The phone keeps ringing. It's terrible. IT won't leave you alone even though it should. It's Pat, who pretends to be your friend. They keep trying to drag you out. Probably to humiliate you. [[Answer the phone. ->Answer the Phone]] [[Ignore the phone. ->Ignore the Phone]]

"Hey! I've been trying to reach you for ages." Pat is annoyed with you. They probably hate you. Even the people who pretend to be your friends don't really like you. "Look, Unforseen Consequences is playing tonight. We can still make the show if you get your ass in gear." [[Hang up the phone. This conversation is pointless ->Start]] [[Stay on the phone. ->Phone Argument]]

"You hate me, don't you." "No I don't," Pat sats wearily. You can see how much effort it takes for them to lie. "Yes you do! You think I'm stupid and a monster!" "Please calm down," they sigh. "I don't have to fucking calm down." "Fine. Do what you want. I'm going to be at the show. I'd love to see you there." They hang up. *They hung up.* //**THEY HUNG UP ON YOU**// [[**"FUCK YOU!"**, you yell, and throw your phone against the wall. ->Broken phone]] [[This is pointless. Pull on some clothes and head outside. ->Going Outside]]

The light gathers behind the curtains, waiting to pounce the moment you draw them back. You should probably [[go outside ->Get Ready to Leave]] and maybe do something productive. You may have made plans with Pat. The room is a mess. You should clean it up. There's too much though. It's hopeless. [[Maybe you should just go back to bed. ->Start]]

You push aside the pile of dishes in the sink and find a glass that isn't too dirty. The water just seems to make you thirstier. You fumble through piles of laundry you meant to do days ago to find something you can stand wearing. Eventually you find a shirt that passes the sniff test (barely). Somehow you pull your shoes on. [[I guess there is no choice; may as well go outside ->Going Outside]] [[Give up. It's kind of useless, just stay here. ->Ignore the Phone]]

You've managed to pull some clothes on. You almost look presentable. Maybe people won't laugh at you. Or judge you. They probably will though. You probably look like shit. [[OK,you can do this. Just open the door. ->Get Outside]]

Your cellphone shatters when it hits the wall of your bedroom. At least the liars won't call you again. You don't have any friends anyway. //END

Traffic is loud and there are too many people. Everything seems jammed. Maybe there is an event today? Concert? Championship Game? You can't remember. There seem to be barricades on some of the sidewalks? Maybe it's a parade? Maybe it's a protest? You look for some kind of clue but it all just gives you a headache. You realize the metro is across the street. But getting across means crossing the barricades. [[Give up and head back in the direction of your house. This was probably a bad idea anyway. ->Get Outside]] [[Screw it. Charge across the street to the metro station and hope for the best. ->Metro]] [[Head north against traffic and hope whatever it is passes you by so you can cross more easily. ->The Office Building]]

It's crowded and noisy. There are too many people in this city. Everyone is pushing and moving too quickly. You should probably try to get to the theatre. [[There is your favourite coffee shop just over there. You could duck in for a coffee and escape the crowd. ->Coffee Shop]] [[OR you could just try to push ahead and keep heading toward the theatre. ->A Crowded Street Corner]]

The coffee shop is a thing. Wood tables, the comforting hiss of the cappuccino machine. The baristas barely look at you, but somehow are vaguely more polite than most of your so called friends. There seems to be a lot of hustle and bustle. It isn't as inviting and quiet as usual. Maybe it has something to do with the commotion outside. [[Order a coffee and stay awhile ->Drink Your Coffee]] [[Screw this, go back outside and get the hell out of here. ->Get Outside]]

You order from the barista and can't shake the feeling you're missing something. The coffee, at least, is warm in your hand. You drink slowly, savoring the bitter brew. Glancing into the mirror, you see your ex, Vic. //Crap// They look great, which is worse. They screwed you over. You hate them. But they would probably just laugh at you if they even noticed you. You should hide. Or pretend you didn't see them. Or fight them. You could punch them in their lying face. Or at least make them admit the truth. [[Confront Vic. ->The Ex]] [[Pretend you never saw them. ->Coffee Shop]]

