I park my car near the front of Red and Ant's shared house. Today is the gathering, and it was planned to be at Red and Ant's house. It was planned for today to be pretty chill and hang out. Maybe watch some movies or play video games and eat snacks. Honestly, it's kinda like how you would normally spend a day at your friend's house, but this is with a whole group of people.

I walk up to the front door and ring the doorbell. The door soon opens to a grinning Ant, and he says, "Hey, Skeppy! Welcome! Come on in, the others are in the living room."

I step inside of the house, and Ant locks the door behind me. I've only been at Red and Ant's place once or twice, and it's quite nice. I follow Ant to the living room where I see the rest of our friends. I see Red, Bad, Quackity, and Karl laughing and chatting in the living room. Puffy and Sapnap aren't gonna be here until much later since they are gonna be a bit busy today, based on what Bad told me. So, regarding all the people that are supposed to be here at this time, I'm the last one to arrive.

Everyone quickly notices me and greets me. I join them in the living room and take a seat next to Bad. We all have a nice chat for a while to catch up with each other. Of course, I talk mostly to Bad. After that, we all decide to play some video games on the TV for a while. So for the next hour or two, we get competitive with each other and have a laugh watching other's downfalls or competitiveness. Of course, we all had to take turns using the controllers as there weren't enough for everyone. But even for those who would get to sit and watch for a round would also have fun watching the drama between the other unfold, and maybe sometimes make fun of them or reprimand them in the background before deciding to try and one up them once they get a chance to switch controllers with someone.

Of course, it wasn't all just about the game. Sometimes, we would get reminded about past moments online and reminisce about or make regular chat for a short time. When I got the chance, I would take a short chat with Bad about something random. In theory, we all have a good time. After tiring ourselves out with nothing but video games, as it seemingly drains our energy from being so competitive, we all decided that it would be a good idea to relax while watching a movie.

So we prepare a few snacks and drinks and watch a movie. During the movie, we finish up most of our snacks. I'm not too interested in the movie, so once I finish my drink and decide that I want some more, I get up and ask if anyone wants anymore soda, or maybe even water, since those are the only things available right now. Everyone except Ant, who surprisingly still has some soda in his cup, asks for a drink.

I go down a hallway and take a right into a room where the kitchen is. I immediately look down beside the fridge, where Ant said that the pack of water bottles would be. Karl asked for water while the others wanted soda. Now that I'm actually thinking about it, I think I'll get water as well. It looks like the pack has already been opened. So I put my hand into the hole that was already made into the pack of water bottles and took out two water bottles.

I put them on top of the counter and opened up the fridge to get an unopened big bottle of soda. I grab it, close the fridge, and put the bottle of soda on top of the counter as well. I then grab three plastic cups from the ones that I see in an open packaging of plastic cups on the counter for Bad, Red, and Quackity. I unscrew the bottle cap from the bottle of soda and start to pour soda into the first cup. As I do that, I see someone enter the kitchen from the corner of my eye. Once I have successfully poured the first cup of soda, I temporarily put down the bottle of soda back on the counter so that I can look up to see who it is. Oh, it's Quackity. He walks over to me nonchalantly and stands next to me by the counter. I say, "What's up, Quackity?"

"Oh, nothing. I just came to see if you needed any help with carrying all these drinks. I mean, did you really expect yourself to easily carry five drinks all by yourself?"

He says the last part with a grin and teasing tone. I look down at the counter to see the three cups and two water bottles. Huh. I didn't even think of that. I guess that even though it could've been possible, it would be tricky to carry all of this by myself. I could take the safer route by doing another trip to the kitchen to get the rest of the drinks, but I just know that I prefer to just take the risk and challenge myself with taking them all in one trip. I can be impatient like that. I chuckle and say as I get the bottle of soda again, "I guess that's true. I mean, nobody would want to drink their soda out of the floor, now would they?"

I glance at Quackity with a joking grin before looking back at the counter to carefully pour the second cup with soda. Quackity chuckles and says, "Yeah, we wouldn't want to waste perfectly good soda, now would we? Speaking of soda, do you mind if I take this cup for myself?"

I glance a look at the already poured cup of soda that he's gesturing at. I say, "Of course I don't, dude. I'm pouring these cups for you guys after all."

Quackity does a quick nod and grabs the cup before taking a good sip at it. I finish pouring soda into the second cup and start pouring into the third cup. Quackity and I share a moment of silence as I continue to pour the third cup of soda. He takes another sip at his drink as I do this. Once I finish, I screw back on the bottle cap onto the bottle of soda so that the rest of the soda that's left doesn't go to waste. I then go back to the fridge and open it to put the now used bottle of soda into the fridge. Once I close the fridge, I look back towards Quackity and the countertop full of drinks. But I slightly freeze once I see that Quackity has an unnerving look on his face like he wants to say something but is scared to do it. But I guess he's trying to stay confident because he soon says, "Hey, Skeppy... I need to talk to you about something."

