The Only Rule

"ARRGHHHH!!!!"

Dominic's primal scream echoed through the quiet pier, scaring off a flock of seagulls so dramatically it could've been out of Nat Geo. He threw himself to his knees on the deck in slow-motion-esque agony, tears streaking down his blotchy, miserable face as he sobbed loudly. Head now on the ground, clutching it, he wailed as if auditioning for Shakespeare's Romeo.

Nearby, his friends huddled in a half-circle, clearly worn down by the circus. Dan and Val looked like they hadn't slept since the Cold War, Tyler's eye twitched with what could only be described as rage-fatigue.

"L—let it out, man.." Liam crouched beside the man of the hour, awkwardly patting his bro on the shoulder.

"It's been five. days." Tyler suddenly shouted, arms flailing for emphasis. He stopped pacing, spinning dramatically to face the group before his hands shook in front of him—and with face of a Hulk, he enraged,

"Five. FUCKING. DAYS!"

Wyatt cleared his throat. "Well, you know," he rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "relationships are a lot like algebra."

Dan and Val exchanged incredulous looks while Tyler slowly turned, chronically curious despite his red face—until Liam finally continued with a smirk on his annoying face,

"Have you ever looked at your X and wondered Y?"

Val crouched his body, holding his miserable laugh, while Dan's brows knotted in confusion. As for Tyler..

He blinked.

But soon, Wyatt watched in horror as his face cycled through confusion.. to denial.. before he shut his eyes and sighed—to explode in pure homicidal rage,

"GodDAMMIT WYATT—NOT. THE TIME!"

"I mean—it's fitting for the situation—" Wyatt mumbled, but then he nonchalantly shrugged, "sorry, can't stand tensions—"

"I can't stand YOU," Tyler raged, "you think this is funny? I haven't slept for days because of him!" he snickered with minced exhausted eyes, jabbing a finger toward Dominic—who was now face-down on the floor, crying into the wood deck—when Liam delightfully encouraged,

"Dom, remember what I said? I'd be delighted to put you on an appointment with my therapist—"

"Should I just jump? Yes—yes I should do it—"

The bros froze, their heads snapping toward each other in synchronized horror. "Uh.. that's new," Liam mumbled, eyes wide.

But before anyone could react, Dominic was on his feet—bolting toward the abandoned scaffolding, sobbing dramatically as he began his ascent.

"DOM!" Dan yelled, voice cracking in panic as he sprinted after him while Val stumbling behind with all the grace of a newborn giraffe.

"Hey—HEY! SOMEBODY CATCH HIM!" Wyatt screeched, flailing his arms uselessly.

"NO—no—I can't, I'm afraid of heights!" Dan stammered, already slowing.

"YOU THINK I'M NOT?!" Val shrieked, clutching his sides as he gasped for air. Their frantic yelling came to an abrupt halt as they looked up—and their jaws collectively dropped.