How To Love An Actor

{V} Walking, Talking, and a Face Full Of...

When Roman and I return to the auditorium, Patton is sitting at his seat, grinning like a mad man.

"There you are Virge!"
Roman shoots me a look and raises his eyebrow at Patton's nickname.

"Hey, how'd it go?"

"Absolutely positively fantabulous! I feel like I rocked it!"

"Why, hello, my possible future princess," Roman said with a mock bow.

"Why, hello, my possible dashing prince," Patton grinned.

"Why, hello, you absolute dorks. Skip the introductions, Patton this is Roman, Roman this is Patton. Now tell us about the audition!" I pleaded.

"Well it was really scary for the first part but you can't imagine how sweet and understanding Mr. Picani is! He's just, like, the most perfect dad ever! He's everything I want to be, and has good taste in cartoons! We talked about Steven Universe and how Ro-"
"Spoilers!" Roman groaned dramatically.

"Sorry, sorry," Patton said with a sheepish smile. "Oh right, the auditions! When I got the script yesterday I was terrified but then I remembered I'd watched the movie so many times, even my improvising would be somewhat accurate and from there I just felt so confident and-" He paused to take a deep breath before continuing to babble, "I think I did fantastically!"

"Of course you did, Pat, you worked really hard and it paid off. Without a doubt, you're the best princess in the room.

I heard Roman sigh behind me. When I looked back I saw he had on a pout. I felt my heart be blown to absolute smithereens by what was in front of me. How could that exist? A boy that damn beautiful?

"What about me? Do you think I did great?" He said as he batted his eyelashes in a teasing manner.

I don't think he realized what he was doing to me, he probably saw it as playful banter. Just two bros chilling in an auditorium five feet apart cause they're not gay.

"Of course I think you did great," I grinned, at a loss of what else to do.

"You think so?" he grinned.

"I know so," I replied with my own sly smile. If I played it cool, I could shrug it off. Repress and forget. I can do this. No falling for a, as Dee said, player. A straight one, at that.

"Thanks for the confidence boost, I'm sure we both needed it," Patton said cheerfully. "Besides, it's about time you finally made some new friends."

"I have you," I mumbled.

"Yes, but now you have..?" Patton said as he looked curiously at Roman.

"Roman Erosa," he grinned. He stuck out his hand. "I feel like I'm meeting Virgil's dad so here's a handshake."

I couldn't help but laugh as Patton took Roman's large hand in his tiny one and shook it vigorously.

"I expect him home by 9 O'clock sharp, kiddo," Patton said sternly. In only a few moments, we were all in hysterics. Patton was clutching his stomach as Roman rolled on the floor in a fit of giggles.

I looked around, and I mean truly looked, and soaked in every detail of this moment. The way Patton's Cat cardigan was inside out, or the way Romans eyelashes glistened with laughter-induced tears. The way his perfectly-gelled hair came undone and began to fall in waves around his face. The way his lips parted to reveal his crooked teeth, or the beauty mark I had never noticed before. It was underneath his right eye, small and insignificant but to me it meant something. It was special.

He was special.

I noticed how there were other groups all around us, filled with kids genuinely enjoying life for the first time in god knows how long. I smelled the gross scent of coffee and body odor and heard the shrieks from students echo through the room. My eyes drifted back to Patton, whose small frame seemed to swell with love and pride and all the good things in life. Roman, whose muscles were prominent and how his broad shoulders filled his shirt just right. Or how as he rolled on the floor, I saw his small dimples and his freckles. I caught a glimpse of Dee, curled in a corner, alone, watching us. I turned away. I turned to look at the scene around me and realized this was love. I was in love with theater.