Chapter Text
It was finally Christmas break at Welton, which meant students could go home to their families over the break. Most students were happy to go home for the break, as they hated Welton more than anything in the world. However, Todd wasn’t one of those students.
Sure, Welton was bad. Terrible, even. Todd hated almost all of his classes and teachers. He hated how much homework he’d get every single day, and how most of the teachers would humiliate him for being quiet. The only class he actually enjoyed was Mr Keating’s class. But even though school was bad for him, anywhere that wasn’t at home was better.
Todd hated going home. He was already prepared for the usual comments his parents always made: Complaining about how his results weren’t all straight A’s, compare him to his older brother Jeffrey, and show off about how Jeffrey’s life at Harvard is going. Todd had never been appreciated by his parents. And he knew that the two weeks he’d be at home would be the same.
The first evening Todd was home, his parents had cooked him an omelette, a meal he hadn’t liked since he was five years old. He had told them many times that he didn’t like omlettes, but his parents never listened or never cared. It had no use telling his parents for the 15th time that he didn’t like omelettes.
It was just him and his parents. Jeffrey was only going to be home a few days later as he still had classes.
„ So, how did you like the desk set we got you for your birthday?”, Todd’s mom asked as they started eating.
Not only did Todd dislike the present, he had got it for the second year in a row. But Todd could never talk back to his parents, so he just faked a smile.
„ It was great…thanks.”, Todd thanked, „ Wil definitely use it…a lot.”
He obviously wasn’t going to tell his parents that the second desk set he got was destroyed as Neil threw it from the school balcony.
There was silence for a few minutes. Todd’s parents were enjoying their omelette, while Todd was taking small bites as he wasn’t hungry for a meal he didn’t like.
Eventually Todd’s dad opened his mouth.
„ So we went to visit Jeffrey last week.”, he said, „ And he told us some exciting news.”
„ What did he say?”, Todd asked.
„ Your brother is getting married to Martha.”, his mother happily said.
Jeffrey started going out with this girl called Martha when he was around Todd’s age, who he met back when he attended Welton at a nearby library. They both got into Harvard and studied the same thing. Obviously, Todd’s parents liked Martha a lot as she was just as smart as Jeffrey was.
„ That’s good for him.”, Todd said, faking a smile.
„ The wedding’s in six months from now.”, Todd’s mother continued, „ We’re booking this beautiful, expensive venue near your school. It’ll make Jeffrey so happy!”
There was no surprise there. Of course Jeffrey would get married at the most expensive venue ever. If Todd were to ever get married, his parents wouldn’t even bother booking him a venue. For sure, Todd would have to pay for it himself.
„ And what about you son?”, his dad asked after a minute, „So, any lucky girl in your life?”
Todd knew this question would be brought up at least once during the Christmas break. The question that was asked at every family gathering. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
Todd hated that question more than anything. His parents had this obession with Todd getting a girlfriend and never understood with the fact that he didn’t want one. Probably just because their perfect Jeffrey had a girlfriend…well now, fiancée.
„ No. Not really focusing on meeting any girls.”, Todd said.
His parents didn’t take his answer well. His dad banged his hands on the table, causing Todd to flinch. Todd’s mother didn’t say anything but she looked disappointed and angry at the same time.
„ You’re going to be 18 next year and you still don’t have a girlfriend?”, his dad yelled, „ At your age, Jeffrey was in a one year relationship with Martha! And soon he’s getting married her in six months!”
Todd just looked at his dad.
„ It’s just that Welton is an all boys school-.”, Todd said, trying to defend himself.
„ So? If Jeffrey could find a girlfriend while being in an all boys school, then so can you!”, his dad interrupted, „ It shouldn’t be that difficult.”
Todd just nodded his head.
„ If you don’t have a girlfriend by the easter break, your mother and I will be choosing one for you! Understood?”, his dad continued.
