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Jordan rubbed a hand over his eyes, dismayed. He'd said - and Jerry hadn't understood - he could explain, he didn't want to have to explain when he was hurting himself enough already. "I," he started, and gave up all at once. "Oh, ******** it." This was a terrible idea and he shouldn't be doing it.

He leaned over and kissed Jerry.

Candace had, on Jerry's request, stayed in her own room the past few..days. She was recovering from her stab and she needed it, honestly. But she was feeling better now and she wanted to show him she was good to do work! She could help clean! Ow. Candace paused to hiss with pain and press a hand against her stomach as she moved a little too quickly; okay so she was still sore, but at least she didn't need to worry about opening any wounds anymore and coughing up blood again. She'd be fine.

A hand was put on the knob of Jerry's door and had moved to turn it until she heard...singing? Oh. He had company. Candace blinked. Oh. Company. Okay. Was that..Jordan? Oh yes, that was Jordan. She could come back lat--

"You're - only interested in women, right?" Candace's brow furrowed, a frown forming on her lips. What? "I just want to know that I never had a chance anyway."

...Excuse me?

Her heart pounded in her chest as thoughts ran wild in her head. Why was Jordan asking Jerry that? A chance? A chance at what? Oh god! A chance at Jerry?! Her Jerry?! N..no. Nono...he could steal him from her. No. She needed Jerry. He was her rock, her little piece of sanity. She...she lo...she..he was important to him! Candace's breath escaped her in soft, short gasps that she tried desperately to keep quiet; she succeeded. They didn't notice. A hand flew to her chest as she stumbled back away from the door. Stay calm. Jerry loves you, Candace. He wouldn't just...no..not Jerry. He wouldn't. Her heart was racing as she took in a deep, calming breath and feigned ignorance, opening the door without warning. "Jerry, honey? I think I'm okay to walk again can you help me fin--"

Candace had been expecting a number of things.

Jordan kissing her boyfriend was not one of them.

Her knees felt weak and her hands trembled slightly as she gripped the door's handle so tightly her knuckles paled. She had no right to be angry..but...but she was. But it was more than that. Candace felt..betrayed? No, how could she feel betrayed. Jerry wasn't the one who had initiated the kiss...was he..?

It took every ounce of willpower that Candace had not to cry or hyperventilate, or to yell and scream in pure rage. She wasn't sure what to do. Her chest felt tight and her stomach hurt. She...she wanted to throw up.

What could she even say right now? She'd never been in this kind of situation before; it had been years since she had anything she could call a 'relationship', over a decade since she'd had actual feelings for someone, and never had she been on this end of..whatever this was. Her vision did blur a bit as she moved to back away, then forward again, then back again. What could she even...

"I...uh..I..." She backed away. Retreat. Abort. Abort! She couldn't figure out how to react to this! There were so many things she wanted to say, so many things she could do! But all she wanted to do was run far away from this.

Jerry wasn't pushing Jordan away. He wasn't pushing Jordan away. That was what he should be doing! He should be...shoving him off the bed! B..but he wasn't! What the hell.

Without someone to keep him up, Jerry wobbled in place, eyes rolled into the back of his head, but by the time he had slumped forward into the warm space Jordan had once been, the sound of voices seemed to pull him out of his mental cave. "Jordan...? Wait-" Suddenly, he was slapped with something akin to clarity as he managed to straighten up, "Oh uh... c-c-c-Candace ah... h-hi um!" What had just happened. And what was happening now. Oh god, oh god oh god...

The bourbon in his stomach suddenly rolled and he tasted bile in his throat.

"No, I'm - I shouldn't be here." Jordan stumbled out into the hall, unable to look Candace in the eye. And this was why he'd resolved to stay silent, to do nothing - and he'd gone and ruined it now.

He made his way slowly down the hall, head down, trying not to think about anything at all.

