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“Ugh, God, y’know she’s an airhead now?” Jeff took another small spoonful of his ice cream and turned the spoon in his mouth. He was sitting on the curb a couple blocks away from Greendale at a local ice cream parlor, grabbing a small treat with his fellow teacher and friend.
“Well, doesn’t that mean I’d have more of a chance?”
“Duncan, have you always been this desperate?”
“Oh, of course you’d say that! People like you have no clue what it’s like to need to try- oh shit,” The English man ducked and looked around for a place to hide. On his hands and knees, he crawled behind a trash can. Jeff stood up and looked at Ian cowering on the ground. He threw away his bowl and scoffed at him.
“Stop looking at me!” He harshly whispered, “Otherwise he’ll see-”
“Ian Duncan.”
Jeff recognized that voice. He hadn’t seen him in months. Jeff turned around and forced a smile while looking at Ben Chang.
“Chang! It’s been too long!” Jeff showed his teeth, but Chang pushed passed him and bent over Ian, who was still on the ground. At least Jeff didn’t have to fake being happy to see him anymore.
Ian was curled up next to the trash can like a baby with his mother. Chang was hovering over him; his back bent at a near 90 degree angle, how is he okay?
“Well, well, well, if it isn't Mr. Psychology. Are you and Steve Buchemi still going to the same dentist?” He remarked.
“Oh, very funny! I don’t suppose you stopped by the mental hospital on your way here?” Ian stood up and crossed his arms while glaring down at Chang.
“Actually, I’ll have you know: I tried to get in and they said I didn’t have the proper qualifications!” His arms shot down at his side, like a kid throwing a fit.
Jeff raised an eyebrow. It was always those two. Hell, they even fought more than he and Britta. He couldn’t blame Duncan for wanting to avoid Chang so much. Still, things seemed… tense between them, and Jeff couldn’t figure out why.
“Your mom still dying?” His voice was dripped in sarcasm, even though Ian’s mom really was dying.
“Okay, okay, that’s definitely enough,” The tallest stepped between the two other men, “What is going on with you two? For seven years you’ve been at each other’s throats more than anyone else has! What’s up?”
Ben and Ian avoided eye contact with Jeff by staring at the ground. There was silence as Jeff looked back and forth before Ian very quietly muttered, “He’s probably still not over me.”
“Me?! Not over YOU? HA!” He pointed to himself before pointing to Ian and shoving his finger in his face, “HAH!” Ian slapped the hand away from himself and stormed off.
“YEAH, YOU RUN!” Ben called after him, “Just like you did from me!” He turned and walked in the opposite direction, leaving Jeff to stand alone in the street.
“...Wait, what?”