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• 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮 •

i sat down on maribeths couch and turned on the tv, trying to find something remotely amusing to watch. of course, i found nothing, so i switched to disney+ and put criminal minds on.

i watched about five episodes before stopping to grab a glass of water. i walked into the kitchen and grabbed myself a glass. before i could fill the cup up i heard a knock on the door.

i walked to the front door and quickly looked out the peep hole to see who it was. i saw karl and alex standing there, looking oddly worried. i unlocked and opened the door with a look of confusion plastered on my face.

"hey, whats up?" i asked. "nothing much." alex said. my brow raised and i tilted my head a bit. "you guys look worried." i noted. "and for a good reason too. can we come in?" karl asked, getting rather impatient.

i stepped aside, letting them in and closing the door behind them. "okay, whats going on?" i asked. "we havent heard from beth in a week and karls getting worried." alex crossed his arms. "wow, considering you were worried an hour ago." karl scoffed.

"you havent heard from her in a week?" i questioned. they nodded and i turned towards her room. i walked over and lightly knocked on her door. "hey, beth, karl and alex are here." i spoke softly.

"why?" she asked, her question muffled by the door. "what do you mean 'why' are they not allowed to visit?" i scoffed. nothing came from her side and i just sighed, stepping back to the two men standing in the doorway.

we heard her door open and i turned to her. her eyes were puffy and she was completely pale. she looked disheveled. she walked over to the kitchen and pushed karls arms away when he tried to hug her.

she walked into the kitchen and grabbed the cup i had set on the counter. she filled it up with water and took a sip before turning to us. "why are you guys here?" she asked, her voice weak and rough.

"you havent said a word to us in a week." alex spoke, his voice now laced with concern. "we were getting worried." karl said, his voice almost at a whisper.

"why? im perfectly fine." beth shrugged and walked past the two. i grabbed her arm as she walked past me. "you dont look fine." i spoke sternly.

"well, i am fine." she muttered to me before pulling her arm away. she walked back to her room. "maribeth!" karl yelled. she stopped. i looked over to karl. "you're not going to explain anything?" he asked. she said nothing.

"you're not gonna explain how you havent said a word to us all week?" he continued. "you're not explain how every time you leave your room, its only to get water and something to eat and you dont say a single word to me? whats going on?" i chimed in.

the room was quiet, yet the silence spoke numbers. she dropped her head and turned to the living room. she dropped herself onto the couch like dead weight. i sat down beside her and karl and quackity sat in the chairs positioned beside the couch.

"im fine, really." she spoke. "then whats going on?" i asked, placing my hand on her shoulder. "this is gonna sound pathetic." she laughed. "just tell us, it wont sound pathetic." alex said, leaning forward in the chair.

"for the past few months, ive been getting a lot of hate, just because i became friends with you two," she started. "but recently its been much worse. death threats, body shaming, so much. i just instinctively shut myself off." she sighed.

"im sorry." she shook her head. "hey, its okay, we all understand, completely." alex spoke, putting his hand on beths shoulder and smiling at her.

"i should've at least told you guys what was going on." she looked at each of us. "sometimes we all just need our space." i smiled and pulled her into a quick hug.

"karl," her voice trailed off waiting for his reply. karl lifted his head and looked beth straight in the eyes. "i was worried about you." he sighed and looked down. "im sorry." she spoke and walked over to him. she pulled him out of the chair and into a hug.

"next time, just text one of us, okay?" he mumbled into her neck. "of course. im sorry." she answered.

a/n - lil bit of angst, sorry folks....
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