Dancing Queen

[Ben quickly brightened back up.] Oh, he's the best! He's gonna graduate from speech therapy soon! And he starts preschool in September. He's going to Packer in Brooklyn.

[Mason smiled at that. It was nice to see one of his friends doing so well.] That's amazing. Gosh, he's growing so fast. Kids do that, I guess, but it's still crazy to witness. I'm glad you guys are doing well.

He really is, [Ben agreed with a smile.] You do gotta remember that we all missed the first little bit though. So that just makes it feel like it was even faster.

...Oh. [Ben frowned.] I'm really sorry then. Divorces are always really hard...

Mm, I hope so. [Mason hummed, still trying not to let the whole thing consume him.] As frustrated with Jax as I am right now, I still want him to figure himself out and be happy. And Schuy's my best friend, so like... obviously.

[Ben quickly brightened back up.] Oh, he's the best! He's gonna graduate from speech therapy soon! And he starts preschool in September. He's going to Packer in Brooklyn.

They are?! [Ben asked in disbelief.] Is that why he's been even more moody and grumpy that usual? I thought he just didn't like the new round of temps... [He murmured, more to himself than to Mason.] What happened though?

[Mason nodded.] I mean... I don't think he likes them either, but yeah. My brother's... I don't know. He's been just generally awful to all of us lately. And not just in an annoying way, like in a... it was affecting our lives way.

...Oh. [Ben frowned.] I'm really sorry then. Divorces are always really hard...

[Ben blinked.] "Disappear"? ...Huh?

Schuy and Jax are getting divorced and I guess Ari got Jax a hotel for a week, but... other than that, I don't really know where he is or what he's gonna do.

They are?! [Ben asked in disbelief.] Is that why he's been even more moody and grumpy that usual? I thought he just didn't like the new round of temps... [He murmured, more to himself than to Mason.] What happened though?

Okay.

[Mason shrugged.] Just trying to get by while brothers and friends disappear from my life. You know... the usual. Not sure what can be done about other people acting awful though.

[Ben blinked.] "Disappear"? ...Huh?

...Do you want me to come with you?

I... I don't know. Maybe. [Mason admitted.] Let me call him tomorrow and see if I can figure out if he knows yet. If he obviously doesn't, I'll set up seeing him and... I'll let you know.

Okay.

...You're really gonna tell him by yourself?

[Mason shrugged again.] I can't not tell him. He deserves to know whether it's still happening or not.

...Do you want me to come with you?

Oh. ...Where was I during the Valentine's Day one? I honestly can't even remember. ...Was I dating Chris by then? It's all such a... blur of boring... [Ben murmured more to himself than to Mason.]

[Mason giggled softly before focusing back in on the current situation.]

...You're really gonna tell him by yourself?

I think I was busy fucking Cooper in his car dressed as Pikachu... [Ben thought out loud.]

That was Halloween, but sure.

Oh. ...Where was I during the Valentine's Day one? I honestly can't even remember. ...Was I dating Chris by then? It's all such a... blur of boring... [Ben murmured more to himself than to Mason.]

Huh?! [Ben asked... louder.]

You didn't hear about that? It was crazy. I was at the chocolate fountain.

I think I was busy fucking Cooper in his car dressed as Pikachu... [Ben thought out loud.]

It's more of a condo. It's cute and has a garden!

That sounds nice.

Huh?! [Ben asked... louder.]

[Ben nodded.] He originally came over for something else, but eventually we started talking about him and Lemon. It was pretty clear that they were meant to be.

[Mason hummed in thought.] Well, I'm glad I don't have to tell Lemon and that things seem to be working out for her and Cee. And that you... bought them a house for whatever reason.

It's more of a condo. It's cute and has a garden!

Because Cam came to talk to me a while ago, [Ben said simply.]

Oh. Yeah, me too. For different reasons probably, but I'm sure we got the same gist of things.

[Ben nodded.] He originally came over for something else, but eventually we started talking about him and Lemon. It was pretty clear that they were meant to be.

He's the one that was cheating with a girl basically, like... the whole time we were together, [Ben said simply. At the time, he would've never believed it, but after all these years, it was finally possible to talk about these sorts of things without a sting rising to his chest.]

[Mason nodded slightly. For all his own family troubles, he was at least grateful that his previous relationships had ended pretty amicably.]

Because Cam came to talk to me a while ago, [Ben said simply.]

...That Accent pulled an Avii on Lemon and she ran away for a while?

I don't exactly remember which one that was, but I can figure it out from context.

He's the one that was cheating with a girl basically, like... the whole time we were together, [Ben said simply. At the time, he would've never believed it, but after all these years, it was finally possible to talk about these sorts of things without a sting rising to his chest.]

Yeah. Me and Austin still have to finalize that partnership we were gonna do with the Design School. I bet I could find somewhere there.

Oh, yeah, that sounded fun. Brandy's excited about it.

...That Accent pulled an Avii on Lemon and she ran away for a while?