Page 90 of Tumbling Hearts

“What is that song you’re singing?” He removes his hand, afraid that if he keeps it on Gene any longer, he’ll clench him too hard.

Gene adjusts his position in his seat, facing Ray more. “I, uh… I just wrote something new. Something for Toshiko.”

“You… wrote something new?”

“Yeah.”

“You wrote a song. Without me?”

The fire in his chest burns hotter. His lungs feel tight as he breathes heavier.

“Yeah, I figured it was fine,” Gene says, frowning, standing as well. His acoustic guitar hangs over his abdomen by its strap.

“No, that’s not fine at all,” Ray huffs. “How are you even able to write like this, without me? If you have no problem writing with girls around, why did you get so pissed when Carol interrupted us that one day?” He knows he sounds like an asshole bringing it up, but the fact that Gene is here writing something—writing a song for her—gets on his fucking nerves.

“Jeez, Ray,” Gene scoffs. “That was fucking different, and you know it. You and I were writing together. I’m writing this one by myself for Toshiko.”

“And that’s what I don’t get! What happened to writing songs with me?!”

“Woah, Ray, what the hell are you even talking about?” Santiago butts in, walking up to him.

“No, wait, Santi—” Ray raises his pointer finger, but can’t say anything when another Broom speaks up, too.

“You wait for a moment, Ray,” Pat says, shaking her head as she also walks up to them. “Sounds to me like Gene just wanted to write a song, and you’re here interrupting him.”

“But it’s not just a song…”

“Yes it is, Ray,” Gene says, snapping Ray’s attention to him. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Wrong with me?” Ray points to himself.

“Please, Ray, let’s settle down…” Santi says, waving his hands in a frantic manner.

“Yeah Ray, come on,” Pat says.

“I get you’re upset, but we don’t need to fight about this,” Maurice says, stepping into their orbit as well.

“Augh! I’m not fighting!” Ray clenches his fists. “I was just trying to make a point⁠—”

“That’s enough!!”

Carol stands abruptly from her spot on the couch. The room goes quiet as she walks forward. Her plate is left carelessly on her old seat. Her sights are set on Ray, and solely Ray.

His heart beats madly. He gulps, watching her. His fists loosen by his sides, palms soaked with sweat.

“I can’t take it any more.” Carol scowls. “You completely ignore that I’m even here. No, instead you care more about your fucking music than you could ever care about me. Well, that’s it then. I’m done with your bullshit!”

Ray blinks. His lips feel ridiculously dry. “Carrie, hang on⁠—”

“No, I’m not hanging on.” She points at him, aiming at his chest. “Nothing you can say to me will fix things. I gave you a chance to fix things, and you treat me like I’m not even here.”

“B-but you were mad at me⁠—”

“For a good fucking reason.” She tsks. “Whatever. You can have your band. Your music. Your best friend. I’m over all this. If you can’t care for me the same way you care for him, then why am I even here?!”

She motions toward Gene, his eyes wide.

“Carrie, I never said I didn’t care for you…” Ray lifts his hand to tug at his shirt, clenching it by his chest.