Park Bench (Prinxiety AU)

Chapter 12 - Roman

October 31

     Tonight. It was tonight. My favourite night of the year. Well, not my favourite. Not even close. Still, a good night nonetheless.

     I was already costumed up, although the party wouldn't start for a few more hours. The excitement just had its grip on me and there was no coming down from it. The only thing not done yet was my hair, which was messy from me running my hand through it so much. I had been debating on whether or not to bring my sword. On the one hand, it would be hilarious. On the other, I wasn't exactly what you would call 'responsible'. No doubt I'd injure someone. Oh, but bringing it would be so funny... And a prince without a sword...

     I huffed and dropped the sword on my bed--irresponsibly--and crossed my arms over my chest. I so badly wanted tonight to be perfect. There was no real motive behind this desire. I just wanted things to work out, so, so badly.

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     I was giddy as I stepped out of Remus' car. Usually, I wouldn't have trusted him to drive me anywhere--we didn't get along, I couldn't stand him, and he was a horrid driver--but I couldn't drive. Desperate times, they say. We didn't speak on the way. Well, I didn't. He tried. I just had zero interest in his conversations, if you could even call them that. They were that bad. Not to mention his costume. He was some sort of cannibal or something, but with bondage equipment? Really, I'll say it again, I couldn't stand him.

     Despite that, I kept my mood intact and raced to leave my brother behind as I headed to the door of Patton's house. Inside, the music was loud enough that it could be heard from out here, and I could feel it on my fingertips as I took the handle in my hand. As I twisted it and pushed the door open, it filled my ears fully. Pop wasn't quite my scene, I liked Broadway, but I still grinned at the deafening bass.

     I stepped in gracefully, slamming the door behind me before a certain person could make it in. It was bad enough that I had to breathe the same air as him all night. The moment I was in far enough to be seen, Patton was in front of me. "Roman!" he shouted excitedly, jumping up and down before grabbing my arm and dragging me to the living room. It was crowded, people bumping into each other. He led me to the hallway that leads to the bedrooms so we could speak a little bit easier. "Hey! Look! I'm a puppy!" he said and motioned to his costume. It was very him, with big ears and a painted nose. A collar around his neck was tagged with 'Paw-ton'.

     "I see that," I replied with a smile. "You're adorable." He beamed at me.

     "Food and drinks in the kitchen, scary movies on downstairs, quiet space in the backyard or my bedroom," he said. "Is Remus here?"

     "Yeah." I tried not to sound upset.

     "Oh, snap, I should go get him. Go have fun! I want to introduce you to my roommate soon!"

     He rushed off, out of the hallway, and back into the loud cluster of people. I hadn't remembered the whole roommate thing. This Virgil guy. I'd be meeting him tonight, I guessed. Leaving the thoughts behind, I bounded out into the crowd.

     A string of purple lights was hanging above the TV. They were identical to the ones I'd given the boy at the park. I tried to ignore it because I didn't want to think of him.

     Immediately I ran into Logan. "Oh," I said. "You're Sherlock." He had the whole outfit, including the hat and magnifying glass. It was... a sight.

     "And what are you, some sort of prom queen?" He motioned to my sash, and I rolled my eyes.

     "Prince."

     "Yet you are not very princelike."

     I left. Logan was slightly, just slightly, insufferable sometimes. Not very princelike. I'd show him. I was the only prince there, and therefore I was the most prince-y one around. I had to stop my thoughts there because 'princey' made me think of a certain boy again, and I somehow still wished I was there with him right now. With a sigh and a shake of my head, I went to the kitchen, looking for something to drink. Patton was insanely against alcohol, so you can imagine my surprise when I walked in to see the dining table covered in it. There were bottles and cans stacked on top of each other.

     I frowned when I thought about how much cleaning Patton and Logan would have to go through. I'd be helping, of course, but I wasn't the one who would have to live with stains on the carpet. Last year a bowl of punch had spilt, and the couch was still covering the red splotch that was left behind by it. It would be there forever. Or, at least until they got a new carpet, but who knows when that would be.

     At first, I reached for a bottle of water, but after a moment of hesitation and a glance at the clock (which read 5:14), I grabbed a random can of something off the table. I had to loosen up a bit. Patton walked in just as I took my first sip. I watched as he tried to ignore what I was drinking, and he covered up with a smile. "My roommate is usually out this time of day, but he should be home soon, so you can meet him then!" he said over the still very loud music. I nodded, thinking of the park again. Always out at this time, just like... I took another sip and allowed Patton to lead me out of the kitchen.

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     I was a little dizzy from my half-finished third drink, leaning against a wall and chatting with some of Patton's friends. Something about a TV show, or a movie, or maybe even animals or something. I had lost wherever the conversation had gone because I was too busy processing what I'd just seen. A blur of purple and brown, black eyeshadow, for just a second, behind one of the many groups that had gathered. I had to check the ingredients of my drink. It was either too much alcohol or not enough, because I was clearly hallucinating. Actually, how could that be not enough? Deciding I was at my limit, I set my can down on the coffee table and left the group to go out back on my own. No one else was out there, and I needed a moment.

     I sat on the porch and took a deep breath. People had never made me nervous before, but for whatever reason, the idea of going back in there made me feel sick. Maybe that was just the drink, which I had waited far too long to abandon. I pressed my hands to my face.

     I heard the door slide open behind me. There was a quiet gasp that followed. "Princey...?"

     My eyes went wide and I looked over my shoulder. He was standing in the doorway with a bottle of water.

     Everything started spinning, and before I could fully understand what was happening, I was throwing up in the grass. Damn drink.