It's a joke see, the title is sarcastic. My afternoon this time was anything but peaceful. In fact this just adds to my saga of being the crutch for everyone to cry on, even though I was really bad at comforting people. Anyway, in fair Verona where we lay out scene, I was hanging out with Alex, we were getting ice cream. We figured we kinda owed it each other after our small fight.

"Okay, so truth or dare." He started as we walked down a street.

"Truth." I decided, heaven knows what Alex would come up with for a dare.

"Would you rather eat a grasshopper live, or take over Julia's part in the play?"

"Are you kidding?" I laughed. "I'd gladly play Juliet."

"Yeah you'd probably slay." He agreed. "Now you go."

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Do you like anyone?"

Alex gaped at me. "Micah, that's so unoriginal."

I shrugged. "I'm am not creative on the spot."

Alex's face twisted up in embarrassment. "Well, since you asked...I do actually."

I gasped. "Alexander!"

He laughed nervously. "Don't you use this as blackmail, Halabi."

"Who is it?" I asked.

He cackled. "Not part of the question!"

"Oh, just wait till my next turn." I smirked.

"Ha ha." He laughed sarcastically. "Alright, truth or..."

He trailed off suddenly, looking ahead. There was a bridge a head of us. There was a guy leaning against the chain link fence. He breathed out a puff of smoke and suddenly I recognized him.

"Is that Arthur?" Alex asked.

"I think so." I agreed.

We stood there awkwardly in silence for a bit. I thought about the look he had given me a few days ago. It made me feel uncomfortable and I didn't really want to approach him.

"Come on, let's go say hi." Alex insisted.

Well I couldn't say no now. Alex called out to him and waved. Arthur looked startled and dropped the cigarette he was smoking.

"I didn't know you smoked?" Alex continued, somewhat hesitantly.

Arthur scowled and crushed it into the cement. "I don't, I don't know what you're talking about."

Oh boy, he was in a mood. He glared at me darkly from under his hood. I blinked uncertainly, wondering if he would try and beat me up.

Alex was less determined but still on board. "Oh, okay. Uh...so what's up? I've never seen you out and about before, do you come here often?"

Arthur scowled. "Nothing's up. Life is boring."

I wondered briefly why Alex was trying. I wouldn't have even approached him.

Alex shrugged, unbearably innocently. "I mean, sure it's not one hundred percent twenty four-seven, but life's not all bad, right Micah?"

"Right..." I nodded slowly.

Arthur sighed and started walking away. "Whatever. I gotta go."

Alex's smile faltered. "Hey, wait! Arthur wait a second! Are you okay?"

Arthur stopped and turned around. "I'm doing fine, now if you excuse me, I need to get home."

"Arthur-"

"Shut up and leave me alone." He insisted, a little more roughly.

Alex finally stopped trying. We watched him walk away.

"Why do even try with him?" I inquired, frowning.

Alex shrugged, his upbeat personality had been crushed a bit. "Cause we're in theatre together, and...I don't see him hang out with anyone else. I don't know if he has any other friends."

"Arthur?" I raised an eyebrow. "He's a jock, he's probably got a ton of friends."

"Jocks don't do theatre." Alex retorted.

"Okay sure," I agreed, "but still, it's Arthur, he dated Julia."

"That's my point, he probably feels super bad." Alex pointed out.

I thought about the Julia thing that happened a few days ago. "No I'm pretty sure Julia's the victim here."

Alex sighed. "I think they're both having a bad time. I'm not taking sides. Come on let's just enjoy this ice cream before it melts."

We ended just walking back to the ice cream parlor and chatting for a bit. Until Alex got a call from his mom and said he needed to go. Then it was just me. I stayed for a bit longer because it was a nice day and, honestly, I don't get out much. Greg was busy, and I know Abby had some sort of instrumental excuse right about now. I texted Julia for a bit, just to see how she was doing.

Having a crush on her seemed like so long ago. It was actually almost a month. I can see why I liked her, but at the same time I was more happy to just be her friend. She didn't need some boy to worry about right now. I'm content with friendship.

Someone sat down opposite to me at the small table in front of the ice cream shop. I felt my heart skip a beat as I recognized the blue jacket and rough appearance. Arthur was here.

"Uh-" I started, wondering if I should run.

"Save it, okay?" He sighed. "Just...what does she see in you?"

"Who?" I asked dumbly, I'll admit the 'she' threw me off.

"Julia!" He groaned.

"You think Julia and I are...together?" I blinked in confusion.

"Are you not?" He demanded. "She's been wanting to break up with me for weeks, I could tell. When she started hanging out with you, I assumed that was the reason."

