i'm sorry if this seems a little rushed, i was just stressing a bit

tom woke up sometime the next morning, feeling his face sticky with tears. he lifted his head and blinked the blurriness out of his eyes to be met with a view of tord's living room. it took a second for him to realize he was laying down on the couch with a heavy blanket over him.

"oh, hey, you're awake." tord walked over holding a plate of eggs and toast. he smiled and put it down on the coffee table. "you fell asleep on the couch last night and i didn't want to bring you to my bed, cause, y'know..."

"thanks." tom gave a small nod and sat up, rubbing his eyes. the events of the night before came rushing back and it was all he had not to cry again. he took a shaky breath and swung his legs over the side of the couch.

"are you feeling better?" tord sat next to him and frowned.

"i don't know." tom murmured. he eyed the food and felt sick. "i don't think i can eat."

sighing, tord wrapped his arm around tom and brought them closer. "listen, everything will be fine. matt doesn't hate you." he promised. "i know it's my fault and i never should've shown up."

tom leaned into the other male's hold, gaze glued to the floor. "it's not your fault. he would've found out sooner or later." he said disappointedly.

"have you checked if he's texted you?"

"no. i'm scared."

"give me your phone."

hesitantly, tom looked away as he took his phone out of his pocket and slid it into tord's hand.

"no new messages." tord murmured after a couple seconds. "you want to call him?"

"i don't think he'll answer." he gazed at the norwegian man and ruffled his honey-brown hair. with a shrug, tord nonchalantly called matt's phone.

"we've gotta try." he responded.

tom's eyes widened. "tord, what did you-" he stopped, surprised, as he heard matt's irritated voice pick up.

"what do you want?" the ginger snarled. tom and tord looked at each other, each not knowing what to say. "why did you call me?"

"i- i'm sorry," tom brought himself to say. "i never meant to ruin your wedding day, matt." he frowned and bit his lip. "you're my best friend and i'm such an asshole. i'm really sor-"

"you're a dick, tom," matt spat. tord cringed. "i can't believe you're still messing around with that prick after everything. i'm pissed and disappointed. and he showed up at my after party? low blow."

"matthew, can't you tell he's genuinely guilty?" tord spoke suddenly, eyebrows furrowed. "he cares so much about you, and you get mad at him, even though it was my fault."

"tord, it wasn't-!" tom began to argue.

"shut up!" matt interrupted. they both went silent. "i'm willing to forgive you if you give up on that poor excuse of a person. it's either me or him, tom. make a choice. if i don't get a call back by tonight then i'll know your answer."

"wait, why not both!?" tom cut in quickly, worry ringing clear in his voice. "please-"

"by tonight." matt hissed and hung up.

tord stared silently at the phone. a minute passed before he sighed. "well, it's been nice seeing you again."

tom looked up at him with watery eyes. "i'm not leaving either of you. that's unfair."

"you have to-"

"no!" he snapped, tears rolling down his cheeks. "he can't do that!"

"what, you wanna go talk to him?" tord scoffed. his tone grew sympathetic as he placed a hand on tom's shoulder. "hey, i get it. but right now, it's pretty obvious who's more important. matt. make him happy."

tom weakly punched the other's chest. "shut up! i can't leave you because i love you!" he shouted. his hands flew up to his mouth after.

tord stared at him. a blush creeped onto his face and he slowly nodded. "i.."

"i'm sorry." the brit whispered. "i- i'm just really conflicted right now."

"don't worry. i love you too." tord offered a flustered smile.

tom wrapped his arms tightly around tord. "i really can't leave either of you guys," he frowned. "matt's my best friend and you've proven to me you're a good person."

tord rubbed circles on tom's back and gazed thoughtfully down at him. "i don't know, babe."

not even minding the nickname, tom sighed tiredly. "we have to talk to him."

sorry i know it's a really short chapter and it's really shitty, too, but i didn't want to keep you guys waiting

we're nearing the end, too