R&R please. Thank you!

Chapter Fourteen

Mac woke up the next morning still enveloped in Bloo's arms. His eyes were bleary from sleep. He blinked and rubbed his eyes and his hand flailed around as he searched to turn off the alarm. It was Saturday, but sometimes he accidentally left it on.

Bloo was still sleeping like the lazy log that he was. Mac smiled warmly and kissed his cheek, then got out of the bed and pulled on an old t-shirt and a pair of boxers from his dresser drawer. He knew that after last night, he'd probably have to wash the bed. That was going to be a pain.

Mac left the bedroom and headed into the kitchen and grabbed the box of his favorite cereal from the cupboard and set it on the countertop. He wandered over to the door, opened it, and retrieved the newspaper. As soon as he saw it, he knew that something was off.

"It's… it's the interview from last night…" Mac was confused. "But I thought this was televised. What…?"

Mac instantly removed the paper from its bag and scanned the headline.

REAL LOVE? OR FAKE? THE SKETCHY ANSWERS FROM BLOO ARE EXAMINED.

"What?" Mac whispered, his eyes widening.

He read through the article and came across the quote. He gaped when he read the line that Bloo had given Dean. All at once a wave of emotions overcame him. Confusion, anger, and… Heartbrokenness.

He couldn't help it but want to cry. This whole article was totally criticizing their relationship in the most negative light possible. He was trembling violently and felt like he was going to be sick. In a few hours, he was sure that they were going to be assaulted with phone calls and reporters. He could see them now, pressed up against the walls and windows and their voices would rattle them to their core.

Mac sat down at the kitchen table and just started to weep softly. The tears slipped in through his fingers and dripped down onto the table. He tried to hold it in, but he knew that he was going to pick up volume soon if he couldn't control himself.

Bloo exited the bedroom then, wanting to make a beeline for the kitchen, but was interrupted by the sight and sound of Mac's distress. He halted, frozen in his tracks.

"Mac? What's wrong?"

Mac glared, picked up the paper, and threw it at him. "Take a look!"

Bloo's eyes traveled down and he saw the article and quickly read through it. He looked back up at Mac, and swallowed. Mac drummed his fingers on the tabletop, trying to contain his emotions.

"You think I'm with you, not because I'm not interested in women, but because I can't get one to date me?"

"Mac…" Bloo scoffed, his eyes smiling, trying to console him. "God, it was a joke! I was joking! I got a little nervous and I just tried to lighten the mood."

"They don't know that, Bloo!" Mac cried out, smacking his fists on the table. "People are against us! That was a pretty damn mean joke, and I can't believe you're not taking this seriously!"

"I am serious!"

Mac shook his head. "No, you aren't! I'm with you because I love you! I'm in love with you!" he swallowed and his eyes glistening with tears, focused on Bloo. "You… you love me too, don't you?"

Bloo was suddenly thrust into a world of confusion. Last night, they had been having what could have possibly been their greatest night ever. Now they were arguing over a stupid little joke? One that the media had spun wildly out of control?

Mac anxiously awaited Bloo's answer. "Bloo? You don't want this?"

Bloo had shut down now. He shrugged his shoulders, seeming a little sad.

"What?" Mac was panicking a little now. "Wait, you don't love me? Then what did you… Why did you…"

Mac was as white as a ghost. "I… I'm going to be sick…"

"Mac, it's not like that!"

"Look, I don't want to hear it!" Mac snapped. "Not after you basically acted like an asshole and talked shit about me!"

Bloo attempted to come forward and touch Mac, but he shoved him away. Mac glared at Bloo, his eyes red rimmed with tears.

"I want you out of here, okay?"

"Where do I go?" Bloo demanded.

"That's not my problem," Mac answered, crossing his arms, sighing heavily. His eyes were glazed over, the plea for a swift end surfacing in the pools of his awaiting tears.

"Fine!" Bloo shouted back at him. "Go ahead and throw your stupid little fit! I'll leave!"

"Good! You got laid, so I guess you'll be fine, huh?" Mac snapped, stomping over to the door and throwing it open.

"Hell yes, and unlike you, I have no problem getting laid."

"Fucking get out!"

Bloo left, and Mac slammed the door shut. At hearing the sound of it slamming, Bloo jolted, and he suddenly realized his mistake. He paused, and he heard a thump from behind the door, and could envision Mac, curled up on the floor in a little ball, crying, just as he had always done when he got upset.

Bloo turned and started walking down the hallway.