"No, no no no." I laughed nervously. "We're just friends."

Arthur looked unconvinced. "But you're a guy, and she's a girl, and she obviously liked hanging out with you. Why aren't you going out?"

I pursed my lips. "Well there's this marvelous thing called 'friendship' you should give it a shot. Not to mention I actually am in a relationship already, not with her."

Arthur still looked confused. "You? But you're so...you."

"Thanks." I huffed sarcastically.

"It's Abby isn't it?" Arthur assumed. "You're always with her."

"It's none of your business." I shot back, standing up.

"Hey wait a second!" He said suddenly, and a little desperately. "If Julia doesn't like you then who does she like?"

I stared at him for a long time. It was in these few seconds I noticed how tired he looked. Arthur looked completely worm out. I wonder when was the last time he got a full night of sleep.

"I don't think she wants to be with anyone right now Arthur, I think she just wants to be alone." I explained slowly. "Besides, you broke up with her."

Arthur winced. "N-no! I was worried she didn't...and then she just started yelling...and I couldn't...I didn't."

He looked away, breathing heavily all of a sudden. It reminded me of my panic attacks. Only he was having one right in front of me, and that must be humiliating.

I think they're both having a bad time. Alex's words suddenly echoed throughout my brain.

"Are you...are you crying?" I realized, sitting back down, this time a little closer to him.

I reached my arm out for his shoulder but he batted it away, whipping around to face me angrily, tears steaming down his cheeks.

"Don't touch me Halabi!" He hissed, drawing his hands up close to his body. "Don't you...don't you even dare."

His deep quickened breaths turned into sobs and to my horror and utter fascination Arthur Laurens started having a break down outside the small ice cream parlor. Thank goodness there weren't that many people here today.

"Hey..." I said slowly, wishing Alex were still here, he would no how to comfort Arthur. "Hey man, it's alright."

His hands curled into fists at his sides. "No it's not. Why does Julia like you better than me? What did I do?"

"You kinda told her she couldn't be in the play because you guys were dating." I explained slowly.

Arthur stopped for a moment. "Wh-what? That's not what I meant! I just...I just..."

I put a hand on his shoulder gently. My heart hammering wildly as I wondered if this was the right thing to do. My phone buzzed and I was certain it was probably Greg, but this wasn't the time.

"Hey...you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." I assured.

Arthur held his face in his hands, sniffing loudly. "I was just scared of loosing her. I guess I just screwed it up for me."

I nodded even though he probably couldn't see it. "I mean, there's always your soulmate-"

"Julia was the only one I ever wanted. My soulmate's not at this school, believe me, I've looked." He said miserably. "She's the only person who would love me despite that. I was just...I'm scared no one will ever love me like that anymore."

That sounded familiar. I patted his back gently, wondering if I should tell him about Greg or not.

"Have you really checked all the kids at our school?" I asked, doing my best to sound amazed, maybe it would make him feel better.

"All the girls, yes." He sounded annoyed.

"Have you ever considered," my voice dropped a little lower so any of the people walking by couldn't eavesdrop. "Have you ever considered boys?"

Arthur's head shot up and he shot me a weird look, he resembled a startled bird. Then he scooted away from me.

"No not me." I sighed. "I told you, I'm currently in a relationship that's not any of your business."

"You think I'm some sort of twink?" Was the next question he asked.

I ignored that. "Arthur, I can't tell if you're rejecting the idea because you've thought about it before and are scared to try anything, or if you actually have no interest whatsoever. I just want to tell you something, alright?"

"Fine." He grumbled hesitantly, sitting back down.

"Think about it, alright? You might be surprised, and if you do come to that decision, you can always talk to me, okay? In fact..."

I took one of the napkins and wrote down my phone number.

"There, now you don't even have to approach me in public about it, alright?" I asked, looking at his face to see what he might be thinking.

"But I like girls, I've liked girls in the past." He continued to insisted, still nervous.

I sighed, mentally rolling my eyes and scribbled 'bisexuality' next to my phone number. "Do me a favor and look that up."

He took my napkin of possibly life changing information and cast me a sideways glance of suspicion. Only this time it was void of malice.

"Whatever you decide, I still won't mind being friends with you." I promised. "I really don't want to fight you, mostly because you'd win, but also because...I don't think you're a bad guy."

There, I said it. Alex would be proud.

Arthur's face twitched into what I thought might have been a smile for a second but I couldn't really tell. I like to think it was. He pocketed the napkin and started to walk off.

"Thanks...Micah." He said, before walking away.

"You're welcome." I sighed, mostly to myself.

Okay, hopefully now I could enjoy my peaceful afternoon.