Chapter Text
As Angela walked down the stairs, gripping the guardrail as she walked, she could've normally felt her confidence waver in this moment upon seeing all those people, but... with Randall by her side, she suddenly felt a surge of confidence she normally wouldn't have felt.
The room was crowded, people were chatting, laughing, having a good time, despite the occasional flash of various cameras. With every camera flash Angela felt her throat almost... Tighten little by little.
Ugly Ugly Ugly Ugly Ugly Ugly....
"Henry!" Randall shouted out with a large smile on his face and Angela felt him pull her as he began a light sprint over to Henry. This is so embarrassing this is so embarrassing…. "Hen'! Where’s mum' and dad at?"
"Hello Randall and... Hello Angela..." Henry's voice hestiated a little, his face flushing a slight pink. Angela gave the boy a small wave, but didn't say anything otherwise. "Your parents? They went over to see Hershel's family, I waited here for you Randall..."
"Cool," Randall replied. "We're gonna be taking pictures with Angela."
"Oh, that's nice. I'd love to meet your family, Angela, are they-"
Randall made a motion with a hand near his neck, signalling to Henry to end this line of questioning.
"...?" Henry's voice faltered and he tilted his head ever so slightly.
"It's fine— it's not a secret anymore." Angela said, her voice coming out a little meaner then she first anticipated. Bitch. "My parents... aren't coming."
"Oh!" Henry made a slight gasp, then grew embarrassed at his own reaction. "I'm so sorry to hear that, are you-"
"I'm fine, like I said. Just... Just a little down, i guess." Liar, you lying two-faced piece of shit, a baby could lie better then you.
"And we're gonna make her feel better," Randall placed both hands on either side of Angela's shoulders from behind. "Right Hen'?"
Henry nodded, but before the boy got a chance to reply verbally, Mr and Mrs Ascot arrived, and stood back where Henry was standing.
"Mum, Dad— Angela." Randall introduced with a smile. "Angela wanted to know if she could take her photos with us."
"Ah, I remember you..." Said Mrs Ascot with a vague recognition. "Of course, you must be that girl Randall always talks about."
"Mom—" Randall butted in, giving her a disapproving look.
He talks about me...?? "Ah, ahem... Hello, it's nice to meet you." Angela greeted, smiling at them the best she could, she offered out a hand to shake, which was kindly taken by Mrs Ascot, then by Mr Ascot. "You two look nice..." She commented as she swapped hands from Mrs Ascot to Mr Ascot, giving a gentle and timid shake. You're just saying that.
"You look lovely yourself, dear." The older wemon smiled. You don't deserve that compliment, Angela. "I hope my boy wasn't been causing you any trouble, young lady." Mr Ascot spoke, teasing over to Randall with a gentle nudge of his elbow.
"How'd it go with Hershel's parents? You two get along?" Randall asked his mother, sensing Angela's growing unease with the spotlight on her.
"Lucille and Roland? They're lovely people, and so is that boy Hershel." Mrs Ascot smiled.
"Speaking of that, where'd Hershel go? You guys know? Angela and i wanted to ask him if we could take pictures with his family too."
"He's with his parents dear, we just got finished introducing ourselves when we came back over here." Mr Ascot said, gesturing over to the table set up holding the store bought quality food.
"Thanks!" Randall smiled, nodding his head before taking Angela's arm. "Come on, let's go ask him Angie'!"
Mr and Mrs Ascot watched as Randall pulled Angela along, slipping past other parents and graduates as he did so while repeating "'cuse me!" in a slightly high-pitched almost girlie tone.
Randall stopped once they reached Hershel Layton.
"Hersh." He declared. "We're taking photos."
Hershel turned around, holding a small plate of food. "... Yes?" He seemed puzzled, raising an eyebrow, trying to detect if Randall was up to something. "That is what we had planned..."
"Can Angela come? Her parents didn't show up."
"-Oh." Hershel's small eyes widened slightly and flickered to Angela, who shifted uncomfortably, his gazed softened to a sympathetic one. "I'm so sorry to hear that Angela..."
"It's fine..." Liar, it's not fine, you can't even be honest with your own friends?
"Did they say why...?" Hershel prodded a little, curious about it. "They usually come to all student-parent events..."
Angela shook her head. "N-No... Not a word." It's your fault, you should've asked.
"But you know how they are about photos, right Hersh?" Randall cut in, his arms already crossed. He turned his head to Angela, speaking again. "They don't even let you in on the school trip photos... So, don't beat yourself up over this one, Angela."
Too late. "I won't— I'm not." Angela said, looking to Randall, then back to Hershel, who gave her a smile once their eyes met. She smiled too, feeling just that little bit better now.
"Are you taking some with your parents too?— Photos i mean." Randall suddenly asked, looking off as he pondered on an idea in his head.
"Yeah, why?" Hershel asked, eyes flicking to Randall, then Angela, before landing back on Randall. "Something wrong?"
"Nothin' really, i'm just thinking.” Randall replied, Angela wanted to comment something like “That’s a dangerous combination” but decided against it. Randall looked to Hershel once more. "Could she take photos with your family too?"
"Hm?" Angela and Hershel both hummed simultaneously, albeit with different tones.
"Angela's gonna take photo's with mine," Randall explained briefly before turning to Angela. "Wouldn't it be cool if you had photo's of both me and Hershel's families? Too make up for yours not showing up?"
Angela shifted uncomfortably again, shyness caging her normally friendly and open mind. "R-Randall— i'm sorry, i'm sorry Hershel, don't want to throw a wrench in your p-plans..."
"Don't say that," Hershel spoke up, smiling to Angela. "I wouldn't mind having photos with you, if that's what you want... We can even ask my parents once they get back fro—"
"Hershel, dear, sorry to keep you waiting..." Lucille Layton arrived, taking the plate of food back from her son.
"Ah, Randall my boy! Nice to see you again young man." Roland followed behind, speaking with a smile and extending a hand to shake Randall's in a firm and confident, but friendly shake.
"And nice to meet you too, young lady." Lucille held a hand out to Angela. "You look lovely, what's your name?"
"I'm Angela." She replied, smiling at the older woman and nodding her head. You don't deserve her, you never did, and you never will. "Y-You look lovely too, Mrs Layton..."
"Awh, thank you." Lucille patted Angela's hand, smiling kindly. "Call me Lucille."
"Ma', Pa'" Hershel spoke, smiling too. Lucille and Roland turned their attentions. "Is it alright if Angela takes some photos with us?
"Oh, of course you can sweetheart," She replied with a sense of joy, Roland nodded along in agreement to Lucille's words. Lucille takes Angela’s hands, the warm touch lingering for a moment. "It would be our pleasure to take photos with a lovely young lady like you. Let’s do it, let’s do it right now my dear. Hershel’s already done with his photos.”
Angela looked back to Randall, warmth but slight worry in her eyes.
"Hey, don't worry about my family," Randall smiled to her, taking a moment to fix his glasses. "Henry can wait."
"Randall-" Angela lightly chided but giggled at Randall's joke anyways.
"Angela, it's alright, i mean it." Randall put a hand on her shoulder, smiling. "Go have fun, that's what this day is all about, having fun. We can take our photos after."
Angela smiled, looking to Randall. "Randall... Hershel..." She looked between the two boys, then let out a warm and pure genuine smile. "Thank you guys, you two are the best... I don’t know what i’d do without you two in my life."