Todd’s eyes opened widely. Why was it such a big deal that he didn’t have a girlfriend? He was barely 17 years old, not even an adult yet. What was the rush in finding a girlfriend?
„ UNDERSTOOD?”, his dad yelled.
Todd nodded his head.
„ Yes father.”, he quietly responded before taking another bite of his ometlette.
The two weeks with his family felt like two years. Finally after those two long weeks, Todd was actually happy to be back at Welton. The next holidays were the easter holidays, which were only in April, meanig he had around four months until he would fave his parents again. Thank God, he couldn’t bear to deal with them any longer.
As Todd opened his door room, he was happy to see a friendly smile on his roommate’s face. At least his roommate appreciated him, unlike his parents.
„ Hey Todd, good to see you again!”, Neil said smiling.
„ Hi Neil, good to see you too.”, Todd said smiling as he placed his suitcase under his bed.
Neil had stayed at Welton for the Christmas break, which was good for him, as his dad went on this two week business trip to a few countries in Europe.
„ So, Todd, how are you? How was your Christmas break?”, Neil asked.
„ Just happy to be back here to be honest.”, Todd said as he sat down on his bed.
Neil laughed as he sat down next to Todd.
„ Wow, you’re happy to be back at Hell-ton?”, he laughed.
„ Well, not exactly.”, Todd awkwardly chuckled, „ But I just can’t bear my parents for any longer, that’s all.”
Neil felt bad and went quiet. He knew that Todd’s parents weren’t good parents ever since he saw Todd getting the same desk set as he got the previous year for his birthday. And any time Todd brought up his parents, he never spoke positively about them.
„ I’m sorry….do you wanna talk about it?”, Neil asked.
„ My parents…especially my father…have this weird obsession with me getting a girlfriend. Probably because my brother’s highschool sweetheart girlfriend is now his fiancée.”, Todd complained, „ And I don’t want a girlfriend. I’m not like my brother, I don’t care about relationships.”
„ God your parents suck.”, Neil said, „ Please don’t listen to them. If you don’t want a girlfriend then that’s your business.”
„ It’s not just that.”, Todd said, „ They’re dead serious about me finding a girlfriend now because…if I don’t have a girlfriend by the easter break…my parents will personally choose a girlfriend for me.”
Neil’s eyes opened widely.
„ God that’s crazy!”, Neil gasped, „ Well..did you try to tell them that you don’t want a girlfriend?”
„ I wish I could, Neil.”, Todd said, „ But I could never talk back to them. Especially not to my father. He would either interrupt me or disregard my feelings.”, Todd said.
He sighed.
„ So I guess in April I’ll be in a miserable relationship.”
Neil felt horrible. Todd had such horrible parents. They favor their oldest son, they spend their life bringing Todd down, they basically don’t care about him in the slightest…and now they were forcing him to get a girlfriend. Poor Todd, he didn’t deserve that.
„ I’m so sorry Todd.”, Neil said, who didn’t know what else to. He knew what it was like to have parents who wouldn’t let their kids have their own opinions.
„ It’s alright.”, Todd said, „ There’s nothing I can do about it and…I guess I’ll eventually have come to terms with it.”
That evening, there was a study group. Todd decided not to join as he wanted to revise latin on his own as he needed to catch up on it. Neil was sitting at a table with Charlie. He usually would be locked in, doing his work, comparing his homework with the other poets or asking Meeks for help. But this time…he was deep in his thoughts.
He couldn’t stop thinking about his earlier conversation with Todd. What kind of monsters were Todd’s parents? When would they finally realise that Todd is not Jeffrey? So what if Jeffrey had a girlfriend at Todd’s age?
„ Hello? Earth to Neil?”, a voice said.
Neil looked up and saw Charlie, who probably had been speaking to him for the past two minutes without Neil realising.
„ Sorry..”, he appologized, „ You were saying?”
„ Are you alright Neil?”, Charlie asked, „ You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
„ I’m perfectly fine Charlie.”, Neil lied.
