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He was doing it again. Defending himself over the phone, pacing restlessly around his room. Through the glass-paneled window, it was easy to catch a glimpse of the predicament. It was apparent from Luci’s mussed hair and lounge-wear—rubber duck adorned pajama-pants and a his favorite rock-band T-shirt—that he’d just woken up. And what a way to start the morning.
It must have been something Luci had said the previous day. Alastor had thought it was hilarious, but Luci’s girlfriend evidently didn’t share the same sentiment, scoffing indignantly and storming off. She must have saved her grievances until the next morning, hoping to dig the claws of guilt into his consciousness. Alastor grit his teeth.
This wasn’t the first time he’d awoken, opening his curtains to wave hello to his dear neighbor, only to be met by the scene of a distressed mess. A mess who he adored—and utterly hated seeing this way.
Alastor was already writing on his large sketchbook when Luci finally got hung up on. The blond caught a glimpse of his friend through the window, a smile tugging the corner of his lips. He narrowed his eyes to read what Alastor held up.
You ok? He’d written, his brows creasing behind wire-framed glasses.
Luci smirked sympathetically, as though he needed to comfort Alastor for being concerned. It made Alastor’s stomach churn.
TiRED of DRAMA, He’d written back, tilting his head musingly.
Sorry :(
That was all Alastor could think to write in response. He wished he could help better, take away Luci’s problems for him. He wished he knew better ways to offer solace, but they all eluded him. He could hardly think when under the attention of those crystalline eyes; they felt like a spotlight—one he longed to stay under forever. But his pining was hardly reciprocated. Not when Luci was already taken—by Lillian of all girls. The biggest personality of their year. The brightest student. But also the most demanding person Alastor had ever met. It was a wonder how Luci had been able to appease her this long. Ever since sophomore year, Luci just couldn’t keep his eyes off of her cascading hair and fierce demeanor.
She was everything Alastor wasn’t. And the fact that Luci only seemed to have eyes for her felt like a never-ending punch to the gut.
He readjusted his glasses, looking down at the next blank page of his sketchbook, the one he only ever used to write to Luci. He felt the marker in his hands, tempted to write the simplest of truths on that page, tempted to hold it up for Luci to see in all it’s bare glory. But, before he could finish penning his declaration, Luci had already swiped his curtains closed.
Alastor stared down at the words he’d written. I love you. He clenched the paper and resisted the urge to tear it apart. What was he thinking? Such sentiment was fundamentally hopeless. Yet, the thought of ripping the page to shreds felt like a betrayal; a knife to his heart. So he left it as it was, ripping it from the spiral binding and tossing it onto his dresser.
How pathetic.
* * *
He’d checked in with her a million times yesterday, every question answered with an increasingly agitated “I’m fine!” Even though that couldn’t be further from the truth—which was made painstakingly evident with how violently she spewed her complaints over the phone. He checked his alarm clock. It wasn’t even 7:30!
Nothing was ever enough for her. Nothing pleased her. It was always an uphill battle.
But wasn’t that what one did for love? Solid relationships didn’t come easy, right?
He shook his head, glancing at himself in the mirror. He looked like a mess, of course; he’d hardly gotten sleep last night—kept awake by the demands of the days to come. Classes, college prospects, suitable degrees, band practice, and to top it all off, relationship drama. He couldn’t catch a break. And today was all the more important—his band was playing the half-time show for today’s homecoming game! He’d be performing in front of the whole school. He couldn't help the nerves that swelled in his chest at the thought of it. He needed something to ease the churning in his stomach, but talking to Lillian only ever stirred the pot. Luckily, he knew someone who was pretty good at bringing him down to earth, like the human version of a fresh breath of air.
Too bad they weren’t as close as they used to be.
Alastor was his best friend. It felt like it had always been that way. Alastor had always been there for him; all it took was a call or a knock on the glass-panel, and the curtain across from his bedroom window would open to the face of his best friend. He missed spending time with him, like they did when they were younger. But this senior year proved to be far more consuming than he’d anticipated.
Now, it seemed they only ever talked during their silent morning conversations. And Luci found that it was his favorite way to begin the day. But it was also the only chance he got to see Alastor during the week, their lack of shared classes and busy personal lives occupying their free time.
He’d cleaned himself up, got dressed, and was just on time for the bus—assuming Lillian was too disgruntled to offer him a ride today. But as he walked to his door, ready to head downstairs, he paused. Perhaps he could wave to Alastor; just once more before leaving. He needed the pick-me-up.
