Chapter One-Hundred Eleven: Survival of da Fatleyist

Chapter 111

Survival of da Fatleyist

Fabien sat at his computer in his bedroom, lurking on the LonelyNiceGuys forum. He came across a thread titled, “Ashley is a fat traitor.” Isn’t that the name of the fat guy or girl who changes his or her gender during the middle of a conversation? He thought. He clicked on the link. The post was from “BlairDonati.”

Fabien: “Wow, the idiot uses his real name.”

He laughed. The post started, “I crushed on someone named Ashley, and they betrayed me in the worst way possible. I wrote a letter to form my thoughts.” Fabien laughed and saw the attachment. He clicked on it and erupted in laughter after he read it.

He logged onto Bungle to see who was online. He saw SmokeShow, RedPepper69, and MagicianLaz. He DMed Jaxon first. Then he DMed Tristan and finally Lazaros.

~

Jaxon sat at his computer with Celeste sitting on the bed, painting her toenails. He received a DM on Bungle.

SeigneurMonstre: LOOK AT THIS AND LAUGH!

And there was an attachment titled “Ashley Betrayed Me.” Jaxon clicked on it and opened up the file in WordPad.

I am writing this letter to spill my feelings out about the big, fat menace that is Ashley Sabatini. Ashley Sabatini is someone I met in Selene Valley on a business trip my grandfather and Sylvia took me on. They seemed lonely and were living with their brother, Blake, and their best friend (now former), Maxx Malone. Ashley complained about Maxx and how he mistreats them. He changed, and nothing is the same. I sympathize with them. They seemed nice and cute, and Maxx was a huge jerk (so I thought).

I had to return home to Pink Top City with Grandpa and Sylvia. Months later, Ashley contacts me to tell me they arrived in Pink Top City with Blake, Maxx, and a doctor guy. I offer them a place to stay. Maxx was horrible to Ashley, and I treated Ashley so well.

Ashley bakes the yummiest treats and makes the most delicious breakfast. Grandpa and Sylvia take to them. So do I. I criticized Maxx’s music, and Deimos joined in, too. Maxx threw a tantrum, and Ashley ended the friendship. Maxx said Ashley betrayed them. I didn’t know what he meant at the time. I do now.

I should have seen the red flags. Sylvia hired this girl to be my bodyguard. Her name is Celeste Marcella. I always hated her and never wanted her around me. Some guy named Dougal Springer held us hostage at Danny Donger’s, and Celeste brutally kills Dougal’s friend, Darashinai. I told Sylvia I wanted Celeste out, and Ashley stood up for Celeste.

I hate Celeste and her snack thieving, her stupid sense of humor, and how she’s clearly jealous of Ivy. Celeste always did whatever she could to sabotage Ivy and upset her because she’s a bitch. I hope Celeste chokes on cyanide pills.

Worse yet, Ashley is friendly with people who were mean to me in high school! Their names are Deimos Katsaros, Tristan Trémaux and Jiro Tachibana. Deimos and I went to the same high school. His twin brother, Lazaros, was with us, but Lazaros was one of the popular guys. He wasn’t a bully like Yudai King. That guy was both popular and an asshole. Deimos was not. He was an outcast. Then Deimos quits school, and he hangs out with someone from out of town named Tristan. The two hung around a middle-aged fat guy who was really weird. Anyway, neither Deimos nor Tristan wanted to be my friend.

Jiro used to be engaged to Nariko Nakamura, and they went to my best friend, Yoshi Akiyama’s, shop to get Varg the Viking stuff for Nariko. I talked to Jiro about comics, and he brushed me off like Deimos and Tristan did.

I don’t know why those boys didn’t want to be my friend. They missed out on a prince, if you ask me.

Speaking of someone who missed out, Ashley. I was developing feelings for Ashley. I wanted to ask them out, but I was too shy. When I finally mustered up the courage to do so, they said no. No, Ashley is interested in Deimos’ twin brother, Lazaros, who is a chef. He’s also a fat feeder fetishist. Yes, he’s one of those weirdos with fetishes.

I never felt so hurt and betrayed in my life. I never thought Ashley would do such a cruel thing to me. I was so good and kind to them. I treated them like royalty, and they chose a weirdo who views them as a whale to feed.

