(no subject)

[had_not_lived]

When; THE IDES OF MARCH
Rating; ....prolly pg-13, for boys being boys. with boys.
Characters; Neil Perry [had_not_lived], Billy Kaplan [repeatshimself], and Todd Anderson [mumbled_truth]
Summary; PASSION! BETRAYAL! DRAMA! TEENAGERS!
Log;

Neil's fairly certain he isn't cursed today; tempers and tensions seem to be running high, but he feels just fine and so far no one's given him any trouble. Still, he's glad to be heading home-- he's spent as much time calming people down and ushering their confrontations outside as he has selling books today, and it's left him rather tired.

He doesn't suspect a thing as he heads up the stairs, thinking about what he wants to make for dinner, what he'll read tonight. Nothing of import. There are no omens to warn him of what lies ahead. Shifting a small bag of groceries to one arm, he unlocks the door of his apartment and walks in.

Comments

[had_not_lived]

"I got out early," he says quietly, rather dully.

He's still in shock, not able to believe what's right in front of him. Todd-- his best friend and more, Todd whom he loves, who he thought loved him-- in bed with their roommate. Someone he had taken in out of concern for his happiness. Because of all the people Billy had lost.

Earlier he'd been totally rational about the fact that there was a curse; that's all out the window now. This is obviously real, obviously happening; he's been betrayed and the world may as well be over.

"How could you," he manages, more miserable than wrathful, addressing the words to both of the other boys.

[inmyothertights]

Billy manages to scramble to get his shirt on, and he can't really look Neil in the face. Is this the part where he's supposed to...run out? Feel guilty? Hide in the closet and sing about it? He's not altogether sure. He finally opens his mouth, and nothing comes out.

Teddy would feel even worse, a part of his mind, an uncursed part, tells him, but Billy isn't paying attention.

[mumbled_truth]

He looks away, not able to answer immediately. There isn't much to say, much of an explanation to offer. It's not that he doesn't care about Neil anymore, it's just that... somewhere along the line, things have started to change. Things between him and Billy, even things between him and Neil.

"I'm sorry."

Todd glances back up sullenly; it's an apology for the way Neil found out, not for what was going on, and the lack of any other rush to repair things makes that evident. This wasn't how he planned to bring it up; he's been grappling with that particular difficulty long enough, his old fear of speaking up finding a very specific new reason to manifest.

Something in the back of his head is trying to get his attention, trying to tell him that something is incredibly wrong with what's happening, but he's too far gone to listen to what it has to say.

[had_not_lived]

Shouldn't he be angry? Shouldn't he rage and threaten and throw things about the room, turning to destruction since there's obviously no constructive option left? Neil feels as though his heart is cracking, as much because of the obvious lack of regret Todd feels as anything. He casts a sharp look from one, to the other, and back, his lips twisting, hands clenching at his sides. For a moment Neil forgets to breathe; and he doesn't remember he needs to until his lungs begin to burn. I loved you, he almost wants to say, the unformed words an accusation. He still does. And it hurts.

"I have to..." An uncertain step back. His eyes are stinging with tears he refuses to shed in front of the two of them. The act grants him a little more certainty.

"I'm leaving."