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"Oh shit, Ocean wake up." Blue says shaking his friend.
"Oh shit." Ocean says starring at the tv and seeing his face starring back at him with TOO GAY splattered across his picture. He checks. his phone.
"Is it crazy?" Blue asks.
"Its dead." Ocean says putting it to charge.
"Call you mom on my phone, let her know you're okay. Then we'll talk with Will, Spence and the federation." Blue says.
"I'll talk to mom but I need to think too. I might not want to talk to anyone else. I'm in a fuck em mood right now. I'm never going to make a major team. Doesn't matter what I do. And if I did I would always be thinking it was because of the scandal." Ocean says.
"Just call Cheryl, let her know you're okay and we're lying low for a bit." Blue says.
"I forgot you've been through this yourself. Thanks Blue, for being here for me." Ocean says.
"Anytime Ocean. Now call your mother. You were kidnapped earlier in the year, she is going to be worried." Blue says sternly.
Ocean smiles and takes Blue's phone.
"So you are with Blue? What happened? Why did you say those things?" Cheryl asks.
"I was joking. I don't believe that is why I wasn't chosen. I'm allowed to be upset and disappointed. I had the top score by a long way yesterday. I did a great job. Its just like two years ago, my name is mud and I don't know why." Ocean says.
"Spence and Will don't understand either. They both had to leave already, they're going straight to the training camp with Garrett and Miles. That has caused controversy in itself that they nominated Will and Spence as their coaches." Cheryl says.
"I'll bet, I hope it doesn't count against them. I'm going to chill here with Blue today. And I'll call people tomorrow. Is that okay? As I've no coaches I think I'll go and stay with Blue for a bit." Ocean says looking at Blue who nods.
"Okay. I don't know that men's gymnastics is popular enough for there to be paparazzi waiting for you at my place but I understand. Take care love." Cheryl says.
"Thanks mom. Blue has been through this and he's forgiven me for being a spoiled brat. I'm going to enjoy some yoga and ice-cream and work it off doing Blue's yard." Ocean says.
"That sounds wonderful." Cheryl says.
"I'll take care of him. You and Marsha are welcome to come and visit any time." Blue says.
"We might do that. Thanks Blue. I am really pleased you two have reconnected, you need each other." Cheryl says.
"Can you let Gervais know? I doubt he would answer a call from my phone." Blue asks.
"Of course, no problem. Can you spoil Ocean a bit? I know he's been a brat but he's had a really tough year." Cheryl asks when Ocean ducks to the bathroom.
"I can. We had a crazy seafood tower and a mountain of fries last night, and he tried every dessert. It doesn't take a lot to treat Ocean. Though if he wants a wild shopping trip we can try it." Blue says.
"Thanks again Blue. I hate that it took something extreme to get you back as friends but I am glad you are." Cheryl says.
"Me too. If it wasn't for Ocean I wouldn't be back. I owe him everything." Blue says.
"Take care." Cheryl says.
"Is he okay?" Marsha asks.
"He's with Blue. He's going to stay at his place for a while, I don't think he'll be taking any of the TV offers. He just wants to hide and let it blow over." Cheryl says.
"Two peas in a pod, Blue and Ocean. We better go, so we don't miss our flight." Marsha says.
"Yeah, what a crazy trip. My boy is the second best gymnast in the country, one of the best in the world and people are acting like he's a failure." Cheryl says shaking her head.
"I don't think they are. I really don't. Everyone was angry on his behalf last night. Those kids Bea brought down thought he was a superstar they were in awe and utterly enthralled. If Ocean decides to coach he could do worse than taking over that gym and giving those kids more options." Marsha says.
"Yes, he would love it but he needs to live a lot more first, date around, find a partner. I don't suppose his relationship with Garrett will survive this." Cheryl sighs.
"No, I don't think it will. Poor love, he's had a rough year." Marsha says.
"I'll pop him a message and call Gervais when we're at the airport." Cheryl says.
"Let him sweat a little longer." Marsha says.
"And deal with him blaming me to Ocean later, no thanks." Cheryl says and the pair get going.
"Let get going. My car is in the basement carpark. You can go straight down and in. Spence has dropped your things with the bell desk. He guessed you were with me." Blue grins.
"You two have been friends a really long time. Funny how that was the friendship that survived." Ocean says.
"I am friends with Andy too. He's living with Larry and Chris. And Robin and I are still friendly, just not close right now. He has so much to contend with but I can't help." Blue says.
"You have everything?" Ocean asks.
"Yeah, grab any snacks you want from the mini bar. There are nuts and chips and get the sodas and water too. It might be expensive but will save us stopping too soon." Blue says and Ocean rounds it all up.
"Jalapino popcorn, my favorite." Ocean grins.
"You grew out of bananas?" Blue asks.