He peaked the curtains open, just enough to steal a glance. It took a moment for his mind to fully render what he was seeing. It was Alastor, headphones on—likely blasting his favorite jazz bands—bopping his head and dancing unceremoniously around his room.
Luci barked out a laugh, his mood brightening like the sun through the clouds, as he finally departed his room—ready to begin the day.
* * *
It was a surprise to find Luci sitting at the bus stop, eyelids low and face resting in his palms. He was wearing his typical worn-out jeans—the ones he’d been reprimanded by his parents for, which was why he loved wearing them. Luci was just as fueled by his spite as Alaster was.
The curly-brunette strode down the block, lowering the open book to properly analyze the situation. Ah—it seemed that Lillian was holding a grudge, and wouldn’t be picking him up today. It meant that Luci would be joining Alastor on the bus! He couldn’t help the jolt of glee at the thought.
“You seem awfully gloomy this morning,” he started. “I can’t help but wonder who could be responsible—perhaps your dearly beloved?”
Luci seemed surprised to hear his voice, turning to stare at him in bewilderment. “Wait, what? Al, you take the bus?”
Alastor nodded, tucking his book under his arm and occupying the seat next to him. “It’s almost comical you haven’t noticed. I’m afraid my mother requires the car to get to work, so it’s either my bike or the bus—and I can’t say I prefer sweating and panting by the time I reach first period.”
Luci cracked a guilty grin, rubbing the back of his head. “Yeah, I guess since Lillian’s been driving me, I’ve lost track of who frequents the bus.” He observed his companion, cheeks glowing a soft pink against his pale complexion. “You made me laugh this morning, y’know.”
Alastor’s eyes widened. “What? When did I—”
Luci elbowed him playfully, sending sparks through Alastor’s body. “It cheered me up. I ought to be thanking you.” His eyes were starry, and he gleamed with a smile bright enough to light up the whole town.
It’d felt like forever since he’d seen that smile.
Alastor manically ran through his memories to find when he might have made Luci laugh, but was immediately removed from his thoughts when he felt a hand reaching up to brush a strand of hair from his face.
“Sorry about that,” Luci said, returning his hand to his lap. “Your bangs got caught in your glasses. It looked uncomfortable.”
Alastor felt his insides melt and couldn’t help from thinking just how easy this was; just how easy it would be if they were together.
But that train of thought needed to be shut down. Immediately. They couldn’t be together, and although his mind knew that, his heart refused to accept such devastation. He steeled himself, but before he could form distanced words of gratitude—
Aggressive tire screeches broke out in front of them. “Luci, baby! Get in!” A sultry voice demanded from the driver’s seat.
It was Lillian. Of course it was.
“Oh! Good morning, hon—”
“Can it, Luci. Hop in the car.”
She drove a sleek convertible, a perfect car for the perfect girl. Luci sprung up and looked back at Alastor, a silent apology written on his face.
Alastor simply nodded in disappointment, dismissing his friend. What else could he have expected?
Luci wore an expression of regret as he sat in the passenger seat. He turned his head towards her, likely ready to voice another apology, before his head was yanked by violet acrylic nails and pulled into a tight kiss. Hardly a loving kiss, like one might expect after an apology forgiven. No, this one was exaggerated and performative. A petulant jab at the boy on the bench.
Alastor fumed, clenching his fists. He masked the morose ache that was building inside his gut behind a blank smile. His smile was all he had; his only armor. So he figured he better wear it with pride.
* * *
Lillian slammed to a stop in front of the school.
“Was that really necessary, Lily?”
She huffed. “Why would that be a problem, Lu? He’s just some creep who does the school announcements. He’s only your friend because you happen to be neighbors.” She scrunched her nose. “Also, his music taste sucks. I mean, jazz? Really? He can’t play anything else on the school radio?”
“He’s still one of my closest friends,” Luci muttered, unbuckling his seatbelt and exiting the car.
Lillian tossed his backpack at him. “Closer than me?”
“Really Lillian?” Luci rolled his eyes, biting the corner of his mouth. “I’ll see you at the game, okay?”
Lillian hummed in response and drove off, leaving Luci grimacing at the smell of exhaust fumes and burnt rubber. He had his band rehearsal to focus on—he didn’t have time to think about her petty behavior.
He stormed off towards the music building.
* * *
Alaster exhaled as he took his seat by the microphone, adjusting his headphones and clicking the bright red ON AIR button.
