"river! what is your problem? do you not realize what this is going to-to do to my campaign? to me? to everything i worked for-it's gonna be ruined-!"
river quickly got up, hiding the gun quickly. he put it in the drawer by his bedside. he didn't even realize payton was going to come over, as any stable person would assume. "what are you talking about?"
payton was just pacing back and forth quickly, rambling. "why- astrid of all people? she's going to tell- and- my campaign- and me- and- alice! and-" river quickly grabbed payton by his shoulders, making him sit down. he sat beside him.
"calm down. it's just a school campaign. it's meaningless." river said, wrapping his arm around payton's shoulder. he could see that payton was on the verge of tears. he almost always was when they were together and in private. it had almost become routine.
"how can i- how do you expect me to calm down? astrid will tell alice- oh my god.." he mumbled, shaking his head as he thought of all the possible affects.
"calm down, astrid told me she wouldn't tell anyone." he said, rubbing his shoulder to calm him down. he could tell tears were dripping down payton's face without looking at him due to how shaky his voice was.
they both sat in silence for a while before river spoke up. "do you love alice?" he asked, looking to him. river wiped payton's eyes carefully.
payton thought for a second. "well, that's a really com-" he started to say.
"payton. just answer the question. yes or no."
"i-" payton paused and hugged river tightly, sobbing into his chest. payton hadn't cried that bad in a while.
———
payton ended up staying over for the night. nothing sexual. they just ended up discussing their relationships and their relationship.
payton and river, both, realized their girlfriends were extremely unhealthy for the both of them and they'd be better without them.
neither of them wanted to break up with their girlfriends. payton cared about alice. they'd planned to be married since first grade. payton did care about her, it just seemed like she hadn't cared about him.
river didn't want to break up with astrid mostly because he'd look horrible for it. they had mostly been dating for the appearance, and astrid would make him seem horrible. she was like that. also, payton and river weren't sure if they actually wanted to date yet. if river broke up with astrid, astrid would surely tell alice that payton had been with him.
payton ended up driving river to school. it would be easier than for them to both drive their own cars.
once they got to school, they both went their separate ways. payton quickly went to the library, knowing his friends would be there.
"mcafee, james, come. i need to talk to you." he said as soon as he found them, even though they were both talking with alice.
they both quickly stood, following payton to wherever he was walking. alice tried to question it, but they walked away before she could.
payton led them up the stairs in the library and found a table, sitting down with the other two.
"so why did you drag us up here?" mcafee asked, sighing lightly.
"what would be the best way to break up with alice, while still having good pr?" payton said, completely seriously.
mcafee chuckled lightly, assuming he was joking until he wasn't laughing either. "wait- what?"
—————
586 words 💕
