-32- [Private to O'Brien]

[happinessboys]

We should talk.

Comments

[happinessboys]

It was even. It was for a while. [He wasn't even sure if he said that aloud. But it hurt. All of this hurt and he was emotionally exhausted already. He wanted to make it right like he always had, but that wasn't going to work now. He finally did turn to face him, though, when he mentioned walking off. Though Beatty had been wanting the same thing not a few minutes earlier, the thought of it actually happening gutted him.]

No. [That was said perhaps a bit more sharply than he had anticipated, but he didn't slow down.] Don't. It...isn't like that. It hasn't been. Not really. Not...in reality. The reality, at least, that we had created. You never would have known, had I not let it happen. And I did it because I wanted this to be even. Truly even. Like we had both made it before.

[He swallowed hard, setting his jaw.] Don't. Don't leave.

[happinessboys]

Is it? [He was tense, but only because he wanted to make absolutely sure that everything was alright. And that everything was fixed. Or, as much as it could be.]

[happinessboys]

[He took it and fished out a lighter.] I read it. Only once.

[happinessboys]

I remember everything that I read. [He flicked the lighter on and held the paper over the railing, catching the bottom corner on fire.]

[happinessboys]

What do you want to discuss about him? [Beatty waited until the fire got to his fingers and he dropped it, replacing the lighter in his pocket.]

[happinessboys]

Then where? [Hesitantly, he put a hand over O'Brien's and met his eyes.] I want to hear it.

[happinessboys]

[He nodded once and started that way, though slowly. He was actually a little afraid of what this was going to bring.]