Terroriser: but ur right

RoastMasterV2: ill just make something up about it but honestly they might not even question it

Terroriser: okay also im still confused about the scott of it all

Terroriser: and im still confused about your job

RoastMasterV2: the job doesnt rlly matter we dont do much

Terroriser: three more questions just popped into my head

RoastMasterV2: and scott hasnt been in the plot for a while it was about time

Terroriser: ???

RoastMasterV2: doesnt matter

RoastMasterV2: what do you want to know about my job?? i barely do anything and they pay me money what else is there to say

Terroriser: i didnt even know this job existed and ive known you for years??

RoastMasterV2: i told you we dont do much, the craziest thing that happens really is this conference, and its usually more of a gathering but again they have this whole merger thing going on

RoastMasterV2: theyre trying to be international or something who cares

RoastMasterV2: i just go bc it looks good on my performance review

RoastMasterV2: and the catering is always insane

Terroriser: and youre bringing me???

RoastMasterV2: yeah i usually dont bring people bc i hate all my coworkers BUT there are rumors of raises and bonuses and maybe even a promotion so i have to look like a bigger team player and what better way than to bring my awesome boyfriend to our biggest and most important conference yet?? as a sign of community or whatever

RoastMasterV2: and i get to stare into your eyes the whole time so its a win

Terroriser: so ur using me??

RoastMasterV2: clearly you dont understand what kind of numbers we're dealing with here

RoastMasterV2: remember the direct deposit you saw the other day when they paid me??

Terroriser: yea

RoastMasterV2: add two zeroes

Terroriser: maybe we should wear matching suits

RoastMasterV2: i like the way you think

——

LOCATION: Shopping Center

TIME: 11:35 A.M.

Scott answered his phone as he sat on a bench near the small fountain. "Where the fuck are you?"

"Turn to your left."

He followed Evan's direction, greeted by the sight of his friend almost immediately, his arm waving enthusiastically while using his other to end the call. "Sorry for being late, the uber couldn't figure out where to drop me off."

Scott pulled him into a quick hug, curious as to how Evan looked so...at ease. Something about him had changed and he couldn't quite figure it out at first glance, and it hadn't even been that long since he last saw Evan, but he let the thought leave his mind once Evan started dragging him towards the stores.

"I told you I could've picked you up, there wasn't any need for an uber."

Evan shrugged, dropping the hold he had on Scott's arm. "I don't mind. Plus, I kinda like that no one knows where we live. Mysterious, isn't it? Anything could happen and you'd never know where to find me- Woah! That made me sound like some kind of serial killer, actually."

"I think that facility did something to you." Scott was pretty sure he hadn't meant to say that out loud, but it didn't matter since Evan was already laughing.

"Probably. So, did you decide on a movie?"

—

"Are you sure you don't want me to give you a ride home? It's really not a problem." The sun was starting to go down, their hang-out coming to a close after spending the entire day wandering the center.

Evan glanced down at his phone, jerking his head to get his hair out of his face. "Yeah it's fine. Brian is picking me up."

"Oh. Okay."

Wait.

Scott whipped his head to look at Evan. "But, I thought you were so mad you couldn't even think about him."

"Did I say that? Doesn't ring a bell."

"You literally-"

"Scott, can I tell you a secret? Something you literally can't tell anyone else."

He blinked. Twice. Slowly. "What?" Scott felt like the conversation had taken a dark turn, knowing how quick Evan's mind worked and the types of things that had been happening within the group lately. "Where is this coming from?"

Evan rolled his eyes, turning to the parking lot for just a moment. "Look, are you gonna tell anyone or should I just leave you shrouded in mystery?"

"I won't tell anyone." Evan was looking at him again. Scott had a brief flash of when he and Evan were together- oh, if anyone found out about this he'd be dead- before locking back to whatever Evan was going to say.

"I'm not really mad at Brian. Well, okay, I was- but not anymore! We worked things out, but we've been telling people we're still fighting." Evan looked at him, his sharp gaze piercing into Scott's very soul. "You following?"

Scott nodded, slowly processing the words. The two of them must have been standing out there for close to twenty minutes already. "Why do you want that?"

A smile broke out across Evan's face, genuine joy that it was Scott who was furthering the conversation. "Well, they were being a little too...loose with our secret lately, so Brian thought it'd be better if we just acted like there was no secret anymore."

"You're losing me."

"I'm serious about not telling anyone else, alright Scott? Especially not to your secret groupchat."

Scott froze, unable to look away from Evan, who was starting to look a lot like he had when the two of them were romantically involved. "You-How did you know about that?"

Evan shrugged, nonchalant. "Doesn't really matter. You just can't tell them. Promise?"

Scott nodded almost immediately, focused on each of Evan's features. "I won't tell anyone. Promise. One hundred percent."

"Brian and I are dating. Like, actually."

For two solid seconds Scott's entire world stopped. Something about Evan admitting he was in a new relationship was devastating, but he didn't have the capacity to unpack that all right now. "What?" His voice was small.

"Yeah, we've actually been together for like six months now- we just wanted to keep it quiet since it's still new and neither of us wanted to rush into anything, but-"

"How did that happen? Were you- Is that why you moved in with him? What-"

"No, we got together after I moved in. But, if anyone asks, we broke up."

"You're losing me again."

"Brian and I are together, and we told like half the chat, but then we realized that they have big fucking mouths, so we "broke up" and I'm really mad at Brian."

"Wait, so aside from you two, I'm the only one who knows you never broke up? What the fuck. How do I even- No, this can't be real."

Evan shrugged, checking his phone quickly before waving to an approaching car. "Believe it or don't. Not my problem. Just don't tell anyone, okay?" Evan started walking away, towards a car that Scott could clearly Brian was driving. His ex glanced back at him, grinning at Scott as if he had just been gotten. "We should do this again sometime. I had a lot of fun!"

Scott looked away, his thoughts running a mile a minute. Screaming at one another just for the chance to be at the forefront of his mind. There was too much to think about. There was no fucking way that those two were actually-

What. The. Fuck?

He had looked back up at the car just in time to see Evan close the door. Brian smiled at him with a smile that Scott had sure as shit never seen before. Then he was presenting Evan was a bag, and Evan was quick to open it, searching for a few seconds before popping a few french fries into his mouth. Scott felt something inside of him twist.

Brian was still talking about who-knows-what as Evan nestled the bag of food between his legs.

If Scott hadn't been convinced already, he was definitely swayed when Brian leaned over from the driver's seat to give Evan a kiss that lasted more than just a few seconds. He watched the way Evan leaned into the kiss, completely relaxed despite his usual chronic tenseness (Scott would know, he had dealt with it a considerable amount of time.)

Oh.

The image of Evan smiling into the kiss, at ease and happy with Brian, who he would've never thought would go for Evan, was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It was a sweet scene, the two of them wrapped up in their own little world in a few blinks of the eye-laughing and kissing and enjoying one another's company- but it was also as if a knife had been lodged deep into his abdomen. A pang of something that Scott couldn't quite explain.

He climbed into his car in complete silence, not even making a sound when the glove box pinched his finger after he had opened it to stash his sunglasses.

Scott sighed, resting his head on the steering wheel and shutting his eyes for just a moment.

"I'm so fucked."