I lift an eyebrow and ask, "What is it...?"

I slowly make my way up to the counter next to him, as he speaks. He says, "I have been taking notice of something recently, and I just want to make things clear with you."

I stand a good distance away in front of him by the counter. I say, "Okay? Go ahead..."

"You know, before, I always thought that you and Bad were almost always doing a constant bit, even if you wouldn't be making it seem like you were flirting, just so that you guys could teasingly lead everyone on as if you had something between you two. But clearly, you're just best friends. But... even though I'm now dating Bad, you two are still super close..."

I feel my nerves starting to spike up. I say with a bit of nervousness I didn't want to be heard, "I mean- yeah- we're best friends?"

Quackity glances up at me and then back to looking at his cup of soda. He says, "I know that- but I've been paying attention, and I still see all that chemistry- the joking, occasional teasing, playful yet seemingly accusatory arguments, and surprisingly good communication skills between you two that always seemed to be an acted out bit are still there. I appreciate the fact that you guys don't have those moments at hinted flirting anymore for- obvious reasons. And I would shrug it all off that that's how you've built your friendship to be if it weren't for... the way- I've caught you looking at Bad."

Quackity looks at me in the eye with an indescribable face at that last part. That look makes me even more nervous. I tentatively ask, "Quackity... what are you trying to say...?"

Quackity takes a deep breath before saying, "What I'm trying to say is that you like Bad. Don't you, Skeppy?"

For a moment, I freeze in horror. But I then think fast, abnormally fast, with a plan that could potentially save me, but it is probably a lost cause. I say casually, almost too casually, "I mean, yeah- he's my best friend. How could I not like him? I like all of my friends."

I almost stiff up at the realization that that came almost too perfectly. Almost too believable. Almost like it has been said and rehearsed so many times that you end up believing it yourself. Because it starts to set in that damn- just how many times have I forced myself to say that Bad and I are nothing more than friends? It's almost like my brain has been engraved into that to the point where I can just casually say it on instinct. Quackity furrows his eyebrows in slight frustration at how I could possibly not get the true meaning of his question. Guess I'm a better actor than I thought. Quackity exclaims, "No!- 'Like' as in do you like Bad romantically! Not as friends!"

I stiff at that. Sh*t- there's no way to avoid this question now. I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out. I want to say no, but my heart doesn't want to deny this claim when it's worded like that. I can't say it... So I close my mouth and silence falls on us for a moment. I look down in shame and say, "I don't want to answer that question..."

Quackity hisses in a breath. I don't look at him. I don't want to. I can only imagine how he's feeling. He mutters out, "I knew it... so you do have feelings for him?"

I stay quiet. I don't have the courage to lie, but I'm too ashamed to admit it, especially in front of Bad's boyfriend... Another moment of silence, and then Quackity says, "If that's the case, then I have a request, Skeppy."

I hesitantly look up to see him in the eye. He looks abnormally serious. He says, "I want you to avoid Bad as much as you can. You can still hang out and talk to him with other people around, like the gathering we have right now, but I just don't want you two to speak one on one anymore."

I immediately snap at that. I exclaim, "What!? No- there's no way I'm doing that! Quackity- you know very well that that isn't fair for both me and Bad. He'll be basically heartbroken!"

"Exactly, and then I'll be there to comfort him."

That throws me off along with the evil smirk that he's trying to hide. I catch my train of thought again and say, "But Quackity!- C'mon- you're my friend!-"

"And I want you to stay away from my boyfriend."

My breath hitches at that. I say, "Please!- Quackity- be reasonable! Bad's my best friend. I swear that I won't get in between you and Bad's relationship. I don't want to ruin what you guys have going on since you two seem happy together-"

"I don't believe that for a f*cking second. In this and the last gathering, almost all you've been doing is trying to grab Bad's attention and talk to him, get closer to him. You clearly want to get super close to him and get his trust so that you can pull us apart the moment you can."

"No! I've been doing that because ever since Bad moved out. I've been missing him and just want to hang out with-"

"No. Shut up. You've said enough. You've made your choice. So now, you'll have to face the consequences."

I stare at him in confusion. He slowly backs away from me, staring at me straight in the eye with his cup of soda in hand. He then stops in the middle of the room and takes a deep breath. Out of nowhere, he lifts his cup, pours the soda all over himself, and then drops the empty plastic cup on the floor with a satisfied grin. That just stuns me in shock and confusion. What shocks me even more is that out of nowhere, he starts to scream, and like a mad animal, hits and slaps himself, pulls at his hair, and pulls his clothes to ruin them. He then slams himself with his back against the wall and lets himself fall onto the floor. I just stand there in stunned silence, and I just think, 'what the f*ck is he doing?'

