Chapter Text
Annabel looked more than disappointed as Prospero traded his room key with Will.
Prospero had sworn to Annabel that he’d follow her every choice and decision, and yet, here he was…
Well, it wasn’t much of a surprise, was it? Not many could handle the forest fire of a man that was Montresor–and those who tried never got far.
Well, all but William Wilson, it seemed.
It was a match made in hell, truly. A loyal dog and its aggressive owner. Truly the most romantic of relationships! …Not!
Will sure seemed to think so though, how he was practically trembling out of his skin in excitement.
Prospero couldn’t help but pity the boy. How had a kind and (generally) decent man like him end up in Montresor’s grasp? Then again, he could ask himself the same question. Annabel’s choice in allies never failed to baffle him.
At the very least, he wouldn’t have to condone his presence anymore. Who was Will’s roommate, anyway?
Well, they certainly couldn’t be any worse than Montresor was… Or at least that’s what he hoped.
Annabel mumbled quiet complaints to Prospero as they walked farther and farther away, but Will couldn’t find it in himself to care.
Montresor…
The Montresor, his Monty. Well–not his, obviously! Monty wasn’t anyone's, and he prided himself quite highly in that fact. He was unpredictable, brave, blunt… Wasn’t afraid to say what was on his mind, that was for sure. He didn’t stick to no one, either. It would only take a second’s notice to drop a person completely.
Well, except for Will! He was special to Montresor. Why else would he have kept him around so long? Everyone said otherwise, but Will knew what Montresor truly felt about him.
Maybe one day, he’d even return his feelings. …If he ever realized that Will had them, in the first place. For someone who prided himself in being able to see through anyone’s poker face or façade, he was surprisingly dense when it came to the more subtle things. Not like Will cared, he loved the chase.
Will let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding as his fingers grazed atop the doorknob.
325… His room number.
It wasn’t that hard to turn a doorknob, he’d done it many times before–so why was he hesitating now?
A stupid question, really. Knowing what time of day it was, Montresor was just behind that door, (probably) shirtless. Will didn’t know if he was mentally prepared to see such a thing… Not yet, at least.
What would he even say?
Will and Monty were friends, sure. The bestest of friends! As close as two peas in a pod. (...Not really, but let a guy be delusional!) Yet he couldn’t help but feel uneasy in his presence.
His first real friend… Will never had been good at socializing, but he was even worse at socializing with people he wanted to impress.
What were normal conversation topics, anyway? Maybe something about the weather? Or he could ask Montresor how he was doing… Either way, no matter what Will said, Montresor would be sure to throw an insult his way.
It was Montresor’s favorite thing, really… You think he’d tone it down behind closed doors, but he was just as critical of Will as he was in public, if not more.
Not very different than Will’s past life, certainly. He couldn’t remember all of it just yet, but based on the small glimpses of it that had flashed before his eyes, he was just as much of a pushover then as he was now.
He’d probably deserved it all, anyway. The constant jabs and playful insults thrown his way–even if they hurt, they were nothing but the truth. He’d always been someone cast aside, easily forgotten… A side character in everyone else's lives. Monty only said stuff like that to help improve Will as a person, certainly.
Or at least, that’s what Will hoped. He found it hard to believe anyone these days, himself included.
Will let out a quiet sigh, finally building up his courage to twist it open.
The change in lighting from the hallway to the room irritated his eyes, but he pushed through it–taking a step inside.
The room wasn’t much different than his previous one, apart from the various clothes and items scattered over (what Will presumed was) Montresor’s bed.
Wait–Montresor’s bed? It was… Empty?
Where was Montresor, then? Normally he wouldn’t be out and about this late in the day, and it was nearly past curfew…
Had he seriously been stressing that much over an empty room? Just the thought irritated him.
“Stupid Will and his stupid nerves…” He mumbled to himself, letting out a defeated sigh as he collapsed onto the bed opposite to Montresor’s.
But then, a brilliant idea passed through his mind. (Okay, maybe NOT brilliant… Probably a really bad and invasive idea, honestly. But it didn’t hurt anyone to just think of it, right?)
If Montresor wasn’t in the dorm, that meant that Will could do whatever he wanted.
He could even… Look through Montresor’s stuff.
It was a horrible idea, in retrospect. …But Will was a man blinded by curiosity, and the determination to get to know Montresor better, no matter what it took.
It would be… Just for a moment. Even if it kind of made him feel like a creep, there was no harm in it. It wasn’t like Monty would find out.
…Right?
Will hesitantly stepped toward the bed, beginning to cautiously look over the various items strung across it.