Since Ashley and Lazaros became an item, Ashley has gotten fatter, and now they will wear XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXL underwear. That’s how Lazaros likes his lovers: fat and immobile.

Before Lazaros got with Ashley, he was with Makayla, and she’s into this weird stuff, too. I’m surprised Makayla and Lazaros didn’t last. Oh, wait, I do: Lazaros isn’t fat.

Lazaros threw a tantrum, Ashley wouldn’t eat some giant sundae, and this is who they chose.

Back to Maxx, I now see why he’s hurt. Ashley told me that Maxx and they were tight, and now Maxx hates Ashley. Well, since Ashley met me, they treated Maxx like shit so I can see why Maxx is hurt!

I treated Ashley better than anyone in the world, and they chose a weirdo. They missed out on a true prince.

Jerks like Deimos, Tristan, Jiro, and Lazaros found love, but I never have. Why is it that no one wants a nice guy anymore? Why are they always jerks?

It’s your loss, Ashley. I got a BIG loss from you!

I wish I never met Ashley and I don’t miss their big, FAT ass!

Nice guys do finish last.

Celeste’s toenails dried, and she removed the spreader. Jaxon laughed at the letter until he got to the part about Celeste.

Jaxon: “Pfft, she never wanted to be around you either, loser.”

He scoffed.

Jaxon: “WHAT?! He’s feeling sorry for a DARASHINAI?! Pathetic. You saved his life, that ungrateful jerk!”

He burst out laughing bitterly.

Jaxon: “I didn’t wanna be his friend because he’s so boring!”

He shrugged.

He read it again and noticed a part about wanting to kill Celeste with cyanide. He focused on that and felt his fury soar.

Jaxon: “CYANIDE! How DARE he threaten to kill you!”

He snapped and rose to his feet, grabbing Celeste’s arm.

Jaxon: “I’ll make HIM choke!”

He marched for the door with her. Celeste went with him.

Celeste: “Oh, okay!”

She leaned into his arm.

~

Tristan read the letter and rolled his eyes.

Tristan: “Yes, Blair, our friend was murdered brutally, but the worst problem is someone rejecting you!”

He snapped.

Tristan: “If only he knew that I DID want to be his friend, but Dougal kept me on a short chain. I didn’t want to risk my head being put through a wall. The next day Dougal almost raped me. I’m so sorry that was a major inconvenience to you, Blair.”

He said with hurt and anger.

~

Lazaros was sipping on green tea with Ashley behind him. He received the DM from Fabien and grimaced when he saw the attachment. He clicked on it. Ashley read it over his shoulder.

Lazaros: “Oh, Blair is still whining about stuff that doesn’t matter? And? Why should I care? I’m a world-traveling chef, and he’s just locked in his room whining about stuff from high school. Whining isn’t going to make you better than me, Blair.”

He scoffed. Ashley’s heart sank at what they saw.

Ashley: "How could he hate Celeste and say horrible things about killing her?! He’s so EVIL! Celeste is awesome! That Dougal guy was trying to kill us and Tristan told me he’s a rapist! I can see why they didn't want to be his friend… he’s MEAN!”

They pouted, folding their arms across their chest. Lazaros looked behind him up at Ashley.

Ashley: “WHAT?! How could he feel sorry for MAXX after everything he's done?! He's a monster!"

They embraced themself, knitting their eyebrows at Lazaros and thinking of when Maxx hurt him.

Ashley: “You’re not a jerk and don’t view me as a whale! But HE does!”

They said to Lazaros and embraced themself.

Ashley: “Nice guys don't finish last; you're just not a nice guy, Blair! Maxx turned into a monster creature, but you didn’t!"

They pouted.

Lazaros rose to Ashley and hugged them.

Lazaros: “I’m so sorry, Ashley…”

He stroked their hair.

Ashley: “He’s WORSE than Maxx! H-He said all that horrible stuff about killing Celeste and crashing a funeral! Not even Maxx did that!”

They cried and hugged him close. Lazaros kissed their head.

Lazaros: “I know, Ashley… I am sorry… He’s a loser! I thought he changed when he was your friend, but no, he never changed!”

He stroked their hair. Ashley sighed and lay into his chest.

Ashley: “Was he ever my friend? Or was he always… evil?!”

They cried.

Lazaros: “I don’t know, Ashley… Maxx changed, too, but I think what happened to Maxx was out of his control.”