“Hello, hello fellow students of Pent Gram High!” He announced in the overly enthusiastic tone you’d expect from a seasoned radio-host. Alastor had an affliction for the old-fashioned flair of a trans-Atlantic accent. “Today is a big day for our football and cheer teams—they are competing against our rival school, so be sure to wish them luck in the halls before the big game. And at our half-time show, we are going to be imbued with vigor by the school’s very own rock band, Heavens Scourge! And later tonight will be our homecoming dance! Dress your best and show your moves off on the dance floor, either with friends or your special someone...”
He wrapped up with the remainder of the school’s general announcements before ending the broadcast and packing up for his next class. He needed to save his voice for the homecoming game.
* * *
The football stadium roared with high-schoolers. The bleachers were packed with students, a cacophony of cheers for their team and boos for the rival school. Frisson coaxed a chill up Luci’s spine. At the top of the bleachers was the megaphone setup, where the game’s announcements and updates were called out. Luci couldn’t help but grin widely whenever he heard Alastor on the microphone, announcing the referee’s calls with unapologetic excitement.
The time came when he heard Alastor’s projected voice announce the coming of half-time. He was waiting patiently with his band, amps tested and guitars plugged in.
Their stage was being rolled onto the field by the time his stomach grew impossibly queasy. The cheer team performed their flips and tricks while he and his band-mates set up their final adjustments. The stadium floodlights were blinding. He had to squint to peer into the crowd. At the edge of the field, he made out the shape of Lillian, hands in the air as she led through her cheer routine. He noticed that her focus was keenly on him. Once the cheer song came to a close, she spun around to face her cheer squad. Then she turned and looked at Luci again, scanning for his attention. He was about to put up a hand to wave at her… but then Lillian turned to face one of her cheer partners, her close friend Rosie, and dragged her into a dramatic kiss on the mouth.
Luci’s stomach dropped, his palms getting sweaty and his knees becoming weak. What the actual fuck! Of all the humiliating things!
He couldn’t even find it in himself to be furious. If anything, he felt sad. Embarrassed. Like he didn’t even matter.
A microphone was placed in front of him by the stage crew, and he realized he needed to regard the audience. All eyes were on him.
He froze, adjusting the mic and swiping a bead of sweat from his brow. His throat bobbed in hesitation.
“Can we all get a round of applause for the lead singer and guitarist of Heavens Scourge!” the megaphones blared. Alastor’s voice felt like an honest-to-god saving grace.
The audience broke out into claps and cheers, awakening the dormant excitement that had been hiding behind all of the nerves. He felt for the plastic pick in his hands, and ran it over a couple strings.
He took a deep breath. As the audience quieted, he looked up at where Alastor was cheering for him in the stands. He smiled brightly, lifting his mouth towards the mic and beginning the intro to the first song with confidence.
As he belted the melodies he knew by heart, his worries washed away like magic.
* * *
Watching Luci perform, hearing him sing, made Alastor reconsider his prior indifference towards the genre of rock. His stage presence was electric, his harmonies flawless, and his charm all the more vibrant when blended with the neon stage lights and the powerful guitar riffs.
That was the Luci he knew—a rock-star and a dreamer at heart.
He’d witnessed Lillian’s crude display on the field. That was a low blow, even for her. But he’d be lying if he didn’t have suspicions of his own about Lillian’s relationship with her companion Rosie. They were an oddly connected pair. Alastor knew this because he was close with Rosie—they survived a shitty French class together (both knowing more about the language than the teacher) and had been inseparable ever since.
Rosie knew all about Alastor’s feelings for Luci.
And Alastor knew all about Rosie’s feelings for Lillian.
It was only a matter of time before something like this happened. He just didn’t think Lillian would take such a publicly cruel approach to it. He resented her for purposely hurting Luci; he maintained no respect for a person like that. But if Rosie desired her, there was no force—in heaven or hell—that could stop her from getting what she wanted. He supposed the two deserved each other.
When the final song concluded, the crowd broke into a thunderous applause. Alastor clapped and hollered praise, waving to Luci from behind his microphone stand.
His heart leapt when he noticed that Luci was staring back, waving happily his way.
Alastor nearly forgot he was on announcement duty. “Give it up for Heavens Scourge! What an incredible performance…”
* * *
What a day full of madness. And it wasn’t even over yet! He had a dance to attend!
He’d already picked out a white hand-me-down suit from one of his older brothers, a dusty pink vest, and a scarlet bow tie.
He was adjusting his tie when he noticed the curtains from Alastor’s window open. He stole a glance and was overcome with disappointment to see the dark-brunette without any dress-wear, instead in his typical lounge-wear—burgundy pin-striped pajama pants and a dark-gray jazz band T-shirt.
