Context: You grew up with a friend named Julian. He always had a rough life, losing his grandfather to steroids and his father to alcoholism. He was always a talented athlete, and your father was the local high school coach. You were sure everything would work out for your friend, and that you would be friends forever. Then, he got booted from the team five years ago and moved away so that grief didn't consume him. He blamed you for this life-ruining incident and swore he wouldn't forgive you until you had felt pain on the same level as him. Are you really willing to go that far, though?

Setting: The Listener's home/a lakefront

Tags:[M4A][Enemies to ?][Betrayed Ex-Bestie Speaker][Broken Listener][HARD Angst][Betrayal][Revenge]to[Saving Listener][Guilt-Ridden]but[Innocent?][Comfort][Reverse Comfort][Self-Punishment][Confession][CW: Physical/Emotional Abuse/Disassociation/Injuries/Mentions of Death]

Usage: You may tweak or record this script. Gender flipping is OK! Please credit me if you use this script in any of your projects. If you would like to use this script for a paywalled recording, please note:

Monetization: All forms of monetization are OK with me! Youtube, Patreon, etc. I would appreciate being able to listen to the recording, if possible. Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you!

Check out the rest of my scripts by using the Script Directory, if you'd like :3

You guys have been warned on this one. There are numerous uncomfortable subjects here, so please read with caution!!!

[Scene opens in suburbia]

[SFX: A motorcycle slowly cruising to a stop]

[A man in his mid-20s pulls up outside of an old, somewhat run-down home. He parks a motorcycle, removes his helmet, and lets out a sigh as he mutters to himself]

[SFX: That stuff I just said above <3]

“Why did I agree to this…? Five years hasn’t made me stop hating them, five years hasn’t made their betrayal hurt less, and it’s certainly not stopped me from telling anyone that’ll listen… So, why is the person that betrayed me pleading with me like a pathetic child to come see them for their birthday?”

[SFX: Him stowing the motorcycle/suburban ambiance]

[Pause]

“Hmph… At the very least, it’s a good chance to look them in the eye, tell them I’m tired of playing our little game, and walk out of their life permanently. I don’t know why you haven’t gotten the memo that I hate your guts, Lavy, but hopefully, tonight will cement the point.”

[He smirks to himself as he approaches your home]

[SFX: Him approaching and eventually knocking/ringing the doorbell]

“Hmhm… Can’t wait to see the look on their face when I tell them, ‘Happy birthday, to the worst human I know. I hope they find you in a fucking ditch’.”

[SFX: A faint altercation within the home]

[He pauses as the sounds of a fight make themselves known]

“...Wait, is Lavy fighting with their Dad? I recognize Coach’s yell…”

[SFX: The fight escalating with violent intent/things breaking]

[Pause]

“Jesus Christ! Hey! HEY!!”

[SFX: Him pounding on the door insistently]

“BACK OFF, COACH OR I’M CALLING THE COPS!”

[SFX: The fight dying]

[Pause]

[SFX: The door opening hesitantly]

[Your oldest friend takes a few steps back as the door opens, fists balled. The second he sees you, his expression becomes horrified]

[P-Pause…]

“...Lavy…?”

[Pause!]

“...I haven’t… seen a recent pic. I-I…”

[He takes a breath and shoots a glare at your father who probably shoots once back]

“...I’m taking them out for their birthday. Sir. Please don’t make me fight you.”

[Your father scoffs and waves him away]

[SFX: The front door shutting and quickly being locked behind you]

[You step outside and offer a smile to Julian. The years have treated him well, you hope. Your oldest friend looks at you, clearly shaken, in return]

“I… uh… Happy birthday…”

[Pause <3]

“Um… it’s nice to… see you again, too. It’s… been a while.”

[Pause <3]

“...A hug… Sure..”

[He embraces you. It hurts a lot, but you’re still happy to see him. His heart beats strongly under your ear in response]

“...You, uh… That outfit is cute… OK, I can’t do this, what the Hell was that?!”

[Pause?]

“Don’t play innocent with me! You look like you took a beating from a sledgehammer!”

[Pause…]

[He blinks rapidly a few times]

“...That is not ‘quality time’ with your Dad… He was hurting you…”

[...]

[Your friend exhales, the mintiness of his gum kissing the throbbing bruises across your face]

“How long has this been going on…?”

[Pause…]

“Years?! Why didn’t you tell someone?!?”

[Pause!]

“W-What…? You’re glad I’m here… But the last time we talked, we had that massive argument, remember?”

[Pause!]

[He watches you wring your hands nervously, bounce on your feet, and takes a slight step back]

“...OK… OK, you’re disassociated… That’s fine. It’s been a few years, but it’s fine…”

[He sighs and forces a smile]

“Alright. What do you wanna do for your birthday?”

[Pause <3]

“...It is your birthday, hon. Don’t you remember? You pleaded with me to come and spend it with you…”

[...Pause?]

“...Hey, it’s OK! Don’t tear up… C’mon, it’s your birthday, and your old buddy is here to do whatever you want!”

[You ponder. Your head is in agony from where it was hit with, you think, a vacuum hose, but you’re too happy to see Julian]

[Pause?]

“Yeah… We can grab some fast food and go lie on the hood of my car, look at the stars, like old times… C’mon, hop in.”

[SFX: Motorcycle noises]

[That’s a funny-looking car but you hop in, as requested. He puts a helmet on you for some weird reason but, after that, you’re off]

“Hang tight, Lavy!”