That whole show Quackity did sure made a lot of sound, because as soon as he's done, I hear a scurry of footsteps. That's when I'm snapped back into reality and really take in the scene in front of me. Quackity seemingly 'beat up' with me standing unharmed. Sh*t- this looks bad. Everyone bursts in running into the kitchen with Bad yelling out, "What happened!?"

As soon as everyone comes into the kitchen, they all stand in shocked silence at the scene in front of them. But that only lasts for a moment because they quickly go to check up on Quackity, and help him up. All but Badboyhalo. He stands there stunned for a moment longer, almost as if he doesn't know what to do. But quickly he snaps out of his trance, glances a look at me for a moment, almost too long of a moment- because he looks me up and down as if checking if I am harmed, before quickly going up to Quackity to check up on him as well.

There are rushed questions towards Quackity at if he's okay, if he has any bruises anywhere, and all that stuff. Quackity clings onto Bad and says in a small voice, "I'm fine guys..."

Bad exchanges looks between me and Quackity before asking, "What happened?"

Quackity says, "I was just talking to Skeppy about something but then all of a sudden he poured soda on me and basically attacked me."

Bad immediately looks at me with wide eyes. He says in a panicky tone, "I-is that true, Sk-eppy?"

The words get caught in my throat. I can't speak. I can't move. It's as if I've been disconnected from my body. I can't do anything but stare in stunned silence. Bad keeps looking at me with wide eyes, searching my face, seemingly searching for any kind of reaction out of me. It's almost as if he's desperate for one. But for the sake of me I can't make any kind of reaction. As Bad stares at me, Karl looks at the others with what seems to be a mix of anxious, confused, and nervous look while Red and Ant slowly exchange looks of serious faces with what seems to be a hint of anger. Ant looks at me and says in a spiteful tone, "Was this all really necessary, Skeppy?"

Quackity quickly looks at Ant and says, "Please- don't be mad at him. I'm sure that Skeppy just misunderstood my words and had a fit of anger. I'm sure he didn't mean it."

Ant just shares a sympathetic look at Quackity and softly shakes his head. There's a moment of silence, but it's abruptly interrupted by Bad who yells out, "Skeppy-! Please! Say something!"

That finally gets some kind of reaction out of me. That reaction being a flinch as I didn't see the outburst coming. But I still can't seem to use my voice box. It's like its locked up. Bad tries to yell out again, "Skeppy-!"

He moves a step towards me in desperation, but is pulled back by Quackity. Quackity says, "Bad- don't. It's my fault. Im sure he just felt provoked and is now taken aback. I don't want to cause more trouble."

Ant shakes his head and says, "No, Quackity. This isn't your fault-"

"I didn't do it."

Everyone looks at me, slightly surprised I finally spoke. I'm surprised myself. It stills feels like I'm out of my own body. It almost doesn't feel like I said anything at all, and yet it should've been me, because I'm the source of the voice that spoke. Ant raises an eyebrow and says, "Pardon?"

I slightly look down at the ground in shame and say in a weak voice, "I didn't do anything-..."

I hear Ant say, "F*cking liar... then what is all of this, then!? Are you trying to say Quackity did this to himself!?"

Before I get a chance to speak, Red says to Quackity, "Come on, Quackity, let's try to get you clean."

Everyone slowly starts to make their way out of the kitchen. I get the courage to get a glance at them, and nobody is looking my way except Bad. But the look on his face just breaks my heart. He's looking at me in a pitiful and disappointed way. But he quickly looks away to help the others with Quackity. I'm left alone in the kitchen. I want to cry, I really do, but nothing comes out.

It still feels like I'm detached from my body, not able to feel anything. It almost feels like I'm a ghost, I'm not fully conscious of what I'm doing. I glance at the mess made, with spilled soda on the floor. With an aching heart, I decided to make myself somewhat useful, as I would feel guilty if I left this room without cleaning up. Everyone already thinks horribly of me because of Quackity. I don't want to give them another reason to think badly of me.

So I carefully and silently take some paper towel napkins from a roll of them that sits on the counter and clean up the spilled soda. I then gather the napkins and empty plastic cup and throw them in the trash can. I leave the kitchen, pass the bathroom, where almost everyone is in or outside of, trying to help Quackity clean up and comfort him. I pass by them without anyone noticing, like the ghost that I seem to be. I then decide that I'm probably not welcome here anymore, so I should take my leave. With an empty and seemingly broken heart, I leave the house and get into my car to drive home. I bet that by the time Sapnap and Puffy arrive, they'll hear all about the 'horrible things' that I did.

(Did you guys catch a piece of irony that I accidentally included in this chapter? 😂 Hint: It's one of the first things that Quackity says in this chapter.)