Charlie continued to stare at him, clearly knowing something was on his mind.
„ You never act this weird during study groups.”, he pointed out, „ You’re hiding something.”
„ I’m not acting weird.”, Neil said rolling his eyes, „ And I’m not hiding anything.”
„ We’ve been best friends since before we could even read or write. I know you better than anyone. And I know something is bothering you.”, Charlie said, „ You know you can tak to me about anything. Was your dad a dick to you over the Christmas break?”
Neil shook his head.
„ I didn’t go home during the break.”, he said, „ My dad was away on a business trip for two weeks which was perfect for me as I know if I went home I wouldn’t hear the end of it about how acting is bad and how I should become a doctor.”
„ Well if it’s not your dad…then something else is on your mind.”, Charlie said. He really wasn’t going to give up.
Neil sighed.
„ Fine. If you really have to know…I just feel bad for Todd, that’s all.”, Neil admitted.
„ Aww, what did your precious boyfriend say?”, Charlie asked smirking.
Neil’s face turned red.
„ He’s not my boyfriend!”, he said.
„ Jeez I was just kidding, no need to overreact.”, Charlie chuckled, „ But anyway, what’s up with Todd?”
„ It’s just that…he doesn’t have the best life at home.”, Neil explained, „ Like I knew already that his parents were mean to him but they sound worse every time I hear a story about them.”
„ What did they do this time?”, Charlie wanted to know.
„ Todd’s parents are basically forcing him to get a girlfriend before the easter break or else they will choose a girl for him!”, Neil explained.
„ Jeez poor guy.”, Charlie said.
„ I know…I feel bad for him.”, Neil said, „ He doesn’t even want a girlfriend. But they can’t respect that.”
„ Well, hasn’t he maybe considered faking to have a girlfriend?”, Charlie asked.
Neil thought about it.
„ I don’t think he has.”, Neil said, „ Good thinking Charlie. I’ll tell him to just make up a girlfriend.”
„ This is why you guys should all come to me when you have problems. I can always solve em.”, Charlie said, winking his eye and patting himself on the back.
A few minutes later, Neil returned to his bedroom. Todd was lying on his bed, not asleep but just thinking about his parents.
„ Hey.”, Neil said.
Todd sat up on his bed.
„ Hey.”, Todd said, „ Sorry again that I didn’t join you tonight for the study group.”
„ Don’t apologize.”, Neil said as he sat next to Todd, „ Hey so…about your parents wanting to get a girlfriend.”
Todd sighed.
„ I’d rather not talk about it. I can worry about it in April.”, Todd said.
„ No but like…what if you fake having a girlfriend?”, Neil said, „ Like when they ask you if you have a girlfriend, just make up some girl’s name and lie that she’s studying medicine or something.”
Todd smiled.
„ That’s a good idea. Then they’ll finally stop annoying me about it.”, Todd said, „ Thanks Neil.”
„ That’s what friends are for, right?”, Neil said smiling.
He decided not to tell Todd that it was actually Charlie’s idea in case the other poets weren’t supposed to know about Todd’s parents. Todd opened up to Neil a lot more than he did to anyone else.
The next few months flew by. It was April, the start of the easter break, and Todd wasn’t looking foward to spending two weeks with his family.
Everyone was sitting at the dinner table, including Jeffrey this time. Todd wasn’t surprised as he saw an omelette on his plate. Again.
At first, Todd was being completely ignored as his parents were too busy asking Jeffrey about Harvard and his upcoming wedding, that was now only two months away.
But once Jeffrey had finished showing off about his perfect life, Todd’s dad was suddenly looking at him.
„ So, Todd, your mother and I found an amazing girl around your age.”, Todd’s father said, „ Her name is Amelia and she was recently accepted into Harvard! She’s studying to become a doctor.”
„ That’s very kind of you two but…I actually have a girlfriend.“, Todd lied.