[SFX: A motorcycle rushing off into the night]

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scene transition - Lakeside / Time transition - an hour

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[SFX: A lake gently rolling in and out]

[You sit with Julian on a beach towel, happily enjoying your food as the stars twinkle above]

[Pause <3]

“...You’re welcome, Lavy… It… seems like a lot has changed since I left…”

[Pause…]

“...Yeah, your Dad really seems to have, ah, gotten ‘grumpier’... Do you know why?”

[Pause.]

“He says you cost him his best player? Wh-... Me?”

[You nod, more focused on your fries]

[Pause]

“...But I only left because he got on my case because I was ‘getting too fresh’ with you! I don’t even understand where it came from! You and I have known each other since we were kids and, yeah, maybe I had a crush then, but I wasn’t trying to rip the team apart OR end my damned football career! Do you know how much debt I’ve had to take on JUST to afford university because of YOU-?!”

[...]

[He notices you flinch and calms himself]

“Your… father. Your father. Coach…”

[Pause…]

[Julian sighs, rubbing his face]

“...Did you tell him that I was making you uncomfortable?”

[Pause?]

“No? Then WHY did he kick me off the team???”

[You ponder. Then remember.]

[Pause…]

[SFX: Phone noises, bleep bloop]

[You search through old messages on your phone until you find the right one. The one you read to yourself when you want to feel close to your friend]

“What is this…? This text is from your Dad? ‘Convince Jules that he needs to take the stimmies, otherwise, I’ll have to kick him. Do you want to ruin your boyfriend’s future? Every athlete does it, ask him! He knows what’s at stake!’.”

[...Pause?]

[His face darkens]

“...Yes, it does make sense to me… The ‘stimmies’ he was talking about were steroids… The same kind that killed my Grandpa, I’m willing to bet…”

[...]

[His voice catches and he rubs his face, bothered]

“...I miss him, too… His death fucked up my Dad for years! Coach… Your Dad… knew that, knew the damage it’d done to my family, and he was still going to try and force that shit on me?!”

[...]

“Why didn’t you tell me? I… I waged war on your name for years after the night your Dad kicked me from the team, proclaiming that I was being ‘inappropriate’ with his kid! Told everyone who would listen that you knifed me in the back!”

[Pause!]

“...That must be why you got beat up so often…? No, I…”

[His voice shakes and his muscles tense]

“...You were never, EVER meant to be harmed… I just wanted to make sure you never forgot…”

[Pause <3]

[He breaks at your earnest nature. Your equally broken… earnest nature]

“...Please don’t say that, don’t… Don’t say you missed me… I have been worse than the Devil toward you for over five years! I ruined your name, I turned everyone against you, and I made sure you were suffering for a crime you didn’t even commit! You should HATE me!”

[...]

“...Do I… forgive you?”

[Pause…?]

[He lets out a weak sigh]

“...I did say I’d only forgive you when you hurt as badly as I did… I did say those awful words, didn’t I…”

[You wait, hoping and praying. At long last, as the crickets chirp and the lake rolls in and out, he reaches out and carefully puts an arm around you, drawing you into his side]

[SFX: The lake and crickets/the Listener being moved]

[Pause??]

“Come here. Rest against my side… Jesus, you’ve got so many cuts and bruises…”

[Pause <3]

“No, I… I know you don’t mind if it’s for me… but you should. You… took the blow so I would hate you instead of blaming Coach… You were more worried about me losing another father figure than the damage it’d cause you…”

[... <3]

“No, Lavy, baby… Please, you have to understand that I am bad, I am… fucking awful for having done this! Saving me was not worth five years of torture, all from some emotionally-stunted asshole that you used to call a friend…”

[He rubs his face again. You think he’s trying to hide tears, but he’s not very good at it. You’ll show him how later]

[Pause <3]

“Sweetheart, I KNOW, I know you’re just so happy to see me, but please…!”

[...?]

“No… Lavy, I’m not mad at you… I’ve spent half a godamned decade… Harming you, and for what?! Just for a lost scholarship?! For a life, I thought was ruined??? No, this isn’t… You need to go to a hospital, sweetheart… I don’t know when this started, I don’t know how bad it’s been, but you’re hurt.”

[...]

[He does his best to be gentle and encouraging]

“It’s OK, alright? You finish up your food, we can watch the stars for a bit, and then we’ll go… Alright?”

[...?]

“...I do forgive you, OK? It’s all OK, now?”

[You get ahead of yourself before you can think and react with an excited hug. Julian gently pats your back, still shaking]

[Pause!!! <3]

“...Yeah… We can be friends again…”

[Pause <3]

[He hesitates at your statement]

“No, Lavy… You didn’t deserve… You never deserved-”.

[Pause <3]

“I… I-I know you don’t mind hurting for me. That’s what scares me. I don’t want my bestie hurting anymore, OK?”

[You melt at the word ‘bestie’. The stabbing pains in your heart finally fade after years of persistence, though your ribs disagree]

[Pause <3]

“Rest, for now… It’s gonna be OK, one way or another…”

[The stars are blind above, blinking and blazing. You feel a lot like them; millions of miles away from everyone else, yet still visible, somehow. At least he forgave you. At least, there is that]

[To be continued]

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: I’m hoping this absolute sobfest will knock me out of my angst phase for a bit. I did this shit when I was fourteen and I’m not about to do it again >:(