Chapter Text
“Be like Jeffery, Todd. He jumped into action like he was born for it. Why can't you be like that? What in the world is stopping you?”
Todd wasn't surprised at all as he listened to his father rant. He'd almost predicted the speech word for word. There was no shortage of the terms 'patriotic' and 'brave' and 'meaningful' as his father tried to berate him into staying put. He silently pushed through it all, ignoring the sharp words as he closed his suitcase and checked his train ticket once more; Todd Anderson was bound directly for New York City. He was far more prepared for this spontaneous move than he'd previously given himself credit for. Days earlier, he'd even predicted his parents sharing a disapproving glance before forcing fake, toothy smiles onto their faces when he told them he had been hired as a columnist for the New York Mirror- specifically writing reviews of local entertainment. They nodded and those fake smiles widened and tightened when he told them he’d accepted the job, too. Fresh out of The University of Vermont, and Todd was already moving to another state.
But who were they to judge him? Being cooped up in their tiny Vermont town and working in a diner with his degree in English burning through his pocket was not a life he wanted to continue living. It was time for a change, and if that change meant going to New York City, he was going to take it.
For almost a year now, Todd had been forced to wipe tables and rinse glasses while he listened to locals wax poetic about how noble his brother was for volunteering to fight in Vietnam. Jeffery Anderson, local golden boy, was making his country proud while his brother mixed milkshakes behind a counter. Not that Todd wanted to be stationed in the front lines with a rifle- he didn't want that at all. He was just sick and tired of his dead-end job and living with his parents. He'd been floating about without purpose, accepting tips from pretty boys and girls and pocketing them for gas money. His life was boring and mundane. Perhaps the mundaneness of his existence was why he applied for the job at The Mirror immediately when his friend Gerard mailed him an application form. Perhaps that boredom was why he accepted the position immediately. That must’ve been why he was taking a train to New York City with nothing but a suitcase and fifty dollars in the back of his pocket. If that wasn't the reason, then Todd had probably gone crazy. He was not a spontaneous person.
So, maybe Todd had made an impulsive decision with little to no critical thinking. He didn't know much, but he knew one thing: he had no idea what he was doing, but he needed a place to settle. A place to be happy. That place was not Vermont.
His first stop in the big city was his friend Gerard’s apartment. Gerard Pitts had been Todd’s best friend since elementary school, and even when they went to separate colleges they’d still kept in touch through letters and the occasional call. It was nice to know that he had someone in his corner, even when Gerard moved to New York to study at some elite college. He still made time to talk to his shy old best friend, who was tucked away in Vermont studying literature. When Todd told his old friend that he'd applied for the job and been accepted, Gerard celebrated loudly over the phone and immediately asked Todd to stay the night at his apartment while they worked out some incredibly last minute details (like Todd's living situation- but apparently Gerard's roommate Stephen Meeks had gotten a head start on finding Todd a place). Deep down, Todd was anxious about the whole thing. He was excited to get away, though, and he wasn't going to let anything ruin his celebration. He was overjoyed to escape the disapproving glares of his parents, and all of the small-minded small-town people that had always judged him for being different. Gerard had given him a golden opportunity to escape it all, and he was going to take it- anxious or not.
Gerard's (Or Pitts', as Stephen Meeks called him) apartment was really very nice, and Todd could tell immediately that he and his roommate got along well. Meeks ("Oh, no, no one calls me Stephen, Todd. Only my Mother, and she's as Catholic as they come. Call me Meeks.") was short- a perfect compliment to Pitts’ unnatural amount of height. Pitts was all long, awkwardly strung limbs and flat-top hair, with squinty brown eyes and a smile that took up his whole face. Meeks was smaller than him. Well-built and stocky. Todd liked his horn-rimmed glasses and he liked his curly, strawberry-blond hair. Freckles spattered his whole face and he had a young, boyish look despite being a successful college graduate and engineer. They were an odd-looking pair, but somehow, they worked well together.
