Sam
I had come to Jackie's bar, to come say hi to my buddy Cole, and to grab a drink with Bart. Cole and Jackie were busy and had told the bartender to get me whatever I wanted. I had ordered a Jack and coke and while I was drinking it, I kept thinking about Ben and his ridiculous boyfriend.
Sure, both Ben and Bryce told me that they're just roommates, but I know Ben. The way he covers for Bryce and how they behaved during our meal together was enough to convince me that they're dating. I had to devise a plan to save Ben the heartbreak that would come from dating that clown. And I knew just how to do it.
"What are you grinning about," Bart said as he arrived at the bar, "What did you do?"
"Why do you always assume I did something?" I replied, "You're late."
Bart sighed and said, "You know I have to wait till after the Princess's bedtime. And don't change the subject. Answer my question. What did you do?"
I can never hide anything from him. "Nothing, yet."
"And knowing you," he added, "It's about my brother. Honestly, I regret introducing you two."
"Dude," I replied, "You've been saying that for five years."
"So what," he clapped back, "I'll keep saying it. You slept with my brother."
"Don't cheapen what we had," I rebutted, "We dated. We were in a serious relationship, and you're making it seem like we were fuck buddies."
"He was fourteen," Bart said, "What kind of serious relationship could you have at that age?"
"Yeah he was fourteen," I said, "But we were sixteen at the time. You make it seem like I was grooming him like some pedo, two years is not that big of an age gap. And besides, we did love each other then. I still do."
"You guys started dating after you sealed the deal," Bart said, "You knew he was shy and impressionable and you lured him into the music room and had your way with him. Keep in mind, asshole. Ben is the only reason you're still breathing."
"What's the matter, Bart," I ask him, "Afraid I'll be your brother-in-law?"
"Well despite how you two started, you were always good to him. You took care of him, you helped him find his true passion and you always protected him from bullies. So no, I'm not afraid of you being my brother-in-law, but you chose to leave him for college out of state. Now he's over you and has told you repeatedly that he sees you like an older brother."
"I know," I said, "He was my first love and I will always love him, no matter what. I will never stop caring about him or looking out for him. That's why I have to do what's best for him, even if he'll end up hating me for it."
"What are you planning to do?"
"Just wait and see, my friend," I said and waved the bartender over to us, "But come now, I didn't invite you here to talk about Ben. We're here to drink and have fun."
Bryce
After Ben and I had made up, he had told me that after Sam had left for college, he saw Sam as another older brother and that he no longer had romantic feelings for him. Which did assure me at least on Ben's behalf.
A couple days later, I told Ben that I wanted to make him some wings and promised not to make his too spicy, so I had to go to the supermarket and grab a variety of sauces, and one of them had to be mild buffalo.
I make it home and can't help but be excited to have Ben try his first buffalo wing.
"You're going to love it," I say, "Trust me."
I head to the secured entrance and there I see Ben and Sam. Ben was checking the mail and I'm pretty sure Sam saw me because he immediately turned Ben around and kissed him.
Suddenly all I saw was red. Sam had just declared war on me and the only thing on my mind was killing Sam. I didn't even notice I let go of the bags with the wing sauces on the ground.
"You son of a bitch," I grunted, "I will fucking end you."
I scanned my key fob to open the door and made my way in.
"Sam, what the hell?!" yelled Ben.
Before anyone could react, I grabbed Ben's arm and yanked him behind me and I punched Sam as hard as I could, he fell to the floor.
"Bryce, no." Ben grabbed my arms and tried to restrain me.
"Let me go," I shouted as I tried to wrench myself loose, "I said let me go. I'm going to fucking kill him."
"Bryce, calm down." Ben struggled to separate me from my intended target.
"How can I fucking calm down," I shouted, "I saw it with my own eyes. You think I'm stupid?" I asked Ben, but Sam was the one who answered.
"Yes," said Sam, "You are."
"Sam!" Ben shouted.
"What did you see?" asked Sam.
"I saw you two kissing," I said, then Sam laughed, "What is so fucking funny?!"
