A Midnight Walk

Chapter 2

On the other side of the town, the other poets knew nothing of what had happened to two of the members and were too busy living the good life, dancing like there was no tomorrow and yawping like no one was around. Charlie had been dragged down from at least three surfaces every time Rhianna came on and Cameron was standing in the corner, nursing a drink as Neil, Meeks and Pitts sauntered around and socialized.

Neil was smiling wide, looking around the room in search of Todd before he remembered he hadn't come. Dimming slightly, he quickly perked up when Ginny walked over to him, joining in the conversation.

"Hey Neil! So glad you could make it!" wrapping him in a quick hug, Neil wraps his arms around her and laughs, noticing the slight stumble she had and the slur to her words. Meeks looks over at the two, keeping an eye on Ginny as she flirtatiously smiles at the oblivious Neil.

"Glad to make it too Ginny, wouldn't pass up on this." He says smiling, letting go of her and stepping back, widening the circle of friends to fit her in. Looking away, he doesn't notice the fall of Ginny's smile. Seamlessly fitting into the conversation, their chatter continues, topics jumping from jobs to school to relationships, and quickly Neil has all the attention as he's asked about why Todd didn't come.

"Well, we all know how he is with parties. I'm just surprised that you came at all, usually you would stay back with him." Ginny says as the words float out her mouth without so much as a warning sign. She takes another sip from her drink, swaying slightly to the upbeat music vibrating the house. Frowning slightly, Neil takes a sip from his drink, quieting down a bit as the rest of the group move on to the upcoming year and plans for after school. Neil furrows his brow as he thinks about Ginny's words, he didn't always stay with Todd when he didn't want to go to a party, right? "But hey! Least you're here right? Now Todd won't drag you away from m-us. Us. You need a break from him anyway." She continues, sipping on her drink while staring at Neil.

Meeks looks at Ginny like he wants to punch her, well aware of the crush she is harbouring on Neil since their middle school days. The day she found out Neil was interested in the new boy in a way a straight guy shouldn't be Meeks knew that this day would come, the day she spews out the feelings she's been holding in and lets them land on Neil's heart. Neil's face is full of confusion, forgetting about her previous words and focusing on the ones just said.

"What did you just say?" Neil asks, disbelief in his voice.

"You heard what I said, you need a break from him. Figure out who you truly want and go for it, rather than hanging back for somebody like, him. Someone who needs their hand to be held every second of the day." Bitterness is mixed in her sweet tone, her eyes still glued to Neil. The conversations around them in the group has lulled, all paying attention to the jealousy Ginny is displaying.

"Take a break from Todd? He's the one I truly want, he's perfect how he is. And he doesn't have his hand held every second of the day, God Ginny where is this coming from?" Defending Todd, Neil stands up straighter and squaring his shoulders, still not understanding the motive behind Ginny's words but still understanding them as an attack on his boyfriend. Chuckling to herself Ginny shakes her head, looking back up to Neil before dropping her nice-girl façade.

"Don't you get it Neil? You deserve someone like me! Someone who has the same passion for theatre and the will to live dangerously! Not some wallflower who quietly reads in the corner like some weirdo." She finishes, eyes slowly widening as she processes her words. She looks up to Neil's furious face, jaw set and eyes glaring at her as he finally understands why she had said those things about Todd.

"Someone like you? Someone who bitches to others about their crush's boyfriend and has the audacity to say that they deserve me better? Someone who doesn't know my boyfriend at all, but thinks that all he does is sit in a corner and read? Well let me tell you this. My boyfriend is one of a kind. He loves me as much as I love him. And sure he has anxiety, sure he isn't fond of public speaking, but he does things like that for me." A small, fond smile has taken over his face as Neil his angry tone had faded slightly to a softer one. "He puts up with me, reminds me to brush my teeth in the morning and pick up after myself. Our differences are what bring us together. His quietness reminds me to take a step back and calm down whereas my loud and open behaviour brings him out of his shell, builds confidence. He's there for me when I need him and I know that I can rely on him for almost anything. That's why I can see a future in us." He says the last part quieter, almost to himself. Meeks and Pitts glance at each other, a warm smile on their faces as they see their friend's happiness clear on his face.