the love triangle trope, but it's actually a triangle

contagious confusion

"ross!" zubin dragged ross away to the nearest room, in a total panic that he worked himself into. ross let himself be dragged, it's not like this hasn't happened before.

"i can trust you right??" zubin asked, worry clearly plastered on his face.

ross nodded. "of course you c-"

"i don't know what to do, man!" he exclaimed, grabbing ross by the shoulders. "god- fuck, ross! i thought everything would've been manageable, and then rob fucking cantor has to come in!!!"

"what'd he d-" ross tried to ask.

"i don't know what rob did, but now i think i'm in love with him, or something!" he let go of ross and started pacing around the room, messing with his hair in his panic. "i mean, he's one of my best friends,, but i never thought i could think about him in a... romantic way, i didn't..." he groaned. "and then there's andrew!"

ross sat down on zubin's bed, watching him walk. "what did andrew-"

"i love andrew a lot,," he put his face in his hands, dragging out each word like it was killing him, "i love andrew so much, it's fucking weird... i dont know if he could like me back, but god, if i had a chance with him, i'd be so happy..."

"you and andrew were cud-"

"it'd be fucked up to try to lead on both of them, but i-... i love them!" he grabbed his shoulders again. "ross, i love them! both of them! i love andrew and rob, i love them so much!" he looked down, groaning. "fuck!"

he let go of ross and started pacing again, a hand on his chin. ross looked around, thinking he was about to talk. there was a long silence, and ross decided it was finally his turn to talk. "...well, i think that you-"

zubin gasped, snapping his fingers. "that's it! you're right ross!" he grabbed his hand and pulled him up. "thanks a milly, bud. you're such a good help." he opened the door to his room and pushed ross out. "i'll see you later!"

he slammed the door shut, and ross stood outside, blinking. he sighed, guessing that he was happy to help. even if he wasn't sure how he helped. ross ended up back in joe's room, sitting on the bed by him.

"can you help me with something?" he asked, eyeing the book he was reading.

joe gave him a weird look. "...what is that something?"

ross kicked his feet, looking off and acting oblivious. "wellll... our friends are having something of a relationship problem... and i could use your help with a few things!"

he looked at him suspiciously, bringing the book closer to his face. "what are those few things?"

"it won't be any hard work, or anything. in fact, if we can do what i'm thinking, you'll be getting a good meal out of this!" ross smiled at him, hoping he'd get the answer he wanted out of his smile.

joe looked like he was thinking, and set his book down. "im listening..."