He sighed and closed his eyes. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “Maxx got turned into a creature… Blair didn’t, and he’s worse than that creature…”

They frowned and held him close. Lazaros held Ashley close and tightly.

~

Blair was on the front lawn with Yoshi and Ivy.

Blair: “So what do you want for your birthday?”

Ivy: “A party where Jiro and Celeste come and cake is dumped on them like my favorite Hallmark movie, Revenge is Sweet as Cake, where the heroine dumps cake on her rival’s head.”

Yoshi twisted his mouth.

Yoshi: “Isn’t that… kind of… mean? I like Jiro and Celeste!”

Blair rolled his eyes.

Blair: “They’re total losers!”

Ivy: “Well, I don’t, and it’s my party, so it will happen!”

She hissed.

Yoshi saw Jaxon and Celeste coming. He waved to them.

Yoshi: “Hey, Jiro-kun! Hey, Celeste! Uh, you two might not want to go to Ivy’s party. She wants to dump cake on you like in that Hallmark movie I never saw!”

Ivy smacked him over the head. He rubbed where she hit him. Jaxon glared at Ivy and Blair.

Jaxon: “We weren’t going to go anyway, and we’re not here about that!”

He glared at Blair.

Blair: “What do you want, Jiro?”

He rolled his eyes

Jaxon picked up a print of the letter and cleared his throat.

Jaxon: “ ‘I hate Celeste and her snack thieving, her stupid sense of humor, and how she’s clearly jealous of Ivy. Celeste always did whatever she could to sabotage Ivy and upset her because she’s a bitch. I hope Celeste chokes on cyanide pills.’ ”

He read aloud to them all. Yoshi turned to Blair, clearly uncomfortable. Celeste looked up at Jaxon and then at Blair. He’s too much of a coward to try, Celeste thought. Ivy smirked.

Jaxon: “Posted to LonelyNiceGuys by BlairDonati.”

He glared at him. Blair shifted his eyes. How did he find that? He wondered.

Ivy: “What’s wrong with it, Jiro? He’s not wrong. Miss Snack Thief is jealous of me.”

She smirked.

Celeste: “I’m not jealous of you, Ivy.”

She said evenly.

Celeste: “I don’t want to sit around getting angry with my boyfriend, watching shitty movies, and whining about bullshit that doesn’t matter.”

She added.

Ivy: “I was angry with Deimos and Victor for not giving me what I wanted, and Hallmark movies are masterpieces!”

She hissed.

Jaxon rolled his eyes.

Jaxon: “Blah, blah, no one gives a shit.”

He waved his hand and turned to Blair.

Jaxon: “I’m not here for you, I’m here for HIM!”

He glared at Blair, grabbing his neck. Blair shrieked and flailed his arms.

Jaxon: “Let’s see how YOU like to be choked, asshole!”

He seethed at him, choking him in his grip. Blair gasped and choked when Jaxon grabbed him. He grabbed his arm to pry him off.

Blair: “I-Ivy, Y-Yoshi! H-Help me!”

He gagged. Jaxon shoved him hard onto the lawn. Blair crashed onto the lawn with a hard thud. Celeste grinned at Jaxon. Yoshi cupped his mouth. Ivy rolled her eyes.

Jaxon: “Don’t talk shit about her again!”

He snapped in a tone not to push him.

Blair: “SCREW YOU, JIRO! YOU’RE GOING TO BE SORRY!”

He barked back as he angrily rose.

Jaxon: “Ohhh no, the blue-bitch is comin’ for me! I’m shaking in my boots! I’m soooo scared!”

He taunted him in a high-pitched voice, feigning fear.

Blair: “You came here because of that fat fuck?! Is that it?!”

Jaxon gaped at him.

Jaxon: “How dare you?! She’s NOT fat!”

He snapped at him, putting his arm around Celeste’s waist. Celeste looked up at him with a smile and nestled into his arms.

Blair rushed to Jaxon and slapped him hard across the face, and shoved him to the ground. Jaxon glared at Blair.

Jaxon: “Big fucking mistake!”

He staggered to his feet and ran up to Blair, punching him to the ground. Blair fell to the ground, wincing and cupping his jaw on the verge of tears. Jaxon stood over him and went to punch him again, when suddenly, his glowering face shifted into peals of laughter when he felt hands tickling his sides from behind him.

