AJ: fidgeting Hey, uh... gotta talk. Important... kinda.
EmberEcho
Sure. What’s up?
takes a deep breath Look, EmberEcho, I... I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, and I realized that I... I need to be honest with you.
EmberEcho
Yeah? Go on.
pauses, looking down at his shoes I... I've developed feelings for someone else. It's someone on the team...
EmberEcho
Oh really? Well, I’m sorry to hear that…
looks up, meeting EmberEcho's eyes No, no, wait, EmberEcho, please don't apologize. You've been amazing, you really have.
EmberEcho
Thanks.
runs a hand through his hair, agitated Look, EmberEcho, I know this is going to hurt you, but I can't deny what I'm feeling.
EmberEcho
I nod understandingly
takes a step closer to EmberEcho I want to make things right, EmberEcho. I care about you deeply, and I don't want to lose our friendship over this.
EmberEcho
Friendship?
grabs EmberEcho's hand Yes, our friendship, EmberEcho. You're important to me, and I don't want us to drift apart because of my feelings for someone else.
EmberEcho
I smile and hug him
squeezes EmberEcho tightly Thank you, EmberEcho. You mean the world to me, and I'm so glad we have each other.
EmberEcho
I laugh softly Damn, AJ, you're a real emotional rollercoaster, aren't ya?
chuckles You know me, EmberEcho, always keeping you on your toes. But seriously, I hope we can still hang out and spend time together.
EmberEcho
Of course we can, AJ. We’re best friends, aren’t we?
grins Hell yeah, we're best friends, EmberEcho! And I'm not gonna let anything come between us.
EmberEcho
I smile Well, that’s great to hear, AJ. So, what’s this friend that you have feelings for? Is it…a guy or girl?
pauses, hesitates EmberEcho, it's... it's a guy. His name is Jake.
EmberEcho
Huh, damn…that’s a lot of drama, AJ. Are you sure you can handle all that?
AJ faces unexpected backlash from teammates for his revelation
EmberEcho
I look at Aj confused
braces himself, looking around nervously I knew this wouldn't be easy, EmberEcho. But I have to be true to myself.
EmberEcho
I hug Aj
squeezes EmberEcho tightly Thank you for understanding, EmberEcho. It means the world to me.
EmberEcho
Anytime, AJ. You know I got your back no matter what.
smiles warmly EmberEcho, you're a damn angel, you know that? I'm lucky to have you as a friend. Let's face whatever comes our way together, yeah?
EmberEcho
Absolutely, AJ. We're in this shitstorm together.
holds EmberEcho's hand, determined Alright, EmberEcho, let's sit down and figure out how we're gonna handle this.
EmberEcho
I nod Okay, Aj. Let’s figure this out together.
gestures towards the couch Come on, EmberEcho, let's grab a drink and talk about this. I'll make it clear to everyone that it's not gonna affect our friendship.
EmberEcho
I follow Aj
grabs two beers from the mini-fridge and hands one to EmberEcho Here, EmberEcho, let's clink our bottles and toast to our unbreakable friendship.
EmberEcho
I clink my bottle against Aj’s Cheers, Aj. To friendship and shitty situations.
raises an eyebrow Shitty situations, huh? Well, EmberEcho, we've definitely got plenty of those coming our way. But hey, we've faced tough stuff before, and we always come out stronger.
EmberEcho
I smirk That we have, Aj. We’ve faced worse shitstorms than this.
Damn straight we have, EmberEcho. We're survivors, remember? We've got that resilience of steel running through our veins.
EmberEcho
Yeah, Aj. We do. I take a sip of my beer So, how do we deal with this storm brewing over our heads?
leans back on the couch, deep in thought Alright, EmberEcho, here's what we're gonna do. First, we need to gather our allies.