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*Flashback*
Squidward slams open the door to the house. "Sponge! Babe, I'm getting talent scouted!!" He excitedly waves around his invite to debut as a kpop star. SpongeBob stops washing the dishes to rush to greet him at the door. He jumps up and down in excitement and then runs up and fiercely grabs his partner to kiss him on the lips. He knows this won't be easy, he'll have to follow Squid when he can, but that most of the time their relationship is about to become a long-distance one, but he thinks they can make it, he thinks this, they are worth it.
*1 year later*
SpongeBob worked many late nights at the Krusty krab so he could be here for their 5th anniversary. He's tired, he's sweaty from standing in the audience, and he can't wait to use his boyfriend status to get backstage and see his handsome Squidy. This isn't the first time this past year that he's made the trip to see him, but it's been months and he wasn't as popular the last he did this. He's not used to the crowd, he's not used to the security. He takes a deep breath and shakes his nerves off and makes his way to the back where he saw his love going.
He catches squid before he gets to his dressing room, which is good because he doesn't think he would have gotten that far without his boyfriend here to confirm that he isn't someone trying to pretend to be the famous Squidward's boyfriend.
"Squidy! Love! Wait! Happy anniversary babe, I'm so proud of you and I brought you flowers love!" SpongeBob goes up to give his handsome talented boyfriend a hug and kiss but is stopped by the look in Squidward's eyes. He seems colder since the last time they were face to face and he's refusing to look SpongeBob in the eye. "Squidward? Babe? What's wrong?"
Squidward turns to his bodyguards, "Can you please escort this gentleman out to the parking lot? I have no idea who he is and I'm quite a busy person."
One of the bodyguards squares his shoulders and grabs SpongeBob by the upper arm, Squidward takes the flowers from SpongeBob's hands and turns to walk away still never looking him in the eye, and SpongeBob's heart shatters to a million pieces and let's himself be escorted out without fuss and in shock.
*6 years later *
Squidward is depressed, to say the least. To say the most he is miserable, he is an alcoholic, he is overworked, and he can't stop hallucinating his ex.
Squidward lies back on the roof of his penthouse with tears in his eyes and a half-empty bottle of wine in his grip. It's like his third bottle? Fourth? He's barely awake and can hardly think so he definitely can't keep count past one. He sighs into the night air and wonders how pissed his manager will be in the morning. "I have everything, everything I ever dreamed of, ever wanted. So why, why am I so unhappy?"
"I don't know Squidy, but I can't keep seeing you drink yourself into an early grave at twenty-five. You have to stop drinking, even if it means no more of our little talks. I know half the reason you won't stop or slow down is because you know you only see me when you're so drunk, you can't see shit, but you know I'd rather you alive. Plus you could always reconnect with the real me, you know I still live in the same place from all your constant internet stalking."
Squidward chokes on a sob, laugh, "What would I say? What would I do? We were so in love and happy and then I just dropped you, and for what?! Why did I leave you?! I don't even understand my reasoning for breaking your heart anymore." He takes another swig and it pours out onto his clothes some in his drunkenness, but he doesn't pay it any mind, "I drink not just to see you, but you're right. I can't give it up when this is the only way I can hear and see you. Cause fuck, I miss you, and not just being together. I miss you being my best friend too, I miss talking to you. So I can't stop."
SpongeBob sighs and smiles sadly, "Even though I'm not really here he fades away into the night as Squidward finally loses consciousness.
In the morning, he wakes to a pounding in his head that is just as loud as the pounding on his door that he can somehow hear all the way on the roof. He is surprised he didn't kill himself last night finally. He is surprised and disappointed to have to get up and go let his manager in. He had hoped to finally get alcohol poisoning, but no luck.
His manager is definitely pissed, but she doesn't say a word, just hands him a letter.
It's from SpongeBob. Squidward takes a seat on his couch. "Your childhood friends are persistent. Someone named Sandy and someone else named Mr.krabs sent a similar one as well. I already took the liberty of clearing your schedule for two months, getting you set up in a nice hotel there and even booking you therapy sessions with this Dr. Sandy. I saw he was the only counselor in town and I've tried so much in the past four or five years to get you back on your feet, but clearly, I have to do this for you. So you're going, pack your bags and get ready for a funeral." She finally smiles at him and gives him a hug. "I'm sorry to hear about Patrick. Did you know he was battling heart disease this past few years?"
Squidward shakes his no and swallows hard.
"I, no I didn't. Thank you, Olivia. God, I don't know what I'll say to them all. It's been so long." She chuckles, "well, promise me that whatever you do, whatever you say, you won't do it drunk and you won't come back till you're you or don't come back at all."
He smiles up at her and hugs her before going to pack.