Carlos skipped victory pizza after the tourney match.

He walked past his teammates, all of whom gave him a quick slap on the back and a smile, and headed to the locker room.

He and Jay had set Ben up for the win today, and it had felt great. They worked as a unit - something they were encouraged not to do back at home - and it had really made a difference. But Carlos could feel a pressure resting on his sternum, one of his tells that an anxiety attack was imminent, and felt his eyes well up with tears.

It wasn't enough that he had proven himself to Coach Jenkins, lived up to Ben's personal training, and showed everyone that Jay actually could see the good in others - but he had tried to admit his feelings about his best friend to his best friend.

And his best friend hadn't even heard him, let alone saw Carlos beneath the wave of royal blue that had attached itself to him. While his team knew what Carlos had done to help the game, everyone else just focused on Chad, Ben, and Jay.

It was like Carlos was invisible once more.

Even now, as he was changing out of his uniform in the dark locker room, he felt as if he wasn't even a real person. Feeling as though the universe and everyone at Auradon Prep didn't want anything to do with him, Carlos threw his uniform violently into his locker. Thoughts racing, Carlos pulled his sweatpants on, a ragged white t-shirt, and stuffed Jay's red beanie into his pants pocket before picking up his gym bag and slamming his locker shut.

The thrum of metal sent a sharp pain up his shoulder, the pain doubling where his shoulder met his clavicle. It was definitely a pulled muscle, and the pain was as fiery as Mal's personality. Moving his right arm gently, Carlos ruled out a dislocated shoulder and sighed in relief.

At least one thing went right.

Before heading to his dorm, Carlos stopped to pick up ice from the Athletic Director's office. He wasn't there, but Carlos didn't feel bad for taking it. He had done his part on the field, he was more than entitled to it.

Thank you, adrenaline, Carlos thought bitterly as he stalked down the hallway, ice pack pressed against his shoulder almost aggressively. Dude came trotting up next to Carlos, following him on his warpath to a hot shower and video games.

Instead of going to his and Jay's shared room, however, he somehow ended up in front of Mal and Evie's door. Before he lost the nerve, Carlos knocked four quick, sharp knocks - the Rotten Four's secret knock - and let himself in.

Evie sat in the center of her bed, wearing a loose blue t-shirt with "Go Fighting Knights!" stitched into it lovingly. She'd never wear it outside of her bedroom, or around anyone ever period, but Mal was out of the room and she didn't appear to be expecting company.

Which was why Carlos crawling onto her bed and laying next to her with a sigh was such a surprise. She bookmarked her book and removed her reading glasses so she could scoot down and lay face to face with him.

Dude jumped onto the bed to join them, wedging himself between Carlos and Evie.

"What's wrong?" Evie whispered, her eyes lighting on the ice pack quickly before meeting his chocolate eyes.

"I tried telling Jay I loved him after we won the tourney match."

Evie's jaw dropped, thinking back to earlier that day on the field. She briefly recalled seeing Carlos, his mouth forming the words "olive juice" over and over. Then he disappeared beneath the mob.

"And I sprained or pulled something in my shoulder and can already feel the bruise."

Poor Carlos, Evie thought as her hands moved to stroke his dirt streaked face. Nothing ever seemed to go in his favor. Not lately, anyway. Not since home.

Evie captured Carlos' other hand, which had been stroking Dude and pulled it up to where the space between them was largest. She rested their hands there on her mattress and just stayed there with him, basking in the silence. With everyone celebrating the Fighting Knights win, the dorms were quiet. And Mal being with Ben made everything that much more peaceful.

At some point, the two fell asleep, holding each others hand. That was the only contact they made.

When Jay came across the two, Evie with her hair mussed and unmade and Carlos was a melted ice pack on his shoulder, he couldn't help but leave the two alone and go back to his dorm alone.

Feeling utterly heartbroken.