A Midnight Walk

Chapter 1

Knox knew how shy Todd was. Hell, all of the poets knew that, Neil especially. So it was no surprise when the invite to Ginny Danburry's party was met with stutters and blooming cheeks, a head ducked down followed with a small shrug which everyone knew was Todd's way of a polite decline. Yet what did come as a surprise was Neil's response to Todd's usual reply.

"God Todd you can't keep doing this! This is the party of the century, the opening number for senior year!" Neil gestures, following the path of the stained carpet to the door before turning around and facing the rest of the poets that lined the creaky beds and sunk into the old chair Charlie had picked up off the side of the road, each staring up at Neil with wide eyes. Neil is usually the most supportive of Todd, giving him a soft kiss on the head or putting a calming hand to his back in situations like these, being the first to suggest smuggling some beer into the dorms and just having a boy's night. But it seems that this time he isn't siding with his boyfriend. Charlie sits up on his elbows and turns to Todd.

"Come on Toddy, he's right you know! Maybe this will be your coming-of-age moment, the shy introvert goes to the big party, gets pissed and dances to Beyoncé on the living room table." Charlie states, a wide grin splayed on his face while he ignores the stale look from his boyfriend sitting next to Todd. Cameron rolls his eyes while Meeks gives him a dead look.

"As fun as it was, we don't need a repeat of that. Your little concert is the reason why we got kicked out by Tony at his last party." Standing up, Meeks continues, "But going to Ginny's party does sound like a fun night. So long as Pitts goes and there's free alcohol, count me in." Neil nods to this as Charlie gives a loud whoop, jumping up and slinging an arm around Meeks, dragging him to Neil and bringing them both into a crushing hug.

Todd sits silently in the corner, legs folded up to his chest and fingers fiddling with the blanket on the bed, refusing to meet anyone's eye and leans into Knox's side for comfort, hurt by Neil's words. The slight movement on the bed makes Knox speak up,

"Come on guys, this isn't the last party of the year. For god's sake it's only a week into the first semester. Give Todd a moment to settle into the new school year before we drag him into this year's social shenanigans." He says. Small fingers grip gently onto the sleeve of Knox's shirt, a small 'thank you' from Todd for taking his side.

The bond between the two boys is not a new occurrence, slowly building between the two since the beginning of high school as they bonded in the similar feelings harboured towards their now boyfriends. They shared the secrets in their relationships and advised each other when needed, a shoulder to cry on for Todd when he thought Neil liked Ginny and a pair of ears for Knox to rant to after Charlie would do something stupider than usual. Freshman year was spent of nights pining over the boys they thought were never achievable and sharing looks in the group when their crush would touch them. Sophomore was filled with cheeky grins after a class of spilling special moments and subtle high fives when Neil had finally asked Todd out. And Junior started off with happy faces after the success of Knox gaining the balls to confess to Charlie.

The room quietens for a moment before Charlie speaks up again.

"But it's the first party of the school year. Come on Todd, celebrate the freedom we have now before we're drowning in essays and tests!" his words seem to have little effect on Todd as he sinks further into himself, making him seem smaller than usual.

"Can we just-just sit this one out? Please? I pro-promise the next one we can go, I just want to sit in tonight and-and, I don't know. Just hang out together." Todd mutters, again finding an interest in the blanket. "If you really want to go you can, I can just stay here and watch a movie or something." A loud sigh from Neil brings everyone's attention back to him.