Jaxon: “HA–HA AHA A HAHA AH WHAHAHAAHAHAT THE FUHUHUHUHUCK?!”

He rasped and collapsed to the ground. He looked up to see Yoshi tickling him. Yoshi grinned and tickled his ribs. Blair gaped at what he saw. What the Hell is this fetish crap?! He thought.

Yoshi: “HOOOOIYAAAA! TICKLE-FU CHOP!”

He wailed in a falsetto voice.

Jaxon: “HAHAHAA HA AHA HA AH GEHEHEHEHEEHET THE FUHUHUHCK OFF MEHEHEEHE, YOOHOHOHOHOU IDIOT! HAAHAAHAHAA!”

He rasped and collapsed onto the lawn. Celeste grinned and knelt to him, taking off his boots, showing his sheer socked feet, and tickling his feet.

Jaxon: “C-CEHEHEHEHELESTE?! NOO! OHHOHOOHOHOHOHO HOHOHOH OHOHOHOHOHOHAHAHEEHEHEHAHAAHAAHAHA!”

He rolled over on the ground.

Yoshi: “Woah, nice tickle-fu moves! Did Ashley teach you, too?”

He grinned dumbly. Blair’s face crumpled when he mentioned Ashley.

Celeste: “No!”

She giggled and scribbled her nails over Jaxon’s feet.

Jaxon: “HAHAHAHAAHA HA HEA HE EH EHOHOHOHO HONOHOHOHO HEHEHEEHEAHAHAHAAAHA!”

Blair glowered at them all and pulled a disgusted face.

Blair: “Eww! Stop this weird fetish stuff! You’re all so weird!”

He looked away, averting his eyes. Ivy rolled her eyes. Whatever, Blair, I like this, if only Tristan were here, she thought.

Blair waved his hands around as if he were batting away flies.

Blair: “I’m going to be sick!”

He groused, rushing over to the hose. He screwed the tap on and pulled out the hose, blasting it at them.

Blair: “Get your weird fetish stuff off my lawn!”

He screamed at them through tears, spraying them with the hose and drenching them. Celeste shrieked as she was sprayed with the hose; the water soaked her top, showing her bare breasts through her wet t-shirt. Yoshi gaped at Celeste’s big boobs. Blair screamed when he saw those.

Blair: “COVER THOSE UP, TART!”

He sprayed her with the hose.

Yoshi: “OPPAI!”

Jaxon froze and swallowed hard, feeling something hard in his pants. Yoshi’s eyes grew large at Jaxon’s hardness.

Yoshi: “Bokki…”

He purred.

Jaxon: “O-Oh my!”

He licked his lips, cupping her breasts to hide her nipples from their view with his hands.

Jaxon: “Let’s go home, babe.”

He led her off the lawn. She grabbed his boots as they left.

Celeste: “Y-Yeah…”

She reddened.

~

Blair angrily sat at his desk, furiously drawing Ashley as a blob.

Blair: “Goddamn you, Ashley, you fat loser! Do you want to send your minions after me?! You will pay, pay, PAY!”

He rasped as he pressed the pen down on his art so hard that it snapped.

~

Blair marveled at the completed piece that night, quite proud of how much he accomplished.

Blair: “Oh, Ashley, you fat loser, this is what you get for sending Jiro to come beat me up and turning my friend, Yoshi, against me and doing that weird fetish crap on my lawn!”

He said as his right eye twitched and he was on the verge of tears.

~

After Blair showered and brushed his teeth, he wore his blue cat hoodie pajamas and climbed into bed.

A raven flew into the bedroom and up on the desk, noticing the drawing. They took it in their beak and flew outside. When they landed in the playground neighboring Blair’s house, he shapeshifted into Rock and smiled at the drawing.

Rock: “Since Maxxy was too busy to take a picture for his album, I found the purr-fect set-up!”

He beamed.

~

The next day, Lazaros and Ashley were at Pink Flamingo Mall, where Lazaros was buying Ashley some new clothes, some accessories, and anything they wanted. Ashley tugged on Lazaros’ arm.

Ashley: “Oooh, that’s pawesome!”

They beamed, gesturing to a purple paisley coat. Lazaros looked at it and held it up.

Lazaros: “Would you like this?”

He smiled and checked out the price. Ashley froze and their eyebrows rose.

