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Riddle gobbled down his fourth strawberry tart within the last hour haughtily; even if he knew this was unfitting of his usual diet and unbecoming of him as a dorm leader, all he could really do was shed at least the tiniest bit of his façade in front of his closest friends.
Cater gave him a pat on the back with a "there, there," and although Riddle would normally be indignant about being treated like a sad child, he could not muster the courage to say anything at the moment. Instead, he only sighed, sulking even more.
"He's just a big old dummy," Cater cooed, typing something on his phone, "you deserve sooo much better. A guy that isn't a creep, for one."
"He isn't a creep... He is simply a pretentious, egotistic, milquetoast nincompoop!!!" Riddle squeezed the fork in his hand, forcing the material to twist ever so slightly as Cater looked up from his phone with a twitching of his lips. "I'll never ever forgive someone playing with my heart like that! I'll never expose my weaknesses again!"
The door to the Heartslabyul lounge was slammed open as Trey barged in, another tray of strawberry tarts in hand; setting those down in front of the other two, he stared in horror at the scene unfolding.
He hissed. "Cater, have you not calmed him down yet?"
"I can't, okay!"
"Cater," Riddle turned his head to speak to his friend, staring into his phone, "why did you tag Floyd on your Magicam story?"
"I told him I hope he explodes," he shrugged.
At that, Riddle gave a shaky smile, chuckling lightly. He then proceeded to open his mouth, as if to say something, and promptly turned away upon uttering absolutely nothing. With a sympathetic gaze, Trey offered him another tart.
"Yeah, so I broke up with Goldfishie!"
"You what," Azul and Jade replied in sync.
Floyd just yawned, scratching his head, "Whaddaya mean? I said, I broke up with Goldfish."
"Oya, Floyd," his brother smiled, nonetheless furrowing his brow, "I know you've always had trouble keeping up relationships with people outside of family, and I know it isn't your fault..."
"...I just got tired of him, is all."
"Are you sure you wouldn't go back to catering to his every whim and caprice tomorrow?
Floyd huffed. "Azul is so mean. I'm not down that bad."
"Yes you are," the octopus sighed, "and there goes my chance to get information out of Heartslabyul's leader."
"You still have Jade and Sea Turtle, though!"
A spark shone in Jade's eyes, his thought process - previously cut off by the news - renewing with further intensity.
That's right. He had Trey.
In between their daily lives, preparation for exam season, and typical vice-dorm leader business, Trey and Jade only found time to reconvene a week and a half after Floyd and Riddle's falling-out. As days went by, Jade could no longer hide the twitch in his eye whenever Floyd brought his ex-boyfriend up: most of the time, he'd say something like oh, Goldfish would like that, or oh, do you think Goldfish is in that class?
"Jade, I can't stand any of this." Trey rubbed his aching shoulders, a painful look on his face. "Riddle will not stop complaining about rule-breakers. He's beheaded nine people this week... That's a new high ever since after his Overblot."
The twin slanted his eyes in thought; there was no guarantee that Floyd and Riddle would be willing to speak to one another, and it would not do anyone good to rush the two into making up if that is not what they wished.
"I say leave them alone for now. But let's influence them... Indirectly."
As mundane, peaceful days went by, the two vice-dorm leaders never missed a chance to probe, gently, at the topic of the ex-couple's relationship. From Jade's innocent musings about Riddle to Trey telling him all about Floyd after his dates with the latter boy's twin, they both started noting the sparks of sorrow and indignance reflect in their eyes. Until one day, the bubble popped.
On a normal Saturday night, Floyd had slammed his gloved hands on the table in Mostro Lounge's VIP room.
"Serve customers the way you want, for all I care," he growled at the other staff, "I'm going out. Tell Azul I'm in Heartslabyul."
(From behind the corner, Jade smiled.)
"Housewarden Rosehearts, th-there's a visitor for you," a classmate of Riddle's spoke, stuttering and swallowing his words at the stern gaze he was thrown.
The dorm leader inhaled. "Do let them come in, then."
From behind the heavy gates of the rose maze, a certain two-meter tall Octavinelle student came crashing in, stumbling over his own feet. Riddle's eyes widened upon the sight of Floyd, his heart traitorously booming in his chest, as though a ritual. He had to remind himself he's mad at Floyd for toying with his feelings.
"What brings you here?"
"Goldfish, I-"
"Again with the nickname." Rosehearts scoffed. "Trey, Cater, escort him out of Heartslabyul territory."
In the bushes, Ace and Deuce gave a thumbs-up to Riddle's closest associates, and Trey adjusted his glasses.
"Sorry, Riddle," Cater laughed, "I don't think we can cater - or should I say CayTrey - to your every fancy anymore!" (His two underclassmen grimaced at the pun.)
To the furious glare staring the two down, Trey cleared his throat. "Riddle, I think you should hear Floyd out on this one."
"I do not intend to. Off With Your Head!"
Even with the clink of metal around his neck, Floyd furrowed his brow. "Goldfish, you're no fun. I came here to apologize, you know."
Riddle's mouth fell agape before closing once more, lips stretching in a sneer.
"I know I should've just waited until you were done with exams or something to bother you," the eel scratched the nape of his neck sheepishly, "but I guess I didn't realize how boring it would be without making fun of you."
"Apology denied," Riddle grinned. "This is a horrible April Fools prank, you know."
God damn Floyd's twisted perception of time. "It's not," the other boy protested, "I really like Goldfishie, still!"
"And?"
Floyd looked at him, exasperated. "And Goldfish was correct that I'm an idiot."
"And?"
"And I'm sorry," he rolled his eyes, "gimme a break. You're so boring, Riddle."
His heart stuttered oddly in his chest, the sound of that voice melting through his heart treacherously, and the housewarden gestured for his dorm students to make way for him.
Rosehearts smiled, eyes turning misty, reminding the eel of their last rendez-vous. "I can't stand you."
He flung himself into Floyd's embrace, nonetheless, as always.