repercussions ✓

I. THE END OF ALL THINGS

"Hey, Ash? What's wrong? Isn't it like..."
(Matt tilts his wrist towards his face from under the duvet in the darkness, before remembering he was asleep and not actually wearing a watch, and checking his phone instead.)
"...three in the morning over in Australia?"

"It is."
(From those two short words, Matt can tell Ashton's angry; he isn't sure why, though.)

"Then what's wrong? Shouldn't you be asleep, don't you have a show tomorrow?"

(Ashton laughs dryly, and the sound sends chills down Matt's spine.)
"Yes, but I have to do this first."

"Do what? Are you going to propose?"
(The joke doesn't feel right in the situation, and Matt scratches the back of his neck in an attempt to alleviate his own embarrassment.)

"The opposite, actually. I'm breaking up with you."

"What? No, Ash, this isn't funny."

"Look, Matt, I'm sorry, but I have to."
(This is the only time any emotion breaks into his voice throughout the entire conversation; he sounds like he's crying, or at least close to it.)

"Why, Ashton? We've been together for two years, so don't you dare pull the media card on me. Just... please, what have I done wrong?"

"Nothing."
(The emotionless tone is back, and Matt can feel tears pricking at his eyes, but below the surface, there's something worse, some bright, red-hot anger at Ashton for doing this.)

"Great. Well, if you magically hate me now, fuck off. I don't want to talk to you."

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