The blond scrambled for his marker and sketchbook.
YOu GOiNG TONiGHT? He wrote, suppressing a frown.
Alastor noticed and reached for his own, digging through the scattered assignments and books laid out on his bed.
no, studying he responded.
Luci allowed his frown to be seen this time. WiSH YOu WERE! He wrote back, tugging the corner of his lips into a light grin.
Alastor smiled back. Not his usual sharp grin, but a softer one. A contemplative one.
Why did Luci want him there tonight? Perhaps he needed the support… a shoulder to lean on.
No. That wasn’t it. Luci knew that.
There was something he finally needed to do tonight. Something difficult, but no longer avoidable.
He needed to start accepting the truth as it was, the ugly and the beautiful.
Luci rummaged through a few more of his things, grabbing a paper and slipping it into his pocket before waving his friend goodbye. He grabbed his jacket and headed downstairs, a heavy cloud lingering over his head.
He missed Alastor already.
Tonight was going to be difficult without him.
* * *
He wasn’t planning on going. How could he? Seeing the one he loved dancing with the one he hated? Not a chance. The very thought made him wince with repulsion.
But that expression on Luci’s face, it read of something new. Something steady, like he’d reached a conclusion that signified imminent change. Alastor remembered that look. He’d seen it for the first time when they were in freshman year. They’d been closer back then, taking the bus together and yapping endlessly about their dreams of being famous, building a community who shared their interests and passions. Empires with their own sovereignty. And their kingdoms would be strong allies, strengthening each other and never letting the other fall behind without a helping hand. They stood as two pillars of vision and execution; endless ideas, and the balls to actually try making them come to fruition. It was during one of those wild conversations that Alastor suggested the idea, “You ought to start a band with how good you are at guitar. Heck, you’ve even got the vocal talent! All you gotta do is put your ideas onto paper, and you could even end up writing your own music!”
Something in Luci had shifted, then, like Alastor had found a secret switch in the back of his mind and flicked it on. Ever since, Luci had begun taking his guitar practice more seriously, singing during open-mic nights and finding band-mates that matched his spark for rock.
That same shift had churned behind those pale-blue eyes tonight, when Luci had held up his message sharing that he wanted Alastor to attend the homecoming dance. And it intrigued Alastor just enough to dig out his old band suit from the trenches of his closet. It was a deep auburn, just dark enough to appease the dress-code for a school recital, but classy enough to fit Alastor’s specific taste.
He supposed the prospect of learning Luci’s conclusion was enticing enough to attend the dance. And if he was going, he’d be doing it with style.
He peered at his outfit in the mirror. He quickly removed his glasses and crammed them into his pocket—nodding with satisfaction at his reflection.
Once he was ready to head out, he paused in front of his door, doing a final scan of his room to ensure he wasn’t forgetting anything. His eyes landed on the folded paper he’d tucked under his lamp from this morning.
He slipped it into his coat pocket before booking it down the stairs.
* * *
It wasn’t entirely a surprise when it began down-pouring outside the pavilion. Students crowded under the canopy, jackets and shawls held over fresh hair-dos to escape the rain. The white pillars of the structure were decorated with fairy-lights and lush foliage—something straight out of a movie. Yellow lights cast an ethereal glow around the entrances of the dance, making the sheets of rain resemble liquid gold.
Luci absent-mindedly ran a hand through his hair, searching the crowd for a girl in sleek makeup and a stunning gown. The shimmer of maroon sequins caught his eye—he immediately recognizing who they belonged to. Lillian’s hair was pinned up with a black ribbon; she wore matching black gloves that ran up to her elbows, a classy look that was so-very her. She was chatting with Rosie, arms draped around her like a cat in heat.
Luci exhaled and walked up to them. “Lillian,” he said. “I need to speak with you.”
Her smile was sly as she slid her gaze to him, arms still around her ‘companion.’ “I’m sure you do.”
They strode to the edge of the pavilion, the mist from the rainfall dampening their faces. Luci looked up at her, arms crossed. “So will you tell me why you did that, Lily?” He shook his head and buried his fingers into his scalp. “I mean, what are we even doing…”
Lillian shrugged, crossing her own arms with indignation. “It was just a reminder to you that I have other options. You are lucky to have me.”