Lazaros: “Don’t worry, Ashley. I can well afford this!”

He smiled. Ashley’s eyes were fixed on something across from them.

Ashley: “...Wh-What is that?”

Ashley pursed their lips and tugged on Lazaros’ sleeve, pointing at the store across from them. They pointed to Cam the Record Man, which was a store that sold CDs, records, and cassettes. Lazaros saw that the store was plastered with posters of artwork depicting Ashley as being extremely fat, stuffing cake into their mouth, and their fat expanding to pop buttons off their shirt, with Lazaros looking at Ashley with hearts in his eyes.

Ashley’s heart sank when they recognised the art style, having seen it before. This was Blair’s art, and it was used for Maxx’s latest album, “Survival of da Fatleyist.”

Ashley: “Wh-What the hell?!”

They cupped their mouth and trembled. Lazaros knit his eyebrows and held Ashley close.

Lazaros: “I… I don’t know, Ashley!”

He said with panic, not knowing what to do. Ashley held onto him, burying their face into his chest, not wanting to be seen.

Ashley: “I-I want to go home!”

They pleaded with him. Lazaros caressed their hair and kissed their forehead.

Lazaros: “Okay, my smitten kitten.”

He whispered. Ashley melted to his tender words and caress, feeling safe and held.

~

Fabien barged into Celeste and Jaxon’s house when Tristan was over.

Fabien: “Guys, look what I bought! It’s Maxx’s latest piece of shit and Blair drew art for it!”

He laughed and showed them the album.

Tristan: “Oh, Blair and Maxx are friends now? I didn’t think Maxx was good enough for the high and mighty Blair.”

He said dryly.

Celeste: “Ashley rejected them both. There is that.”

Jaxon: “No shit, they’re both losers.”

Fabien looked at the back of the album. The tracks were as listed.

1. Survival of da Fatleyist

2. Fatley’s big, fat dump truck ass

3. Fatley needs two chairs for his fat ass

4. Fatley splashes around OceanWorld

5. Fatley’s Wide Load

6. Fatley ate da World!!!

7. Celeste-Booby-Babe Maxxilicious DD Jugs

8. Celeste-Booby-Babe and Filly-babe Suck Maxxy’s Big Fat COCK

9. Dial 80085 for Celeste’s big boobies

10. Fatley uses an ice cream truck as an ambulance

11. Fatley will die alone with catz ‘cause he’s fat

12. Fatley crushed his gay boyfriend under his fat ass

13. Maxxy da man and da legend

14. Da only pie Fatley gets is apple pie

15. Fatley doesn't got OCD, he got OBCD

Tristan gaped and blinked.

Tristan: “Wow, he loves the word ‘fat’ a lot.”

He laughed awkwardly.

Jaxon: “Does he have a fat fetish for Ashley or something?”

He laughed awkwardly.

Fabien: “I love how he talks about his dick being big but if you look at his posters, it’s not.”

He held up a poster of Maxx posing in his mankini in his living room filled with garbage. Jaxon laughed. Tristan sighed and put his palm to his face.

Tristan: “Oh golly…”

He muttered.

Fabien opened the album and burst out laughing. He showed them the CD, which was slightly longer than a normal CD and in the shape of Maxx’s head. Tristan twisted his mouth and wasn’t surprised by any of this. Jaxon groused at it.

Fabien: “IT’S SHAPED LIKE HIS FUCKING HEAD! HOW CAN THIS FUCKING THING FIT INTO A CD PLAYER?!”

He laughed.

Celeste: “Why does this clown think he’s sexy? Does he have a mirror? I always thought he was so ugly.”

She laughed. Jaxon smiled at her and kissed her head.

Celeste: “His mouth looks like a cat’s asshole!”

She laughed and looked up at Jaxon.

Fabien pressed eject on their CD player and tried to fit the CD into the tray.

Tristan: “If you manage to get it in, play it at the lowest volume. It hurts our ears.”

He winced.

Fabien: “I know that, Tristan.”

He rolled his eyes. He turned it down to the lowest volume. Celeste rose to try to get it in. A stock music track of looping guitars kicked in, followed by soulless drum kicks on loop.

Maxx: “OWWWWWWH! CUM ON!”

The music blared louder. Tristan shifted in his seat.

Maxx: “Sa-viv-aaaaaaaallllll! Of da fatleyeeeeeeeeest!”

