𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧, young royals

11: Cosmogyral

11: Cosmogyral

August's huge party buzzed in every conversation on friday. It was all anyone could talk about.

"This is so gonna be the biggest fucking party ever."

"What are you gonna wear?"

"I'm definitely getting shit-faced tonight."

"Do you think Wilhelm's actually gonna come?"

It was hard settling back into the routine.  To exist the way I used to.  But I was glad people were talking about something other than my brother and the accident.

It was that friday, while I was on break and strolling about the school library, looking for a new book to pick up, when I saw it.

My cousin and Simon, talking in the row adjacent to mine.

It was strange.  I don't think I'd ever seen them addressing each other outside of rowing practice, if it wasn't for August picking on him or Simon telling him off.

But they were speaking, looking serious.  Simon rolled his eyes at something August said, and then, oddly, they shook hands.  Like sealing a deal.  I started to wonder just how much I'd missed out on in the past three months.

I then watched Simon turn away and leave my cousin, and once I was certain he was gone, I dashed across my row and into August's.

I cleared my throat.

"Hey," I spoke.

August whirled around to face me. 

"Oh, hey, Wille," he replied, "didn't see you there. What's up?"

"What was that about?"

"You mean with the socialist?" he said, jabbing his thumb at the door Simon had just exited through.

I nodded.

"That was nothing, just... a little arrangement him and I had."

I crinkled my brows, confused.

"Arrangment?" I echoed.

August shrugged.  "Big party's coming up, and he has some contacts.  He's been helping us sneak booze and... other stuff into our parties for a few months."

"You mean like... dealing?"

"If that's what you wanna call it," said my cousin nonchalantly.  "I like to think of it as a simple trade.  But, hey, once you learn to speak their language, these non-res aren't so useless, uh?"

I refrained from rolling my eyes.

"Come on, August," I sighed, "you could get him in serious trouble."

"Me?" he scoffed, stunned, and drew a hand to his chest.  "Please, don't lay him at my door, Wille.  He's a big boy, making his own big decisions.  I am only his lever."

"And what makes you think he's reliable?" I queried. "That he wouldn't turn right on you if anything went down?"

August smirked at me and huffed, "I don't think he's reliable; I just know that he's harmless.  Even starved dogs know not to bite the hand that feeds them, Wilhelm."

You see, that was August's problem. He believed himself so immense and and above everyone that his guards were always down. And maybe it was true, in a sense, because Simon could never nick his reputation if he tried.