“So, you've known Pitts since diapers, huh?” Meeks precariously lowered a slice of pizza to his mouth, tilting his head back to catch all of the cheese that stretched from it.
Todd looked up from his slice, nodding. “Well... I guess.”
“No need to be shy ‘round Meeksie, Todd, he wouldn’t hurt a fly.” Gerard- no, Pitts unceremoniously brought a hand down upon Meeks’ back, causing the ginger to cough into his hand as he choked on the melted cheese in his mouth. Ger- Pitts’ eyes widened as he patted his roommate’s back three or four more times. “Oh, sorry. I forgot you take bites too big for your mouth.”
Meeks chugged back some water before glaring at Pitts. “I will have you know, I take perfectly sized bites.”
“Sure you do.”
A small smile crept onto Todd’s face as he watched them banter. Pitts was obviously really happy here, in this city and in this apartment, with his roommate. Apparently they knew each other from college and they were employed in the same line of work, both of them super-geniuses. Todd was proud of his friend. Pitts had never really gotten along with anyone back in their hometown. He and Todd were both outcasts- a fact that brought them together. It was really nice to watch Pitts being comfortable and close to someone, even if part of Todd felt left out. Besides, Meeks had found three viable apartments for Todd to move into, so he had good reason to like the bespectacled ginger.
“Anyways- Todd,” Meeks swallowed before setting his half-eaten slice aside, wiping his fingers on his napkin. “What do you think about touring those apartments tomorrow?”
“W- uh, well-” Todd glanced at Pitts for just a moment. His friend gave him an encouraging nod- Todd had always been cripplingly shy. He preferred to say very few words or no words at all. “That... that sounds good.”
Pitts smiled his usual goofy smile. “We want to go with you. Help you get on your feet, you know? Meeks has incredible knowledge of the city. He's especially familiar with all of it’s back alleyways-”
The other man scoffed, sending his roommate a pointed glare. “That's not necessarily true. He only says that because I got lost once when I was drunk. Called this headcase on a payphone. Most pathetic moment of my life by a long shot.”
That made Todd smile. It was difficult not to smile around someone as warm and friendly as Meeks. When he’d entered the apartment, Meeks shook his hand firmly with a pleasant smile. He liked how Meeks spoke to him as well- giving him respect and attention despite the fact that Todd could hardly get a word out. He used to stutter terribly (a condition that absolutely enraged his father), and he'd since been conditioned to speak only when necessary. It was difficult to break that habit. He liked that Meeks was giving him space and time to speak. He seemed like a good friend to have. New York was looking promising, and Todd definitely didn’t hate Pitts’ new roommate.
“On weekends Meeks operates the spotlight at the 46th Street Theatre, Todd. You might run into him sometimes on the job.”
Todd had done a bit of research on New York and it's flourishing theatre scene. He wracked his brain for information on that specific theatre. "Aren’t they showing How to Succeed in B-Business there?” Todd only knew that specific factoid because Neil Perry was in that show. Neil Perry might’ve been the most handsome man Todd had ever laid eyes on. That was impressive because Todd had only seen Neil on his parent’s crackly black and white TV. He was just incredibly attractive. He had endless charisma and the voice of an angel and this bright, white smile that tended to make even Todd's chest flutter.
The ginger nodded at Todd’s question, straightening his glasses. “Yep, since I was an intern in ‘61.”
So Meeks had been working on a Broadway production for nearly two years? That was impressive. Todd couldn’t help but hope that he’d be reviewing Broadway shows one day- but honestly, he couldn’t see himself remaining in the critiquing business for very long. He was too nice, and he didn't like finding deep flaws in things. He was also going to be the new guy in the office, so there was no way their editor was going to send him off to Broadway shows anytime soon. He’d probably be stuck with small vaudeville performances and beatnik bands in bars. Still- he found Meeks’ side-career to be fascinating.
“That’s really keen, Meeks.”