Luci gaped. “Have you? No. I don’t have you!” He looked into the crowd where Rosie was watching them avidly, curling a finger through her platinum curls. “And with what you showed me down on that field, I don’t think I ever had you.” He dragged a hand over his face. “Y’know, I really cared about you Lillian! But this just… for a while now it’s felt like there’s been nothing between us. Not even friendship. Just a label that increasingly lost it’s meaning as the months went on. I really tried to be the right guy for you, but I know now that I was never going to be enough for you.”
Lillian’s eyes widened, her shoulder’s growing rigid.
“So I’m done,” he concluded. “We’re done. Go run to your ‘other options,’ I’m sure they’ll have open arms just as much as I did when we first got together.” He turned on his heels. “Goodbye, Lily. I hope you find what you’re looking for,” he muttered, not waiting to hear her response before disappearing into the frenzy of dancing bodies.
He moved through the crowd with the swiftness of an arrow, desperate to escape the noise. Desperate for some kind of solace. He did what he came here to do, so shouldn’t he enjoy the rest of the night?
No. He couldn’t. Someone was missing. He needed to go back to him.
The fairy lights dimmed and the music slowed to a gentle sway. Dammit. He needed to get out of there. Why was this structure so long?
As he shuffled past a few couples joining together for the slow dance, he felt something settle in his chest. His heart buzzed with a funny feeling. What was this? He felt… lighter. Like a weight had been lifted. And when he looked at the dancers staring into each others eyes with unbridled glee, it wasn’t Lillian who he pictured dancing with.
He continued his quick pace without looking—until he ran into something. Hard. When he felt arms immediately grab his shoulders to catch him, he realized it was someone. Looking up, an apology already brewing on his tongue, he was shocked to find himself staring into the most beautiful brown eyes he’d ever seen.
They were Alastor’s.
Somehow, in his delirium, the only words he could scrounge up were, “No, uh. No glasses?”
Alastor chuckled, helping him regain his footing. “I thought I’d mix it up tonight.”
Alastor’s suit was paired with a black collared shirt and a deep crimson tie. His hair was styled neatly, and in the absence of his glasses, his freckles showed.
Luci spoke like a confession. “You look amazing.”
“Not so bad yourself,” The brunette responded, raising an eye-brow. “Is that, pink?”
Luci looked down at his clothes like he was examining his outfit for the first time. “I like pink,” he protested.
Alastor smirked. “It suits you.”
Luci, for a moment, found himself in a bit of a trance. What were the chances Alastor would actually show up! He’d hoped, but he didn’t expect—
Alastor cleared his throat, avoiding eye contact. “I actually came here to see how you were doing. And… also to show you something.”
Luci blinked, cheeks flushing. “Oh, well um. I actually just broke up with Lillian… So I’d say I’m doing pretty alright.”
Alastor eyes widened. “You did?” He couldn’t help the pitch of excitement in his voice.
Luci nodded, running his fingers through his hair. “I, uh. I actually had something I wanted to show you too.”
Alastor paused like a deer in headlights. “Oh, well… um.”
The tempo accelerated, sending students scattering from their partners to lose themselves in the throng. The volume made it impossible to continue their conversation.
Luci stood on his toes to reach Alastor’s ear. “How about we flip the script a little bit.”
“What do you mean—”
A hand clamped around his arm and dragged him away from the crowd. Luci intertwined their fingers and lead them past the event pillars and into the pouring rain. Their clothing was dappled and damp by the time they made it to the barren football field.
The clouds drifted above, the night sky freckled with starlight. Rain continued to sprinkle down.
“Isn’t this so much better?”
Alastor tilted his head, water dripping down his forehead. “Getting our nice clothing soaking wet and standing in a cold field?” He looked his companion up and down. “I suppose this beats being crammed against a bunch of sweaty bodies.”
Luci giggled, shaking out his hair. “Thank you for what you did for me today,” he said, eyes round with intent. “It meant more than you know.”
Alastor took his hand and politely kissed it. “I’m nothing if not a gentleman,” he responded with a playful wink.
Luci snorted with laughter. “Okay cornball.” He leaned forward until his face was inches from Alastor’s. The pleasant aroma of a musky cologne didn’t go unnoticed. “You still didn’t need to do that. But you did. And it meant a lot to me out there. I wouldn’t have performed as well as I did without you there to cheer me on. In fact, I wouldn’t have even gotten as far as I have with my music if it hadn’t been for your encouragement. That amount of debt can’t go unacknowledged, Al.”
Alastor grinned at the nickname. “You owe me no such debt, Lu.” He took the shorter man’s hands, squeezing them gently. “I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. You’re my dearest friend.”