Candace said nothing as Jordan left, and like him she found herself unable to even turn her head and look his way. Her eyes were on Jerry and Jerry alone for one simple reason: The bourbon on his bedside table and the blatant 'I am going to be sick' look on his face. She adored him but right in that moment she felt no sympathy. He knew how she felt about him drinking. He knew and yet he still...

"...What do you think I'm thinking." She said quietly, no tone of anger or even sadness in her voice. It was like...there was no emotion whatsoever. Even her face was a blank slate. She watched him upchuck into a trashcan and her lip twitched, closing her eyes and forcing her head to turn away. He was so sick. She wanted to go over and comfort him..that idiot.

Candace didn't say a word as she quietly closed the door behind her and walked closer to Jerry, sitting down on the bed beside him and placing a gentle hand on his back, giving him a rub. "Jerry I..." She frowned, looking to the bourbon. She grabbed it, taking a small swig of it; she knew damn well that wasn't how bourbon was supposed to be enjoyed, and she also knew she would probably regret the alcohol later, but she...needed a drink. It was just a small sip anyway.

"You know I don't like you drinking..." She said softly, glaring down at the bourbon bottle. How long had he had this..? It was almost gone. She drank another sip straight from the bottle, giving a hiss after and placing it back on the table. "I'm not...mad." A pause. "Wait, no. I am..I'm...I'm furious..but...not...I don't know. I..." Candace groaned and ruffled her hair. This was so hard.

Chess? This came from chess? How does that even..? Candace liked chess too but not enough to kiss someone's boyfriend over it. Jesus Christ, Jordan. But the boy had been clearly drunk, and regretful as hell...and she was fairly biased in believing that except for this moment Jerry was pretty amazing and were she in a happier frame of mind she wouldn't blame Jordan for kissing him but..ugh. "Shh." She murmured quietly, gently rubbing his back as he continued heaving into the trash can. "Hold that thought, Jerry. It can wait." A glare was cast at the bottle of bourbon. It was a nice size, too.

Where did he get it? The only person she could think of with access to give out bourbon was...H. But why would H give Jerry bourbon of all things? "I wish you'd not drink, Jerry." Candace sighed, picking up the bottle and swishing the alcohol around inside. "Look what it does to you. How is that enjoyable." Despite the scolding she kept her voice soft and light, not wanting to make things worse.

Candace's hand dropped from his back at Jerry sat up and apologized. "People think what, honey?" She asked, reaching down to pet his hair. "What aren't you?"

He never answered her. Candace groaned unhappily and rubbed her face, biting down on her lip and closing her eyes. Her shoulders shook with each shuddered breath she tried to keep under control, rubbing her eyes furiously and shaking her head. No, no. She was furious. She was so angry. But not because Jerry had been kissed...hell, Robert had practically raped his mouth at the Gala.

But that had been different.

Robert hadn't asked if he had a chance.

"It's okay, Jerry." She muttered after he had already passed out, gently reaching down to move him off her. She didn't lift him, not wanting to strain herself just yet; her stomach was already throbbing with pain that she still couldn't figure out was emotional or physical yet. She pulled her shirt up over her nose and gingerly picked up the trash can, dumping it out and filling it with water a few times to wash it out. There was no use making Jerry feel worse about it than he already did. She'd take care of him.

Candace walked out of the bathroom and sighed, ruffling her hair. "Damnit, Jerry." She hissed under her breath as she laid eyes on the bottle again. She wanted to throw it away, to smash the bottle in the sink and get rid of it entirely. She also wanted to find out why the hell he had it, who gave it to him, and why he let himself get this ******** way. But those were better saved for when he was...you know, conscious.

She grabbed the pillows on his bed, gently guiding him down so he was laying on the floor instead of sitting up. A pillow was placed under his head and the blanket was pulled down to cover him. He had ******** up by getting drunk but she wasn't completely heartless. Candace grabbed a pillow for herself as well, laying down beside Jerry if only to get under the blanket as well. She even reached for his hand and lifted it to press a light kiss against his knuckles, holding it between them as she closed her eyes. Sleep sounded like a great idea right now.