Always the Hardest

[cacklingMarionette]

There he was, right on time. John seemed very persistent to talk to him on Pesterchum, but about what? Summer was steadily reaching its mid-point, the time period where most graduates were looking for their next step in their educational career. John had yet to talk about any specific school he was sending his information to, but this had to be him itching to tell his best bro that he had gotten into a college.

Opening up the window that was flashing in his toolbar, he saw nothing but John spamming the chat box with several 'DAVE's. This had to be good.

TG: whoa there egbert lets cool our proverbial jets for a second here
TG: dont overload the chat bruh lest i get to see the very beginning of this whole shebang to the very end
TG: so with the calm and collected relaxation of a kid in a food coma
TG: tell me whats so goddamn important that it has you practically pissing your rustled jimmies

[solarOrigins]

EB: daveeeeeeeeee!!
EB: i was accepted!
EB: i got in!
EB: i'm coming to texas!

[cacklingMarionette]

TG: dude seriously??
TG: holy shit congrats
TG: which uni though?

[solarOrigins]

EB: right there in houston!
EB: dad's just got to get my dorm stuff settled, but I should be less than an hour away from you

[cacklingMarionette]

Dave looked over the messages, humming softly.

TG: what if
TG: now bear with me
TG: what if
TG: i talk to bro and see about you bunking here instead
TG: less money your pops has to spend

[solarOrigins]

EB: fucking seriously?
EB: oh man that would be great!
EB: would you?

[cacklingMarionette]

TG: sure man one sec

Dave got up from his desk chair and wandered out into the living room. "Hey Cal, you seen Bro?"
Cal poked his head out from the kitchen, having been cooking something. "I think he's in his room."

Dave glanced over to his door before wandering over, rapping on it lightly. "Open up dude, gotta talk to you about something."

[solarOrigins]

"Its open" Bro grunted from inside. He was sitting at his desk, tapping away at the computer.

[cacklingMarionette]

Dave slipped inside and closed the door behind him. "Alright I'm just gonna cut to the chase." Dave said as he walked over, making sure to mind the smuppets strewn all around the room. "John got accepted into the nearby university and he needs a place to crash. Daddy dearest was going to set up a dorm situation, but couldn't he crash here instead?"

[solarOrigins]

"Whats in it for me" Bro asked, spinning the chair away from the desk and looking at Dave with his fingers steapled like some cliche villain. "Tell me, what do I get by having your nerdy little friend room here rather than at the dorm rooms where his daddy wants him."

[cacklingMarionette]

Dave smirked knowingly as he leaned against the wall, arms crossed across his chest. "Because it'll earn you brownie points with Daddy Dearest." Dave said matter of factly, knowing just how much Bro fancied John's father. "Giving a helping hand and offering to shelter his precious son from the cold cruel world? he just might want to may you back in some way. And believe me, I've seen the way you ogle those hot cross buns of his."

[solarOrigins]

Bro stared Dave down, completely unreadable due to his shades. "I'm waiting for the rest of this plan of yours"

[cacklingMarionette]

Bingo. "All I gotta do is sweet talk John a little to get him to sweet talk his sweets soaked father. Maybe I can set up a blind date for you two. That is , if you comply with the demands."

[solarOrigins]

"I will comply only if you can clear it with Cal and get his okay." Bro replied.

[cacklingMarionette]

"Gotcha Bro." Dave said as he headed towards the door, grabbing the handle. "Thanks, by the way." he said, just in case Cal was alright with it. He headed out of the room and moved towards the kitchen, where Cal was finishing up making their meal, and was currently sipping on his drink.

"Hey Cal, can we talk?" Dave asked as he leaned against the kitchen counter. Cal perked up and grinned. "Sure thing, Davey, what's up?"

"Well, I was talking to John," Cal's smile faltered a little. "And he got accepted into the uni nearby, and instead of him staying in a dorm, I was wondering if he could--"

"No."

Dave rose a brow at him, wondering if he had even heard correctly. "I'm sorry, did you ju--"

"My answer is no, Davey. I don't want him staying here." Cal stated firmly, gripping his mug so tightly, his hands were shaking. Dave just stared at him for a minute, taking note of how troubled he looked. But before Dave could say anything else, Cal slammed the cup down on the counter and took a deep breath. "I'm going to the roof. Foods done." And just like that, he vanished.

Dave sighed and rubbed at his eyes. Great.

[solarOrigins]

Bro appeared in the doorway almost as soon as Cal vanished. "I heard something slam" he stated. "Where's Cal?"

[cacklingMarionette]

Dave didn't say anything, merely pointing towards the front door as he continued to rub at his eyes.

[solarOrigins]

"I'll be right back." Bro stated before vanishing again. He made his way up to the roof, looking for Cal. "Cal? Sup lil' man?"

[cacklingMarionette]

Cal was sitting back against the air conditioning unit, knees pulled up to his chest. He glanced back at Bro before he sighed and looked forward. "I'm assuming he went to you before he came asking me."

[solarOrigins]

"No, I heard something slam, and When I came out, Dave said you had gone to the roof." Bro replied. "I worry about you"

[cacklingMarionette]

"I meant about John." He clarified, resting his head on his knees. "He wants him to stay here."

[solarOrigins]

"For college, yeah, I know." Bro replied. "I told him to clear it with you, because I was okay with it. The kid will literally be here to sleep and Dave should be able to keep him in check when he's here and up. And there would be ground rules regardless." He crouched next to Cal. "What's got you upset?"

[cacklingMarionette]

"I don't like him." Cal stated firmly, pulling his knees closer so he curled into a tighter ball. "He made Dave hate me once upon a time. And I don't really appreciate the years of distancing from Dave that he caused."

[solarOrigins]

"I know, But to be fair, that was when no one knew the game was gonna pull a Pinocchio on ya." Bro replied. "Hell, Cal, I didn't even know. Ya can't really, fairly, hold that one against him. And the distancing that happened when the game ended wasn't caused directly by John either. We were all a little freaked out by what happened. That's why I touched ya and stared at ya all the time. I was in shock and just couldn't fucking believe it."

Bro sat next to Cal. "Have you thought to talk to him about it?"

[cacklingMarionette]

"I meant before I was alive." Cal stated. "Despite being an inanimate object, my spirit was still there. I was aware of everything around me. I just had no sense of movement of any sort." It really sucked. Especially when Bec took him away from Bro. That was just downright heartbreaking.

Cal moved closer to Bro by reflex, resting his head on his shoulder. "No, I haven't talked to him about it. Why would I talk to him about it? I'm pretty sure he still thinks I'm a freak."

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