He wailed the main hook. Jaxon glowered and pressed stop.

Tristan: “Thank you, Jaxon!”

He breathed a sigh of relief.

Jaxon: “That's enough of that.”

He huffed.

Fabien laughed and pressed eject. It wouldn’t eject. He pressed it again.

Fabien: “Uhm…”

Celeste pressed it for him. Nothing happened, and she put her nail into the tray to pull it out.

Celeste: “Uh, Jaxon?”

She said with worry.

Celeste: “It’s stuck.”

Jaxon’s jaw dropped.

Jaxon: “Are you shitting me?!”

He growled and pressed eject again, but nothing happened.

Jaxon: “I paid nine hundred dollars for this!”

He slammed on the eject button, and nothing happened.

Tristan: “It’s stuck, Jaxon. Seems like you will have to get it repaired.”

He sighed.

Jaxon: “Seriously?! That clown fucks me over AGAIN!”

He huffed. Celeste knit her eyebrows and wrapped her arms around him, holding him close and caressing his chest. Jaxon drew a breath.

Jaxon: “Looks like we're going to the mall, babe.”

He kissed her head.

Celeste: “What for?”

She kissed his neck. He shivered and kissed her back.

Jacon: “To get my CD player fixed!”

He declared. Celeste nodded. She pulled the plug and easily lifted the huge CD player over her head.

~

Celeste and Jaxon arrived at the Pink Flamingo Mall, with Celeste carrying the huge CD player over her head. They strolled to “Sergio’s Audio Repair” and their jaws dropped at the long queue of people with their CD players, waiting to be served.

Jaxon: “What the hell?!”

He gaped at the long queue ahead of them.

Celeste: “I guess they have the same problem as we do.”

She suggested.

Jaxon: “Seriously?!”

He huffed and tapped his foot.

Celeste: “If I weren’t carrying this, I’d tickle you now.”

She teased.

Jaxon: “Lucky me, then.”

He teased, poking his tongue out at her. Celeste grinned.

Celeste: “Don’t tempt me, Jax…”

She sank her teeth into her bottom lip.

Jaxon: “Wait until we get home!”

He playfully scolded her, waving his finger at her.

Celeste: “I can’t wait.”

She whispered.

~

After two hours of standing in a huge line-up, Jaxon and Celeste were finally being served. Celeste placed the heavy CD player on the repair shop counter.

Celeste: “CD player won’t eject.”

She said tersely. The man serving them was an older Latino man with wavy green hair and a moustache.

Repairman: “Yeah, you and everyone else had the same issue, and I couldn’t repair them because the CD caused the players to malfunction.”

He said with some irritation. Jaxon’s eyes widened.

Jaxon: “Are you fucking serious?!”

He threw his arms up in frustration.

The repairman tried to turn on the player, and it said “CD not reading.” Then it flashed until it shut off. He tried to turn it on again. It didn’t turn on. He used a pin to press in the emergency eject, doing nothing. He slid the pin into the tray, trying to open it, struggling, and bending the pin.

Repairman: “Did you two happen to buy that CD that ugly kid made? He looks like a cheap Vivienne knock-off.”

Celeste nodded. Jaxon’s face crumpled, and he slowly nodded.

Jaxon: “We didn’t buy it! Our neighbour did!”

He huffed, folding his arms across his chest.

Repairman: “Whatever the case, your CD player is ruined. The CD jams in the players and malfunctions them.”

He sighed.

Jaxon: “Great! That stupid clown ruined my CD player!”

He huffed, kicking his feet.

Repairman: “That’s the fiftieth time I’ve heard that today.”

He laughed bitterly.

Celeste: “I’ll buy you a new one, Jax.”

She knit her eyebrows.

Jaxon: “It’s all right, babe, it’s not your fault! I made a bunch of cash from those shoots! I got this!”

He smiled at her and assured her. She grinned at him.

Celeste: “Are you gonna do more?”

She rested her hands on the wall of his chest. Jaxon froze when he thought of his last encounter with Barry.

Jaxon: “...Maybe someday.”

He forced a smile. Celeste surveyed his expression.

Celeste: “It’s okay, Jax. You don’t have to.”

She smiled and held him close.

Celeste: “You can be real with me.”

She sighed. Jaxon smiled with relief.

