Chapter Text
Neil had yet to believe that the board game Nicky called Monopoly was in any way, shape, or form, fun. From where he was observing, he could hear Allison shrieking obscenities; Aaron had simply quit the game after ten minutes, and Nicky was maniacally cackling as he did, in his own words, a devious move. Along with them, Kevin was gradually becoming roaring drunk and sobbing as he landed in Jail, and Dan and Matt had teamed up and were intensely whispering.
Neil had been forced to play but had promptly been forgotten by the team as soon as it started. Their overcompetitiveness was enough to overpower much logical thought. Neil supposed he was better off spectating with Andrew and a frazzled Renee on the couch. Poor Renee had initially begun comforting her girlfriend Allison but was promptly shunned by her after Renee had told her, 'It’s just a game.'
It was team-bonding night, as stupid as it was. Dan had orchestrated the whole thing to be at Matt's mother's house. His mother didn’t mind the alcohol so long as they were safe with their drinking. Also, they had to sleep it off at her house rather than driving. Instead of something better like watching a movie or even cooking a nice meal, Dan had said they all needed to play Monopoly. Matt had urged her to go with something else, but Dan was steadfast in her belief that this would bring the team closer together with even more mutual suffering.
For some odd reason, Neil couldn’t help but think this was the opposite of a team-bonding experience. If Neil hadn’t been as close to Dan as he was, he would’ve believed she had made a master plan to drive a rift in the team.
As Neil watched the chaos persist, almost like a train derailing at maximum speed, he noticed Andrew had a glimmer in his eyes. It looked like the unmistakable gleam he would get when Neil tripped over a rock and fell on his face. Neil huffed his breath in bogus frustration at the thought, prompting a simple raised eyebrow in response as Andrew continued to spectate.
Neil leaned closer to Andrew and softly spoke into his ear, “You’re enjoying this aren’t you?” Unfortunately, amusement bled into Neil’s words, his supposed front of annoyance immediately null and void to Andrew. In response, the corner of his lip quirked up before he gently pushed Neil’s face away.
Neil lightly laughed before Andrew took his turn, whispering into Neil’s ear, murmuring, “Kevin and Allison are on the verge of a breakdown, and Aaron already had one. Of course, I am enjoying myself.” Neil proceeded to purposefully overlook the jolt that went down his spine as he felt Andrew’s puff of air against his ear. Neil rolled his eyes instead of a retort as he knew his words would fail him. Neil became hyper-aware of Andrew’s movements as he settled into his usual spot before throwing a few words toward Renee. Neil didn't have the chance to catch what was said because Allison screeched once more.
Neil’s full attention was back onto the game as the palpable undertone of outrage explosively increased. Dan and Matt began to argue emphatically, and Allison was brutishly shaking Nicky by his shirt’s collar as Nicky waved the games’ money in front of her face. Kevin began tossing the money from the games bank into the air while tears streaked down his face.
Andrew had been quick to clamp his hand over his mouth, eyes negligibly widening as he did his best not to outright cackle. Renee had merely sighed and placed a hand across her eyes.
Neil thought that that was enough team bonding for one night.
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Andrew had driven Neil back to his apartment that night after the blunder that was team-bonding night. Neil’s dwelling was undersized and owned by Neil’s Uncle Stewart, who was almost always off elsewhere. It had a kitchenette, marginal living room, a cramped bathroom, and a single bedroom. The entirety of it was bare and looked like it belonged to a thirty-year-old who was a minimalist to the absolute max. Neil was still coming around to the idea of possessions.
Neil stepped into his home and tossed off his shoes before hustling to bed. Even though Kevin was absolutely piss-drunk tonight, he would get up early to run to Neil’s apartment complex and carry on their morning run before their Exy practice began. Kevin habitually got them there an hour before Exy practice started, so the two would scrimmage on their own until the team arrived. Kevin was hellbent on this, considering he was a Senior at their high school and had hopes of being scouted this year. He would also be damned if Neil wasn’t going to play on the same college team as him and Andrew.
Kevin had told Neil on numerous occasions that if he were to slip up during his senior year while Kevin was away at college, he would personally drown Neil. Andrew had chimed in, at the time, that Neil would gladly drown himself if that were to happen.
"Oh, Andrew…" Neil thought wistfully, like a typical teenager.
Neil’s thoughts circled back to Andrew as they always seemed to do. Neil had come to terms with the sudden change in his sexuality at the end of his Sophomore year when Andrew had used the stupidest pick-up line on Neil as a mere joke.
The two had been conjoined to each other's hips since Neil had transferred in his first year of high school. Andrew had stayed by Neil like a rock when his life blew up around him. Neil had never experienced the chance nor option to stay anywhere, and when his Uncle Stewart had offered for him to move to London, Neil had declined. Even if his surrounding classmates made life an absolute hell with their gossipping and downright terror of him, Neil had his team. Neil had Andrew unwaveringly. Therefore, with Neil’s realization that he was irrevocably head over heels in love with his best friend, who unmistakably harbored no such feelings for him, he could not and would not breathe a word about it.
Neil had built his whole life around deceit and lies; what was one more?