His Last Chance

eight • used to love you

"You like Eric, don't you?" Joey asked with a smirk on his face, wiggling his eyebrows.

"What? No." Anthony seemed pretty defensive.

"What's going on?" Thomas said, as he walks in the room with Colton.

"Looks like Anthony has a crush on Eric." Thomas and Colton raised their eyebrows at him.

"Why am I not surprised?" Colton said.

Anthony was a little confused, he thought they would be a little shocked by this news.

"You guys knew?"

"Trust me, you didn't have to say anything." Thomas said.

"And besides, we saw you checking him out the other day." Colton said jokingly. The guys started to laugh, as Anthony shook his head and glared at them.

"Well," Joey started, "are you going to tell him?"

"Should I?"

"Yes." They all said chorally. Anthony rolled his eyes, trying not to laugh. As Eric comes back from the kitchen, he hands him a water bottle with a smile. Anthony smiled shyly in thanks as he took it from him, his bandmates looking at him with huge smirks on their faces, cooing in the background.

***
Eric looks down at his phone again, hoping to hear a reply back from Anthony. Nothing. It's been days since he's heard from him. Why is he acting like this, Eric said to himself. He knows that they broke up, but he wasn't going to give up on their relationship.

Joey walks in, seeing Eric sitting in the studio all by himself. He's wondering if he should try to even talk to him. He knows that this hasn't been easy for him either, but, maybe he should try to see what's going on.

"Hey," Joey starts to walk towards him and sits on the floor right next to him, "why are you still here?"

"Oh, I didn't think you would find me. I just needed some time alone."

"Are you okay?"

"Does it look like I'm okay?" Eric began, "Anthony broke up with me... and I don't even know why."

"Eric-"

"And this doesn't feel like a break up either. I'm expecting the both of us to make up and say sorry... but this time, I don't think I can fix it."

"Why not? You know this isn't your fault, right?"

"I know! But why do I feel so guilty, huh?!" Eric snapped at him. "I'm so sorry...I-I didn't mean to-" He quickly apologized.

"It's okay, man."

"I don't understand why this is happening." he said sincerely. There was a brief silence before he asked, "Did I do something?"

"No, why would you think that?"

"Where's Anthony?" Their manager asked them.

The guys all looked at each other, as just they were about to start rehearsal. Since Eric and Anthony have been arguing, it's been starting to affect Midnight Red. And not in a good way.

"Eric? You know where he is?"

"No," Eric couldn't look at him, "I don't.

"You do realize if Anthony keeps missing rehearsal, we're gonna start cancelling shows. I know you guys don't wanna do that, but, if Anthony doesn't show up for the next two weeks...you guys are not going to perform. Are we clear?"

"Yes." The guys chorused.

After their manager left, the guys decided to confront Eric.

"I know you guys are mad, I get it-" Eric said before he gets cut off by Colton.

"Are you sure nothing happened between you and Anthony?" Colton asked him.

"You think I would know? He's been avoiding me." Eric said.

"I really think you should talk to him, man." Thomas said.