So far, it was just spare clothes… Nothing that would give any incriminating or particularly interesting information.
Then again, Prospero had just been living in this dorm like, what, five minutes ago? It was obvious the disdain the two had for each other. He wouldn’t leave vital stuff just out in the open for Prospero to see.
If Will was Montresor, where would he hide important items…?
The thought was useless, really. For Will to even compare himself to the absolute enigma that Montresor was, it only further reinforced his stupidity. Will couldn’t even dream of being someone as amazing and talented as Montresor.
But that didn’t mean Will hadn’t. He’d always hoped, always wondered if one day, he could be someone as respected and loved as Montresor was.
…He wondered if someone like him was even capable of being loved.
An idiotic notion, now that he was basically dead, but his heart would not falter. No matter how much he wished it would.
Well, back to the main point…
Will slid down onto the floor, peeking under the bed.
It was too dark, and the bed was far too close to the floor to see, he had no choice but to reach under.
Images of Will’s past childhood fears flashed through his mind. When he was a child, he’d sob to his mother, rambling about the monsters under his bed, about how he didn’t feel safe at night.
She’d never believed him, of course. Every “monster” he’d seen was purely of his own imagination, but she’d still attempt to comfort him.
…If only she could see him now, reaching under someone’s bed which was pitch black. He’d changed positively in at least one aspect, it was a nice thought for Will. Well, in contrast to his constant “I’m worthless” and “why am I even alive” ones…
Disappointment crawled up and down Will’s body when he felt nothing under the bed–but he could only reach so far. The type of guy that Montresor was, he’d probably hide it all the way under there.
A brief moment of fear passed through Will, but he decided to simply grin and bear it.
The area under the bed was dusty, it was obvious this area of the dorm hadn’t been cleaned in who knows when… It was also cramped, and generally uncomfortable–but he’d already told himself he was going to do this, and so, he’d stick with it.
Just as he’d lost all hope, his finger grazed against a paper–just as he was about to grab it though, the door slammed open.
Will let out a yelp, instinctively trying to sit up–only for his head to slam against the wooden frame of the bed.
“Ow!--”
“Hold on… I know that annoyin’ voice… Will?”
Just as he heard Montresor speak, his left leg was forcibly grabbed–and Monty dragged him out from under the bed.
“What in Satan's name–why were you under my bed? No–why are you even in this room!?” Montresor exclaimed, irritation visible on his face.
After a few moments of stunted silence, Montresor’s gaze turned darker.
“ Explain now, Will.”
“Y-yes! Right away, Monty! S-sorry… I uh… Surprise?... Me and Prospero… Switched rooms. I thought… You’d be happier to see me.” Will said nervously, the last part coming out but a meek whisper.
“Yeah, cause I’m just so happy right now, Will. Do I look happy to you?”
“...No.”
“Yeah, no fuckin’ wonder. Now you gonna tell me what you were doing under my bed like a damn rat, or what?”
“I wasn’t snooping…! It was more like… I was purposefully… Invading your privacy? O-okay wait… I know that sounds bad, but I can explain!”
Montresor grabbed the collar of Will’s shirt, the air between them tense.
This wasn’t exactly what Will had been expecting, their first day rooming together… He certainly had thought it’d be less threatening, at the very least.
It was his fault, anyway. If he hadn’t chose to be an invasive weirdo, Montresor wouldn’t be mad at him.
Stupid, stupid Will… And he didn’t even manage to grab the paper in time! And now if it mysteriously went missing, Montresor would know it’s him who took it… All his opportunities to know more about Monty, thrown out the window. …And because of this, now Monty didn’t trust him! It was obvious on his face, really.
“You think I’m an idiot, Will? I’ll show you who’s an idiot. ”
“M-Monty, I really didn’t mean to…”
“ALL STUDENTS TO THE ARBORETUM, I REPEAT, ALL STUDENTS TO THE ARBORETUM! WE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE.”
Will flinched at the sudden announcement, and Montresor’s grip on his shirt finally lifted.
Arboretum…? Why there, and why now? This was all just so sudden, Will felt his brain getting more and more scrambled by the second.
“...Whatever, forget it. Let’s just go before we get “demerits”, or somethin’...” Montresor mumbled unhappily, not bothering to look behind him and check if Will was following.
Had he really ruined their friendship that fast…? No, he couldn’t have… Monty just got angry like that sometimes, it was fine. He’d forget it by tomorrow–wouldn’t he?
That’s what Will hoped, at least.
“W-wait for me!” Will said nervously, trailing quickly after Montresor.
What did the deans have in store for them at the arboretum, Will wondered.