Tanner in The Center Boyxboy

BOYFRIEND MATERIAL.

The next morning Tan sits in the car with his mother avoiding eye contact. "Your father and I love each other" Shiela starts talking as she drives "I know you told the therapist you want us to get a divorce-"

"I've also told you guys a thousand times"

"But that's not what we want, Tan"

"That makes no sense to me!" he yells turning to her "all you ever do is fight! Every single day, no matter what time or where we are you guys find a reason to fight. Don't you hate each other-"

"We don't hate each other Tanner your father and I love each other"

"Then you have a funny fucking way of showing it"

"Watch your language."

"Yep," he leans back in his seat crossing his arms.

"We're going to learn how to be good parents,  Tanner" his mom's voice gets softer.

"Do you understand how sad it is to hear you say that? I'm 17 mom, you guys had 17 years to be good parents but weren't and you want to try now? Kinda too late"

"We were young when we had you Tan" she gets into the drop off lane "Scott was struggling in law school and I got pregnant. Even though none of us had a clue of what we were doing he still never left me. We raised a child and got everything we've ever wanted, but along the way something happened and I don't know what, but the fighting just feels natural now."

She stops for him to get out, disregarding what his mom said Tan replies "correction you practically abandoned a child to chase your wants and needs instead" then gets out of the car without saying bye. Walking into school Tan heads to his locker, as he's walking he sees Lin at her locker next to his, he's already halfway there so it's too late to turn back now.

He stands in front of his locker avoiding eye contact and Lin looks over at him then back in her locker "so you're dating Sven now?" She asks

"You care?" neither look at the other

"No, but it's kind of annoying having to skip through a thousand pictures and videos of you two on your story."

"Then don't look at my story" Tan retorts.

"I wonder what Harris thinks" she smirks

"That's not funny!" Tan barks at her and she shuts her locker walking away.

Pissed Tan slams his locker and walks the opposite direction, as he's walking Tan hears his name being called "hey Tan wait up!" Erin runs towards him "so glad I caught you" she catches up to him "are you free tomorrow at lunch? I could really use some help with prom."

"I'd love to help Erin but I just went through so much with the yearbook and-"

"No you don't have to join I just need some help choosing between 3 themes, I love my team but they aren't helping. So can you please come to our meeting at lunch tomorrow and help us pick?" She grins

"Yeah sure I can do that" he agrees even though he doesn't really want to

"Awesome thanks, Tan!" Erin leaves.

Getting out of class ready to rip his hair out Tan walks to the lunch room to find his friends at a table talking to Lin.

"Fucking great" he groans as he stops walking. Leaving the cafeteria he takes out his phone texting Sven 'Help'

Sven never makes him wait for a text back 'What's up?'

'Being ditched for Lin can I hang out with you?'