Solitude

Thirty-Seven

"Okay, brainstorm. No idea is a bad idea." I'm sitting on the floor, my legs tucked underneath me.

Mason looks downcast on the couch, his head against Jonathan's shoulder. Jonathan is the most put together. He's trying his best to show he isn't freaking out because as usual, he feels the urge to be the most responsible one.

I'm smiling, forcing myself to be optimistic because the only other option is to show my fear. What's going to happen if Mason breaks up with Jonathan? What does that mean for the three of us?

"I could just make him happy and fucking kill myself," Mason groans. I know he doesn't mean it, he's just upset, but even the idea of it causes a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"You were wrong. There are bad ideas," Jonathan notes and Mason chuckles, but it isn't quite genuine.

The lock turns, the door opens and Jason walks in. Behind him is Cece and Bubblegum. They are both holding boxs in their hands and Bubblegum muttering something to Cece who is hanging on to her every word, a slight crease on her forehead.

Much to my surprise, Praise and Cecile follow behind. I turn a confused look to Jonathan who just shrugs to show he doesn't know why they're here and he doesn't really care much.

Cecile closes the door behind him and soon enough, the living room is filled with people. Cece and Bubblegum drop the boxes on the table and they're filled with amazing looking donuts, my mouth waters.

I don't need to be invited. I dive for the table and grab a donut, a wide smile on my face as I take a large bite.

"Okay, what exactly is the emergency?" Jason asks as he sits on the couch behind me. Cece takes the hammock chair beside Jason and Cecile sits on the floor beside me.

Bubblegum and Praise occupy an empty couch.

"Jase, when I told you there was an emergency, you know I was just calling for you and Cece, right?" Jonathan raises a brow at Jason.

I turn to Jason just in time to see him shrug. He seems to remember something because he gets up and disappears into the kitchen.

"Why are there only cokes - oh! Ice cream!" He returns with 8 small cups of ice cream stacked on each other and shares it to us. I happily receive one and then turn to him for the spoon but he groans.

"I'll go get em!" Cece offers.

"Okay, so I called Cece," Jason explains as he sits back down, "but Bubblegum overheard us and she was with Praise. They decided to tag along. Then we rain into -"

"I don't even wanna know. Forget I asked. Y'all are here now." Jonathan shakes his head.

Mason is looking at his ice cream like it's something foreign. Jonathan has dropped his on the table and I doubt he's going to be touching it for a while.

Cece returns with spoons which she distributes and we all offer words of gratitude to her.

A phone dings and I turn in the direction to find Bubblegum staring at her phone, a frown on her face. She looks up to Cece and I follow her stare to find my best friend shaking her head.

Okay, what exactly is going on?

I don't get the chance to ask because Mason sits up, clears his throat and fills the group in on his current situation.

When he's done talking, the room is silent for a couple heartbeats, everyone trying to figure out what the appropriate response to a news like that is. What exactly can be said to reduce to enormity of this situation?