Shattered Bonds

EPISODE 9

Tristan's Desperation, Nathan's Resolve

The tension was palpable in the air, thick and suffocating. Tristan’s every attempt to fix things with Nathan had been futile. He had tried everything—small gestures, messages, doing things Nathan would appreciate—but nothing worked. Nathan had made it clear: there was no going back.

After their parents had confronted them about the rift, Nathan had said it plainly, his voice raw with emotion, "I can't look at you, Tristan, without remembering what you did. I’m not ready. I don’t think I’ll ever be."

And Tristan… Tristan couldn’t take it. He kept trying, but Nathan kept pushing him away.

---

By the next day, the whole school knew.

Rumors spread like wildfire—how Tristan had slept with the guy his best friend had feelings for. People whispered in the hallways, their voices hushed but sharp with judgment.

During basketball practice, Tristan was unfocused, missing shots he would normally land with ease.

Dylan, his closest friend on the team, noticed. After practice, he walked over and sat beside him on the bleachers. “Okay, man, I have to ask—what the hell is going on with you?” he said, nudging him. “You’ve been off for days.”

Tristan exhaled heavily, rubbing his face. “It’s Nathan.”

Dylan’s brows shot up. “You guys still fighting?”

Tristan let out a bitter laugh. “Fighting would mean he actually acknowledges me. He’s been ignoring me completely.”

Dylan leaned forward. “What happened?”

Tristan hesitated before sighing. “It’s Ethan. Nathan liked him. And I—” He clenched his jaw. “I didn’t know.”

Dylan’s eyes widened in realization. “Wait… so the guy you hooked up with was—?”

“Yeah.”

“Shit.” Dylan ran a hand through his hair. “No wonder Nathan’s pissed.”

Tristan exhaled, shaking his head. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. And now…” His voice grew hoarse. “I think I’ve lost him for good.”

Dylan placed a hand on his shoulder. “Look, man… I get why Nathan’s hurt, but this wasn’t all on you. You didn’t know. And if Nathan can’t see that—”

“He doesn’t care,” Tristan cut in. His voice cracked. “All he sees is that I f****d up.”

Dylan sighed. “Then you gotta show him you still care. That you’re not giving up on him.”

Tristan swallowed hard, his chest tightening. He wasn’t giving up. He couldn’t.

---

The cafeteria buzzed with the usual noise of students, but Nathan couldn’t focus on anything except the gnawing feeling in his gut. It had been weeks of silence between them. As he sat down to eat, something inside him sparked—a thought, a reckless one, but one that seemed to make sense in the moment.

Carl. He had seen Carl eating at the far end of the cafeteria, and as Nathan watched him, something twisted inside him. Why not? His heart, which had already been battered by the situation with Tristan, found a dark, cruel amusement in the idea.

He stood up, walking towards Carl, who looked up with surprise but then a sort of resigned acceptance. Carl probably knew what had been happening between him and Tristan, and now, in the midst of all this pain, Carl was the easiest distraction Nathan could find.

"Hey," Nathan greeted, his voice light, casual, but there was something forced in it. "Mind if I join you?"

Carl, who had once been Tristan’s, now merely raised an eyebrow but nodded, “Sure.”

Nathan sat down, making small talk as if everything were fine, as if he hadn’t just been hurting for so long. He could feel Carl’s eyes studying him, trying to read him, but he didn’t care. The mask was in place. The facade of casualness.

Across the room, Tristan walked in with his teammates, his eyes scanning the cafeteria. As soon as they landed on Nathan, his heart clenched. The sight of Nathan sitting with Carl, talking, laughing, pretending to have a good time—it was more than he could handle. His chest tightened, his stomach knotted.

Nathan met his gaze.

Tristan’s breath caught.

And then Nathan smirked.

It was like a slap in the face.

Dylan, who had been walking beside Tristan, followed his gaze and understood what was happening. He whispered low, “What’s he doing?”

“Is he—” Tristan started but couldn’t finish the sentence. He swallowed hard. “Is he getting back at me? By flirting with Carl?”

Dylan nodded solemnly, “It looks like it.”

Carl had left Tristan for Nathan, and now Nathan, knowing the history between them, was playing with the pieces, making Tristan feel like everything he’d lost was slipping further away. Tristan couldn’t take it. The anger, the hurt, the helplessness all collided in him like a tidal wave.

With a sharp breath, he stormed out of the cafeteria, not caring about anything else, leaving behind a room full of students whose whispers followed him out.

Dylan ran after him, calling his name, “Tristan, wait! You can’t just—”

But Tristan was already outside, gasping for air, as if he couldn’t breathe.

“I can't, Dylan,” Tristan said, his voice thick with emotion. “He’s doing this on purpose. He knows I still love Carl. He knows how it ended between me and Carl. He knows Carl still—” Tristan’s voice cracked, and he stopped, unable to continue.

Dylan, his heart aching for his friend, placed a hand on Tristan’s shoulder. He knew this was tearing him apart. “Tristan…”

“He’s doing this for revenge,” Tristan whispered, his eyes wild with hurt. “He knows. He knows Carl’s still into him, and he's doing this to break me. To remind me of everything I lost."

Dylan hugged him tightly, feeling the tremors in his friend’s body. “I’m sorry, man. I know it hurts. I know it does.”

---

Tristan waiting by Nathan’s car.

When Nathan finally walked into the parking lot, he wasn’t alone.

He was with Carl.

They were laughing.

Tristan’s heart plummeted.

Nathan saw him—and smirked.

Dylan, standing nearby, sucked in a breath. “Dude… he’s doing this on purpose.”

Tristan felt his stomach churn. He knew Nathan. He knew exactly what he was doing.

Nathan walked up, barely sparing Tristan a glance.

“Nathan,” Tristan called, voice strained. “Can I talk to you?”

Nathan hesitated, but Carl nudged him. With an exaggerated sigh, Nathan turned to him. “Fine. Make it quick.”

Carl nodded and slipped into the car, leaving them alone.

Tristan took a deep breath. “Nathan… I’m trying. I swear to you, I am. I never meant to hurt you.” His voice broke. “You’re my best friend. I can’t lose you.”

Nathan’s eyes hardened. “If you had tried just a little harder, Tristan, you would have known it was Ethan.”

Tristan’s eyes burned with unshed tears. “But we promised, Nathan. We promised no matter what happens, we would always stick together. You’re breaking that promise.”

Nathan’s voice cracked like glass. “I didn’t break anything. You did. So don’t stand here and try to guilt-trip me into feeling sorry for you.

Tristan’s hands curled into fists. “So what now? You’re gonna use Carl to get back at me?” “Is that what this is? I still love him, you know that. You know how I feel about him.”

Nathan’s lips curled into a cold smile. “I don’t see why not.” And what does that have to do with me if you still love him, Tristan?

Tristan felt his world crumble. “Nathan, please—”

Nathan took a step back, his face hardening. I need space. I need time to not feel like I’m drowning every time I look at you. And if that means I have to stay away from you, then so be it.”

And with that, he got into his car and drove off.

Leaving Tristan standing there, shattered.