There was silence. Jeffrey and Todd’s mom looked at eachother with their mouths widely opened. Todd’s dad’s fork dropped onto his plate. The whole room was in shock
„ You do?”, his mom said in shock.
„ Yeah. Since around one month now.”, Todd lied.
His dad smiled. He stood up, walked to where Todd was sitting, and patted him on the back.
„ Well done son! I’m happy that for once you actually listened to your mother and I.”, he said. That was probably one of the only times he was actually proud of Todd.
„ So? What’s your girlfriend’s name?”, his mom asked.
Todd had made up a girlfriend a few weeks before he got his holidays. He had come up with a name, an age, what she wanted to study and what her dream university was
„ Her name is Nora. She’s two months younger than me.”, Todd said.
„ What school does she go to?”, his dad asked.
„ The school where Martha went.”, Todd said.
„ Lovely.”, his mother said, „And? Does she know what she wants to do in her future?”
„ She wants to study medicine.”, Todd said, „ She’s hoping to get into Yale.”
Todd’s dad smiled.
„ Well I’m happy that you not only found a girlfriend, but you chose someone who’s smart and priorities her future.”, his dad said, „ So, when can we meet her?”
Oh no.
This could not be happening.
Todd thought he had thought everything through…but obviously not. He spent hours making up a girlfriend…but how the heck was he supposed to introduce a person who didn’t exist?
Everyone was staring at Todd, who was silent. He couldn’t stay silent forever or else his parents would know Todd just made someone up.
„ She’s on vacation in Spain for two weeks with her family.”, Todd lied.
„ That’s alright. We would love to meet her sometime though.”, Todd’s mother said.
„ How about you invite her to my wedding?”, Jeffrey said, „ There are still plenty seats left at the venue.”
Oh shoot.
„ Splendid idea.”, Todd’s dad said, „ We would really love to meet her.”
„ Great. I’m sure she’d love to meet you guys too.”, Todd awkwardly said, „ Then I’ll let her know about the wedding.”
„ Perfect. The date is the 6th of June.”, Jeffrey said.
Oh God. What the heck was he supposed to do now? He only had two months until the wedding. There was no way he would find a girlfriend in that time.
The rest of the easter break was Todd worrying about bringing his non existent girlfriend to his older brother’s wedding. When school started again, and Todd was back at Welton, he was even more stressed.
As he arrived at his dorm, Neil greeted him with the same, friendly smile.
„ Hi Todd.”, Neil said, „ So…how was your break?”
„ I’m basically dead.”, Todd said, without any emotion in his face as he lay on his bed, his head facing his pillow.
Neil started to worry and approached Todd.
„ Hey Todd are you alright?”, Neil asked.
„ No.”, he replied, still not facing Neil.
„ Talk to me…what happened?”, Neil asked.
„ My parents and my brother want to meet my non existent girlfriend at my brother’s wedding…which is TWO months away.”
Neil’s eyes opened widely.
„ Oh my gosh I didn’t think they’d go that far and want to meet her.”, Neil said.
Todd finally lifted himself from his bed and was looking at Neil. He was on the verge of tears.
„ Me neither.”, Todd said, his voice breaking„ Ugh…what am I to do? I can’t just make a girlfriend appear?”
Neil wanted to help Todd. But how? He would have loved to ask one of the girls from his play to be Todd’s fake girlfriend…but all of them were in a relationship. And besides them, Neil didn’t know any other girls as he attended all boys school all his life.
Suddenly, an idea popped up in his head. This would totally save Todd.
He smiled and looked at Todd.
„ I think I might have a solution.”, Neil said.
„ You do?”, Todd said who was now feeling a bit more hopeful.
„ know this is gonna sound crazy but you have to trust me on this one, okay?”, Neil said.
Todd was now looking at Neil, but was still willing to trust him.
„ Ok…”, he said, „ Tell me.”
„ I’ll be your fake girlfriend.”, Neil said.
Todd stared at him.
„ What?”