Marching Band: The Journey [EDITING]

25 - Flipping Pineapple Sticks

After Phillip broke the news, he broke out into sobs again. I ordered Em to go to the store and pick up ice cream and the necessities. As she left, I helped Phillip inside. He collapsed onto the couch, pulling a pillow into his lap to cry into. I put a blanket around his shoulders and went to get him some lemonade. It was his favorite thing and I always had a supply. Handing him the drink, I also gave him a box of tissues. Just as I was giving him a trash bag for his used tissues, Em came through the door.

She had everything I told her to get. Vanilla ice cream, chocolate and caramel drizzle, whipped cream, cherries, rainbow sprinkles, a jar of nutella, mini chocolate chip cookies, a box of spaghetti noodles, chicken patties, pasta sauce, and Parmesan cheese. I told her to prepare the ice cream while I got started on the food. Phillip loves any type of pasta, especially my chicken parm, so that's what he's getting. While the water boils for noodles and the oven preheats for the chicken, I sit with Phillip. No one should be alone while they cry.

We sit there for awhile, allowing Phillip to cry his heart out as much as he needs. Em and I sit near him for support, but not so close he's suffocated. Eventually, his sobs grow quiet and his eyelids start to droop. I take the pillow in his lap and set it at the end of the couch for him to rest on. Before he drifts into sleep, I put my cat next to him. Peanut stays calm and quiet as Phillip wraps his arms around him.

Em goes upstairs to take a shower since she hasn't had one since yesterday. While she's up there, I continue cooking the food. She comes down right when it's done, dressed in the clothes she wore to school yesterday. I tell her to plate the food while I go take a shower. When I get out, I quickly get dressed in some sweatpants and a hoodie before galloping back downstairs.

I gently wake Phillip up, giving him his pasta. He eagerly digs in, probably exhausted and hungry from his cry session. When he's done, he goes to the bathroom to wash his face since it's covered in dried tears. The moment he sits back down on the couch, he wraps the blanket back around his shoulders and pulls the pillow into his lap. After an eternity, he speaks up.

"I... I don't know what to do." He whispers, resting his chin in the pillow.

I move couches to sit next to him, wrapping an arm over his shoulder to give him a side hug. "Just, let it out. Explain what's going on."

"It's Haley. I love her, I do. Ever since eighth grade. But... she's never there for me. I always help her through her struggles and give her advice, but when it comes to my problems, she says I'll be fine. And that's it. She's my first love, I'll always love her, but... I think I want to break up with her." He rushes to get out. When he's done, he sighs deeply. It seems like he really needed that off his chest.

"How long have you been debating this?" Em asks. I send her a death glare which she returns with a look that says I'm trying to take his mind off of it.

"Ever since Italy. It was a lot of torture while you guys were away when we got snowed in." Phillip casually says, adjusting his blanket as it slips off his left shoulder. "And it kind of sucks because both of you are in such great relationships and I never want to bring you guys down with my relationship doubts."

Em and I both share a look before I pull him into a tight hug. While I squeeze the day lights out of him, Em moves from her spot on the big chair to the floor in front of us. I reluctantly let him go, keeping a supportive hand on his shoulder.

"Not all our relationships are great. I should know. Shit went down in Italy." I say, mentally slapping myself for letting that slip. It wasn't meant for anyone to know.

"Tell me about it!" Em lets out, letting her head fall back. "Carson keeps getting more and more closed off by the day. Usually I'm okay with it because he'll eventually talk to me, but recently it's just... I don't know how to describe it."