It all started with a friendship bracelet. A simple piece of string and plastic beads that said "Karma Is My Boyfriend." And somehow, that bracelet would ignite a war of epic proportions.
Evan "Buck" Buckley didn't think anything of it when Tommy Kinard handed it to him during the Speak Now portion of The Eras Tour at SoFi Stadium. After all, it was The Eras Tour. The energy was electric. Taylor Swift was mid-high note during Enchanted, and Buck was in his element, clutching Tommy's hand and swaying with a look of pure euphoria.
Tommy Kinard was looking at Buck like he was the second coming of Jesus Christ. Which would've been fine if not for the fact that Eddie Diaz was sitting two sections over, watching them through narrowed eyes.
"Oh my god!" Buck squealed, clutching the bracelet to his chest. "Tommy, this is—this is perfect!"
Tommy grinned and leaned into Buck's ear. "I got it custom made. The guy at Etsy charged me fifty bucks."
Buck gasped. "That's… robbery."
Tommy shrugged. "You're worth it."
Buck's face was flushed under the concert lights. Tommy laughed, pressed a kiss to Buck's temple, and they resumed their screaming as Taylor segued into Back to December.
Two sections away, Eddie Diaz sat in his seat, arms crossed. His jaw was tight. He liked Taylor Swift too. He got Folklore vinyls for Christmas. And yet… he hadn't been invited to The Eras Tour.
That's fine. Totally fine.
It wasn't fine.
Buck knew that Eddie was into Taylor Swift. Buck knew that Eddie had gone feral during Reputation era. And yet, Buck had chosen Tommy as his 1.
By the time Taylor hit the bridge of All Too Well (10 Minute Version), Eddie was ready to fight someone.
It was a week later when things started to unravel.
Eddie was sitting at the firehouse, flipping through TikTok while Buck scrolled next to him on the couch. Chimney and Hen were off somewhere in the kitchen, debating the validity of pineapple on pizza, while Bobby sat in his office doing paperwork.
Buck was smiling at his phone.
Too much.
Eddie peered over his shoulder. "Who's texting you?"
Buck's smile widened. "Tommy."
Eddie's stomach curled. "Ah. Of course."
Buck glanced at him, but Eddie's face was neutral.
"Uh… what's wrong with that?" Buck asked carefully.
"Nothing," Eddie said too quickly. "Just… didn't realize you two were so close now."
Buck frowned. "We've always been close."
"Sure," Eddie said.
Buck narrowed his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," Eddie said, setting his phone down and getting to his feet. "Just… you didn't tell me you were going to the concert."
Buck blinked. "I—uh. I didn't think you'd care."
Eddie gave him a flat look. "I told you I got 1989 vinyl on preorder."
"Oh." Buck winced.
"And Reputation."
"I forgot."
Eddie scoffed. "You forgot?"
Buck stood. "Okay, what's your problem?"
Eddie threw his hands up. "My problem? My problem is that my so-called best friend is suddenly hanging out with Tommy Kinard like you two have been dating for five years!"
Buck's eyes narrowed. "We've only been together six months."
Eddie stared. "What?"
"Yeah."
"Since when?"
"Since… the New Year's Eve party," Buck admitted, scratching the back of his head. "We've kinda been… low-key about it."
"Low-key?" Eddie laughed bitterly. "LOW-KEY?"
"Eddie—"
"No. I'm not mad about you dating Tommy."
"Could've fooled me."
"I'm mad that you didn't tell me!"
Buck's mouth opened and closed. "I… okay, maybe I should've told you."
"No kidding!"
Buck's jaw tightened. "Why do you care so much?"
Eddie's mouth snapped shut. His heart was pounding. "I just—he's a rookie."
"So?"
"So you barely know him!"
"And what, you know me better than anyone else?" Buck's voice rose.
"Yes!"
Buck stared at him.
Eddie scoffed and shook his head. "But I guess that doesn't mean anything anymore."
"Are you jealous?" Buck shot back.
Eddie's face froze. "What?"
"Because it kinda seems like you're jealous."
"That's insane."
"Is it?"
Eddie's mouth opened, but nothing came out.
Buck's eyes flashed. "Do you think I'm not allowed to have other friends?"
"I—no, Buck, I—"
"Because it sure sounds like you're mad that I have someone else to hang out with."
"I'm not—"
Buck's eyes hardened. "Maybe it's not about me. Maybe you're just mad that I'm not the only one orbiting around you anymore."
Eddie's face darkened. "Watch it."
"Or what?"
Eddie took a step toward Buck. Buck squared his shoulders.
"I'm just saying," Buck said, "if you're so obsessed with me, maybe you should've asked me out first."
Eddie's face twitched. "You don't mean that."
"I think I do."
Eddie's hand twitched at his side. "Wow. That's funny, coming from the guy who texts me at 2 AM every time something goes wrong."
Buck's eyes narrowed. "And who always picks up?"
Eddie's chest rose and fell.
"You think you're so above it all," Buck continued. "But when you need someone? Who's there? ME."
Eddie's mouth opened. Closed.
Buck's voice sharpened. "Or maybe you don't want me at all. Maybe you just don't want anyone else to have me."
The room went silent.
Eddie's breath hitched. "Buck—"
"Save it," Buck snapped, and stormed out of the room.
It got worse after that.
They didn't talk during shifts unless they absolutely had to.
At one point, Eddie watched Buck laughing with Tommy by the firetruck, and it made his stomach churn. He hated how easy it was for Buck to slot into a new rhythm without him.
It made him feel… disposable.
Chimney was the one who broke the silence in the locker room. "You two need to talk."
"Nope," Eddie said.
"Yep," Chimney said. "You're making everyone uncomfortable."
"I don't care."
"You should."
Eddie's jaw tightened.
"You and Buck are—" Chimney gestured vaguely. "You're… like Taylor and Selena."
Eddie scoffed.
"I'm serious!" Chimney pressed. "He's Taylor. You're Selena."
"Why do I have to be Selena?"
Chimney's eyes narrowed. "Eddie. The tour bracelet? The friendship break? The dramatic public fallout? You guys are in your Reputation era."
Eddie glared at him.
Chimney grinned. "We're waiting for the inevitable reunion. Complete with an Instagram caption that says, 'He was sunshine, I was midnight rain.'"
Eddie threw his locker shut.
It took three more shifts, two emergency calls, and one public fight at a team dinner for Buck and Eddie to finally address it.
Buck found Eddie on the firehouse rooftop. Eddie was looking over the city.
"Hey," Buck said.
Eddie didn't look over. "What do you want?"
Buck hesitated. "I miss you."
Eddie's shoulders slumped.
Buck stepped closer. "You were right."
Eddie turned.
"I should've told you about Tommy."
Eddie's mouth pressed into a thin line. "Yeah."
Buck stepped forward, took Eddie's hand, and gave it a small squeeze. "But you were also kinda jealous."
Eddie's face twitched. "Yeah."
Buck smiled. "Maybe next concert we go together."
Eddie smiled. "As long as it's Reputation."
"Deal."
They stood there, holding hands. And for once, everything felt right.