Chapter Text
Virgil wholeheartedly knew two things about himself.
The first was that, well, he had the worst luck in the world. This was evident through many things, namely being the punching bag of some of the school elites, as well as being rated the least popular guy in his class by a graph posted on one of the bulletin boards in the English building.
The second was that Virgil was unbelievably, most certainly in love with Kody Hart.
Kody Hart, otherwise known as a member of the boyband D4RK*SIDEZ, was one of the most gorgeous people Virgil had ever laid his eyes on. His face, his voice, his dance moves; all of it captivated Virgil to his core. He’d been obsessed with the guy ever since the band’s debut on the national talent show “America Sees You”.
Virgil still remembered the day.
He’d been 11 years old watching YouTube on his Dad’s old laptop when the video had come up. On the stage there had stood four boys around his age, each dressed head to toe in pure white, with their backs turned to the audience. As the music started, each one turned around, and began to dance in sync. The lead singer was Kody, and his voice was beyond beautiful to Virgil. He’d been mesmerized by the performance, but mostly Kody.
D4RK*SIDEZ had won the season as well as the hearts of the audience, so it was only fair that they became a global sensation. Even half a decade later they were still popular.
Virgil had never been able to go to one of their concerts, but he was hoping that someday he’d get to meet Kody. Little did he know that his hopes would come true very soon.
The day had started with oatmeal for breakfast, which was typical for Virgil.
He hadn’t managed to get up before his dad left for work, so, after rolling out of bed, he sat by himself while chewing on the oatmeal his dad had left for him. Well, he wasn’t completely by himself, he had Marmie, their Old English Sheepdog, for company. Regardless of what company Virgil did or did not have, he was on his phone.
His scrolling through Tumblr was groggy and slow, and it took him a second before something caught his eye.
He’d been sent something.
The message was from one of his mutuals, and it was a post by a Kody Hart specific D4RK*SIDEZ fan account complaining about not living in Florida.
Wait.
Virgil’s brows furrowed as he leaned closer to his phone, the spoon he’d been eating with still stuck in his mouth. The tour had just ended, and there were no planned performances in Florida that he’d known of. So what could it be? Pressing on the “Keep reading” button, Virgil scanned the post before his eyes practically bulged from his head.
The spoon fell into the bowl as Virgil’s jaw went slack
He frantically reread the post, both his hands on his phone now.
“I WISH I LIVED IN FLORIDA:
Press revealed that Kody Hart planned to continue his High School education in his hometown of Sanders Valley, Florida. When interviewed, Hart explained that “…I thought it best to reconnect with my family and friends after my tour, and hopefully finish off my adolescence with fond memories before jumping back into performances…” “
Holy shit.
HOLY FUCKING SHIT.
By the time Janus was ready to give him a ride, Virgil was practically vibrating with a mix of joy and anxiety.
“Oh gods. What is it this time?” Janus asked as Virgil opened the door, his voice playfully resigned. “Let me guess.” He studied Virgil for a moment, looking him up and down, taking in everything. “Well, you’re wearing your best shoes, and you redid your makeup,” Janus seemed to ponder, although Virgil knew he was making fun of him. “Did you finally get a date?”
At Virgil’s unamused expression he laughed.
“I’m joking! That’s impossible, you’re too obsessed with Kody Hart and hating people to get a date.”
“Asshole.” Virgil batted at him, before moving to lock the door behind him. “But no, I don’t have a date.”
Janus chuckled. “Figured. But who’re you trying to impress anyway?” He paused, before sniffing the air. “You’re wearing that body spray again, so it must be important.”
Virgil’s pale cheeks went warm, and he scowled. “Vampire Blood is just a cool scent, okay?”
“Yeah, sure.” Janus deadpanned.
Virgil groaned. “Fine, I’ll tell you.” He pushed his hands into his pockets. “Kody Hart is going to attend our school until Graduation.”
Janus just kinda stared at him, stunned. “…What?” He blinked before laughing. “Oh, I get it, you’re tryna be funny?”
Virgil grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the car. “No, I’m not. If you listened to me more you’d know that Kody’s parents live in the Valley, so, now that the tour is done he’s coming back to finish school!”
Janus’ brows were furrowed, but he pulled his keys out and unlocked his door. “Huh.” Is all he said as he got into the car.
Virgil buckled his seatbelt, and just waited until Janus inhaled to speak again.
“Don’t.” He silenced. “Just drive.”
The car hummed as it slowed to a stop for a crosswalk, and Virgil tried his best to focus on that instead of the weight of expectation on his mind. This might be his only chance to meet Kody, and he couldn’t mess it up.
Everything would be just fine.
Sucking in a breath, Virgil tried not to acknowledge the anxious bouncing of his foot against the floor mat. He was gonna be cool, calm, suave. He’d got this.
Virgil was so focused in on trying not to be consumed by his thoughts that he didn’t fully register that Janus was speaking at first.
“-Virge, it’s your nemesis.”
Glancing up only confirmed his best friend’s words, and it caused a scowl to form on Virgil’s face.
Roman Duke was stepping out of a new-looking, deep red convertible, his handsome fucking face shining in a smile.
Roman, in fact, was perfect as far as Virgil could tell, and Virgil, in fact, hated him for it.
Roman was the lead in almost every show he tried out for, he was well liked, and he was rated the third most popular guy in Virgil’s class by the English building graph. He was also rich, did modeling in Spain of all places, and was, aside from Kody Hart, the most conventionally beautiful person Virgil had ever seen. Compared to Roman Virgil was nothing. He was an acne-ridden, dirt poor nobody who everyone couldn’t give less of a shit about.
It pissed him off to no end how undisturbed Roman seemed about life, and, yeah, maybe it was caused by jealousy, but that didn’t change anything.
“We should egg his car or some shit.” Virgil suggested, his voice gravelly in tone from his internal hatred.
Janus snarked a laugh. “Yeah, good luck affording that shit.”
Virgil’s eyes rolled so dramatically that even he felt ridiculous, but he just slumped back in his chair and scowled with his arms folded.
By the time they were parked and walking towards the school, there didn’t seem to be any sign of Kody. Virgil felt the edge of anxiety in his mind beginning to pull him closer, but he took a deep breath and reached for the fidget cube he kept in his front pocket. As he fiddled with it he felt the calm from the familiar touch on his fingertips help anchor his mind.
Janus didn’t even glance at him as they walked since he’d put in one of his earbuds and had his eyes ahead of him.
Virgil’s gaze lingered on his friend for a moment before he let out a soft exhale and slumped slightly.
That tumblr post was probably full of shit or something. Virgil shouldn’t have gotten his hopes up over such an outrageous idea.
As he and Janus reached the entrance of the main building Virgil was considering listening to music as well. That was, of course, until a bright white mini limousine pulled up to the curb in front of the school. Shock took hold of Virgil’s limbs, and he stared in a mix of terror and elation as the door to the limo opened and Kody Hart stepped out.
Kody scanned the area, and, upon glancing at the building, locked eyes with Virgil.
Virgil could feel his heart physically falter, and, although it was just for a very split second, he knew, in his soul, that this moment, this single look, would shatter him.