TWs: mention of sex and sexual name calling

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"catch!" zach shouted, then tossed the bag at Jimmy. "go ahead," zach said when Jimmy caught it. "open it."

Jimmy looked at Zach, then at me, then down at the bag. I silently begged him not to open it. If he realised I was homeless, he'd probably hate me forever for lying to him. i never meant to, it was just embarrassing...

"Jimmy," i said. "please don't open it." he stared at me blankly and i mouthed another plea, hoping he'd listen to me.

"i won't," he said quietly, holding the bag out for me to take, which i did so gladly. "but... i do have a question."

i fidgeted with the strings on the bag, stealing a split-second glance at zach. "yeah?"

making direct eye contact with me, Jimmy asked, "you made that tent back there... didn't you?"

fuck.

zach laughed, nudging my shoulder. "go on," he said tauntingly into my ear. "tell him the truth."

i lowered my head to avoid Jimmy's gaze and sniffled, my grip tightening around the bag. "stop," i said, muffling his words into the fabric.

"what's that?" zach asked, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "why would you need to lie if you're so set on being honest? tell Jimmy about your little hideout, scott. tell him how you've been staying here since the beginning of the semester-"

"zach, stop," i said.

"how you're poor and homeless-"

"zach-"

"how your parents kicked you out because you're a fucking disappointment-"

i let out a choked sob of embarrassment. "please..."

"how much of a slut you've been lately, sleeping with random guys for money-"

"zach-"

"stop that," Jimmy cut in, taking a step forward. "scott clearly doesn't want you talking about it."

zach glared at Jimmy. "he doesn't want anything," he stated, letting go of me. he walked closer to Jimmy. "i can do whatever the hell I want to. in fact, i could walk out there" - he pointed in the direction of the stage - "and tell everyone about scott's situation if I wanted to."

"no, you can't," Jimmy said sternly.

"and who are you to stop me?" zach's lips curled into a condescending grin, and he turned to nod at me, holding his hand out. "give me the bag."

i looked between zach and Jimmy before i hesitantly stepped forward and handed my boyfriend the bag, zach taking it and starting toward the main theater. panic shot through me like a million bullets, but the i said nothing in protest to what zach did. i felt frozen.

"he's really going to tell them."