Tmf Oneshots, take two!

"Hailey! Just because we forgave him doesn't mean everything's going to go back to how it was!" Zander's voice was sharp as he argued with his sister. He crossed his arms and glared at her, frustration clear in his posture.

Hailey, the teal-haired girl, frowned deeply. "Please, just try to talk about it. You being constantly at Jake's throat makes everything ten times harder for the whole club."

The siblings had been having this argument for a while now, and it was starting to take a toll on the entire group. Zander's attitude towards Jake had been more than just a little strained since the incident, and everyone could see it. It wasn't just the words he said, but the way he carried himself around Jake. There was always a subtle, simmering anger behind every interaction, and it made Jake uncomfortable. The once-bubbly boy had started to withdraw, his usual spark dimming a little more each day.

The argument wasn't new. Zander didn't understand why Jake had changed after everything that had happened, and Hailey didn't understand why Zander couldn't just let things go. She knew her brother had his pride, but seeing him treat Jake the way he did only seemed to make things worse. They were both stubborn, and it was starting to push the entire club to their limits.

The next day at school, everyone gathered in the club room after the final bell rang. The mood was light at first, as it usually was when they all came together, but there was an underlying tension. Jake was fidgeting with his sleeve, trying to ignore the uncomfortable air around him.

"Oh wait, that reminds me-!" Jake began, excited to share something, but was immediately cut off by Zander.

"Can you just be quiet? Your presence is annoying," Zander snapped, his voice colder than usual.

Jake flinched at the harshness, but he forced a smile, his eyes showing a glimmer of pain that only Hailey seemed to notice. "It's fine, really," he said, though his voice trembled just slightly.

Sean gave Zander a disapproving look, his frown deepening. "Zander, that wasn't nice," he said, his tone a mix of disappointment and concern.

Zander didn't respond. He just crossed his arms tighter, turning his attention to the window as if the conversation didn't concern him.

Luke let out a sigh, breaking the silence. "Alright, anyways, what should we do tomorrow? You guys did say you wanted to meet up."

Hailey turned to Jake, trying to pull him back into the conversation. "What do you think we should do tomorrow?" she asked gently.

Jake blinked, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. "Huh? Sorry, what?" he said sheepishly, looking up as if coming out of a trance.

Hailey sighed, repeating herself. "What do you think we should do tomorrow?"

Jake's gaze dropped to the floor, his voice small. "Oh... I can't meet anymore. I've got stuff to do."

The group went quiet, exchanging confused glances. Milly raised an eyebrow. "What? I thought you said you had nothing going on?"

Jake's shoulders sagged as he mumbled, avoiding their eyes. "Things came up. I have to go." Without waiting for anyone to respond, he quickly left the room, leaving everyone in a stunned silence.

"What's up with him?" Luke asked, scratching his head. "Actually, lately I've noticed that he switches from this really upbeat, happy guy to someone totally emotionless."

"I don't know, but I'm worried," Sean said, sitting down in one of the chairs with a heavy sigh.

Hailey shot Zander a glare. "Yeah, me neither. This has to stop."

Zander finally met her gaze, his expression softening just a little. "Fine. I'll talk to him soon."

The others looked at him expectantly, waiting for more.

"And?" Hailey prodded.

Zander sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. "And... apologize," he muttered under his breath, as if it pained him to say it.

>><<

Jake didn't really have anything to do. He just didn't want to make anyone upset, and he knew that if he stayed, he would only make things worse. So, he left. Instead of heading home, he walked to the park, hoping that some time alone would help clear his mind. But all he could do was think about everything that had happened - the fight with Drew, the tension with Zander, and the overwhelming feeling of being misunderstood. The more he thought, the heavier the weight on his chest became.

And before he knew it, tears were streaming down his face. He didn't care who saw him anymore. He felt small, lost, and hopeless. He had fought so hard for a happy ending, but it didn't feel like he had achieved anything.

What he didn't notice was the figure approaching him from behind.

>><<

"I'm going to leave a little early, bye guys," Zander said as he waved to his friends. He didn't wait for a response as he grabbed his jacket and headed out of the club room.

"Without me and Hailey?" his boyfriend asked, surprised.

Zander nodded. "Yeah, I just need to clear my mind. Love you."

Luke smiled, pressing a kiss to Zander's cheek. "Bye, honey."

Zander's footsteps echoed in the hallway as he walked toward the park, the weight of the argument still pressing on his shoulders. He wasn't sure how to fix things, but he knew he couldn't just let it go. He needed to talk to Jake.

As he walked along the path, he spotted a familiar figure sitting on a bench, his back hunched as he sniffled. Zander's heart sank when he recognized the blonde. Jake was there, alone, crying.

Slowly, Zander approached and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Jake?" he called softly.

Jake flinched, startled. He wiped his eyes and looked up, his face streaked with tears. "Zander?"

Zander sat down beside him. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle, though concern was written all over his face.

Jake shrugged, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "What are you doing here?"

Zander hesitated for a moment before answering, "I left early to take a break from everything... but that's not important. What's wrong?"

Jake sighed, looking down at his hands. "I don't know... just been feeling different. Like everything's... off."

Zander took a deep breath, thinking carefully. "Listen, I've been unfair to you," he said quietly. "I've been rude, and I'm sorry for that. It wasn't right."

Jake looked up at him, surprised. He managed a small, tearful smile. "Zander, thanks," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

The two spent the rest of the afternoon talking - about everything and nothing. Jake slowly opened up, sharing more about his struggles, while Zander listened, offering support and understanding. It wasn't an instant fix, but it felt like a step in the right direction.

"Okay, okay, I admit it," Jake said after a while, laughing nervously. "I'm really bad at asking someone out. But I just don't know the right time."

Zander smiled faintly. "Well, Daisy's nice from what I've seen. How long have you known her?"

Jake shrugged. "Since middle school. She was my only friend back then. She's kind of the reason I didn't lose hope in music."

Zander looked down at his phone. "Oh shoot, it's been two hours. I need to get home before my mum starts worrying."

Jake nodded, standing up as well. "Yeah, I should probably head out too. Thanks again for everything, Zander."

Zander grinned. "Yeah, you're welcome, nimrod."

Jake smirked, the tension from earlier easing slightly. "You too, grapelord."

As they said their goodbyes, both of them smiled, their hearts a little lighter than before. Zander walked away, his thoughts clearer, while Jake sat back down on the bench, feeling for the first time in a while that maybe, just maybe, things could start to get better.