"Hi! Oh my god. It's been forever." You mumble something in return. Vic always pretended they liked you. They are good at pretending. "Hey, I know things sort of flamed out between us. I'm sorry about that. I guess I just handled things badly and then the longer I waited to try and get back in touch the more difficult it got." Typical Vic. Somehow it was all just a misunderstanding and they never really were to blame. Same as it ever was. [[Put up with the polite lies of conversation. This was a bad idea, but you can probably just power through this. ->Conversation with Ex]] [[Tell them the truth. ->Escalation]]

//"You lying piece of shit~!"// You hear some muffled screaming from behind you. Vic lies bleeding on the floor. You don't remember attacking them. They deserved it though. They were always manipulating you back when you dated. They were trying to do it now, too. //They deserve it// you think. "DROP THE KNIFE AND GET ON THE GROUND NOW!" You turn, pissed off. The knife is still ready in your hand. The cop is stupid looking. Slow. Their hand isn't even on their gun yet. You don't see a partner. //"Fuck you, pig!""// You raise the knife. You got this.

Vic's voice softens in that way they always were able to pull off when they wanted you to do something for them, "It's good to see you." You eye them suspiciously. "Can I buy you cup of coffee? I'd love to catch up. I'm sorry I was such a jerk about things." [[Screw this. Time to go. Finish your coffee and leave. Vic is the past and there is no need to go over it again. ->The Office Building]] [[Tell Vic the truth about things. ->Reconciliation]]

You're outside an office building. One of those unfortunate prison towers the Very Important People lock themselves in to think Important Thoughts. The traffic is pretty thick here, but not nightmarish. You can probably pick your way through from here and make it over to the theatre district eventually, cutting through chinatown. It might be faster and easier on your legs to head down south a bit and jump on the metro. But there seems to be lots of noise that way for some reason, and it is going back in order to go forward. [[Pull your coat closer, and head off to chinatown. Maybe walking will make you feel better. PRobably not, though. ->Chinatown]] [[Head back down towards the metro station. ->A Crowded Street Corner]]

Vic buys you a cup of coffee and you settle in, waiting to call bullshit on their explanation. You never get the chance. Vic's contrite; serious; genuinely sorry. This isn't how this is supposed to go. You unload on them a bit of how hurt you were. Vic apologizes. There is probably no happy ending here. No grand relaunch of the relationship as it was. But there's kindness and understanding, and that's better than usual. Vic isn't offering romance, and maybe not even friendship. But maybe they're offering reconciliation and respect. That's something you can try to meet them halfway on. You go this.

Chinatown is eerily deserted. It's like everyone is off doing something else. Is something important happening today? Did you forget something? Is there a visiting Foreign Leader? You hear a voice calling someone's name and whistling occasionally. Like they lost their pet. You don't see anyone. [[This is damn creepy. Maybe you should turn back and return to the big office building. ->The Office Building]] [[Keep your eyes down and keep walking. The theatre district isn't far. You can probably make it. This is probably nothing. ->Theatre District]]

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" You keep your head down and run to the metro. You aren't sure who yelled at you. "GET OUT OF THE STREET!" There is honking. Someone screeches to a halt. You hear a siren. You brielfy think about just stopping, but instead just run down the metro steps. [[You pay for a ticket and head off to the Unforseen Consequences show. ->The show]]

Well here you are. Unforseen Consequences is going to play in the bar later tonight. Pat's supposed to be there. Pat probably hates you and doesn't want you to be there. This whole idea was stupid. You never should have gotten out of bed in the first place. [[Suck it up and go into see the show. ->Hang out with Pat]] [[Nope. This was a terrible idea. Wander into the Theatre District. ->Theatre District]]

Hipster cafes, seedy dive bars, and half-empty theatres. Welcome to the glory that is the "creative" mecca of town. Why does anyone even come here? It's all fake or desperate or both at the same time. People suck. This whole idea was the worst one you ever had. [[Head to Chinatown. ->Chinatown]] The little bar/theatre where Unfortunate Consequences is playing isn't far. Maybe you should still go. Maybe Pat will be waiting. You're not sure that is good or bad. [[But it is something. ->The show]]

"You made it!" Pat seems overjoyed to see you. "I've got a table up front," they say, ushering you through the crowd. Luckily, most people aren't looking at you. It's dark. You like Unforseen Consequences. The show will be ok. Maybe. You can do this.