His Last Chance

five • how do i breathe

As Anthony watched Eric leave the room, his face goes completely blank. Little did he know, his bandmates were watching this all unfold right in front of their eyes. They shouldn't be getting involved, but it was their bandmates. Of course, they're going to worry about him.

"Hey...Anthony. Anthony?" a voice was calling out to Anthony, but all he can hear was ringing in his ear.

"Babe, I'm worried about you. I just don't understand why you won't talk to me. You've been acting like this for a couple of days." Eric says to Anthony, as he's trying to figure why he's acting so weird. Anthony's been avoiding him, and Eric's trying to understand why. "Just talk to me...please."

"Do you mind if we don't do this right now?" Anthony said bluntly.

"Anthony, -"

"Eric," Anthony cut him off and snapped, "I don't want to talk about this right now, okay? I'll see you downstairs." He looks at him before walking out of their hotel room. Eric didn't know how to react. At soundcheck, things were tense as it is. The guys noticed that Eric was zoning out.

"Hey, you alright? It looks like you saw a ghost or something." Colton said to him.

"Anthony isn't talking to me." he said.

"Wait, why? Did something happen?" Thomas asked.

Eric shrugs his shoulders, "I don't know."

"Are you sure? I mean, you guys have been arguing a lot." Joey said.

"I know." Eric said, "I don't know what's going on anymore."

"Anthony....Anthony!" Colton's voice caught his younger bandmate's attention.

"Hmm? What?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Anthony reassured him, barely looking at his bandmate. Joey and Colton let out an long, exaggerated sigh; they were both getting a little frustrated that Anthony was acting very stubborn, petty almost.

Anthony rolled his eyes and glared at them, "What? What is it?"

Colton said firmly, "I don't think you need to tell us what's going on."

"And you care, why?"

Joey rolled his eyes, "I don't know what you want us to tell you. Cut the bullshit, Anthony."

"Joey-" Thomas said.

"What Joey is trying to say is," Colton tells Anthony as he gives his bandmate a fierce glare, "we just want to help you, okay?"

"I don't know why you guys are acting concerned, I'm fine."

"Really? Is that why you broke up with Eric then?" Joey shot back.

Colton glared at Joey, "Not cool, dude." Anthony doesn't even answer him, not because he's too stubborn. He almost wanted to bust out in tears right there.

"I know it's been a few days, and I know this hasn't been easy for you, but, we don't want you to do something you're gonna regret-"

"I'm sorry, we?" Joey questioned his older bandmate.

"Stop." Colton said sternly.

"Why should it matter to you guys anyway?"

"This is the person who's been there for you for the past three years! The only guy I know who's literally put his whole life on the line-"

"Joey-" Colton tries to stop his bandmate from the situation from escalating further.

"You've been like this weeks for now, and I honestly don't know what's up with you. If you're not gonna tell us what's going on... then maybe you shouldn't be here." Joey said.

"What's gotten into you?" Eric questioned. "First, you accuse me of flirting with this girl, and now you get mad at me for hanging out with my friends?"

"I don't like the fact that you're spending so much time with them!" Anthony yelled back.

"Is it really a problem? Why are you freaking out so much?"

"If it's affecting our relationship, then yeah it is."

"I'm sorry, okay?" Eric apologized. "I'm sorry that we haven't spent any time together. It's not my fault we're getting swamped with performing! You know this isn't easy for me, either."

Eric and Anthony were started to going back and forth. As things started to get more heated, the insults were getting a little too personal.

"But that doesn't mean you get to forget about me!"

"What happened to "not let anything get in the way of our relationship"? What happened to that?"

"It's always about you Eric... always about you! What about me?"

"You're the one who's been acting distant from me!"

"Don't try to turn this on me- this is not my fault!"

"Then why won't you talk to me, huh?" Eric rebutted back.

"I don't have to talk to you, if I don't want to!"

"I feel like I don't even know you anymore!"

"If you feel that way, then maybe you shouldn't be my boyfriend!"