masquerade【janiel】

Liquid Courage All The Way

Joey trudged into the living. The sympathetic look on his mother's face indicated that she heard the whole thing. She said nothing, but opened her arms. He said nothing, but embraced his mother's love.

Joey took some time to process what had just been told to him. Joey met David, guised as a prince, at the masquerade party. Joey met Daniel - for the first time - at the auditions. Joey fell in love with Daniel. Joey introduced Daniel to David. Daniel and David bonded well. David gave the crown from his masquerade costume to Daniel and told him to tell Joey that Daniel himself was the prince. Daniel lied to Joey. And, all this time, David has been in love with Joey.

Thinking through this timeline Joey noticed one thing in particular - Joey fell in love with Daniel before he thought Daniel was the prince, which means Joey is in love with Daniel as a person, not because he's some smouldering prince.

But, Joey was still upset that Daniel had lied to him.

Joey and his mother were watching a film. His dad, Jett and Nicole had already gone to bed, exhausted from their day out. Joey checked his phone and read the time: 11:16.PM.

The movie finished and the credits began to roll. Joey could suddenly hear a weird noise, he looked around to see if he could find the source.

"Mom, can you hear that?"
"Hear what, sweetie?" His mother asked.
"That noise - listen."

They both fall silent, while trying to hear the noise.

"It sounds like ... music."
"It sounds like ..." Joey gasped. "It's my favourite song! What the hell?"

Daniel was standing in front of Joey's house, he was actually holding one of those huge stereos like he was in a cheesy romcom. And it was blasting Joey's favourite song.

Joey parted the curtains and looked out the window. He saw Daniel and his lips instantly curled into a smile.

"He is sick in the head." Joey giggled to himself.

But, then Joey remembered he's mad at Daniel. He forced himself to stop smiling and went to door. Crossing his arms, he opened the door.

"It's a little loud!" Joey yelled over the music.

Daniel stumbled a bit trying to lower the stereo, he switched it off and approached Joey - visibly unable to walk in a straight line.

"You're drunk." Joey stated.
"I felt sad and alone, so I went to a bar and drank my troubles away. But, at one very crucial point, I realised I don't want to drink my troubles away. I want to fix them. I want to be with you - I always will. Look, I know I fucked up. Big time. And I know I shouldn't have lied to you, I never will again, I only lied to you because I wanted you to ... to like me. Believe it or not, you're the first boyfriend I've ever had. I've been in the closet all my life and when I met you and found out how amazing you are ... I just really wanted you to like me."
"Daniel..." Joey was brought to tears, he pulled Daniel into his embrace. He whispered in Daniel's ear: "You don't ever have to pretend to be someone else for me to like you. I love you for who you are."

Daniel could feel tears escape from his eyes.

"I am absolutely and completely in love with you. And nothing will ever change that."