ALARIC SERAFINO

KEVIN PALLIS

----

'I come bearing gifts, Pallis.'

'WHY ARE YOU LATE?'

'I-'

'Save it! I knew this was a bad idea...'

'Are you alright? I was just 30 minutes late-'

'Like it isn't much!'

'I texted you too. I told you about the job.'

'Excuses, excuses.'

'Last I remember, you stood me up too.'

'Look, I am not in the mood to argue with you. My family is coming back in like, 10 minutes. Please go away.'

'You didn't te-'

'I didn't tell them anything. Please go away.'

'Pallis, don't push me away. I can help you.'

'You can't, Alaric.'

'I can. Just tell me what's wrong.'

'You can't.'

'Just give me-'

'I FUCKING SAID YOU CAN'T, ALARIC. GET IT THROUGH YOUR PEA-SIZED BRAIN!'

'Okay. You need to calm-'

'FUCK YOU, ALARIC!'

'Fine, fine! I'll go away. Just breathe.'

'SHUT UP! DON'T... TELL... TELL... ME... WHAT...'

'Pallis, breathe.'

'I... SAID...'

'I heard what you said. Just don't over-exert yourself.'

'You're not... the boss of...me. Shut up.... and fuck... off.'

'KEVIN! YOU'RE HAVING A PANIC ATTACK. YOU NEED TO BREATHE.'

'No... You need... to go away...'

'I'LL GO AWAY. JUST BREATHE.'

'...'

'Fuck. You just had to faint, right?'