"Where to begin?" Todd muses aloud, his foot tapping anxiously atop the damp pavement.

"The mall?" He ponders, but quickly shakes his head. We both knew the chances of Neil wandering a mall were slim.

"The pub? The Library? The Diner? The—"

"Theatre," I conclude for him. I can't imagine where else he'd go— running lines no doubt.

"Well, it's the most obvious choice. So naturally, that's likely where he is."

I smile, linking my arm in his and attempting to hail the first taxi we can spot.

As we step into the warmth of the theatre, busy bodies run left and right, as they eagerly prepare for their upcoming curtain call.

Our eyes dance anxiously about the theatre, attempting to find Neil.

I spot him in the far back of the room, sat by himself in an empty corner, paper in hand, presumably rehearsing his character's lines.

I nudge Todd with my elbow. Once his eyes fall upon Neil, he instantly releases a relieved sigh.

"Neil?"

His eyes grow wide once they fall on Todd and I, but just as quickly he regains his composure.

"I'm in the play," Neil says matter-of-factly, stating the absolute obvious.

"But what about your father?" I ask incredulously. Todd's face is equally contorted in bemusement.

"Screw him," Neil grins, his lopsided smile making my heart soar in utter joy. I felt like a proud mom. Judging by the smile that fell atop Todd's mouth, I gather he feels the same.

"Well, ok then. I'm just— I'm glad you're happy."

"I am. I really am."

And if his words weren't, Neil's smile was enough to convince me.

"Then I'm happy!" I practically sing, lightening the heavy mood. We had enough heartache and drama in the last few months to last us an entire lifetime. It was moments like these—Neil's play— that we had to enjoy to the fullest.

We ran lines and fitted costumes, until the sun was beginning to set behind the heavy clouds. Todd stayed behind for 'moral support' as he so loving put it, and I ventured back to Welton solo, for my 'not-so-hot' date with Charlie— and all the boys— this evening.

~ ~ ~

Neil was magical onstage. He shone— no glowed.

Despite the stage lights that fell on the other actors, the other props— you only saw Neil.

He quite literally stole the show.

The light from his smile alone was enough to light up the stage and blind its audience. He never forgot a single line, a single cue, a single evocative emotional response.

I realized in that moment, the theatre was Neil's home. Mr. Keating once said that the world was our stage— that we should all contribute a verse.

But the world wasn't Niels stage— the stage was his world.

I hadn't even noticed the closing of the curtain. It wasn't until the crowd erupted in a large, awe-inspired wave of cheers. He was that captivating.

Despite his father's threats, Neil would never turn his back on his passion after tonight.

"He was great!" Knox shouts, wolf-whistling through his fingers.

The boys nod eagerly in unison, rushing towards the 'Exit' door to meet Neil outside.

"I'm impressed," Pitts says proudly, pulling the hood of his jacket over his head as we stood in the pouring rain.

Charlie had me hold his jacket around my shoulders as a sort of makeshift blanket— regardless of how adamantly I protested. He stood next to me, holding me ever-so-tightly and seeking warmth from our proximity.

"I know," Knox breaths lowly, cold air flowing off his warm breath.

"He's incredible."

As if on cue, Neil walks out into the rain, his hair dampening by the heavy downpour.

"So, whaddya think?" Neil asks, a grin spreading across his face like a kid in a candy store.

"ah-mazing," Charile beams, stretching out its syllables.

Neil's smile was nearly as bright as it were onstage— but not quite.

"Neil!" A booming voice sounds rather loudly, somewhere in the near distance.

Our heads snap in the vicinity of the noise— or at least somewhat close to it. The sun had set, the sky had darkened, and the rain poured heavily upon us. While we couldn't quite spot its direction, we knew it sounded like trouble.

The heavy footsteps that padded loudly against the wet concrete neared closer and closer. As if zoning in on the small huddle we had formed near the back stage door.

"What is this, huh?" It booms.

The man was shorter in stature, maybe just a few inches taller than myself. His hair was thinning around a bald spot that sat in the middle of his head. His eyes were light in colour, but dark with anger.

Even though he bore little resemblance to Neil, I already knew who the indignant man was.

"Dad— I can explain I-"

"Forget it, we're leaving. Now."

His father's face was a deep and dark shade of red—closer to that of a plum. I don't think I've ever seen someone so visibly angered. The hand that wasn't stuffed deep inside his pocket, roughly grabbed Neil by the collar of his Shakespearian costume.

My heart sunk. Not only at the depiction of true sorrow etched all across Neil's face— his furrowed brows, creased forehead, watering eyes, and bottom lip pulled tightly between his teeth. But also at the violence his father displayed. I wondered what he was like behind closed doors?

I had to shake the scary image from my head. I felt my own eyes sting with warm tears. I glance up at Charlie who gives me a sorrowful look, wrapping a tight arm around me and pulling me protectively closer to him in the presence of Neil's father. Although I was scared for Neil, I felt safe with Charlie.

I glance between him and Knox— they exchange almost knowing glances. As though this behaviour had been nothing new to them. The single tear that stung my eye, finally fell, causing Charlie to loosen his grip on my back and step closer to Neil.

"Sir—" Charlie begins respectfully, glaring Neil's father square in the eyes.

Even in the midst of the situation, I felt an odd sense of pride in Charlie. He truly would go to the ends of the earth for those he loved— even if that meant standing up to Neil's irrational, intimidating father.

The rain had flattened his hair, damp strands darkened and fell atop his forehead. Small droplets of water dripped down his face, and his eyes were cloudy with determination— and a hint of anger. I silently cursed myself for finding him extra attractive— given the circumstances and all...

"There's no need to grab him like that," Charlie asserts, matching his father's dominance. The grip on Neil's neck loosens immediately.

Neil's father walks menacingly close to Charlie, his nose practically touching his— if he only took a small step forward, they'd practically be kissing. Though Charlie refuses to back down.

"Neil," his father spits venomously, his gaze not breaking from Charlie's.

"I said, let's go. Now."

Neil sends me a small smile, though it was nowhere close to the brightness his smile's usually contain. It was empty, dim, meaningless.

'Thank you,' he mouths to us behind his father's back, before being dragged away like a rag-doll in the pouring rain.

: hi guys!!! Hope you're staying safe and healthy in this quarantine. This chapter is a filler, but A LOT happens in the next one!!! I'll post it soon!! ♥️♥️♥️