all the world's a stage // prinxiety ✔

♡ 14 - something bad ♡

(a/n: this book was just an excuse to make as many falsettos references in the chapter titles as i can)

Pretty soon, it was their lunch break. The cast sat at a large table altogether.

"Why are you still dating that guy?" Hellen, playing Cordelia, whispered to Virgil.

Virgil shrugged and sighed. "It's complicated."

"If he keeps acting like how he did today," Lyra warned, "tell me. I'll kick his ass. You're not even mad at him?"

"Well, of course I'm mad at him. But..."

"Oh, don't make excuses for someone who's just plain disrespectful," Valerie advised. "Of course everyone makes mistakes, but he treats you like shit. We can all see it."

Virgil took another bite out of his sandwich. "I've, uh... I've been thinking..." He looked at Declan, who was talking to the kid, Scott, playing Jason. Then he turned back to the girls.

"I'm planning on breaking up with him anyway..."

Roman, who had stayed quiet for most of the conversation, grinned. "That's awesome!"

"But I'm scared to do it."

"Breakups are always scary. You can do this."

♡

Rehearsal was nearly over. Virgil sat next to Declan and bit his lip. "De, we need to talk."

"Yeah, babe?"

Virgil rolled his eyes. His anger from the fight the night before resurfaced. "This isn't working."

Declan cocked his head to the side. "What isn't working?"

The younger one glanced over at his friends. Valerie gave him a thumbs up, and even the kid, Scott gave him a reassuring smile.

Declan put his hands around Virgil's wrists. First, it was comforting and warm. Then, it was tight and Virgil heard his heart pounding in his chest.

"Well? You going to tell me?" Declan asked.

"Yeah. Yeah... I am. De, we need to break up."

The grip around the teenager's wrists became even tighter. "What?"

"I don't think we'll last much longer anyway. We have so many issues, and- and we shouldn't be together."

Declan dropped his scowl, and smiled with a wicked gleam in his eye.

"Declan?"

"We're going to be working together for quite a bit, Virge. It seems like you didn't think this through. And now you're getting mad because you aren't getting all the attention you want from me? Grow up. If you really want to break up, have fun kissing me eight shows a week."

"I don't want attention!"

"That's a lie."

"Well- I-I-"

"Yes?"

"I do! Fuck, I do! But I'm your boyfriend, so of course I want you to love me! As much as I love you! B-But, you always disregard what I'm feeling to talk about your issues, and I don't- I want to be listened to! Please?"

"You know what? It's your fault people don't listen to you. You can't see just how shitty of a person you are. I can't fucking believe you're breaking up with me because of your mistakes!"

"Declan, what did I do? Please, tell me!" Virgil pleaded.

Tears streamed down Virgil's face and he shook himself free of the imaginary scenario.

"Hey? Hi? You blanked..." his boyfriend said, worry evident on his face. "Baby? Why are you crying?"

Now he had completely let go of his wrists, and was gently squeezing his shoulders.

"Look, if you're trying to say you want to break up with me, I'm so sorry... I didn't mean anything I said last night! I was just angry and stressed, and I'm really sorry! I won't ever do it again!"

"...no, no. It's nothing," he lied.

"Wait, really?"

"Yeah, really... it's whatever."

"Oh. If you're sure."

Virgil, struggling to speak because he was sobbing uncontrollably, let Declan wrap his arms around him protectively.

♡

"Ay caramba..." Roman muttered.

Virgil groaned. "I know, I know! But fuck, I love him, what do I do?"

♡

*tw*

"I thought you said you wouldn't do this again!"

"Oh, fuck off! The world doesn't revolve around you!"

"You told me what you said last night meant nothing, and now it's happening all over again! What's the fucking truth?! I can't trust you anymore! I don't know how much you've lied to me!"

"Vi-"

"Shut the fuck up! What's real, asshole? Is your brother really injured? Do you actually love me? Am I an attention whore or not? What the hell!"

"Yes! Yes, he is!" Declan's voice cracked and it became harder to force words out. "I would never lie about that! He's the one who's kept me sane all these years, Virgil! He's the one who never gave up on me and he's the reason I'm still alive! And you too! If you were gone, I'd kill myself!"

"Just because you're suffering doesn't mean I'm suddenly invisible whenever you want me to be!"

Declan didn't answer. He brought Virgil in for a kiss. Virgil tried to pull away, but he eventually gave up hope and melted into it.

The phrase echoed in his head.

If you were gone, I'd kill myself!