Jack was laying in bed, pretending to be asleep.  Listening to Mark try to silently creep off the bed.  The bed creaked softly and Jack felt Mark's weight leave the bed.  Then just as the door softly 'clicked' closed, Jack opened his eyes.  Hugging the pillow close to his body, Jack tried to tell himself that this behavior was normal... but something just felt wrong.  Mark was starting to distance himself again.  Mark had been worried about him while he was overseas... but now that he was here with him.  Mark almost never talked to him.  Mark's routine the last few days was that he'd get up early, lock himself away in his recording room, then sneak out of the house.  Returning late to eat dinner with him and go to bed.  Jack kept telling himself that Mark was just busy.  He was trying new ideas and that took lots of time and effort.  Mark loved him.  Slowly getting up, Jack headed into the shower.  Comic con was in a few hours.  This would be their moment to relax and get back on track.  Everything would be just fine.  Climbing out of the shower, Jack wrapped a towel around his waist and opened the door to a surprise.  Standing on the other side was scrawny guy with dyed blue hair and a face full of acne.  Taking a step back, the guy extended a hand out to him.  Giggling a bit as he told him.  "Sorry. Did I scare you? You must be Jacksepticeye"? 

Jack nervously took the man's limp handshake and asked cautiously.  "Does Mark know you're here"?  The guy flashed him a grin, answering excitedly.  "Of course!  I'm his friend Ethan. I'm also his new editor. I'm also a youtuber like you... but my channel has been dying".  Jack nodded hesitantly and tried to make his way around Ethan.  The action didn't pass Ethan as he quickly side-stepped, expressing out loudly.  "OH! Sorry! You must want to get dressed. Excuse me".  Ethan slipped into the bathroom and closed the door, while Jack stood a bit confused in the hallway.  Mark hired a new editor?  He knew Matt and Ryan had been disagreeing with Mark lately... but enough to leave?  Was that the reason Mark was so distracted lately?  Had Matt and Ryan left him to do all the editing work himself?  Even still... Why didn't Mark tell him?  Jack slipped back into the bedroom to get dressed.  He didn't want to be mean... but was this Ethan even old enough to know how to edit?  The guy looked sixteen.  Jack had just finished zipping up his jeans when the door opened up.  Jack pulled his shirt against his chest as another man cringed in the doorway.  The man was much taller then him and had a mess of short curly hair.  The man backed out as quickly as he walked in, muttering blandly embarrassed.  "Oh, sorry. Wrong room".

What the fuck was going on?  Jack quickly pulled on his shirt as he heard Mark storm down the hall saying loudly.  "Come on, guys!  We've got only a few minutes!  Tyler did you just-? Damn it".  Jack sat on the edge of the bed as Mark entered the room.  Mark bit his lip when he saw Jack was up and carefully closed the door behind him.  Mark was going to tell him something bad... he could feel it.  Why else did he close the door?  Mark stayed by the door as he started to tell him softly.  "Oh, you're up. Well, since you're up. I've been meaning to tell you something.  You know how you are getting your first solo panel this year? Well, I was thinking...".  Mark wasn't looking him in the eyes and it was starting to unsettle Jack.  He wasn't sure he wanted to hear this.  Mark took a deep breath then excitedly told him.  "Here's the thing. I brought you on stage with the guys to introduce you back in the day... So, today I was thinking of doing that with Ethan".  Jack felt like his heart fell to the floor, when he asked tenderly.  "What? Comic con is our thing. We've always done a panel together".  Mark nodded a bit awkwardly, trying not to sound so excited when he answered.  "Ya, I know... but Ethan is one of my close friends and I want to help save his channel. Give him a small shoutout for people to see".  Jack stood up, feeling like his heart was being crushed, but defensively stated aloud.  "What?! You told everyone you don't do shoutouts! That it was unfair". 

Mark nodded again, but this time he gestured for Jack to keep his voice down as he said.  "I know. I know. But Ethan is my friend and I told him that I would help promote his channel. He wants to be like you. He's a fan. He's funny. You'll see. We'll all hang out after the show and talk".  Jack wrapped his arms around himself, the hurt creeping into his voice when he asked.  "What do Bob and Wade think about this"?  Mark licked his lips and Jack turned away, when Mark answered.  "We can only have so many people on the panel, Jack. You're getting your own solo panel! Please, Jack"?  Jack felt his eyes start to water, but he pulled himself together to softly answer.  "Alright. Go ahead".  Mark cheered, opening the door to yell out into the hallway.  "Ethan! He said you can take his spot"!  Somewhere in the house Ethan let out a cheer.... While Jack moved toward the window.  A tear running down his face.  He knew he shouldn't feel upset... but he couldn't help feeling like he was being replaced.  What made the pain worse... Bob and Wade had already agreed to this.  Mark's friends.  What was he if not one of Mark's friends? 

Pulling out his phone, Jack scrolled through his messages hoping for a glimmer of good news.  Only to get more bad news... Felix was banned from going to Comic Con this year.  So, not even Felix was going to be there to talk to if Mark decided to shut him out again.  Putting away his phone, he finished getting ready and tried to focus on his panel.  His fans meant more to him now than ever.  Although, he was now starting to feel the pressure.  He had never done a panel by himself... what if he said the wrong thing?  What if he screwed up?  Everything just felt like one big crumbling disaster.  Surprisingly, His panel went over really well.  Everyone was really nice and understood he was terrified.  After his panel, Jack snuck backstage to catch a glimpse at Mark's panel.  He couldn't join into the fun, but he could at least see them.  Immediately, Jack felt a bit betrayed.  Not only had Ethan taken his spot... but Tyler was up there with them.  Having fun.  He felt selfish... Jealous.  This had been their thing for so long... that now he just felt so left out.  He couldn't watch this.  It hurt too much.  Turning away, Jack started to head for the break room... When Mark addressed everyone about a BIG announcement.  Stopping Jack looked back a little curious.  Mark got all his friends to stand up, before announcing the most hurtful bombshell.  He was going on tour with all his friends...  Jack felt like a knife had plunged right into his heart.  To Be Continued...