Meeks beamed. “Thanks, Todd.” He turned to Pitts, a toothy grin still set upon his face. “I like this one. I think we’ll have to keep him.”
“Definitely. It’s gonna be great to have you around again, Todd. Oh- speaking of, you should come to dinner with us next week if you're settled in.”
“Our friend Knox will be there. He’s real nice, though, so there’s no need to feel nervous.” Meeks batted Pitts’ hand away from the pizza, as if swatting a fly, before pulling another piece for himself. Pitts crossed his arms with an unhappy look, but the ginger continued on, ignoring him. “Knox is a banker. Wells Fargo. I think Charlie's coming along too... but, uh, you don't need to worry about him. He can be overwhelming, but Pitts 'n I will be there for you."
"Yup." Pitts seemed to be more focused on his pizza than the fact that Todd would have to potentially meet two new strangers at once.
Todd sighed. He wasn’t going to be able to keep up with all of the strange names he was being given, at this point. Knox? Was that really a name? And what if Pitts' other friends didn't like him? What if they thought he was odd or stupid or mute and he ended up embarrassing Pitts? What if he stuttered while he was ordering or got someone's name wrong? A stone of dread settled in his chest- and suddenly a twinge of anxiety shattered the careful calm he’d painstakingly constructed. He felt terrible about his sudden mood swing, but he desperately needed some time to himself. Reality was swiftly setting in. He’d just made the biggest, most impactful, most impulsive decision of his life and he'd barely thought through it. Todd pushed his plate aside and stood, trying to ignore the urge to bite at his thumbnail.
“I'm gonna shower and go to bed.” He offered up a small smile, which Pitts happily returned. "The... uh, the train ride was long."
His friend reached across the small dining table, patting his back. “Sure, Todd. And you're welcome to stay here anytime, you know.”
"Thanks, Gerard. I mean, uh, Pitts." Both roommates laughed. Warmth filled his chest as he ambled back into the bathroom, grabbing a change of clothes on his way. He tried to be happy and content with the easy, friendly company that he had missed so dearly back in Vermont, but he just couldn't wipe his anxieties from his mind. Todd knew deep down that this was the calm before the storm. He was going to be a real adult, doing everything for himself and living on his own. Supporting himself through his career. His career... Todd had never even attempted to dabble in journalism. He’d written countless fiction stories and poems but never anything for a newspaper- nothing factual or serious. He felt unprepared- like he was hovering on the edge of a precipice.
Still, as warm water rushed over him and Pitts and Meeks talked quietly in the living room, Todd felt a sense of security. At home, he was never this comfortable. His parents constantly nagged him about his grades, his career, his degree, his hair or clothes- anything they could criticize, they would, and it was all because he wasn't the spitting image of his perfect brother. He didn't play sports or have perfect golden hair or a loud, confident voice. He wasn't a college football star with a pretty, blonde girlfriend and a picture-perfect life. His father made comments when he hung posters of male movie stars in his room, and his mother nudged him harshly if he stared at a good-looking male passerby for too long. They knew he was different. Todd knew he was different, too, and they never let him forget. They spoke about Jeff’s success, Jeff’s initiative- Todd was always second place. He was always sub-par, always less than someone else. But right now, it felt like there was no one to play second fiddle to. He had finally gotten away from his brother and his parents. Here, he was just Todd Anderson. Not Jeffrey's little brother or the younger Anderson boy. Just Todd.
Soap ran down his face in bubbly streams, stinging his eyes. Todd worried about his job at The Mirror, paying for his own apartment, and meeting all of Pitts and Meeks’ friends. He daydreamed about seeing Broadway stars in action and meeting famous actors for interviews. He imagined shaking hands with all of the greatest legends- maybe even one day meeting someone like Vivien Leigh in one of her sporadic Broadway bouts. Excitement began to bubble up within him, fighting tooth and nail with his ever-present anxiety.
Todd Anderson was living in New York City, and he was sure as hell going to make this place his home.