A/n - new chapter for those that read story before 1/20/21 - End A/N

“It was my fault,” Emilio sobbed again.

Mateo wasn’t sure what to do or say. So he stayed quiet. 

He didn’t know the story. Could Emilio have actually done something terrible that caused the death of his mother? Is that why her death had been kept so underwraps?

“Our company had just bought the movie studio,” Emilio said, rubbing away his tears. 

Mateo didn’t want to pry, but he also couldn’t just ignore Emilio crying on his sofa, or tell him to shut up.

So he handed him a kleenex box, traded him the mushy banana for a huggable pillow, and listened. 

“An actor was late for an audition, they needed a stand-in to say the lines for the scene, and I was there so… Guess the producer really liked me, asked if I was interested in acting. I told him no. Then he went to my dad and my dad signed a contract on my behalf. Wanted to build his connections in the industry."

Mateo had never known that. People thought the acting phase in Emilio's life had been just that, a phase.

In all of the rumors and stories about Emilio, there had never been one that said he’d been forced into doing those movies (that so many people loved him for). In fact, the most popular and widely accepted theory was that he’d begged his dad for a role and his dad had forced the studio to give it to him. 

“There was a pr thing for the movie. I didn’t want to be there. I was shy and nervous and I wanted to go home. Dad said I had to stay, suck it up. That a life of pr and being in front of the cameras awaited me, I had to get used to it and get good at it.”

Emilio had always seemed like a pro with the media, always so smooth and charming, he’d always seemed so confident, even in those old first interviews. 

Guess he wasn’t just acting when he was on set.

“But I called my mom and she told me she’d come pick me up. I waited for her but she never made it. So I put on the biggest smile I could muster and braved the stage with my co-stars.”

Mateo remembered that interview, it was one of the most anticipated panels at comic con that year, filled with new up and coming actors ready to bring to life long beloved characters.  

He’d watched the interview over and over, so excited for what was to come. All of the cast had seemed excited too, even Emilio.

Emilio hugged his pillow, holding it tight against his chest, his knees pressed up against it. “About an hour after I got off stage, that night, that’s when they told me. There was a hit and run. Some drunk drivers I think.”

Mateo waited for more but Emilio stayed silent, his crying slowly subsiding. 

“That’s it? That’s the story?” Mateo asked. Not as scandalous as he was expecting to be honest. “Why wasn't the accident shared with the press?”

“Cause it was my fault.” Emilio blurted out, tears starting up again. “And everyone would hate me and that would make them hate the company and I would make us suffer even more. That’s what dad said. That’s what our pr specialist told him.”

Mateo blinked. “What?”

“Because we’d just bought the movie studio and the record label and we were starting to expand and become more than just a phone company. Everhart wasn’t just our last name anymore, it was becoming a brand.” Emilio said it like he’d memorized someone else's words. He wiped away his tears. “We couldn't afford to taint our reputation like that. That’s what they told me.”

“How would that have tainted your reputation???”

“Because my mom was on that road to go get me, because I couldn’t live up to my responsibilities.” Emilio’s words came out harsh and cutting. “Because I wanted to run and hide, because I would have rather been at home reading a book than talking to some harmless reporters about a movie so many people were looking forward to.”

“That-”

“So, not only was my mom's death my fault but I also had the capacity of being responsible for the death of the company. So I had to learn how to grin and bear it and handle my responsibilities like a man and make sure everyone loved me…”

“Emilio, what-”

“I don’t know how or when I went from being that sweet charming kid the media loved to love to being the pompous asshole the media loved to hate. But by then our new PR specialist told us all publicity was good publicity and to lean into it, so…” 

Mateos blood was boiling. 

“What the fuck?!” Mateo was finally able to say. “They told you your mom’s death was your fault?! And to grin and bear it???” 

Emilio’s dad had passed away several years ago, otherwise Mateo would have been taking out his laptop right then and there to write the mother of all articles to make sure everyone knew just how much of an asshole that guy was. 

He still could, Mateo thought. 

Maybe that PR specialist was still alive.

“What was the na-” Mateo stopped himself before he could finish. This had NOT been an interview, he reminded himself. 

There was no way he could ever write about this. 

Emilio had never shared any of this with the media before, there was probably zero chance that he would’ve ever told a reporter about if he hadn't been drunk. 

Mateo could never share this with anyone else, not without breaking Emilio’s privacy. 

Emilio reached for the pretzel bag Mateo had set on the coffee table and munched on some somberly.

“And the worst part is,” Emilio said after a few moments of staring into the pretzel bag, “that no one even remembered what today was. And I’m dumb and selfish for expecting them to. Ginny isn't my girlfriend anymore and Benji has his own life- and Ginny now too.”

Oh, Mateo’s eyes widened a bit. Another scoop. Mateo’s best friend and his ex girlfriend were dating now? Another thing they hadn’t made public to the media yet. 

“Why am I mad that they're happy?” Emilio looked at Mateo. 

Mateo panicked for a moment not knowing how to answer. 

“That's not fair.” Emilio said before Mateo could think of something. “It’s not fair, I always make things about me. I’m so happy they’re happy, so why am I crying? Why I'm such a bad friend?” And he was crying again. “I’m bad spongebob.”

“Um, okay, you’re feeling a lot of emotions, which is very valid,” Mateo finally said. “Uh, but I think you're being too hard on yourself, you-”

“I’m even doing emotions wrong?!” Emilio said, his voice cracking as he looked at Mateo, wide-eyed.

He held back a sob then broke into more tears as he curled into Mateos arms and cried some more.

“Oh,” Mateo said, raising his arms up away from Emilio as he curled into him, “no, that’s not-um, what I meant...” 

He decided not to say anything else, fearing he would make it worse. 

He slowly let his hand rest on Emilios back and tried his best to give him comforting pats as he let Emilio cry it out.