Ben looked down at her and took her hand gently. A single thought appeared in her head. Be brave, Calliope. Ben looked back up at Puck cheerfully. “Sometimes it helps to talk about your feelings,” he said, tilting his head. “You know, as opposed to moping about the fact that a person made choices for their own self for once in their life instead of worrying about everyone else.” His tone hardened and he raised one eyebrow, his eyes narrowing. “How bad of a friend do you have to be to be as selfish as you’ve been?” Puck’s eyes narrowed in distaste and he said nothing.
“You have been spoiled,” Ben continued sharply. “You have been spoiled because you have have someone like Calliope who has never thought about what she wants. Now that she’s finally getting to make a choice for yourself, you are whining and treating your best friend poorly because you are simply unable to avoid acting like a child,” Puck’s voice was sharp. He didn’t look at them. “That’s not true.”
Cal glanced between them, watching Puck. She felt nervous, but was slowly regaining a her confidence.
Ben pressed on. “You have had the advantage of someone like her advocating for you at every turn, and when the time came that you had to pull your weight, you couldn’t do it. You’re a terrible person and a *squee!* friend.” “Ben, I’m warning you, you’re going to want to *squee!* up right about now.”
Ben pressed on. “You have had the advantage of someone like her advocating for you at every turn, and when the time came that you had to pull your weight, you couldn’t do it. You’re a terrible person and a *squee!* friend.” “Ben, I’m warning you, you’re going to want to shut up right about now.”
"Is it?" he asked, looking down at her. "He made you cry multiple times over these last few weeks, and he's still playing the victim." "You don't understand our relationship," Puck said, his green eyes sharp. "You never could. What would someone like you know about loyalty and loving relationships? Your own people didn't want you."
Cal looked up with small glare. "What relationship, Puck? You said you never wanted to see my face again. At that point there shouldn't be anything if you never want to see me again."
“That’s not what I said,” he replied hotly. “I said I didn’t want to see your face then. In the moment. I was angry, Calliope, and I think I had reason to be!” “What reason?” Ben demanded. “That she made a choice that made her happy?” “I have made her happy for the last 20 years,” he barked back, his eyes wild. “Happier than you ever could.”
"You've made me happy in the past," she said quietly, looking down. "You've.. You've also been really mean to me lately, Puck. I feel like I'm seeing a different side to you that I never knew about."
“Well, I’m hurting,” he shot back, his voice sharp. “I’m hurting too, but it seems like you can’t go one week without flaunting your new relationship in my face.”
"I have been trying to actively avoid you, Puck, for that very reason," she said, taking a breath to suppress a small whimper. "..But I guess I just wasn't doing good enough."
Ben looked over at her, hearing the whimper. “Whatever, Puck,” he said sharply. “You’re awful.” Puck looked at her, saying nothing.
She didn't looked up, but she thought in response, unsure if he could hear her. Nor did she know if she was telling him or herself. It's okay. It's okay.
There was a warmth that spread through her head gently, but nothing more was said for a little bit. Do you want to talk about it?