"Oh I love my ice-cream, I tell everyone it is named after me." Ocean grins. They manage to get the elevator alone. Blue heads to reception and Ocean to the parking garage. Blue gets Ocean's things, settles up, adding the extra mini bar items to the bill and taking as many apples as he can stuff in his pockets from the bowl at reception.
"Why haven't you moved back to help Robin?" Ocean asks when Blue gets in the car.
"I told you, I can never live back there. Abby bought my house and land for me. She knew what I needed, its like a mini home. Farms and a lake and my house looking out on it. No retreat but Spence will build his camp." Blue says.
"I've been kicked off my college team." Ocean says.
"So your career is over when you're reaching your peak. Doesn't seem fair. Do you want to stop now? We can pull over, call up the federation, beg forgiveness." Blue says.
"No, not right now. I need to process. I'll condition with you and see if there is a gym in the city I can work out at a couple of times a week. I want to keep my options open before I decide. I might be able to compete for a different college, even a different country." Ocean says.
"Okay. I'll not push. We'll find out from Will and Spence later what the mood is down there. Seems to me if one of the injured guys isn't ready or anyone else goes down they'll be wanting you. Trials are a month away. Anything could happen." Blue says.
"I guess. I just don't feel like apologising, not yet. It was a joke. Anyone who knows me, knows I don't have that sort of chip on my shoulder. And losing my spot at school sucks over it but I think I've just been too much trouble all year and it was a good excuse." Ocean says.
"That was all my fault. I am sorry about how my life has impacted on yours." Blue says.
"It was not your fault. Blue you cannot take the blame for the mob and their bizarre actions. You were never, anything to do with them." Ocean says.
"I put you in their path. I should have pretended I was Chris when you saw me." Blue says.
"I would have hated you for that. He would have hated you. Gervais too. Why can't you come home, for him?" Ocean asks.
"It hurts too much. All that lost opportunity. And all that expectation that people would have. There was always so much pressure on me." Blue says.
"Robin is doing a deal to sell the business. Ollie is taking on the bakery." Ocean says.
"I can't see Mike or Arnold unhappy with that, not after everything.0= Sounds like the best all round. Robin will join in with Gervais and George." Blue says.
"It isn't what Abby would have wanted." Ocean says.
"No it isn't. I am sure Robin will guarantee jobs for as long as he can. And I can make our ice-cream any time we want if they change the formula." Blue grins.
"I guess everything has to change. Ugh. I wish it could work out for you and G." Ocean says.
"Me too. I have such strong, overwhelming feelings for him, as he does for me. But we cannot cope when we have issues, mentally. And we both do, regularly, We want to support the other so much we don't take care of ourselves and it exacerbates the issue." Blue says.
"That sounds about right. I know how intense you two were at times and then you'd implode. I always thought we would get married when I was little. Then you met Gervais." Ocean says.
"You didn't like it when I dated Will?" Blue asks.
"I did. I loved Will and how happy you were and I loved my room and living with you both. It was perfect and then you were gone and Gervais broke more than Will. And I judged Will for it. Right up until last night. I really wanted it, I wanted all of it, all that Garrett wants. Worlds, Olympics, medals, moves named after me. I know how hard I train, I know how much more Will trained. He didn't break less than Gervais, he had a much better channel for his emotions. He put everything in to his training and competition." Ocean says.
"I hope you let him know. He's a really good guy and he's had a terrible time with the Aled situation." Blue says.
"I know. I'm sorry if I stopped you being together. I guess I was out of my mind too." Ocean says.
"You've had a rough time. Me disappearing, your dad and grandparents dropping out the picture, fighting with your mom, being blackballed in gymnastics, your boyfriend selling you out, being kidnapped. Ocean you've had so much to deal with. I know Will will forgive you easily. I wasn't even mad." Blue says.
"I hope so. I feel so stupid. Following you and going mad like that. I was crazy." Ocean says.
"You love Gervais who was there for you through everything." Blue says.
"Will was too. Every damn day in the gym, him and Spence. They cared for me as much as Gervais did. Look at them building me a gym this summer and now I've repaid them by being a dick and making things awkward for them." Ocean sighs.
"You sounded off after a shit situation. You made a joke while exasperated. You couldn't know it would cause such a shit storm." Blue says.
"No men's gym never gets the headlines. Wow, is this your place?" Ocean asks.
"Yeah." Blue says unable to hide his pride.
"Hello baby, hello." Blue says rubbing and patting an excited sunshine.
"Hi Clara." Ocean says.
"Hello Ocean, good to see you two have made up." Clara says.
"We brought groceries. I am making cheesecake and ice-cream for this one." Blue says.
"Did you buy all the bananas?" Clara asks.
"All of them." Ocean grins and joins in petting Sunny.