"You, you clown," Sam answered, "You said yourself, Ben is your roommate. So what business is it of yours who's kissing him?"
"Sam, that's enough!" Ben interjected.
"Oh, I haven't even started," said Sam, "He's your roommate, and you don't have anyone claiming you so you're fair game."
Hearing him say that made me angrier than I have ever felt in my entire life. This asshole is trying to steal my man on my turf. Heeding Tom's and Techno's advice, I decided to defend my territory.
"Let me go Ben," I tell him, "Now."
"Bryce, please calm down."
"Let me go, or you're next."
Seeing how serious I was, Ben let me go. I approached Sam and grabbed his shirt pulling him close, "Listen here, you son of a bitch. Ben is mine! You hear me?! He's mine. Ben belongs to me."
"I am yours." Ben said with a proud smile on his face. The same smile appeared on Sam's face.
"Took you long enough," he said, then he turned his attention to Ben, "Ben, please invite me in. I'd like a word in private with Bryce."
"Anything you have to say," I said to Sam, "You can say right here."
"Oho," Sam replied, "So you don't mind if your neighbors witness a gay couple's argument?"
I let Sam go and call the elevator, "I fucking hate your ex." I tell Ben.
Ben
As soon as we entered the apartment Sam went to the bathroom to check his face and wipe the blood out of his mouth. Bryce and I immediately discussed the kiss.
"Don't think you're off the hook." he said.
"Bryce," I said, "He caught me by surprise. I agree with you, he was totally out of line."
"Well, to be honest," Bryce said, "I'm not really mad at you. I'm only mad at you because you didn't let me beat the shit out of him."
Sam emerged from the bathroom and said, "So you finally admit it?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" asked Bryce.
"You finally admit that you're Ben's boyfriend," Sam continued, "I know Ben like the back of my hand and I knew that you two were together. When I first saw you, my first impression of you was some closet case coward."
"I'm not a coward."
"No, but you're inconsiderate, selfish, and you have no accountability for your actions. I decided to come back because I knew Ben was in trouble and here you are, causing it."
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"Bart called me," Sam said, "He told me you were depressed and mopey all because someone wouldn't return your feelings and affection. So I decided to transfer back here and see who the culprit was. After seeing Bryce here, I knew he was trouble."
"You don't even know me." said Bryce.
"I know enough to know that Ben is too good for you. You won't admit that you're dating him. Ben handles all your problems, and yes I know about the internet scandal too. You don't even know that you hurt him sometimes and you think you're always right. All that is a perfect recipe for a disaster."
"And why do I have to admit that I'm dating a guy?" Bryce asked Sam, "Why do I have to announce to the world that I'm…"
"I don't want you to do that," Sam answered, "But I do want you to take his feelings into consideration. He's pretty simple and honest, and he has a fatal flaw of always being the martyr in situations. You know this. He's gone out of his way for you and will continue to do so until one day, it might get him killed, or hurt beyond repair."
"Sam," I said, "Bryce isn't like that. And besides, I'm ok with how things are right now."
"Yeah, for now," Sam replied, "But you continue to give and give and give. Constantly changing for him until you're no longer you anymore. A relationship like that won't last. A relationship works by give and take. If you're the only giver, then it's doomed to fail. I didn't want to get involved, but from what Bart told me and meeting Bryce for the first time I knew I had to resort to this. I had to see how far he'll go for you, how hard he'll fight for you. That's the lesson I wanted to teach him and I believe he's learned it. Ben, I will always love you. And even though that love has changed, some things stayed the same. I don't want you to be hurt."
"Is that why you're trying to steal him from me?" Bryce asked.
"No," answered Sam, "But he is my first love. And even though we're not together, he's still the one I care about the most. He's suffered enough heart breaks, so don't let him experience it again. 'Cause now it's your turn to take care of him."
Bryce remained silent once Sam said it was his turn to take care of me.
"I'm off," Sam said, he then turned to me and asked, "Seriously, what do you see in him?"
"Aren't you leaving?" asked Bryce.
Sam just smiled and waved goodbye as he left the apartment.