Jaxon: “I’m sorry, babe… I don’t want to do that anymore…”

He sighed.

Jaxon: “But… I have another idea!”

He took her hands and smirked at her.

Jaxon: “While we’re here, let’s buy ourselves a nice camera.”

He pulled out his cash.

Celeste: “All right.”

She smiled a bit and looked away.

~

Later, they arrived home with Jaxon’s new CD player and camera. He held the camera up to her.

Jaxon: “Now we can take our own photos, babe!”

He grinned, snapping a photo of her. She forced a smile at him.

Celeste: “Yeah, sounds good.”

She said flatly. Jaxon paused and put the camera down.

Jaxon: “What’s wrong, babe? I thought you’d be more excited?”

He knit his eyebrows. Celeste shrugged.

Celeste: “Jaxon, are you really cut out for being around me? With all of our missions? I notice you break more and more, whereas I just bounce back. So I wondered if Ivy was right. And I wondered if Chelsea’s death affected you because you wondered what life would be like with a normal girl who isn’t like me!”

She said and embraced herself. Jaxon’s heart sank at her words.

Jaxon: “Wh-What?! Why wouldn’t I be cut out for being around you?! IVY?! You’re wondering if that cow is right? I don’t want a life with a normal girl that I have to save all the time!”

He embraced himself.

Celeste: “I don’t know? Because it seems you’re getting more and more broken, and I am the cause of this. I don’t understand it. Ichiro groped me, and I moved past it.”

She sighed. Jaxon gaped at her.

Jaxon: “You’re not the cause of this! It’s Ichiro! How could you not be affected by him assaulting you?!”

He countered. Celeste shrugged.

Celeste: “I don’t know why it doesn’t affect me.”

She said evenly.

Jaxon: “Maybe we’re both broken…”

He sighed. Celeste scratched her head.

Celeste: “Maybe? But life goes on, and you can’t cry over every death or throw stones at every dog who barks.”

She wagged her head. Jaxon froze and turned to her.

Celeste: “A part of the reason I was hesitant around you when we first met is because I feared this would happen, and it did.”

She hung her head.

Jaxon: “I see…”

He swallowed hard, realizing now that was why she was hesitant at the start. All this time, he thought she was playing love games to tease him and make him want her more, but it was deeper than that.

Jaxon: “Well, I’m not running or going anywhere. I knew what I was getting myself into, but I still wanted to anyway, because you’re worth it!”

He declared.

Jaxon: “You’ve had your whole life to harden to this… Tristan and Deimos have had years. I’ve only had months.”

He sighed.

Celeste: “I know, Jax.”

She looked away.

Celeste: “And Barry is dead. He was on fire, and I kicked him into that inferno.”

She added.

Jaxon: “I know, babe. It’s not Barry and what he did to me. It’s that he could have killed you!”

He stated.

Celeste: “Yeah, but I didn’t die. I am more durable than most people.”

She said with some irritation.

Jaxon: “You’re right…”

He sighed.

Jaxon: “I just care and… love you is all.”

He closed his eyes. Celeste drew a long breath.

Celeste: “I know, Jax.”

Jaxon drew a breath.

Jaxon: “And you’re right, babe… I need to be tougher… my weakness is what Ichiro thrives on.”

He sighed.

Celeste: “I guess so, Jax. I don’t know.”

She shrugged.

Jaxon: “What don’t you know?”

He asked. Celeste shifted her eyes.

Celeste: “I didn’t realize how much this affected you, and I don’t want to be the cause of you breaking more. This broke you more than when I damn near fucking died in Shin-Yamato and when Chelsea turned into a monster and almost killed me. So yeah, I do think Ivy is right.”

She said sharply. Jaxon froze.

Jaoxn: “You aren’t the cause of this! WHAT? When I thought you were dead, it BROKE me! It KILLED ME! So yeah, seeing you come close to death affects me!”

He cried.

Celeste: “It wasn’t like this now.”

She muttered.

Jaxon: “What do you mean?”

He asked. Celeste shrugged.

Celeste: “Ivy pointed out how Chelsea was all over you, and you let her. So I wonder about that…”

She glared at him.

Jaxon gaped at her.

Jaxon: “You believe that cow now? I always have people all over me! It doesn’t mean I want them, too! She was just a nice girl who was being abused like I was and needed someone to help her, and people kept sending ME to help her!”

He countered.

