SKYSCRAPER

Everett knew that the question was more than ridiculous, but he wanted to be polite, to let Teagan know that he was thinking of her. He wished that he could take on all of her pain and heartbreak, even if he was spiraling from his own emotions about Cato. He loved the guy, they were platonic soulmates. He was supposed to be his best man at the wedding. There were endless days of them going to baseball games and having movie marathons and cried to each other about their love lives. 

“S-same here, I guess,” Everett answered her, and then he realized that there were tears rolling down his cheeks. Huh. He quickly wiped at his eyes, nodding his head. “Uh, sorry. God. Y-yeah. Yeah, of course, Teag. Anything. Let’s, uh…sit over here.” Grabbing his order, he led the other over to a corner table, where it was more secluded from the rest of the shop. “What’s on your mind?” he asked. 

Seeing the tears roll down Everett’s cheeks immediately made fresh tears spring to Teagan’s eyes. They had to have looked like a hot mess, both of them crying in the middle of an ice cream shop. Teagan was just glad to know that there was someone who was hurting from Cato’s disappearance as badly as she was. She’d had many people doing everything in their power to be there for her and Teagan truly appreciated every single one of them. Standing there with Everett, it was the first time since the nightmare began that Teagan felt understood. She wasn’t alone in this misery. Wiping at her own eyes, the musician shook her head. “Don’t be sorry. I’ve been crying pretty much 24/7. If there’s anyone who gets it, you’re lookin’ at her.” She gave Everett a reassuring squeeze on his arm before following him to the corner table.

Sitting down across from Everett, Teagan took a deep breath. “I just... I don’t understand, Ev. I keep going through everything in my head looking for answers. Every time I do, it just makes less sense.” She bit her lip as more tears spilled over. No point in trying to delay the crying. “One second we’re planning for our wedding and he seemed so excited. And then out of nowhere, he’s telling me that he’s leaving and taking some job out of state. No discussion. No ‘I might apply’ or ‘I might interview’ but I’m taking this job, I’m leaving, and that’s it.” She grabbed one of the napkins off the table to wipe the snot away. Definitely not a pretty picture. “You’re his best friend. Did he say anything to you? Do you know how long he was planning this? Did he say what I even did to make him want to leave?”

Joan smiled at her friend and companion across the table. “We could put her in a pumpkin costume and put her in the pumpkin patch for a cute photo shoot!” Joan placed her iced pumpkin spice latte on the table to clap her hands together in excitement.

“Do you think the town community center is going to put on a Halloween party this year? What are you thinking of a costume this year? I would love to do an Addams family group thing. I’d be Gomez.”

“Holy fucking shit.” Teagan’s eyes brightened, a more genuine smile stretching across her face. “That would be so cute! My heart is full at the thought. She would look so adorable, we have to do it now. I can dress up in something cute as well!” She grinned and took a sip of her mocha. “I hope so. That would be a lot of fun to go to. I get nervous going to the parties because of all the alcohol that’s around. But as long as I’m hanging out with friends, I’m chill.” Teagan shrugged her shoulders. “I’m actually not sure. I normally do a matching costume with my twin. Obviously, I’ve gotta do something matching with Luci too. Last year I had her be a Mandrake---y’know, from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets? Addams Family is awesome, though. I’d be Wednesday if I were to do it.”

ANGE: Looking at your sexiness is exactly what I always need, boo thing. Plus, I would totally love to hear you sing.

Teag: Oh yeah, I'm sooooo sexy rn in my Gryffindor pajamas. Singing I can do for you! I've got a couple of songs in the works right now. It's true what they say --- heartbreak is the best muse for art.

She wants to say something, anything, to help but can’t seem to find the right words — if there were any. Heart break was a dangerous thing and it knew how to not only mess with a person’s mind, but their heart too and there wasn’t anything she could do about it. “Hey, hey, hey ..” she begins, her hands reaching for the others and giving it a soft squeeze, “You’re not a mess. Just because Cato couldn’t see what was right in front of him, it doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with you. He’s the problem.”

Teagan breathed out heavily, intertwining her fingers with Jessica’s. She used her free hand to wipe at her eyes. “You’re right. I know you’re right. It just... it really fucking sucks, y’know? I knew him for twenty years. I’ll be okay eventually. I have you, my family, a lot of good in my life. It’s just gonna hurt like a bitch for a while.” She let the words hang in the air between them. Shaking her head, she continued, “Anyway. Enough crying over someone who left... for today, anyway.” Here she gave a small laugh. As much as she wished she could clap her hands and magically be done being hurt, it would take more. “Tell me something good. What’s going on with you?”

ANGE: What are you doing tonight? I'm bored ;)

“...y’know, I actually really needed that right now so thank you! This random message made me smile.”

Kurt: Hey, yeah...what's up?

Kurt: I'm sorry, Things have just been really busy. I was having a rough time this last tour because of all of the bad memories associated with my last one, but Silver and Danny got me through it.

Kurt: Then I came home to Alannah, and I finally told her everything...and she still wants me. In fact, I asked her to move in with me, so, we're moving in together...or she's moving into my house. So I'm doing really, really good for the first time in a while.

Kurt: I love you, too. Are you okay?

Teag: You don't have to apologize. Never apologize for living your dream and being happy. If anyone deserves it, it's you. You've been through so much and I'm so beyond happy for you. It's totally understandable that you were having a rough time but I'm really glad you have people that love you around you and helping you through it. I'm so, so, so proud of you. You're doing amazing.

Teag: That's great, Kurt. I'm glad that you told her. I'm so excited for you. You deserve all of this.

Joan: Nothing is terrible about you boo. Life hands us shitty cards but we have to override them and find better cards in our hands

Joan: or something like that. If you want, I can come over and we can hang out, watch tv, cuddle and chat in person.

Teag: Did you get that out of an AA pamphlet?

Teag: You’re right, though. I know you are. And I know I still have better cards -- my daughter, my sister, the shop, my fans... I really am trying to focus on that. It’s just so hard right now. It feels like I’m screaming under water and no one can hear.