trees + vine, a separate peace au

phineas' september pt. 1

"Hi Gene." I said to my roommate when he walked in, absolutely startling him. I truly didn't mean to- I just wanted to say hello.

"It's Eugene." He says, looking down. I sense he's a bit annoyed with me, or feeling tense for whatever reason. Did I take the bed he wanted or something? His stuff was already here and by a bed when I got in so I'm assuming it isn't that. 

"Oh. Sorry. I'm Phineas Irvine, but I'm assuming you knew that already seeing as it's on the door." I say, lightly laughing to try and lighten the mood.

"Yeah." He sits back on his bed, still not looking me in the eyes. 

"Leper said you guys were pretty good friends, which is cool. I've known him and Evelyn since diapers, so it'll be nice to have someone to share El and Ev stories with." 

"Yeah, he told me. You're joining the Plutos right?" He mutters, not looking at me, but talking is a step-up, right? 

"Mhm. I'm the new bassist. Should be exciting. A little scared I won't live up to the expectations they've already set from last year, to be honest. First practice is-"

"-Tuesday. I've heard." He cuts me off. 

"Yeah. Well, I'm gonna go see Leper about band stuff, so I'll see you later." I've learned my lesson about when I'm not wanted many times before, so leaving him in this room seems like my best option. 

"Okay." I turn to go outside, but am stopped by Gene's sudden "Oh, Phineas?" Now I'm the startled one. "I hope this doesn't seem to personal, considering we've only just met, but, why'd you come to Devon?"

I fight the urge to roll my eyes at him- a man who has barely spoken to me and when he has, only done so in low and slightly-rude tones- wants to know why I'm here. I understand the curiosity, I do, but decide that, if he wants to know, I'm gonna make him work for it. 

"Well Gene, if I told you, I'd probably have to kill you." I wink at him and leave the room, trying to do so fast enough to not catch his reaction, or probable annoyance at me calling him 'Gene' again. 

I make my way over to El's room, luckily not that far from my own. I think now that I should've grabbed my water bottle, as I'd really like to go on a run about now, although, the want for Gene not to completely hate me is overshadowing that, so I'll just buy one from the vending machine after my visit to Leper. 

"Elwin Davidson Lepellier!" I yell while entering El's room. "How the fuck are we doing today?"

"Phineas Elliot Irvine! Great now that you're here. Simon, I want you to meet my favorite person in the world, back from his imprisonment in France, the one and only Phineas Irvine." He says, presenting me to Simon, who smiles and waves.

"Ah yes, this must be the guy he's been talking about for hours. I swear, if you came in a moment later he'd have an entire album written about your 'forgetting him'." Simon notes sarcastically. "I'll let you two catch up." He says, and goes to leave.

"It has not been hours!" El protests and shouts at Simon while he leaves. "I will admit, I have been talking about you to nearly everyone I know, but it's only because I miss my Phinster." He mock pouts and basically crushes me into a hug. 

"Elwin, what did you ever do when you were at school and I was back home? We haven't gone to school together since before seventh grade!" 

"Cried. Lots and lots of crying." 

"Well, none of that anymore. I'm here now, thankfully, so please don't cry on my account anymore. As my mother says, 'It's not a good look for a young man such as yourself'." I even try and replicate her accent while I say it, gaining a loud cackle from Leper.