Celeste: “You literally get angry when a guy who isn’t Tristan, Deimos, or Fabien is nice to me.”

She rolled her eyes. Jaxon gaped at her.

Jaxon: “NICE to you? Hitting on you and groping you is not being nice to you!”

He huffed.

Celeste: “I wasn’t talking about Josh or Ichiro. I meant any guy who talks to me. You get jealous.”

She snapped.

Jaxon: “Who? That Yudai asshole in the club? He was not being nice to you!”

He fired back.

Celeste: “I wouldn’t know. I didn’t pay attention to anything he said other than that he wanted to buy me a drink.”

She said noncommittally.

Jaxon: “Yeah, well, he did that because he just wanted to get you into bed!”

He folded his arms across his chest.

Celeste: “Well, good luck to him, I guess. I didn’t let him buy me a drink. Anyway, I wasn’t including him.”

She drew a rough breath.

Jaxon: “Who then? When did I get angry about someone being nice to you?”

He asked.

Celeste: “Okay, let’s say Blair wasn’t like those Christian husbands who try to police everyone’s moves. He’s being abused by Ivy. What if I let him lean on me, kiss my cheek, and hold me? Would you be cool with it?!”

She snapped.

Jaxon: “No?! He’s not a nice guy, and he wanted you dead! That’s why I beat him!”

He countered.

Celeste: “I said… what if Blair wasn’t like this and were nice?”

She repeated as her voice rose. Jaxon paused and sighed.

Jaxon: “I’m sorry, I never knew that bothered you…”

He pursed his lips.

Celeste: “Yeah, well, you left me to play for her, and your brother kidnapped me!”

She threw her hands up.

Jaxon: “You were sleeping! I’m sorry that fucker kidnapped you…”

He countered.

Celeste: “Best excuse ever…”

She muttered.

Jaxon drew a breath.

Jaxon: “You know… when you get kidnapped, my heart races and my blood boils at Ichiro. I never felt like it was burden or thought ‘not this shit again’ but… with her? I got annoyed and thought ‘not this shit again’. I don’t want a normal life where I have to keep saving someone who can’t fight for themselves, too. I want a partner, not someone I have to constantly protect and save.”

He confessed.

Celeste: “So why did you do it, Jaxon? It’s NOT just saving her! It’s ALL of it!”

She snapped and punched a hole in the wall. She withdrew her hand and shook the drywall dust off. Jaxon’s eyebrows rose.

Celeste: “I have to get out of here.”

She grabbed her purse to leave. Jaxon drew a breath.

Jaxon: “I was nice to her because no one was nice to ME when I was being abused. My only ally from my family was murdered! I needed help and just wanted someone to be nice to me! That’s why I was such a mess when we first met. I don’t know… maybe it opened that wound up for me again?”

He sighed. Celeste turned to him.

Celeste: “You don’t get it, do you? If the roles were reversed, you’d be hurt and I endured a lot of shit growing up and saw a lot.”

She laughed bitterly.

Celeste: “I’m out of here.”

She stormed out and slammed the door. Jaxon slunk to the floor with a defeated sigh.

~

Ivy watched Celeste go and smiled. I knew it, one more win for Ivy, she thought. Then she thought that would make the perfect Hallmark movie title.

~

Maxx was in his mobile home with Rock. He let out a shriek at his album cover.

Maxx: “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! NAH-AH! ROCK!! WHERE DA FUCK IS MAXXY?!”

He whined, pointing to the album.

Maxx: “It’s goddamn Fatley and his gay boyfriend!”

He sank to the floor sobbing. Rock kept his grin intact.

Rock: “Donut worry, Maxxy! I got a fix for that, buddy!”

He placed a Maxx head sticker over Ashley’s face. Maxx caterwauled.

Maxx: “OH NAH-AH! I’M NOT FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY SEXY BODY?!”

He shrieked, stomping around his mobile home, knocking everything over, smashing plates and cups.

Maxx: “Dat fat asshole ruining my sexy album!”

He cried.

Rock showed Maxx a letter that he was being sued for his CD destroying their CD player.

Maxx: “FUCK DAT, ROCK! DAT FATT ASSHOLE IS GOIN’ DOWN!”

He tore up the letter and stomped his feet. Rock just grinned down at Maxx. Oh, this is so much fun for me, Maxxy, he thought.