It was Luci’s turn to melt inside. He felt his heart begin to beat intensely, like he was back on that stage all over again. He reached into his pocket and removed a folded paper, whispering, “I think you’re more than that to me.”
The unfurled sketchbook page read, I LOVE YOu.
Alastor’s brain stalled harder than the first time he tried driving his mother’s stick-shift car.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to see it,” Luci began, “but I can’t stand the thought of one day being without you, all because I was too blind to recognize what was here all along. You’ve always been there for me, have always known how to cheer me up—”
Alastor removed a paper of his own from his coat pocket, unfolding it and holding it up.
I love you.
“Took you long enough,” he joked, grinning widely.
When Luci’s eyes began to gloss over, Alastor dropped the paper and wrapped him into a tight hug, hoping to prevent those tears from falling. But he was too late. He could feel the blond sniffling apologies into his suit.
He brushed back his flaxen hair. “Don’t apologize. Even if it took a million years, I’d still wait and love you just the same.”
Luci pushed back from the hug, swelled eyes looking into Alastor’s with a thousand words he couldn’t figure out how to say.
Alastor chuckled. “Loving you is like loving jazz. It feels like I always have, and I know that it will never go away.”
At that, Luci wrapped his hands around Alastor’s nape and pulled him into a soft kiss. Something delicate and sweet, but no less intoxicating. And when Luci moved to deepen it, Alastor lost all inhibitions, pulling Luci flush against him and soaking in the warmth.
That first kiss tasted like the beauty of glistening gold. The intensity of sunlight reflecting off the ocean. The exhilarating thrill of standing near the edge of a cliff.
The intimacy grew from hesitant and soft, to deep and unwavering. Neither of them would be forgetting this moment for a very, very long time.
* * *
The following morning:
It was the first time Alastor had awoken and felt like he’d been injected with a fresh dose of caffeine. He leaped from his bed to peel back his curtains and peak out the window.
Luci had beat him to it, waving and holding up his greeting.
SKiP 1sT PERiOD w/ ME?
Alastor chuckled, searching for his marker.
It's Saturday.
Luci’s eyes doubled in size.
RiGHT! SPEND DAY w/ ME?
Alastor smirked knowingly and wrote back.
Where to?
Luci giggled and held up:
ITS A SURPRiSE!
The brunette rolled his eyes.
Be down in 10.
Luci responded with a thumbs-up before hastily tugging his curtain closed.
The morning was crisp, lawns jeweled with dew. The sun crept from behind the trees and houses, its yellow glow melding with the hazy blue of dawn.
They met at the bench residing between their houses. Luci had grabbed his rusty bike—one he hadn’t touched since sophomore year. Alastor followed the hint and rolled up with his own bicycle, taking a deep inhale of the cool breeze.
Luci beamed. “Good morning, neighbor.”
“Good morning,” Alastor parroted, lifting an inquisitive eyebrow at the neglected heap of metal and chains currently resting against the bench. “How do you expect to get anywhere on that thing?”
The blond flapped a hand in dismissal. “I’ll make it work. I honesty trust this heap of junk more than Lillian’s driving anyway.”
Alastor snickered. “Is her driving really that bad?”
Luci nodded, his expression stern with satirical conviction.
The asphalt screamed as a violent skid of tires shredded the silence. The car responsible for the disturbance zoomed past their street—none other than Lillian gripping the wheel while Rosie leaned out the side, her laughter a wild, hyena-like cackle.
“Speak of the devil,” Alastor deadpanned, scoffing at the absurdity.
Luci broke into an all-out guffaw. “I think I dodged a bullet there.”
Alastor turned to him. “You think?”
The blond wiped a tear from his eye as his laughter settled. “I don’t know how she hasn’t gotten her license revoked yet. She hardly ever stops at stop signs.”
Their banter continued for a few beats before police sirens cut through the air, followed by a squad car tearing down the block in Lillian’s wake.
Alastor and Luci looked at each other. A few seconds of disbelief passed—then they toppled over in hysterical, gut-busting laughter.
By the time they settled, the sun was climbing over the horizon, and they met each other’s gaze with a shared, quiet gleam in their eyes.
It seemed everything had worked out exactly as it was meant to.
What they had been looking for all along had found them, in the spaces between laughter and stolen glances. And the kicker was—it had been there the whole time. Sitting right under their noses. Right across their bedroom windows.
They spoke softly for a moment before leaning into a gentle kiss, lingering in the warmth of each other's company.
The place where they truly belonged.