All Around You (Troyler AU)

Chapter 4: The Promotion

Troye’s P.O.V

The next morning I sat at breakfast with my family, looking over at the crowds of people in the great hall. There was this undeniable giddy feeling spreading wildly in my chest, and a smile plastered on my face the entire morning. The great hall had an entirely different feeling to it this morning. For once I wasn’t completely bothered by all of the noise, or scared of all of the people.

My sister definitely noticed my change in attitude faster than any of my other family members had. From time to time, she would give me this small, knowing grin and raise an eyebrow at me, as if she was trying to get me to explain myself. I brushed her off and tried to go on with the meal unnoticed. Occasionally I could hear her high-pitched giggling as she nudged her elbow into my arm. I rolled my eyes despite the happy little grin smile I couldn’t hide from her.

“Are you going to tell me how it went, or am I just going to have to keep making faces at you all morning?” Sage asked with a giggle. I tried to maintain a blank facial expression and eat my meal, but I wanted so badly to talk to her about yesterday.

“It went very well,” I said quietly as to not get anyone else’s attention from the table.

“I told you,” she said smugly. “You had nothing to worry about with him. Tyler is probably the nicest guy in the entire kingdom.”

“He really is,” I agreed quickly. “He’s fantastic, Sage, he was so nice to me even after I was so awkward. If I had acted that way to anyone else they would’ve laughed at me, but he didn’t.” I hadn’t even realized how excited I was getting until I saw I had leaned forward towards her, nearly knocking her off of her seat. She laughed quietly and pushed me back.

“Tyler’s the best,” Tyde said from the other side of her. My head shot up to look at him, but he was completely preoccupied with his food.

“Were you listening to us?” I asked.

“Well, you weren’t being quiet!” He objected with a smile. “But yeah, Troye, I’m really happy you got to meet him. You two would be good friends.”

“Troye made a friend?” Steele said from my left. I nearly jumped as I looked over to him, seeing both his and my parent’s eyes fixated on me all at once. “Good for you, Troye, I’m happy you have someone!”

“Who is it?” my mother asked excitedly. I groaned in defeat as I hid my face behind my hands. It was one thing to have Sage know about all of this, but it was entirely different to have all of my family in on it.

“It’s no one,” I said, my voice sounding muffled and distant through my hands, “I didn’t actually make a friend, it’s nothing.”

I felt slightly bad for keeping my family out of all of this, but the problem was: I wasn’t exactly sure if they were joking or not. I wasn’t sure if they were actually happy they thought I’d found someone, or if they were poking fun at the fact I didn’t have any friends. Because honestly, who tells someone they’re happy the person has finally made a friend? It sounds more condescending than it does genuine.

Very softly, I felt Sage put her hand on my forearm and squeeze it. I peeked my head out from behind my hands and saw her understanding smile, and I knew I had nothing to worry about with my family. I took a deep breath and continued on with breakfast as if the whole conversation had never happened.

Breakfast was very quickly drawing to a close, I could tell because people were finishing their portions of food. As subtly as I possibly could be, I tried scanning the knight’s table to find Tyler. It was harder than I thought it was going to be, because there were so many people amongst all of the tables.