The Black Infectious Thingy | Inanimate Insanity AU |

(CH.53) Forgive And Forget

\\\CW: SWEARING\\\
///OJ POV///
"Trophy, don't you dare. You won't be allowed in here ever again." I said with a straight face, as I slowly started approaching Trophy.
"Good! I was never planning on coming back in the first place!" He said as he left and slammed the door shut.
"...What is his problem?! Defying my authority like that, ugh!" I grumbled as I backed away from the door.
"He's a scumbag." Fan said, as he looked at the door angrily.
"Yeah, no shit."
"Golly gee, what happened with de-escalating the situation?" Test Tube said, as she worriedly approached us.
"I got... carried away."
"I can see that, however, that's still no excuse. We talked about this! You should've kept your cool. I get that Trophy can sometimes be a piece of shit, and he did go too far this time... but as the bigger person you are, you should remind him how that behavior and reactions are not acceptable."
"He's not just sometimes a piece of shit, he always is! But whatever, he left on his own terms, not really something I could've prevented."
"OJ..."
"Sorry, he just makes my blood boil."
"Again, I get it, still no excuse to even try and kick someone out of the hotel in such a situation though. I do still believe we could've talked to him.... At least to find out how exactly he did what he did."
"Ugh, I guess you're right."
"And Fan, you too!"
"Me? What did I do?" Fan answered confused.
"Being sassy and threatening him? Seriously? Fan, I know you're going through a rough time, and I know you're not being yourself lately... but this doesn't excuse any of this behavior! I told you both beforehand how this was important, how we needed him to explain himself and maybe even be on our side if we were lucky enough. But the both of you let your emotions and judgment take over, and we got the worst outcome as a result." She said and took a deep breath.
"Also, OJ- I don't know what's going on with Paper, I really don't. But you gotta fix it already. Is he on our side or against us? And why are you hiding him from everyone? You might not be ready to answer this, but you'll need to explain yourself soon. I trust you, I know you don't mean any harm, but I need to know what's going on, okay?"
I gulped.
"OJ, okay?"
Fan sighed and took over.
"Test Tube, I think OJ might need some time alone, and I need some tea."
"To calm yourself down?"
"Yes."
"Oh umh... okay." She said as she looked back at me.
"You talk with Paper, please."
"He will, don't worry. Let's just leave already."
"Alright... Sorry for lashing out by the way, I do need that tea too."
"We all do, busy night. Let's go."
"Yes yes, of course." She said and held hands with Fan as they both left.
Test Tube worriedly looked back at me, but Fan pushed her away from me.
She's... right.
I need to talk to Paper, and I need to calm down already.
Gosh, I think I finally get how Paintbrush always feels.
I sighed.
I mis-judged Paper... Trophy, he- He did all the stuff that I accused Paper of.
Fuck, was he saying the truth all along?
Was I really making him feel so worthless and insulting him so badly for him to have done nothing wrong?
I need to apologize, but where can he be now?
Pickle is not here, but maybe.... Maybe he saw him leave?
I need to find Pickle, he might know where Paper went.
Oh gosh, how will I even apologize?
Poor Paper, I was too harsh...
Ugh! Let's get going already OJ, no time to waste!
I walked over to the bedrooms, if Pickle isn't at the entrance, he must be here somewhere-
But wake him up at this time?
Should I....
Why am I even thinking, of course I should!
If I wait for too long I might not be able to find Paper at all.
I went over to Pickle's room.
Which is conveniently the nearest room to the entrance, for obvious reasons.
Oof... okay OJ, get mentally ready to ask this.
I knocked on the door.
....
No response.
Okay? I'll knock louder then, I thought as I knocked on the door again.
....
But still no response.
That's... weird.
I knocked on the door for longer, and louder but nobody answered.
Where could Pickle be?
Ugh, no, I'm not gonna look for Pickle now, first Paper-
I thought for a second, until I remembered.
Pepper knows about Paper, maybe she knows where he is?
Or maybe even where Pickle is.
I heard they were sort of friends now?
Yes, let's go already.
I walked over to Pepper's room, which is basically on the other side of the building.
Ugh, idk why it's this far, I can't remember why she would even want to be here either way.
I reached her room and looked at her door, which she had decorated with Salt in the past, despite me telling them not to do so.
I knocked on the door, and expected an answer.
Pepper was quick to come open the door, and opened it ever so slightly.
"Oh... It's you. What do you want now?"
"Pepper! I have an uh, problem-"
"You have many."
"Huh- Wh-"
"What do you need, fuck-ass?"
"Damn! What's wrong with you Pepper? I know you don't fully like me but..." I tried saying but she immediately cut me off.
"Shush. I'm like, really really disappointed with you already, don't make it worse by rambling. Get to your initial point already."
"Have you seen Paper? I can't find him anywhere..."
"Yeah, no shit."
"What's wrong with you?"
"Ugh, we found him on the rooftop, he explained to us what happened but, like, we still kicked him out, okay?"

"What do you mean with 'we'? Pepper, who knows about this???"
"Pickle, and is that seriously the first thing you wanna ask? Not even what he told us?"
"...What did he tell you guys?"
"He told us how you blamed him for something he  didn't even do and then left him alone on the rooftop or smth, he was stuttering and, like, sobbing too much to be comprehensible."
"Look- It's more complex than that-"
"Elaborate then."
"Aren't you too tired to listen right now?"
"No."
"Ugh, okay uh- We found some proof of something that i assumed Paper did since most of the evidence pointed towards him, but then we figured out who was actually responsible and agh-"
"It wasn't Paper after all, yeah, I got that."
"I need to find him, get him to forgive me- We need him on our side."
"Is that all you care about? Having more objects on our side?"
"Sorry, I care about him, I really do... But you gotta understand me, I have my reasons."
"OJ, you reasons are shit! Have you even thought about what Paper might be feeling right now?"
"No.... Oh fuck... I didn't even–"
"Exactly."
"Ugh.... Did he- Did he tell you if he was mad at me?
"From what he told us, it didn't feel like so... He seemed more scared and upset rather than mad."
"Oh..."
"You should give him a sorry gift, after everything you've done, that'd be the least."
"Should I?"
"Yes."
"How could I even give it to him... he's gone."
"He still loves you though, he'll be back, I'm sure of it."
"You are..?"
"Yes.. You should go to sleep now though. Don't stay up all night."
"Umh... Sure."
"Good night, OJ." Pepper said as she closed the door on me.
Fuck..
How did I forget about how Paper might be feeling right now?
I'm such a bad... friend.
Ugh.
What could I give him for him to forgive me?
Maybe... The party.
Right, he wanted a party- I could do that for him.
It's a party! I could give him an invitation, make him aware of it- Make him feel invited.
And make up for his lost birthday party.
Yes! That'd be perfect!
I began walking towards my office.
I'll need to figure out the stuff in there- No paper decorations nor easily poisonable drinks, it'll be so much better than the first time!
There won't be as many people there, but.... That should be the least of our worries, if I'm being honest.
I got to my office and took out the keys to open the door.
I'll have to plan everything by myself this time though... Nothing can go wrong this time.
I might tell TestTube and Fan though, get their help.
They know about Paper already, and I already know Test Tube wanted me to fix my situation with Paper so she'll be glad to help!
Oh, this'll be great!
This will be so perfect.
Maybe I could even convince Pepper to help me too...
Agh! Let's get working already, OJ! You always waste so much time thinking!