Chapter Text
The curtain fell to thunderous applause.
For a moment, Neil Perry simply stood there beneath the warm stage lights, breathing.
Not because he had forgotten his lines.
Not because he was afraid.
Because, for the first time in his life, he had done something that belonged entirely to him.
The applause seemed to go on forever.
As the cast took their bows, Neil glanced into the audience.
His eyes found his father.
Mr. Perry wasn’t smiling. He wasn’t applauding particularly enthusiastically, either. His expression was unreadable.
Neil’s stomach sank.
Here it comes.
⸻
The auditorium slowly emptied as parents gathered their children and congratulated the actors. Flowers changed hands. Laughter echoed through the halls.
Neil looked himself in the mirror backstage, his heart pounding harder than it had during the performance.
Someone knocked softly on the dressing room door.
“You decent?”
Todd.
Neil couldn’t help smiling.
“Yeah.”
Todd stepped inside, hands shoved awkwardly into the pockets of his school blazer.
For a second, neither of them spoke.
Then Todd laughed.
“You were…” He shook his head. “I don’t even know how to describe it.”
Neil leaned against the makeup table.
“That bad?”
Todd looked horrified.
“What? No!”
Neil burst out laughing.
Todd rolled his eyes.
“I hate you.”
“You absolutely do not.”
“I absolutely don’t.”
They both smiled.
Todd looked down at the floor before quietly adding,
“I mean it, Neil.”
His voice had gone softer.
“You were incredible.”
Neil felt something tighten in his chest.
“Thanks.”
“No, really.” Todd met his eyes. “When you walked on stage…”
He searched for the words.
“…it didn’t even look like you were acting.”
Neil blinked.
“It looked like…”
Todd smiled shyly.
“…you.”
For once, Neil had no clever reply.
Just then, footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Neil’s smile disappeared.
His father.
Mr. Perry appeared in the doorway, still wearing his dark overcoat.
Neil straightened instinctively.
“Sir.”
There was a long silence.
Mr. Perry looked at his son.
Then he looked toward the stage where the audience was still talking excitedly.
Finally, he sighed.
“I still don’t understand why you love this.”
Neil’s heart dropped.
“But…”
His father removed his hat.
“…I’d be lying if I said you weren’t exceptional.”
Neil stared.
“…What?”
“You heard me.”
“I just…”
Neil couldn’t believe it.
“I thought you were going to make me leave school.”
Mr. Perry looked tired.
“I considered it.”
The words landed heavily.
“But on the drive here…” he admitted, “…your mother asked me one question.”
He paused.
“‘When was the last time you saw Neil this happy?’”
Silence.
“I couldn’t answer her.”
Neil felt tears prick at his eyes.
He didn’t suddenly become warm or affectionate.
He simply looked… thoughtful.
“I still expect you to take your studies seriously.”
“I will.”
“And acting cannot become an excuse to neglect your education.”
“It won’t.”
Another pause.
“…If you can prove you can manage both…”
Neil barely let him finish.
“I can.”
“I know.”
Mr. Perry nodded once.
“It appears I underestimated you.”
It wasn’t an apology.
Not quite.
But it was the closest Neil had ever received.
His father gave a small nod before turning to leave.
“I’ll be waiting by the car.”
The door clicked shut.
Neil stood frozen.
Todd was the first to speak.
“…Did that actually just happen?”
Neil let out one disbelieving laugh.
“I… I think so.”
Todd’s face broke into the biggest grin Neil had ever seen.
“I told you.”
“Told me what?”
“That you belonged on that stage.”
Neil looked at him.
All the fear he’d carried for weeks seemed to dissolve at once.
Without thinking, Todd stepped forward and wrapped him in a hug.
Neil stiffened for exactly half a second before hugging him back just as tightly.
Neither of them said anything.
They didn’t have to.
Todd could feel Neil laughing into his shoulder.
Neil could feel Todd trying very hard not to cry.
After a long moment, Todd mumbled,
“…I’m really proud of you.”
Neil smiled.
“You know…”
“What?”
“I was terrified.”
Todd pulled back just enough to look at him.
“You?”
“The whole time.”
“You hid it well.”
“I had to.”
Todd shook his head.
“You don’t have to with me.”
Neil’s smile faltered into something gentler.
“I know.”
Another burst of applause echoed faintly from the auditorium.
Someone backstage shouted Neil’s name, asking where the star of the play had disappeared to.
Todd laughed.
“They’re looking for you.”
Neil looked toward the stage.
Then back at Todd.
“Come with me?”
Todd raised an eyebrow.
“I wasn’t in the play.”
“So?”
Neil nudged his shoulder.
“You were here.”
Todd smiled.
“Yeah.”
“Yeah.”
Together, they walked back toward the lights, the applause, and a future that—for the first time—felt like it belonged to Neil.