Chapter Text
Dude, that cup came in a set”
Buck complained, forgetting his question to begin with. Probably because he didn't think about what he was saying before he said it. He started to look around for the broom, then remembering he left it by the pantry. Buck spins on his heels to go grab it, but fingers wrap around his bicep making him stop his frantic moves and look at his best friend, who was just standing there, jaw slacked, brows furrowed, eyes stuck on Buck.
“What did you just say?” Eddie's voice wavered and bent almost like he was choking back a sob. And now Buck was just confused. So, he stared back, confusion in his eyes.
And they just stood there.
Staring.
Until Eddie spoke again, voice firm this time,
“Buck, what did you mean?”
“I don't know,”
“You don't know?”
“No…”
The brunette pinched the bridge of his nose with his right hand, and with his left he messaged his hairline, in a manner which had him looking as if he had a headache.
“I think i need to sit down,” he raised his foot to walk forward, but Buck screamed
“WAIT!” and Eddie froze in his spot
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Sat down on the couch, (too small for Buck's liking at the moment) waiting for Eddie to start the conversation, not knowing what is about to happen, because again, Buck is being a little slow on the uptake of what happened in the kitchen just 10 minutes past. All the blond remembers is staring at his best friend, thinking about how good Eddie looks in his blue button up shirt that Buck got him for his birthday, how his hair just fell so perfectly in place, and how good he was to Buck. That's all Buck remembers; well, that and saying something….
What did he say again?
Let's retrace some steps; When Eddie came in they had a small conversation about buck looking bad, which by the way kinda hurt, but not the point. Then what after?
Then, Buck thought about dating, and Eddie .... and Tommy…. and the breakup…. and Christmas with his parents…..
and needing a date.
And so he asked Eddie.
Oh God.
He fucked up.
“So…..” Buck is scared now, what the fuck has he done. His friendship is fucked. Maybe he should run away to a far far land, work at a farm of people he doesn't know, and sleep with the horses. Yep, that sounds like a good idea. Nothing wrong with that plan at all.
“I can tell you're over thinking Buck. Let's just talk,” Eddie's voice sounds exasperated. Good job Buck, you really outdid yourself this time, buddy.
“talk, right, let's talk.”
“Yes, talk, you know, like grown adults,”
…
Silence
…
“Oh for Christ sake! What did you mean by let's date, no actually, don't answer that; let's start with, aren't you dating Tommy?” And oh, Eddie is angry, Buck should have never opened his big mouth and started this shit to begin with. But then again, it's Buck, so of course his next subconscious thought is,
How can I dig a bigger hole to make my life harder?
and because saying, “He broke it off with me, but it's okay because i'm more hurt over the fact that i don't have a date for christmas, than him leaving me” (which is already a stretch;) would stop the constant feeling of regret he has about himself every day, Buck, instead says,
“oh yeah, he broke up with me like two days ago after i asked him to move in with me, which is totally okay, except it isn't because my parents already think i'm a disappointment and i told them about having a boyfriend, which they were already afflicted with because, how could their son, whom they hate, be one of them queers? But they left that aside, for once, and now they expect said boyfriend at christmas, also they bought two business class tickets and added another seat at the table; and you know, that would be all fine and dandy, if it weren't for the fact that, so said ‘boyfriend’ doesn't exist anymore. So now I don't know what in the hell I'm doing, and honestly I was hoping for a christmas miracle to fall onto my lap, and now i'm rambling, and i'm going to shut up.”
He was actually out of air, and for some unknown reason, there were tears staining his cheeks, which in all honesty, kinda humiliating?
“Oh.”
That was all Eddie has to say?
Oh?
Buck just basically puked his guts out to the man and all he had to say was, oh?
Buck needs to instantly be euthanized.
Oh , he's going to tweek the fuck out when Eddie inevitably realizes it was a mistake to become Buck's friend, and instantly leaves and never comes back.
Yep, this is it.
“Okay, you are freaking out again, man; please, calm down. Now let's go back to the start of that whole paragraph you chucked at me like a granade and ran the fuck away.”
That made Buck chuckle, Eddie joining in lightly. And finally, the tension broke.
“So, Tommy broke up with you? Two days ago? Wasn't that the day where…. Buck… Why didn't you tell me?” Eddie connected the dots faster then Buck thought he would, just to give credit where credit is deserved.
“Yep, two days ago, and i don't know why i didn't tell you, i guess i just didn't want to stop you from finally being happy with my horrible, depressing, melancholy-”
“You don't have to say all those three in a row, they are synonyms, not the point. You shouldn't have to worry about that Buck, you are my best friend, you tell me anything, anytime you need to,”
Was Buck crying again? Nope, thank everything holy, he did NOT need more humiliation in this exact moment.
“Thanks Eddie, but I still don't know what to do about the situation; I mean, what do I do? Do I just call them and be like ‘ Hey mom, dad, remember the boyfriend I told yall was an absolute catch and that might actually like me, unlike all my other relationships? Yeah, well, he left too! haha, yeah i know, you were right! I'm totally going to die alone! Thanks for wasting money on those plane tickets by the way, just so you know, they will not be used, because I have no one to use them with. Anyway, see you at christmas, where the whole family is there holding hands with their spouses, and i’m over here, day drinking.’ “
And why did he say that again? Oh yeah! Buck doesn't know how to shut the fuck up! Great! Glad we cleared that up.
“Okay, take a breath, you aren't going to say any of that to your parents by the way, for many reasons,
one, because that's actually really sad and i think a therapist would help a little more, like seriously, Buck, call your therapist,”
He places a hand on Buck's shoulder almost like he was expressing grief, but honestly who wouldn't in a moment like this?
“And second, because as your best friend I'm going to, of course, help you lie to your parents, and we are going to fake-date like all those trashy rom coms you make watch with you when you have a little break down, that in all truth, i have not been paying attention to,”
It was clear to Buck that Eddie had not been paying attention, just to start with the fact that he didn't realise that all those rom coms ended with the fake couple ending up a real couple and making out in the rain.
(Author's Note: that last little part isn't necessary, but it does give great intell on Buck's personal thoughts of what he and Eddie should do.)
“So, wait, let me get this straight,”
Ha! Ironic!
“Me and you, you and I, we, are going to pretend to be dating in front of my whole family, which consists of my sister and her husband, who, by the way, works with us, and knows that we are not dating? And what? We just expect that they will run with it?”
“Well, yeah, why not?”
Great idea, why not? I mean it's not like if Buck was ever going to be dating Eddie (which isn't an idea he hates) the first person he would tell would be Maddie..
This is a horrible idea.
Oh, it's going to crash and burn.
Oh well.
“Okay then, i'm down.”
“Great! Now, get your butt up, grab us a beer like the great host you have never been, and let's plan this out because I know you need your lists.”
Yep, he was fucked.